Out of the mouth of Babes... or toddlers

When putting Ruthie to sleep Tony and I always pray with her. So far her input has always been a loud "amen" at the end. Tonight, I prayed first. Then she said, "daddy pray". So Tony prayed too. Then she said, "more prayer". So I said, "what would you like to say to Jesus?"

Then Ruthie said:

"I love you much Jesus."

The tears welled up immediately. I love her tender heart. Please Lord, guide us and give us wisdom to cultivate a heart that loves YOU in our girls. Amen!

God is so GOOD!

This may seem insignificant to some, but to me it was a direct answer to prayer. Like a lot of families (especially one income families) we're tightening our belts and spending money only on what is most important. Our needs. Not wants. And even then, things are tight. So, it's time to buy Ruthie some new shoes... she only has one pair that fit and they're getting very close to not fitting.

And, Ruthie is a DIFFICULT little girl to buy shoes for... She has the tiniest ankles and heels and a very narrow foot. So, all of the super cute and realitivey inexpensive shoes that you may find at say... Target... NEVER fit her feet. They just fall right off. It's not even close enough to be "good enough"...

So, to put shoes on Ruthie's feet that actually fit right and won't trip her when she walks... assuming she actually learns to walk sometime soon... we must go to Stride Rite. Any parents out there who have ever bought their child shoes know that this is an expensive endeavor. I mean, the kids shoes there are more than I spend on my own shoes...

But, It's to the point where we can't put it off any longer and with the next paycheck we're going to take a trip to Stride Rite and mortgage some shoes. I've been praying about our budget asking God what I can do to help alleviate it (it seems that 1/2 of the budget is going to gas and if those prices ever drop we'll be in good shape!) when in the mail... email... came a coveted coupon from Stride Rite. 15% off!!! I can't believe it. Just in time for our purchase.

God so knows the exact timing of all our needs, and just like the Bible says in Matthew 6:25-27, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

Mmmm! My words taste good!

You know how you are BEFORE you have kids?

"Look at that child... MY CHILD WILL NEVER _____________ " You can fill in the blank with the appropriate thing. Sometimes I would fill in the blank with, "act that way" or "dress like that" or "make that face" or "talk to me like that" or "lie like that" etc...

So, Today was the day, the first one where my sweet precious and somewhat innocent little girl made me a liar!! I have often looked at the way other children are dressed when they are taken out and said, "my children will never look like that. Boy, what is that mom doing, can't she just wipe the kid's face for pity sake?"

As I said, Today was the day.


I ate my words.


They tasted... well at least I could laugh at it.


Ok, here's what happened. As I was running errands today, my sweet little Ruthie was behaving wonderfully, as usual. She loves to go out and about and watch people and look at things. She is a very good baby and a joy to take out of the house. Today she got a little cranky, as it was almost nap time, I understood. Trying to distract her, I gave Ruthie her juice cup. She loves her juice cup and usually drinks it up. If she's not drinking then she's teething on it. Either way, she's happy. And today proved no different. All the way through the store as I looked at one thing or another she was as happy as could be, drinking away.

She's always getting attention, so it was no surprise to me that everyone stopped and commented on how cute she was in her stroller. She had on this lovely summer outfit (yes, it was about 87 degrees here today) and a white bow in her hair to match. The only thing that I didn't like was she was barefoot. No big deal, I know she's not even pretending to walk yet, so her virgin feet never "hit" the floor. But, as I said, I take pride in the way Ruthie is always put together (wish I could say that about myself!).

Once we got out to the car, I unloaded our items, and went to put her in her car seat I realized what was keeping my precious little one so happy in the store.


It seems that she has found a way to twist the sippy cup cap and had DUMPED THE ENTIRE CUP OF JUICE ALL OVER HER AND HER STROLLER!!! Yes, she was literally drenched! Not being the freak out kind, I talked to her in a very calm and loving voice, all the while thinking WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!


There I was stripping my baby down to her diapers, changing a poopy one in the back seat mind you, and realizing that we didn't have a change of clothes. Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Then, it started raining. NO LIE!!!

No problem, we're almost done. BUT, what am I going to do? Go home and get a change of clothes before continuing onto my last stop? No, she would never last that long and we would be interrupting nap time... a definite no-no! Go to Publix with her in her diaper? No, I couldn't do that. What about all the times where I'd seen other moms with kids in diapers and thought, "man, can't you just put something on that sweet baby? It's not her/his fault that you're so busy!"

With the full knowledge that I was going to be eating my words, I walked into Publix with my sweet girl in only a diaper. At least it was clean!

I just knew everyone was looking at me thinking what a horrible mom I was. Hey, at least she had a bow in her hair. Oh. Yes. She. Did.

Maybe next time I see something that "I would never do" I'll be a little slower to judge my fellow moms!!

Dish Duty

Why is it that I procrastinate? Let me back up. I don't mind doing house work. There are only a couple of chores that I really hate to do, and the Lord blessed me with a husband who doesn't mind doing them!! So then, why do I wait to empty the dishwasher? It's not that hard. It only takes a few minutes (usually under 5). But, I will wait until there is a sea of dirty dishes on the counter and in the sink before I MAKE myself empty the dishwasher.

Inevitably, while I'm emptying the dishwasher I say to myself, "This really didn't take too long. Next time I won't wiat so long to empty it!" But, when the next time rolls around, you got it, I procrastinate. I'm a bit think headed, I think.

The rewards of emptying the dishwasher are numerous... The feeling of accomplishment, the ability to fill with dirty dishes, and the beauty of a clean kitchen. And really, how hard can it be, there are only 2 of us in the house.

Why is it that I do not do what I know is best for me until I can't put it off any longer? And why is it that while doing the good for me thing that I have dreaded I realise it isn't that bad? And why is it that I don't remember that the next time? There is a very big God lesson in this for me, and I hope for you as well.

Putting things off (ok, other things like spending time with my Savior) can very much be sinful. And, things that God says to do, often times that we put off, will only bring joy and peace to our lives.

So the next time you see dishes that need to be put away, or a dishwasher that needs to be filled, think with me about the other things that we also put off and let's just get it done!!

Uh, I better go unload the dishwasher...