January 2013: A funny, faith filled roller coaster month

Where did January go?   I think the theme for January was "roller coaster", and we never even went to a theme park.  Everything from the economy and politics, to our health and the weather had extreme ups and downs this past month.  Even my emotional state went from valley low to mountaintop high this month.

It was nearly impossible to plan anything in January because the weather was so chaotic.  We have had to reschedule play dates, parties, school days, outings, travels and so much more due to weather changes.  It would be in the 70s one day (shorts & flip-flops weather) and freezing cold with sleet falling the next day.  On Tuesday, it was freezing in the morning and sweltering hot in the 70s by mid afternoon.  The kids missed co-op two weeks in a row due to icy roads.  We did not get any snow on this side of town the first week, but the area where our co-op group meets got some snow.   The following week, icy roads kept us home again, and this time, our neighborhood was covered in ice until warm temperatures moved in the next day and melted it all away by noon.

When my husband looked out at the golf greens in the front and back of our house, he estimated that the greens would register a 250 on the stimpmeter.  

The kids tried to play outside in the ice.  They made ice balls and tried to snow board a little.  My son calls that type of wintry weather play "surfing on ice".

If the weather didn't cause us to adjust our schedules, then sickness or injury did.  I'm catching up on lots of blogging today because I blew my knee out again and can't do much else.   Our son got the flu, but only for a day, so I had to miss out on my favorite Bible study and a long awaited lunch date with the most influential spiritual mentor of my life.  Our boy made out like a bandit, though.  The girls in his class made him a red quilt covered with glitter bling. He liked it so much he danced the hula with it when it was dry enough to bring home.

Our little boy, aka Lover Possum, continued pouring out sweet sentiments his month.  His hugs, kisses, and words of affirmation speak to my heart better than any other expressions of love.

As a baby, his kisses gave new meaning to the term, "suck face".

After he received the blanket from the girls at school, I asked him, "Am I still your favorite girl?"  He assured me that I was.

Then I replied,  "Well, you are my favorite boy. And Daddy is my favorite man. But when you grow up and become a man, who will be my favorite man?

He wisely responded, "It better be Daddy because you made a promise!"

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Another loving conversation between my boy and me went like this:

Hovering 6-year-old: "I sure do love you, Mommy."

Suspicious Me: "I love you, too. Now, what is it that you want?"

Hovering 6-year-old: "Nothing, really, except to give you a kiss."

He then kissed me lightly on the cheek.

I've got to do some serious praying over that boy because he is a mushy mess!

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Yesterday, he said to me, "Mom, when I grow up, I don't ever want to leave home."

I told him that was music to my ears now, but when he becomes an adult around age 18, he will need to move out.

Then his 8-year-old sister asked him in a voice of astonishment, "You mean you don't want to be FREE?" 

If she only knew all the responsibilities (working a job, paying taxes, paying bills, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.) that went with that freedom, and how many of our freedoms seem to be slipping away. 

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Sometimes, our little Lover Possum's comments are not as complimentary.  For example, yesterday our area had tornado warnings with wind gusts up to 50 mph.  Having only had one real encounter with a tornado as a child, I am dangerously unconcerned over such warnings.  While out shopping last night, the wind scooped my shopping receipt out of my purse and blew in circles like the spoke of a bicycle tumbling around and around across the parking lot never to be seen again.  So, I told my boy to hold on to me tightly lest he or this little old lady blow away.

He replied, "You aren't little, mom. You are a big woman...and you aren't old either."

Good save there at the end, my boy. Good save.

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The winter months are the busiest for our family with not us much margin as I would like for unexpected emergencies or for simply being there for a friend in need.   So, when sudden changes in weather and/or sickness force us to stay home, I try to count it as a blessing even if I will be making up all those appointments at a later date.

Parenting books and marriage mentors highly encourage couples to make "couch time" a priority.  Couch time is intentionally sitting together on the couch as husband and wife, focused only on each other, to connect and affirm.  Kids are not allowed to intrude while Mom and Dad discuss the day, cuddle, and just enjoy being together.  I cherish couch time with my husband, so when we had some unscheduled free time this past month due to weather cancellations, I made sure my husband and I spent some of it together on the couch.

Even though experts insist that kids want and need to see their parents making time together a priority and expressing love for one another, our kids do not like having to find something else to do while we have our couch time.  I recently overheard our daughter telling her brother, "When Mom and Dad sit together on the couch, it is my duty to entertain them with stream of nonsense."

I had to remind her that her duty was to leave us alone during couch time.  When I asked her to define "stream of nonsense" she explained it as something akin to stream of consciousness writing except she talks nonstop about whatever topic she chooses.  That night, she chose the topic, "nuclear science of cameras".  It makes no sense whatsoever, but she thinks it's hysterical.

Some of her other nonsense play involves her stuffed animals.  She has established a "Webkinz breeding program" which is overseen by a panel of government officials.  Each of her stuffed animals holds a government position.  I wonder what she's trying to say about our nation by appointing three translators for every one senator, judge, or congressman.

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I love writing down some of the cute or funny things my kids say, but all children have a wonderful capacity to amuse and teach adults.  I recently volunteered in the 2-year-old LAMBS class.  While there, I noticed a girl standing in the corner with her nose to the wall. I asked her why she seemed sad. She replied, "I'm putting myself in time-out because I started disobeying as soon as I woke up this morning."
So I replied, "Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, when we are truly sorry for disobeying, he takes our sin and casts it as far as the east is from the west and down to the bottom of the sea."

She answered, "But He'll go back and get it, right?"

I replied, "No, Mam! It's gone forever."

She answered, "Then I guess a shark will eat it," and then she rejoined the rest of the kids.

Meanwhile I thought to myself, "How often do we grown-ups put ourselves in time-out because we think we've messed up too much to be of any use to God?" Let's throw off the past, accept His forgiveness, and walk in newness of life for His glory. He has big plans for each of us!


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While January 2013 began with anxiety in my heart and crying out to the Lord to carry new burdens, it has ended with great hope.  He has filled my anxious soul and given me encouragement.  God is so faithful!

I finally got to meet with my mentor though we had to reschedule it due to sickness once after already waiting months (or has it been years?) to get together again.  What a blessing it is to sit down and talk over issues of eternal value with a woman who played such a key role in my faith journey during my four years of college. 

College Days:  My Mentor & Me

 I left feeling inspired.  I even posted this comment on Facebook to document what I was thinking after meeting with her that day.

Whenever someone has a chance encounter with a celebrity, famous athlete, or statesman, they like to announce it on social media and write about that meeting in books or blogs. I just spent a few hours with a Godly mentor who is a faithful servant of Christ. Instead of seeking fame for herself, she consistently strives to make Jesus famous. So, I feel like shouting from the rooftops that I just had lunch with Jesus. Fellow Christians, do we allow Christ to reign so fully in our hearts that when others spend time with us, they don't see us but instead see Jesus? 

That status update reminds me of an earlier blog post I wrote about my journey and goals in parenting my mini-me. 

Everyone should seek out a Paul and Barnabas in his or life.  We should be mentoring someone younger in the faith and be mentored by someone further along in their walk with Christ.   It's uplifting, encouraging, and satisfying.  It keeps our faith vibrant and strong.  And it's Biblical.