Some days (most days), I feel like Snow White.
Only, I don't have cute little wooden creatures singing me sweet songs.
I always thought Snow White was good ole Walt preparing me for the day when my prince would come, sweep me off my feet, and take me away to my castle.
Now, I see it for what it really was---
Walt preparing me for being a Mommy that is constantly surrounded by little people...
"...Dwarfs," if you will...
...who function in a miniature little environment (a cottage?), complete with miniature beds, miniature chairs, miniature plates, knives, forks, spoons, cups, and toilets. Miniature food. Miniature books. Things you never even IMAGINED came in miniature form.
And anything that ISN'T miniature is surrounded by tools to aid the Dwarfs, in their mini-ness, with day-to-day life. (Please don't mind the step-stool in front of the sink, or the ladder in front of the fridge, or the hundred other safety hazards in my home; my dwarfs are becoming self-aware and want to do everything by themselves today.)
Fear not! Snow Mommy has become very accustomed to this way of life. In fact, I often think strangers from outside the enchanted forest must look at me funny as I automatically take large, knee-bending, leg-lifting steps everywhere I go to avoid any unseen... (insert any miniature item here). Or when I don't think twice about using a dixie-cup for my lunch beverage, or a small, plastic coated spoon to eat my oatmeal.
The little dwarfs go to "work" every day, make themselves filthy, don't want to wash before dinner, wear Snow Mommy out with their crazy dwarf antics, and then fall peacefully asleep for the night to start again tomorrow.
And the only peaceful place in many a Snow Mommy cottage is to curl up in the tiny little dwarf-sized bed that has been so associated with nap-time that the actual dwarfs won't touch it with a 10 foot pole. Or their miniature 3 ft. pole that they carry around to beat other dwarfs over the head with.
But here is where Sir Disney got it wrong. Because when Prince Charming sweeps in to rescue Snow White (and yes, please sweep away), what we really need for him is to see that we are in a deep, almost deadly sleep, and BACK THE HECK AWAY. Because, if my Prince Charming, bless his sweet heart, comes home to the dwarfs playing peacefully and the house being clean and me resting and his first thought is "I better wake her up," this fairy tale is going to turn into a homicide movie very quickly.
~The End~
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
My little Bug...
Bean is off with her grandparents on a canoe adventure, so I got to spend the morning all alone with my beautiful second born, little Bug-a-Belle.
I very rarely get to spend alone time with her--- especially since she and Bean started *blissfully* napping at the same time. It was nice to get to spend the morning watching her just be her, although she was a little lost without big sister to torment.
There is no deep meaning to this post except to say she's such a fun, crazy little girl and I adore her to no end. I am so blessed to have such a curious, sometimes rotten, spunky little child. Today she was obsessed with the play phone. She kept picking it up, saying "Hiiiii..." and babbling for a few minutes, then throwing it across the room. Also, she's still pretty scared of the Bigfoot toy, so she was pretty preoccupied with standing far enough back to see it (on the top shelf, 4ft up), and then yelling at it. I love that she remembers its there and then has to go out of her way to make sure it knows she is not pleased with it's existence.
She's the exact opposite of Bean in almost every way, which makes every day with her totally new and exciting. For example, we didn't have baby locks on ANYTHING in the house except for the kitchen sink cabinet. Which Bean never even tried to open, anyway.
Now that Bug is mobile, EVERYTHING is locked. Well, it wasn't until Husband was on baby duty the other night... I was in the computer room, working away on school stuff, when I hear "No! No no no! Don't touch that... {CRASH. Mysterious glug-glug-glug. Baby giggle.} Oh. My. God."
Bug was sitting on the kitchen floor with the cupboard open and 1/2 a bottle of corn oil spilled all over the floor. Every cabinet was equip with a baby lock literally 30 minutes later.
Ok, so the "deeper" lesson of this post is, I guess:
Nagging Wife: worthless
Baby Spilling Oil that Daddy has to clean up: Valuable currency in our home!
Anyway, I digress. She's adorable and I love her. She's such a joy to have around and I wouldn't trade her for all the well-behaved, self-absorbed babies in the world. (Although that isn't stopping me from praying this new little man slights away from Bug's inquisitiveness and towards Bean's self-absorption just a bit)
I very rarely get to spend alone time with her--- especially since she and Bean started *blissfully* napping at the same time. It was nice to get to spend the morning watching her just be her, although she was a little lost without big sister to torment.
There is no deep meaning to this post except to say she's such a fun, crazy little girl and I adore her to no end. I am so blessed to have such a curious, sometimes rotten, spunky little child. Today she was obsessed with the play phone. She kept picking it up, saying "Hiiiii..." and babbling for a few minutes, then throwing it across the room. Also, she's still pretty scared of the Bigfoot toy, so she was pretty preoccupied with standing far enough back to see it (on the top shelf, 4ft up), and then yelling at it. I love that she remembers its there and then has to go out of her way to make sure it knows she is not pleased with it's existence.
She's the exact opposite of Bean in almost every way, which makes every day with her totally new and exciting. For example, we didn't have baby locks on ANYTHING in the house except for the kitchen sink cabinet. Which Bean never even tried to open, anyway.
Now that Bug is mobile, EVERYTHING is locked. Well, it wasn't until Husband was on baby duty the other night... I was in the computer room, working away on school stuff, when I hear "No! No no no! Don't touch that... {CRASH. Mysterious glug-glug-glug. Baby giggle.} Oh. My. God."
Bug was sitting on the kitchen floor with the cupboard open and 1/2 a bottle of corn oil spilled all over the floor. Every cabinet was equip with a baby lock literally 30 minutes later.
Ok, so the "deeper" lesson of this post is, I guess:
Nagging Wife: worthless
Baby Spilling Oil that Daddy has to clean up: Valuable currency in our home!
Anyway, I digress. She's adorable and I love her. She's such a joy to have around and I wouldn't trade her for all the well-behaved, self-absorbed babies in the world. (Although that isn't stopping me from praying this new little man slights away from Bug's inquisitiveness and towards Bean's self-absorption just a bit)
(This picture is the perfect example of my girls' personalities.
Bean is only concerned with her moment in the spotlight, and Bug is totally absorbed in EVERYTHING that is happening in the world!)
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Morning Bible Time
I get to brag on myself, a little bit.
... well, not really...
But I get to brag on GOD, which I like much better.
Bean, Bug and I have started doing morning bible time. Like, actually DOING it. Over the past 5-6 months, I have *wanted* to do it, and I have done it occasionally (read, every 5-10 days). But this past 2 weeks, I have actually been doing it.
Let me just tell you what a difference starting our day with God makes.
I am seeing more and more (and more and more and more) how important it is to start everything with praise and worship. I realized (I know, LIGHTBULB!!) a few months ago how important it was to go into prayer time and church all praised-up, but it just clicked with me that our days should start out the same way.
The Bible says "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name," (Psalm 100:4, NIV). I don't know about you, but I'm figuring out I prefer to spend my entire day (and not just my Sunday, or my Tuesday night) in His courts.
Before (read, last month) I would send Bean and Bug to our playroom for their "play alone" time right after breakfast. This almost always ended in Bean being angry because she wasn't getting enough attention (rightfully so), and Bug standing at the gate, shaking it violently and yelling in her best prison-movie-riot-impression. They had too much energy, not enough Mommy, and definitely not enough Jesus to start their morning on a good note.
Let me tell you what we do NOW:
Eat Breakfast
Get Dressed
Bible Time!
Right now, this consists of:
Praise and Worship--- Usually 3 songs (although sometimes 4 or 5). Bean pretty much ALWAYS insists on "How He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillan (FYI- I personally think this is a MUCH better version than the more popular David Crowder redo). She also really likes "Deep Cries Out" by Bethel). Bug usually tots in and out. She likes to shake her booty, so she's more patient with the fast songs. Although she's getting into cuddling and worshipping, too. She sits next to us and raises her hands up during the slow songs.
Prayer--- Short and sweet. Bean likes to thank God for "our wonderful day, all our friends, all our family, and Jesus amen." I pray for patience for ALL of us, good attitudes, etc. I think it helps Bean to hear me pray for help from Jesus for things I have been struggling with because we teach her to do that as well. She likes to pipe in during my prayer and say "I pray for patience with Mommy and Sister, too."
Bible Story--- We've been going over what we are studying as a family with Bible Study Guide for All Ages (right now, Joseph) and whatever other story Bean wants to hear. She's really into Jesus Calming the Storm right now, although today we also talked about how Jesus was sold for silver just like Joseph was. That kinda blew her mind.
(once "school" starts in August, I'm going to put all our character study into this time as well, but I'm easing myself into that... a first, for me!)
We start our day off this way, and it is (I was going to say magically, but) faithfully transformed. I find myself with more energy, a much better attitude, and MUCH more patience. My kids are better behaved, with an added bonus of having gotten a substantial amount of energy out of their systems during praise. Bean plans (yes, the 2 year old plans) what we will read about and worship to during Breakfast. It's a great moment for me to see her eating her cereal and having an out-loud debate with herself:
"Hmmm. I think I want to hear about Joseph. No, Jesus calms the storm. No, maybe Joseph. Maybe both. And we will listen to 'How He Loves Us.' And maybe 'Furious.' Or 'Mountaintop.'"
I will end with this (our latest memory verse; Bean mastered it a few days ago):
"I have written you words on my heart, O Lord, so that I might not sin against you." --Psalm 119:11
... well, not really...
But I get to brag on GOD, which I like much better.
Bean, Bug and I have started doing morning bible time. Like, actually DOING it. Over the past 5-6 months, I have *wanted* to do it, and I have done it occasionally (read, every 5-10 days). But this past 2 weeks, I have actually been doing it.
Let me just tell you what a difference starting our day with God makes.
I am seeing more and more (and more and more and more) how important it is to start everything with praise and worship. I realized (I know, LIGHTBULB!!) a few months ago how important it was to go into prayer time and church all praised-up, but it just clicked with me that our days should start out the same way.
The Bible says "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name," (Psalm 100:4, NIV). I don't know about you, but I'm figuring out I prefer to spend my entire day (and not just my Sunday, or my Tuesday night) in His courts.
Before (read, last month) I would send Bean and Bug to our playroom for their "play alone" time right after breakfast. This almost always ended in Bean being angry because she wasn't getting enough attention (rightfully so), and Bug standing at the gate, shaking it violently and yelling in her best prison-movie-riot-impression. They had too much energy, not enough Mommy, and definitely not enough Jesus to start their morning on a good note.
Let me tell you what we do NOW:
Eat Breakfast
Get Dressed
Bible Time!
Right now, this consists of:
Praise and Worship--- Usually 3 songs (although sometimes 4 or 5). Bean pretty much ALWAYS insists on "How He Loves Us" by John Mark McMillan (FYI- I personally think this is a MUCH better version than the more popular David Crowder redo). She also really likes "Deep Cries Out" by Bethel). Bug usually tots in and out. She likes to shake her booty, so she's more patient with the fast songs. Although she's getting into cuddling and worshipping, too. She sits next to us and raises her hands up during the slow songs.
Prayer--- Short and sweet. Bean likes to thank God for "our wonderful day, all our friends, all our family, and Jesus amen." I pray for patience for ALL of us, good attitudes, etc. I think it helps Bean to hear me pray for help from Jesus for things I have been struggling with because we teach her to do that as well. She likes to pipe in during my prayer and say "I pray for patience with Mommy and Sister, too."
Bible Story--- We've been going over what we are studying as a family with Bible Study Guide for All Ages (right now, Joseph) and whatever other story Bean wants to hear. She's really into Jesus Calming the Storm right now, although today we also talked about how Jesus was sold for silver just like Joseph was. That kinda blew her mind.
(once "school" starts in August, I'm going to put all our character study into this time as well, but I'm easing myself into that... a first, for me!)
We start our day off this way, and it is (I was going to say magically, but) faithfully transformed. I find myself with more energy, a much better attitude, and MUCH more patience. My kids are better behaved, with an added bonus of having gotten a substantial amount of energy out of their systems during praise. Bean plans (yes, the 2 year old plans) what we will read about and worship to during Breakfast. It's a great moment for me to see her eating her cereal and having an out-loud debate with herself:
"Hmmm. I think I want to hear about Joseph. No, Jesus calms the storm. No, maybe Joseph. Maybe both. And we will listen to 'How He Loves Us.' And maybe 'Furious.' Or 'Mountaintop.'"
I will end with this (our latest memory verse; Bean mastered it a few days ago):
"I have written you words on my heart, O Lord, so that I might not sin against you." --Psalm 119:11
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