Friends & family that help you get through the day

 Last Tuesday, I faced the day I had waited for for a long time. It was a day I anticipated, a day I was anxious for, a day in which I had prayed would come. Now that it was here, I prayed it would pass - at one point, I told Dave I was backing out. :) For the longest time, I have been in need of sinus surgery. Just the thought sounded horrible, so I tried to not even think about it unless I had to. So here we were, ready to correct the problems that needed fixed & clear things out to relieve my pain. I actually joked with a few friends about the high expectations I've had for this surgery - to correct everything from migraines, sinus infections, fluid in my ear, energy level, weight loss, you name it, I wanted the surgery to fix it all. :)

We are so grateful the Doctor told Dave everything went well and he was able to clear things up and correct what needed to be fixed with the actual make up of my sinuses. Then, the fun part comes - recovery. I guess I had such high expectations thinking nothing would be worse than having headaches/migraines everyday so it would feel so much better after having the procedure. :) Wishful thinking. I am so incredibly thankful for my parents and their willingness to come up and help with the boys. I honestly couldn't have made it without them. And Dave ~ he sure is the most selfless man I know. He has been so good in taking care of me when I've desperately needed it and been such an amazing father to our boys at the same time. From cleaning, taking care of us all, to picking me up an Icee to brighten the day. :) My mother in law has also been a huge blessing in always being willing to swing something by.

Then...well, then there are those friends that are the most helpful and selfless in how they give of their time to encourage, to pray, to call, to make a meal, to check on how things are going and time and time again give of their day to help me make it thru mine. I can't thank the Lord enough for the friends He has placed in my life. There were days that I couldn't move, yet couldn't sleep due to pain and those crazy meds and friends would call, text, send me messages making me laugh, and swing a meal by to help out any way they could. So many encouraged me and helped in so many ways, that I learned in a special way through their example of being selfless. I cannot express the gratitude from our family for each of you and the blessing you are to us! We love you all!

A Different Perspective

I came into work yesterday & someone's words made me think more about my day. What she said brought even a bigger smile to my face. "You seem even more chipper today" were her words. Then I went on to explain what was going on inside my heart. 

It was a day that my boys were both so needy & with Micah not feeling well & Josiah being in odd sorts, I did something I thought would never happen. I woke up that morning with the house screaming "Clean me, Clean me!!!!" Wow, I thought taking care of housework & keeping up with laundry was hard before, now I have 2 little ones that need me. So, at the beginning of the day I decided that I was going to have a completely different perspective for this day. I wasn't going to worry for even one second about what the house was telling me, I was going to just play with my boys, laugh with them, give them lots of hugs & kisses, talk with them, read books, & just devote my time to them. What an incredible day we had! I thought it would absolutely drive me nuts not making sure the house was not even being attempted to be worked on but I was the most content person just giving my boys my undivided attention. Don't tell anyone, but I didn't even worry about dinner or even think about it. I know my time was not at all wasted because I was pouring time into the boys God gave me. I went into work completely refreshed & with a new energy. My heart was just bubbling over thinking of how nice it was just to play & see their sweet smiles all day! :) I told this lady that I didn't do a single thing beside spend time with my little buddies & I LOVED it! Now, grant it the housework still needs to be done & I still need to plan my menu for the rest of the week but will I regret that I spent priceless time with my family - definitely not. I'm so thankful to be a Mommy & take care of the children He has blessed me with. I feel as if I'm truly doing what God put me on earth to do ~ be a wife & Mom.

~Rachel

Just what I needed...

Did you ever have one of those days where you needed encouragement so much and the Lord sent it your way? That was me on Friday.

We had several doctors’ appointments that morning after traveling most of the day Thursday & a friend sent me a message saying a group was going to the park. She let me know I was welcome to join them. What did I do? I jumped on it! I knew Josiah would love running around after being in the car the day before & it would be good for him to get some fresh air. So, we went. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of our friends but it wasn’t like I imagined it would be.

It was "one of those days." It was a day Josiah didn’t want to listen or obey. A day where you work & work on helping them understand they need to obey & yet you’re exhausted because it’s not getting through to them. I was frustrated. I was exhausted. I was embarrassed. I was disappointed – disappointed that he wasn’t obeying, disappointed that I hadn’t done more to prevent this moment from happening. I wondered & worried – boy did I worry about what others thought. All I knew to do was to be consistent even though I wanted to load the boys up & go home for an early nap time.

So, we stayed & we worked. It was a forever long playtime.

When we arrived at home, I had a tearful 2 year old, an almost 4 week old with tears and a mommy that wanted to do the same thing. Since we had eaten at the park, I was able to put the boys both down for a nap & I decided to jump online. That’s when it happened – I came across my friend’s blog & it was exactly what I needed. As I read her words saying when you’ve done you’re best & you feel it isn’t good enough, know it’s not but God’s best is perfect – all you can do is pray, I was again reminded how much I need to pray for my children. And that’s what I did. What an encouragement her words were to me that day. They were in fact, just what I needed.

On Saturday, I was again reminded that those days like Friday are refining days. We went out to dinner to celebrate Dave’s birthday that evening & an older couple came up to us as we were eating. They told us how nice it was to go out to eat & see a younger couple that worked to have such a well-behaved child. My heart was encouraged once again & I what did I want to do – cry. Cry because I was happy that all that work isn’t in vain & people do notice that you’ve put effort into raising them. Little did they know the work & prayer that happened on Friday. Are all days like this one, of course not, but it sure is nice when your heart is refreshed because they get it.

I’m so thankful for a God Who hears us when all we know to do is pray & pour out our heart to Him.  I’m so thankful He listens & gives us just what we need at the exact moment we need it.  

~Rachel