Archive for February, 2010
Good night, Sleep Tight
February 28th, 2010
Molly says, “You should do a post on how you got your kids to transition to their beds.”
The following is Owen’s story:
We began the process with much trepidation. But our boy, the sensitive one who needed frequent cuddlings and assurance, was to become a big brother soon, and Mama needed room in the bed for her growing belly. Brian tucked the crib mattress between the wall and our bed and we gave it a try. The first night was tough. I nursed him and then put him down, providing many kisses and pats and then retired to my rocking chair a few feet away. He immediately got up and toddled over to me. I put him back to bed and told him not to get up. The cycle repeated with whimpers and sighs and cries and the firm voice of his Daddy. And eventually he drifted off to sleep in his new space.
The first night, he woke and crawled into bed with me for comfort, but after multiple nights of our new routine, the night wakings got further and further apart until he was sleeping all night in his new beside my bed.
When Owen turned two and as the birth of the new baby neared, I contemplated moving Owen into the bedroom with the older kids, but his need to know I was nearby made me hesitate and we kept our arrangements as they were until Benjamin was two months old.
On Christmas Eve, we sensed it was time to make the move and so we moved the crib mattress into his new bedroom, next to the big bed his siblings shared. That night as we tucked the kids into bed, the twinking in three sets of eyes was a happy mix of Christmas anticipation and the joy of new adventure!
After only a couple of weeks of sleeping on the mattress in the big kids’ room, Owen was ready to move into the double bed (the bottom of the bunkbed) with Gavin. (Having slept on a mattress and never rolling off, we were sure he could handle the rise in height.) Aside from extra giggles and a few games of covers tug-of-war before drifting off to slumberland, the final stage of the journey was easy and painless.
Up next: Peaceful nights and early mornings…
This Week’s WORD
February 27th, 2010
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:1
I sat down to read my Bible, but first I prayed. I laid out some heavy concerns that were on my heart. Told God I knew He could handle them, but was honest with Him about my fears.
Then I looked at what was on my schedule to read for the day, opened my Bible, and discovered God was waiting in John 14:1 with encouragement for me.
Are you troubled about something today? Take it to the LORD in prayer. He can handle it!
See you back here Monday.
The story about the friends in the coffee shop…
February 26th, 2010
I’d just gotten my coffee and sat down to get some writing done at my favorite coffee shop.
A woman walked over and set a vase of flowers down on the table next to me.
She dug in her…
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He is Not my Enemy
February 26th, 2010
OK, so yesterday I told you about a choice I had with regard to how I handled a certain situation with Joshua. Wish I could say that one revelation led to a never-ending occurrence of peaceful moments between my son and I.
But that would be a lie.
And you all are my friends, and I don’t want to lie to you.
The truth is Joshua and I continue to clash often. And I don’t like it. I want to live at peace with him. I try. But it feels like a battle.
How does that work? A battle for peace???
Whatever.
So the other day I was sitting and praying about my relationship with Joshua. Telling God all about my desire to have peace reign in our home, and between Joshua and me. I was pouring out my heart and in the midst of it, God poured something in.
It was a simple statement.
Joshua is not your enemy.
I stopped for a moment and just sat with that thought.
Joshua is not my enemy.
He is my son.
He is my flesh and blood.
He is a gift to me from God above.
He is not my enemy!
And I need to stop approaching my interactions with him as if I am facing opposition. I don’t think it was coincidence that moments after God spoke this thing to my heart, I read the account of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Right before Judas was to betray Him, and Peter was to deny Him, Jesus displayed His love to them!
Maybe Joshua and I will continue to clash as he enters his teenage years. Maybe there will be times when I’ll feel disrespected and put-out. But Jesus loved those who would betray Him, who would deny Him. He knew what they would do and He loved them anyway! And by His grace I will love my son through our trials, too.
Father, please give me – give all of us – the grace we need to love our children even when we don’t feel like it. Help us in each moment to remember how great Your love is for us, and move in us to pour that love out over our children.
A great dinner recipe…
February 25th, 2010
Welcome to Talkin’ About Thursdays!
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I Had A Choice
February 24th, 2010
My son needed me to do something for him.
I had other things to do, things I would have rather been doing, but I decided to take care of this issue first.
So I read the shipping and packaging directions, and wrote down the pertinent information we needed to keep for our records.
Told my son what I was doing and showed him where I was putting the paper. So he would know, should he ever need to find it.
I was doing my best to be kind. Wanted to do what I could to show love to my son (‘Cuz he was in a pretty bad mood.) and I thought showing how careful I was being to take care of this task for him would speak love.
But he?
Responded to my gestures with an I-don’t-really-care-what-you’re-doing-or-how-careful-you’re-being attitude.
And that made me mad.
I wanted to lay into my son with a lecture about respecting me, and appreciating all the things I do for him, and then maybe send him to his room until he could work it up within himself to treat me better.
But before I opened my mouth, the Holy Spirit held it closed.
Tightly.
And as I stood there with my mouth shut, He gave me a moment to realize something. Standing there – trying to be nice to my son, feeling put-out and thoroughly dissed – I had a choice.
I could yell at my son and make him feel worse than he already did. I could take out my frustration on him and have him yell at me, stomp off to his room, and slam his door. I could bring a cloud of anger into the house which would likely hang around for the rest of the night.
OR
I could turn the other cheek. I could forgive my son for the way he was treating me. I could remember that he’s a child and upset about the fact that he had to do homework. That he wasn’t intentionally being mean to me.
And, in so doing, I could increase the chances that we would have a pleasant evening together.
I went with the second option.
Decided it was a good time to leave the house for a few minutes to mail out my son’s package and took the quiet moments to let God sooth my heart and spirit.
Oh, am I ever thankful for the grace of God which helps me make better choices.
How have you seen His grace in your life lately?
The field near our house…
February 24th, 2010
We have a beautiful field in our neighborhood.
The other day, the weather was so gorgeous, I decided to take my camera out there and shoot a few pictures.
Funny how you appreciate…
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A Gift for Jenni – with Your Help
February 23rd, 2010
It was just about six years ago that I started meeting with Jenni. God had given me the desire to find a mentor and in His perfect time, He connected me with Jenni. What a blessing she has been to my life!
He used her to help me understand the idea of becoming holy, like He is holy. He used Jenni to help me better understand how He sees me, that He truly delights in me! God worked through Jenni to draw me closer to Himself.
And He spoke through her to lead me into my speaking ministry.
Which led to writing my first book.
Which led to writing this blog.
Which led to meeting so many wonderful friends in the blogosphere.
And it can all be traced back to that day when I was in a funk and Jenni asked me, “Karen, what really drives you? Where is your passion?” That day when I realized this “stuff” God was doing in me as a mother was something He was preparing me to share with other mothers.
Ah, I am so thankful for how He has worked in me through Jenni!
I have continued to be blessed by meeting with Jenni, but that time is coming to an end. Jenni and her family are soon moving to Texas, and on March 18 we will be meeting together for our last “official” time of spiritual direction.
*sad face*
I’ve been thinking about what I could do or say to express to Jenni how deeply thankful I am for her investment in my life, but nothing seemed adequate.
Until, God gave me an idea.
And it requires your help.
If you have been touched somehow by God through my speaking or writing, would you be willing to write a note of thanks and blessing to Jenni? I think it would be awesome to present Jenni with a stack of cards at our last meeting, showing her how God has multiplied her investment in me by touching the lives of others.
If you are so inclined, please email me and I will give you my mailing address so you can send me a card, which I will give to Jenni.
Thank you, thank you for your kindness!
When You Pray
February 23rd, 2010
One Dish Meals
February 22nd, 2010
Amanda says, “I would love more detail about what you guys eat.”
Some of our favorites:
Debbie’s Casserole
Taco Soup
Hungry for more? A few additional delicious standards:
Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
Spaghetti Sauce
Mexican Casserole
