Putting Life into Perspective

Isn't God great? After writing yesterday's post on my struggles, I spent several hours with my mom shopping. Just like old times....we had a great time gathering the clothes, trying them on, weeding them out, buying them, and then heading to the next store! (When I was in high school, this was our EVERY Saturday outing!)

But as we were falling back into our old routines, God allowed me to have perspective on my struggles...I got to hear Mom tell about Daddy, his diminishing capacities provided by the Alzheimer's, the changes that are taking place with areas in their lives that are maybe more minor now, but will become more major maybe even sooner than later. They are struggling, she is struggling, Daddy is struggling.

Though I thoroughly loved the outing, I think it was loved even more by Mom who viewed it as therapy, breathing space, a great time out.

I think I touched a nerve yesterday with announcing my struggles. I cried as I read the responses as God showed me a couple of things: I am not alone and I have dear people who love me (that was great for me!) who think I am ok. But then I was given the privilege of putting my struggles in perspective.

I awake today a new woman! No, the struggles have not miraculously disappeared. No, I am not magically 25 pounds lighter. No, I am not Mary Poppins, person of all patience. But I am a child of God, I am a daughter not only of the King, but of my Mom and Daddy, whom I love dearly and they love me. I am the wife of Ben, the most amazing, kind, loving man. I am the mother of 5 of the most special kids on the planet! And, like I found out yesterday, I have great women of faith who love and care about me and now know I am not perfect (just in case you hadn't known that before!).

Thanks for that! Do you have a new perspective on life today?

Struggling

I struggle with a lot of things. I wonder if others do too; but I pretty much have come to the conclusion that others don't seem to. Everyone seems "together", "with it", "confident". Are they really all those things? Am I really the only one struggling? Is it just vanity that makes me feel that way? (you'll find in a minute that vanity is one of the things I am struggling with!)

So here are some of my struggles:
priorities (putting my husband above my children)
patience
mercy
grace
comparing with others
my weight
my looks
my children's behavior
mean kids to my kids
mean women to me
me being mean to others
stress
family
vanity
not being a good friend
missing my friend
not being a good daughter

I could actually go on for a long list...but I won't. I am constantly taking these to God and giving them to Him, but then minutes later, I seem to take it back to deal with. Am I the only one struggling?

Random Pics Taken by Darby

Sweet Rawley...cute or what?

Three goofy kids...taken by Kally

Two boys together as always...lovely...

Two sweet ones...two of my very favorite kids...

Wow! Two more of my favorite kids...

Mean Girls

The Esther Bible study I am going through was great this week! The video time was about mean girls. I loved/hated that video.

I loved it because, as usual, Beth Moore was funny, honest, and a wonderful conveyor of God's truth.

I hated it because I have been that mean girl. My girls have encountered those mean girls. My girls have probably been those mean girls out of my sight. I hated it because, though I can stop my mean girl times, my girls have a lot of living yet to do where they will come across more of those mean girls.

What is that about? I am so devastated when I am confronted with my own sin...yuck! It's bad enough when my sin is/was something that was more private in nature....but when it's something that has effected others...something that has hurt others....something that might keep coming back up in others' minds long after it has happened...OUCH!!

If you are one to whom I have been mean...I sincerely apologize! I don't want to be that person. I don't want my daughters to be, or be around that person. I don't want my daughters-in-law to have to deal with that person.

Fighting the Good Fight

The bickering in my home has gotten more than I can stand! What is the problem with my children? It frustrates me to almost constantly hear "stop!" "get out!" "go away!"...maybe I am the only one to get the pleasure of hearing these sweet nothings daily...I don't know. But I finally ordered a book about siblings fighting called "Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends". I have only gotten through chapter 2, but there are two really great things in it up to this point.

1. Our home is the most important place to be: encouraging, helpful, understanding, gentle, and patient even though no one may notice!

2. Be a servant: look for opportunities to humble yourself and unselfishly serve others.

So this morning, I sat my three middle children (the main culprits of the daily joy) down and we discussed these two points in detail.

For the hour since the discussion, they have done great! I am under no illusions that the one conversation is all that will be needed, but it's a start.

How do you handle the bickering in your home? Or am I the only one with this problem?

Batman's Visit

I was sitting at my computer and all of a sudden, I had a surprise visit from Batman! What did I do to deserve such a special visit? I don't know, but I love it!