Brace Yourself

I'm getting older every day. We all are but I'm going through the experience of a young teenager right now. Since Chris and I have been married there have been many times when I have said I really wanted to get braces. We've discussed it off and on, but I finally did it. It's been a long process of just going through all the consultations and cleanings just to get here. I had to have a periodontal cleaning because it had been so long since I had been to the dentist. We don't have dental insurance. Then, I had to have some teeth bonded because they had been cracked and chipped. I've had a consultation appointment with the dentist and one with the orthodontist. Then, I've had to have like a million pictures taken of my teeth, gums, and X-Rays of all the same things. It's crazy what you go through. Today is the beginning. I got the top braces put on this morning. Of all the things they didn't tell me at my consultation, they forgot to tell me after having a set of braces put on you are on a liquid diet for 24 hours. Well, I didn't eat a good breakfast. I guess that should have just been something I assumed, but I didn't. I was going to have a waffle for breakfast but Eli kept acting hungry so he ate half of it after already eating most of his oatmeal and some pureed fruit. I had half a waffle. That's not much with a small glass of orange juice so as soon as I left the orthodontist I headed straight to McAlister's Deli. I needed a warm bowl of soup. I ate it in the car with no screaming kids. It was great!

My teeth and gums are already getting sore. This will continue for the next 4 days. Headaches will come and go over the next 2+ years and pain will be a tolerance I have to build upon. I don't have to go back for about 10 weeks, so I guess that's good. At some point in the next 6 months, I will also have the pleasure of taking out all my wisdom teeth. Doesn't that sound like fun! I know the end product will be worth it and then I can go back to the dentist to spend more money and have them whitened. That will be a great day! For now, I will endure with the teenagers of today and I will truly know what it feels like when my own children go through this.

Example, Influence

The other day Dylan was playing. He grabbed the step stool and put it next to the bathtub, climbed on the side of the bath tub and then jumped off. Guess who was right there to witness the whole thing? Eli, of course. As soon as Dylan moved out of the way, Eli started to climb up there. He thought he was quite funny. He got up there and was already standing on the side of the bathtub before I could grab him. He's a fast little booger.

I know Eli watches Dylan but that's just one example of the influence Dylan is going to have on Eli's life. It's such a small thing, but one day it might be something big. I have to make sure I've taught Dylan to do right because he may be the only one who can convince Eli to do right in a bad situation.

Growing, Changing, Evolving Questions

Last night my hubbie had to work late, late so I went to my parent's house for dinner. I took the boys with me. We had a great time visiting with Mom and Dad and the boys enjoyed playing outside.

On our way home, Eli fell asleep before we even got a mile down the road. That was just fine with me. He was already in his pajamas. Dylan and I started talking. Just a few miles from my parent's house we saw a police officer on the side of the road with his lights on so that is where our conversation begins.

Why is the police officer on the side of the road?
Probably because he pulled someone over for going to fast?
Well, how does he pull somebody over?
He drives behind you and turns his lights on and you just know you are supposed to pull over?
How do you know you're supposed to pull over?
In the United States of America, the law is...if an officer turns on his lights behind you, you are supposed to pull over to the side of the road?
Are we Americans, Mommy?
Yes!
Why are we Americans?
You are an American because you were born in the United States of America and because your Dad and I are Americans. Your Dad and I are Americans because our parents were Americans.
You weren't born in America, Mommy.
No, I wasn't. Even though I was born in a different country, I am still an American because my parents are Americans.
Were you ever a baby, Mommy?
Yes, I was a baby and then I got older and grew up and had babies of my own. You are one of my babies.
Where was I when you were a baby?
You weren't even thought of when I was a baby. Well, I hadn't thought about you and Daddy hadn't thought about you, but God already thought about you. He knew when you would be born. He knows when you'll die. He knows everything about what you're going to do in your life.
Why does God know all that stuff?
He's God. He knows everything!
Why is he God?
Uh, Uh, Uh, because He just is. He is God.

Then, I didn't know what else to say...so I said let's play a game. And we moved on to a game without another question. Isn't it absolutely amazing how a child's mind works. I don't know about your kids, but that Dylan of mine is always making me think. I love him so much and his questions (usually) make me love him even more.

Is It Just Me?

Over the last few months I have had to ask myself that question so many times. It has come up about dumb things and important things alike. Am I the only one who gets the "I Gotta Get Out of This House" itchies? Am I the only one who feels the need for adult conversation when I've been cooped up with sick kids for more than a couple days? I don't mean, just when the husband comes home either...I mean get out of the house WITHOUT the kids adult conversation. Am I the only one who feels tired at 10:00 in the morning when it's been a hard morning with the kids? Am I the only one who stresses out about getting dinner started by a certain time? Am I the only one who wants to have the house semi-tidy before the husband walks in the door? Am I the only one who...? I could go on and on. Well, I have had that question answered lately. No, I'm not! So many stay-at-home Moms face the same things each day and it's about how we deal with it. My goal is to stop stressing over these things and just try to enjoy each day as it comes. Do you know how hard that is? Well, if you are a stay-at-home Mom with a couple kids running around your feet, I bet you do.

Stomach Curls

Sometimes I wake up in the morning after I have had a dream about someone. Usually it's someone I haven't seen in a while and then I start thinking about them during the day and I know I need to call them. Why does it make my stomach curl? It's like a nervousness! Sometimes I haven't seen the person for years, sometimes it's only been a few weeks, but I don't understand why. Is it a lack of confidence in myself? Is it a worry over what they'll say? Is it my own impressions of how the conversation will go? Do they want to talk to me? Why haven't they called me? Then, I realize...if they don't want to talk to me, it will be obvious. When I call them, I always feel better as the conversation goes on. My friendship is secured, my nervousness ceases.

I had a friend call me today. I have been awaiting news from this friend. I expect this friend will be moving away soon. If not in the next month it will be in the next couple years. The friend asked to meet up so we could talk. My stomach has been curling ever since. It's a nervousness! I'm afraid of how the conversation will go. I know God has a call on their life and God is moving them in a different direction. I know I'll have to try to, once again, maintain a long distance friendship. I'm not looking forward to it, but if there ever were a friend I would want to keep...it would DEFINITELY be this one, even if it were long distance.

Missionary Reunion

What a blessing I received last week to spend the whole week with people who dedicate their lives and their children's lives to the ministry, to God, and to spreading the gospel. I missed last year due to the fact that Eli was 3 weeks old, but am so glad I had the opportunity to attend this year. Yes, we had some stressful times when children didn't want to nap because they weren't in their own bed or because they wanted to stay and play with the other kids when it was bedtime, but it was all worth it.

I met most of the families that were there but had a special connection with one lady imparticular. They are just on deputation but have had 2 different survey trips. They know just what God has planned for their life and they are taking 2 beautiful children with them. I can't imagine the sacrifices they have to make daily and will continue making them into the future. It's neat to see how God is important in different ways to different people and to see the call God has on some lives.

We had great women's sessions in the mornings. A pastor's wife from Oklahoma did the sessions and she did a terrific job. Even though the messages this week from her and her husband were taylored mostly toward missionaries, I felt like they were all just what I needed, as well. I hope I "renewed" some things.

Handy Manny Hangs Up His Screwdriver!

We spent last week at the Annual Missionary Reunion. We had a great time and I got to know a couple missionary wives I had never met. One of them called Eli, "Handy Manny" all week. Eli had started about 6 weeks ago carrying around a screwdriver. He found an orange one in Dylan's toybox and he was instantly attached to it. Everywhere Eli went, the screwdriver went with him. He even took it to bed. One Sunday, I made him leave it in the car when he went into the nursery. When church was over, we went home with my Mom and Dad. His screwdriver was not with us. As soon as we got to Mom's house he found a blue one and was, again, instantly attached. He carried it around the whole time we were there. I didn't let him take it into the nursery and then when we left we got in our own car. He found his orange screwdriver and was happy. He took it to bed and everything was just as usual, until Monday. We were playing in the sunroom and he saw a blue screwdriver in Dylan's toybox and he put down the orange one, picked up the blue one and carried it. At the Missionary Reunion, Eli went even into the nursery with his screwdriver. He never got mad when someone wanted to see it. He just wanted it back when they were done. He never got upset if he lost it, but when he saw it again he would pick it back up. It was kind of funny! However, when we got home Friday afternoon, he threw it down in the living room floor and really hasn't played with it since. It was just a phase, I guess, but certainly a funny one.