The Messy Trough

Marty and I (and 3 of our girls) went out this weekend looking at houses and neighborhoods In Mesquite. We are planning to move closer to Dallas in order for Marty's commute to be shorter for each of his jobs. What a huge decision we are going to be making! There are so many things to be considered and so much to be done in order to make these plans happen.

I was thinking today about how much work I need to do and still take care of the usual, duties. Our house is usually cluttered with toys and shoes, etc... I stress out about how I can be a good mom and allow such mess! Marty and I both will have to do MUCH work to get our house in presentable selling order.

God sure knows how to use others to reassure me. I read an email today written by some other mommies with little ones around. Here is how they encouraged me:

1. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11---so I need to just trust that the Lord will lead us to the right house. I hope we are listening when it comes time.

2. Here is a verse I had never taken personally until today. I am pretty sure I have read it as one those Proverbs that is for someone else...Now I can hide it in my heart. It is Prov. 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox".

~~ My children are worth the extra work and mess. I can glorify God by teaching them to help out with a willing heart.
Some day these hard times will be replaced with endless days of rejoicing because I was faithful to endure 'the messy trough.'

A Good Lickin'

Our new little Lindsey has the same 'taste' as her biggest sister Erin. Licking her blankets, burp cloths, clothes, my shirt (when I'm holding her) and anything else that has a special feel...strange, but true.

When Erin was about 15 months old, we were shopping with her Grandma Rita. As we stopped to check out a rack of clothing, Erin leaned in and licked one of the dresses! It was so funny. We joked about how, in the future, Erin won't care what color a new shirt is, as long as it's lickable!

Now it seems that Lindsey will follow in the same footsteps. She is presently 'eating her blanket' as Sarah says.

Mommy Needs Coffee

Back in college I drank coffee every day, mostly for pleasure. My family has been in the coffee drinking business for years. We start them young on my maternal side of the family.

Now that I have little ones who sleep in shifts, I really drink it so I can get moving. My sweet daughters know that I drink my coffee as soon as I can. They barely whine anymore when I say, "Just let me get my coffee first." Erin and Sarah even like to have a drink of it now and then. Hannah is like her Daddy, though, and doesn't even like to smell it.

Well, it's already time for lunch and I'm still waiting to get my second cup...but the baby is crying so I may have to wait awhile.

Priceless Friendship

What would I do without the love of friends and family? I hope I never have to know the answer to that question. Today, I spent a wonderful afternoon at my in-laws and came home to find a sweet card in the mail from a childhood friend who knows me very well. Through the years I have made many close friends and I love each one of them. My sisters are no longer my rivals, but my dear friends. I would not be who I am today without the love of family and friends. They have seen me at my best and at my worst. I am blessed beyond measure with their loyalty and love.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
"A friend might well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."

I'll second that.

Being Little

The days get long sometimes with 4 little girls.
I heard this song on GAC that reminds me of what is important.

"Let Them Be Little"
sung by Billy Dean and also by Lonestar

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

Catching up...

I had a previous blog which I abandoned for this one.
Here are some older posts about my dear children:

10/25/2004
What they hear...  
Erin was asking where we had to go for the day. I said we had to "run some errands." She acted a little disturbed and said, "why are they called 'Erins' and not 'Hannahs' ??"

4/19/2004
Erin, very seriously, said to me, "I have a computer.
It has a website called "whenkidsgetsick.com" and I'm
going to find out why Sarah is sick today."

3/12/2004
Hannah weighed herself on the bathroom scale.
She came running excitedly to me, yelling,
"Mommy! Mommy! I weigh 46 CENTS!"

Hannah  
"I want to clean it up myself cuz I'm a good-jobber!"