Back to normal?

What a difference a week makes!!  The pity party is over.  We had a wonderful weekend playing while Big Daddy was away- playing.  My friend and her kiddos came to our house for one big sleep over!! We ate pizza, watched movies, snacked on popcorn and then put the kids to bed.  My friend and I had a sweet late night chat and giggles. 

Went for a run this morning and really had some time to reflect on why I let my attitude get so yucky last week.  Want to know what I came up with?  Selfishness.  Yep.  I was getting bogged down in what my expectations were for everyone else around me instead of focusing on what the Lord requires of me.  All I saw (from my clouded view) were all the things that were not being done right and causing me more work and headache.  I was not being thankful, was not setting an example of joy, and I was not choosing to love.

When the Lord says in the bible to "Love One Another", He means it just as it sounds.  Its not "Love one another if he or she deserves it".  Nope. It simply states to Love.  Even when- or more importantly when- we think they DON'T deserve it.  I wasn't walking in obedience, so life was rough.  I was trying to take control.  One thing I do know about the Lord is that until we give up the control to HIM- he will let us go about our way until we figure out just how ignorant we really are and decide to give things back to Him.

Luckily, I figured it out and things have returned to normal around here.  If, that is, you can call us normal.  You really don't have to tell me what you think- really.

Patient in affliction?

I really want to write this post that is a long list of reasons why I should be able to sit and have this pity-party I am currently having.  I want to tell you all the reasons why I am stressed, upset, frustrated, unmotivated, saddened, annoyed, unproductive, and down right exhausted.  However, I won't. 

I have been reading Philippians and Romans with my kiddos the last couple of days and while I went into the days wanting to open their little heads and pour in the knowledge, the Lord seemed to teach me instead. 

Last night while lying in bed, 2 verses kept coming to mind:

Romans 12:12  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Philippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

You see, unstead of praying and giving all my baggage and attitude to God, I was (am) carrying it around as some sort of excuse to allow my emotions to govern my attitude.  I have always loved the Romans verse.  I think its easy to be joyful in hope, and usually have no problem being faithful in prayer- I love to pray!  The part I have a hard time putting into practice is the patient in affliction.  The past couple of days though, I have mixed the lack of patience with the lack of prayer. Big mistake!!

You see, the thing about attitudes is that they are contagious.  Good or bad (unfortunately).  By the time I went to bed last night, I realized that my attitude the last couple of days had changed the entire mood of our household.  Every other person (big and little) were beginning to be short of patience, joy, and love.  To make things worse, I am now feeling guilty because Big Daddy left this morning for 4 days.  I can guess that I didn't give him a very nice going away present.

I don't like that I can have that much influence.  Why is it that mom's have that ability?  All I know is that now I have some cleaning up to do- and its not on my out of control house.  I need to go back and use my sin as an example to my kids of how NOT to act, and show them how to ask for forgivness when we mess up. 

I am just glad I have this verse in mind as well:
Lamentations 3:22-23  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

                

A Happy Mother's Day - Eve!!

Today was such a great day!!  Even though Mother's Day isn't until tomorrow, I can't imagine that it will be any better than today.  I was even able to shop for my own present at Home Depot!!  Yes, you heard me correct- I bought my own gift.  Why Home Depot you ask?  Well, ever since we moved into our house, I have wanted to get our sunroom together (as a true sunroom and NOT a catch all junk room). 

The last couple of weeks I have been cleaning out for a yard sale, and the sunroom is now junk free!  So, this morning I just happened to mosey into the Home Depot and found the cutest cushions for my wicker set!! I was also excited that they were as cheap as I have ever seen them!  I bought 1 to see how they would look. 

Well, they were so cute that I not only went back to get the others, but also wound up with a new rug, ceiling fan, and patio dining set for the deck!!  This is huge for me, because I rarely spend money on things like this.  But I just have to say- I LOVE MY SUNROOM!!  I still need to touch up some paint and find some new curtains, but that will just be icing on the cake!! 

Here are before.....

Dark, gloomy, boring.

Here is after- new and bright!

I love that a little change can

make a BiG difference!!

The day continued to get better when my parents and my in-laws came to spend the afternoon with us.  The weather was perfect!!  The sun was shining and a nice breeze was blowing.  The Mother's got together for a picture taken my my 7 year old. 

My hubby made a yummy feast of grilled pork loin,  a variety of hot wings,  grilled corn on the cob,  pasta salad,  and fresh fruits and veggies.  I made homemade ice cream with the kids and my MIL brought a caramel cake as well as a banana split cake.  Can you say c-a-l-o-r-i-e-s???? 

I was planning on sitting on my bum tomorrow, but I think I just might want to fit in a run (or two).  

Zoo fun

Last week we took a day to go to the zoo and play.  We had such a wonderful time!  We went on a Wednesday, and other than a few schools there for field trips, it was wide open for us to enjoy.  The kiddos were great.  They stayed with me and were very helpful to each other when the little ones needed help. 

We arrived early enough to feed the giraffes, see monkeys play, hear the tiger roar,  and watch the koala feed her baby.  The meerkats, gorillas, elephants, penguins, and lemurs were also out putting on quite a show for the kids- and they loved every minute of it! 

Feeding birds (getting bit) and looking through aquariums

Mr. Tiger after his display of macho.  Can you see the baby koala?

He is nursing!

Can you tell which are real monkeys and the ones that play monkeys at home?

Mommy giraffe and her baby. The beautiful (stinky) flamingo.

Sometimes when homeschooling, things get hard and stressful.  Days like this make me thankful that we have the freedom to make that choice for our kids and that makes even the worst of days seem o.k.

Of course they are already asking when we can go back so we can see the kangaroos- awake!! 

**I am just going to say here that this is not how the pics are supposed to be layed out.  I am on the verge of thowing blogger out the window with uploading these pics!  OK- I feel better now (not really)**

Dinner and a show

I really don't have anything deep or funny to say.  I seem to be out of creativity these days.  My kiddos, however, are full of creativity!!  As I sit here on the couch typing, "A", "T", and "L" are practicing a play that "A" found today in a "Highlights" magazine.  Its called "Old Dogs, New Tricks".   

Supper is in the crock pot and Big Daddy is on his way home.  We actually have NO where to be tonight, so I am in full relaxation mode.  Our Wednesday night activities at church are finished for the summer.  Even though I still have a child with some school work to finish for the day, all is well.  I am looking forward to dinner and a show (apparently).

Here are a few previews to the "show":

"Duke" , the dog.  Why use make-up when markers work just as well?

"Duke" does tricks like sit and stay.

"J" was in relax mode like his mommy.  While this was happening,  he was in the bonus room enjoying some ESPN.

Yep,  he is turning into a teenager faster than I care to admit.  sigh.

I hope to get some pictures of our zoo trip last week edited and posted soon.  I still haven't found my camera.  I am using my daughter's and my mother's.  I am losing hope to find mine.  I think it is still somewhere at the beach. 

Anyhoo, supper is ready and the family is waiting.