Conversations of a Three Year Old

I was driving alone with my three year old to pick up hoagies at her school. The unpredicatable things that come out of her mouth, make me want to record every word she says. So she asks, as we pass a car dealership, "Mommy, why are all those cars inside?" "That's a place where they sell cars honey", I say. "Oh. Can we get a new car? Daddy needs a new car. He's doesn't have one. " "Well, ask Jesus to give Daddy a new car." Quickly, she answers, "But, you can't see Jesus." I say, "Yes, but he's in your heart and you can feel Him. Do you feel Him Danielle?" "NO." "Well He's there even if you don't see Him or feel him." Silence...

"You know there are two Jesus'." No, honey there's one". "No, there's two Jesus'. A baby Jesus and a big man Jesus. He lives in the manger." "Oh?" "Yeah." "Where does the big man live?", I ask. "In the sky, in heaben. Yeah, and he died on the cwoss. (thoughfulness)..."then he comed back to alive again." Wow!, I said.

She touched me heart. I just wanted to squeeze her and tell her how cute she is and freeze that moment in time. More conversations to follow...

My Little "Bubba Burger"

Waiting

I have so much to say. It has been days since I've blogged. Two reasons that are not my fault. First, our cable was down from Friday through Sunday. No internet. No phone. How quiet. The comcast guy said that sometimes modems and cords just go bad all on their own. interesting.

Then, on Sunday I realized that I couldn't swallow. This ended up being the full blown-fever-chills-achiness-sore throat-stuffy head-and other gross sick stuff that only happens upon me once every two to three years. Yuck. BUT...It was peaceful. Russ took all five kids out last night for dinner and to the YMCA. What an opportunity! A night to myself! I slept. Today, I finally feel better enough to walk down the stairs and check my messages. None too important. I might just go back to bed again. Is 72 hours of rest enough? I guess not?

In the midst of my illness, life goes on. Even without me. So the kids aren't dressed perfect and so what if you can't see their face behind their thick locks of hair. They don't care. So what if the house is a tornado of toys, dirty baby bibs, leftover food, dishes and papers. Everyone is being cared for anyway. Mommy's sick.

Rachel comes up the stairs and asks.." Mommy, you feelin' better yet?" When I whimper a quiet "no", she proceeds to run down the stairs to announce to everyone (as if she's got important new to share).. "MOMMY'S NOT BETTER YET!" Danielle then bursts into her own repetitive made up song of "Mommy's not better yet, mommy's not better yet..."

Missing mommy for two days makes a big impact on my little ones. I just wait in anticipation over the joy they will have when they see that I am up and awake when they get home. I have missed them too. They give me so much joy, I just have to get better.

Power of Accountability

For those of you out there with new year's resolutions and want to keep them, I learned the secret. Tell people. I thought I could make a goal and keep it a secret. Then, if I actually achieve-then I'll tell. But there is power when you share your dreams and goals for the future. I never planned on telling anyone that I wanted to do a triathlon. What if I never did? Then I'd hear it from my dad.
But as stories go, word spreads fast and now it seems everyone knows that I wanted to achieve such a huge goal. Just the fact that people ask how I'm doing with my goal spurs me on. Its the same with my Bible reading. I could easily forget and get busy with less important things, but I know that Russ will ask me how I'm doing on my reading. I don't want to say, I didn't do it. Nor do I want to miss out on our awesome conversations about a passage that we both read.
So I realized this could work with any area of my life that I need help with. Just tell people. That type of accountability will motivate you more than you know. Everyone around you automatically keeps you accountable and you have more of a chance of actually achieving your goal. Its a risk to say your going to do something and don't do it. But even if I achieve one of the many goals and plans that God has for my life, its more than achieving none at all.

A Perfect Day

So its official I'm 30. The day started out with the usual dress and make a mess to get to church. Russ fully exposed me in front of the entire congregation. Not literally.

First, he told the story of how "we" got started. See, we hung out with a bunch of college friends in the evenings in Cleveland. Russ(PR) and I were part of that group. It was winter, but we all wanted to get in shape. So we all agreed to meet at "PR's" bachelor pad in the morning. So, at 8 am bright and chipper I show up and knock on Russ's door. The first thing he said was "You've got to be kidding." I felt like such an idiot. I started to leave with my donuts and bananas clutched in my hands. Then, he said wait. I'll run. So we ran. Just us two. He ran so fast and so long. He asked, " are you OK?" I lied, "Fine." That was our first sort of date. So from there on the rest is history. It wasn't until we were married that I told him, "You almost killed me that day and I almost threw up from running so far!"

The next thing he told the entire church was that I was going to run a triathlon. Now, I REALLY want to.....in my lifetime. So, as resolutions usually last, mine will continue until I see it through.

After church, I got to hang out with the girls-Nina, Betty, Cindy, Maryann and Donna. Happy Birthday to Betty and Cindy! the big 0's this year. I wont say what decades they are in!

Then I came home to My happy family, a homemade cake, cards, a fully decorated house complete with balloons and streamers and most importantly......MY VERY OWN VIDEO IPOD!!!! Watch out treadmill, here I come. Within minutes, Shelby downloaded 145 songs, so I could "get started" I was soo surprised.

Then....Tina came to babysit all my kids while Russ and I went to Outback for dinner. Our waitress just looked at my plate and said " I can't even finish a New York Strip steak." I had to politely come up with a quick excuse and explain to the waitress that I am a nursing mom.

After dinner i enjoyed coffee with my best friend at Starbucks. The day couldn't have ended better than with a girl's dream....a hot bubble bath. So that's my perfect day. God really is sooo Good!

Birthday

I am so busy having fun, I'm too busy to blog! Happy Day!

My trip today

I started to think...mmm...what happened today. What did I learn today? I am so tired I can't think straight. I made it here to Cleveland safely. My kids are in bed-sort of. My day was so typical, it was boring. Started off by getting to the YMCA at 6:30 to swim. Next time I'll remember to bring a swimsuit.After doing land workout instead, I race home to get Rachel ready for preschool. She is up and happy and ready to bring her MP3 player in for show and tell. I think I remember bringing in a tape player 25 years ago. After scrubbing the bathroom with the help of my 3 year old-who is Windex crazy, Shelby and Greg awaken from their slumber at 11:30 am from a nice day off school. I wonder why they have it so easy. I make a list of chores. I get a 3.5 minute shower and race to get Rachel. Danielle helps me pack the suitcases by unfolding everything and stuffing it into a bag. I feed everyone only to realize Justin is waking up just as we are about to leave. Bad idea for a 3 hour ride. I wonder why I have so much stuff with only half my family, but proceed to add even more stuff "just in case" to my very packed sienna. We start out belting the opening choruses to "The Sound of Music" before we leave the driveway, with questions targeting me at every red light. What is that big red building? What is that medium white building? And before we even it the turnpike "Are we in Cleveland yet?" after getting a little lost(Oh, I wish I had a GPS in times like these) I find my sister Jessica's new place in Youngstown. Her five month old-100 pound-pitt bull-puppy attacks the girls as we scramble to get it outside. Danielle calmly says when we need to leave, 'What about Rocco, he's going to eat me." So we head on over to Nana's-where we meet up with squawking birds of all sizes-4 giant talking parrots to be exact. Justin still is wide awake and screaming now because of the crazy birds, barking dogs and added screaming and yelling. So we are here-enjoying the company of my mom, step dad, sister and niece. Enjoying each other and all the crazy stuff that happens in a typical day.

My Mom

Ok. So its about 3 days until I am no longer living in the decade of 20 something. So I begin to ponder on my life so far. I think how in the world did I become a mother of FIVE? I find myself daily catching myself in mid sentence only to be reminded of those same words spoken to me as a child and teenager. I am becoming my mom. I have read things like this. I never knew it could happen to me. But not only do I sound like my mom, but my kids...they sound like ME when I was a child. AHHH! It has come back to bite me. See I never really understood my mother until I became one myself. I never understood why she made me do things. So today As I tell my daughter to stop watching too much TV or tell my son to work harder. I realize why. My mom had a great impact in who I am today. She taught me that hard work does pay off. To never give up even when you feel like quitting. She taught me the principles of commitment. She taught me to take care of myself and be proud of my accomplishments. All of this has helped me. Even though I would never have admitted it prior children. I wish my kids could understand that I am trying my best(with God's help) to prepare them for life the best way I know how.

Proverbs says "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

So my mom stood her ground-even when I wasn't too happy with her. So today I will stand my ground. For my children's sake and for their future. In the end I pray they will not depart from the ways I have taught them. Thanks Mom.

If you have two minutes to watch the hilarious video of Anita Renfroe's version of Mom's "William Tell Overture" click on the top slide of the video bar to the right. It is the best I've ever heard!

Crazy Daze

Yesterday was one of those days. The morning rush. Lunches, coats, hats, boots. Out the door by 9 am. Preschool drop offs. nurse.......preschool pickups.nurse.....clean..type and meet..middle school pickups...church service...nursery duty...somehow everyone got fed and home at 10 pm. Whew. I made it. My one goal: To make it to my bed. On days like these I feel like I'm in a daze. Things pressing on every side, extra long to do lists, promises unkept. The word "mommy" spoken 5,000 times to share the sweetest bit of information. Papers signed and teenage talk. Could I spare an ounce of time for my Jesus? Could he keep me focused? No matter what I face each day, in the midst I feel God with me-keeping me on track. Yeah, I mess up. Lots of times, but then He's there again to get me back to where I need to be. The positive results outweighs the hurry of yesterday. Chris Gilkey prophesied over Shelby and Greg. God moved in their lives and brought them closer to Him. A grandma from our church whose grand kids have been praying for 2 years was healed of back pain! A true miracle. Glory to God.

Philip. 3:14 (NIV) "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

So as I enter halfway through this day, I choose to press on. May God's priorities become my objectives. As we start Silver Ring Thing(SRT-abstinence program for teens) tonight with the teenagers, I realize that we will be invading the devil's territory. I need God's strength to fill me and up and cover me with the armor of God so we will be able to "extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one". I will not be naive about the spiritual war that will take place tonight. I will passionately pray in the spirit for our leaders, teachers, parents and students. That the Holy Spirit would fill us with a fresh anointing to change the lives of teenagers for generations to come. May God keep me focused today.

My New Year

Last night was our first service for the spiritual awakening week. Evangelist Chris Gilkey shared some good quotes. "True repentance is requires a change of character and conduct" and "If your Gospel isn't touching others, it hasn't touched you" are just two that he shared. Once again I am feeling the need to draw closer to God this year. So, after reading some other blogs I decied to name my year. Set some goals and see what God does. I decided to name my year "NO LIMITS" Meaning not to kill myself with overdoing it, but to realize God has no limits. Nothing is impossible with Him. He is able to do more than my little mind can imagine or have the courage to set out and do. So all my kids are sleeping again. I guess that will be when I get a moment of peace to set about this new endeavor. I tried to get that peace earlier in the bathroom but was greeted with four little feet around mine. Does something trigger in the brain of a child that they need to go when you go? Anyway, no limits means that I will put no limits on what God can do in my life and in the lives of those around me this year. I believe it. So, I started my triathlon training today by running the vacuum. Does that count? Anyway I am a woman without chocolate this week. Which I find it easier to eat nothing (like Russ) than ignore my other best friend. I think I'll spend the rest of my day playing Hullabaloo-I might get my heartrate up. Then I'll just enjoy my kids. Their smiles. Their laugh. Their jokes. Yes, even their attitudes. I won't name any names. Motherhood, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My First Blog 1-13-08

Well, I am already 5 years behind the technological fads and venues that have taken over my thirteen year old's world, so I realized that I better catch up and at least create a blog. So its Sunday afternoon and four are napping-3 little ones and one big one-meaning Russ. I have an extra few minutes before feeding time again since I am playing human cow again this year and constant cook. I enjoy keeping a journal and love to read my friends blogs. So here goes. Today was an exciting day for Kids Church, since SIX kids got baptized this morning! Sue shared an amazing story about a miracle in Cuba for BGMC day. I played Dr. Oppenhiemerstein's second cousin twice removed, Lucille, (complete with wig and goggles) and performed a dangerous experiment demonstrating how Jesus took the punishment for our sins. I never seem to tire of telling the awesome story of how God sent His son to die for us. This week was exciting! Next Sunday hopefully will come quickly, because a new decade is starting for me. If you ask " Am I getting old turning thirty? " I reply, I am finally growing up. If only I could grow a few more inches with age. My goal this year is to run a few races and get this...participate in a Triathlon! Ha! I don't expect to win...just finish. I already feel like I'm the awesome race of life. With God sustaining me, anything is possible! I included a picture of my kids this Christmas-lots of stockings to fill!