Theological lessons from a 5 year old

I had a rough day with Noah today. All day long. And then I had an epiphany driving everyone home tonight. I had to write this down somewhere, might as well resurrect this business.

So basically, Noah has been on this binge of arguing/correcting/questioning everything Carrie and I say or do. Example: I'm driving home tonight, and he tells me I'm going the wrong way home. LOL.

So after a rough breakfast, rough nap time, rough drive out, rough drive back, one thing I said near the end of it all was what gave me the light bulb. I tell him to remind me tomorrow to show them a video of lightning (which I've meant to show them). His reply was "what if it's dinner time?" and then "what if I forget to remind you?". And it hit me...Noah is trying to do everything in his own power and control. When all he needs to do is worry about what I ask him to do, and leave the rest to me. He doesn't need to worry about making time or fixing the circumstances to work so that we can watch it. Just remind me, so I can take care of everything.

So I'm sure it's obvious, but he is only doing what's natural for everyone. I think I have to fix up everything and set everything up so that God can do His thing, when really all I need to do is trust Him. I find myself worrying about all the little details and getting caught up in planning and worrying if things are going to work out, when God is on His throne, and He is going to take care of it. All I have to think about is what He tells me to do. When He says "wait", that's all I need to do, not wonder for how long or why or what for. And all this convicts me to have more grace and patience for Noah, like God has for me.

I promised myself I wouldn't do this

It's hot. And I am complaining about it. Seriously. We've been living without A/C for like a month now, but it's really starting to get to me (did I mention that it's the middle of July and well over 100?). I asked Carrie not to complain about it when this whole thing started (because she was...all the time), and she's been a real champ about it since then. But today, I buckled. I can't help it! I'm so stressed out today because the kids haven't been sleeping, and when the kids get bent out of shape, it get's me bent out of shape. And I feel like I need to do something about it, like rip our warranty company a new one, but I don't know what else to do besides call them and leave voice messages that don't get returned. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

This too shall pass, right? At this rate, I think we have autumn to look forward to before we get relief.

I believe in the Prosperity Gospel

So it wasn't the swine flu (probably), but my house is just about sick-free now. Which is nice, because being sick is no fun, but having sick kids is about "eighty ninety twenty-one" times worse. I'll take being sick twice rather than have one of my kids sick. Bleh.

Yeah, so let's see, I went to our new house today...and God STILL isn't done blessing us! The water damage in the upstairs bathrooms has been repaired (which we expected), but they ALSO put in new linoleum in both bathrooms (which we didn't). They are also apparently fixing our patio cover/balcony, which is awesome. I am humbled before my God.

Also, I have a lot of work to do now that I can be home and conscious, so more neglecting of windkeeper. Hopefully I can post some more details soon. But now it's time for bed.

Sick kids and carboard boxes

Yikes have we been crazy! First, God is so amazing, words fail. He has given us a new house, and not just any house, but a house that meets all our needs and beyond. It was in pretty bad shape, thrashed carpet, water damage in the upstairs bathrooms, non-functioning kitchen appliances, and in desperate need of paint. There's more that needs to be done, but those were the big ones. Until they got taken care of. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF IT!! We went one day to look at the water damage, and saw that the house had been totally painted on the inside! Plus the microwave and stove/oven had been replaced! And the very next day, all the carpet was replaced! UNBELIEVABLE! Seriously, we thought the bank was going to be coming back with a higher counter than what we had agreed upon, but it never happened. PLUS, the bank is going to have all the water damage fixed under section 1 repairs of the pest inspection. Seriously, all of this probably would have taken us YEARS to take care of, but God is capable of above and beyond what we can ask or imagine. So, needless to say, it's time for us to start packing!

In other news, Noah and Hannah are both sick in a bad way. We're waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Luke to get it too, but maybe he won't. We'll see.

It's official

I have a five year old. Yup. It happened Saturday. My Noah is a full FIVE years old. Where has the last 5 years gone? I have no idea.

I hope to post more tomorrow in keeping with my ongoing topic. Kind of a crazy weekend, though, and I'm still trying to get some good screen shots to post.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Wow.


I was gonna leave the post at that, but that might lead to wild conjectures as to what I mean by that. Let me clarify. There is a very good chance that my wife will be coming home in 2 days. That's right, not tomorrow, but the next day. That's great, especially considering how well she's doing and how fantastic Isaac has been for her. And now that I'm almost at the end of this, I look around and try to take account of what has actually happened over that last week. It is amazing how much I've had to get done, and how much of it all that is actually done, considering my 3 little distractions. Even with my mom's (amazing) help, it's seriously enough to make a grown man cry and a sane person lose it. But I haven't lost it, and I haven't even cried once. In fact, I'm doing pretty good. How can I be so calm and rational through all this? The Hand of God. It has been on me this whole time, that's the only way you can explain it. To know that He is with you, it's an amazing feeling while you see everything around you going crazy. I've got a thank you list that Carrie and I will process when she gets back, but my Father is at the top.

Speaking of crazy, Precept started up again last night, and I got my schedule. I'm teaching not once, not twice, but FIVE times this semester, which is about 3 more times than I expected. I'm also teaching for both classes, and my first class teaching is the first week of February, which is about a month sooner than I expected. Yikes. Oh and did I mention that we're going through Hebrews? Which means I'm TEACHING on Hebrews? Yeah...

That was a close one

Man, I thought EVERYTHING was going to break on me. My internet hasn't been working since the last time I posted. Fun times.

So what I wanted to say last night was how much I love that my kids are getting bigger. Usually I hate it, but yesterday, Noah, Luke and I went out back and played football. That's right, we all took turns as quarterback, halfback, and blocker, and the boys ran for touchdowns. It was awesome. For the 15 minutes it lasted. Then they both come up to me and tell me they're cold, and want to go inside.

Tomorrow is the first day I'll be alone with the kids. Not really looking forward to it. Mom has been such a huge help, I think I might be relying on having her here more than I realize. I guess we'll see. Thanks for all the help mom!

Go crazy? Don't mind if I do!!!

I'm slipping slowly into madness. The 3 kids in my house all are sick, cranky, and refuse to nap and/or eat. My wife is STILL gone (not her fault), I STILL haven't seen my baby boy (again, not her fault), and just tonight as I'm trying to catch up on laundry, my washing machine now refuses to work (this might be her fault, somehow).

Today's mission was to tidy the house in preparation for detox-ing the house, and we got about 3/4 done. The kids' rooms look great now! The plan this afternoon was to go outside with the kids to mow the lawn and give them much needed out-of-the-house time, but of course, it rained. Bleh.

I have decided that so many things could be worse on so many levels, so I'm going to thank God for it all and go about my business. But the next time you see me, I might be twitching. Just ignore that.

*twitch*

Carrie has left the building

Carrie has left the hospital, and is now on her way to her parents house. Bleh. However, it is a blessing that she has somewhere to go, and her parents are taking care of her, which is amazing. Meanwhile, my mom is taking care of me, and helping take care of the 3 at home. God as provided us with support in this time, and I continue to be thankful. I also miss my wife and my baby boy a lot. Can't wait for you guys to come home.

We spell trouble R-S-V in our house

Everything was great until last night, when we found out that Hannah has RSV. This sucks because now, I need to stay home with her, and Carrie can't come home until at least Sunday. And that sucks. However, I am singing a new song to the Lord, because Hannah doesn't have to go to Valley Children's. He is good, and He has a plan for this. I am thanking God for my mom, who is helping me out, and Carrie's mom and dad, who is staying with her and will keep her at their house until she can come home. And good ole Auntie Brooke for taking Hannah yesterday and watching the boys today. I am singing praises to Him for my family, and for my boys who aren't sick anymore, and that I only have one kid in the hospital right now. It's very nice to be able to keep my eyes on Him so that I don't have to worry about what's going on.

I sure miss my baby though, and my baby boy, too.

Update - half way done

Well, we're a day in, and mom and baby are doing great. Carrie has walked at least twice, and is waiting to toot so she can eat. Isaac is so laid back, it's great. My attention is to Hannah now, who is sick for day 3 now. Auntie Brooke is taking her to the dr., so we'll see. More later!

A little bundle of joy

8 pounds, 10 ounces. 20 inches long. He kinda looks like Luke, but kinda has Hannah's chin, and he's got dimples like Noah. He is just cute as a button. Full head of hair, and so quiet and content. I love my little baby boy so much, it's not even funny. Happy birthday, my little Isaac!

Carrie is doing great, she feels great, she's wiggling her legs and moving around as much as possible. We've had great nurses so far, our O.R. nurse was phenomenal, everything is just going so wonderful. Oh and to top it off, we got a single room, so I can stay the night and help Carrie with the bubba all night. God has so amazingly blessed us today, words fail.

Case of the Mondays

Well tomorrow is the big day. I'm going to have another son this time tomorrow (hopefully a lot earlier than now!). It's weird, there was never the same kind of feeling with the other kids as there is now. Noah was completely unplanned, but Luke and Hannah were. But this time, it's different. Maybe it's because Carrie is having surgery, or maybe it's because it's so definite. You know, with an induction, there's the whole load of variables that comes with labor. You don't really know when the contractions will start, how long it will take, all kinds of stuff are up in the air. But with a C-section...it's set. There's no guessing. The only variable is if they push our surgery time back. That, and if Carrie's going to get a single or double recovery room (aka I can stay there all night vs. I have to go home at night).

And just to add a twist to all this, Hannah is sick. Mean sick. Fever and runny nose and coughing. Poor sweet baby girl. She has a cute little squeal in her voice now, it just makes you want to lol. Hopefully she'll be better when it's time for Isaac to come home. Isaac. One more little one to worry about. Should be fun. God be with us.

By now, I should be immune to everything

So at this point, I've been sick for 2 straight weeks. There is a price you pay when you have small children (ok, there's a lot more than just one, but stay with me). They get sick all the time, and that means YOU get sick all the time. I'm thinking at this point, my kids, my wife, and I have been sick so much that our immune systems should be out of control awesome.

In other news, we're having a baby pretty soon. This should be a very interesting Christmas, we'll just have to see HOW interesting. There could be a whole different kind of chaos this holiday season, but we'll see.

Ow ow ow ow OW!

Not to sound like a wuss or anything, but my cat bit me on Saturday. I suppose I might have had it coming, because I was trying to groom him. But then something really spooked him, and he got all aggressive on me. And then he bit me. Like ten times. So my hands and arms look like I got in a fight with a lawn mower. Also, (according to my wife) so does he, because I didn't get to finish shaving him. That should teach him. But it doesn't make my hands feel better. Especially my right thumb. He bit right THROUGH my thumbnail, and let me tell you, that is just wrong on so many levels. I've never wanted to throw my cat through a window...until Saturday. It kinda makes me feel like a bad person, because I've always liked animals, but now that I have kids, I totally understand when people say "it's just a cat/dog". Pets just don't compare. My kids can totally piss me off, but I never want to hurt them. I wanted to Hulk Smash my cat. Is that so wrong?

I could do this all the time

I'm home with the kids this morning. Carrie's doing her 3 hour tour of her insulin levels, so I get to relax a little and take my time getting to work. And after the day I had yesterday, it's a welcome break.

I'll tell you, I'm grateful to be where I am now. I have supervisors and coworkers that are supportive and work as a team. I have not always worked in a situation like this, and it is a real blessing that I am thanking God for, especially when the you-know-what hits the fan.

And speaking of you-know-what, you know what I like about being home with the kids? It's not flying around here. It comes to you from effort you don't have to put out, and it's wrapped up in a cute little package. No surprises, no last minute rushes, you know what to expect and after a while, you can see it coming from a mile away. Kids are great, no?