What If…

 

The boys got a little crazy tonight so in an effort refocus them and save my sanity I sent one to take a bath and told the other two to clean the living room.  Win-win… they’re not going coo-coo for cocoa puffs driving me insane and I get a cleanish living room!

I told Cade to vacuum the rug.  We have an old Rainbow vacuum cleaner which does an awesome job but is a bit of a pain to set up. He was a trooper though… drug it all out, got it assembled, then I showed him how to fill up the water reservoir. 

He was a little hesitant to carry it full of water… “But what if I drop it and spill water everywhere?”

I handed it to him and replied that if that happened he would get a towel and clean it up!

When he left the kitchen I got to thinking about that “What if?”

How often am I hesitant to try new things because of the what ifs?

How often do I second guess God’s will in my life because of what if?

What if I’m not doing the right thing to reach my kids?  What if no one likes my ideas?  What if this is not really God prompting me?  What if I step in it and make a fool of my self?  What if I reach out and get rebuffed? 

What if? What if? What if?  It’s enough to drive me crazy if I ever start down that path.

But, when I stop and really think about it… what if? Ok, what if the worst happens? What if what I’m worried about comes to pass? What then?

Well, then I’ll get a towel and clean it up!

Maybe it’s not really that simple but that’s the basic idea.

If I fall flat on my face then I’ll get up, dust off and try again.  And hopefully I’ll have gained a little wisdom, a little discernment, in the process.

But… what if “you have come to the kingdom for a time like this?”   That’s from Esther.

What if this is exactly where God wants me to be? What if this is exactly what He wants me to do? What if He has put me here just so I can reach out to that one?  What if He has given me these children because He knows what He’s doing?

Kinda puts a different spin on the “What ifs?” doesn’t it!

Our Weekend

 

Travis went hunting with my dad this weekend, then my mother-in-law felt sorry for the other boys so she invited them over…. I had the quietest weekend ever!!  It was lonely.  And I realized I can no longer get anything done unless I’m being interrupted constantly!

Travis had a great time.  He shot a hog the first night so that was just the coolest thing ever!

Brian and I went out for lunch Saturday, just the two of us.  I was trying to remember when was the last time we went out alone… the last time I can think of was several years ago so I guess we were due for a date. 

I had planned for us to have school today but decided yesterday that our time would be better spent getting everyone back in the routine of being home and focusing on nipping unacceptable behaviors in the bud.  Even a few hours with the grandparents can give the boys the idea that they no longer have to mind me or use good manners.  Not the grandparents fault… the boys just have to test the limits occasionally!

This weekend made me appreciate all over again just how blessed I am to have this opportunity to educate my boys at home.  This time will fly by so fast and they will be gone doing their own thing.  I’m thankful for the time I have now to ground them in the truth, for all the little moments we have each day that we would miss if they were gone for most of the day.  I’m thankful that I can take the time out to nip bad behaviors before they are reinforced by others and become a habit.  They are amazing people and everyday they take my breath away… what a blessing to get to spend my days with them!

 

Trying Something New

 

Want to hear something funny??

I’ve started eating mostly vegetarian!

I can hear you now “But Lisa, you don’t like vegetables!!”

I know…. I’m SOOO hungry!

Just kidding, truthfully I can tolerate most vegetables and even like a few… just not raw.

I’d been hearing a lot about the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and finally watched it a few weeks ago.  I was inspired!

So I started juicing for breakfast and one other time during the day, and then eating mostly vegetables the rest of the day. 

I feel so much better… I didn’t realize I had felt bad until I started feeling good but wow… what a change!

I still eat a little cheese when I want and tuna a couple of times a week.  If I’m out somewhere and want something non-vegetable… I eat it.  I’m not just determined to only eat vegetarian/vegan.

But I’ve noticed that I don’t crave the other stuff as much.  And when I do eat it I feel so icky afterward that it kinda takes the fun away!

The coolest difference I’ve noticed is I’m not as stiff as I was.  I can sit with my legs tucked under me and then get up and walk without hobbling like an old person!

That’s pretty nice!!

Follow-Up

 

Whew!! Our first week back went GREAT!

We hit a rough patch the first day when all three boys wanted to do math at the same time… three boys, three levels, new lessons and new concepts for everyone, all needing help at the same time does not equal a cool, calm and collected mama.  But we persevered and I laid down the law that we would stagger math the rest of the week.

All three vehicles decided to break down at the same time so we didn’t make it to the library… the big blue truck is running now but I’m not sure I’m up to driving it that far.  Thanks to our Goodwill run when we were in Austin I have several books here that will supplement our history studies for the time being so we’ll just play that by ear.

Now to gear up and do it all over again!!

Back to School

 

Tomorrow we start back to school… these past three weeks have FLOWN!

Tonight I’m praying for a peaceful spirit… that I will show grace and mercy to the boys tomorrow.  That I won’t be so rigid in my expectations and schedules that I can’t bend with the kids needs. That I won’t be so focused on the car troubles we’re having and the library visit we still haven’t made and whatever else pops up during the day that I lose sight of this great opportunity I’ve been given to nurture and disciple my children.