Sensibility

Since I tend to post all of the crazy, outrageous things my kids say, I thought I better post something they said that was actually sensible.  Recently, we had another girls-night-out, so we went to our favorite restaurant, Olive Garden.  We have had many meaningful conversations there and this evening did not disappoint.  As you know, Precious has, we'll say, a fascination with boys.  She always has.  Normally she talks about whether or not they like her or think she's pretty.  The conversation started pretty much the same with her telling me that her friend D(the one she has planned to marry since preschool) now wants to marry a different girl in her class.  I was bracing myself for where this conversation was going to go, but she continued to tell me that that was okay because she could marry someone else.  "After all, mom, there are lots of boys I haven't even met yet!"  Praise the Lord, she is making some sense.

Staying present in pregnancy...

...is easy when you are hanging over the toilet because that's all you can think about.  And it's not difficult when your belly starts growing because you're so excited that your baby is developing.  But when you are in the last weeks of pregnancy, it is oh-so-hard not to wake up every morning wondering if today will be the day when you get to meet your new, little bundle of joy.  To not spend every moment wondering what the delivery will be like, what he will look like, how much you will love him.  I know that some anticipation is good, but lately I have been consumed by it, barely able to function or think about anything else.  So today, I pledge to be present for the rest of my pregnancy.  To waddle every where I go.  To go to the bathroom at least five times a night.  And to enjoy every last kick and hiccup that only I get to feel for now.  Because this is probably the last time I will get to do all those things and I want to know that I enjoyed it to the fullest instead of missing out because I was anticipating whatever comes next.

Throughout this whole pregnancy I have been asking God to give me a verse that would help me get through everything.  Mainly the delivery because my past deliveries were, well, very painful.  I kept searching, but only found very generic, not meaningful-at-all verses.  Thursday night, I started having contractions.  I've had some braxton hicks contractions for the last few weeks, but these were actually painful.  I sort of panicked at the thought of how much pain I was in for, but then they slowed down and stopped.  The next day I opened up the Max Lucado newsletter that I get once a week.  Honestly, for the last few months I have just been deleting them because I haven't had the time to commit to reading them, but for some reason I decided to read this one.  Now I know why.  Through this, God gave me the verse I have been praying for. 

When you pass through waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.  For I am the Lord your God.   Isaiah 43:2-3

Not only was the verse what I have been searching for, but the entire newsletter contained very meaningful and applicable information.  Here are a few excerpts from the newsletter.

"We live beneath the protective palm of a sovereign King who superintends every circumstance of our lives and delights in doing us good."  This part reminds me that no matter how much pain there is to bring him here, we will have a wonderful baby boy to love in the end.

"God's ways are always right.  They may not make sense to us.  They may be mysterious, inexplicable, difficult, and even painful.  But they are right." 

"Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will, not mine.  Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him."  Luke 22:42-43  If the glory of God outranks the comfort of Christ, who am I to ask for more?

Thank you, Father, for giving me exactly what I need, exactly when I need it.

Shot down by a drifter.

When I read the book Outflow, I was pretty good about getting outside of my comfort zone to do something to bless someone else.  Recently; however, I have only done small things that fit completely inside my bubble of comfort.  This morning as I was pulling out of McDonalds, there was a man obviously carrying all of his belongings, standing in the freezing cold.  I wasn't sure what I should do, so I made an agreement with God that if the man was still there after I ran a few errands, I would do something for him.  He had switched sides of the road but was still there when I was done, so I grabbed $5.00 out of my wallet and pulled up next to him.  I asked him if he could use some money to which he responded, "How much is that?"  So I told him $5.00.  Then he simply turned his back to me.  What?!  I wasn't exactly sure what he was doing so I sat there for a minute with my arm reached out with the money, but he just ignored me, so I left.  I know that God does not want me to stop stepping out of my comfort zone to help others, but this one is going to take me a while to get over.

Infomercials

Ugh!  Who came up with these things!  My kids think we need everything they advertise.  These commercials are like a breeding ground for discontentment.  My kids think Baby Bubba needs the "your baby can read" DVDs.  Sissy also thinks I need every cleaning implement every made.  It's funny that she thinks that it would make me SO happy to have a new mop or vacuum.  Thank goodness for DVR and the fast forward button!

What if...?

I was prepared for all the "why" questions when my kids were toddlers, but I have now entered a new phase of questions.  Precious has started asking me "what if" questions.  Here is one of our conversations from the other day.

Precious:  What if a baby was walking down the street and fell in one of those big holes where the water goes? (She's referring to those long culverts that drain the water from the streets.)

Me:  Well, a baby would not be walking down the street.

Precious:  But what if one was?

Me:  Well, a baby would probably have an adult with them that would protect them.

Precious:  But what if they didn't?

This could go on forever just like the why questions.  Most of the time I just have to say, "It's just not going to happen."  Which often sends us back to the "why" questions.