Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Perspective

This is Wednesday. The week began with good intentions. I'm reading a new book called God is for Real. It is a story about a young boy who goes to Heaven and back without dying during a surgery. His father wrote it, and I find myself longing for a moment to read it. However, I keep dreaming about Jesus, and I haven't slept well since I began the book on Sunday night. Vivian let out a short cry late in the 4 o'clock hour, and I am now awake. I've really been wanting to write lately, but everything else seems to come first. Monday I planned to get up before the kids, which means in the 5 o'clock hour, to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and read a short while. I thought I could ease into my week. Well, in the shower at a few minutes past six, I heard Evelyn enter my bathroom frantic about having not completed her Z homework while I was at bookclub the prior evening. I told her we had time. I thanked her for being responsible about her HW. It then took a lot of patience to not get mad when it became clear that she had entered the nursery searching for me in the dark, and she woke up both the baby and her brother. Vivian rolls with everything, but Henry was tired and NOT happy. He would not go back to sleep, and he was up and cranky. The lack of Z words in various magazines and catalogs led to more crying and whining in the Evelyn department, and Monday morning was rough. I think God knows what he is doing. Olivia, usually my child who is hardest to start come sun up, was awakened too, but she moved through our routines flawlessly. We went to MOPS, and I pulled out a devotional book, Jesus Calling, as I parked the van. The words resonated on April 11th, and made me laugh. "This is the day that I have made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them," and on it went. I thought the message was amazing. During our meeting, a speaker added perspective to my day. She pointed out that although we may feel in the trenches and drained to the last drop sometimes with our little children right now, that if we live past 60, then we will spend only 1/3 of our lives in active mothering. What? I feel like I will never know a day when there isn't a dirty bottom that needs tending. Perspective is a powerful thing. Little Henry can be so incredibly sweet. He developed a 101+ fever yesterday afternoon when Robbie had to stay at the office late. After his bath, which my stinky son really needed, he exclaimed joyfully, "Oh, Mommy!! Thank you so much for washing my CARS PJs for me! I love them. I love you, Mommy." He thanks me often for washing his favorite clothing articles. I responded with appreciation and said, "Henry, you are the only person in our family who thanks me for doing laundry. You are such a good boy." He charmingly came back with, "You are such a good mommy." I asked him if he will please thank his wife someday when (and if) she does his laundry. Yesterday Henry returned from the restroom and started fidgeting with his underpants. I asked him if something was wrong, he nodded, and I helped him pull down his pants and undies to loosen the area down there. I told him that if his penis or testicles, the little balls under his penis, ever hurt to please tell Mommy so I may help him. My guy said to me, "Those balls were SO hurting." Evelyn then said, "Mom, do I have balls?" "No, honey." Man, they are funny. Henry has also notices my breasts as I nurse Vivian, and he'll say, "Are those your privacies?" I had to tell him that he couldn't touch them, because my breasts are private. He respects my wishes, but he asks about privacy a lot. He also kicks his sisters out of the bathroom requesting his privacy too. Vivian pushes her little baby doll stroller walker all over the house like a big shot. She's so happy and lovely. She's been crying and reaching for her daddy as he leaves for work, which warms my heart. Robbie just worked out and needs the computer, so I'm off. I hope to share more soon.

No comments:

Post a Comment