Facts & Ironies

Facts about me & Ironies of my life (and possibly yours too):

* I am drawn like a uber magnet to the expensive things. If there is a collection of purses at TJ MAXX, and I can't see the brand or the pricetag, I will still pick out the expensive one. It happens. A lot. And not just with purses. (I've been in a I need more purses mood lately)

* I seem to over-season or under-season food when I cook. I have a hard time getting it just right. Yes, I use the recipe, but some of the recipes I've been given don't have certain amounts. You know, a pinch of this, a splash of that. Yeah, I'm not good at measuring those. I know it takes practice, but I have no depth perception and that makes it tough!

* I love office supplies! Oh my word, do I! New pens are my weakness. Sharpies make me smile. I find ways to use them. I love my iPhone and all of the ways that I can make lists, but there's nothing like writing with a new pen. I love the fresh pages of a brand new notebook. And binders...I just love binders! Add dividers and I'm in heaven!! :) I know it seems extreme, but I really do love this stuff!

* There's about a 15 minute period in my day when I feel like I can't breathe. It's right before Bella's naptime. She's tired and wants me to hold her. Usually at this time, Brennan is ready to nurse, so Bella sits as close to me as she possibly can. I do feel a little suffocated at that moment, but then it's over...she's in her bed and he usually falls asleep too. It's then that I catch my breath.

* I had a pair of NineWest shoes that I got from Marshalls. I loved these shoes. They were so comfortable. I wore them all the time when I was a teacher. One of the straps broke, so I threw them away. I didn't know what they were called, but if I would have, I think I would have bought them at full price because they were so stylish and comfortable. Sylvia, my cousin, found them at the same store a year later...they were in her size not mine. And there were no more there.

Just thought I'd do something a little different in my blog. :) Feel free to let me know something about you!!

The Apostle Paul's Advice on Being a Mom

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." A lot of Christ-followers quote this verse from the Bible and use it as a source of encouragement to get through a tough time that they may be having. The cool thing to look at are the verses written before this one. In verses 11-12, Paul, the writer, begins talking about how he has learned to be content in any living situation; to live on almost nothing or with everything. I like how the New Living Translation of the Bible says it, "(12)...I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (13) I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

This has been on my mind this week. Learning to be content in any situation, any circumstance. Boy, am I still learning. Before having kids, I thought I am going to love being home with my kids. I don't know how someone would not want to be a stay-at-home mom...I know that there are situations where a mom wants to stay at home, but has to work to take care of her family. And now I understand why a mom would want to go back to work. Some days I think I would fit in better at a mental institute than I do in my house. :)
Also, I think about where I am now. Staying home with sick babies. It would be easy to feel left out of the fun. Sometimes I think that we don't get invited to do stuff because people just think they can't come anyways, they have kids. It's tough sometimes. It's hard to live in the present where there's nothing really but poopy diapers and runny noses and crying, clinging babies. I know that 10 years from now we will be able to go anywhere we want with our kids. That's just not happening now.
And then I think about moms who have kids who are grown and are on their own. Sure, they can do whatever they want whenever they want. But for some of these moms, they long for the days where they held a sick baby for hours. Where they were the center of their child(ren)'s universe.
I guess I'm a little stuck on the seasons thing. But that is what Paul was talking about...being content in any situation...in any season...That's what he could do with the strength that only Jesus could give him. Being content as a mom requires the same strength from Jesus to me.

There's Nothing Like Being Home

Bella likes to be on the go. She often asks to go outside, to go bye-bye, or to ride in her daddy's truck. She has been thrilled to spend time with her cousins Diamond and Mercy this past week. But towards the end of the time at both of our parents' houses, she mentioned that she was ready to go home. She's 2. I wouldn't think she would know what she wanted. But Sunday night, when we got home, she was so relieved. She was happy to play with her toys. To sit at her table. To rock with her daddy. When we moved here in May, Lee said for our first night in this new house, if she fell asleep on him in his chair, that it would really be home. She did that night, and she did Sunday night too.
Believe it or not, Brennan seemed to be happy to be home too. He smiled and kicked as he laid on the floor. He just seemed peaceful.
I don't know what it is, but there is something special about being home. I love being with my parents. I am sad when I have to leave. But I love coming back to my house.
Both of my babies do too.

Saying "No"

The word "No" is often a hard word for people to say (and to hear as well). There's pressure to not let someone down, or hurt someone's feelings, or disappoint someone...People just don't like saying "No." It's hard as a parent, too. Sometimes I feel like all I say is, "No, Bella." And I know it will be "No, Brennan," before long. Lee once said, "Maybe we should just let her keep talking because it seems like all we do is tell her 'No.'"

Being a stay-at-home mom has taught me to say "No," but in a different way. It's saying no to opportunities that come to me or things that I may want to do, but it's just not the right time for me. Pete Bullette encouraged me with this, "Bri, you and Lee have 20+ years of ministry together ahead of you, but it's just not right now. Enjoy your kids." That has been such a relief to me. I know that it is true. Right now my little babies need me more than they ever will in their lives. I want to enjoy fulfilling that role because no one else can do it like I can. Amanda Gravely also encouraged me by saying that there will always be people who need to be ministered to, but right now is the time to enjoy being with my babies.

I'm thankful that there are people in my life who encourage me where I am at. There are so many emotions that a woman with small children goes through about life...throw in being a wife and a minister and it gets even crazier! But, as I've said before, I am completely embracing this season. Pretty soon I will be forced out of this season and into the next. I'll have multiple opportunities to say "yes" to all kinds of things in the future, but as for right now, I'll settle for saying "no" to be able to enjoy the life that I'm living.

At Home

It's just easier to stay at home right now. It takes so much to get out of the house...not just things, but energy! I keep picturing life ahead...when Bella is 6 and Brennan is 4...that's hard to picture at times, but I think that they will both be walking, communicating well, and hopefully not throwing as many fits in public. I know those days are coming. But they are not here now. I'm not bitter about it. I'm just staying home.

Being parents is a very demanding job. My time is not my own right now. There are moments when I want to pull my hair out. But those are brief moments, even though they feel like they last forever when they are happening. I will not complain; I am getting what I want. I want to be at home with my kids. So, that is where we are.

Smiles Full of Love

There is nothing that can compare to when one of my babies looks me in the eyes and smiles. Those eyes are so full of love and admiration. It just flows out of them. Their eyes and their smile say it all. It's an amazing experience I get to re-live every day...a moment that is treasured in my heart. They may not understand the words "I love you," but the look in their eyes says more than those words can convey.

I often think about my relationship with God...and how I want to look at Him with the same look that I get from my children. I don't want to continually have my hand out waiting on something from Him. I don't want to pout or pitch a fit when I don't get my way. I want to look at Him with love and adoration...just enjoying being with Him. Just to smile when I reach out because I know that He is there. I want that every day...no matter what the day looks like.

My babies love me...and I love them. Deeply. Bella is just now starting to say the words, "I love you." And it is so precious to hear. And it gets funny when she says, "I love you, cup..." or "I love you, bath." But when I see the look in her eyes and the smile on her face, I know that she is expressing love far beyond what her words are saying. I want God to feel my love for Him like that.