Just Stuff. . .

It's cold and dark this afternoon.  Little Man is snoozing away beside me on the couch.  I planned on napping, too, but my brain won't quiet down.  Relationships sure complicate life, don't they?  (smile)

Reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore this week.  It's a really encouraging book, I highly recommend it.  Even if you don't consider yourself, "insecure", we all are in some area, with some people, in some situations, don't you think?  Oddly enough, it's revealed some fears that I didn't realize I had.  Those fears have led to some insecurities that I DID know I had.  Grateful for the Lord's healing and comfort in those areas.

I finally felt the third earthquake (in just a few days) last night.  Weird.  I have been in one before while visiting my aunt and her family in California.  Somehow they seem oddly out of place here in Oklahoma.  During a torrential thunderstorm and tornado warning, nonetheless.  Hmmmm.

BSF was so good this morning.  Lots to ponder.  The gospel, simplified, keeps running through my mind.  Salvation through Christ alone, by faith alone, plus NOTHING.  Wow.  Picked Little Man up from his classroom and he bounced out, "I'm hungry!  Can we meet Granddad at Chick-fil-A?"  I love that boy.  His Granddad and Grandmother, too.

We had a family meeting on Sunday.  Every so often, I completely lose it with the kids, the house, life in general.  It happened, once again, this weekend.  When I start saying, "There is only ONE of me and EIGHT of you!!" I know it's time.  We stayed at the table after Sunday lunch.  Discussed some of the problems. . . messy rooms, skipping chores, waiting too long to do home-work, not cleaning up one's own messes, food, games, etc.  Now that the kids are older, I try to let them tell ME what's going on and what we should do about it.  Turns out they are harder on themselves than I would ever be.  But that's a good thing.  We made some lists (you know how I love lists!), agreed on some consequences, and moved on.

So far so good.  It's when it's time to enforce the consequences that I struggle.

The house was so neat and tidy after the kids left for school, yesterday morning, that Little Man and I headed out for a few errands and went to the Library (he's always asking to go!).  We came home and made play dough (the first time I've ever done that - ha!) and even picked up a cousin to come play for a bit.  It was a good day.  Turns out when I don't have to pick up after eight kids I can be a (sort of) fun mom.

Well, the dryer just went off, and my nap timer (I have to set a timer or Little Man and I would sleep right through time to pick the kids up!) is about to go off, too. Better get a move on.

Lots to be grateful for.  So very much to be prayerful about. Trusting the One who gave His life for us to guide and protect.  He made it possible for us to spend eternity with Him, I think I can trust Him with the rest of life, too.

Happy Tuesday!