Food, Retail and Diamonds

Today I was reminded of a verse.  

2 Corinthians 4:15 "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God."

This was the first year that I hosted the "great feast!"  I pride myself on being a good cook.  I have been known in my household to whip up an entire meal from almost nothing.  Seriously, bring me some Ramen  Noodles and I will give you a gourmet meal. 

However, I found this dinner to be overwhelming and nerve racking to my core.  Not the amount of food, running out of ingredients, or the lack of dishes/containers to house all of it.  Heck!  I wasn't even scared my oven would explode.  My biggest demon was the clock.  

My husband is a retail manager and most of you know about the infamous "Black Friday."  To me, it is a dark cloud that seemed to hover above throughout the entire day.  Every time I checked the clock the only thought that went through my head was; "He is going to have to leave soon, I better hurry because I want him to get enough rest ."  

Every single time. 

He is going to work all night, come home at some ridiculous hour in the middle of the night, sleep most of the next day and then, "rinse and repeat."

We don't complain.  Okay, maybe a little.  But, we try to shut up and understand this provides for our family in so many ways.

"All this is for your benefit."

I had a wonderful English teacher my senior year of high school.  She challenged us to think so differently and desired to be present during those moments when we became aware of our possibilities.  She had a great way of looking at our trials and tribulations.  By comparing us to little bits of Earth broken apart, we get heated up to extreme temperatures, pressurized then squeezed to the surface to become a beautiful diamond.  I have always remembered this analogy.

Today, after what felt like the hundredth time of fleeting worry I could have gone off on a rant professing how it's so unfair.  However, I realized I had an opportunity to polish myself a little more.  Darn-it, I have my husband by my side.  He wrestled with my kids, talked a long time with my grandfather, played with the dog and even helped with dinner!  We laughed, played, smiled, loved, rested, and was ever so grateful for a Heavenly Father that gave us this day.

Life, Laughter, and the God I Chase After

I am in a difficult position right now.  It is uncomfortable and tiresome. 

No, really!  Do you have any idea how hard it is to balance this laptop in the middle of what seems like 1,200 piles of laundry?  I am not at my desk right now because that had laundry on it too. 

I want to start this blog because, well my life is interesting, to say the least.  I am the wife and mother to some very impressive men in my life.  Ten years ago I would have laughed in your face if you told me that I was going to have 3 children!  The fact that they are all boys doesn't scare me, it is the concrete evidence that I am outnumbered.  So, this can create some difficult and on the flip-side, some fascinating experiences throughout my day to day life.  I want to be able to document it for my children and possibly bring some life and laughter into the worlds of others.
 ,
My little men are 7, 3 and 1 years old.  I am blessed to say they all very loving and sweet to each other.  But, that feeling was crushed when someone a while back told me; "Yeah, my boys used to love each other too! Now, there are holes in my walls from wrestling matches gone wrong and my screaming voice doesn't even phase them." 

Oh boy.  

So, I am going to put my rose-colored glasses on and say that is not going to be me when all the testosterone starts surging through their ever changing bodies......nope, not me.  This blog will be a testimony to...........my denial.

I am leaving you with just one more thing.  I am not only a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, etc.  But I am a child.  A child to an affectionate and faithful God that loves me for every single flaw, mistake and crazy decision that I make.  The past several months have reaffirmed that within me that the God I chase is the only reason that I get to experience every blessing put before me.  I may not understand what he is doing with my life, but I will always trust Him.  


Alright, for the safety of my laptop I must stop and do something about this mountain!