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( Daddy and Wubs stretching during soccer practice.)
It wasn't until I became a mommy that I truly understood the importance of multi-tasking. I enjoy a good challenge, such as folding laundry while simultaneously playing Pet Shops with Wubs, changing a diaper while listening to my voicemail, cooking dinner while playing hide-n-go seek...the list goes on and on. This morning, however, I attempted to take my multi-tasking to a new level. wink. Wubs wanted to take a tubby and Bella wanted to eat breakfast, so I thought, "Hmmm, why can't we do both?" I prepared a plateful of waffles, and then I got the bath ready. I helped both girls get into the bathtub, and I cut up the waffles into delicious bite sized pieces. It was going really well until... Bella's tummy got full. I held the fork out for Bella, with a yummy waffle bite dangling. Bella pushed my hand away and said, "All done, mama". It was then that a 'terrible' thing happened. That little waffle piece flung off the fork and splashed into the water. You would have thought a tarantula had accidentally fallen in the tubby! Both girls began splashing and screaming, "Ahhhh! Get it, mommy!!!!" I was doing my best to fish out the waffle, but it began to break apart into even smaller pieces. Bella started to cry. Wubs continued to shout, "Get it, mommy!!!That's nasty!!!" Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, I don't think I'll be serving breakfast to our little girls in the bathtub again. 
(Daddy giving Bella a quick sugar during a time out!)
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."-Psalm 115:1
We have a sad spoon. (Actually, we have two sad spoons. One stays inside my pocketbook, and one is in our kitchen. ) The sad spoon is used only when our children are intentionally disobedient or defiant. We never spank the girls when we are angry, and while we would prefer to 'overlook an offense', we understand that training and disciplining our children go hand in hand. Today as I was reading in Hebrews, I came across an encouraging scripture that I really need as a parent. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."- Hebrews 12:11 There are days that I feel discouraged as a mommy because my children are continually requiring me to be the referee, the mediator, and the sad spoon administrator. wink. A dear, wise friend told me that God doesn't expect us to be perfect, but he does expect us to be growing. I'm still learning a lot about being a mommy, and I am so thankful for God's word, a loving husband, and Christian friends who share their wisdom. I want to find joy (and many smiles) in the trials of parenthood. Which brings me back to the title of this post- marching...
Wubs has been working on using words that are not angry or whining. It's been an uphill journey for our oldest daughter, and we have been training her in this area. We have been giving her examples of words she could use when trying handle a frustrating situation. Wubs has been wrestling with this concept to the point of making a growling sound when she is mad, because she didn't want to get the sad spoon for using angry words. (I quickly trained her that growling was not okay either. wink.) This morning as I was turning off her television show and leading her to take a bath, she glared at me and stomped her foot- hard. "Wubs, did you just stomp your foot at mommy? Was that a kind thing to do?" Wubs replied, "Awwww, mommy. I wasn't stomping. I was marching with one foot."
(Thank you to Lisa for the beautiful black and white pictures I added to this post! You are such a gifted photographer!)
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."- Ephesians 4:29
Just a little info before this story...
Have you seen the commercial for the Snuggie? It's really a blanket but it has a hole for your head, and it also has sleeves and pockets. It looks like a big fleece poncho. The commercial promises you will stay warm and cozy while wearing the 'fashionable' Snuggie. wink.
Today we went to Wal-Mart to pick up some snacks for our soccer team. Tomorrow is not only team picture day, it's also our turn to bring snacks for the Strikers! Wubs was riding in the basket of our shopping cart, and Bella was riding in the shopping cart seat. All of a sudden Wubs shrieked, "Mama! Look! It's the Snuggie! Look! It's the Snuggie, just like on Qubo!!!" People actually turned to look at us and laugh. (Qubo is one of the channels we get on our tv. ) It was really funny! And after all, not every four year old can spot a Snuggie!
'He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge."-Proverbs 14:26
Today started out like any other day. The girls were eating their breakfast when David said, "Good-bye, girls!" Wubs gave daddy a snug and a sugar, and Bella jumped up to come outside with me. Bella and I always walk David out to his truck, to give him our kisses and stand out in the driveway waving over and over again. It's our little morning routine. I was in my bare feet and pajamas, Bella was in her pajamas, and we were waving like we weren't going to see David again for days. wink! That's when I realized Wubs had decided to join us. And she had closed the door behind her. I really hope I unlocked that door before we came outside, I thought to myself. I tried to open the door... but the knob wouldn't budge. As I was processing what we should do, since David was most likely pulling out of our subdivision by this time, Wubs said, "Mommy, my good morning pee pee's are coming out- NOW!" Poor Wubs, she was mortified at her wet legs and the puddle forming beneath her on our front porch. Think Sarah, think. Surely we have a spare key! Isn't there one under our house in the crawl space? While Wubs waited on our porch in her puddle, I carried Bella through the wet grass and got under our house to search for a possible spare key. Yuck- spider webs! No key. I walked back to the front of the house to check on Wubs. She was watching our tv through the window and waiting patiently. I decided to walk (in my pajamas-except now I've added David's lawn mowing tennis shoes to my outfit) to my next door neighbor's house to ask to use her phone. I called David and I left a message. My neighbor, Anne, was so sweet! She came outside with her two youngest children and everyone played. Wubs joined in the fun too, although a little self-conscious of her wet jammies. David called back and informed me that we do have a spare key, but it's inside his truck. Uh, oh! Daddy drove back home and saved the day!
After a nice warm bath for the girls and a second attempt at breakfast, Wubs said, "Mommy, you know what I was doing when you went to call Daddy? I was talking to Jesus." Oh, how that blessed my heart! Even standing locked outside of our house, in a pee pee puddle, Wubs was still looking to the Lord for encouragement. As much as I feel like I spend so much time each day teaching and training our children, they certainly teach me so much too!
Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'- Mark 10:27
( Daddy and Wubs stretching during soccer practice.)
(Daddy giving Bella a quick sugar during a time out!)
"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."-Psalm 115:1
