Coming Clean. . .

They say confession is good for the soul (I don't know who "they" are, but I listen more than I should).

And I would never, in any sort of way, want any of you to think I'm something I'm not.  So for those of you who "don't know how I do it" or call me "Supermom" (please stop, by the way!) or think juggling the Troops makes me "amazing"?

Here's the truth:

1.  I can be seriously grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of my goofy kids.

2.  Sometimes I want to leave and/or quit.  (Usually when all of the goofy kids are home.)

3.  I like to stay up late.  Even when I'm tired (drives the Coach Mr. Self-Discipline crazy, by the way).

4.  I love rainy days.  And Eeyore.

5.  I hate getting up in the morning (especially since we got that 3 inch memory foam mattress topper.  Grrrrr.).  (See #3)

6.  I'm am even more grumpy, impatient, and intolerant when I'm on a diet.

7.  I'm always on a diet.  Did I say diet?  I mean "life-style change".  Whatever.

8.  I haven't lost any weight since February. 

9.  I have a horrible memory.  Embarrassingly horrible.  If I call you the wrong name, just remember it's not because I don't love you.  I call my kids the wrong names all day long.  And I love them, even when I'm grumpy, impatient, and intolerant of their goofiness.

10.  Calling the girls "Sister" and the boys "Brother" helps with my memory issues.  And it makes me feel like I live in the deep south.  Except the deep south was cooler, apparently, this Summer than it was here.  Go figure.

11.  Heat makes me cranky.  And sweaty.  And cranky.  This Summer the average temperature was higher in our state than it's ever been in history.  That's a lot of cranky sweaty.  I may not cool off until December (because I never, ever, sneak the thermostat down a degree or two.  Never.).

12.  I'm addicted to Diet Dr. Pepper.  But I quit drinking it rather frequently for weeks at a time because my firstborn won't stop telling me how bad it is for me (maybe he's one of the "they"s who say things?).  Except that when I'm not drinking it, I'm even more difficult to live with.  If that's possible.

13.  I think television (or Netflix, Hulu, DVD's etc.) is God's gift to mothers.  Forget playing outside (remember those record setting temps?). . . go "watch something".  Unless your laundry isn't put away or you have homework, in which case if I catch you watching something you will meet "Cranky" in a whole new way.

14.  I eat when I'm stressed.  Getting out of bed is stressful.  Getting seven kids ready for school is stressful (How DO you lose ONE knee pad?  How?).  Making eight lunches is stressful (especially with help).  Calls from the big green van to tell me what was forgotten and needs to be brought to school is stressful.  Trying to get all of the laundry done, grocery shopping done, meals cooked, and house cleaned before I have to go BACK to school is stressful.  (See #7)  Don't even get me started on what it's like after school.

15.  I have failed to teach any of my eight children to change the toilet paper roll.

16.  Finding an empty toilet paper roll when I go to the bathroom is stressful.  (See #14)  (And #7)

17.  All of the socks in our house go through the wash inside out.  And get folded inside out.  And somehow are STILL inside out when they get put back in the laundry basket.  Go figure.

18.  I love magazines.  And I read them from back to front.  And I may or may not hide in the bathroom to read them.  With the door locked.  At least I'm HERE!  (See #2)

19.  I'm a list maker.  Bet you couldn't tell.  Some of my kids like lists, some of my kids hate them.  I can't ever remember which is which.  So I make them for everyone.

20.  I like quiet.  And clean houses.  And personal space.  (Yes, I CAN hear you laughing.)

There are days, or weeks, when I seriously feel for my easy-going Coach and my fun, happy (in spite of me) children (who love to make big messes).  Because I can be really hard to live with.  My expectations are too unrealistic.  I get frustrated when I should laugh.  I'm ALWAYS too tired for one more story, one more song, one more piano duet, one more math problem, one more "Look Mom!  Look!".

Maybe I should go to bed earlier.  (See #5)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Even when I fail miserably, to be the comforter and encourager that I should be to my family, I'm so grateful that the Lord (and the kids) offers forgiveness and that I can return again and again to HIS strength and grace.  The love of Christ is wide. . . long. . . high. . . deep.

Pretty sure that's enough love even for Grumpy Cranky .

Happy Thursday!