Flashback Friday

Ouray, CO
Memorial Weekend 2005
Ellie was 19 months old
We are headed back to Ouray today!!

Super-Human Grace

I'm exhausted. I'm tired. I'm worn down. I'm bushed, disheartened, dispirited, distressed, exasperated, weary, overburdened, annoyed, haggard, irritated, jaded, and spent. (Yeah I used a thesaurus but that does not negate how I feel!)

This was one day about a year ago when they were bored in their room.

Everyone needs two almost-5-year-old boys with nothing to do all day every day. 

I spend my days saying to myself, "WHY??". Why can't they learn? Why don't they listen? Why don't they obey? Why don't they desire to make better choices? WHY?

I have gone to bed every night for the last week trying to brainstorm how to make my days better, easier, more enjoyable while they are at home together all day every day for the next 90 days. I pray for wisdom and creativity and endurance and sweet words to flow from my mouth. I pray for new perspective and outlook. I read books about loving unconditionally and how to live life to the fullest right before I fall asleep. And approximately 10 minutes after I put my feet on the floor in the morning I am spewing and threatening and yelling and well,  feeling exasperated.

As I was cleaning this morning and had moved one unnamed 4-year-old-boy to 3 different time out locations, I thought, 'isn't that how our Father God feels about us'? Exasperated? Wondering every day: Why can't they learn? Why don't they listen? Why don't they obey? Why don't they desire to make better choices?

Fortunately for us He is God and He has infinite amounts of grace and even when exasperated He can still offer grace and love and give us another chance. I, however am human. A visual I have had lately is of God living in me and giving me power that I would not have otherwise. Almost like a super-hero. Visualize haggard mom with a big 'HS' for Holy Spirt on her shirt. The holy spirit is in me and can make me more like Jesus every minute of every day. He can give me the ability to love these boys well despite their sinfulness.

God give me the POWER to have your super human powered grace exude from my person every minute of every day!! Those boys need it. And Lord forgive me for every time I open my mouth and spew nastiness to these boys today. Amen.

Anyone have advice for structure, creativity, and large amounts of patience? Anyone else going through this yet or anticipating it as summer begins?

Multitude Monday

 

336. KNOWING that He IS God and that when I doubt, He understands

337. one on one time with my boys

338. rhubarb outside my front door

339. how music speaks to my soul

340. a new found love for reading

341. "Mommy and Daddy Night"

342. celebrating first birthdays in our house with a cute girl turning 14

 

343. watching little miracles and big miracles in front of my very eyes. Thank you Jesus.

344. fun time with my hubby on a much needed date night

345. Friesema family time

346. my strong, Christian leader husband

347. moisture and the lifting of the fire ban just in time for camping

348. boys last day of preschool and the blessing of their teachers this year

349. watching Ellie's class in the school talent show - Conrad's Crazy Frogs

 

Check back in 2 weeks for another installment of Multitude Monday. God IS Good...and gratitude precedes the miracle...

 

 

Flashback Friday

Next Friday starts camping season!

These pics are from Memorial Weekend 2008

 

Multitude Monday

321. a husband who does yardwork because I love a nice yard

322. new flower bed

323. new cute hand made sign for my new flower bed, made by my kids

 

324. a nap

325. more miracles witnessed

326. garage sale season

327. time with john and annie and kids

328. internet

329. cousin time

 

330. opportunities to serve and help

331. being married into an amazing family

332. time to love on my sweet niece

333. true, amazing, loving, giving, selfless friends

334. moisture

 

335. answered prayer

 

Check back next week for another installment of Multitude Monday. God IS Good...and gratitude precedes the miracle...

Flashback Friday

Katelyn Zeller and my nephew Noah
Spring 2003 ~ Age 2
Love you Noah

Multitude Monday

287. watching my babies play in the ocean

288. running in 86 degrees instead of 36 degreees

289. watching out for alligators instead of black bears

290. oxygen

291. palm trees

292. the sound of weedeaters and lawn mowers

293. watching the dolphin swim with Kenny's flip flop

294. ocean breeze

295. playing in the rain with my kids

296. my head full of Gram memories every few seconds for a week

297. fresh shrimp

298. key lime pie

299. freshly squeezed orange juice

300. "Gopher Tortoise" crossing sign

301. beach sunset with my family

302. opportunities to study starfish, crab, jellyfish, sand dollars, sea urchins, coral, sting ray, and dolphins with my kids

303. crying on the beach

304. remembering Gram

305. dolphins in the swim area

306. watching the boys retell the 3 bears in sand drawings on the beach

307. vacumming with my Gram's VERY old vacuum cleaner

308. decisions made

309. deep roots

310. family

311. support system

312. church done well

313. big strong grown men in tears, broken

314. small boy hurting handing his daddy kleenex

315. miracles witnessed

316. knowing Grandpa is whole, not hurting, with no tumors, in God's arms right now

317. time for Josh with cousins seldom seen

318. far away support systems

319. more miracles witnessed

320. listening to a sweet little voice talking to her Mama whom she misses

It's a long list of blessings. There are so many more flooding my mind. That is it for now. Check back next week for another installment of Multitude Monday. God IS SOOO Good...And gratitude precedes the miracle...

Flashback Friday

June 28, 1927 ~ May 6, 2011
We love you Grandpa Friesema ~ You will be missed
Ray, John Sr., Josh, Isaac ~ July 2006