We'll get there

Yesterday was the first time I felt judged by someone because of my son's difficulties.  Micah is going through a difficult time right now...I'm not exactly sure what the issue is...but he is struggling.  I'm thinking that he is just learning so many new things and becoming aware of so many new things that he is just more overwhelmed than ever...and overwhelmed=tantrums about every 10 minutes or so.  I know that we just have to push through it...as I've started to say "we'll get there".  Last night we went out to eat (which we NEVER do except for the fact that we are on vacation (I will write about that later) and have a dining plan).  Restaurants are particularly overwhelming because of all that is going on, the people, and the noise.  So, naturally, he just had a huge meltdown.  Our server was absolutely amazing and took our kids' orders and had their food and drinks to our table in less than 5 minutes.  (That raised her tip about 100%).  While it was all happening, I heard two tables near us talking about parenting and how to punish children.  Dan took Micah outside to try to calm him down as well as to minimize the inconvenience for the other people.  A couple approached as they were to be seated and replied "can we please sit somewhere else?".  No, they weren't mean...no they weren't unreasonable...but it broke my heart :(.  I literally bit my lip because I was about to burst into tears.  I'm pretty direct...I don't mind speaking my mind (as many of you know...) but for some reason this time was different.  Next to me was my 2 year old crazy girl who was jumping on the seat and belting out her super cute version of the B-I-B-L-E.  (We have started calling her our little evangelist).  So she brought me out of my own little meltdown.

As I continue to learn about him and watch him in his everyday life, the more I feel like I love him.  He is so incredibly unique...and in some ways I felt sorry for the people who couldn't sit next to us...they were missing out big time.  When you look at Micah most of the time you wouldn't know that anything was challenging for him.  But, the more you know him the more you can see.  I'm realizing that one of my difficulties is when people tell me "he's fine!".  It hurts a little...because it tells me that they don't see him.  He isn't fine.  He is exactly who God created him to be...but he does struggle and to truly know and love him, one must understand his struggles.  But this time people noticed him...they probably thought he was just a "normal" kid with bad parents or perhaps just a "normal" kid having a "normal tantrum".  Anyway, the incident changed me a bit.  Perhaps it will make me stronger...I will always be his advocate and I will never be ashamed of him.  Maybe God will use this to help me for the next time...

Until the next time :)
-C

God is good, all the time

Today is the day that I thought I was to become a mom of 3.  Yep, i just smacked you in the face with that one didn't I?  I'm choosing to write about it because I need to put it somewhere.  I just need someone to know that today is important.    

Can you imagine?  3 under 3?  Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise for us too...but we were thrilled.  Something told me to keep this one quiet for a while though.  While everyone else was announcing their pregnancies (and man were there a lot!!!) I held my tongue.  Things seemed very normal...I was fatigued and nauseous right on schedule...and my pants got tight pretty quickly.  I was anticipating our first doctor's appointment...because that's when it feels real!  At 11 weeks I was just bursting with anticipation to hear that heartbeat so that we could tell everybody.  

That awful Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night are nights that I will never forget.  I will never forget.  I feel like I aged 30 years that weekend.  I experienced something so incredibly awful....something that no one should ever have to experience.  I became a colleague to those in the community of mothers who lost a child.  Though I had longed to be able to empathize with those mothers in the past, I never dreamed that I would be able to understand so well.  My baby died.  He died.  He DIED!  How surreal...I wasn't grown up enough yet to have to deal with something so tragic.  My heart was broken into a million pieces...

In the midst of all of the pain, God definitely showed up...he really and truly did.  He was the Father that I needed at that moment.  He didn't take away the pain, but I know he steadied me and kept me alive during the darkest nights of my life.  There was no one who could make it better...but he showed up big time.  From the nurses who cried in my bed with me...to the pastor at the coffee shop...to the girls who took care of my babies while I grieved their sibling...to the pro life doctor who wasn't afraid to tell me that he valued any trace of life within me...yes, my God showed up big time.  His mercies are new every morning...and I clung to that like never before.  I'll never know why...I have some guesses...but nevertheless...God is good all the time.  I will trust him.  He is faithful.  I've never longed for heaven as much as I have after that weekend.  

I can only imagine what it would be like to deliver a baby today.    Micah would be the best big brother again.  He would be trying to kiss him/her...Hannah would probably be a bit jealous...but she would come around to be my little helper.  Dan would probably need a drink (lol)...but he would be thrilled and he would show up to be the best dad for the third time.  He would be catering to my every need.  I, well, I'd probably cry for about a week just trying to acclimate myself to the new reality of three toddlers...but my mommy heart would be full of joy.  I would be cherishing those baby moments.  

It's okay...really...God has healed something in me.  I have unexplainable peace that my God is the keeper of my child.  My little "Eb" we love you and wish that we could've met you.  But for now we trust that you are definitely in a better place.

Until my next ramblings...

C

A walk through my childhood

Recently I started looking for children's music and books on tape from the Christian bookstore for my kids.  It seemed like it shouldn't be too difficult...Growing up my parents owned a Christian bookstore...so needless to say...I was quite blessed with the latest Christian material.  I wasn't the greatest reader...but I LOVED music and I listened to dozens of children's books on tape.  Call me biased, but there is no bookstore as good as my parent's...today's versions just don't quite measure up.  Frustrated I searched the internet for some of the titles that I remembered from my childhood...and couldn't find anything.  So, I started digging through my old stuff that my parent's packed up for me when they moved.  I found boxes of the tapes that I used to listen to!  I searched online and ended up finding a converter for cassette tapes.  So, for the past few days I've been listening to all of my tapes as I convert them to MP3's.  Wow...they bring back so many memories.  I used to have some sleep trouble...and these gems really helped me out.  I'm hoping that my kids will be able to enjoy them as much as I did.  

What helped you fall asleep as a kid?  What kinds of music did you listen to?