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Saturday, August 25, 2007

Absence

I am sorry if you have come looking for pictures and Freeman antics lately. I had all but forgotten we had a blog. Never mind that I still check several as frequently as I can for encouragement. We are in the midst of a very sad time in our family. Joshua's dad has been diagnosed with a very aggressive and un-treatable type of cancer that had managed to spread it's tentacles far and wide before becoming 'active' and being discovered. We are spending most of our days and weeks at his parent's home, helping where we can, and just being there together as a family. Please keep our family in your prayers, specifically for the comfort of Joshua's dad and strength for Joshua and his mom, and that our sweet children would continue to be as wonderfully behaved and calm as they have been. Thank you.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Isaac Leino

I have never met this precious family, and yet, they have had an incontrovertible impact on my life. I was directed to this blog site several weeks ago, just after Isaac was born, by our pastor's wife. It was actually a day or two before I sat down to look up the site, but then I sat mesmerized for hours as I started at the first post of their story and read through five months of blogging history.

I found myself thinking of little Isaac several times a day and lifting up him and his sweet parents in prayer. I created a shortcut to their page on my desktop, and I clicked on it every time I sat down at the computer. I felt some special connection that, at first, I attributed to my own pregnancy, but in short time, I realized how much I had come to care about this little family that I will probably never meet.

The weeks went by, and Isaac's progress was up and down, at times clinging to life by a thread of the Lord's providence. His survival astounded doctors, nurses, and I would bet several of his 'followers'. Hundreds of people commented on those posts. And I can't even imagine how many lurkers there were out there, rooting on the Leino family and praying for Isaac's life.

Jordan and Patience made their mark on people's hearts, as well. They cried out for prayer, loved their little son fiercely, and praised the Lord loudly when Isaac made the smallest steps forward. In all that they said, they glorified God and thanked Him for Isaac's sweet life. They leaned hard on His mighty arms as Isaac's day to day health spiraled up and down. They were absolute servants to His will, accepting whatever came their way and cherishing each moment He gave them with their precious son. While I don't believe for a second that parents desire to give up their beloved children, I do believe that Jordan and Patience were as gracious and faithful as I will probably ever see.

Sadly, Isaac passed away. Sad for us. Wonderful for him! I know that sweet baby is being held closely in the arms of our Father. I think of all the people that prayed for that baby, who read his blog, and who are grieving for his parent's loss. I think of the amazing story that Jordan and Patience have created, all by their faith and love for Jesus Christ. The change that took place in so many lives because of the hand of our Lord working through that family. (read the comments to their posts if you doubt me) I praise the Lord for all the work He did through the life of that beautiful baby boy.

I would like to say that I would be as faithful if I were ever faced with those circumstances, though I can't know. But I am so grateful to have been able to witness the love and acceptance that Jordan and Patience modeled. I am so glad they have shared their story, and I hope that if you have not read their blog, you will make time to do so. It is a true testament to our Father's love and faithfulness.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Learning

After three years of Mommy-ing, I am learning something. Well, let me rephrase that. I have learned a LOT in those three years, but I am noticing a new trend. I have really struggled this past spring and over the summer with my children. I send somebody away for a few days to stay with a grandparent, and when they get back, they are wretched little beings. More demanding, more loud talk (just in case I didn't hear them the first twenty times they said 'whatcha doing dere, Momma?'), more testing of the limits, just general brats.

When they get home, I find myself fussing more, training more, spanking more, and much less patient. I yell and I get aggravated. I send them to their rooms just so I can rein it all back in. Meal preparation is harder. The house looks worse. I am antsy if Joshua isn't home 'on time'. And bed time just can't get here soon enough.

With only one toddler in the house, life is so much easier. There is no fighting, no screaming, no hitting, no locking someone else in a closet, no competition. Elizabeth just isn't competition for Mommy's ear time. There are no food fights in the kitchen, no screeching when Thomas puts Sarah Grace's sippee cup in the fridge (she can't open doors or the fridge yet), no battle over who sits in whose booster seat (they always wind up in their own seats because it's easier to have them assigned), no torturing one another by throwing the other's food in the sink or trash can. Tub time proceeds without wails because someone dunked someone else or poured the water out of the beloved 'tups' (cups). At bedtime, there is no arguments about who has to say prayers and be tucked in first. Oh, and there is NO tattling.

So my days are longer, more draining, and emotionally wearing with both in the house. Especially after one of them has been to spend time elsewhere. Until I realized what the real problem was. Is. It's not my kids. Well, maybe a little, but more over, it's me. Me, me, me. I get selfish over the course of a day or two of relative peace. I spend a lot less time in training and discipline and a lot more in laughing and playing, and I get quite a bit more quiet time where I can work on things that I want to work on.

Joyfulness is a choice. I know this. I just haven't managed to incorporate that into every aspect of my life. By the time the vacationing child comes home, they have had the undivided attention of someone for several hours, and they just need to be weaned back to 'partial attention' , if I may phrase it as such. Chances are, they have been better behaved and had less tantrums than if they had been at home, but they probably got away with a little more than they would have at home, too. Anyway, they get home and fall instantly back into the one of three status, and have a hard time readjusting. Understandable, since my kids are all under the age of three (for five more days, anyway).

I haven't been thinking of their transition so much as I have been focused in on my own. I just went from peaceful home to house full of kids again. My quiet time just got tossed out the door again. My days just got more stressful again. I don't get to do what I want to do anymore. My days are planned out for me again, by the very necessity of caring for my children.

While I can't stop the world for 24 hours while the kids and I readjust to the all in the house aspect of our lives, I can allow things to slow down and the rules to be just a tad relaxed. I can let some of the household duties slide for the day and just love on my kids as we all re-acclimate. This won't need to be done forever, but while they are this young, I think it's the best route. I have to choose to be joyful and to be thankful for the day or two of rest that I had and for the time my kids got to spend with family.

I'll let you know how that works out in the long run. I have only just come to this realization, and have only had the chance to put it into practice once. It helped!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Two Days After Two

Sarah Grace is a Big Girl now. Just ask her. More specifically, if you ask her how old she is, she replies with , "SaayGyace ah Big Giwl". I wouldn't trade it for anything. She staunchly refuses to admit to her age, won't even say the word 'two'. I suppose it's that whole thing of never asking a woman her age. Boy, is she claiming that one early!

Sunday morning, we greeted her by singing Happy Birthday to her, then had a pile on in Mommy and Daddy's bed. Thomas and Sarah Grace are so sweet and cuddly first thing in the morning. We lounged around and played and laughed and sang to Sarah Grace a time or two more, then we had to step on it to get ready for church. Sarah Grace got a brand new dress for her birthday and was excited to wear it to church and show it off. I wish I had taken a picture, but I didn't. We were running late!

After church, we ran an errand or two, got home, scarfed down some lunch and then the entire family laid down to take a nap. Elizabeth had had a rare night where we were like jack in the boxes with her. Up, down, up down...almost made me regret having put her in a different room. Almost. While the family slept, I got started on making dinner for everyone. All the grandparents and Aunt Kim and Uncle Tracey were coming in to celebrate Sarah Grace's birthday!

After everyone got up, the kids filled the bird feeder. Rascally birds will empty it in 24 hours if we do it all the time. So we just surprise them a couple times a week, and the seed will last almost 48 hours that way. Anyway, you don't care about the birds.

Now, Sarah Grace wasn't really sure what this whole birthday thing was about. She kind of walked around looking at us oddly as we made over it being her special day and singing to her and telling her how much we loved her. Joshua and I were trying to figure out how she got to be two years old so fast! It doesn't seem that long ago, really, that we were bringing her home from the hospital. Time flies when your having fun, eh?

Now, this is where the day gets comical. The family all showed up, and it was about more than Thomas or Sarah Grace could bear. They had been begging for birthday all day long. (In this instance, 'birthday' means cake.) It had been sitting in a glass domed cake plate all day, taunting them with it's very existence! They managed to choke down some spaghetti, but only because I told them they had to eat it or they wouldn't get any cake. Mean ol' Momma. Then, I put them off even longer by announcing that Sarah Grace could open her gifts first.

Thomas really wanted to be the center of attention. He wanted the presents, he needed to open the brightly colored gifts. Much to Sarah Grace's credit, she was fine with him helping. All went smoothly until Sarah Grace opened a package and pulled out a Little Mermaid night gown.

Thomas, now, is the ultimate Ariel fan. He loves Ariel. Loves. He sings her songs, fights her battles, and in turn, Ariel (the imaginary one that is with us most of the time) sits in her chair, reads books with him, swims in the lake, eats dinner with us, and occasionally takes a nap, at which time Thomas insists we 'shhhhhhhh'.

That gown came out of the bag, and Thomas just about went nuts. He wanted it. Bad. This, of course, prompted Sarah Grace to treasure it all the more, and she immediately wanted to put it on. The gown has a sheer layer over the front, and Thomas insisted on trying to push the sheer layer out of the way so he could look at 'his girl'. (the cartoon one, not his sister) We all laughed as he followed Sarah Grace around like a puppy, just waiting to glimpse the front of her gown.

Next, we went off to blow out the candles and serve up some cake. We let Sarah Grace sit on the table with her cake and we all crowded into the kitchen. I lit the candles, and they were immediately blown out. By Thomas. We all laughed, reminded him he still had ten days to wait, and relit the candles. As we sang the Happy Birthday song (again), I had to hold Thomas back. He wanted at those candles! After much sputtering, or blowing as Sarah Grace called it, the candles finally flickered out. I made quick work of cutting up the 'birthday' and serving it. I handed off a piece of cake to my grandmother for Gracie, but didn't get the fork fast enough for that girl! I looked over, and Mimi was holding the plate out and Sarah Grace had her face in the cake, enjoying the yummy choclateness of it all! That's my girl!

All in all, it was a fun day. Sarah Grace is still resisting any attempts we make to get her to say her age. Big Giwl will have to suffice, I suppose. Happy Birthday, my sweet Big Girl!!!






Wednesday, August 01, 2007

August

It being the South, it shouldn't surprise you to hear that today was hot. It being August in the South, it shouldn't surprise you to hear that the day was very hot. The kids managed to play outside for two full hours this morning. From 8am until just after 10am, we were playing with a giant Frisbee, checking out all parts of a vehicle at kid level, sidewalk chalking, running in senseless circles while laughing uproariously, and so on. By 10:30, they were vegged out on the couch. Since we missed Sesame Street, I allowed them to watch the 10:30 PBS show. Barney. Sigh. How I do not like that overgrown lizard, let me count the ways. But the kids needed the sitting time, and I needed a few minutes to myself.

After Barney, we made lunch, ate lunch, cleaned up our mess, and then got ready for nap. Four books later, I tucked them in. Three minutes later, they were asleep. By 12:00. An hour earlier than normal, but they were nodding off during the reading . And then, they proceeded to sleep for three and a half hours! Since we have been sick all week, I figured they needed the rest.

At about 3:30, they came prancing into the living room chanting "what can we do? what can we do?" I fed them some snack and juice then we went to fill up the swimming pool. Where they played for nearly two hours. Or stayed for nearly two hours. I peeked out the window at one point, thinking it was eerily quiet, to find my children lounging in the pool, chatting away. Now, two things here. I did send them out in swim wear today. Usually, I let them swim nekkie, but today, I had suited them. The undoing was all on their own. Also, I had to take the chairs out of the water and break up their conversation. We just inflated that pool today and I did not want a hole in it!


What, you may ask, was Elizabeth doing all this time? Well, she went down at 1pm and slept until a smidge past five. I however, did not get a nap. I so hope these kids sleep tonight!!!