From the Trenches

We are in the big middle of something I'm terming "Three-acaust."  Just use your imagination and you can probably decipher what our household is like.  I know everyone, adults included, go through slumps, funks, and bad moods, but it's just so much harder when you're responsible for the little human that is going through it.  I want to wave my magic mommy wand and reverse all this- less stress, less consequences, more enjoying family time, more cuddling.  Everything I try goes up in smoke.
Case in point, she would NOT clean her playroom.  I had tried everything so finally I just said, okay, we're going to get rid of these if we're not going to keep them clean.  I calmly got a trash bag and started filling it with her FAVORITE things that littered the floor.  Any child would get wide-eyed and start cleaning, right?  Not mine, she started picking up items, giving them a hard look over, and then would tell me those could go in the trash too.
I know life is more that following rules and being a "good kid" and I want her to be herself, be an independent thinker, and follow her convictions, but I want her to do those things AND obey.  I think God expects me to teach both as a parent and the balance of the two worlds.  I just don't know how to teach that to a three-year-old.
The truth of it is this- she is so kind and sweet and loving about 80% of the time and the other 20% she's testing the boundaries like all three year olds do.  But I feel like when you factor in the time that I'm away from her while I'm at work and that the 20% usually happens in the evening, I'm beginning to take it personally.  I know I shouldn't, but I think any mom would agree that's just how we are.  She even told my mom that she hits people because she misses me.  Who knows if that's true or if she's just crafty enough to think to say that.  Either way, mommy guilt has taken up residence in this war as well.  I'm on the verge of crying all the time thinking I CAUSED THIS because I teach other people's children while my mom stays with mine during the day.
I just have to remember- human nature is sinful.  We are all born with something in us that is broken and in need of repair.  Whether you're 3 or 30, every person tests the boundaries, steps on and/or over the line just for the fun of it.  And we all have it in us to choose.  I want to force her to choose the right, but I can't.  She has to make that decision.  And I HATE that right now.

This post has obviously turned out to be a brain/heart dump.  I have no grand conclusions to make us moms feel better.  If I did, this post would have been titled "Out of the Trenches."

And just so I don't end on a bad note or leave you guys thinking our house is just miserable, here is what happens 80% of the time:
-Faith and I were eating dinner at a restaurant one night when TJ was at work.  As we were leaving, I commented on the sunset and how beautiful it was.  It was also pink and purple, Faith's favorite colors, so we started talking about how God is just so good that he made the sunset her favorite colors.  She just kept saying dramatically, "Mom, God is just the goodest!  He's just so good!  He is just the goodest!"  I agreed then turned around to buckle her in her carseat.  As serious as she could be she looked at me and said, "Moma, at night God comes in my room and whispers He loves me in my ear."
And I absolutely, positively believe her.

Ain't Like Moma Fixed It

I can cook many things in mediocre fashion.  I can cook a few things that are great.  And I can make cake balls that will make you weak in the knees.  Besides that, you're outta luck.

One thing I do particularly well is homemade chicken and egg noodles.  TJ loves them and they typically don the table when he is having a rough week or I just want him to know I love him like crazy.  I learned how to make them from my moma.  Enter the problem.  She makes them phenomenally.  We were dropping Faith off a few weeks ago to go out on a date and my mom had made them for dinner.  For them.  Not us.  Not the ones going to dinner in the big town.  But there TJ stood over the pot on the stove shoveling them down the hatch.  I thought he might go for the big O right there he was making such a huge deal about them.  Ooooohing and ahhhing and whispering sweet nothings in their proverbial noodle ears.  Then he walked back into the living room, looked me straight in the eye and told me, "Yours are good, but... these are....gosh....amazing."

I know, TJ.  I KNOW.  My mom can do the tango with her kitchen and score a 10 from Bruno, Carrie Ann, and Len.  That's why I get up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to go to the WW.

I would type out the recipe, but just save yourself the effort and get a bag of Reames because they won't be as good. They just won't.  Food cooked by my moms always tastes a zillionty times better.
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In other news, my baby turned 3 last month.  We were planning on having a small friend party and a small family party but the stomach virus turned our world upside down and we ended up at Andy Alligators for our family party and when everyone got better we had the princess party at our house with her friends.  Just a few pictures to show you how much we wish each of you could've been there.

Birthday guhl

Two of Faith's favorites- Aunt Sarah because she's "silly Auntie Sarah."  Uncle John because, well, he's just amazing.  He and Faith are birthday buddies and they just have a super special bond. 

 My daddy and Sarah. My mom was home puking her guts out because she comes to watch our child even when we're all sick.  I love that woman. And her egg noodles. 

 My dad playing Whack-A-Mole.  There were 6 moles.  He has 6 kids.  

You do the math.  He was pounding those things with a fury. Ha! 

 My dad on the bumper cars.  I seriously never thought I would see the day.  If you know my dad, you totally understand.  

It's blurry, but its amazing.  The looks on their faces sums up exactly how they felt.  Elijah wasn't digging it, Brayden loved every minute of it.

"I'm free now."

Preach the Word, Sister

Last night at dinner Faith prayed.

"God, we just thank you for our food.  And we just ask you to bless our house with calmness."  

Can I get an AAAAAAMEN from the choir? Can I get an AAAAAAMEN from the congregation?  Can I get an AAAAAAMEN from the preacher?



(That, my friends, was a direct quote.  Not paraphrased and not jazzed up for the blog.  And I've asked everyone who prays with her and none of us have ever prayed that with her.  Just comin' straight from the heart. Ya know, from the main contributor of our house craziness.)



Watch it, Satan. We got yo' numba!