Lighten Up

This has been one of those days. It started off trying to get my 2 older children off to their first day of Vacation Bible School. I dropped them off *on time*...a miracle. Then I headed to Sam's Club with my 2 little ones to grab some notebooking supplies. It was closed! Not open until 10am! I was so disappointed because I knew I wasn't going to be able to get back there today. I tried not to let it dampen my mood, and we kept going.

As we neared home, my 4 year old said that his mouth hurt. As I looked at his face in the rear view mirror, I knew the inevitable was about to happen. I pulled the van into our driveway praying he would hold on a little longer. NO! He threw up all over the van. Carsickness. Our new van. I put him in the bathtub, quickly got laundry going, hosed off the car seat, etc...I had put the baby down for his morning nap during all this chaos and thought he was asleep only to realize he had been screaming for a while? Bad mommy feelings. Feeling frustrated.

In the afternoon I managed to spill an entire glass of water all over me and the hardwood floor. I was now changing into my third outfit of the day! This means more laundry. I then had a personal disappointment with a friend...plans that we had made for this month together that were now canceled and the loneliness of life came crashing into my heart. Feeling confused and annoyed.

An hour later I managed to spill 2 cups of chicken broth down the front of me, all over the cabinets, and across the floor! No way! Feeling perplexed?!? We then had to run up to the grocery store for a couple of items and I ran over our hose sprayer and completely broke it into little pieces.

At this point, I just decided to LAUGH!!! The chronic stress of the day had been wearing me down and whittling away my joy, patience, and peace. On days like this I end up getting super crabby, irritated, and the anger level begins to rise. In the moment that I realized that I was covered in chicken broth, I thought "either I can yell or even cuss, or I can realize that my character is being cultivated by pressure and I can just go with the flow....Aimee, just LAUGH!" I began to laugh at myself, my mess, and that all of these things are just no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Then my sister sent me this link of a baby laughing and the children and I laughed and laughed some more! It will bring you some lightness and sweetness to see the sparkly giggling of a little one. I can take myself way too seriously sometimes and have to remember in the midst of little trials that it ain't no big thang and need to learn to laugh WAY more.

If life's little irritations are poking at you, look them in the eye and laugh! Instead of losing your cool, lose your seriousness and let the laughter rip! We all need the reminder to just lighten up and enjoy the journey!

The best part of the afternoon was when I had to take my pants off after the chicken broth fiasco. I wanted to get my soup cooking, so I just continued working and chopping with just my shirt and undies on...my kids came in and laughed so hard wondering what got into mom that she was laughing and cooking half-dressed. A mama modeling laughter and lightness...just exactly where and who I want to be!

Little trials turned into character triumphs...all in a simply crazy day.

A Can of White Paint

I spent my 4th of July afternoon sprucing up my front porch with some fresh white paint. The railings were looking a bit faded and sad so I grabbed my paint brush to offer my porch a touch of grace and brightness. In no time at all my railings SHINED and looked like brand new!

When we were getting our house ready to sell a few years ago, I learned about the absolute miracle of white paint. I had three little ones at the time who gave my walls, baseboards, and doors a beating. Scuff marks, markers, general dirt and dust had found their way onto all surfaces. I cleaned and wiped, but it still lacked shine. I bought a can of white paint, a great paintbrush, and swiped every baseboard, door frame, and door in sight! The difference was incredible...it is the best decorating trick there is!! It takes your home from drab and worn to shiny and new with just a few hours, a few dollars, and a few strokes!

White paint is also the perfect way to make an old piece of furniture become a cheery favorite. I always keep a look out at garage sales for any little side tables or chairs that could be given a new life with a simple coat of paint. After I paint a piece, I like to take a bit of sandpaper along some of the furniture edges to give it an aged, cottage feel. I have even used white paint on "dated" picture frames that were wood or gold to give them a makeover.

So in my endeavors to recycle and re-purpose, white paint is my perfect ally. It revitalizes the aged, brightens the faded, and makes sunshiny all that it touches! If you need to add some extra perk to your home these days, let me introduce you to your new best friend.

Here's to bright white!

Gently Led

Isaiah 40:11

He will feed His flock like a shepherd:
He will gather the lambs in His arm,
He will carry them in His bosom
and will gently lead those that have their young.

What a beautiful Scripture describing Jesus feeding and nurturing little ones. I love picturing His gathering....arms outstretched, embracing all. He carries these little lambs right next to His strong heart of love while He is gently leading the mamas.

So too we can trust that He is carrying our little ones because truly they are first and foremost His. I am simply to be a loving mama-steward of precious lambs on a moment-by-moment path of life following my Shepherd. He has not left me alone to find my own way in mothering. He is my Guide and cares for me tenderly. He longs to lead...I must follow.

Ultimately each of us must point our little lambs to the arms of the Shepherd. When all of our teaching, instructing, and encouraging seems to fail, He will give them hope and strength in a discouraging world. He will be their Peace amidst all the fears and anxieties. Love, acceptance, provision, and protection will He offer them in full, abundant, and overflowing measure. He can give them far more than we ever can or will. When we worry or fear for our children, let us not look to ourselves for the answers but instead to our Shepherd of strength and choose to place our trust in His perfect, gentle, nurturing care.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed the everlasting agreement,
Strengthen and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; while He Himself works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21