BLESSED BEYOND EXHAUSTION
If this deployment has taught me anything, it’s this: I am much more of an introvert than I ever thought. I mean, I’ve always known that I have introvert tendencies. I can only handle crowds for so long before my eyes start glossing over, I start getting antsy, I shut down, and I begin searching for the nearest exit. But this deployment has greatly exaggerated those tendencies. This is Peter’s…
I need a moment of silence, please… Tonight is the farewell episode of American Idol. It’s the end of an era. Y’all. I watched every single episode of this show. I suffered through the Nicki Minaj/Mariah Carey disaster and I even watched the ridiculous Caleb Johnson season. (No offense, Caleb.) I still remember the exact spot I was sitting in right before the Season 1 Finale. I had moved…
I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter holiday last week. I’ve got to be honest with you. It was slightly depressing for me. First of all, Peter wasn’t here. So that was a bummer. And then the weather was cloudy and rainy for most of the day. We went to church and then came home to a huge meal that I had cooked. I don’t know why I…
I am taking the week off to spend some time at the beach with my three favorite little people, but you are in for a treat today because my friend, Jennifer Moye, is writing a guest post on the blog. I pray it speaks to you like it spoke to me. Jennifer and I met through Compel, an online training community for writers hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is a…
Wednesday was a hard day for our family. Don’t get worried. It was nothing major – just that Jonah was diagnosed with strep. The “hard part” came because he was contagious and had to stay home from school yesterday. Usually this would not be significant. However, it was a big deal this time because he was missing Field Day. Field Day. The most anticipated day of elementary school. The day when you…
What is it with boys and potty language? Jonah is currently in a “potty talk” stage (Is it just a stage? Will he ever grow out of it?) where he loves to say things like “booty” and “toot” and “fert.” (I’ll leave that last one to your imagination.) When he uses these words, my head starts to spin and I feel like I may flip my lid. But here’s the…
The other morning, Vivi woke up at 5:00 a.m., which is way too early for this mama. I walked into her room, knelt beside her bed, and asked her what was wrong. Mama, I just want you. Don’t leave me. I want you to stay with me. Truthfully, I didn’t want to stay with her. I kept trying to escape, disentangling our arms, backing slowly away with the reassurances that I…
I’m tired of being the lone adult having to make all the decisions. This was the last sentence in a message I sent to Peter this morning, complaining about the kids’ behavior, the messy kitchen, and my exhaustion. Later, I felt terrible about sending that message. Peter is currently in a war situation, making decisions that will mean life or death for many troops. How could I have been so selfish to…
Aaah. Walmart. My favorite place. A few days ago I stopped at Walmart to grab a few things that we needed. I generally try to stay away from that place at all costs, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. On this particular morning, the blustery wind was gusting around me, and all I really wanted to do was put my groceries into my warm car and drive away. As I approached my van, however, I…
Distractions are a fact of life. And what could be more distracting than driving around with three kids in your car? I’m telling you, texting while driving has nothing on my kids. As soon as Jonah gets in the car in the afternoon, he and Vivienne start bickering: “He’s trying to kick me!” “She’s trying to take my toy!” “I can’t concentrate! Vivi won’t stop singing!” “Mom, I’m trying to…