Ebeth's 4 and no more

I don't know about the rest of you that are moms but sometimes (a select few times) after everyone is in bed instead of rejoicing I feel guilty. Maybe I snapped at someone earlier, or maybe I wasn't able to nurture someone because I had to choose between the 4 who are all beckoning for my attention. Or possibly even more I am being led so softly that I don't even recognize the hand from above pushing me. Regardless of the motivation tonight I felt lead to make a return trip to 2 of my kids, a 3rd by default. I am so thankful I ignored the distraction temptation to be selfish and sit here on the computer instead. Evangelene the Queen has reared her terrible two/nearly three I am child hear me roar self. She really has lived a life of leisure with all doting on her. When I say all I do mean ALL, siblings, Aunts, Uncles, grandparent, friends, peers even me more often than I will regularly admit. In the last day or so the bold eye to eye contact, evil grin and direct disobedie...

Ya know we all have days, or times in our life when you can say God did something "big" in your life. But most days life trucks on and you know he is there but the faith part of acting upon the unseen happens more. I believe with all my heart this is my year for restoration of finances, relationships and family. I have absolutely NO, zip, zero doubt that this time next year I can give you specific examples of just what he did in those areas. But well each morning life (this earthly world anyway) tugs and distracts. I wish I could say I have faithfully maintained each commitment I made so far this year but I have wavered too much. The one area I have stayed the same is tithing and reading the word as a family and prayer time. As I opened my Bible tonight it landed on Ruth. We started in Genesis but tired of some of the parts we all have heard many times before and moved to Matthew. Then we switched around to Proverbs and Psalms a bit too, a large portion of the time the kids...

My house is full of laughter, love, learning, blossoming personalities, strengths and weaknesses. It is also full of temptation, challenge and room for improvement. But one thing rarely lacking in my home is spontaneity and creativity. Today serves as yet another opportunity for an example to my claim. In the kitchen I stand beginning to prepare an agreed upon dinner by all. Well by all I mean the biggest 2 and myself since the littlest two have McDonald's money and a G who is willing to take them:) We had just finished watching 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' which happened to be an excellent example of slightly far fetched reality of middle school to a middle school aged child. Since they both (1 and 2) had read the book there were fewer teachable discussions than I would have hoped for, but nevertheless a glad we watched it 'popular' movie. Since mom time was already to a maximum for them both they headed downstairs to play their Spy game. They had basically invented i...

Today feels like my life is one big before and after statement. As in everything I do is to restore the after to the before and then do it again. Normally I LOVE the 6 kids filling my home on these snowy suprise days. But then I have just embraced the #4 and alone time when WHAM another day off. The first week back to school was Tuesday through Friday but then the next was Mon, then Thursday and Friday. This week same again because I am leaning to the kids being home again tomorrow well sans K and C cause their school has no buses and will probably be in session. Here's hoping I am wrong and the plowing works as well as shoveling my driveway did! Examples a plenty check out below:   The Before will just have to be behind #4 as my inspiration for this post came after I shoveled. Also imagining the kitchen now clean :) Blogspot was giving me a headache trying to arrange the pics.   Love that the girls use all my craft supplies (not shown is the items COVERING the table ...

My 2 year old is chock FULL of thoughts, opinions and demands. How amazing it is to relive what I have survived 3 other times before and still feel like my eyes are widened a bit more! #4 fluent in all language, polite speak and slang can tell you the most interesting stories. Her current fav is cookies, and farts. Yep I said the F word. I dislike that choice but well I do have a 10 year old 4th grader so ya get what ya get. Plus my husband finds it truly " hilarious" when they do so and call it such. Funny story to demonstrate: The date is Christmas night. We are all around the dining room table at my parents house enjoying a beautiful dinner. One that I did not have to prepare makes me eternally grateful too. Anyway, shortly after we began someone burped. I cannot quite remember who it was but if I had to guess it was my father. Older men are so gross sometimes especially in their own home. That was a bit tame as it was not a child and therefore the children weren't sur...

Hair pulling, irritaing frustration comes from a sound as titled above. In life I believe (notice the I because you may not agree and that is ok), I believe that people lean towards the same kind of people as friends and mates. Not saying the same as themselves but definite personalities in said friends etc. I also feel that our baggage from life experiences tends to impact such attraction. In my world I seem to find those that need something from me. I am a nurturer by nature and need to be needed. Yet in such things I get drained, yep Supermom on tv is not so super from time to time. Like for example I go through waves where my desire to share life with people and interact feels one sided. Where I temporarily pull away and recognize that I am who I am because it makes me happy not because it will inspire others to relate to me the same. I snap at my kids because even though I recognize they are tired, I forget that I am as well and expect too much from myself. I sit here up waaay t...

People often talk about where they live such as city, county, suburbs, country whatever. Once upon a time we lived in a small town but literally in town. Then we moved to the suburbs where we had neighbors and a street for the kids to play in. But now our life is and will probably only be remembered to the kids as in the country. In the country I can let my kids go out to play, even my 2 year old (with her siblings of course) without me being outside. I can see my "neighbors" which consist of two other houses but typically not hear them. I can go on a nature walk, or a horse ride any day. I can burn things to get rid of them rather than solely use the trash and I can host parties for 70 people :) I can leave my car unlocked and play music as loud as I like. I cannot take my kids for a walk down the block to visit friends, or to a CVS/gas station. I cannot order food in unless it is via the neighbors who are already out and about. I can expect that a sleepover must be planned ...

A beloved family member brought to my life by marriage said Defect=Good. Such an in depth thought really. Life at least while here on this Earth is chock full of less than perfection. So much so that if you were to read the wikipiedia definition of the word even that cannot be set or clear. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfection Perfection is found in the eye of the beholder and from my own experience it isn't really about the absolute but actually about the process in getting to "the end" or the finish as that is where the Latin is derived. I like to think being unique to the point of inspiration is a much better goal. Since God instructs us to be a light that shines for him. Another blogger whom I have never met posted about her mommy moment, or lack there of ...combined with above thoughts gave way to the sadly true story I will reveal. I suppose I could spin the positive in that it took me 4 kids to find myself in such a public precarious state but one kid or 4 it ...

My husband has this cough, ANNOYING cough which appears to have absolutely no purpose in life. I must endure in silence because I am pretty sure he wouldn't do it if he could help. Yet all I can think of is the last time I tried to be politely quiet which back fired. Stop me if you have heard this story, or well skim ahead. :) I was awaiting the birth of #2. It was night and I was 9 cm dilated. Although this was my 2nd full term child, it was my first real labor with #1 being a breech c-section. The time approached 9pm and the thoughtful well practiced nurses encouraged me to "get some rest" before I was to push. You never know how short or long pushing turns into so I readily agreed (the epidural making it possible to think about relaxing in the first place). All (as in the 4 other people) were kicked out of the room but hubby decided to come back. I suppose his concept of not leaving me completely alone was well intentioned but what took place was far from helpful. I ...

In church this morning we had a special speaker. His name is Joe McGee. http://www.joemcgeeministries.com/ He is a hilariously wonderful father of 6, Pastor, former administrator and educator. I laugh and intently listen since he is known to speak quickly too. I own a couple of his books and would love to own more. Anyway, my point is that being New Years weekend he spoke about vision. He gave several statistics about people in general and all came to the clear picture a person must have a vision to succeed. This applies whether a Christian or not. You cannot get somewhere if you are not trying to move. If a person is motivated they will keep pushing regardless of obstacles. The best stories are those of people who went against the odds and did what they desired. In thinking of this I too want to get somewhere. It isn't enough to just be moving, but instead moving toward a common goal. So, as a family we sat down tonight and made a few of our own. Here they are: Begin AND End e...

 I recently read an article in the magazine Real Simple Jan 2011 issue. The author points out how at a young age we feel happy about specific things such as a pet, friends or present. Yet as we age we stop feeling so happy about the little stuff and in turn stress about finding happiness, getting what we think we need to be happy. She even goes on to point out that the availability of meds for unhappiness in the form of mind, and body have turned happiness into something we can expect, maybe even demand from those around us. The funny thing for me is that society, or maybe just me strives to do things that gain the ultimate happiness whether career , leisure or relationship. I too am also aware of the little things that make me happy. BUT and that is a big but because well there always is another missing piece, happiness is an emotion and emotions waiver. I can feel complete bliss one moment and then hours maybe even minutes later just the opposite. For example yesterday I took ...