Saturday, January 07, 2012

How Many Days?

We never know how many days we'll have. I went to the viewing for a relative today. On New Year's Day, her boyfriend shot her in the face before driving away and shooting himself. I even heard it on the news that morning, but there were no names reported, so my thinking stopped at, "Oh, how awful! What's this world coming to?" Then, I learned that it was someone that I knew and loved and played with as a child. Mindy was a little older than me, so I always looked up to her when we were together. I always thought that she was so stylish. The saddest part of the whole ordeal for me is that they had 2 little babies together who now don't have a Mommy OR a Daddy. My mother's heart weeps for them more deeply than I can even talk about...I'm even crying as I write this. My first impulse was to volunteer to take them home with me and become the mother they'll never know. I want to help them work through the trauma of their father murdering their mother while they were in the next room. I want to protect them from having to go through anything like that ever again. But reality and sense come close behind to remind me that they're not my responsibility. Those 2 precious babies have other people who can step in and take care of them and love them. I just want to pray for them. Sure, they're only 6 months and 2 years old, but even little kids can tell with something's wrong.  All I can really do is pray for their little hearts...and pray hard. But, should the Lord decide that they should be here with us, well, we'll make room.

The rest of the day is just a blur with a headache. My drive to do only good things toward others and to spread Hope and Sonshine is renewed. Mindy only had 34 years of days. I don't know how many days I'll have, but I want them to be good ones.

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Godliness, and Marriage, and Children; Oh MY!

I actually did it. I made a list of New Year's Resolutions. I already KNOW that they won't all be kept "in the way that I prefer" (read: perfectly), but I wrote them down and intend to do my best to stick to them! The 1st one on my list (I won't share them all at once) is to have a regular Bible study time...alone. I know from past experience that this is vitally important to my physical and spiritual health, and it jump-starts my day for me in a positive way.

Another goal is to re-vamp my family's diet and to pay closer attention to what we put ON our bodies as well as IN them. I've enjoyed searching for some hard lotion (hard lotion? It's new to me!)  recipes and am excited to try one...sometime soon. Some friends of mine began their own blog/online market (find it here) and mention a book which I'll have to look into...they even have a free copy to give away; and who doesn't like free stuff!?

Marriage has really jumped to the front of what's on my heart right now. Perhaps more on that later. Suffice it to say that I'm learning more each day that my marriage is a precious gift from God. We work hard to nurture our marriage and draw closer together as time passes.

In other news, Ramona joined us on 11-11-11. Pretty cool, huh? She's doing famously well (she's getting so fat) and she smiles and tries to laugh. At 8 weeks old today, I don't know what I'd do without her. After experiencing different periods of depression with the other 2 (post-partum with #1 and ante-partum with #2) I just delight in having my Ramona! #1 and #2 just adore her and ask what Ramona's doing if they can't see her. Nursing is going even better than I had hoped and I intend to continue with that for as long as possible.

I'm trying to get into a routine with the kids again. The holidays really messed up our routine! Keeping the house clean is helping me to stay focused on routine. I always feel scatterbrained when all our clutter is scattered, so keeping everything in its place allows me to focus on the kids and what we should be doing--instead of cleaning all the time. Danny has even begun asking to use the vacuum. Believe me I cash in on that request! After dinner each night, we all work together to get the dishes done, the kitchen cleaned up, and the house swept before bath time. Then we can all sit together and watch something child-friendly before the kids go to bed. My day usually ends with hanging laundry on the drying rack. It works for us.

That's just a glimpse into my life for today.