Thursday, September 24, 2015

3 out of 3

We don't have kids that get sick often.....well hardly ever actually! 

It's not because I'm a germ a phob I swear!! 

Lane has been on medicine once for an ear infection (at 11 months old....and that is the last time he has had a fever!) Luke has been sick a little more than Lane...as in an extra cold or two but he also has only been on an antibiotic one time! And Lyric has never been on any medicine or really sick besides a little cold until now! 

Now as far as the flu...I can't say any of them have ever had it necessarily. Luke and Lane both threw up last year during fair week. But both times it was ONE puke each kid....so surely that doesn't classify as it. And with the sickness they are just getting over Lane and Luke each threw up just once!! 
 Now I KNOW this will all change and clearly that is going to happen with 
"Lane being in school"
 (everyone has reminded me of that:) 

And now after having a little taste of school germs...I do (and will remember to) realize the negative behaviors in myself that need to be pruned out (ie. getting sulky with God when things don't go my way and sickness moves in). 

I took some time to ask the Lord for His opinion on the matter.

Check this out…

“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life — the life God is sending one day by day.” – C.S. Lewis. Do I believe that God authors every aspect of my life?

Absolutely.

Then instead of constantly fighting God on the unpleasant aspects of mothering (say, fevers and barfs), I would like to learn to quietly accept them, trusting that He knows what He is doing.  He is sending them and bringing them for my good.

For my sanctification, even.

So, as we enter sick season, here are some of the things (and a few {hopefully} helpful tips) I have researched and found worked for me in between theinterruptions Massive amounts of ibprofen we needed this past week! 

SICK BEAR

Now I found this idea AFTER they were through the brunt of this sickness but I think it would be such a great idea! How ever in my case-do I buy three sick bears?! That would kind of dilute the purpose but they truly were all sick at the same time....however each one had a "sickest" day so maybe not!? We will have to see!;) So basically you take a teddy bear (Even a  Valentine’s Day left over one with a "heart" (that's my intention) and give it to them! It would be especially helpful for them to hold when you have to give them 10 days of meds that taste(and smell)...

 A-W-F-U-L !!! Bringing them a little comfort might help and the snuggles and intense strangling while medication is being administered hugs would be great for them until they get better!  Then Sick Bear gets a superior deep cleaning and goes back in the closet!! 

Make a Couch Bed

When I was a little girl and got sick, my mom would transform the couch into a bed.  She’d take fresh, crisp sheets and tuck them in nice and tight.  We’d bring down my bed pillows and stuffed animals and I’d curl up on the couch to watch as much Saved Bt the Bell, Full House, TV as I could possibly handle.  She’d make me toast cut in triangles and serve it to me on a TV tray.  I felt like a queen!  I now do this for the My boys and they are more than thrilled at the chance to take up residence in front of the tube.  They ALL are! And that is partially why we probably ended up with three out of three!! 


The Magic of the Cool Washcloth

Best thing ever when I was younger and had fevers.  I still remember the smell of the clean wash towel and the feel of it on my head when my mom would rest it there.  I loved flipping it over in 5 minute intervals to feel the coolness of the new side.  My boys don't love it yet but they will! I tried to put one on Luke's head the other night and he shreaked! (He will love it when he is sucking the water out of it to get some liquid in him when he has the flu and momma won't give him something to drink {just like I did}!)

Medicine

I wish I was that person that brewed homemade herbal teas to bring down fevers and strained garlic or whatever to heal ear infections.  But I am just not there yet – although ya never know...I do make my own granola bars now.  I definitely don’t want to be unwisely pumping meds into my kid every time they get a runny nose, but sometimes medicine is the answer.  You have to do antibiotics?  No sweat. I think that giving our kids medicine can be a great way for us to learn more about God.  I don’t know about you, but my children (well more so Luke) are incredibly disgusted by the taste of most medicines. We actually use to get it flavored and only buy certain flavors of Tylenol! Gag reflexes like no other with that one. He now willing takes it so much better as he is older and we don't have to gently pin his poor, sweet arms and shoot it down his throat!  Sometimes we don’t like the taste of something God has brought our way, but He, as a loving Father, gives it because He knows it will bring about our ultimate healing! AND he always goes before us making a way!! (Lyric's 19 month well baby check up was scheduled this past week on the exact day I knew I needed to get them all looked at! Funny how we already had an appointment and they could all be seen with no trouble at all isn't it;) HE makes a way BEFORE us!

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Bring Comfort to Another

Now I have got to do this for my sister in law once but I am now going to be even more attentive to the needs of my friends when their children are sick because one my my bffs brought my family a take and bake pizza AFTER she picked my son up from kindergarten for me! The next time I realize one of my friends has been so busy wiping noses that she had not made it to the store for food in days, I'm going to bring them take and bake pizza!! I did a Ding-Dong-Ditch a bag of a random frozen pizza(for dad), Gatorade, rice, and of course Elsa chicken noodle soup for my sweet niece and didn't even make a thing for them!! But even some popsicles, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, tissues, etc. to bring a much-needed spot of hope to a friend with sick kids would be amazing! AND Lane's cousin Calen sent a card In.  The. Mail. 
He was so blessed by that and I was so so blessed by that gift of a simple pizza!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Snuggle Time

When the boys got sick their normally strong-willed, busy self became a little sweeter, a bit less active, and a lot more attached. Lane asked daddy like non stop the first day if they could snuggle! And I got the chance to actually hold my ‘baby’ for longer than a millisecond and bring him the kind of comfort only I, as his mama, can bring.  Isn’t it funny how, for many of us, we want our mommies when we get sick?  Even though I know the my Hubby loves me so much and would do almost anything for me, he will not stand at the toilet holding my hair back and stroking my head gently while I puke like my mom used to do. So, cherish those extra sick hugs, sweet mommies.  Try not to rush off too quickly to get back to Clorox-ing absolutely everything in the house because when he’s away at college and catches the flu, you’re going to be the one he speed dials at 2 am simply because he wants to hear your voice.

“The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God will be kept safe by the Mighty One, I will say about the Lord, “He is my place of safety… I trust in Him…” Psalm 91:1-2

God did a great job of (gently) reminding me that....

“A joyful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22

Step Up the Prayers

When things are easy, we can easily fall into the trap of not recognizing our need for God and therefore not spend as much time in His presence.  When my kids were sick, I found myself pressing in deeper, memorizing Scripture verses, reading the Word, and praying A LOT.  I held them and said words of comfort in their ears. Prayers for healing. Prayers offering the hope of a place where we will be one day that does not have the Chicken Pox or Rotavirus.  And as I practice this, I realize that it ends up being more for me than for my children because I am drawn closer to my Savior.  I am reminded of His goodness, the greater purpose, the taste of his strength (as opposed to my own), and He was revealed to me like no good time ever could have!! 

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Another Opportunity to Surrender

Does anyone else struggle to remember on a daily basis that our kids are not our own??  They belong to God.  Period.  So when they get sick we cannot react by tightening our grip and stressing out.  Sickness is beyond our control.  Instead, it is a chance to hold our babies out before the Lord – like Abraham did with Isaac!! 

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

Your Child Gets to See What a Servant Looks Like

Mommies, our homes are places where our children get to experience Jesus, firsthand.  There is no better time to share the tender and unfailing and perfect example of Christ then when you have a little one in need.  It would be easy to walk around all tangled up in a ball of anxiety and frustration when my kids got sick. To be tense and fearful and in a hurry to see them get better.  To grumble and complain about everything that got barf or poo on it or fuss about having to miss church or a fun once a year thing (a.k.a....paint the town) And God forbid one child get the other child sick too!!

BUT after this minor sickness they had I feel the urge to let go. I am finally learning what it means to truly serve – as Jesus did.  Instead of staring at them with a giant burden in my spirit, I am going to try to always joyfully ask my sick boys, “What can I do for you?” and “Is there anything you need?” because I believe this is what our Savior humbly modeled for us.  He knelt on hands and knees to wash the dirty, nasty feet of His beloved friends.  He laid gentle hands on ill children.  He had compassion on the great crowds and healed their sick.

But more important, He died on the cross to cure the most awful, wide-spread, debilitating sickness of all –

Our sin.

So, the next time you hear that first sniffle or get the middle of the night vomit-covered-bedroom call, we, as moms, can find purpose, joy, and strength in our hands and knees scrubbing of snot and yak, knowing that, in a way, He did it too.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed…” Isaiah 53:5


Thursday, September 10, 2015

What MOPS means to me...

I was completely honored to get to share with my MOPS group..."What MOPS means to me!!" in our monthly newsletter!! And since MOPS has been a huge blessing and a large fundamental resource for me in raising these boys I wanted to share it on our blog so I will always have this memory of how special it has been being apart of this lovely group!! I came to the group not being that close to anyone or having any family in it and I have become great friends with these women and am beyond grateful for the huge family dynamic we now share!!

Here is a picture of the insert and the message typed out to read better underneath!  



Please let me start off by saying I am completely honored by being able to share what MOPS means to me! Those of you that know me know this is no easy feat considering I am a pretty dramatic person and it is hard to portray my passion through (just) words! And I must say the impact MOPS has had on me is something I defiantly  am passionate about!! 
 
Luke 1:49 He has done GREAT things for me. 

I could begin a list of all the great things (He) and MOPS has done for me but the greatest thing is this...

I found confidence in who I AM as a mother. 

Joining MOPS is probably one of thee biggest blessings I have ever been given!

Once I grasped who others are as moms and let go of my opinion of them I was able to find myself ! 
I was able to say Yes I know I made "this decision" and of course- I wouldn't change one thing about it and couldn't be happier BUT-yes it is hard sometimes!! (especially when it came to having three boys in less than four years!)

MOPS has given me an insane sense of normalcy which is so needed for us striving to do it all moms! 
It has taught me that....
A bad moment doesnt make me a bad Mama!! 

And it definitely and most importantly encouraged, strengthened, and heightened my understanding of HIS grace! I have a keen sense like never before because of the encouragement I have received from my fellow mommies but also in all the awesome messages we have studied  from the curriculum! I remember hearing once from a video that...
"I was made for my children in all my entirety. Failure and all!! And they were made for me!" 
Like how refreshing is that!? Just grasping that fact is like a breath of fresh air for me!  What a peace that put deep down in my ever trying and tired soul. 
 I find myself feeling different after I leave, and while I'm there. I place myself into this place...a place of...
Surrender. 
 
I have learned to surrender. 

Surrendered to Gods will...it isn't always the easiest....but it is always the best. 
And being able to do motherhood with a bunch of other women that they too are trying to control every moment and surrender every moment (and sometimes at the same second) sure does help!! 


Not only is in informative on a deep level but it also helps moms to be creative, find fun ways to celebrate holidays, surprise their husbands, plan meals, etc.

Boogers, bums, and never-ending need for food is kind of time consuming when it comes to little people. So this help is so much appreciated. 

I will never forget the first time I came to this MOPS group..I was nervous out of my mind because it was my VERY first outing by myself with all three boys(the baby being just 4 weeks!)

But the second I arrived at the facility, all of my nerves melted away. 

One word – AMAZING.

Walking through the door I saw a bunch of precious, super real women gathered together with the sole purpose of rocking their God-given Mom calling.

They had come because they wanted to find community.

They had come to laugh or cry (a roomful of pregnant/nursing/or toddler-rearing women?  It will happen, people) or whatever they needed to do to feel heard and understood.

They had come for the childcare. 

They had come to have a delicious bite of breakfast  that didn’t include microwaved pancakes, stale cereal, or nuggets for that matter. 

They had come to lift each other up in the face of sleeplessness or breastfeeding issues or to encourage one another through the stomach bugs and terrible 2s toddler challenges.

They had come to get crafty.

They had come to be mentored.

 They had come to be inspired.

That day I went to MOPs I decided that I would be back even when I had a kid bawling on my hip because I knew I was going to need those girls in my mommy-ing journey.



It has changed me...it made me
Be courageous 
enough to always see the greatness in others and courageous enough to defy popularity and stay true to what GOD has for me and the COURAGE to know the difference! 
It makes me feel like the "real me". 
I could not be more grateful! 
MOPS...helps mom's (especially this one) build a happy(ier) home. 


Monday, September 7, 2015

Luke's starting preschool!!!

I am not sure how I am sitting here typing this post. It seems like yesterday this whole blog/post writing was just starting.....all because of Luke. 


And now here I sit...after writing, posting, updating our family and friends all about you (your brothers and our family) to write a post the day before you start PRESCHOOL!!! I can not believe this is even possible!! 

Since the day he entered this world he has been on a mission! He completed an enormous (and the greatest) transformation in my life (and daddy's and lots of other people's lives too!) by the age of just 3 1/2 months old!! After enduring a ton of pain, like A TON OF PAIN, at such a young age...he has truly never lost the ability to amaze me!! (And He never ever stops surprising me that is for sure!!) 

Lane didn't start his first year of preschool until he was almost 4 1/2! So starting Luke at 3 is going to defiantly be different for me!! But man is he ready! Not anymore than Lane was but he does have a stronger desire to go to school since he has a big brother to keep up with you know!!;) AND we are so proud that he knows (and has known for a while) all his letters and numbers and Colors! He writes his name (the K) is still a little iffy for him, he can count past 50 without screwing up, he knows ALL his letter sounds, he can count by tens to 100, and he has mastered the lower case uppercase thing for each letter too! AND since he has a bro to keep up with and learns right along with he can read a few words! At. Just. Three!!! And even spell these too-Luke, mom, dad, lane, stop, truck, love, God, etc!! 

I have no fear of him starting preschool (or doing anything really) because he has no fear!!! (and because  a little boy who has been equipped and made perfect from His maker...has created a transformed and strengthened Mama! 

He has a determination like no other. And I know that is going to be a huge asset in his school years! I can already see him as the kid that can "do his science project by himself" and walk right in proud of how it looks because he did it alone! 


He has a heart to please people, ESPECIALLY when you don't ask him too! He loves to have me close my eyes and bring me a flower, clean up toys, or "serve" mommy!! He truly loves to make a surprise for anyone!!! His biggest way of doing that is usually through silliness, laughter, funny moments, or anything to get people to laugh! He is the life of the party in this house. The thermostat that keeps everyone at an even temperature! And one of the best things that comes along with such a personality....is that he is the quickest to forgive! Even if he has had a bad morning, is over tired, or doesn't get his way...it literary takes like one quick second to turn his frown upside down!! I love that about him so so much!! 

When he gets upset man can he ever show it....BUT I wouldn't trade it for the world for how quick he gets over it! Believe it or not that just makes it easier!! 
I mean look at this kid! 
Even as a baby he was so happy...like the happiest baby you could ever ask for and when he got upset or hurt you would know it BUT he could regain happiness like that! We never had to worry like "he's over it...time to go home" because He was the baby that would persevere! 

Persevere is a great word for Luke! He has, he can, and he will persevere through anything!! 

He feels hard! Loves hard and hurts hard but he is not a grey area kind of kid!

 I love that about Him! 

And so many other things but this one of my favorites! 
He truly has a passion! As a three year old people!!!(and even before!!) 

A deep passion to be happy go lucky, silly, wild and have a FUN life!!! Does it ever cause issues being like that...sure it does...when you're three! Because silly at the dinner table is not acceptable(okkkay okkkay....it is fun...sometimes...but sometimes it's not). And being someone at 3 that loves life like that does need guidance, reassurance where and how to use that personality etc!! 

But an adult with that type of God given personality is going to do MIGHTY things!! He will be able to rally a crowd and so so much more!! And We just know preschool is going to be the beginning of it all! And we are so grateful for the amazing Christian preschool he will attend!! They are all about learning and instilling the importance of how much Jesus loves Him!!  

We always try to spend a little one on one time the day before the first day of school! (I feel like I've had lots of one on one time with Luke the past few weeks with Lane in kindergarten because with just me and the little two we have had some great school time, play times at the park, and conversations!!) 
He even helped me decorate for fall!! 
And he loves helping with the dishes!! Look what he washed last time....
He is a great grocery shopper and now has the responsibility of keeping lil bro happy since Lane is at school!! Not sure how I'll get groceries without him! I May have to do groceries only on any day but Monday and Wednesday's when he will be gone! He literally is like the sweetest and most thankful boy to each worker he see's and every stranger is his best friend! The world would truly miss him! Especially Aldi! So I better just wait and get groceries when he is with me! I don't want to jip anyone! lol!! 


Today daddy took him to the store to get some stuff to donate to his school!! (I forgot to remind him to take some pics!!) 
And I got an amazing coffee/milk date with him early this morning!! 
We had fun playing with the monster truck we bought from McDonald's too!! 


He brings the party every where he goes, he brings the fun, and give him a task he WILL get it done!!! 

Luke YOU ARE ONE OF A KIND more than I've ever seen! You are a blessing a huge huge huge amazing blessing that is an amazing asset to this world! We claim BIG things for your future!!(Not easy for this mama as I'd be happiest to be your neighbor all your life...but you were made for so much more!! And God has already started to prepare my heart about all that!! He has big plans for you!!!) 

You want to be a doctor...not a coincidence that Luke in the bible was also a doctor I know that to be true!! 
You also want to be a boat driver to go fast!! And we are not surprised about that at all! You operate on one speed and that is full board deep!!! 
We are on board for whatever God wants for you!! We are praying over you each and every day and love your awesome heart for Jesus! You LOVE your bible!! Our bibles...any bibles!! We know HIS word is where you're safe haven is already and are so thankful for that!! 

Luke 2:40New International Version (NIV)

40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.



You are strong Luke! Filled with wisdom and God's grace is upon you!! It's going to be a GREAT year for you!!!! We are so incredibly proud of you!!!

And we love you SO much Qi!!!