Our Party of Six

It’s Just Time

It’s early in the morning and I’m sitting in the dark with Cub 4 resting on my chest receiving another breathing treatment. Whenever her asthma flare ups happen, it’s guaranteed to be a sleepless night for me. I’m up constantly listening to her breathe, trying to decide if it’s getting worse, wondering if we need to make a trip to the ER. It’s going to be a long, tiring day at school as a result.

For awhile, PB and I have talked about the idea of me coming home and leaving teaching to try to balance our crazy, busy lives a little better. Back in March, it was confirmed by God that it was time for me to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) again. We have been working on lots of transitional matters to make this possible. Last week, I made it “Facebook official” (as my friend, Erin, called it) that I would not be returning to work next year. Since then, I have been encouraged by so many colleagues and friends. I’ve done a lot of crying (like now) and any lingering thoughts about whether or not we were doing the right thing began to disappear. It’s annoying how sneaky the devil can be by making you second guess what God has planted in your heart.

This morning, I am so thankful for all who have let me know that I will be missed, or how I helped their children, or what a great decision we’ve made.

This morning, while listening to Cub 4 sing her way through her breathing treatment, I was able to encourage myself:

Yes. It’s time to come home so that I can take care of my sick cub (and nap) on days like today. Instead she will be going to the office with PB so that she continues to get breathing treatments every four hours.

Yes. It’s time to come home so that I don’t have to pump myself full of caffeine all day to be an alert and effective teacher.

Yes. It’s time to come home and make family a priority as we sit on pins and needles waiting to discover if Cub 1 will pass the seventh grade.

Yes. It’s time to come home when one of my paychecks goes right back out of the account for day care costs.

It’s just time!

This scripture is my daily verse for today and it’s so fitting:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV)

Encouragement from others and self makes life’s difficult decisions easier to maneuver through.

Encourage someone today!

Off and running!

Love in Action

I’m certain that I have the most wonderful church family!

About a month ago, we were at church for our spring revival series called March Madness: It’s a Holy Thing. It was an awesome month of revival!

Cub 4 was not feeling well on one particular night, but with medicine, she was her normal self. While at church that evening, however, she became even more sick and was very irritable and crying by the time we finished the church service. In the midst of trying to get her quickly to the truck so that she could feel miserable in the comfort of her car seat, she began throwing up right outside of PB’s office door. Immediately, there were women all around! Getting paper towels, a waste basket, cleaning up what didn’t make it to the wastebasket, rubbing Cub 4′s back while she continued to get sick…I just stood there and watched it all take place for a moment. It was amazing to see love in action. When Cub 4 had nothing left to give, I scooped her up to put her in the truck. One of the other PWs made this travel waste basket for the ride home.

I was absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love and encouragement that my cub and I received that night. Who in their right mind would move towards a sick child (that is not their own) rather than away from them? and risk the chance of getting sick also? or to end up with the aroma of it in their nose? or stains from it on their clothes? Blown away, I tell ya!

Love is an action. Here’s a reminder in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.