unwell homeschooling mama's substitute

well...in no particular order of importance...i am thankful for these conveniences in my life as i am fighting an upper respiratory battle before my half marathon:

• right start math (kids begged to stretch math into twice the allotted time)

• amelia bedlia (jaden read half of the book without complaining!)

• wii (no explanation needed)

• crock pots (really makes me question my strong desire to homestead in the future...i mean really if i had to pedal for my own electricity today...we'd be using candles!)

• garden bath tub (hour of play for kids)

• Lego's (again...no explanation necessary)

• mr. popper's penguins (kids LOVE this story)

• books on CD (almost listened to complete story of THE LION, THE WITCH, and THE WARDROBE in the last two days)

• QUIET TIME!!!!

may this day never be forgotten

i woke at 5 am to the smell of coffee...OA conceded to the purchase of a programmable coffee maker. ahhh...the little things in life.

i went to the gym and ran my pathetic 2 miles in my only attempt to follow my half marathon training schedule...gotta love the taper (half marathon on sunday...so not ready)!

came home smiling from the few stolen moments with two lovely ladies...also gyming it way too early.

decided that i would bless OA, as yesterday was one big wonderful-husband-blessing-wife-moment after another. i love it when he cleans, cooks, and reads to our children! so the kiddos and i made him breakfast in bed, complete with hot sauce and diet dr. pepper (don't get me started)...they made him cards which prompted to my making a card...followed by a back massage. he said it was the "best morning ever".

i guess it's true...to raise a servant...you must be a servant.

my children decided to surprise the OA and i by making our bed for us. the duvet was upside down...which made it even more special.

they later decided that they wanted to serve me...they brought out our home-made jello and several glasses of water and mermaid insisted that i let her play with my hair (really, daughters are SO MUCH FUN!).

my son has eaten: breakfast sausage, rice cake with jelly, carrot sticks, jello, stove popped popcorn, pepperonis, and lasagna...all today. that is more than he used to eat in a combined year...variety wise.

my children, husband, and i are all bearing fruit for this season. i take the good days with the bad. today...well...it has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. how i celebrate the moments with my precious family.

may your days find you equally as blessed.

as i type

OA is strumming his guitar...

Jay-Bob and Mermaid are putting on a dance show in the dark with a flash-light-spot-light...

We just finished having a family dance-a-thon in the living room...

My life and heart are so full...

If I could bottle this very moment of my life...I would.

I am quite sure this love I feel...is only a tiny glimpse of what our God feels for us.

deep contented sigh

oh wait...

good feeling gone...

OA thought it would be funny to put the hamsters in front of the dogs to make the kids "laugh". both children are now screaming and crying from fear of beloved hamster death.

seriously??

it's quite amazing what can transpire before one hits PUBLISH POST.

ahh...the joys of family-hood.

again...deep-contented-i-am-not-afraid-to-smack-my-husband-laughing-on-the-inside-SIGH.

My God-given wings...and learning to fly

Man...I am not quite sure where to begin? Knowing me it'll be somewhere in the middle.

Actually, I will start on a day in first grade: my first anxiety attack. I can still remember the fear. There was a storm and I was staring out big windows crying...sobbing...because I was afraid for my mom's life. Apparently, she felt in her soul that I needed her and came and got me. It was that intense...a cosmic cry for help that mother's (thank you Holy Spirit) feel.

Fast forward to one week ago. I woke up in the middle of the night having an anxiety attack. How is one sound asleep woken with anxiety? I had been sick for three weeks prior to and decided at that moment I was going to the doctor in the morning.

I have tried: prayer, diet, exercise, knitting, sewing, writing, talking, breathing, more prayer, denial, acceptance.

My tipping point was the realization that I truly have dealt with the demons of my past and accepted and embraced my role a special needs mom. My marriage has been restored and my family has never been closer to God. Things are great. But I am full of anxiety. Seriously?

I struggle with the thoughts that I am a child of God who rests fully in His Protection. I have never once doubted that. As a child I would close my eyes and pictures His fiery angels holding hands around my bed...my house...my brother...my mom. He has brought us out of so much. Why would I ever need more than that knowledge to ease my mind?

I think the answer is near. I think that as my mind is learning to take flight, I will be more confident in putting those thoughts into words. Right now I am taking a very small pill every morning. For the first time in my life, I have been able to identify and dismiss a thought. In the past I have lost days of sleep ruminating over one thought which only intensified as I rebuked myself for knowing how stupid it was that I was unable to let it go.

Last night was my biggest test. It was my ten year anniversary. It was the most incredible day that I have ever spent with my husband. As I was falling asleep, my mind turned on me. The attack was swift and powerful. I have not had these memories of my former step father in many many years. For the first time, these memories did not cripple my mind...my relationship...me. I allowed myself to remember. I said my prayer of eternal thankfulness. I rolled over. I went to sleep.

I am taking these broken wings and learning to fly again.

God is still in control. I still have faith. I just needed to allow Him to give me a splint for a while. Before I know it, He will have me soaring on mended wings!

Introducing: my mama!!

Unfortunately I have to make this quick. So much has happened since my last blog entry...but now isn't the time for an update. Let's just say my entire house has almost been repainted! We are having a blast having OA home with us for a week, and I am soaking up every minute of him!

My mom started a blog. It is amazing!! Please take a minute to visit and comment! I will let her introduce her own story...let's just say...God has given her a key to unlock her life. It has been miraculous!

There is something beyond words between a mother and her daughter. I have never been more proud: Transparent Now