No Agenda

On Saturday we had a rare day with no agenda. Baby D had his 7 am bottle then went back to sleep, letting me sleep until almost 10 am. By the time I got up, dressed and went to wake him, he was peed up to his armpits! I was giving Baby D a bath when I remembered that there were going to be some celebratory doin's in town.

The big boys had gone rafting, taking the family vehicle, and Jonah was "spending the night at Grandma's house, all the way until Easter!" So, the girls found ourselves alone with Baby D and no agenda.

We strolled the mile to downtown enjoying the gentle sun warming our heads, and the gentle breeze cooling it back down. We missed the parade, arriving just as it was over. But I did hear a few people remark that they had blinked and missed the whole thing.... We walked a block to the free hot dog, cotton candy, and soda lunch and then I stood around visiting with people I knew while Baby D snoozed in his stroller, and the girls partook in some good, old fashioned redneck fun. Someone had set up a tractor tire on a teepee structure. They put the little people inside the tire and twisted as much as the ropes would allow. Then they let go. My girls went on that thing 4 times. With hot dogs in their bellies. I had to drag them away before someone blew hot dog chunks.

We bought cupcakes from the cupcake shop. But, honestly? I don't get the hoopla about buying cupcakes. And I really don't understand red velvet. Ghack! Since I had a check in my purse to deposit and we had no other plans, we walked the next mile to the grocery store where our bank is. I did my banking and the girls powdered their noses. We decided to have second lunch at the Mexican restaurant and then we walked the two miles home.

As I was walking with my girls, listening to their companionable chatter I thought about how rushed we make life. A four mile walk is not hard, yet I routinely drive 1/2 mile to the nearest grocery store because I simply do not have time to slow down.

It was nice.

I should schedule more agenda free days- just not tomorrow, because I don't have the time.

Glad - Easter Song

The One About Community

Have I ever said how much I love MOPs? Let me just tell you that if you are a mother with children younger than first grade, run, don't walk to your nearest MOPs group. If there isn't one near you, consider starting one. Seriously.

To say that life is a little topsy-turvy right now would be an understatement. We'll adjust, but I am not sure how I would have made the transition to this point with out all my friends. Friends who, not coincidentally, are mostly from MOPs.

From the moment we heard we might be housing this precious little baby, they have been praying about and for Baby D. When we had an arrival date, my friends started collecting the things he needed.

When Baby D came a week earlier than expected, my sister went to my cousin's house and picked up a crib, brought it over and helped set up his room. All that day friends showed up with clothes, toys, and even dinner for my family.

What a blessing to me to have such a community of friends who support each other in every endeavor. I am a rich woman indeed.

Do you need this in your life? Find a MOPs. Find a church. Find a group of women in the same life phase as you are in. Women need each other and we need community.

That's why God Gives Us Two Hands

If you look at the info thingy on the top of my blog it says:

When people ask me how many kids I have I hold up all the fingers on one hand and say, "A handful."

That would be all five of the fingers on one hand. One for each kid.

Except now I need 2 hands.

Yesterday we got a 6th child.

We don't know exactly how long he will be living with us, but while he is here he is going to get loved on real good.

We are crazy about babies.

We are crazy about kids.

We even like 'em when we don't agree with their lifestyle choices.

When we got the call from the very frantic mommy (who herself is like my child), there was no question that we would help her out in any way we possibly could. This is what form that help has taken.

And that is why God gives you two hands- just more fingers to count on.

Hurry Up...And Wait

There is something happening around here. Something that I am not at liberty to discuss. Something that will change the complexion of our family. (Don't worry- our family core is strong and that is not what is changing.)
This is the big news I wrote about last time I posted.
It is a REALLY BIG THING.
It is not something that I persued, rather, something that came looking for me.
I am nervous because this is something I want to happen very much- and at the same time I wish it wasn't happening at all. I am being stretched as a mom, as a friend, and as a Christian who says she is willing to do whatever God tells her to do, to love the way God tells her to love.
There are so many steps in this process, and I feel like we have spent a lot of time in "hurry up...and wait" mode.
Is that cryptic enough or you?
Here's the deal, I need you all to pray.
Pray that our family finds favor in the eyes of God and man and can be used as a vessel of God's love to a broken and hurting world. Also, pray that God will take the mountain before us and command it to be thrown into the sea. Pray for patience, wisdom, and grace.
Thank you.

Big

Big.
That's how I would describe the month of February.
Big worry.
Big loss.
Big love.
Big news.
Overwhelming.
Huge.
Monstrous.
February made me cry.
It made me cry out.
It made me cry out to my Abba.
Do you know why?
Because He is bigger.
There is nothing so big in my life that God is not bigger still.
There is no financial strain that He doesn't already have the answer for.
There is no loss so big that He cannot comfort it.
There is no love so big that He is not in it.
There is no news so big that He didn't see it coming and already equip me to deal with it.
That's the great thing about knowing whose I am. There is no question that my Daddy can fix it all. He's BIG.

Happy Birthday, Little Bit

On the 21st of February my Miss Elizabeth turned 10 years old.

She is full of sass and spunk, good will and good humor.

She is eager to please and easy to love.

Happy Birthday, Little Bit.

Love, Mom

___________________________________________

I realize that this post is long overdue.

I have had her picture uploaded for nearly 2 weeks.

I just needed to get past the fact that for the first time in her short life there will not be another birthday picture like the one below. This is the first time since she was born that Elizabeth has not shared her birthday with her great grandma. I'm sure Grandma's party was more spectacular than Libby's, though.

She would have been 90 on the 21st.

We missed her.