Like Him...

So today as I sat in our RS scripture study class, scenes from life in my home replayed through my mind. I thought of Kenna up in her room--conveniently "out of earshot". I thought of my boys when they get in the zone--you all know what I mean...video game controller in hand, standing 2 feet away from our BIG screen--nothing short of pulling the cord yanks them out of "La, la land". Some of my biggest frustrations as a mom happen when I feel like my kids aren't listening to me.
We were talking about prayer today. How do we access our Heavenly Father? What are the roadblocks that keep us from sincerely praying? One roadblock that our teacher brought up was feeling rushed...I could definitely relate. Are we really listening to hear what God wants to tell us? Do we really understand the amazing blessings He has ready to give us if we will just ask?
I realized that I am alot like my kids...sometimes I am conveniently "out of earshot"--maybe hoping to escape the responsibility that comes from knowing what God wants me to do. Sometimes I am in "the zone"--so restricted by my "to-do" lists, calendars, and expectations--that He has to "pull the cord" to wake me up and remind me that I don't have to do any of this alone...and that He has a plan for me if I will just listen.
One of my dearest friends showed me a new parenting idea--it involves a circle...and within that circle are written words like "peace, love, joy--"all of those feelings and blessings we want that God gives to the obedient. The words that were written outside of the circle were words like "distraction", "defiance"--and so on. The idea is to teach our kids that they want to stay inside of the circle--helping parents and God to be pleased with them and their choices. The idea has intrigued me. And after our class on prayer today, I thought about myself in relation to this circle--how often am I too distracted to hear my children--or to hear God? How often am I defiant against those I love most?
I see shadows of the behaviors my children choose, in my own actions toward my Heavenly Father. I feel closer to my kids right now in a way they may not understand until they are parents--and they too, come to realize that it is through parenting that we can come to know Heavenly Father in a very personal way. He knows what it feels like to have children not listen, be defiant, and turn away...better than anyone. These are the lessons in life that can make us--if we let them, more like Him.

Really???

So just curious...does anyone even check this anymore? I've turned out to be a not-so-great blogger for awhile! What can I say? Time flies when you don't have any...hoping to catch up soon...but playing catch up is all I'm doing these day! Oh well...

Target Give-away...

Hey all--just a quick post to invite you all to check out one of my FAVORITE blogs--www.trainermomma.blogspot.com! This month she is doing a $50 gift card giveaway to Target--celebrating "back-to-school"--and heaven knows we all need a little extra cash right now! Hopefully you can check it out..and if you win, split the winnings with me! :)

And yes, I am finally getting back into a routine after an AWESOME girls camp, trip to Bear Lake, trip to Idaho, trip to Utah, back to Phoenix, sis in town with 5 kids for a week, and now back to school...I'm hoping to post on our summer fun soon...you know...when life slows down....(ha, ha, ha)...

Make it better...

This is my Lula...she LOVES the water and her favorite thing to do is wash her hands. She makes me smile and is one of my favorite things about being a mom. She is all sass--and I love it! This morning we were upstairs getting ready for the day in my bathroom. Tess was brushing
her hair and playing in my makeup and I was tying a knot in my hair so I could try and survive the only mild heat we're having today. I had heated my curling iron and saw Tessa's little fingers reach for it before I could get to her.
As her little hand wrapped around the tip of the iron, her face was mixture of shock and complete heartbreak! Luckily she only burned her little finger...but I grabbed her and held her close while she cried on my shoulder. She looked up at me with her tear-stained cheeks, held her burned little finger to my lips and said, "Mama-make it better"...
I kissed her finger and held her close for a minute longer until she wriggled free and jumped down to move on with her day. I've thought about this moment all morning and was thinking about how wonderful it would be if I could "make it better" for all my kids with a simple kiss. As soon as Mom was there to kiss away the "owee"--it was forgotten and life was good again. Just imagine what the world would be like if everything was so simple--if we all could know we are really loved and it only takes a kiss to "make it better"... hmmm...sounds a little bit like a Walgreens commercial...only in a perfect world!!

"It came from behind..."

This picture is so typical Christopher--he is constantly climbing and leaping onto and off of anything...and if you are his target, look out--you probably won't see him coming.
Kelly says that I read way too much into things--part of that could possibly be genetics and part of that comes from being a woman--I could blame insanity--but is that situational?
Anyways (way too much deep thinking for this time of night --oh wait, I mean morning) I think the reason I chose to blog around this picture is because I feel like this has been my life lately...things keep jumping me from behind...things that I should probably see coming. Since when did I have lines around my eyes, an official pair of "mom" jeans (what?), a weak bladder, or a daughter who now wears a bra? I guess you would think that as a mom or even just as a woman, you inherit a certain "spidey" sense--able to anticipate in a split second what is coming and instinctively react.
I'm not proud to admit it but during Spring Break I let some good habits slip a bit and am now reaping the consequences. Whenever I get too relaxed in my scripture study or personal prayers, that awareness seems to slip away. When I am diligent in doing those simple things, I feel like I am able to anticipate challenges that may come and react in a way that is positive and productive.
It seems like lately I've felt sluggish spiritually--and I need my "spidey" sense back--Kelly told me tonight that he wished we could just cut out the part of my brain that holds on to things and can't let go of things that don't matter (I was expressing some stress to him)--and as I've sat here thinking about how to let things go, I realize that I need to be able to hand those things off. But who wants that garbage? Who wants to take my mess and clean it up?
I know Someone who does and Someone who will--it's just up to me to hand it off to Him and let Him handle the rest...then I can get back to anticpating the challenges that come and prepping myself as Christopher's next landing zone...it's late now--and I'm off to over think things and try again tomorrow...

Seriously?

Okay--I'm beginning to think that something is truly wrong with me! I am actually starting to enjoy "Yo-gabba, gabba". Seriously?

Cross your fingers...

Okay--I am just hoping to send out good karma....one of my favorite blogs is www.trainermomma.blogspot.com --it's an amazing blog about fitness and nutrition tips. I have loved having so much info and so many ideas at my fingertips! Right now she is doing a $50 gift card give-away to TJ Maxx and I'm hoping to win...but if I can't, someone I love may as well--so check out the blog! Good luck to you all!!

Choosing teams...

I've never been what you would call "athletic"...sure I participated in P.E.--only because it was required. I did the "t-ball" thing when I was young, church sports when I was 12, and marching band in high school...okay, so that doesn't count--but it is harder than it looks, especially when you are wearing a plastic cowboy hat and polyester bell bottoms.
That is why it has surprised me that I volunteered for a sport that is perhaps the most challenging in the wonderful world of athletics. It is all strategy, full body contact, and there is no "official" rule book or protective gear. As much as a practice would help, there aren't any--you jump in--head first.
The other day I was watching Tessa--and the thought crossed my mind, "She's become one of them!" For a while there, I felt like she was on my side--she loved to cuddle, lay in bed with me, and want only me to "make it all better". Now I watch her choosing teams...
She goes to Carter to feel better--she wants to watch "Dora" rather than snuggle in bed with me--they send her to me to ask for treats--and she's full swing into the "no" phase of life. I knew it was coming--that doesn't make it any less bitter/sweet.
I was always picked last in elementary school when it came to sports--so it should come as no surprise to me that in this great game of "Family Life", I should be picked last, too. That's okay--I'm not bitter..it is all part of the plan...it's me and Dad vs. THEM. We are sorely outnumbered--and may not be able to run as fast as we used to, but we are in it to win.
Not win in the sort of way you might be thinking...it isn't so much a competition--it's just that in this game, we can't afford to lose--not a single game. There is too much at stake...
I have to be ready--playbook in hand, planning ahead for that next tackle or touchdown--ready to switch gears at the drop of hat--to perform at my best--because I never know which play could be the one that makes the difference--the difference that will hold my team together.
Game on...