We’ve just been hanging out recently. Playing outside when possible. Doing a bit of running around here and there. Just glad that winter seems to be over. In fact, I have almost given up my suspicions that this spring-like weather is just a front for an impending arctic blast. It could still happen…this is Ohio after all…but we might just sneak into spring unscathed. Maybe.
So it seems the family is really starting to “get it” these days…
Eric told me the other day that he’s turned out prototypes of the filters he was hired to produce…about a year ahead of schedule. They aren’t quite performing as needed yet, but he’s definitely getting it. (Yeah…we think he’s pretty awesome, too…)
Megan is pretty much always getting it – or more accurately…getting into it. Last night, for example, with both of us standing nearby, she managed to eat a handful of mulch. Nice. But she’s figuring out other nifty skills, as well. She’s a master tower-builder these days – especially with Duplos. She even narrates her building process: “This one,” she says as she picks up a new block. “Here” as she puts it in place. “‘Nother one,” as she reaches for her next one. It’s very fun to watch.
Erin is learning to really truck on her tricycle. She pedals like a champ. She’s also starting to take a real interest in drawing letters. I need to get her more practice with tracing and controlling her pencil, but she’s starting to really get the hang of it. I never knew how hard learning to draw a line or a circle is!
But Alex…he’s my champ right now. I haven’t mentioned it for a while for fear of jinxing our progress…but I think we are finally getting the whole potty training thing. It’s been a couple of weeks since there was a full-out accident. He still leaks a bit, but he’s finally getting the hang of holding it and peeing in the potty. In fact, we were outside last night, and he stopped and called for me. Eric went to get him, both of us figuring he’d messed himself or something. But that wasn’t it at all! Eric carried him inside (he was working so hard to hold it that he couldn’t walk) and he did all his business in the potty! I can’t even tell you how excited that made me. We might actually survive this potty-training craziness after all! WooHoo!!
He’s is also starting to “get it” in other areas. He sat at our little piano this morning and sang me song after song after song. It was so sweet to hear him mostly getting the lyrics to Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle, the B-I-B-L-E, and Itsy Bitsy Spider (among others). Of course, he’s also starting to get a real attitude at times and has tried biting on occasion, which is SO not allowed. But mostly, he’s really starting to get it, to grow, to turn into this amazing little boy, and it’s exciting to see.
And me…well, I’m starting to “get” some things, too. I really struggle with the daily-ness of life. The constant pull of my kids, my activities. I keep looking for the moment when I have all the laundry done or the house totally clean or my kids totally taken care of – even if it only lasts for 15 minutes. But shockingly…that’s just not how it’s supposed to be. I realize this seems pretty obvious, but I have a pretty steep learning curve in this area (in everyday life and in spiritual terms). I keep thinking I’m supposed to “get it,” to manage my whole world until I have it all done enough that I can turn to God – and God has been trying to drum into my head that He wants exactly the opposite. He wants me turning to Him constantly (like my kids turn to me), depending on Him fully, walking with His Spirit, not in spurts until I finish a particular “race” (i.e. whatever lesson He’s teaching me right then), but just always. He doesn’t want me to handle my day and then come to him…He wants me to come to Him so that I handle my day like He wants it done.
Like this bit from Jesus Calling…
“I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life. You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so the your communication with Me can be uninterrupted. But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all.”
An uncluttered world is a fantasy of mine. Or, perhaps more accurately, an idol. I worship the pursuit of some quiet idyllic life that I managed to scrape out of the craziness of life. And God never wanted that for me. He is asking Me to trust Him enough to not have all the answers today, not get the perfect solutions right now, not to expect Him to ease my frustrations and pain until He says it’s time. I don’t like it. I am not comfortable that way. But I’m starting to “get” why I need it. And I’m starting to be more willing to learn His way, even though it’s hard for me to do. And maybe one day…it’ll look just like it’s supposed to – me depending fully on Him so that He can shine fully through me.
April 4, 2012
Shannah, I don’t get on xanga much anymore but I do check out posts! I have to thank you for what you shared from Jesus calling. I needed to read that. It hit me right between the eyes! My life is pretty cluttered at the moment. In a different way than yours. And I prefer the simplified life as well but I know that He is asking me to find Him in the things He has put into my life at the moment. Justin spent a little over a week in the hospital again recently and is home on IV antibiotics. Our son-in-law had major surgery about 10 days ago. My daughter, his wife, found out she is pregnant with our first grandchild. Of course I’m concerned for her with all her added responsibilities of caring for her hubby. My hubby had a biopsy Monday to check for prostrate cancer. The list goes on. But thank you for the reminder I needed. Love reading your blog!