Staycation Days 4 and 5

This day was the big day. Our road trip. We decided to do the Chattanooga Aquarium and Rock City. All those years of seeing "See Rock City" finally worked. 

I took an obscene number of pictures. That may have been my favorite part. I also loved the aquarium. I honestly could have stayed there much longer than the 3 1/2 hours we were there. Being that close to God's creation stirred worship in me that I don't often get to experience. It's really hard to worship as you're chasing 3 very excited kids through that huge place, though. I reflected on that for days after, but I really find myself wanting to go back, maybe even by myself (in my dreams) and just spending time in deep worship.

But that may be kind of weird. Maybe? Having church in an aquarium? Makes sense to me, though.

I was blown away by the giant (tank) aquarium. It was 3 stories tall and just completely overwhelming to look at. Going under it was the most soothing and beautiful thing I've seen in a while. It was mesmerizing. 

I could have looked at the jelly fish tank all day. That was my other favorite thing. The way they move was most tranquil and hypnotizing. Actually, I think I loved every minute of that place. Now I want to go to Atlanta's aquarium.

Rock City was amazing too. I really didn't have any expectations at all, having no idea what we were going to. Seeing a Starbucks at the top of this magical place pricked my cynical side, but I'm glad I soldiered on. It was a beautiful place, and I could have stayed there all day too. I love being in the woods. Emerson said, "In the woods we return to reason and faith..." I don't care how he meant it. It rings true in my spirit. I loved the views from the top of the mountain too. Reminded me of Stone Mountain and how I used to hike up that big rock and lay down and look at the sky for hours. I need to do that again soon. I've been craving that. I'm NOT taking the kids either. :)

My one regret may be that we didn't make this an overnight trip and see more stuff. This was perfect, though, and I'm so glad we did it. Chattanooga was a beautiful city. The mountains were gorgeous. The weather was perfect. I was blessed, inspired and touched by this day. I'm so thankful.

 My self portrait. :) 

The pictures went all wonky when I tried to capture them, so I'm not going to. Except I have to tell you what one of them should be, because it was my favorite quote of the day. There was this giant rock overhang at Rock City. The picture up there shows the three kids walking up out from it. The overhang made an open room of sorts, and Jude, when he saw it, said, "Hey! If we get poor, maybe they'll let us live here!" That kid and his brain amaze me. I adore him. Zane was a trooper this day too. He walked every step and never complained. I was so impressed. That kid has changed so much. Laney soaked it all in and she loved it too. We marveled at their perfect behavior. That was amazing and awesome.

Friday was kind of a normal day. After another morning in pj's with lots of coffee, I went that afternoon to help out a friend. I took the kids, so hubs got an afternoon to nap and veg. He needed that, and it was good for him. We rounded it out with a normalish weekend, and that was the end of the Staycation.

I did end up missing the beach, but this week was good. I'm thankful for the fun and the time the kids got with their daddy. That was a blessing!

A break

I know that there are legions of fans waiting anxiously for the recap of Staycation Day 4. Okay, fine, my mom is waiting. (Hi, Mom!) I didn't get it done yesterday, because I was a). busy b). sick c). not in the mood to sift through the 300+ pictures we took in that one day. Yes, I know I take too many pictures, but it's my favorite. 

Anyway, I'll get to it. 

I just want to get these remnants of thoughts out of my head from yesterday. 

I received a very innocent, very kind message from a friend yesterday morning. God flipped it into a moment of conviction for me that brought my day to a screeching halt. When faced with anxiety, I physically get moving. Since I am most often confined to my house with the kids, and don't have a treadmill, I can't run to sooth that anxiety. My second mode of relief is cleaning. You might think that this would lead to a spotless house, but some how that doesn't exactly work out the way you would think, but that's another story. Anyway, after the thoughts arrived and planted them self firmly in my mind, I jumped up from my seat and started wiping down the walls. My son said, "If you're going to start cleaning, I'm going to have a break from school..." and wondered off to find his brother. I barely noticed. 

What drove me from my seat was this:

What if my impatience and my impetuousness was what has held up the Lord's plans for me? What if that was the very thing that caused the Lord to withhold what I'd been praying for so vehemently. What if I in effect caused a gridlock and caused God to have to put His plans on hold while He waited for me to learn some basics of trusting Him? What if I caused pain and difficulty for others by my immature approach to God's will for my life?

It seems like everyone I know is waiting for something. Healing for a child, deliverance from suffering, answers to a long said prayer, patience, strength, wisdom, comfort... The list goes on and on. I've seen in all of us an impatience of sorts. We are all living in an age of immediate gratification. I'm worst of all in this area. If I can't have it now, I don't want it. If I can't get it for myself immediately, I'd rather not have it at all. I'll deal with the loss rather than the delayed gratification.

How sickening is that? I don't see that in others really, and as we've all waited and prayed, and I've been inspired by the beautiful patience I've seen in them. I knew the Lord was working in me in this issue, and I've been giving thanks for that. 

But.

I think I've come to the point where the Lord has said, "Enough. It's time to be done with this forever." Actually that point came yesterday. In a sweet, innocent message from a friend. Smack dab in the middle of school.

And I think yesterday He was telling me that this impatience could have cost me a lot. So that's what got me cleaning my walls. (And they needed it, let me tell you.) The day was so busy that I couldn't go collapse onto my bedroom floor and get on my face like I wanted to. I had to march on, dealing with this in small intervals. I mourned that sin. I mean really. It was rough. I felt torn up. It's like I expressed to a friend last week-I felt like I had been tilled like a field-my soul felt ripped open, like a long dark scar on the earth.

Not fun. 

But after spending time pondering this, and communing with God, you know what He said? Oh, He is so good. He assured me that His plan wasn't thwarted. He had that all under control. He didn't allow me to mess anything up. But He did say that this is where the impatience ends. He was firm, loving and very clear. I am no longer allowed to be demanding of Him. The fact that I ever was grieves me tremendously. I have let go of that. I can question Him, mainly because I have to, and He's okay with that. But demanding that I get my way when I want it is not okay. And He's done with me on that.

And then, because He is the faithful Father, He healed the part of me that got ripped open. There is still a scar, though, and it's still tender. But I want that to remain. I want to remember this so that the next time I start my little dance of impatience, He will prick that scar, and I will remember this day and what I learned. I will see and feel the beauty and peace of waiting patiently on Him.

It's so amazing, how God reveals sin. And deals with it in me. I'm so thankful. I'm hoping He allows me time to fully recover from this one before He reveals more, but reveal more, Lord. Show me how to be more like Your Son. That's my obsession. I just want to be like Him. 

And here's one of my favorite pictures from last Thursday, just to tease you (Mom). I think it kind of fits here too. This picture doesn't really do this waterfall justice, but it was so high, to look over the railing made me dizzy. The force and the sound of the water were both soothing and fear inducing. It reminds me of God and His love. Terrifying and beautiful. 

I had to come back and edit this post, because shortly after finishing this post, during school, I read this from Job 42:

 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
  ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
  ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
  therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

God is so good. 

Staycation Day 3

Day 3 started off lazily, which pajama wearing, coffee drinking and playing board games in the floor. We decided to go to the zoo, since the kids haven't been with Daddy in a long time. Two more great things were that it was free and it was considered a field trip. No, I don't think about school too much. Why do you ask?

Anyway,

We had some good, up close time with the monkey. Oh, and the gorilla too. (haha. Bad joke, I know.)

The kids' favorite part was the splash pad. Somehow we're never gotten to do this before. So that was great fun.

And you have to ride the train.

Fuzzy proof I was there.

After the zoo, we went to this little ice cream ice cream store and got ice cream. We had a great lunch and dinner too, but no body can remember where we ate and it's only been a week. That's why I do this blog, mostly, because we can't remember anything, even for a week. Imagine us trying to remember our fun vacation years from now. Good grief.

It was a fun, sweet, low key day. Just what we needed!

Staycation Day 2

Tuesday I was well enough for Laney and me to have our date. She had been wanting us to spend some girlie time together, and I thought it was a great idea. We decided what we were going to do - as many of our favorite things as we could fit into one day!

 We started off by having lunch which ended lunch with a giant piece of chocolate cake. That was good. She had been wanting to see "Ramona and Beezus," and luckily we found a movie theater that was still playing it. I was excited about the movie since I loved Beverly Cleary books when I was her age, and it was a perfect thing to do together. I actually loved the movie, maybe even more than she did! I am also a tad obsessed with getting my hair cut like Aunt Bea:

Anyway, the movie was good, and I actually can't wait to see it again. I'm really glad there's an appropriate movie for a girl Laney's age that she liked. That's getting harder and harder. Although, there was kissing, and I said to her after, "*Ahem* Now you know we don't kiss boys, right...?" She said, "Right."

Whew.

There was a red carpet just for us! Okay, not really, but we pretended that it was for us.

Then we went to the bookstore. I told her she could choose one small treat, and bless her heart, she couldn't decide between a journal and a letter writing set. (The apple didn't fall far from the tree...) She choose the letter writing set, and I snuck in a little stuffed animal that I saw her looking at. I'm so glad that she's still into stuffed animals that I was happy to get her one! (She's carried it around with her almost constantly since then too. *sniff*)

We wanted to go to our other favorite store, the thrift store, but we had to head home. The boys had gone to the science center all day, which I was thrilled with, since it counted as a field trip for the 6 year old. And it was free. More good stuff!

I really loved my date with my girl. I'm still wrestling through my thoughts on her sudden growth spurt into a mini pre-teen, so it was good to spend time with her and see that she's really still the same girl - just one who's trying to figure out what comes next.  She still talks to me (constantly, in fact) and that makes my heart very happy. I hope it always stays that way.

So day two was really great. A happy day!

Staycation Day 1

I know that I tend towards the "epic length" as far as blog posts are concerned. I try to shorten them. Really, I do. I just can't. With that in mind, though, I thought I'd blog out our fabulous staycation last week one day at a time. That way you also get something to look forward to every day. (I'm kidding.)

Monday morning I realized I was sick. I went off to the doctor, got meds and spent the rest of the day in bed.

People kept telling me they were sorry I was sick. Hm. Let's break this down.

I went to the doctor and got to sit, in perfect silence, and read a book while I waited. I really like my doctor, too and we always have lots to chat about. So that was good.

Then I got to take my prescriptions to Target (I mean, who else has a pharmacy in this huge city?) and I had to wonder around while they filled them.  By myself. In Target. Nice.

I went home and crawled in bed, where I stayed all day, watching episodes of "Househunters International."

Hubby took the kids bowling too, so did I mention that I was in bed in a quiet house for hours, napping and watching television?

Then they all came home and washed my van.

Then they cooked dinner. Without me. All by themselves. (Except for the little one, who came upstairs crying, saying, "Daddy told me to 'get out of the kitchen...' " which made me seriously laugh a lot, since I say that every. night. when I'm cooking dinner.)

Then hubs cleaned up the kitchen while I ate dinner on the sofa and then went back to bed.

I kept getting all these sweet texts and emails, telling me "so sorry you're sick..." and I had the good grace to at least feel guilty. I was sick, but man, I was also having a vacation!!!! 

And my husband was so glad to actually be home, and see the kids, that he didn't mind either.

I'd say it was a win/win situation. Everybody was happy!

And my meds worked well. I was better by Tuesday! :)

My little bowlers:

He was literally saying, "Yeeeeesssssss..." I can hear him!

So that was Monday!

Recipe

This is one of my favorite "quick and easy" dinners. It's not all that healthy, but I've tweaked it to make it a little better.

And of course it involved my Crock Pot. I have an unnatural affection for my Crock Pot. It makes my life so much easier. I hope the lead accusations aren't true. If they are, then we might be in trouble. :)

Anyway, the recipe is called Italian Crock Pot Chicken

Here's the orgininal recipe:

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 block cream cheese

1 stick of butter

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 packet of Italian dressing seasonings (in the salad dressing section)

Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours. Take out the chicken, shred it and add it back to the slow cooker. Cook some spaghetti, drain and  add that to the slow cooker. Stir and let sit for just a few minutes. 

So good.

Here's how I made it tonight so that it's not "heart attack in a Crock Pot."

2 chicken breasts (still fed the whole family with just two breasts)

1 block of reduced fat cream cheese

1 can organic cream of mushroom soup

1/2 stick of butter

1 packet Italian dressing

1 box whole wheat spaghetti

You only need to cook it for about 4 hours since there's not so much chicken. I also cook a lot of broccoli to have as a side dish. The kids love this too.

I'd take a picture of it, but it's all gone!

School - Week 2

Week Two - Done. 

Whew. 

It was good, really. We are starting to think about getting used to the schedule. I thought we only needed two weeks to adjust, but as a sweet friend pointed out yesterday, a month is a little more of realistic goal for said adjustment. 

Okay. 

So in two more weeks, we'll be used to school. 

That's good to know. 

Laney is doing okay in school. This last week was crazy with her, though. I'm really starting to see that pre-teen girl start to sneak through. I've been praying over this for a while now, so I'm not too worried, but it is weird. 

Okay, fine,  I admit I cried when I uploaded this picture.

I'm good with her getting older. Really, I am. I look forward to having teenagers. (Don't snort or roll your eyes at me.) I like all these big kid stages. It's just hitting me that the hard days of them being little are really over. I'm weak with thankfulness that God carried me through all those hard days. Now I'm begging Him to help me be a good mom to a pre-teen girl. It's a huge responsibility, and I'm sensing that it's even more of a requirement that I stay right with Christ so that I can be the mom she needs me to be. It's so weird, that they seem to not age forever, and then all of a sudden.... BAM. They are in the next stage of life. Weird.

I so remember this stage of life, and I really want to guide her through it with her eyes on Christ. Lord, please help me do that. 

When thunderstorms thwarted our swimming plans, we met friends at the Flight Museum to end the week. It was free, and that was a great time to go! We had a great time, and hopefully learned a lot, since I'm counting it as a field trip!

Jude very literally said, "Man, I wish I had a bathtub big enough for THIS!" I love that kid.

This was special to me, since I blogged not too long ago about my great-grandmother going to work during WWII. It made me realize how completely easy our lives are in SO many ways. We are oh so weak compared to that generation. They were tough. They lived through so much.

They had some really cool exhibits.

This was my kids' favorite part of the day. *rolling eyes* They don't get lunches packed for them much, so I tried to make it all "field-tripy" and pack lunches for them to eat on the road. Zane made me add superhero stuff to his bag. That's a sideways bat on the left, Superman in the middle, and a spider web on the right. My artistic skills are lacking, let me tell you. :) Jude's are Lego's. That made him happy.

Family worship. This picture just made me happy. Zane is blurry because he's swaying to the music.

Speaking of Zane, prior to this year, he would have gotten the "#1 most difficult aspect to homeschooling" award. 

Oh the stories I could tell. 

I don't know if it's because he (finally) turned 4 or what it is, but this year, he has been amazing. He will sit in the floor and play with Lego's for the longest time while we are doing school. I don't think there's been one day when he played Wii, which honestly, is the only reason we survived last year. I'm so very thankful. God took care of us through all that hard, hard stuff, and now things are easier. I don't take that for granted either. I'll never forget how much God carried me through things where I literally thought, "I just can't do this." He is so faithful. 

This is a Leggo creation he made all by himself. He looks proud, doesn't he? Ha. That stinker. I adore him. 

So that was week two. God is good. :)