Wednesday, September 7, 2011
How Do I Turn Off My Guard ???
Well for the first time in 13 years I am going to have some time to myself ... 12 hours a week all BY MYSELF .. The start to school was fabulous for the kids, but I still haven't gotten my ALONE TIME TO MYSELF YET ... lol (shocker I know) ... First week I had sweet friends visiting - Second week Scott was home sick all week !!! (I can hear all you wives out there sighing ... sick husband is worse than 3 sick kids !!!) and now on my 3rd week I have doctors appts for the kids and a canceled sitter for our 147 work day ... BUT I CAN FEEL MY TIME IS COMING JUST AROUND THE CORNER ... lol
The big question is how will I turn off THE MOMMY MODE - you know the feeling of being always on guard - where are the kids, is anyone choking, are they climbing furniture that will fall over and kill them, are they flushing and wiping, are they in the cabinets eating when it isn't time, are they changing clothes for the 100th time w/out me seeing them and putting the clean clothes in the dirty clothes making more laundry for me (NNNNOOOOOOOOO), how much time have they spent on the computer, are they fighting again, breaking up more fights, making sure no one bites, are they sharing properly and saying kind words, did they read their Jesus Calling, DID I READ MY JESUS CALLING, are they turning off/on the light switches, are they jumping on the beds, are they chewing on yet ANOTHER BARBIE SHOE like it is gum, are they getting enough reading time, are they getting all the blankets out again for a fort and removing all the pillows from their pillow cases, are they spraying sunscreen in each other's eyes, are they flushing the whole roll of toilet paper, are they playing dress up w/ my good shoes, are they running w/ scissors or marking on my walls again w/ marker and WWWWHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWW - you get the picture ... We are ON GAURD 26 hours a day (not 24) and I really want to find a way to take a deep breathe for those 12 hours a week, so I can revive myself ...
All I hear lately is how the teenage years are so much harder than the toddler / elementary age and that SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME ...I am so exhausted right now physically that I am not sure mentally I am all there (I have a few friends that can attest to that fact ... hee hee) ... I want to have my FULL ARMOR of GOD on for the teenage years, so I know these 12 hours a week are crucial to my preparing for what is to come ...
I PRAY we can all find some time to prepare for the BATTLE that is ahead ... Let us make no mistake that the enemy is present and is coming for our children ... Children are a gift from GOD and the evil one wants nothing more than to bring destruction, doubt, and turmoil into the lives of our children ...
So I guess in a sense I want to turn off my guard so I can turn on Jesus to wash over me and cleanse my armor !!! I hope you have a blessed week !!!
P.S. I want to add to my list - Making sure Joseph or any other member of the family does not DISSECT his hearing aids and that Maggie doesn't do cartwheels or somersaults on her still healing head !!! NEVER DULL ...I actually think I could make millions if someone followed me around w/ a video camera ... either that or DHS would take my kids away from me ... hee hee
The big question is how will I turn off THE MOMMY MODE - you know the feeling of being always on guard - where are the kids, is anyone choking, are they climbing furniture that will fall over and kill them, are they flushing and wiping, are they in the cabinets eating when it isn't time, are they changing clothes for the 100th time w/out me seeing them and putting the clean clothes in the dirty clothes making more laundry for me (NNNNOOOOOOOOO), how much time have they spent on the computer, are they fighting again, breaking up more fights, making sure no one bites, are they sharing properly and saying kind words, did they read their Jesus Calling, DID I READ MY JESUS CALLING, are they turning off/on the light switches, are they jumping on the beds, are they chewing on yet ANOTHER BARBIE SHOE like it is gum, are they getting enough reading time, are they getting all the blankets out again for a fort and removing all the pillows from their pillow cases, are they spraying sunscreen in each other's eyes, are they flushing the whole roll of toilet paper, are they playing dress up w/ my good shoes, are they running w/ scissors or marking on my walls again w/ marker and WWWWHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWW - you get the picture ... We are ON GAURD 26 hours a day (not 24) and I really want to find a way to take a deep breathe for those 12 hours a week, so I can revive myself ...
All I hear lately is how the teenage years are so much harder than the toddler / elementary age and that SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME ...I am so exhausted right now physically that I am not sure mentally I am all there (I have a few friends that can attest to that fact ... hee hee) ... I want to have my FULL ARMOR of GOD on for the teenage years, so I know these 12 hours a week are crucial to my preparing for what is to come ...
I PRAY we can all find some time to prepare for the BATTLE that is ahead ... Let us make no mistake that the enemy is present and is coming for our children ... Children are a gift from GOD and the evil one wants nothing more than to bring destruction, doubt, and turmoil into the lives of our children ...
So I guess in a sense I want to turn off my guard so I can turn on Jesus to wash over me and cleanse my armor !!! I hope you have a blessed week !!!
P.S. I want to add to my list - Making sure Joseph or any other member of the family does not DISSECT his hearing aids and that Maggie doesn't do cartwheels or somersaults on her still healing head !!! NEVER DULL ...I actually think I could make millions if someone followed me around w/ a video camera ... either that or DHS would take my kids away from me ... hee hee
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9 kind words.:
Girl, how you can be going through all that and actually make it sound humorous is a mystery. Sorry, but I was smiling through that litany. You are amazing and I hope you do get your rest and restoration in your few hours of down time that ARE coming. :)
preying some sweet time with Jesus for you! Bless you !!!!
Love ya, LIsa
Totally feel your pain...and totally GET IT!!!
I love the idea of cleaning your armor!
All the time you put in during the early years will pay off in the teenage years! My youngest is now 16 and I can honestly say we have enjoyed them as teenagers a lot! Hang in there!
Rich & I just started a parenting class at church & we're going through the book "Gospel-Powered Parenting" by WIlliam P. Farley. Our Youth Pastor & his wife are leading it... here are a few notes I got tonight that I think you might enjoy.
#1. Parenting is difficult and you are imperfect *reminds us of how much we need God's grace
#2. God is sovereign but he uses means *free will & he uses other people, it's not all up to us.
#3. A good offense is preferred *prepare them to face the world.
#4. understand new birth *do we see their fruits? (never assume they are saved)- are they hungering after God?
#5. Effective parents are not child centered *we must follow the roes that the father is the head, mother is #2 and kids are last. kids honor God by obeying their parents...
Anyway, that was rambley, but I just loved tonights lesson!! Have a great week & ENJOY YOUR TIME!!!!
You should check out ann voskamps blog - it is on prayer - Fabulous!!! Thank you for sharing the craziness of you life -
Actually, this is the hard part...while they are still so 24/7 needy, physically. This years will form their teen years, so you have MUCH JOY ahead!!! Teen years have more "condensed" emotion...but fortunately God planned so great re-armouring time in to the process between those emotional needs! And by the time JO gets thru it, you will be ready for the next!! Its the BEST YEARS!!!!! Trust me ;)
Mucho Sista LOVO
J
Ha! I literally laughed out loud at this! I'm not sure I could have put that all into words, but I can so relate! For the first time in 18 years, I will have 4 hours a week alone at home and I can't wait to spend it with God! Blessings, Gwen!