Suprises, a double take and a double dose in learning about Compassion

We spent the day in the car again. 
A Thursday kind of day.
A late start in the morning, Awana the night before and it takes everyone a while to wind down and share their stories of the night.
Piano lessons and back and forth from home, because not everyone has to go.
In the back and forths, running Fun Girl to work.
Back home for a quick lunch.
Then to Bal-A-Vis-X.
Then to the grocery store to get the latest ad.
My day stops here.
I am lost in my own world as I sit in the car and wait for Hockey Player to run in, grab the ad and come back to me, stopped at the curb.  He comes to the door and says, someone fell. 
I quickly recall the vague thud I heard and start looking around.
A deep intake of my breath.
A "grandpa" is down  in the parking lot and 2 ladies were helping him.
I quickly put my hazard lights on, put the burb in park and tell the kids to stay.
I see the ladies are talking to him and I run inside to tell Customer Service someone has fallen.  They quickly send the managers out.
He is a little disoriented. His face is banged up and he is bleeding quite a bit from his scrapes.
He misjudged the curb/ground and face planted.
My heart was in my throat.
He just wanted to get in his car and drive home to the next block over where he lives in Assisted/Independent Living facility.
But he is so disoriented. 
Rides are offered. A chair is offered. Paper towels.  Someone got ice.
I ask him the name of where he lives.
Blessedness that it is, I am very familiar with his residence. I have family there. I quickly call.  They send over their Director of Nursing and instruct us to call an ambulance. 
The managers do that. 
I see he is being well cared for and try to gracefully exit.
I stop at the care facility to give them a first hand account for when he returns later on...as disoriented as he is he might not be able to tell them much.  Plus to let them know he has 2 bags of refrigerated items. 
All the while grateful he is well cared for and being watched out for. 
As I return my car, I hear one of children ask why I had to get out of the car and  help?
My eye brows shot up.
Because it was the right thing to do I am thinking.
I try to say because he needed help. 
But this kiddo, is grumpy.  Wanted to be at home.  So did I.  Just didn't get it.  Which for this kiddo when this stage of self centeredness has started it is really hard to refocus. 
I ask my children if they knew the story of the Good Samaritan. 
I was shocked when my younger two said no.
NO???
I gasped and did a double take. 
My brain went into over drive. How could that be? 
We read Bible stories.  We talk Bible stuff.  We memorize verses. We go to church.  They watch Bible videos.  How? But....?
I stop the bumbling around in my brain.
I share the story as I drive. 
I ask who was a good neighbor?  why? 
Now they all have heard the story and know.
But now, it is quiet and I can think.
It is just like I share at times with friends and my oldest. Just like I had shared that morning with a friend.  God doesn't always take us down the same path as the person next to us.  He has different lessons for us at different times. We don't learn his ways over night.  Sometimes there are even some slips and falls along the way, just like when a baby learns to walk and become a toddler.  Yes, my oldest were schooled in the story of the Good Samaritan.  Now so were my youngers.  My youngers on the other hand have been learning lessons that my olders are learning just now. 
Different people, different paths, different learning curves and lessons plans created by the Master Educator.  Patience and understanding and compassion for one another, for we don't know where the Lord has taken them, is taking them or will be taking them. 

Counting to 775........

751. Brothers playing quietly w Legos after a morning of bickering.
752. Clear blue skies after a very dirty previous day
753. Help on the kitchen
754. Unexpected head massages and afternoon naps
755. Sparkly splashes of light playing on the walls
756. Glimpses of the young woman she is becoming
757. The perfect fit if a little hand in mine
758. Contented baby willing to rest in my arms whilst momma takes care of a couple of things.
759. Worshipping with my earthly family and my church family for the first time in weeks
760. Snuggles of my children
761. Evaluations and recognizing that much is being accomplished
762. Productive days
763. Gaining strength and stamina in the silence of water
764.  Coaching from Fun Girl
765.  Shared laughter with my daughter
766. The hum of a sewing machine
767.  Smells of a busy kitchen
768.  Finding lost keys...answered prayers
769.  Sleepy prayers
770.  Pictures shared by friends
771.  Imaginative friends
772.  God's reassurance in His love for Me
773.  Caring Siblings
774.  Promise of extended weekends
775.  Unexpected rewards

Growing our Family

Lately, I have had baby longings.

Much to Daddy O's horror.

But I am quick to let him know it is okay.

'Cause I know I am healthier now than I was in the midst of having all my babies.

It has been 6 years since my last baby was born, almost 7 truth be told.

His birthday is in a month.

2 pregnancies literally had me at death's door.

One of which even had the doctor wondering if she would have to suggest the unthinkable.

Through it all, God was at work.

He preserved my life.

He preserved the life of my children. 

Some on earth and a couple in heaven.

Only my first was uneventful.

I loved being pregnant the first time round.

It was amazing.

Then the challenges happened.

With each challenge, a little bit more of my strength and health was lost.

I didn't know it at the time.

Too busy living life.

With each pregnancy came more fatigue and more complications.

Lots of non-stress tests.

Lots of being told to take it easy...

encouraging bed rest and trying to comply.

If I am in bed, can I still fold laundry.

And really what is so difficult about sorting laundry while in a chair.

The words I knew were coming...

I can try to get you through another pregnancy, but I don't know...

I will see you in 6 months and discuss your recovery....

(surgery was hanging over my head for repairs)

God was merciful and over that 6 months, my body healed well

and no surgery was needed.

 

I have been content.

I have been crazy busy raising children.

Relishing each minute and sometimes
impatiently waiting for some of the challenging stages to pass...

(potty training ~ tantrum throwing, you get the picture)

 

I have been content till late this summer.

I see the babies.

They are soo cute.
I just wanna snuggle and take a nap with one.

My time is done for now.

I am in NO HURRY to be a Grandma.

That day will come in its own time.

But as much I wanna hold one of those babies....
I love sleeping at night.

I love getting work done.

I love jumping and running out of the door.

With my last one in a car seat...

I see freedom a coming.

I really just wanna the snuggle and nap.

 

Then we got a mouse.

Not just any ordinary mouse.

The kind that joins you in the kitchen while you cook and runs across your feet.

The kind that thinks late night TV is an invitation to come check out your snacks.

This mouse is clever.

We have every kind of trap, obstacle course and means to make sure he meets his Almighty Creator.

AND yet, he still torments us with his cleverness.

Then he did the unthinkable.

He chewed up some cardboards and tossed it onto our new furniture.

Daddy O received the report.

 

I received the instructions.

Get a cat today!

I kind of missed the article "A" in the command.

But he should have known better to send me alone with 4 children to get

A cat.

Not gonna happen.

Not someone with baby goo goo eyes!

Now all of my children are sleeping, and I find

 

Oreo here

 

 

and Gibbs here with Fun Girl

 

 

It didn't take Oreo long to come find me at the computer.

She laid down on my mouse.

WRONG mouse kitty!

 

Favorite Things....Recycle Bank

Recyclebank is..........
Awesome, great, best thing since sliced bread....well maybe I wouldn't go that far.
But pretty terrific.  And definitely one of my favorite tools these days. 

I wouldn't say I am a tree hugger. 
I don't get all crazy if I see recyclables in the dumpster, BUT I do like to do my part.
When God put Adam and Eve in the garden they were instructed to care for it.
I just see recycling as my part of being a good steward of God's Creation. 

So, after we were married and had child #1 aka Fun Girl, maybe after child #2 aka Hockey Player I started wanting to recycle more.  We did the aluminum cans.  (Hello--Money there!! and the kids were all over the change and so was I).  I started saving newspapers and dropping them off at the local grocery store. 

Hubby wasn't a big fan of having "trash" around. 
I bought trash cans to sort.
Not really buying it.

Child #3 aka Little Princess entered the world.

SHE. DID. NOT. LIKE. sleeping in her bed. 

Forget about napping there.

She liked the sling. 

She liked touching me. 

She liked being near me. 

She was a Momma's girl! 

Ahhhh, how sweet.  How wonderful....
Yeah, but every once in a while it is nice to NOT BE TOUCHED! 
The only other place she was willing to nap was in the car seat in a moving vehicle!

So I started brain storming.  I was all past the first - second child we gonna do this by the book to get her to sleep in her bed.  It was survival.  It was what ever will work for the now planning time.

So I created a schedule. 
A schedule of activities that needed/could be needed to be done every week. 
Each activity was assigned a day.

Do you see where I am going with this??
We went for a daily drive every day during nap time.  Oh yeah!!
Once a week we went to the library that had a drive through and on the way was the local recycling facility.  Oh yeah!!
How could Hubby complain about recycling that was dumped every week? ! ?
Hockey Player and Fun Girl would help to dump the containers, that is if they hadn't fallen asleep. 

If they were still awake, then we might stop at the park before going home.   It was amazing during that time period, how many errands I could come up with that required me to be out every day.  Of course, that was before the gas prices went up.  We won't discuss how un-ecological I was to be out driving every day of the week.  Because the choice was to save gas or sanity. 

Sanity won out!

Then Little Princess grew a bit more and the daily napping trips were no more.
By then I was recycling and Hubby was not impressed. 
Somewhere in there I had to give up my weekly trip to the library with a drive thru.  That is such an amazing perk for a library to have if you have nappers in the car.  With this trip gone, I had no where to drop off my recycling.  I couldn't justify the gas anymore.
Sad sigh!

The recycling stopped. 
Couple more kids added... #4 and #5 and I am thinking we are going to have to get a second dumpster.  A notice comes in the paper.  A new trial service is being offered through our trash company. 
RECYCLEBANK !
The best part, they supply the container.
No wait, the really BEST Part:
NO SORTING
Yep you read that right. 
NO SORTING!
You just toss all your recycling in the bin. 
Amazing.
No bins, no pile up.
How could Hubby refuse?
He humored me.
I signed up. 
Initially it was like $4 a month.
Points are earned based on weight.
Points are cashed in for rewards...coupons, gift cards, ecards
That first year, I pulled in rewards worth more than we spent!
Hubby was sold.
Of course, the first year on deals like that are pretty awesome. 
But honestly, I still pull out some pretty good rewards each year. 
Now, I accumulate gift cards to use for just that gifts. 
Hello Christmas shopping without the shopping.

As time has passed, they have, also, opened up their site to those who don't use them for curb side recycling.  You can download apps and track your own recycling and earn points.  There are educational opportunities, videos and activities that may be completed to earn additional points.  This has been helpful when trying to teach my children about the various environmental actions they can take to be more Eco-minded.  I want my kids to recycle.  But I, also, want them to take note that turning off the water and lights when not in use are important actions as well.  They enjoy the games, activities, as do I, and they definitely enjoy the benefits of the rewards it brings home.   For Dad's Bud last year, he needed to complete some environmental tasks for his Cub Scouts awards. It was great to sit down with him at the computer and take him through various videos and tutorials about Recycle Bank itself and ways we could care for our planet and environment and all from the comfort of our home.  No running the car across town to ask questions. 

Being able to see and more.........

Hmmm, driving home from Jenks, Oklahoma, I discovered home much of a MidWest girl I am.

 

 I like the wide open spaces. I love seeing the horizon that includes land and sky.

 

Not much for a landscape that includes lots of brick buildings, sidewalks and being underground. I have visited those places and was struck by how obstructed my view of God's creation was by all that man made.

 Some call me a city girl, because I am not much of a fan of dust and dirt and I am allergic to most things that pollinate.

In my fairy tail world missing dirt, dust and spiders, I am a Country Girl.

I like the views.

I enjoy gazing upon God's nightly paintings I the sky.

 

  But

I realized on the same drive I am the girl that likes daylight.

I don't like to drive in the dark.

 I don't like not being able to see the horizon.

  I like to know what is ahead.

I can say the same thing about Life.

I don't like the feeling that I am driving off into oblivion.

I don't like suprises. I want to know what is going to happen.

It is hard to trust the road is going to be there especially when speeding down the road at highway speeds or that nothing will jump out in front me.

Sometimes it is hard to trust that God really knows what He is doing.

Sometimes it is hard to know what it is God would have me to do.

 I fret and worry and pray God will get me home in one piece.

 It has gotten a little easier over the years, but not much. I just don't like it.

I don't like not being able to see what it is ahead.

And Each and Every Time 

I arrive, it is with a sigh of relief and a readiness to rest.

And a gladness that I am Home

I think Heaven is going to be at least a little bit, just like that.  

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time flies

 

I was looking for something on my computer and came across this picture of my two oldest. 

Two years ago.

Where has the time gone?

They are growing up way too fast.

One is a Junior this year, the other a seventh grader...

They will be looking at starting college and high school the same year.

Not sure if I am going to be ready for the new season that is coming.

 

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Dusty days

I was suprised last week by the sky.
I have to admit it was very unsettling to witness the dirtiness and dinginess of the skyline.
Used to clean, clear blue skies occassionally filled with fluffy clouds.

When storms are brewing, the skies are shades of gray and dark and sometimes, yellow.
It is okay because much needed moisture is on the way.

The sky this day promised nothing of the kind.

It was shades of browns and only promised dryness, dirt and thirstyness.

I caught myself wondering if this is what the Great Plains looked like during the Dust Bowl.
Gritty eyes, and the feel of dust on my skin after just a short time outside.  A short time meaning, the short distance between my vehicle and the door a couple of times because I ran a few errands.
I looked out back and saw our poor Gus.  A beautiful black fur coat was now coated in brown.  Even he was unable to escape the air and wind around us.  I didn't have the energy to let him in.  He would only shake and roll and create more cleaning.  So out he stayed, though I think a child or two may have rescued him and put him in the garage for a while. 

Yet in my sleepless nights of late, I can't help but think how much our spiritual lives can be illustrated in this one day.  My life.  In my sheltered, 25 square mile, little circle of the world I get covered by the dust of this world and bring it home.  The every day sameness, busyness and sometimes monotonous life gets to me and before long my life seems dusty, brown and dirty.  I long for something more and my focus is no longer on what is before me, I neglect the housekeeping of my heart and it gets dusty.

The dust

It gets in my eyes and affects how I see everything around me.  Instead of gratitude for my home and I see chores that just won't take of themselves.. Instead of a home filled with God's blessings, I see messes and monotony.

It makes me sneeze.  It is uncomfortable and my body tries to get rid of it.  My mind tries to reject the negative attitudes, but there is just enough lingering to..... 

Stir up my allergies. I become sick and weak in my attempts with the Lord and the simple act of breathing becomes difficult and it is work to get my focus back. 

Sometimes I need the help of medicine, a good dose of Divine intervention, to get me back on track.
 
In the meantime, my life just looks dingy and dry and thirsty. 

It is missing the crisp colors of freshness and renewal. 

Even in the dark days of adversity, a dusty spiritual life misses the promise of renewal and a thirst that is quenched.

Oh, don't let it be so...........

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