Random Thoughts

Let's just say that I was doomed after all of that talk about shining the dull side. Last week was one of those weeks when I wasn't feeling very blessed. It really felt like I would take 1 step forward only to fall about 5 steps back. To top things off, Thursday was Valentine's Day and Thursday was probably the hardest day of my week. Doesn't conger up all those warm fuzzy feelings of love now does it? But it did make me think of the verses in 1 Corinthians 13 that describe the attributes of love. Just the first alone will give me plenty to work on for the next several weeks. Love is patient or Love suffers long.

I say all that as I think of how my 3 year old frequently says, "I want to listen!" as we chastise her for not behaving. Lately she has been having trouble obeying simple rules and we have stepped up efforts to enforce the rules as I've realized I'm starting to sound like that other mom that always annoys me by saying, "No, no. If you do that again, you're going to get in trouble." (Side note ~ as we stepped up the discipline, I've also made an effort to make sure she gets some extra loving and one on one time as well.) But how often does God feel the same way about us? I don't know, but I often feel like I'm quick to say "I want to be a good wife" or "I want to be a good mom" only to NOT really want to put in the effort that it geniuinely requires.

One of my uncle's favorite sayings is "Same Stuff, Different Day." (Edited Version) I don't particularly like the saying, but it has been running through my mind quite frequently as we deal with poo disasters on a very regular basis. I've decided that the person who first coined the term must have had small children. I wanted to thank my Pops for making me laugh in the midst of all this mess on Thursday when he quite accurately decided that I must be stuck in "Groundhog Poo."

Notes to Self

1. Continue to learn to trust your judgement. You are not stupid and lazy as you have a tendency to tell yourself. If you're too tired to go to the store, don't drag yourself and your babies there as you will find the only person in the store leaking bodily fluids and only stress yourself out more. Your husband didn't seem to mind the fact you ordered pizza that night.

2. If the chaos around you seems to be too much to bear, go do something fun with your babies. Believe me, the chaos will still be waiting for you later. And you can get more accomplished during a few hours in the middle of the night than you can during the course of a regular week. Tap into that.

3. Make a note of things not to do to annoy your own daughters when they are grown and have their own babies. Remember that what is helpful to you may not be helpful to them.