Life School

Mn was looking at the packaging of this toilet seat when we arrived home from errands.  "You can take it out and see if you can put it on."  "Really?!"  

Me:  "Look over and smile."

Him to Ph:  "I'm laying on the toilet."

 

Bent Out of Shape

My life has been a little hectic lately.  In the middle of one Friday night, we accepted the call to take 2 foster kids for the weekend.  Well, that weekend turned into a week and that week turned into two.  Baby gates were needed, extra hands were needed, another pack and play, and three sizes of diapers.  My response has been roller-coaster-ish.  There has been laughter and tears.  I have tried to plan, but don't know the plan to plan around.  I am living in the moment.  Most afternoons are filled with two crying boys (one child that we took in moved on after a few days, so we are down to 2 sizes of diapers), and most evenings have been filled with less than loving responses to my husband's attempts to help.  I have had many broken moments, just crying out to God.  I can't do this!  Is that my selfish response or a right/normal/good response?  After the tears does come a peace though!!  Amazing how God works.  I broke, I told Him, He can fill me!  He can help me moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day.  My attitude and outlook is being adjusted (slowly).  After a impromptu fall break from homeschool, we are getting our school schedule adjusted and fitting it all in.  I still don't know the plan and what I do know makes me think that the weekend might run into yet another week.  I have had little encouraging things come at just the right moment: 

~At church on Sunday a verse was read in Second Corinthians 6 that mentioned "sleepless nights"...my response - God knows what I'm going through!!
~The sermon talked about all things giving God the glory, and are we doing any of this for our glory or for God's...my response - praying that this all is for the right reasons.
~A friend setting up meals for us (our family and another foster family)...my response - extreme gratitude!  It is getting easier, but it is amazing how little you can get done with 2 under 2.  
~This sweet face of our Mn:

 

So, after all that (hopefully it made sense), if I seem a little bent out of shape, forgive me!  I'm getting refined!  And hopefully my ring will be get the kink out soon too.  If you see that I'm not wearing it, don't assume that something is wrong between Kevin and I...I just felt securely claustrophobic!  He knows and he is very understanding!  Pray for us, would you!?  There are many scenarios that could play out and some of them require us to make a decision about the care of sweet boy (not pictured). 

Bits and Pieces...

~  Kevin's birthday cake...I want to remember was based off of this recipe.  Yumm!!  Rich.  Lasted many weeks in the freezer, only taking bits out at a time.

~  Hobo Tin Foil Meals:  Onion soup mix is a great way to season them.  I made a homemade no MSG, no gluten version from here.  I substituted vegetable broth bullion for beef in the recipe to suit vegetarians in the family!  Great!

~  I was gone for a week from my regular laundry duties.  The first load I did when I came back...no soap.  Oops...didn't realize this until I had already started the dryer.  Yes, I used the dryer on a beautiful summer day.  I didn't know if I could handle hanging things out.

~  Oh, big news.  Baby on the way.  Haha.  I have all-day morning sickness this round.  I've never experienced this before.  It's awful!  But I did have some great help last week as I stayed at my parents house with the three kids.  Kevin had to go home to work, and missed us, but had fun anyways, I think.  Baby G missed Kevin too, I think.  He's been waking up in the night every night since Kevin's been around.  Otherwise, he's been sleeping through the night for at least a month.  We might have to go camping again if this keeps up.  Just to get him back to the all night sleeping.

~  So tired.  Better get to bed.

Life

A friend wrote this on their wall on Facebook.  I thought about writing a comment but then as thoughts were running through my mind it is so much more than one comment.  For me, it is a way of life...the answer to this question.

I've been sitting here, trying to write a question about how one overcomes feeling unfulfilled by their career.

So friends, if you had to go through a career change, can you share the good and bad of that experience?

Unfulfilled... Unsatisfied... I've felt those before.  As much as I have a hard time adjusting to change, it happens, it's necessary.  I went to college and it was difficult.  I was often very overwhelmed.  I decided to take a break, not knowing if I would ever go back.  I worked full-time at a Christian business.  It was nice, it was encouraging, but it had negatives just like any other job.  So, as I was considering whether to change "careers" or just stay and bear it, I realized that no matter what situation - job or otherwise - that we are in, there is always going to be dissatisfaction.  It may start all rosy and wonderful, but there are going to be times where you never want to go back.  I realized I couldn't run away from something that had a bit of "hard" in it.  I had to face it or realize that the next situation is going to be the same way - eventually.  

 As I look at the world, I see the same thing.  Products I buy new are not going to be perfect.  They are going to break or wear out or quit.  Now, I could run to the store and ask for a replacement or I can realize that this is just how life is.  We live in an fallen and imperfect world.  Stuff doesn't last, people aren't always kind, food goes bad (check out the mango).  You may feel this outlook is depressing, but for me...I have found freedom.  

I can fix tears and wear the clothes.  I can use the good 4/5s of a sweet potatoe.  I can compost that rooted mango.  I can forgive and love the people that aren't perfect (myself included).  I can choose to see the positive in people. 

2 Corintians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

I sure do look forward to a day when everything will be made perfect!