Monday, June 01, 2009

Name them one by one.

Remember that old song? "Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done"?

I'm doing that tonight. I'm HAVING to do that tonight.

Today was just a lousy day. Carson and I had several knock-down-drag-out arguments. OK, no one literally got knocked down, but he literally got dragged to his room twice and I had to chase him up the play structure at the park and drag him to the car later in the day. Also, during painting time, Carson freaked out when I freaked out that he was wiping his paint-covered hands all over his shorts and the easel. He promptly RAN through the house, escaping my grasp by about 3 inches, and touching his paint-covered hands on every possible surface he could. While dealing with that, Sydney found a NON-WASHABLE marker and decorated her new pants and her body. After dealing with THAT, I found Carson splashing in the toilet like a baby in a sinkbath. No, the toilet was NOT clean. (But it was just pee and TP, no poo.) He just manages to find every. Last. Button. and pushandpushandpushandpushandpush.

My allergies have hit 100 mph, and I'm sneezing & sniffing, snot literally dripping so fast out of my nose that some landed on Sydney while I was changing her diaper, and I want to claw my itchy, red eyes out of my congested head. I stubbed my toe so hard it bled. I got a paper cut on a piece of junk mail and it bled. And on TOP of that, my jumbalaya attempt for dinner did horrible, painful, unspeakable things to my stomach.

So, what's a girl to do? I'll tell you. I'm counting my blessings. One by one. My wise friend Kristi once told me she finds peace in going into her children's rooms when they are asleep and praying for them. I have adopted this practice and it does give me peace and usually brings me to tears of humility and unspeakable gratitude. I prayed over these challenging little blessings, I read my own blog from last week about unthinkable tragedy, I looked at pictures of healthy baby Wyatt, I grabbed a handful of chocolate chips from my cupboards full of food, I took a shower in a home that we own and can pay for each month with a job my husband loves.

And I will sleep peacefully (and hard) tonight.

And wake up tomorrow and do it all over again.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

9 comments:

butters said...

Good post Jen and good perspective, I think we all need that reality check now and then. However, it does sound like you had a heck of a day!

Let me remind you, as you did for me (just yesterday)... you are an amazing mom, you are a faithful and loving wife, daughter and friend. I am blessed to know you and I learn from you as we both grow in this journey of motherhood together. I pray you do sleep long and hard tonight and that tommrrow brings a fresh perspective, endurance and grace for whatever befalls. You're doing a great job.

Love ya,
Jenna

Unknown said...

"L, is for the way you look at me. O is for the only one I see. V is very, very extraordinary, now E is even more than any any anyone that you adore and Love is all that I can give to you, Love is more than just a game for two...two in love can make it. Take my heart but please don't break it...Love was made for me and youuuuuu!" Okay, no I'm not a weirdo. I hope you remember this song we sang together (as we drove by the cow pasture at Faith Bible...need I say more?!) Hope it puts a smile on your face and reminds you of simpler times. You are amazing. Phenomenal. A one of a kind HILARIOUS mama with extraordinary amounts of patience. June 9th? You're on. Let's talk turkey. Oh, and you know what? I've found in those moments you mentioned above that singing over my children (when I'm holding them and we're both falling apart:)) brings sanity, peace, and God's presence right into the midst of the meltdown. And with a voice like yours and a heart of a worshipper like you have, I can only imagine the atmosphere would lift. Thanks for all your posts. Where would I be without them?!

Becky said...

That's the perfect song to bring to your heart. Another verse is...
"So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end."

Heidi said...

So sorry that you had such a rough day... I will say a prayer for you. Hang in there - it will get better!

Lyonslove said...

I'm sorry, and I TOTALLY understand! I had a day like that too. The high points for me were Tanner screaming through his nap, again, and taking two kids to the doctor. Not my favorite!

Aj Schwanz said...

I could remind you of all the wonderful things you are and that you do and all the amazing things your children will do and be because of the intentional parenting that you're doing (despite the frustration), but that's so not my style: good thing you have other positive voices in your life to do that. :)

Instead, I'm going to say, "So.There.With.You.Friend." and point out that you now have excellent blog fodder along with quality "Can you believe?" stories to hold over their heads (in a loving manner, of course) and that the Kraft website has a lovely looking recipe for a raspberry vodka cooler. Not that I notice things like that ... :)

Becky said...

Your post brought tears to my eyes. I have had a couple of weeks like that with Josh. I have even scared myself with how angry I have gotten with him. I will keep in mind to be thankful for a healthy kid than focus on how difficult he can be.
Hang in there on the allergies! I'll start with being thankful by thanking God that I don't have allergies!

Kristen Howerton said...

I have had this song in my head all day, thanks to you. It was just the reminder I needed!

Michelle & Luke said...

oh jen, this was a great post!!!your kiddies are so lucky to have such a good momma. the string of crazy events sounds like something out of a sitcom- i only wish you'd had the presence of mind to take pics of carson playing in the toilet & sydney with permanent marker all over... probably didn't occur to you to grab the camera in the middle of all that though ;)