the D-word

I hate the D-word. No it's not a 4-letter D-word (although I'm sure those aren't so good either), but a huge D-word. DISCIPLINE. Why is self-discipline so hard? I mean really. The fact that I am no good at self-discipline is not a new concept. Even in college, my girlfriends and I tried to challenge each other to be the "QUEEN OF DISCIPLINE" for a semester and hold each other accountable to our studies in a timely fashion. It lasted a little while, and then I fizzled out. I do that over and over again.

So now I am at this time in my life, I am really thinking it is about time I got a good handle on a few things. My devotion time, my finances, my health and body, my discipline/teaching of my children, my house routine (cleaning of), just to name a few. It is so hard to start a routine in several of these areas and keep up with it. I also know that many times you need to conquer one thing before you move on to the other, but I don't think so in this situation. It's like waiting to have a baby until you have enough money. It will never happen! We cannot afford to wait on taking care of our health/weight until we have all of our finances under control, yet it is hard to eat properly when all you can afford is boxed food. If we were to wait, we are hurting our chances of making progress in the other areas of needed discipline. Anyways, I am just babbling, but please pray that I can be pleased with the baby steps in several areas of my life, and not be discouraged. I, myself, would rather take giant leaps than have to take baby steps. But baby steps are good. Right?

My journal entry for the last 10 years (when I actually journal---which is very few and far between) goes something like this: Lord, forgive me for my lack of discipline. Please give me the discipline to...... I am taking hold of a verse this week and maybe you can too. Not that it is new to anyone, but just a powerful verse that I need to be reminded of. 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." Holy Spirit, may I rely on your power to help me endure temptations in my life and to give me the strength to continue in my quest of self-discipline. PLEASE & AMEN!

I got a glimpse.....

I got a glimpse on Tuesday about what life will be like when everyone gets to be school age and how quiet my house can really be. Eli started preschool and Eden headed into the first grade this past Tuesday. First off, let me say my kids were cute and so ready for school to start. Thank you Grandma Thompson for some back-to- school clothes and supplies. Eden loved her teacher, classmates, etc. Eli goes in the afternoon from 11:45-2:45. He loved it and only cried when I had to pick him up and he was upset he could not ride a bus home. To be honest the special needs students serviced by the school are the only Pre-K kids that can ride a bus. That is hard to explain to a 4 year old....I attempted and all Eli could say was that he was special too. :) So anyways, I'm regressing.....On Day 1, I actually made it home and Tobe had his nap for 2 1/2 hours of the 3 hours. Oh JOY! I cleaned and enjoyed it, because no one was interrupting me. Now I just need to make sure that I do not overcommit myself every day and miss out on my 3 hours---because the first week I only was able to have that quiet time one day out of the four. Week 1 down, lots more to go. I do look forward to a few lunches with Chris and the church staff w/ only 1 kid to worry about, a few playdates w/ less stress, and just some one on one time with Tobe. But I surely did enjoy those 2 hours!

Smell those feet!

Last Friday Eden and I went to Six Flags, just the two of us. We had lots of fun. It was nice to go with her and do the slides, wave pool, and rides that she can do and her brothers cannot. She just loves the Tidal Wave, it was actually like 70 degrees, so rather chilly for the water rides, but that is what she wanted to do. Anyways at one point we headed to the bathroom. [Sidenote: When we go to the bathroom these days, I always make her go to the stall next to mine so we can always see each other's shoes.] But this time we actually didn't have any shoes on (although it sounds gross, it was normal at the water park). I was staring at her feet, I still knew they were her feet, but for the first time they looked HUGE! I just sat there and realized she doesn't have baby feet anymore. I probably wouldn't even pretend to smell them, like I have in the past and like I still do for Eli and Tobe (you know the "stinky toes" game). No cuteness to her feet. It made me sad to think this thought. It made me think of a book my friend gave me "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury. This book highlights some of the "lasts" we have as parents. Usually we are always documenting the firsts. First smile, first word, first step, first t-ball game, first recital, first report card, first boyfriend, etc. But we never really document the lasts. The book is a real tear jerker for moms. So that is what came to my mind. I don't remember the last time I smelled her feet and pretended she had "stinky toes" and now she and her feet are too big for that. It may help me savor each and every moment, because it may be the last time I do that game, hold that tradition, tell that joke, sing that song, give that bottle, say that prayer, smell those feet.

the Jack's

OK---this is actually a comment to one of my friend's very funny posts of her intense need to pick up a package (Season 3 of 24) and her minute by minute play of whether or not she was able to accomplish her mission. I decided my comment was so long, and obviously something Chris and I are passionate about, so I just decided to re-post it on my page so that you would know how Chris and I got hooked on "the Jack's":
I love Jack, Chloe, Tony, and anyone remotely associated with 24. Our BFF's got us to watch it during the off season also (I think in one summer Chris and I watched Seasons 1-4)....Since then we've been watching it via the TIVO, which is a lot harder to have to wait a week to see IF Jack will get out of his predicament. But I least I get some sleep....Watching 4 episodes in one night can be kind of draining when you actually have to care for your offspring the next morning. Anyways you MUST catch up, because it definately becomes love/hate!!! Our friends also made us do this with LOST the next summer and we again caught up and it is just as bad, but his name is Jack ________? For some reason his last name just left me. Anyways, I LOVE both Jacks....and also thought your post was the most intense I've read lately...way to keep me on the edge of my seat. BTW, since Chris and I must drive a mini-van, at least it is jet black and Chris likes to call it the CTU van. That way if Jack is ever in need to apprehend a van, we are ready!

Shepard! His name is Jack Shepard. Whew! It just came to me. I feel good that I didn't have to google it. For a minute I was thinking I'm not a real fan. BTW, our friends tried to get us to watch HEROS as well. But we had to draw a line somewhere. We are addicted to the Jack's. Is there a character named Jack in heroes? I might reconsider if there was.

Lazy Days of Summer

Summer has been crazy. Whatever happened to that old saying "the lazy days of summer"? We have been to to the lake in Branson (just the kids and I went with Missy and her kids to their cabin for a couple days), VBS (It worked me out daily and I got "swamped" literally at the end), mini stayvacation in St. Louis (in one weekend we caught a Cards game, Six Flags, and the Zoo),4 night camping trip at the Meremac for the 4th, mini-Springfield vacation (Fantastic Caverns,Lambert's, and the Landing w/ our friends in Branson), not to mention a book club and a bible study and normal church gatherings thrown in there. If we don't have major plans we are trying to take advantage of the tot time at the city pool and our season passes to Six Flags. Chris is planning an FFH/Newfire concert and we had Highest Praise from OCC here as well. Now to end out the summer, Eden is participating in cheerleading camp and gets to cheer during the Little League Football season in the fall. We have the annual fair (which is HUGE here). Chris always has a float in the parade and it normally is the hottest day of the year. This year my MOPS group is going to offer a diaper changing/nursing station at the fair which will take lots of extra time. Plus Eli likes the fair more than Six Flags (he actually calls it eight flags (more flags, more fun!). My Eli turns 4 on August 16th and then starts preschool on the 18th. My baby girl starts the 1st grade! Finally Tobe and I will get some rest. (Side note: Maybe he will start talking when brother and sister are not around to do it for him.) I am going to need a break from summer vacation. Needless to say that is why I haven't posted all summer and probably won't post again till September. Who knows? We've been anything but lazy, which is why when we are actually at home: guess what? We are lazy!