Parents'-the Ultimate Embarassment

It is amazing to me what embarasses our kids these days. When I was a kid, it was black socks with sandals. Or, in my Dad's case, he'd mow the grass in his very own creation: cut-offs he himself cut off that looked more like gauchos then shorts, a headband, and cowboy boots. Then, he added a red and white checkered shirt for a trip to town. He never could understand why we were all really busy when he asked if we wanted to go to town with him. Thank God we lived in the country. As for my Mom she'd fix my hair or clothes in public. Or, comment on the dark circles under my eyes in front of really cool people. My mother-in-law once commented on my husband's toenail fungus to me. We were dating then and I could tell he wanted to crawl in the deepest hole available. I just hugged him and told him that only made him more real to me. Maybe that's one of the many reasons I married him-he was the real deal.
I don't know what my husband does to embarass my kids. They seem to think he's pretty groovey. As for me, today I played air guitar to a really cool Genesis song with my golf club while miniature golfing. My kids couldn't believe it. I heard stuff like, "Mom, please stop. You are really embarassing." My Mom was along and thought that the whole situation was hilarious. I thought I was being pretty cool to even think of it. My husband just shook his head.
One parent we never have to be embarassed about is God. Have you ever seen a sunset? He is the ultimate cool parent. So, I guess embarassing our kids is a rite of passage. I sort of enjoy it. As for the golf club guitar I just played on. And so did my kids-three miniature greens in front of me.

God-the ultimate party planner

As I prepare for my son's birthday in the midst of end of school activities, I am reminded of the slow, encroaching fear I will forget something really important to him! It comes from nowhere this fear, sweeping over me like a vulture taunting and laughing at me. I know it is the enemy but really he is very good at his job. I remembered this for me but forgot this for my son-what kind of a mom are you?
I could let this suck me in. Sometimes I do. Then, I remember. Make a list. Ask for some help. Oh, and pray! Then I have guilt for not thinking of God first! Yikes! Who made me a list maker? Who made me detailed oriented? Who is the best helper in the world? That would be God. Why do we so often times forget this? He is there waiting in the wings. We don't really need to ask; He knows what we need but He'd like to hear from us anyway. And, He will help us remember the little things, the big things and every thing inbetween.
Cookies and milk for class party? Check. Gifts purchased? Check. Card purchased? Check. Balloons ordered? Check. Cake picked up? Check. God as the ultimate party/life planner? Check!

Camp Time

Summer is fast approaching. Though many moms shirk from the thought and the eventual "I'm bored" summer can bring from the the offspring, I have found a large number of moms who look forward to summer. A slower pace and no school responsibilities fuel this opinion. Having the kids home is a challenge; none of these moms would argue that fact. What they would argue is summer is what we moms make it. After working in a few daycares before I had kids, I realized having a day somewhat like a daycare schedule kept things varied and fresh. Now that my kids are all in school, summer is when I put this plan into action. Time for crafts, some type of music-we really don't sing anymore; that would make me an even bigger embarassment than I all ready am-but listening to the radio or a tape or practicing piano works in my book, game time, reading together or reading together silently, etc.
I have a friend who does "camps" at home. Its cheaper she maintains and sending her kids away just doesn't register on her radar. I admire that. One of her camps is cooking. Sometimes the kids help her with the whole meal or just a simple batch of brownies but the point is she and her children are spending time together. They aren't stressed with running to several different activities and her kids are learning something useful. And, they all are actually having fun.
I have to admit I was a little skeptical. Trying this with my kids was not a trip down lollipop lane the first time. So, I scaled it back some to only making a simple batch of cookies. Hmm...better. The most memorable was making lasagna. We sort of had a revolving door policy that day. It worked well and I felt really good about it. And let's face it, we all need to feel like a good mom a lot more these days.
No matter what "camp" one chooses, (and there is nothing wrong with going away to camp just maybe not thirty in one summer), have fun spending time with your kiddos! That is the true meaning of summer and motherhood.

Mother's Day

As another Mother's Day is upon us, I stop to reflect all the Mother's Days in my past. Some were mine, some were my mother's, and some were my grandmothers'. Did they enjoy them? Was the hanging basket, robe or blouse really what they wanted? One Mother's Day really stands out to me and very well is the most memorable for my mom. While eating dinner out, my little brother had an explosive diaper. Luckily contained in his booster seat, my mom had smelled something and stuck her finger in his diaper to check. Why she did this I'm sure I don't understand but the result was not a good one for her. Hence I learned to never check a diaper that way.
I remember being so excited when my grandmothers' opened their presents from me especially the handmade ones. They always loved it and me and told me "thank you honey!" What I wouldn't give for one more Mother's Day with them. My grandmothers' were the best! They lived up to their names--Grand Mothers!
Then, I became a mom. Handmade cards and gifts and even a corsage! My husband faithfully went all the way home to get it for me to wear at church after I forgot it! A thirty minute round trip! What a trooper he was and still is! Though, I was sobbing and calling myself the worst mom ever for forgetting the little blue and green dyed thing! I still have my first real corsage from my first Mother's Day in our fridge. Yeah, scary.
Tomorrow, I will awaken to well wishes, hugs, gifts, cards, food and fun. This after always knowing I wanted to be a mom. I love my babies even though they are far from being babies anymore. Motherhood is a blessing-some days more than others-but always a blessing from the Father who made us and blessed us with motherhood.

Oceans

Just went to see "Oceans". Wow! Disney has done it again. True, I am prejudiced. I love all things good and Disney. And, I do wish Uncle Walt was my real uncle. I remember Sunday nights watching whatever really cool program or movie the Disney people felt so inclined to share with us. Their nature shows were some of my favorites. Not surprising then that "Oceans" leaves us with even more. Wow-again! Absolutely gorgoreous. Some of the most beautiful and graceful creatures God ever created we would have never seen if not for this movie. Who else could make a landscape so breathtaking underwater as well as above water than God? He is a true artist.
Touched on too was the pollution issues. A sea lion swam aound a shopping cart and garbage not knowing what to make of these alien objects in his environment. However, Pierce Brosnan countered, the oceans go on. Something to really ponder. Some call it a hole in our ozone. Some talk about global warming. Others scoff. Yet, still here we are. And so is God.

Prayer Partners

It's interesting how as we age many of us grow closer to God. Maybe it was always there and we just didn't know that about people. As I facebook and catch up with old friends, I find more and more people saying,"You are in my prayers." It is a warm feeling. But what bothers me how much it surprises me.
Some of these facebook friends I have not seen since highschool. And, let's face it, not too many of us were talking about Jesus then. No one wanted to be viewed as a "Jesus freak" or a "Bible thumper". I had one, maybe two friends I'd talk religion with but that was it. In college when I started attending a youth center and would talk to my old friends from home I heard things like, "Wow Bethany is really into that religion." Because, well, you know, that's like so harmful. I even picked out generic Christmas cards and religious Christmas cards to keep everyone comfortable.
Then, I started dating a Pastor's son. Whoa-scary! It was nice though to be able to be myself with him. So nice that I married him. He never looks at me like I'm wierd or off the deep end when I talk religion or confess some guilty sin (for the record not all of these sins involve chocolate.) He understands and points me right back to our Heavenly Father. Being married to a man of God definately has its perks.
As I send messages to these folks on facebook I hear things like, "God has really blessed us" or "I guess that just wasn't in God's plans for us." I'm amazed all over again and then upset with myself for being amazed. This is a good thing! A relationshop with God is well so many awesome things! Life altering, love based, grace induced-the list could go on forever. Which is another good thing! This leads me back to the warm feeling I also get when I read these posts and messages. And it makes me so happy to know all these people who are so dear to me have found this happiness-this awesome Jesus!

Nobody Paints a Picture Like God

Does anyone not like Spring? I mean , really do you miss the snow? The ice? The artic blasts? Its especially windy here in the prairie state where our landscape is so flat. I once received a note from teachers reminding us of the "prairie winds" and to dress our kids appropriately. I felt like Ma Ingalls! Had we been transported to Little House on the Prairie days? It made me seriously feel like turning up the heat to 90 degrees in the old soddy.
Anyhow, here we are in the midst of Spring! I love the warmer temps and the sunshine. I almost forgot what it felt like. And EVERYWHERE I look it is green. And, pink. And yellow. And white. And blossomy. People have actually mowed their grass for the third time and it smells so good. Of course, freshly mowed grass is in a class all by itself second only to the aroma of all the flowers. I stand out on our deck and smell the lilacs and know this has got to be what Heaven smells like.
The only bad thing is some of the beautiful colors don't last. It really bums me out. Think if the colors stayed all summer to melt into the beauty of fall. If God had planned it that way, we would never have appreciated Spring in all its glory. Nobody paints a picture like God! His colors are in a brillant palette all their own! Vivid, those colors that can reach out and grab one like nothing else can. I try to soak it all up from my nose to my toes! Thank you God for Spring and all your many blessings!