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Archive for the ‘Peace at home’ Category

THE ICE CREAM MAN IS COMING!

THE ICE CREAM MAN IS COMING!

Is this familiar? Your husband does something annoying or forgets to do something important. The doing or the forgetting isn’t what really infuriates you, however. His  act or non-act is representative. It stands for a serious character flaw that must be addressed. A lecture is the only way to go about it, so you rehearse a fantastic speech in the shower or car, of course.

Later that evening, when you deliver your lecture, your husband feels very sorry for you and gives you roses after he takes out the trash, unloads the dishwasher, cleans the diaper genie, scrubs the kitchen, paints the house, cleans the car, and organizes the basement.

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Childhood

Childhood

Before motherhood, arriving at  my front door was predictable. Park the car, out the door, and up the steps while planning my to-do’s: dinner, laundry, a work project. Grab my keys, unlock the door, plop down my tote, and on with the evening.

With a toddler in hand, however, I embark on an adventurous excursion as soon as my field guide is out of his car seat. First, we kneel and study ants trailing along the sidewalk. Then, we see how the dandelions are doing. A handful is taken for close analysis. The wind scatters their little white furries, and we observe how each one skips across the grass.

A loud whoosh captures the little scientist’s attention. An airplane? He looks up . . . waits . . . waits . . . waits . . . and there! Yes, his hypothesis is correct. Airplane! “Ooooooh!” he remarks.

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Yogurt Goatee

Yogurt Goatee

To eat well is to live well. Each family defines eating well differently. For some, the menu is all organic; others serve Kraft mac-n-cheese and Mott’s applesauce, happy that everyone is together. Some use their best dishes; others set the table with well-loved chipped plates.

While there are many differences, one thing is similar: Families who eat well together are thoughtful about mealtime. Eating is a time to pause during the day and appreciate family and friends. For children, it’s a time to learn manners and the art of civil conversation. It’s a time for parents to show respect for their children, to nurture their body, mind, and soul.

Of course, wanting to orchestrate a gracious meal and actually creating one are two different things. The learning curve is steep. I have often felt frustrated and depressed over too many haphazard meals of clumsy prepping , survival snacking, and never finishing a healthy meal due to the constant getting up for a paper towel, for Jack’s spoon flung to the floor for the tenth time, for my water glass, and for . . . why am I standing again? Then there’s the endless sweeping of crumbs, wiping down sticky fingers, and scrubbing mushy bananas off the high chair tray. It’s easy to give in to constant chaos, claiming it the new norm for a stay-at-home mom with a toddler underfoot and a new baby on the way.

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The serious gardener

The serious gardener

True peace is found in faith. Christianity is my foundation for building patience, joy, humor, trust, respect, and other virtues. Faith makes joyful moments more meaningful and the difficult ones bearable.

Jack can entertain himself for almost an hour playing with dirt, feeling its gritty bits sift through his soft fingers and analyzing its properties with scientific concentration. I watch in awe of his God-given curiosity in nature’s beauty. This moment is bigger than Jack or I. There is divine goodness and love at work. I thank God for this time.

And, I ask Him for help, so very, very much help when I’m fiercely taking a hair dryer to Jack’s shoes so we can get to church on time after he has just dropped them in the dog’s water bowl, and this after I’ve said ten times excuse me, we do not put things in Cowboy’s bowl because that’s disrespectful to our loving dog who graciously tolerates you and now, sir, you might have to wear stinky, soppy shoes to church because the Lord isn’t going to be put on hold for stinky, soppy. God help us!”

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Starburst honeysuckle

Starburst honeysuckle

Expecting our second child is exciting. I look forward to witnessing our little one learning and growing, cooing and laughing over the simplest things like pink honeysuckle, dog sneezes, and belly kisses. On the other hand, I’m anxious about double the tantrums, double the poopy diapers, and quadruple the Cheerios crunching underfoot.

But that’s reality. It must be accepted and appreciated. Eighteen months into motherhood, I’ve learned that for every hectic moment, in which I think seriously, is this my life?, a wonderful moment follows, in which I thank God for this is my life!

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Choo choo!

Thanksgiving will be another special one this year. My family will be in town to celebrate our little turkey, who was born on Turkey Day last year. True to form, I began planning weeks ago. Finding inspiration in home design magazines, I have been determined to transform our living room into a spread right out of Traditional Home. I want inviting little pumpkins on side tables and vases bursting with mums on the mantel, and of course gourds everywhere.

But before I can get to the decorating, I must start with a clean slate. This means dusting along base boards, behind books, and in between all the places that may not have been cleaned since last November.

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