Parenting and Religion

We are preparing to go on our annual Kingdom Bound Festival trip. We have only missed 2 out of 22 kingdom bound festivals. We have been blessed by Kingdom Bound, year after year.
And it never fails, something always trys to stop us from going.
This year it is sickness, boo-boos, and financial stuff.
My two oldest boys have been sick for almost two weeks, and are both on antibiotics.
My 14 year old daughter, stepped on a stick, and it was lodged in her foot. I numbed her foot with ice, and yanked it out. She is ok, up to date on her tetnus shot, and taking it easy…..but it does hurt for her to put much pressure on it. Walking is not fun so far.
Now, finances….. what more can I say?
With the prices of food and gas increasing so much, financial pressure is at an all time high, and finances themselves are pretty low.
But God…..
He always provides what we need in one way or another.
With so much oposition, it makes me think that this year, Kingdom Bound is going to be extra special.
Third Day, here I come…. Delirious, get ready for Worship!
We are some serious Kingdom Bounders, and we are on our way!!!

You know how little boys are. They carry things around in their pockets, like frogs and leaves. They are constantly bringing things in the house to show me, and I always say the same thing “TAKE IT OUTSIDE!!”
Well, one thing must have gotten by me.
My boys have a couple of ‘bug catcher’ type things. A little carry around cage, screened so you can see the critters, and they can breathe. About two weeks ago, my 8 year old had it, and said “Mom, look what I got!”
I looked, and it was full of worms. YUCK!!!
I told him the usual, to take it outside.
Now, I am not a spoil sport, I just don’t want worms in my house.
Well, over the weekend, my 11 year old son came downstairs and said, “You are never going to guess what I found crawling under my bed- A WORM!”
I told him to throw it away.
Then he came back and said he had found two little worms under there too.
Now I was feeling sick.
Worms had reproduced in my house.
I kind of panicked, and told the boys that they had to throw away all the books, and stuffed animals that were stored in boxes under their bed.
Now, the eight year old says it couldn’t have been his worms. After all, they were in the bug catcher. Well, the bug catcher has a gapp between the door and the wall…..so……
Anyhow, the worms are gone (At least they had better be!!), the room is cleaner than ever, and I am paranoid now, about worms.
Kind of reminds me of when my little brothers used to chase me with them. I felt like there was no getting away from them, so I just ran around and screamed.
SO, off I go to inspect their room again, running around in circles…but this time I am only screaming on the inside.

National Gogeous Grandma Day.
My mom fits that description, as does my sister. I on the other hand don’t.
Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t because I am extremely ugly, or have a self image problem.
It’s because I am not yet a grandma.
The gorgeous grandma status has to be achieved by being a grandma, and being gorgeous.
I miss it by at least the first qualification.
Whenever people who know me meet my mom, I get compliments. First they say “Your mother is beautiful!”
Then they say “You know, you look a lot like your mom.”
I can only say thanks.
I also have a gorgeous grandma of my own.
When my grandpa was alive, he took me in his living room, shoed me some pictures, and said \, “I am one lucky man. Not many men end up with a beauty like I have.”
He was right, my grandma was and is gorgeous.
So, to all you gorgeous grandma’s… Have a gorgeous day.

Today should be named boo-boo day. My 14 year old daughter accidentally sliced her thumb with a knife, and I punctured my middle finger with a piece of glass while washing dishes.
Life is full of such mishaps, but when a few happen in one day, I feel like I should start the day over again.
Today is also my oldest child’s birthday. He is 22, and still my baby.
Having adult children offers a different perspective on parenting. Being involved without being involved. Giving advice without being pushy, and also only when asked.
Being mom, without babying them.
Not always easy, but good none the less.
Parenting will never end, no matter how old they get.
But it does change.
Change is good, when we embrace it in what it is meant to be, finding a new way to coninue that precious relationship, of parent and adult child.
I guess it’s a good thing I have great examples of how to do that.
My mom and dad, and my inlaws…..the best examples possible, and I am thankful.

With all the switchover to a different server, the availability for me to write and you to read has been almost nothing. Hopefully all is well now.
Summer is already half over, and it feels like it has just begun.
Dan and I took the family camping a couple of weeks ago, and it was a blast. Of course a camper would have been better than a tent to sleep in, but the king sized air mattress we have helped with that part of it.
We have moved our church, and changed the name. God is moving us in ways that surprise me, and doing it suddenly. Things have happened so fast, and we are having our Grand Opening this week, Thursday thru Saturday evenings. I am expecting many good things to happen (and planning on baking cookies for whoever comes….wanna join us??).
This week will be full of writing (for me), working (at church)_ and fun (with kids).
Yesterday was my birthday, so I am older now. (really middle aged!!)
Hopefully summer will slow slightly so I can take a breath.
Tuesday is my oldest son’s 22nd birthday, and Saturday is mine and Dan’s 28th anniversary. How time flies.
Summer; full of fun, busyness and surprises.