PICTURES ARE COMING (they're at the bottom)...give me a break...I have a lot to share this post...(smile)...so if you must...scroll on down and check the pics...then slowly make your way back up and read...read, I say...this is good stuff. (I think I may still be hopped up on the coffee I drank this morning.) (big smile and a couple of laughs)
Let me tell you why I am overwhelmed...(Can you feel my pain already? Smile. Are you hearing me already? Ahh - yes, any mother, any mother, no matter how many children - especially those moms who homeschool - can already sense my overwhelmedness.) (I think I just made up a new word.) (with a little snicker and chuckle) (l-o-v-e the parentheses...you'll see them a lot in this post)
Overwhlemedness reason number one: The summer was hairy - too much to do and only 24 hours in each day to do whatever it was that we did. The kids had a break from school, but I was overloaded. Now - let me just say this. One can still have a great time and enjoy life while still feeling overwhelmed. (smile)
Reason number two: school started back. Okay, Okay, okay. I know you are thinking to yourself, "What's wrong with this girl - she's overwhelmed out of school; she's overwhelmed in school. What's wrong with her?" Well...Aren't you sometimes? School means schedules and routines. And...those schedules and routines have to be planned out. And...someone has to plan them. And...that someone would be - ME! It is the planning out of things which creates a mental fog (aka overwhelmedness). Information overload with 7 kids to schedule and plan for.
Reason number three: I am homeschooling two of my kids - second and fourth grades. Nuff - sed! Don't you love the phonics...Way to go mom...I mean Mrs. Sims. (Smile...slight chuckle!)
Reasons number four - one hundred : I have seven kids three of whom are three and under. I don't think we need any more explanation. Unless, you want to include meal planning, house cleaning, clothes washing, orthodontic appointments, pediatric appointments (shots for Carrie), taxi-ing to and from school and extra-curricular activities (soccer, football, gymnastics) along with reasons 2 and 3. That doesn't even include quality time - meaningful interaction with my kids or husband...And...(whew, I am out of breath)these are just the events that I know are going to occur any given week.
Last week I was crying out (last week was a hard week), "Lord, I really can't do this - I can't. His reply...This is why I love Jesus so much..."I know you can't - BUT I CAN." He kept telling me all last week, "It's worth it; what you are doing is so worth it. With the right attitude in your heart, all your efforts are going towards the building up of my kingdom."
Needless to say...I don't feel near as overwhelmed as I did last week. He's got my back...and my mind...and my heart. He's got me covered. I - cannot - neither can you...but He can and He will if we will just let Him. I am so thankful that my life is not easy. If it were I may deceive myself into thinking I don't really need Him. Oh, I may pledge affection for Him - praise Him - but it's my inability which causes me to fall on my face in utter desperation for Him. These past few weeks my prayers have been really, really simple. Over and over I breath out these words...I need You, I need You, I need You. I love You, I love You, I love You.
On the way to church this morning God spoke profoundly to me about my overwhelmedness...I realized that every time God doesn't step in to rescue me on my terms I wag an accussing finger in His Face. I would say, "Lord, this really stinks - if this is how it's going to be - I don't think I can trust You anymore." God have mercy. And He does. His kindness leads me to repentance. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered more injustice than I could ever imagine while He lived in this world - and never complained - never turned away - only trusted. How dare I, how dare I accuse Him of failing me. "Lord God, forgive me for accusing You and not trusting in Your plans and purposes for my life."
Dissappointment seperates; that was one of the points in service this morning. Conviction grabbed my hand and said - "Let's deal with this and be done with this - God does not dissappoint - He pours Himself out." I think a reading of Job may bring my self-righteous self back to reality. (Smile) How thankful I am for a kind and merciful Savior.
Overwhelmedness (smile) takes a back seat to the wisdom and providence of God. These are His plans for this life and this family. My God is bigger than how I feel and the things I experience here and now. I place my trust in HIM!!! YES!!! Can I get an AMEN!!!! Say it sisters. (Smile)
Now that I have preached to myself - let me share some pictures...and some more thoughts.
First day of 10th grade. I cannot believe that Madelyn is already a sophmore! Okay...she can stay in 10th grade forever. She can stay at Trinity forever. My heart already feels the wrenching of my first chick-a-dee readying herself to leave the nest.
James and Sydney their first day of 2nd and 4th grades at Sims' Academy. Love it! They are good students - mostly. (Smile Grin) I really am so proud that God is doing this through us. It is only by and through Him that we are able to do this thing that He has called us to this year. (Notice I typed...this year.)
Riley - first grade - didn't want to get a picture for the first day of school. He marches to a different beat. I am learning - so is Brad - how to discpline/train him while still allowing him to keep his own little march. (It's HARD and we fall short in so many ways.) Can you read his award in the picture? This mother's heart swelled with pride as I drove around the corner in the car-pool line and saw my sweet little drummer standing in the first-grade pick-up line bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with a big, bright, student award dangling from his neck. I started crying. I'm not ashamed. I cried...like he had just won gold for team USA in the Olympics. His award states that he was a "good friend" to his classmates. You have to understand that this little whipper-snapper has lots o' trouble keeping his hands to himself and his mouth closed. He's like a little whirlwind - but that day he was a gentle breeze in Mrs. Ledbetter's first-grade class at Trinity Christian School. AWESOME!!!
"Would you like me to stick a marker up your nose, too? I am really getting good at it - and so proud." Bo doesn't really understand that he is only 19 months old. As far as he is concerned he's 3. He loves to scribble...on himself...on the walls...on books...on the floor...on the couch. Most days, Praise the Lord, he naps for a long portion of the morning so we are able to "do" school. On other days - like this one - he and Sara Joy create all sorts of mischief (and fun)!
All I can say when I see pictures of Carrie is, "Smiling sweetness!" She is all smiles and a mommy and daddy lover. If we are in close proximity she wants us to hold her. If Brad is holding her and I walk by she smiles really big as if to say..."See me - ahh yeah - I got it made - this is the life." Then just a I pass by she cries...as if to say..."Hey - where are you going - wait - I may miss something by staying in here; take me with you." She is a little smile for all of us.
Sara Joy blooms were ever she is planted. Don't you love the garden hat? (I will have, h-a-v-e, to take some time this year to make school fun with crafts and activities.) Right now, as I type, Sara Joy is asleep on the kitchen floor underneath the table. The picture below is of the same scene several weeks ago. She will fall asleep anywhere if she is still long enough. She, too, has napped several times these past few weeks of homeschool - such a blessing! 
We thank you, Lord, for Your faithfulness to provide all we need for the task at hand.
"God bless you and keep you - make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you - lift up His countenance upon you and give you (and we say this part really loud in our family) PEACE!" ~Numbers 6:24-26
1 comment:
What a wonderful and timely post, Jami!! Thank you for sharing. Also, you have such a beautiful family!! Love the pictures. :)
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