Just for Today

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.  Not for a lifetime, nor for next week, nor for tomorrow, just for this day.  Direct my thoughts and bless them.  Direct my work and bless it.  Direct the things I say, and give them blessing too.  Direct and bless everything that I think and speak and do.  So that for this one day, just this one day, I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence.  Oh, God, for this day, just for this one day, let me live generously, kindly, in a state of grace and goodness that denies my many imperfections and makes me more like you.

I found this prayer in a book by Marjorie Homes written in the 60's and thought it was such an honest plea to live out the day as a godly woman.  I have read it so many times that it is almost memorized.  How hard is it to stay focused on the One we are supposed to be in constant communion with?  How hard is it to remain "set apart" in this world?  How easily I find myself like the "frog in the boiling pot" where the temperature has been turned up ever so slightly until it's boiling...  Look at where we're all spending our time and energy - it's not with each other (unless facebook counts....but that's apparently become too confusing and complicated to use).  We spend our time in constant motion - running from this rather meaningless obligation to that - spinning plates like a circus clown when what (who!) begs for our attention and focus is right in front of us.  I fear that I am missing out on my kids sometimes because I am so busy "doing" for them.  I saw how much I've been doing instead of being tonight when we played a great game of family hide-and-seek.  They absolutely lit up when I said yes and that I'd be "it" first (instead of the "in just a minute, I have to finish ______________ first....").  What fun we had!

God has been working on me for sometime to resist the ways of the world and to remain set apart.  I thought this was so that I would be able to set a godly example for my kids; I'm sure that is part of His intent.  But after this week, I wonder if I'm not being taught to resist "doing" like everyone else so that I can "be" with my kids - hopefully setting a godly example for them to follow, but also showing them how to care about and value someone with face time.  I believe I'm being told to slow down, focus, play, listen.

I'm struck by my childhood memories of my two grandmothers:  both wonderful, godly women and I was blessed to have them be such a big part of my childhood.  One was a "do-er" and one was a "be-er".  Of the "do-er", I haven't a single childhood memory of her just playing - she was feeding, cleaning, bathing us, but never playing.  Of the "be-er", I remember fishing, walking, playing with worms, picking figs and muskadine grapes, playing cards - just a number of wonderful things.  I love both women the same and am so grateful for both.  I realize, however, that when my kids look back, I want them to remember me as a "be-er" mom.  I've got a lot of work ahead of me...

Just for today, Lord, just for today.

Living Life in 3D

When people ask me how I live my life, my quick reply is "I live life in 3D".  They look appropriately impressed until I mention that the "3 D's" stand for:  Dinners, Diapers and Dishes!  Mom's get this and crack up - everyone else looks a bit perplexed. 

As I write this note - Doug is on his way home from work (a bit late), the kids were fed separately from the adults (to keep a little peace), and - now that the kids have inhaled their dinner, Corley is somewhere twirling around (I hear her, but don't see her), Caleb is walking around with his dinner plate talking out loud...something about finding a peaceful place to finish his dinner...and Nate is crawling up on the table (where dinner was just had) and spinning in circles on his stomach.  THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MIND when I envisioned life with a houseful of children!  I had this wonderfully serene notion that my children would do what I told them, when I told them, with a great attitude....would always be clean, pick up after themselves (due to my wonderful instruction!), say "Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am" at all times, and be quiet except when playing outdoors.  To say the least, Doug and I have been SHOCKED by parenthood!  We were wonderful parents - all-knowing parents - before we had kids.  I admit that things like, "Our kids will NEVER be allowed to disrupt a restaurant, church service"...you name it, passed our lips countless times!  Oh, the crow we have eaten... 

We now have the privilege of watching younger siblings and friends have their children...and how they are going to do it "right".  They are so confident in their ideas while their kiddos are unable to talk or walk. Although we (obviously) don't know much, we know enough to smile and nod and laugh (inside) at the "wheels off" moments that await the naive.

Ah yes, life in 3D - no glasses necessary!

Recording life before we blink....

One evening, Doug and I were treated to an evening at the "circus".  Corley and Caleb had both worked hard putting together an exciting show - complete with tigers, penguins and their trainer, and disappearing magic tricks!  Nate was a spectator with mom and dad, and proved to be the biggest cheerleader for his older siblings.  We were wowed and amazed for the better part of half an hour.  As the show ended, Corley wrapped things up with, "If you want to know more about the show and its creators, please visit us at http://www.pittmancircus.com/ where you can sign up for games and prizes and get a coupon for free haircuts".  There was total silence as Doug and I digested how easily this tagline rolled off of her tongue...and then we all cracked up.

Later that evening, I thought of how our once quiet, structured, 2-banker (read: "square") life really had turned into that of a circus: constant motion, LOUD, busy and crazy.  How very grateful we are for these wonderful changes....and how very aware we are that they will be gone so quickly (and we will probably go back to our quiet, structured, "square" life!).  This is the reason for this blog - to attempt to record these precious memories of daily life with kiddos that will pass all too quickly.  These are the fun times and moments that are so easily forgotten, but are so important to remember since they shape us each and every day. 

This will be our attempt at keeping our family and friends involved in our "daily life" as we are all scattered across the map.  Please forgive my learning curve with this blog; it - like life - is a work in progress!  My perfectionist personality would like for me to not roll this out until it was perfect and I was an expert on blogging.  The realistic side of me says, "there's no time like the present"; so we're just going to wing it and learn along the way...

As the "Ringmaster" said when she welcomed us to the circus, "Ladies and Jelly Beans, boys and squirrels....Welcome to the Pittman Circus!!!"