Wednesday's Schedule According to Ann

We have a dry erase board that from time to time I use to write out our day's schedule. I've noticed that my children do better when they know what to expect. This has been especially helpful on days when we have several different things planned!

Tonight, while we went about our usual evening routine (whatever that is), Ann asked if she could write on the board. I told her she could and later tonight, this is what I found:

Wisd

Sgl Ann

Sgl Chris

Jane Sad

Lizz

Her phonetic spelling makes me smile! I'm pretty sure I'm translating it right like this...

Wednesday

School Ann

School Chris

Jane Sad (Because she doesn't go to school)

Lizz (Apparently Ann doesn't know exactly how I'll spend my day!)

That girl never stops amazing me with the new things she learns. It tickles me to see her walk around so often with a notebook and pen. I have a feeling I did the same thing when I was her age.

Kindergartners are such fun!

A Way of Escape

So, I might as well admit it, sometimes during Bible Study I'm making my grocery list or my to-do list. I know I shouldn't, but somedays I have a hard time focusing. Shocking, right?

Today was NOT one of those days.

I focused the entire time and only stopped to jot down prayer requests that were either shared or that popped into my head. (Whoa, sounds a little self-righteous!)

Anyways, the study was about sin. Near the end of the session, the speaker, via video, reminded us of I Corinthians 10:13. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it." (HCSB)

I zeroed in on that verse and knew God had something for me there. Then, it hit me.

I haven't been getting much sleep lately thanks to two of my little ones. Needless to say, my patience is wearing thin. This is especially the case when I'm putting the children to bed and my husband isn't able to be here to help. They aren't mellow kiddos. It isn't unusual for them to be going strong right up until they get into bed and crash. I'm not exactly the same way. I'd like to have an hour or so of calmer activity at our house before bed, but that doesn't happen without lots and lots of nagging on my part.

So, unfortunately, it happens more often than I'd care to publicly admit, that I snap at my children before they head to bed. I'm unkind. To sum it up, I'm sinful. Sure, it isn't that I totally lose it, but a few short words here and there add up. Last night, I'd barely uttered something like, "I don't want to be your mom right now!" when I was convicted and felt horrible.

After tucking everyone into bed, I felt defeated. How on earth was I going to have more patience with these children when their behavior so often tempted me to lash out with my tongue.

That Bible verse reminded me today that there is NO way on earth that I'm going to have more patience, but there is a way in heaven and He has promised a way of escape.

The other thing that caught my eye and worked it's way into my heart was that He promised to provide a way of escape in order to bear it, not to get away from it all! It doesn't mean that night time will go exactly as I plan with a few stories, a little devotion, hugs and kisses and lights out. No, there will still be children who need water and to go potty, etc., etc.

However, my God will provide me with a way to keep from sinning even when I'm about to lose it. He's promised me that and I'm holding Him to it!

Of course, I already had once chance as we left Bible study and two of my children started yelling in the car. In my head, I repeated over and over, "He'll give me a way of escape, He'll give me a way of escape." Lo and behold, He did and the incident passed.

Being impatient with my family NEVER helps the situation. Sure, I know I'll mess up plenty of more times, but today I'm choosing to be thankful that He has promised never to fail me, even when I fail miserably.

He is so good and I'm so grateful!

What does Usted rhyme with?

According to my kindergartner, it rhymes with "you're dead."

A lesser known fact about me is that I was a Spanish minor in college. I figure that almost guarantees that my Spanish will be a bit better than my kiddos' Spanish, at least through their elementary years. (I hope!)

So, when Ann came home this afternoon sharing what she'd learned in Spanish class, I was happy to help her remember what the words meant.

"Hola Maestra," she said.

"Hello, Teacher," I translated. Ann then told me her teacher says, "Hola clase." (Pretty sure you don't need a translation on that one.)

The part that made me chuckle was when she kept repeating, "Usted, usted, usted."

I told her that is the formal usage of "you." She looked at me like I was crazy. I assured her that it was indeed what it meant. Tony backed me up.

Very seriously, she looked at me and said that it meant, "You're dead." I had to suppress a laugh! Apparently she's caught on that several words sound similar in Spanish and in English. Therefore, she is acting as her own translator.

Which I suppose should have me wondering why she'd want to be running around saying, "You're dead!"

Hmmm, those kiddos of mine sure keep me laughing and thinking!