Sleep? Who needs it???

Sleep is a luxury that few mothers can afford.  

Nowadays I read posts on Facebook from ever so many new moms, bemoaning the fact that their newborn is awake all night, fussing, nursing, peeing, and pooping. Or moms of toddlers, posting horror stories of wee ones that have:

 A. Fussed and cried all night 

B. Wouldn't stay in bed 

C. Crawled out of bed while the household was sleeping and created havoc with markers, crayons, lipstick ..... 

And the ever popular option .. 

D. ALL OF THE ABOVE! 

NEWSFLASH!!! That's simply babies acting like babies! They have needs they can't articulate. Legit needs. Non- legit needs, selfish to be sure, but to a baby every whim, each and every need, should be met immediately. Like NOW! (Insert screaming-at-the-top-of-the-lung type of infantile noise here) 

The babies and toddlers eventually settle down and will sleep, leaving a small window of opportunity for the momma to catch a few winks .... Until the next time!  It is a fact of life, a rite of passage, that most young mothers will lose a lot of sleep as they care for their little ones. Sleep, once lost, is gone forever. There's no such thing as " catching up on sleep" - as though your storage chamber of zzzzzzz's can ever be refilled . Nope. It's gone! 

Those nights of little ones that fall asleep in my arms with dreamy milk-fed smiles are now over for me. I may look back and wish I had been more patient, better organized, and more appreciative when my children were young - but - I now hold those memories of soothing little fussy ones as very precious indeed. 

Those were actually the EASY days .... And nights! 

Now that my children are grown the cries that awaken me are from my own heart and that mother-child connection.  Like a voice that whispers at the side of the bed, "Mom" .....and suddenly the sounds & sights of NEED  are flashed into my heart & mind. 

Oh! It's the Holy Spirit calling me to prayer!  Its time to pray for one of my loved ones!  But - what is  wrong?? i dont know - quite often THEY dont even know! But there is an unspoken need & the Holy Spirit is all over it!  

I slip out of bed, grab my robe & some warm socks ... Put on the tea kettle ... Open my Bible .... And without even knowing the  problem, I can call upon the Healer, the Restorer of my soul, the Righteous Judge of all the earth. I can pray over my children - and grandchildren - even when they are far from me. 

Sleep? Somehow I don't really mind losing sleep tonight. This feels even better! 

School's ALMOST out!

This time of year is just very bittersweet for school employees. The school year is just about done - should be done, but for those unwelcome snow make-up days!

Some of the students will advance from fifth grade to middle school. I may run into them from time to time, but no more will they be coming to me with their illnesses or injuries or hurt feelings. I'm not sure how I feel about that! Of course I want them to grow up, to reach their full potential - but - that means they first must out-grow some things. They must out-grow ME and anything I might be able to do for them.

Isn't that how life is? We start out totally dependent ... Then step into that back-and-forth phase of I need help but don't want it, wanting help but not really needing it. Like the violent contractions that birth a new baby - growth into the next stage of growth & development is often painful, exhausting .... But , worth the effort:)

Still we're still in session a few more days! I don't have to say goodbye to my fifth graders just yet! Wish me luck!

FRIDAY!!

                                                                 






           Friday Friday Friday........oh how I love the sound of that:

                               FRIDAY!!!


I love winding up the work week, not because I despise my job - but simply because now it's time to stop.

This week's work is done. Over. Time to re-group and prepare to return on Monday with a renewed heart, clean slate, and a fresh outlook.

It's amazing how difficult tasks seem so much easier after a short break over the weekend.  Troubling situations often are solved without even needing my intervention.

There's a lesson in that.  God designed us to work.....and to rest. We weren't created to live on No-Doz and  Energy Drinks.  When it's time to work, WORK, and work hard.

When it's time to stop and rest, STOP and REST.

                                                                   

Terrible Tuesdays??

Today I have a choice:

Today can be a Terrible Tuesday...it has already started with a splash.


 Literally. Of vomit.

Have I mentioned lately  I'm a school nurse?

Yes, this could be a terrible horrible day.

But, I doesn't HAVE to be.

 Instead I could choose to thing on good things. Good things such as:
My young sickling is now home with his mommy, where everything always feels better! Mommy was easy to reach on the phone and was able to be here right away for him.

Another good thing I can hitch my thoughts on today is that my heavenly Father is never ever hard to reach, He's always everywhere present.

 Everything always feels better when I remember He's with me, and I'm with Him.

Meals-On-Wheels

Last night the hubs & I travelled to his mom's hometown with a hot-cooked meal in the back seat of the car.

My mom-in-law recently had rotator cuff surgery. She's recovering nicely and says her drs are pleased that she's doing as well as she is! Her birthday cake next month will hold 80 candles and she's quite independent. Widowed 30 years ago, she lives alone. So she's an almost 80 year old living alone with the use of just one arm for several more weeks!

It was my idea to bring supper & visit with her. My husband was quite happy to call her and set it up. She was looking forward to it. A good plan. Helpful. Caring. Nutritious. Dare I say : noble???

The idea lost its charm (for me) sometime Friday morning. I was ridiculously tired. The week had been a hard one, being sick, having a few unexpected expenses (good-bye grocery $) and on top of it all it all the events of the day had become emotionally draining. I really just wanted to go home & flop on the couch. Really.

After work I stopped at the store & picked up some items for the meal. At home I began the slicing/dicing/frying/baking process . The hubs did his part to help by sitting at the kitchen counter, idly watching me. (Ggrrr!) Just how DO the helpless survive in this world, I wondered?? Oh that's right - he has ME to take care of him ....lucky guy.....

Zoom ahead to the meals-on-wheels delivery: she really was happy to see us, praised the taste of it all as we shared supper at her table - and even helped helped dry the dishes I cleaned up afterwards with her - pitifully using her one hand & a dish towel while the hubs leaned against her frig, watching us work.

Moral of this story: helping someone out can still be done even when you think you're much too tired, don't really want to, and even if you're mentally rehearsing a smack-done of the hubs in the process

Or better put: women dont have to be perfect to still be a blessing to those in need of a little help!

Snow day!

Today was a snow day - meaning school was cancelled! I was grateful because I'm still recuperating from the horrible terrible sickness. Perhaps I should donate my sinus cavities to science?? I am on an antibiotic now, which should help, and have been getting lots of rest while I'm not working. Nice!

Funny thing is, while I was outside today snapping some "snow pictures" to send to my son (now living in California) I was amazed by a strange sight in the side yard. There was a bare patch of grass, surrounded by the tall waves & hills of snow, and there in the middle of the grassy patch was a ROBIN! Isn't it amazing that we can delight in signs of spring coming soon in the very midst of the biggest snow fall all winter??

Wedding Memories

My daughter & son-in-law celebrate their wedding anniversary today!  Funny how the first thing that comes to mind when I think of her is that she's an awesome mom with 4 beautiful children, a wonderful & hard-working husband - she's a high-energy nurse, and best of all loves the Lord Jesus.

I don't think a whole lot about their wedding day.

I know she looked beautiful in her wedding dress - but, she's beautiful. Period.  Who did her hair? What earrings did she wear? Honestly, I can't even remember what the cake tasted like.

Weddings are nice. They're a celebration. But, it's the marriage that matters - not the dress & flowers & cake with all the trimmings.

Have a wonderful marriage, loving each other & building each other up as long as you live!!