Photo of the Day: {Frog Boots}

[creide's frog boots 2012]

These babies are kind of a staple around our house. This is actually Creide's 3rd pair. He loves them. First, his favorite color is green, so that made them an instant hit. Second, I think he likes how easy they are for him to put on and go. And that is what this kid does...go.go.go.

He would {and has} worn them everywhere. I think even to church. I know some of you are probably disgusted right now. How dare I let my child wear something so inappropriate in the house of the Lord? That is one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that we are supposed to give our best to the Lord. In Creide's mind - these are his best. This is the best pair of shoes he has to offer. But that is just another perspective.

My perspective. Life is too short. I am going to pick my battles and this is just not one of them. I am just happy that the kid has made it out of the house with shoes on. (Yes, we have actually left the house without shoes before - but that is a whole other blog.)

I found this pair at the thrift store with the Target tags still on them. Not bad for $3. :-)

Perspective

One of the blessings that cancer has given me is perspective. I feel like I have always cherished the important things in life and I am a very sentimental person by nature. But when I thought there was a chance I was going to die – and if I am being honest, there were many moments that it more than crossed my mind – it changed everything. It was the game changer of all game changers in my life.

I thought of things like - what is my husband going to say at my funeral? Or, what is my husband going to say to my daughter on her wedding day if I am not here to show her my love and support too. Or, how can I shower my kids with enough love right now to last them a life time. But honestly, we should all be asking ourselves those questions, not just when we are facing cancer or some other life-threatening illness or situation.

The question I ask myself - if something happened to me tomorrow – did I get it right? I am not talking about perfection because I know there is no way I am going to hit that. But did I tell and show my husband I loved him totally and completely? Did I do the same for my kids? Did I show my kids how much I loved their father and what a good marriage looks like so that they can later apply those lessons to their own marriages? Did I put God first?

Don’t get me wrong, I do not think you should consume yourself with worry about these things. First of all, we are not supposed to worry {phil 4:6} but also because then there is a chance you will become immobilized by fear and worry. Besides, worry isn’t going to fix any of these issues anyway. Only action will.

Jason and I have been blessed with the opportunity several times now to share our perspective fresh from the trenches so to speak. It is something we cherish. As heart breaking as it is to relive those moments in our life, we cling to one another’s hands with tears streaming down our faces, we remember and we are beyond grateful that we are both here to share this perspective because we came so close to it being a different story entirely.

The other day I was talking with a girl about my perspective and she said, “I hope I do not have to go through what you did to have the perspective that you have.” That summed up my heart condition in a nutshell. I want to share and inspire people to make the changes that they need to make before it is too late, so that when they get to that final moment the can say, “Yes, I got it right.” 

Blessings,

Andrea

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. {Philippians 4:6 NLT}

Beware of the {Joy} Robbers!

I feel like I am pretty joyful in my life. After all, I have a lot to be joyful about. Hey, I woke up this morning - it is a good day! :-) That is pretty much my perspective after what I just went through.
But, I am a mom of four kids - five if your count Jason. (Just kidding - kind of.) So sometimes I just feel like the joyful juice just seems to run out. Anyone with me? Probably not - I am sure I am the ONLY person who goes through this.

Right now I have the "pre-teen". Don't get me wrong - my "pre-teen" is a really good kid. We are so very blessed to have him for a son and I know that my issues with him are really pretty mild compared to what a lot of parents deal with. After all, my husband is a youth pastor so we are aware. I will just leave it at that.

Our issues with Cale are like - stop reading so much. I'm serious. The child would read 24 hours a day if he could and I love the fact that he loves to read so much. But there are other things in life that must happen. Like showers and eating. We do get the occasional "pre-teen" attitude from time-to-time but most of the time he is an excellent kid.

Then I have the 6 year old, the 4 year old, and the 19 month old. That is where things start to get a little busier.... (understatement)

Most of the time things are what they are. We go with the flow. Not life or death obviously. But then there are these moments... I call them the "joy robbers". For example, every time we go to leave our home I feel like there is an invasion of the "joy robbers". I will get Kearyn (19 months) ready to go and go to find the 4 year old. I will look over every square inch of the house to only find him a half an hour later hiding in a cupboard that only a mouse could fit into. (Small exaggeration but you know what I mean.)

Then, I turn around to find the the 19 month old has completely undressed herself - tights, dress, hair bow, and yes, even the diaper from time-to-time, completely gone!

That is when I feel it. My blood pressure goes up a notch. I just want to sit down bury my head in my hands and tell them that mommy doesn't want to play this game anymore... stop hiding in cupboards and keep your close on. Please! And that is only 2 of the 4 children I have.

However, as I have recently felt the "joy robber" invasion I have decided to do things differently. It is basically the equivalent of "stop-drop-and roll" - you know what the firemen told us to do as a kid... Well, mine is STOP - THINK - CHOOSE. (Hey, I have to keep it simple or I will never remember it. Then  my blood pressure would go up another notch for not remembering.)

I stop whatever it is that I am doing in that moment. (Even if it is being curled up in the fetal position and crying in the corner.) I think about what it is happening. Someone is trying to rob my joy in this moment. Then I make a different choice. I choose to see the joy in that moment and I choose to keep my joy. I refuse to let the "joy robbers" steal it from me.

Sometimes I just have to laugh at the moment. Or I find something to be grateful for in that moment - like the fact that my 4 year old son is so creative that he even thought of that cupboard as a hiding place. Or that my daughter is even here with me in this moment at all. When I fill my thoughts and my heart with gratefulness my perspective changes almost instantly. The blood pressure goes down and I can resume whatever it is that I am doing with joy in my heart.

How are the "joy robbers" treating you lately?


The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10