...being confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Phil. 1:6)
November 26, 2010
November 18, 2010
S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D
Is there enough of me to go around? There are days (like this one...like this whole week actually) that I wonder. It's all good, mind you, but I'm definitely relying on the grace of God to get me through.
Sarah told me the other day that she was "stressed out" because "it just seems like somebody always NEEDS something" and "I'm just used to being the youngest". Hannah broke down last night because she didn't like what we were having for supper and K was interrupting her when she was reading. After talking it out, she was able to express that she's feeling a bit neglected. Dana asked for a kiss good night last night and I felt like refusing (which I didn't) and saying, "You need me too? I got nothin' left!"
11:15, 12:15, 3:00, 3:30, 3:45 (2), 4:45, 5:00 (2), 6:00 (2), 7:30, 8:00, 8:15 (2)
These are the times today that I'm either supposed to drop someone or something off, pick someone up, call someone, or be somewhere. The 2's mean I'm really supposed to be 2 places at once. Somewhere in there everyone will need dinner. Dana will not be home until after 9:00 tonight. These are not the optional leisure activities of an overcommitted family. With a child "in the system" at our house, most of these times are beyond my control. The only things we'd normally have today would be to drop off my children at swimming at 6:00 and pick them up at 7:30.
I'm a person who typically goes into control mode when things feel out of control. I'm quick to try to "fix" the circumstances that are causing stress. Sometimes there are some things that need fixing. However, I've come to realize that many of the circumstances I'd like fixed are exactly the experiences God is using to grow my faith and dependence upon Him.
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) I don't think this verse is some promise for accomplishment or a "you can do it" type of mentality, but a call to persevere in the midst of trial. I really CAN do everything Christ calls me to when I'm dependent on His power and strength to do it. Disorganization and chaos (perceived or real) have a way of driving me to my knees in a way that nothing else does. It's difficult to know that God has brought trial into the lives of my children. It's hard to see them stretched.
I'm pleasantly surprised to find that while I'm feeling S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D, I'm at peace. We know that God has called us to foster care. I can honestly sing with Chris Tomlin, "There's a peace I've come to know. Though my heart and flesh may fail, there's an Anchor for my soul. I can say, 'It is well.'" So, here is what I cling to today...
...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. I am confident of this: that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Jesus, in view of Your mercy, I offer my body to You as a living sacrifice...my spiritual act of worship. (Romans 8:26, 28; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Romans 12:1)
Don't you just LOVE the word of God?!!!
Sarah told me the other day that she was "stressed out" because "it just seems like somebody always NEEDS something" and "I'm just used to being the youngest". Hannah broke down last night because she didn't like what we were having for supper and K was interrupting her when she was reading. After talking it out, she was able to express that she's feeling a bit neglected. Dana asked for a kiss good night last night and I felt like refusing (which I didn't) and saying, "You need me too? I got nothin' left!"
11:15, 12:15, 3:00, 3:30, 3:45 (2), 4:45, 5:00 (2), 6:00 (2), 7:30, 8:00, 8:15 (2)
These are the times today that I'm either supposed to drop someone or something off, pick someone up, call someone, or be somewhere. The 2's mean I'm really supposed to be 2 places at once. Somewhere in there everyone will need dinner. Dana will not be home until after 9:00 tonight. These are not the optional leisure activities of an overcommitted family. With a child "in the system" at our house, most of these times are beyond my control. The only things we'd normally have today would be to drop off my children at swimming at 6:00 and pick them up at 7:30.
I'm a person who typically goes into control mode when things feel out of control. I'm quick to try to "fix" the circumstances that are causing stress. Sometimes there are some things that need fixing. However, I've come to realize that many of the circumstances I'd like fixed are exactly the experiences God is using to grow my faith and dependence upon Him.
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) I don't think this verse is some promise for accomplishment or a "you can do it" type of mentality, but a call to persevere in the midst of trial. I really CAN do everything Christ calls me to when I'm dependent on His power and strength to do it. Disorganization and chaos (perceived or real) have a way of driving me to my knees in a way that nothing else does. It's difficult to know that God has brought trial into the lives of my children. It's hard to see them stretched.
I'm pleasantly surprised to find that while I'm feeling S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D, I'm at peace. We know that God has called us to foster care. I can honestly sing with Chris Tomlin, "There's a peace I've come to know. Though my heart and flesh may fail, there's an Anchor for my soul. I can say, 'It is well.'" So, here is what I cling to today...
...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. I am confident of this: that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Jesus, in view of Your mercy, I offer my body to You as a living sacrifice...my spiritual act of worship. (Romans 8:26, 28; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Romans 12:1)
Don't you just LOVE the word of God?!!!
November 15, 2010
Crazy Daze
November 15, 2010
6:45am - Up and at 'em
7:00am - Wake the kiddos
7:15am - Breakfast
7:35am - Drive kiddos to school
8:00am - back home...so far so good...average day
8-10:30am - shower, laundry, phone calls, e-mails, church worship scheduling, calendar check, meal planning, budget check-up, random household tasks
10:30-noon - wonderful time in prayer and Bible study
12:00pm - leave house to run errands (library, Meats 'n More, returns to Shopko, cell phone call to Mom)...picking up steam now
1:30pm - close friend calls with family emergency while I'm @ Shopko
2:00pm - fill van with gas
2:25pm - paperwork with school office and picking up kiddos
2:55pm - after school snack (my lunch), try on Shopko items (no good)
3:15pm - guardian ad litem stops by to visit foster child
4:00pm - piano teacher here for Hannah, homework, more laundry and random clean-up
4:45pm - leave home to go pick up Australian exchange student (Storm) who is staying with us for 3 weeks...running on adrenaline
5:05pm - meet student @ MSU, visit with the group and work out details
5:35pm - pick up snack @ BK drive thru for kids
5:43pm - Hannah to West for swim practice
5:47pm - Sarah to YMCA for swim practice
5:50pm - Meet Dana and Ethan at YMCA (they were at a Math League meet after school); Dana takes foster child (K - sorry, we can't post her name) swimming; swimming cut short by poop in pool
6:10pm - WalMart run for Storm to pick up a couple items
6:30pm - pick up friend's (remember previous emergency?) child to take her to ballet
6:50pm - back at Y to pick up S, D, and K
7:00pm - helping K with her hair in the shower - still figuring out this African American hair thing
7:30pm - send D home with everyone, I head back to ballet to pick up and bring home friend's daughter
8:00pm - home; all need food - carrots, broccoli, string cheese, leftover macaroni casserole, grapes, orange, "Milo" (kind of like hot chocolate mix) from Australia...random chaos
8:45pm - girls head to bed; Ethan announces he has geography project due tomorrow (and math homework)
9:00pm - D helps E with project; kitchen clean-up
10:00pm - make bed with clean sheets (remember that laundry?)
10:10pm - crawl in bed, check e-mail, and start blogging
10:30pm - Ethan finishes homework
10:45pm - D joins me in bed, reads my blog, chuckles, we "talk" about our day
11:02pm - blog posted, lights out
6:45am - Up and at 'em
7:00am - Wake the kiddos
7:15am - Breakfast
7:35am - Drive kiddos to school
8:00am - back home...so far so good...average day
8-10:30am - shower, laundry, phone calls, e-mails, church worship scheduling, calendar check, meal planning, budget check-up, random household tasks
10:30-noon - wonderful time in prayer and Bible study
12:00pm - leave house to run errands (library, Meats 'n More, returns to Shopko, cell phone call to Mom)...picking up steam now
1:30pm - close friend calls with family emergency while I'm @ Shopko
2:00pm - fill van with gas
2:25pm - paperwork with school office and picking up kiddos
2:55pm - after school snack (my lunch), try on Shopko items (no good)
3:15pm - guardian ad litem stops by to visit foster child
4:00pm - piano teacher here for Hannah, homework, more laundry and random clean-up
4:45pm - leave home to go pick up Australian exchange student (Storm) who is staying with us for 3 weeks...running on adrenaline
5:05pm - meet student @ MSU, visit with the group and work out details
5:35pm - pick up snack @ BK drive thru for kids
5:43pm - Hannah to West for swim practice
5:47pm - Sarah to YMCA for swim practice
5:50pm - Meet Dana and Ethan at YMCA (they were at a Math League meet after school); Dana takes foster child (K - sorry, we can't post her name) swimming; swimming cut short by poop in pool
6:10pm - WalMart run for Storm to pick up a couple items
6:30pm - pick up friend's (remember previous emergency?) child to take her to ballet
6:50pm - back at Y to pick up S, D, and K
7:00pm - helping K with her hair in the shower - still figuring out this African American hair thing
7:30pm - send D home with everyone, I head back to ballet to pick up and bring home friend's daughter
8:00pm - home; all need food - carrots, broccoli, string cheese, leftover macaroni casserole, grapes, orange, "Milo" (kind of like hot chocolate mix) from Australia...random chaos
8:45pm - girls head to bed; Ethan announces he has geography project due tomorrow (and math homework)
9:00pm - D helps E with project; kitchen clean-up
10:00pm - make bed with clean sheets (remember that laundry?)
10:10pm - crawl in bed, check e-mail, and start blogging
10:30pm - Ethan finishes homework
10:45pm - D joins me in bed, reads my blog, chuckles, we "talk" about our day
11:02pm - blog posted, lights out
November 13, 2010
At Dinner Tonight...
Random quotes from our dinner table tonight:
Alex: Aliens smell like my mom's armpit in a smelly bathtub.
Hannah (while giving Dana a hug): Dad, your sweat smells better than cheese.
Sarah: You know what's funny Alex? Most children your age (7) don't use the word "hypothesis"
Nedra: Be careful...don't put the fork in your eye!
Alex (while getting ready for bed): Toothpaste is my enemy! It feels like there's a building on fire inside my mouth.
Just another average night at the Patenaude home!
P.S. Hope to be back blogging more regularly again... :o)
Alex: Aliens smell like my mom's armpit in a smelly bathtub.
Hannah (while giving Dana a hug): Dad, your sweat smells better than cheese.
Sarah: You know what's funny Alex? Most children your age (7) don't use the word "hypothesis"
Nedra: Be careful...don't put the fork in your eye!
Alex (while getting ready for bed): Toothpaste is my enemy! It feels like there's a building on fire inside my mouth.
Just another average night at the Patenaude home!
P.S. Hope to be back blogging more regularly again... :o)
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