ThankLESSgiving

In this season of thankfulness, I was very much the opposite today.   Five loads of pre-planned laundry (I say pre-planned because my children added two more loads during the day with their antics.); a washing machine that insisted on a fight about going off-balance with every load; a vacuum cleaner that sucked up a sock somewhere along the way and was making funky noises; three-year-olds with allergy issues in November (and some fierce 'tudes to go with it); all added to Daddy working 12 hours today... it was a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG day for the Stabler Krew.  WOW!!!!  We're earning this 4-day weekend so far.

Then perusing Facebook posts made me turn my grouchiness around.  Too many people being thankful and happy no matter what their circumstances.  I need to be more mindful of all that I have been given.  I have the resources to have seven loads of laundry to do.  I appreciate that I even have a washing machine and vacuum cleaner to act up.  (As much as I would have liked to kick them today, I also realize I would have probably hurt my toe more than hurt them.)  I'm always thankful for these two dudes in any mood and disposition.  And in today's economy, let's face it, it's spectacular that my husband has such a well-paid position that allows me all these worldly luxuries. 

It's amazing what a little passage of time... and two sleeping toddlers can do.   It helps put this long day into perspective.  (Even though in the moment, I was telling myself that I would "miss this stage" and "this, too, shall pass."  I have to admit that I am thankful that today is over and His mercies are new each morning.) 

Here's hoping I need fewer "mercies" tomorrow. 

Lego, My Lego

Ah, Halloween... the time of year where I am most thankful for DVR and the fact that I can fast=forward those scary commercials (aka political ads).   And the scary movies and creepy show ads, too. 

I'm not into the ghost and goblins scene.  I never dreamed of dressing my kids up like a zombie or Dracula.  We decided as parents to toe a fine line between the innocent fun of dressing-up and visiting neighbors and friends and creepy/crawly/scary.

Thankfully, we live in a small Christian college town (Same college that Ken and I attended, in fact.).  Our local college and churches do alternative trick-or-treating options and activities.  Lots of wholesome fun so that kids can dress up and receive candy.

So without further ado, here are my sweet boys in their costumes!  :)  A Pinterest idea that took more time to throw together than they actually wore them for.  They were a little awkward for them to move in.  They both fell a few times and were like turtles on their backs.  Pure entertainment! 

Getting Down on the Farm

I have friends that write beautiful blogs on a regular basis.  They share funny stories, photos of their families and fun times, and are able to do it at regular intervals.  I admit, I am not one of these "special" people.  I realized I haven't posted photos of the boys for such a lllllllllllooooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggg time.   So here a few favorites from farming with my dad the other day. 

Side Note: Papa, my dad, and Grandpa, Ken's dad, are heroes to these two simply because they have equipment and lawnmowers that they let the boys ride and sit on... any 2-year-old's dream.

Puddle-Jumping

I'll admit it.  I am like any other mother.  I like to think that I am a fun mom.  (Some days I will admit I might not be as fun as I am other days, but I still like to think that, overall, I am fun mom.)  My boys may be too young to truly know how much fun I can be, or they might not think I'm that much fun at all, but I can still allow myself to think that I am fun!.

It's rainy and overcast today.  Just a drizzling rain that makes for puddles all over.  Which in turn, makes for good puddle-jumping.  This is the lesson we learned today. 

After meeting a friend for lunch and playing at a local fast food joint (See how much fun I am!), we were headed to the car.  We navigated all the way through the parking lot without getting too wet.  While I was distracted putting al the stuff that comes with eating-out with 2-year-olds, my sweet Will decided that it would be a great idea to totally jump into the puddle by the car.  The first was just a little getting-his-feet-wet moment.  Then he went all-in.  Literally, all in.  The kid got his neck wet just by all the splashing he did.

Of course, his brother was not long on following suit.  It took all my self-control not to just grab them and plunk them into the car..  I had to fight back all of the natural inclinations.  They'll get soaked!  They'll get colds!   They'll get so dirty!

But fight I did.  They were soaked and so dirty (and I hope will remain cold-free).  However, they were also thrilled and the whole way home talked about how they had jumped in the puddles.  "That was fun!  I was so silly.  The water was cold." 

So some days even the "fun moms", like myself, have to fight the mom in them and let their kids have a little more fun than they might have otherwise. 

Lesson learned.

What's in a Name

That's right!  Two posts in the same week.  I'll allow you time to pick up your jaw up off the floor.  I tend to forget things if I don't do/write them down immediately.  So I am here writing on a Friday night.  Boys asleep.  Husband busy tooling around on his computer.

Like all good thoughts and theories, it came to me in the shower.  Isn't that the best place for inspiration?  It struck me that everybody struggles  I realize that sounds so obvious and inane, but I was just thinking and praying over my recent struggles.  It just struck me from out of nowhere really.

My big struggle, especially as of late, is with doubts and worries.  I do my utmost to make things happen on my own sometimes without consulting a trusted friend, my husband, or even God.  Sometimes, I just want to do it and not be told "No" or "Not yet."   I want control.  It's nearly inconceivable that someone can do it better and faster than I can, right?  I know how it should be done and what the results should look like. {Entirely rhetorical.}

When I seek without counsel or prayer...

I limit my friend's advice.

I limit my husband's wisdom.

I limit my God. 

Obviously, I am not stressing out over not seeking advice on what to make for dinner or what color of underwear I should wear, but for some bigger decisions, it strikes me that sometimes I just leap before I look.   (Yep, given the right circumstances, I might be one to jump off a bridge just because my friends did.  Okay, maybe not that much, but just jumping headfirst into a situation still can be a weakness of mine.)

All of this, lead to thinking about the faith of Ruth from the Bible, the predecessor of my own name.  She had enough faith in God to leave her family, her country, and everything she ever knew.  She went with Naomi to a new foreign land.  They were so poor that she had to glean the leftovers from the fields, but she had a strong devotion about following Naomi.  "For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God"  (Ruth 1:6).

Sometimes, I am much more like the Doubting Thomas instead of the Faithful Ruth.  I realize it all takes time to learn and develop, but like much of the things today, I would like somethings to just instantaneously happen.    I need time to grow and learn, like the song says, "He's still working on me to make me all I ought to be."  (Really it goes along with the name of our blog, Of the Potter's Hands.  It's about always being molded and changed by God.  We are constantly learning as we live.)

I realize that my train of thought might be hard to follow, and I digress at times, so I'll sign-off.  Before I do, I want to leave with one last quote of something that I love from Pinterest (which if you're not on, you need to be)....  "Don't tell God you have a big problem.  Tell your problem you have a BIG God." 

Rolling with the Punches

Wow!  To say it has been awhile would be a true understatement!  Life has certainly crept in with all of it's craziness and chaos.  Back with just a quick note, more for my own benefit and possibly to help my whole 1-2 followers!  :)

Yesterday was just a day for the grumps.  For me.  For the boys.  Daddy had a long, hard day working until 1/2 hour before the boys' bedtime.  Even the weather felt grumpy and overcast for most of the day.  I admit, I let it get the best of me.  I was sad over dumb things and grouchy for even dumber reasons.

Today, God brought this verse into my devotional time.  "God will fight for you.  Just stay calm." (Exodus 14:14)  

Really if you think about it, it's pretty incredible.  The Creator of the entire universe is not only caring for you, he's FIGHTING for you.  He wants to give you the desires of your heart and make you happy, like any parent wants for their child.  It kind of goes hand-in-hand with the verse from Psalms. "Be still and know that I am God."  Be still, my child.  Let me work.
 
Life sometimes gets you down and out.  And it's easy to let it, at least for me.  I am keeping this verse close to my heart so on days like yesterday I can remember that He's in my corner with gloves on; ready to fight.  Circumstances will still have me on the ropes sometimes, but it will not be a TKO!

A Forever Friend

Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than family. Proverbs 18:24

Everyone needs friends.  Simple, but true.  Some people have one or two great friends, and others have innumerable friends.  I probably lie somewhere in the middle of this spectrum, but I have been abundantly blessed to have, what I think, are some pretty amazing friendships.

I have a few friends that are great to drop in for playdates.  Others that are great to call up for Mommy-dates.  I also have a few whom I can just call to rant, rave, and cry with, if needed.  One of these ladies has been one of my best friends for nearly 15 years!  (Ouch, moment to feel old!)

I will try to avoid "over-telling" the story or getting too sentimental, but we've had some great moments, even at some great distances.  I've remained in the same town we went to college in, only 45 minutes from where I grew up.  She's has lived in several states and is about to move further than she's ever been before.  Perhaps at this point, I should add that she is currently only 4 hours away from me.  So instead of seeing each other every so often, we've gotten together like six times!  (One of our outings caught the attention of the national news.  Yeah, we're THAT good at bringing the noise and bringing the funk! More on that later.)

We've giggled about the fact that some our adventures remind us of Lucy and Ethel from "I Love Lucy."  Possibly more than I would like to admit or even remember have been like that, but there has always been fun and love attached.  No matter how often we see, or even talk, with one another, we can pick right back up where we left off.  It's just that kind of relationship.

What's so memorable about these last few times is that we have kids now.  Whether they remember it or not, we've gotten to hang out with our babies and share mommy moments.  This has given me a whole new perspective and appreciation for her.  So whether they remember or not, we will.  (And I doubt her little man will since he turns 1 tomorrow!)

So today is our final good-bye for awhile.  I will try not to be too bleary-eyed or sad, but it might be difficult given all of our highs, lows, and just moments of living that are forever captured in our memories.  However, the real irony of today is that where we live has been in a drought, with no real rainfall for at least 2 months, and today the heavens opened up with a torrential downpour.  My thinking is that even God is getting a little weepy at this, our final hurrah for a while. 

It won't be our last, but it will have to last us awhile!

Life-long Learners

I know... two posts in the same month let alone the same week!  Take a moment to soak it all up . . .

Perhaps it's the eternal teacher in me (I taught special ed. for 7 years before Double Trouble arrived.) or just the dork who has always been interested in phases of learning and development, but I love to watch all of these new stages that the boys are flying through lately.  These last few weeks have just blown me away with actually being able to have a pretty meaningful conversation with them.  Albeit, the conversations are short and usually about tractors, trucks, or trains.  (While we're touching on it, what is it with boys and transportation things?  Has to be a natural inclination.)  But come on, they are two-year-old boys.  I expect a lot out of them, but I can't rush it too much, can I?

In addition to all the new dialogues at our house, the boys can now verbally spell their names.   We just picked out a simple tune and the sing/spell their names.  The really exciting thing for me was to see that they are developing left-to-right correspondence (teacher talk for looking at things from left to right) when looking at books and letters.   (Okay, that even sounds way dorky to me, but it still is really exciting!)  They are asking questions and, at times, answering their brother's question. 

This is where the stay-at-home part becomes abundantly worth it!  Those first few months of little interaction and repetitive tasks have blossomed into two bundles of energy with personalities and intelligence to boot!   So incredibly blessed!

Ask what you can do for your country...

While reading through some articles and posts online today, it made me realize that sometimes I take for granted this amazing democracy I'm blessed to live in.  Specifically, the people who sacrifice time with their families, and, sometimes their lives, to do a job of protecting this freedom. 

I am just like most everyone else.  I get tired of the constant bashing political commercials.  I grow weary of opinionated people always shoving their views in my face. I have to admit, I spend more time being bitter at these things than being thankful to the very people who allow me (and the very people that annoy me) to have the freedom to vote and express ourselves. 

I feel guilty about it when I do think of it.  I don't say thank you or do nearly enough to compare with what they give to me, my family, and friends.  (One time, I wanted to tell a group of soldiers thank you in an airport.  I chickened out.  However, I ran into a servicewomen in the restroom and ended up hugging her.  I'm sure she didn't know quite what to say or do.  She was very nice.  In hindsight, I can't believe I did that, but it felt much less threatening one-on-one, and I'm sure I gave her an interesting story to relay.) 

So to all of the service men and women, and their families, a big heartfelt thank you from me!  You'll never know how much I appreciate it!  (I may never realize how much I need to appreciate it all.)

Parent-isms

"I can't believe I said that..."  I can't begin to tell you how many times this thought has popped into my head.  This will be an evolving post.  Simply because I have to say crazy phrases every day, as any parent finds themselves doing!  And so it goes...
 
"Toothbrushes are not for cleaning your high chairs."
"Don't sit on your brother's head."
"Please don't kiss the computer."
"Get your tractor off the couch!"
"Please don't comb the wall."
"French fries don't belong in the tractor."

While my children sleep...

An evolving post as things come to me about what I do while the little men sleep.  The entire day's frustration and stress melt away with the sight of their chubby, cherubic cheeks in the monitor.

I think that I could have 6 more.  Then they wake up and wake me up to a more realistic way of thinking.

I am being held hostage by Pinterest.

I am thinking of all the things I should be doing that don't get done in a regular day (laundry, dishes, exercising etc.).

I am hatching new plans and scheming new dreams.

I am editing/writing/Facebooking.  Probably, mostly on Facebook.

My Life is a Sitcom

God has a great sense of humor when it comes to teaching me patience and other life lessons.  Some days I swear my life has enough content and ups and downs that would make it excellent sitcom material.  What's that?  You'd like some examples of this insanely comedic life I lead.

***

How about the time I broke my ankle simply stepping off my front porch right before I was to fly to Florida with my sister and 3-month-old nephew?  My husband had to come out and pull me along as I crawled.  He was in boxers and a t-shirt.

Keep in mind all the flying restrictions and check points.  I was in a walking cast with my sister and an infant, and we had to stop so I could remove my cast at least twice.  Guess I'm suspicious-looking.

***

Then there's my love story. (Personally, I find this story fascinating, but I'll spare those of you who might not too many details.)  We met our freshman year of college. He lived in Michigan, and I hailed from a small town in Indiana.  Worlds apart... or so we thought. 

We were friends and began hanging out more during our sophomore year.  Friends around us were able to see what we couldn't, that there was something there.  At one point, I vividly remembering telling my roommate that he's like my brother.  I couldn't ever date him because he wasn't tall enough.  He's around 5' 10" so he's not terribly short.  (Laughable now, but this was my thought process at the time. I am not exactly tall so I had this wacky theory that I needed to marry a taller man to give my kids a fighting chance of being average height.)

As we got to know each other better, we started to find out these "coincidences" and crazy intersections our lives have made with each other.  He lived in Michigan since he was in middle school, but he actually grew up in a city 10 minutes from my small town.  We were both born in the same hospital a mere 8 days apart.  At one point, he attended a private school less than a mile from my house!  I went to elementary school with his cousin.  His dad and my mom went to the same high school.  These crazy instances kept creeping in.

 ***

How about the fact that we tried for two seemingly long years to have a baby.  We began seeing a fertility specialist.  Right before we began any treatment, I became pregnant entirely of our own accord.  We went in for an ultrasound and found out that it was twins. 

 ***

Or that toward the end of my pregnancy, I went in for a "non-stress test" where they hooked me up to monitors to check on the boys' progress.  They found that I was 3 cm dilated and having contractions.  I thought it was simply heartburn. 

They flipped out and rushed me in an ambulance to a bigger hospital.  The boys were delivered the next day.  Yeah, the non-stress test actually turned out to be a little more stressful than I originally anticipated.  That sounds like some good sitcom material to me.

 ***

Sometimes, I try to come with a catchy title for my "sitcom".  "My So-called Life";  "Growing Pains";   "Mad about You";  "Once Upon a Time";  "Modern Family" . . .  I think those might already have been used.   Guess I'll keep working on it!  The material . . . that somehow just writes itself naturally or comes directly from the best Author of all.

Things Can Change in an Instant

It's been one of those weeks.  You know, where everyone catches the same thing but one day at a time.  That way the house is full of cranky people at various stages of in-need-of-meds, healing, or yet-to-be-taken down.  (For anyone interested, Daddy was finally the last to succumb to it today.)  It's a rough sinus/flu type headache that it so constantly painful that your teeth hurt.  (Or at least, mine was like that.)  So in short, the little guys watched a fair amount of TV since we were having a down week.  Hopefully, we're on the mend, which means I can finally do all the errands and chores I've had planned for the week... now that it's the end of the week.  It's how it goes sometimes.

It's just made me think about how things can change in an instant.  Moods, situations, health, attentions spans (mainly added that one for my children), outfits, weather... (Seriously, just went from a fairly nice day to a foggy snowfall.  Can't make this stuff up.)  Things can change in an instant .  I guess it's something for me to keep in mind.  Sometimes, everything can seem to be at the lowest-of-lows and then something happens to change the game.  That's part of what makes life so beautiful though, isn't it?  The unpredictable, game-changing moments.

Keeping this in mind as we struggle to get upright in our household again.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Again, an ever-evolving post just because there are few things sweeter than little people and the phrases they create when learning to talk.

W- "Bite me."  (How he asks for something to eat.)

W- "Fork me." (He wants a fork.)

W-  "I forgive you."  (He was asked to say, "Please forgive me.")

W- "He bit me."  (Anytime someone kisses him, and he decides he doesn't like it.)

E- "Ding-dong."  (Apparently, this replaces "timber" when something falls over.

E- "That funny?" (When you're developing a sense of humor, you have to ask.)

E-"Just body?"  (He had 2 layers on.  When I removed one shirt, he wanted the other one off, too.)

E- While in a store, I said, "We have to pay."  He folded his hands and began to PRAY!  (So it's not saying, but hearing the dardest things in this one.  Oh well.)

E- "I play the tuba."  (Said while sucking his thumb... not really supposed to do that.  Fairly sure this was his way of getting around that minor technicality.)  

Both- (This is a conversation overheard on the monitor.)  After they had called for me and I didn't come right away they began to have discussion about where I could possibly be.  "Shopping?"  "To the bathroom?"  "To bed?"  Some days, I wish babies... some days.

A Peek into my Beautifully Crazy World

Hello!  With this being my first official post for this blog, it seems somewhat fitting that I should share some of my background story with you.  Admittedly, this isn't my first blogging experience.  However, I am going to be more tenacious about posting more consistently than past attempts.  (Mind you, I am writing this while two 2-year-olds [Things 1 and 2, as we affectionately call them.] are as of  right now attempting to put their ride-on tractors on the couch next to me so that they can ride on the couch.  See photos below if you don't believe me.  Keep in mind that this is merely a small selection of situations I've found them in and had the camera ready.)  Let's just say there are a few challenges to being able to write.  Plus, I've never truly been a journal-er, which leads into the next point.  (Brief break for photo introductions.)

Here's an official introduction to "W"/Thing 2 (in red) and "E"/Thing 1 (in blue).  Gotta love the expression on Thing 2's face!

W getting into the roll of paper towels.

E riding his tractor on the couch.  Can't make this stuff up!

I may not be the most eloquent or entertaining writer, but I have decided that I need an outlet to share, reflect, and put events of my crazy, chaotic, beautiful life into perspective.  I have had to totally work on re-identifying myself the past two years.  (If you're catching on with the timeline, it's had to do with the life changes that kids can bring.) 

I taught elementary special education for seven years.  I loved my job, the people I worked with, and especially loved working with the students.  However, when we found out we were expecting twins, it seemed a logical decision to stay at home and work on bringing up some (hopefully) successful, compassionate, and Godly human beings. Seems like enough of a job.  Thus, I have entered a new phase of my life as a stay-at-home mom.   

I've not only had to re-define who I am and what I do, I've had to re-define my friendships.  Most of my friends came from school, church, and teaching.  When I decided to stay home, I neglected to realize how much my friendships would, likewise, change.  I know my friends still remain my friends, but they're busy with work and their own families for the most part.  My close friends that decided to stay home live in other states for the most part.  Sometimes, this can be a lonely stage of life, if you let it. 

To counteract that I've tried to do several things.  We've joined a MOPS group.  I've signed the boys up for story time at the library.  My sister, also a stay-at home mom, and I have decided to trade babysitting times in order to run errands kid-free.

We've also decided to attend a church closer to our house in order to make friends that live a little closer.  (We were going to a church 20+ minutes from out home before.)   Oh yeah,  and I'm trying this blogging stuff out, too!

While I am entirely blessed to be able to remain home with these bundles of boundless energy, I find my patience, bounce, and legs can't keep up with these two... most of the time, it seems.  So far today, I've had to stop writing this six separate times in order to handle small emergencies and answer the phone.  (Once during that sentence.)  So forgive me if this seems choppy in areas.  I'll try to proof-read the best I can, but I am just writing from the heart first and editing later... if at all.

Basically, I will try to entertain, enlighten, and educate my audience, but this is also about getting my thoughts down and being able to look back on them.  Hopefully, I'll be able to learn and grow from this experience, as well.  My life might sound dull on paper, but believe me, there are adventures and surprises that lurk under the seemingly lackluster surface!