I might just be able to handle three...

Ordinarily, I despise going grocery shopping with the kids. They generally start fighting over some silly thing. Whining and complaining are far from absent on our trips as well.

Today, I absolutely had to go to the grocery store. We were running out of food. Rod has had to be creative with what he's taken to lunch this week. Milk and bread as well as other staple foods have been depleting quickly. All that being said, I put grocery shopping at the top of my priority list this morning.

The girls were so well behaved. I wasn’t amazed by any means although pleasantly surprised might be an appropriate description for my response. Jaycie sat appropriately in the front of the cart as Nike stepped onto the back, holding on and enjoying the ride. (This was the first time she attempted to experience grocery shopping this way.) I cannot think of one time I had to lecture them or give them "the look". For the first time, I think I might just be able to handle shopping with three kids in the future. I believe it might just be possible. The girls were even rewarded with Bubble Tape at the check-out line.

Feeling generous as I was, we headed to McDonald’s to take home some lunch. As I was praising the girls on their good behavior, Nikelle spoke up. “We’re probably the best kids you’ve ever had."

I think that just might be true.

The Critters in our Yard

There are few things I find more disgusting than an opposum. I don't know why, I just do.

While vacuuming the family room, I looked out the back window to see a huge one. "Nike, look out the back window. There's a huge possum out there. It's really gross." "I don't want to," was the response I received. Not really sure why the enticing words I spoke wouldn't have encouraged my little princess to go running to the window as I look back on it now.

I assured the dog that she was not going to be let outside to play at the moment and went to vacuum again. I heard a little voice inform me, "Besides Mom, they're nocturnal. It wouldn't be outside right now." Funny. That didn't even come to my mind until the educational reminder came from my Kindergartener.

It seems like our yard is a place for all the animals to come these days. Skunks come for the grubs. The possum came for whatever reason it decided to. The birds like the bushes as well as the water from our sump pump. And after reading Dennis' blog lately, I've figured out why the squirrels keep coming back as well.

I've been shaking my head over why the dumb animals keep coming to our yard when Pup has actually killed a couple of them. Now I know that these little rodents are being delievered from Channahon with free transportation from my pastor. Can I just ask, Dennis, if you don't want them, what in the world makes you think we do? Honestly, are you bringing other critters to Joliet as well or is it just the privileged squirrels? Here's a big thank you from our dog.

As I conclude this post, our disgusting gray friend just made his trip back through our yard once again. Pup's whining alerted me to it. Maybe our yard is just a convenient way for the animals to travel after safely crossing Larkin.

Decluttering

For the past year, I've pretty much let the house go. I have clutter everywhere. Generally, I pride myself in being pretty organized. Recently, I find myself overwhelmed and unable to feel a sense of accomplishment with anything I do. This is what I've been attempting to work on lately. Still, there is always something requiring my time that keeps me from cleaning up the stacks.

This past weekend we didn't have the kids but I was hosting Easter. With that behind us, now would seem like an ideal time to get rid of some of the clutter. This week, however, I'm attempting to get on board the potty training wagon. It would be good if Jaycie was fully potty trained by the time this third child joins the family.

Just one more reason why blogging is not taking a priority in my life. It's time to unclutter my house, my mind and my heart. I realize this will be a long process. And yet, I know it will be well worth it in the end.

Losing my mind

I've been losing my mind for quite some time now. Numerous actions continue to confirm this.

The other day I stood with the refrigerator door open. I was just staring, attempting to figure out what I opened the door for. That's when I remembered... I needed pot holders! I closed the door to the fridge and opened the cabinet just shaking my head.

I do these types of things more and more all the time. Can I just blame it on the fact that I'm preparing for a third child?

Internal Struggles

One of my internal struggles lately has been with facing the fact that my father-in-law is battling cancer. I am having a difficult time sorting out my emotions with all of this. Although this is not new information, it seems as though his condition has changed.

Dad Carlson has been undergoing kidney dialyisis treatments for at least a month now. His entire diet is altered and he is no longer working. He had a lump the size of a small orange removed from under his armpit during the end of February. The concern is as to whether his chronic (slow-growing) leukemia has now become accute.

We don't have answers from anyone right now. It's frustrating to Rod and I. We don't understand why test results take so long. He had a bone marrow test before the dialysis even began and we have yet to hear those results exactly. We believe he is meeting with doctors tomorrow to hear some results from some tests but don't know much. It is all very unsettling.

The most disturbing part of all of this for me that I identified today is that I don't know how to pray. Do I pray for God to heal him? It seems obvious that I should. My heart is so confused. I KNOW God works miracles and that includes that he can heal my father-in-law. Still, I am hesitant to pray for my desires. Maybe I just don't want to be let down again.

At this point, I'm telling God that I don't know what I should pray. I want to pray for his physical healing. I want to pray for eternal peace and security. I want to pray for so many aspects. Yet prayer has become a struggle for me. I'm seeking to know God more and remember how constant He remains even as we face the hard times.

"For I am the LORD, I change not" - Malachi 3:6