“ But we're gonna start by
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Sit talking up all night
Saying things we haven't for a while
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time.”
I’m thankful for the opportunity to work together this week, and the reminder that no matter who, what, when, where, why, he is my rock. My go to. My best friend. We’re one and the same. And I dare any challenge to step in front of us, when we’re working together. I often say, though a lot of it is not things we’ve shared publicly, several times in our marriage, we’ve walked through fire and not been burned. Not by our own doing, but because of the one we call Savior, and a smidge because
More than once, the two of us were able to spend one on one time with Landon, which never happens with two smaller babes. Landon is a really. Good. Kid. He is a great big brother, and will try his best to please everyone, sometimes to a fault. He got a GREAT progress report this week, raised two grades in subjects that are tough for him, one by TEN grade points and both by a whole letter grade. The improvements are great, but what’s really great, is that smile on his face and chest sticking out 5 foot, knowing his hard work paid off. He is patient, and understanding, and my gosh, that child is incredibly helpful! THANKFUL.
There’s been a lot of changes in the making around our household, more of which I hope to share soon. One of those changes is that I recently became a stay at home Mom! It’s a dream come true for me (and that’s putting it verrry lightly. I promise to share more on that later.)! And this week, I had no job to report to, no appointments to worry with or paperwork to complete. THANKFUL.
We have the BEST village. It does take one, you know. And it takes both hands and feet for me to count, just off hand, how many people we have around us that I know I could count on at the drop of a hat. To bring groceries. Call to check on you. Watch kids. Ask for advice. Buy you lunch. And more importantly, to pray fervently and care deeply for you. We’ve had all this and more. THANKFUL.
Does anyone else ever need a good reality check? Like, you recognize that you have it pretty good, but every now and then (or daily) you just need a reminder of how good you have it. Like say, you have THREE healthy children. THREE. And you realize that even having a tough spot for a minute, is nothing compared to what some families LIVE WITH. EVERY DAY. And sometimes you just need a reminder that what feels like a broken leg, is really just a stubbed toe. THANKFUL.
Last Thursday, Judah was sent home with a headache and a 101.7 temp. We made a flying trip to the pediatrician (to the only appointment they had, which left me no time for a shower, wearing what I had on to take the kids to school, un brushed teeth, no deodorant and wearing a nursing bra. Just keeping it real.) and he tested negative for everything. Fast forward four days and we are feeling uneasy. At the walk in clinic he tested positive for Flu, type B- and just spent FOUR DAYS in close quarters with us all, including Jett. And would you know, NO ONE else caught it. Tell me He is not a MERCIFUL GOD. Tell me that prayer doesn’t work. Tell me that Psalms 91 is a fluke. It seems that a common theme in our lives lately is seeing His provision in times of uncertainty and trusting Him when it’s HARD. Yes, I get it, it’s just the Flu (my stubbed toe from previous passage), but let it be your child and your household and you might catch yourself losing your mind. And that, I would say, is such a testament to God’s mercy. You think you trust Him. You want to trust Him.
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
But when things don’t LOOK the way you think they should, it’s easy to tell that mountain to move, yet doubt in your heart that it will.
"Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.“ Mark 11:23
From Thursday to Sunday, I thought it was hard to split time between Judah and Jett. A 4 month old that requires you, and a sick 5 year old that just wants momma to hold him. Then on Sunday, we had to quarantine Judah to his room, and it has not been easy. Talk about feeling torn- and that’s when you get a glimpse- a very small one- very very small one- into the lives of some parents with ill children. And you pray for them. Like REALLY pray for them. And you repent. For taking things for granted. And I’ve had to do that this week. Not just for that, but also for making judgment calls on other people, thinking you know the situation, and you don’t.
We’ve spent hours lysol-ing, sanitizing, feeling like Mrs. Doubtfire, shedding clothes and bathing in sanitizer, going from Judah’s room to having to be near Jett. We’ve nearly physically fought with thermometers that wouldn’t read consistently. We’ve missed ballgames we didn’t want to miss. Made a trip to the ER after a fever scare. (Made a trip from ER back to Jacksonville in the middle of that, since Jett threw us a wrench and wouldn’t take a bottle.), “thankfully” the wait was 3.5 hours, so I didn’t miss anything. We had several, some helpful, some confusing, conversations with nurses from the clinic. This was also the week my good sleeping baby started waking up every two hours all night, and teething. Y’all, it’s been a long ten days. BUT. In the big picture, and compared to all the goodness in our lives, it’s nothing. PLUS- my boy has been a TROOPER!! Seriously, his symptoms were minimal, and a lot of times you would’ve never known he was sick. I’m so so grateful for that! And he’s just hated having to watch movies, play games and have snacks delivered to him!
And what I’m REALLY thankful for, is that we’ve learned SO much lately at church, about the power of our words, and the effects of our speech, whether negative or positive. So even though we’ve had our times that we may have been an exhausted, crazy, hot mess, one thing that has kept us sane is knowing we have the opportunity of speaking life and health for Judah, Jett, Landon and our household, and the PROMISE that our words are backed by the blood of Jesus AND that
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
I know it’s just the flu, and so many people have had to go through it this year, but I wanted to write this post because it feels quite a bit like we’ve been in a cocoon this week. Even though it’s been hard, truthfully, a lot of good has come from it and I thank God that He can use even thre messiest of situations for good. After I had the thought that we were in a cocoon, I looked up the definition, envelop or surround in a protective or comforting way.
Seems fitting.
