T-Shirts

I've seen funny maternity t-shirts, but I think I need one of my own that combines a couple different ones and says:

Yes, they're all mine.

Yes, I'm pregnant again.

Yes, we know what causes it.

Yes, I have my hands full.

Yes, I'm glad it's me and not you, too!

Don't ask me if I'm "getting fixed". Clearly, nothing's broken.

And then I saw this t-shirt and thought after Baby 4 is born, I could modify it slightly to say "I have a newborn and three toddlers . . . "

Christmas Card Pictures

My goal for this week is to take some Christmas-card-worthy photos of the kids, and I've been looking for ideas. I loved finding some good and not so good examples! (Some bad ones really got me laughing - I feel for those moms. Been there, done that, still doing that!)

 

What I would love to have, and what I've tried in the past to achieve:

What I will most likely end up with, based on past experience:

 

Rough. Day.

As I lean against the kitchen sink sobbing, verbally crying out to God, my brain is telling me to shut up. I know I am being irrational, emotional, irritable, and anxious. Today I've worried about money, our children's schooling, miscarriage, my husband's job, me looking for a job, me screwing up our children for life, and well, this list could go on forever. Seriously. Forever. But nothing is different than last week, when I was completely trusting, completely at peace with what God is allowing, doing, and working in our family. I know my problem is that I've let the world in. When the world's influence comes in, God's goes out. I've let in little comments about a fourth unplanned pregnancy, I've let in people's obvious lack of excitement for us which my mind takes and uses to turn friends and family into arch-enemies. I've let in society's idea of a nice house and comfortable style of living, and I've let in a view of our finances that takes God out of the equation.  But it's also been one of those days in which I know I have a problem, but I can't seem to do anything about it. So I've done the only thing I can: Cry to Jesus. Sob.  Literally. When we have no words, God hears our hearts. He's promised, and I cling to that promise today.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." - Romans 8:26

Other promises I'm claiming tonight:

"In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" - Psalm 56:4

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." - Psalm 56:8    ~Now that's love!~

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." - I John 4:4

Helpful Hints

Helpful Hints for Life (as heard in the Bowman household recently):

Get your head out of the plastic bag!
Do not lick the stove.
Don't hit your sister in the head with a bear.
Do not play with toilet water.
Don't you dare put that toilet-water-covered hand in your mouth!
If you put a toilet seat on your head, it's going to get stuck.

June 17, 2012

I wrote the following earlier this year, on Father's Day. I wanted to share just to say you're not alone. We all have bad days. . . .



Today was one of those days. One of those days I didn't think I would live to see the end. One of those days I cried out to Jesus just to make it. And the most frustrating part for me was that I had such great hopes and expectations of the day.

I wanted today to be special for my husband. He is the best father to our children I could have imagined. I wanted him to have a restful, relaxing, fun day with his family.
I wanted today to be special for my baby boy, who was dedicated this morning at church. It was supposed to be his special time.

Instead, we arrived at church late, thinking it better for our very miserable teething and sick little boy to continue his nap (since he was finally actually napping) and just make it for the dedication, scheduled for later in the service. Lauren started sobbing hysterically when we dropped her off with Megan in the toddler room. Right as the dedication service was starting, we were informed that there is no nursery for the service. How do Daddy and Mommy take baby Michael up to the platform to get dedicated if no one is there to watch two toddler girls who are both fussing and crying? Daddy holds a toddler on each arm, Mommy holding baby. I was so busy trying to keep the girls quiet during the prayer, I don't even know what was said. This breaks my heart. My son was dedicated to the Lord, and I don't even know what was prayed for him. Of course, I also wanted a picture to remember the special time; in my mind, a picture of Daddy and Mommy praying over Michael, showing just how special this little boy is to us. No picture was taken at all. Daddy had to leave the service with the girls. After the service, family pictures had to be taken for the church directory. That was a real treat. Forced smiles from Daddy and Mommy, both bouncing a sad baby or two.

At this point, I'm doing all I can do hold it together. "Lord, I need you. Lord, I need you. You promised you wouldn't give me more than I can handle, and I'm NOT handling this. You promised, and I need you." We made it to the van before I started sobbing, and I hear Megan's sweet voice ask from the back of the van, "Mama, you ok?"

Hours and hours pass, lots of temper tantrums are thrown, lots of discipline sessions are administered, lots of tears cried, and lots of silent prayers are thrown at the feet of Jesus. It is now 8:30 pm. The girls are finally sleeping. I am talking to my sweet baby boy, telling him how special he is to me, that I love him with all my heart. He smiles, chubby cheeks spouting those ridiculous dimples of his. He coos, laughs, and shrieks with delight when I kiss his cheeks and touch my nose to his. We made it, just like God promised.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:10

Murphy's Law for Moms

1. If you wear black, they will have a runny nose.
2. If you wear white, they will have muddy hands.
3. If you change their diaper, they will immediately poop in the new one.
4. If you mop the floor, they will spill something.
5. If you put on fresh socks, you will immediately step in whatever was spilled.
6. If it is perfect, they will fix that for you.
7. If you say it, they will repeat it.
8. If it's important, they will forget it.
9. If you're tired, they will not be.
10. If you love them, you will see the beauty in it all.

                                      - Author Unknown

I absolutely loved the truth in it all. And when I got to the last one, I thought of yesterday's post and smiled. Yes, there is beauty in it all.

Beauty

While most who have never been a stay-at-home mom think being one means sitting on the couch eating bon-bon's all day, we who have been or are in this position know that is just not true. It's a grueling, exhausting, dirty job. Diapers, dishes, laundry, boo-boos, dirt, mud, and crumbs are just part of the daily job description. But we need to see the beauty. Sometimes we have to look for it, and sometimes it smacks us in the face. Here are some of my beautiful moments:

 Megan's first real boo-boo's. They are beautiful to me because, after the pain, Megan loved them. When the scabs healed, she cried and asked me where her "boo-bops" went.

 During coloring time, Megan tried painting her nails with markers.

Good Mom

Today, being a good mom meant . . .

• putting diapers on puppies, kitty cats, and horsies.
• playing instead of cleaning up after lunch.
• dancing to samba music (from the movie 'Rio') with the girls.
• having my face covered in pukey slobber by a 6 month old's kisses.
• reading three books a hundred times (maybe a slight exaggeration) each.
• pretending to be horribly disgusted when a certain stuffed puppy had 'stinkies' in his diaper.
• coloring Winnie the Pooh with a purple crayon even though it drives me NUTS to not be coloring him yellow.

Do Everything

If you've been to my house, you know the danger that is cheerios on the floor. It's like they are plants that grow up through the hardwood floor. While out shopping, I heard a song over the radio that made me smile. I don't care for the melody, but I absolutely loved the first verse. "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman

You're picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip, color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you I bet I know you wonder sometimes,

Does it matter at all?

Let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you

To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace with every move that you make

In every little thing that you do

Change

I had a good laugh at myself on the way to Wal-Mart tonight. As I went to scratch my neck and realized dried yogurt on my neck and hair was to blame for the itch, I realized that I also had yogurt on my left pant leg, spit up on my right pant leg, and snot on my shirt. My hair was thrown in a ponytail, bangs clipped back while wisps stuck out at every direction. Why did I laugh? Oh, just because three years ago, I wouldn't have left the house without my hair, makeup, and outfit being done just so. Yes, children change things just a bit!

Sometimes . . .

Sometimes, being a good mom means . . .

• squishing invisible bugs.
• kissing fake boo-boos.
• reading a book to two toddlers while sitting on the toilet.
• making up songs about everyone in our family.
• being a dragon that "flies" around the living room and blows fire.
• pretending I don't see the little girl hiding behind a chair yelling "Where go, girl?"
• singing the Blue's Clues theme song countless number of times.
• dancing to songs that Megan makes up about going shopping.
• having lots of fun!