Sweet things indeed

Ha Ha my students know this is my favorite font. Well, today had brought with it many realizations. I went to the mall tonight and while my husband was being proded at the dentist, my kids and I went out in search of shoes. Lexie and I were triumphant. Owen was out of luck. My jubilation of finding great looking, dare I say cool shoes at a wonderful price (I still have most of my birthday money left) my children's behavior, and the fact that my husband's appointment went longer than expected changed my mood drastically. I left the mall frustrated and annoyed. And so you have it, for those of you who think I am always upbeat and happy...it happens to all of us...that knot in your stomach that makes you say 'who cares that there is laundry to be done or the dishes to finish (although I did do them when I got home despite my fowl mood)'. And then something much more important than your mood happens...

In the middle of his snack, while I'm brooding at the kitchen sinking wiping cruds off dirty dishes, Owen makes a funny (not so ha ha) sound mid bite a sausage. Owen started choking! Not hard and fast, but you could hear it in his throat when he tried to talk, he started coughing and crying, and eventually tried to throw it up, all to no avail. I brought him to the kitchen to lean over the garbage can. I was reassuring him that he was okay and that he should keep trying to cough. In my head however, I'm thinking "NO! Where's my dad?!" I actually sent my husband to get my father, a nice thing about being neighbors with one's parents. My dad came over and did a mini Heimlich maneuver with Owen and the sausage bite passed along the appropriate route.

I was scared and relieved. I later found myself sitting on the front step praying. Ironically, I didn't thank God for the fact that Owen hadn't choked. Rather, I was asking God for strength. I am one woman. Huh, there's a new one. Each day I find myself trying to do the work of many more than one woman, and everyday I am frustrated when I fall short. Having coffee with a dear friend today she asked me when I was going to break down. God is saving me from that, I'm sure. My time spent with him give me strength, and encouragement and my conversations with friends, and especially with friends who also believe in God's amazing powers to see us through situations are a great comfort.

After my conversation with God on the front step I decided to update my blog. As I was waiting for the computer to start up I found myself looking at Owen back at the table finishing off his sausages. He sat there quietly chewing, mouth shut, with a very innocent look on his face. He made me giggle when he whispered under his breath "excuse me" when he burped, holding the knife and fork that were made for adult hands, swinging his legs, complete content with the situation, having moved on from what had happened less than an hour prior with another sausage. Grown ups should learn to move on like this.

A crazy night filled with a plethora of feelings. Good night.

All Terrain Tires

Have you ever been driving down the road, riding your bike down a steep hill, or roller blading a simple path and whamo! Something unexpected happens, your tires leave the ground, and you end up sprawled out for everyone to see you failed? If life has shown me nothing lately it's that no matter what type of car, bike or roller blades you have things will happen that you couldn't have anticipated. The question is...do you have all terrain tires?



Speaking metaphorically, the tires are what get you through the circumstance, the unexpected event. If you go cheap with the tires you'll be on the ground looking up pretending that you are okay. However if you invest in your tires, you'll get through the rough patches in life and you will be able to proclaim loudly to the world that you are okay, without trying to convince yourself.



Investing in these 'tires', the thing(s) that get you through life, doesn't mean having a lot of money in the bank, building walls around yourself to protect your feelings or watching out for everything that might go wrong. It's making sure you're right with God. Are you walking a path that will see you through to the end or is it one where you are constantly second guessing your actions?



In a conversation I had with my daughter just today about trusting in God, His plan for our lives, and His works, I was able to confess to her that I don't understand it all but I trust in Him always. My blog is entitled 'who needs an umbrella' for a reason. Mercy Me wrote a song called 'Bring the rain'. It's chorus is: "...I know there'll be days /when this life brings me pain/ but if that's what it takes to praise You/ Jesus bring the rain..." My hope is that throughout my life my children will see me struggle with my decisions and situations that test my faith always seeing God's faithfulness to our family and our trust in Him. God is the brand of tire I'm investing in, and we're on the ultimate road trip!

Do I have enough tickets?

Whenever I sign a card for a friend who has recently had a baby, I always write "enjoy the roller coster ride of parenthood". Not the wittiest of things to write, but I've always thought of my 'ride' as a parent like a ride on a roller coaster. I also think life in general is like a roller coaster ride. I mean, what other ride at the PNE would you rather go on a zillion times!

I quit my job today. I've had this particular job since I was 18 and that seems like forever ago. So today, I asked myself, do I have enough tickets to ride the next roller coaster? Here's a great thing...God makes sure you have the right number of tickets to go on the right roller coaster.

I went on a ferris wheel with one of my sisters once, it went around the circle, but it also spun around by itself. It was freaky! I felt totally out of control. I remember screaming to the operator that we needed to stop and get off. Life is not like this ferris wheel ride, nor is it the boring kind where you just sit there and slowly go around. Life is like many different roller coasters. Instead, like on roller coasters, you need to put your hands in the air, you need to catch your breath, you need to scream, you need to laugh and sometimes you cry (I once almost peed myself on a roller coaster, but that's enough of that story).

A university professor once said to me that 'God is good'. We often quote this still as we communicate back and forth. God does not allow things, the roller coaster, to get out of hand, to fall off the tracks, to miss the turn. He is in control and knows exactly how the roller coaster should move. When you're on a roller coaster, you sometimes think it's going to go right, but then it jolts to the left. These are not surprises to God, only to us.

I am excited about the next ride. I am confident God is taking me where I need to be so that I can glorify him to the utmost. I am excited to be exactly where I am...eventhough I don't have all the answers. God is good. Do not whisper this. God is good! Tell everyone. Trust Him. The ride continues...

The First of Many

It's late and I'm sitting at the computer wondering who's out there. The heat this week has made me grateful for my office job ... and the air conditioned office cubicle in which I reside. Dilbert should have a comic based on what would happen if Catbert outlawed the AC. The kids are happy, my husband is healing well, and I have tomorrow off work. I am truely blessed, and amazed daily at how God continues to bless us with love, friends and peace.