Finding Normal

My life has been anything but normal lately.  Ok truthfully my life has never been normal per se, but as of late it has been even farther south of normal than --- well, normal.

The Geek has been working hellacious hours and is in an extremely stressful period at work.  My mother seems to require more of my assistance with each passing day.  The Little Prince is growing up but not as fast as he thinks he is --- " I can do it myself Mama!" is a constant refrain lately.  There are moments where I just wish we didn't have to deal with power struggles.  Did I mention that Boy Wonder will get his Driver's Permit this week?  Yeah, that's enough to freak me out just a tad.  To top it off  the Munchkin has been channeling her inner diva the past few weeks --- heaven  help me when that girl reaches puberty and those mood swings.  Oh and speaking of mood swings --- it has come to my attention I may (ahem) be suffering a few age related hormonal shifts of my own that might possibly be making me a bit of a pain in the patookis to be around at times.  I will neither confirm or deny those allegations, but I will say this, is it hot in here is it just me?

There have been days when I just want to scream,"God, enough already!  I need a little help here.  Helloooo!  Have you forgotten about me?  I am a Mama Hen on the edge and I need a bit of direction if you don't mind."  In fact I have done just that.   A lot.  A lot a lot.   And you know what His response has been?   Silence.  Absolutely nothing.  Zip.  Zero.  Zilch.  

Or at least that's what I thought.

Tonight I was flipping through the channels on the ol' idiot box and I landed on what appeared to be a cheesy little feel good movie --- Finding Normal starring Candace Cameron Bure.  I curled up and got ready to just veg out for a couple of hours.  I ended up actually enjoying the show.  I wouldn't say it was life changing, or at least I didn't think I would have.  Turns out it just may have been.  In the last thirty seconds of the movie one of the main characters says something along the lines of:

Too many people waste their lives waiting for a God who shouts, instead of listening to one who whispers.

I think I resemble that remark!

I've been sitting around waiting for God to raise his voice above the constant cacophony (always wanted to use that word in a sentence!) that surrounds my life.  I've been thinking the Big Guy upstairs has been silent when in fact He's been whispering all the time --- I just didn't shush up long enough to listen.

I'm listening now and I can't wait to hear what He's got to say!

There are times that we pray yet we don't seem to get an answer.  We get frustrated not realizing that God answers prayers in His time not ours.  Don't give up on God;  He hasn't given up on you.

Elmer Laydon

Where did a Week Go?

Some day man will travel at the speed of light, of small interest to those of us still trying to catch up to the speed of time. 

Robert Brault

Am I the only one who believes time passes quicker than it used to?  I think not.  My sister said recently that as we get older, each new decade passes faster than the one before.  So, "Hang On tight," she warned ---it only gets faster from here.  Part of me looks at the future with dread.  Inside me there is an ol' worry wart bemoaning the fact that I have so much to do and so little time to do it. But sharing my inner real estate is also a playful child that just wants to stick her head out the open car window as it speeds down the road of life and joyfully exclaim, "Wheeee!" 

 I think I need to listen to her more.

wheeee!

I have a really full weekend ahead.   I could spend the next few days hiding out at the ol' farmhouse perfecting my couch potato-ness. Just plop myself down on the sofa with a bowl of chips and dip and lose myself in some mindless  TV and shrug off all social commitments.  Been there, done that and have the oversized Tshirt and stretchy fat girl pants to prove it.  No, I think I will take a clue from the wee one within and see all the possibilities for wonder the weekend promises --- from my monthly gathering of  my writing group (these people always make me eager to put my words and thoughts on paper) to a Tea Party at the local library where yours truly has been asked to speak and share a story I've written ( Pinch me!  I am going to be introduced as a "local writer"  --- who'd of ever thunk?!) 

Yes, I choose to see this weekend as a definite "wheeeeeekend" :). Might I suggest you do the same?

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Winston Churchill

just perfect

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love.

Mildred B. Vermont

(Per their request) I gave my chicklets a list of what I would like for Mother's Day this year.  Absent from that list is one thing I would love --- a week away from the duties of motherhood.  Oh to find myself with hours to do nothing but what I wanted to do.  No whining or constant bickering.  No sticky messes or dirty clothes demanding my immediate attention.  No needing to get Child A here or pick up Child B there.  No dinners to cook.  Yes, that would be a pretty near perfect Mother's Day gift.

Instead I will probably get a handmade card --- with G's and O's scribbled all over it because that happens to be all the Little Prince likes to write right now.  I might get a nice bottle of sweet smelling lotion and a foot massage from the Munchkin because she loves to pamper me this way.  Boy Wonder may wash the dishes with only one reminder instead of the usual three and may even offer to make me a nice cheesy omelet.  There will be lots of messy kisses and warm hugs.  Too many "I Love You, Mama"s to count and in the end it will be a perfect Mother's Day --- just perfect.

happy mother's day!

from the spotted hen

Bending but not Breaking

Life has been especially chaotic here on the farm lately.  I won't make you join my little pity party, but let's just say its been one of those days weeks months years --- if you know what I mean.  The care and feeding of my little chicks, my own mama hen and the man of the house has pushed me close to the brink.  This song has been at the top of my personal "playlist" lately so I thought I would share it with you.  The lyrics say, "I won't give you more, more than you can take. And I might let you bend, but I won't let you break. And know, I'll never, ever let you go."  I'm counting on that 'cuz I sometimes feel dangerously close to that breaking point, ya know?

I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

A Picture's Worth ♥ Wednesday

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"

Robin Williams

 

I don't know what your past week has been like, but mine has been in serious need of celebration.  Sadly, time and some unfortunate bad luck has put a bit of a damper on things for me.  I promise to share all the details soon --- through it all I keep saying, "Well that'll make a good blog post!"

 

 

what a difference a week makes!

last week snow, this week daffodils

 gotta be honest ... loving the daffodils waaaaaaay more than the snow!