I've never flown before last Wednesday. When I've gone to the airport to pick up or drop off family members, I've looked somewhat enviously at those who were flying. The very attractive women pulling their wheeled carry-on luggage wearing dressy shoes that click-clicked when they walked. Or very important looking businessmen typing desperately on their laptops, using every moment to accomplish their tasks. Or even those in jeans and tennis shoes casually reading a book or flipping through a magazine. They all belonged to a club that I wasn't invited to join--People who are important enough to fly. (That's not a real club, y'all.)
"Why," I asked my mom as we exited our small connector plane at the Atlanta, GA airport, "weren't any of those people (you know, the ones in the club) green?" Yes, I said green. In spite of taking Bonine before we left home, I didn't feel so good. The take off wasn't too bad, until the plane started to level off and my tummy dipped with the wings. During the hour and a half flight, I hardly moved because I didn't want to rock the plane--my sweet hubby found this fact hilarious!!! The landing...oye vey!... Why hadn't anyone warned me that the landing could cause me to feel soooo bad! Fortunately, none of the other plane experiences were traumatizing.
I learned how to get a seat to yourself, if your flight has empty seats nearby. I mentioned that I had taken Bonine,an anti-emetic for those who experience motion sickness. I don't ride well even in a car sometimes, on a boat-ugghhh! On the little plane, Mom and Dad sat across the aisle from me. I didn't know my seatmate, nor would I ever know my seatmate. You see, as soon as my bottom settled in the seat, Mom and Dad started searching the pocket on the back of the seat in front of them. They both hold up a "barf bag" and enthusiastically encourage me to look for and find mine. I did find one and placed it so I could quickly get it if necessary.
My seatmate frantically started scanning the plane. There were two empty seats three rows ahead of Mom and Dad. She said, "If no one else gets on this plane, I'm moving!" A few minutes later I heard her mutter, "I am so movin!" When the flight attendant got within a few rows of us seatmate asks, "Is this it?" The flight attendant nodded and my seatmate nearly knocked me in the floor trying to get out of our row.
My mom very confusedly asks, "Did you pinch her?"
"No, Mom, you told me to get a barf bag."
I had plenty of room.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
In Memory
Ma'
Flying
______fast
__________jumping
_________________legs
Swirling
________away
____________seven year old's secret
___________________________________burdens
Altered
_______by
_________love
_____________arthritis
______________________alcohol
Stupid, stupid, stupid
Loved
_____unconditionally
____________________her boys
____________________________grandsons
_____________________________________granddaughter
Loved
_____to
_______dance
____________smoke
_________________have her own way
Lived
_____fully
__________for the moment
________________________for fun
Yesterday
Happy Mother's Day!
What?!? It isn't Mother's Day? I'm late?---Just kidding, I know Mother's Day is always on Sunday, but I was busy yesterday enjoying being a mom. I had a most magnificent day! Three sweet babies dedicated to the Lord at church, Gabriel, Brittain, and Kaylee. Their mamas and daddies were so proud. And the mamas were beautiful, truly they glowed. Obviously, they are very happy.
(Side note-- after the dedication my youngest leaned over and whispered, "Did you dedicate us, Mama?" Then last night my oldest boy asked, "Did you dedicate us?" I told them that I dedicated them to God from the moment I knew I was going to have a baby, but there wasn't a special dedication service. I don't think they were upset. Although, the youngest shook his head and muttered, "That's just wrong!")
After church, I took the boys to the beach for a picnic lunch, time at Fort Macon and to look for shells and sea critters. I don't like to go very far out in the ocean without my sweet hubby. I'm afraid I'll lose a child, so swimming wasn't on my agenda. The boys, however, wanted to swim very much.
God made a swimming pool for them. Really! I wish I had taken the camera so I could show you. The tide was way out, but up on the beach was the biggest tide pool I've ever seen. It was as long as a football field and about half as wide. The water was up to the boys' chests and shoulders. They played there for hours.
Several times, my youngest said, "I had so much fun!" "Thank you for taking us to the beach. It was fun!" Fun, fun, fun y'all! He also said, "This was the best Mother's Day ever!!!" I had fun, too!
My sweet hubby surprised me with a grill. We are havin' pork chops tonight!!!! I have missed having a grill!!!
I ended up the day with short visits with my mother in law and mom. I really missed my other mother in law yesterday-all last week, actually. I made her fudge recipe on Saturday in her memory. It's the first time I've fixed it and I didn't cook it long enough. It was grainy, but the flavor was good.
Incidentally, it was a good day to pray for our mothers, and grandmothers, for those who've lost their mothers and for those who wanted to be mothers, but weren't able to be. It's a good day to remember and thank God for all those women who have played a role and made a difference in my life.
(Side note-- after the dedication my youngest leaned over and whispered, "Did you dedicate us, Mama?" Then last night my oldest boy asked, "Did you dedicate us?" I told them that I dedicated them to God from the moment I knew I was going to have a baby, but there wasn't a special dedication service. I don't think they were upset. Although, the youngest shook his head and muttered, "That's just wrong!")
After church, I took the boys to the beach for a picnic lunch, time at Fort Macon and to look for shells and sea critters. I don't like to go very far out in the ocean without my sweet hubby. I'm afraid I'll lose a child, so swimming wasn't on my agenda. The boys, however, wanted to swim very much.
God made a swimming pool for them. Really! I wish I had taken the camera so I could show you. The tide was way out, but up on the beach was the biggest tide pool I've ever seen. It was as long as a football field and about half as wide. The water was up to the boys' chests and shoulders. They played there for hours.
Several times, my youngest said, "I had so much fun!" "Thank you for taking us to the beach. It was fun!" Fun, fun, fun y'all! He also said, "This was the best Mother's Day ever!!!" I had fun, too!
My sweet hubby surprised me with a grill. We are havin' pork chops tonight!!!! I have missed having a grill!!!
I ended up the day with short visits with my mother in law and mom. I really missed my other mother in law yesterday-all last week, actually. I made her fudge recipe on Saturday in her memory. It's the first time I've fixed it and I didn't cook it long enough. It was grainy, but the flavor was good.
Incidentally, it was a good day to pray for our mothers, and grandmothers, for those who've lost their mothers and for those who wanted to be mothers, but weren't able to be. It's a good day to remember and thank God for all those women who have played a role and made a difference in my life.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cheerfully, Completely, Immediately--Consistently
To obey is to do what you're told cheerfully, completely and immediately. This is what I've tried to teach my kids. I haven't taught it well.
My first problem is consistency. Somewhere along the way, the kids were doing well enough that I slacked up in my expectations and follow-through. The result is that little things that weren't ok, but weren't a "big" deal began to be part of our lives. The "humphs" and angry eyebrows turned into slightly more emphatic footsteps that grew into outright stomps.
Suddenly, I'm aware of wrong behavior, but instead of being sad. I was angry. How dare they act like this?--without even realizing that I've allowed this behavior. How dare they interrupt my day with this foolishness?
The other problem is that I don't model cheerfully, completely and immediately very well.
Cheerfully? When confronted with a task that I don't want to do (like disciplining my sweet angels) I am not particularly cheerful. In fact, I can be downright unpleasant.
Immediately? It's more like, at the last possible minute. The more unpleasant a task is the longer I put it off.
Completely? Often, it's just enough to get by.
I do not want to slide through my parenting or my life. I want to be consistently, cheerfully, completely and immediately faithful to my Lord, my husband and my kids.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:7 & 8
My first problem is consistency. Somewhere along the way, the kids were doing well enough that I slacked up in my expectations and follow-through. The result is that little things that weren't ok, but weren't a "big" deal began to be part of our lives. The "humphs" and angry eyebrows turned into slightly more emphatic footsteps that grew into outright stomps.
Suddenly, I'm aware of wrong behavior, but instead of being sad. I was angry. How dare they act like this?--without even realizing that I've allowed this behavior. How dare they interrupt my day with this foolishness?
The other problem is that I don't model cheerfully, completely and immediately very well.
Cheerfully? When confronted with a task that I don't want to do (like disciplining my sweet angels) I am not particularly cheerful. In fact, I can be downright unpleasant.
Immediately? It's more like, at the last possible minute. The more unpleasant a task is the longer I put it off.
Completely? Often, it's just enough to get by.
I do not want to slide through my parenting or my life. I want to be consistently, cheerfully, completely and immediately faithful to my Lord, my husband and my kids.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:7 & 8
Friday, May 1, 2009
Lay Down and Close Your Eyes
My oldest son couldn't sleep. He cried, "I'm just so tired, but I can't sleep."
"Yes, you can," I insisted. He got up and went to the bathroom again. The whining and moaning and crying continued. I loved on him (as much as he'd let me) and promised him that if he'd lay still and be quiet, he would fall asleep.
After leaving his room, I snuck back in because I figured he was probably sitting up instead of laying down. Sure enough, his grumpy little face was propped up on his elbow. It was time for sterner tactics. "Lay down and close your eyes," I said very firmly. "I can't sleep," he huffed. Frustrated but determined I said, "I didn't ask you to go to sleep. I asked you to lay down and close your eyes."
He did, and I wandered back to the computer to play Chuzzle some more while I waited for sleep to come to my son so I could go to bed. I wondered, "How many times has God said that to me and I whined just like my son?"
I didn't ask you to write a book, just a blog entry. I didn't ask you to feed 5,000, just a sick neighbor. I didn't ask you to die for your children, just to teach them of me. I didn't ask you to ....
That's what it's all about. Following God one step at a time. Being close enough to Him every single day to know what it is that He's asking of me.
Is there something you've been trying to do all in your own strength, all at one time? What is He asking you to do? Whatever it is, He will equip you to do it!
By the way, my sweet boy fell asleep just a very short time after he laid down and closed his eyes. Mama really did know what she was talking about. So does our heavenly Father.
"Yes, you can," I insisted. He got up and went to the bathroom again. The whining and moaning and crying continued. I loved on him (as much as he'd let me) and promised him that if he'd lay still and be quiet, he would fall asleep.
After leaving his room, I snuck back in because I figured he was probably sitting up instead of laying down. Sure enough, his grumpy little face was propped up on his elbow. It was time for sterner tactics. "Lay down and close your eyes," I said very firmly. "I can't sleep," he huffed. Frustrated but determined I said, "I didn't ask you to go to sleep. I asked you to lay down and close your eyes."
He did, and I wandered back to the computer to play Chuzzle some more while I waited for sleep to come to my son so I could go to bed. I wondered, "How many times has God said that to me and I whined just like my son?"
I didn't ask you to write a book, just a blog entry. I didn't ask you to feed 5,000, just a sick neighbor. I didn't ask you to die for your children, just to teach them of me. I didn't ask you to ....
That's what it's all about. Following God one step at a time. Being close enough to Him every single day to know what it is that He's asking of me.
Is there something you've been trying to do all in your own strength, all at one time? What is He asking you to do? Whatever it is, He will equip you to do it!
By the way, my sweet boy fell asleep just a very short time after he laid down and closed his eyes. Mama really did know what she was talking about. So does our heavenly Father.
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