Thankful Thursday

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 

Proverbs 19:21

So, we had some plans for Babycakes this fall. We had a little schedule of classes we wanted him to take to help him with his development. All but one of them has either been moved to a day on which we cannot attend, or conflicts with something that must have priority. It's been disappointing to say the least. But I know that God must have something better planned. I don't say that while simply shrugging and copping an 'I can do nothing' attitude. I used to. For many years I thought that if something like this happened I must simply, well, do nothing. I've learned over the years, though, that sometimes God wants us to push our way through. Sometimes he closes the door completely and we have no choice but to turn around and go back. However, sometimes he does close the door then open a window. Maybe He wants to show us something by making us fight for it.

One of my best illustrations of this is when we were pregnant with Spock (formerly known as Thing 1). He had a life threatening birth defect. I could timidly submit to our regular OB and take her word for it, that he would be fine in our little local hospital, or I could research what the best course of treatment would be to ensure a good outcome...at that point I was only hoping for a life of any kind. When the insurance company wanted to drag its feet about getting us transferred to a better hospital with all the facilities he needed to live, I could have cowed to them. It would have been easier. The doctor and the insurance company would have been happier. They probably would have liked me. ;) My son would be dead. I knew that, coz I did the research. That didn't happen, coz I demanded the best for him. I didn't just think "Oh, I guess God wants us to have the baby at this less than adequate hospital coz our doctor told us it would be OK and she went to college so she must know best." 

Sometimes we have to fight. I know that.  But sometimes God closes the door completely. It's a balance to know when to fight and when to work harder and when to just realize there must be something else in the plans and look forward whatever it is that is better than what I had in mind. This lesson has been learned, as I learn all my lessons, the hard way. Now, I do not slink back into the corner when something doesn't go the way I thought it should. In the case of a few of these classes, it's obvious that God has closed the door...at least for now. I know, though, that this just means He's opening up that time for something more important. I will continue to trust in Him and keep my eyes open for the His answer.

~~~~~

Update: 8/17/12--God has already begun to answer prayers in an even better way than I can imagine. Due to certain things involved I cannot say more than this...God is really awesome. :)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the people.

1 Chronicles 16:8

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Never done this one before, but my friend Conny does and it looks fun. And I should really be cleaning now that it's cooled down so nicely this evening...so...;D. (Click on the button to take you to From This Side of the Pond where you'll find Wednesday hodgepodge.)

1. I included this quote (attributed to William H. Danforth) in my blog post on Monday..."The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb its routine." When was the last time you 'disturbed your routine' and how'd you do it?

Well, our routine was to homeschool the kids which meant to spend hours each day trying to help two who have LDs while trying to teach one to read, and help two more when they have questions. I disturbed that routine by sending the three middles to school. They'll start the 28th. It will definitely be different.

2. What's your favorite fried food indulgence?

I'm with the author...I don't eat a lot of fried foods. I thought I did, until I had to answer this question. :D Fried shrimp is also my fave...especially the Honey Walnut Shrimp at Panda Express.

3. Did you have an allowance as a kid? What did you do with it? Do you give your own kids an allowance?

No, but I had a paper route. Yes, folks, I'm old enough to remember when it was still legal for kids to earn a living. :) I spent it on garbage. Pop Tarts and Soap Opera Digest were the main things I bought. :D

4. What's something you wish you knew more about?

Cars. I wanted to learn to work on cars in high school but was told at our school in Montana that I couldn't because I was a girl. It's probably why I hate that sort of gender discrimination now.

5. Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore? If so, what?

Have another kid. That last one nearly killed me. I'm pretty sure I'd end up on bed rest in the hospital if I tried again. :)

6. What's a song you think has a great first line?

I think all of Casting Crowns' songs have pretty good first lines but my fave is "Careless, I am reckless. I'm a wrong-way travelin' slowly unravelin' shell of a man." From The Alter and the Door.

7. Who are you writing to/for when you create a blog post. In other words...as you write, who is the audience in your head?

I really write mostly for myself, for practice, but many times I write in the hopes that there is someone out there, like me, who needs to know that there is another person like them in the world, with the same confusions, joys, sadnesses...that they are not alone.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Random thought...If I thought last year was weird and life changing, I have a feeling that this year will be so in spades. But it will be "easier" in that I have begun to learn to trust God instead of man...including so-called Christian leaders. Now, I suppose, the trick will be to re-learn to trust. After last year, it's still extremely difficult.

Boy Mom Blog Hop 2012

(Click on link above for information about the BlogHop.)

Well, to say I'm a mom of boys would be to describe me in a nutshell. I have my own basketball team. :D (Although, I was shooting for a baseball team.) But we do not have a typical boy family here. Sure we have an occasional child who expresses interest in a sport, but that usually wanes and, as you know if you've been here before, ballet becomes all. And to think it all started with a simple need for some physical therapy for our second son, aka Thing 1.

So, for nearly 8 years, ballet has been our life. It's been interesting, definitely not what I pictured when I asked God to give me all boys. But God doesn't give amiss. I am the perfect mom for boys who desire to dance. That's because I couldn't really care less what convention demands. I'm the kind of woman who would have been among the first to wear pants in public simply because "convention" is often, well, let's say misguided...just to be nice. ;D It seems weird, but I do think He made me for exactly this job of raising a bunch of boys who transcend the norm and do what their hearts lead them to instead of what our society wants to force them to do by stereotype. But I'll stop there or I'll get on my soapbox and y'all will get an earful. ;)

So a bit, briefly, about each of my boys, outside ballet.

The Teenager--Nearly 16, when did I get so old? He's had his share of trials in his life, but by God's grace to us as a family he is coming out the other side a more Godly young man for it.

Thing 1--10.5--Classic introvert, closet genius, photographic memory. Won every. Single. Last. Thing there was to win in AWANA T&T his first year, last year. :)

Thing 2--8.5--Beautiful, heart-felt desire to serve God. Decided when he was barely six that he wanted to be a missionary, and not just any missionary but a bible smuggler. His heart breaks that there are people in the world who have no access to God's Word.

Braniac--5--Not-so-closet genius. He's got a radio in his head. (His words.) He's certain he's going to be the lead singer and the drummer of Newsboys when he grows up.

Babycakes--3--Our extra-special gift from God. Keeps us humble. A child who wasn't "wanted," who is less than perfect, but one that reminds us that God's plans are so much greater than our own.

I suppose, though, that the most important thing to know about us is that we are a family learning to serve God together in every area of our lives. My hope and prayer is that some day each of my children will stand out as a strong witness for Christ. It won't surprise me when it happens because I have seen God work in our family in such a mighty way this year, taking us from, well, near death is about the best description I can give, to new life. If He can perform that miracle, He is certainly powerful enough to strengthen my children and give them an unnatural boldness to serve Him.