Testosterone

Photo by Jens Moser on Unsplash

Why does every nerf battle end in WW3 in my living room?

Testosterone.

Why is EVERYTHING a competition (eating, sleeping, walking, getting dressed, washing dishes....)?

Testosterone.

Why can't they find that item on the floor 2 cm from their toes?

Testosterone?

Why are bodily functions so funny?

Testosterone.

Why do they always have to go UP the slide? Climb the top of the swingset? Jump from the tallest tree?

Testosterone.

Why do I have a cabinet full of empty TP rolls?

Testosterone?

Why are throwing rocks off a cliff so entertaining?

Testosterone.

Why is blowing anything up so enthralling?

Testosterone.

Why do they always have holes in the knees of their pants and their brand new tennis shoes?

Testosterone.

Why are they so physical?

Testosterone.

Why do they wrestle and think it is fun?

Testosterone.

Why is EVERYTHING a weapon (pencils, lanyards, playdoh, sticks, food....)?

Testosterone.

Why do they literally think so differently than me?

Testosterone.

Why are they so territorial about everything (their comic books, their seat, their food, the air around them...)?

Testosterone.

Why are they so fierce and yet can be so tender?

Testosterone.

Why do they love to conquer?

Testosterone.

Why do they take so many risks?

Testosterone.

Why do they eat 5 tacos for dinner and then ask for a bowl of cereal?

Testosterone.

Why do they constantly want to know what is for dinner (even as they eat breakfast)?

Testosterone.

Why do they want to grow up to be just like their amazing Dad?

Testosterone.

Why are they almost as tall as me already?

Testosterone.

Why am I raising them to leave me for another woman?

Testosterone.

Why am I going to have three more strong men to protect me someday?

Testosterone.

Why do I love raising boys?

Testosterone.

Why I Really Run

This morning I ran on our "new to us" fancy treadmill for the first time. We were very blessed to store this beauty temporarily for some great friends. It comes in handy for days when I can't run outside. I plugged in my podcast and started jogging. It wasn't long before I had been visited FOUR times by two little boys, who desperately wanted a turn. One of those times was to inform me that a toilet was plugged. It was then that I remembered why I run. 

I don't run because I love sucking air, my side cramping and sweat dripping down my shirt. It isn't because I love having my legs feel so tired for the next two days that I can barely walk upstairs to bed at night. And it definitely isn't because I'm a naturally born runner.

I run for three reasons.

 1) I have a serious and steady relationship with dark chocolate. And an occasional flirtation with    

      Boba.

 2) I get to be ALONE

      - to think

      - to pray

      - to listen to an entire podcast without someone telling me the toilet is overflowing

3) I love to be outside and CO weather, though schizophrentic at times, is much more conducive to this in January than South Dakota. 

Running (READ: slowly jogging down steep hills and panting up them) helps me be a better mom. That, and a lot of dark chocolate...

Now to tackle that toilet go out for burgers...and possibly put a lock on the basement door before tomorrow's run. :)

A Memorial for Perry the African Frog

This summer we took a long trip back to the midwest while a young couple stayed in our home. When we returned our aquatic frog (which I was the ONLY mom of 20 others dumb enough to say "yes" to taking home after their school science lesson on tadpoles was concluded 2 years ago) was missing. We concluded he had died and since there were no remains the aquatic snail must have ate him.

My middle son was VERY upset. Even though he hardly remembered to feed Perry, and couldn't ever play with him, this was a devasting turn of events. So my oldest who is big on empathy quickly organized a memorial service for the frog. The headstone was lovingly inscribed with Perry's vital information should anyone centuries from now look under our lilac bush and wonder what frog was once buried there.

The order of events I was given went like this:

After I played a solemn tune on my guitar, Thing 1 gave a speech:

And an acrostic poem was shared by Thing 2:

And then the empty casket burial was held under the lilac bush. My husband had to direct events because I was having serious problems keeping in my laughter tears. Finally, Thing 3 was assigned these announcements:

And we all shuffled inside for snacks and a prayer. 

And that was that. Or so we thought. Two weeks later Thing 3 brought me a rubber frog he found under the sectional sofa. It was only after I was holding it in my BARE HANDS I realized it was Perry's mummified remains.

There were more tears and a second burial. We concluded he died happy on one last great adventure from the second story down to the main level. And now my middle son has replaced this pet with two furry rodents that can live outside the water...rats! Yes, rats. I DON'T believe it either, but there it is. I seriously could not dream up this life but here I am in the midst of it just trying to love my way through it the best I can. And embracing every adventure my Things bring my way...

Important Notes for a 7 year old

Thing 3 posted these by his bed last night so he doesn't forget. I am posting them here so I don't forget these precious years either. Love this kid! 

Interpretation: American Ninja Warriors

And note 2: wiggle your tooth 50 x

He didn't want to forget his favorite show starts tonight! And I want him to remember to wiggle his tooth! It's his first loose tooth btw and yes I feel sentimental about our last first loose tooth. 

Baptism

On October 26th Thing 2 was baptized by his Dad.  What a special day for our whole family and a great memory for the two of them.

T2 chose 2 Corinthians 5:17 to be read at his baptism.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  the old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
We know this is one step in T2's journey. There will be times when he feels close to God and times when he feels distant.  I pray he always remembers though that no matter how he feels, God is always near to him. This day marks an important declaration on his journey of becoming that new creation. We are proud of you, son!

Why I Can't Have a Fish on my Van (How I Lost my "Witness" at the Grocery Store)

Three different stores with three boys and a dog all in one morning...what was I thinking???

 At each stop the dog jumped out of the van and tried to get hit by a car.  Our final stop turned into the typical longer-than-expected trip to get groceries. Halfway through grabbing "just a few things" we had to make an emergency stop at the bathroom (why do they always wait until we are at the opposite end of the bathrooms to have to go RIGHT NOW?). Groceries bought and two penny pony rides later, we rush back out to the van where I hoped the dog hadn't done anything smelly.

As I lift the 100 lb cooler bag of groceries out of the cart the dog makes a break for it.  I drag the bag toward the dog and grab her by the collar with my free hand.  At THIS EXACT MOMENT (I'm about to lose my witness here...) a grumpy old man pulls up and stops behind my van.  He angrily lectures me on my bad parking skills (I readily admit I'm a terrible parker) informing me he could barely get out of his space next to mine.  I think to myself at this moment...are you kidding me? Can you see what I'm managing right now? Somewhat politely I say, "I'm sorry sir but I have other ISSUES to deal with right now."

I turn away and wrestle the dog with one hand back into the van. When I drag my 1000 lb grocery bag back to the van the grumpy old man is STILL parked there glaring at me.  My witness slips a bit more and I say, "What do you want me to do?" (clearly he was able to get out of his spot without incident).  He says something else I can't remember to which I reply, "Well I'll go to parking school, okay?!" He snaps, "Good, you should." I yell, "Great, you can pay for it!" He finally departs and I call him a jerk under my breath right in front of my kids.

Nice. What happened to loving my neighbor? I even got up early and had a quiet time this morning! As I drive home I think to myself, This is why I can never put one of those fish on my van. 

But here is the amazing thing that I'm still trying to get my head around.  Something that I think is so very important for all of us who claim to love God to really grasp. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  Jesus took on all my sin and in exchange He credited His righteousness to me. God doesn't look down on me in that parking lot frowning in disgust that I STILL don't get it right.  He looks down to see Christ's righteousness and my mistakes already paid for on the cross.  

It's that perfect love of the Father that motivates to do better next time, not out of guilt, only out of pleasure and delight in His perfect acceptance of me, just as I am. And if I ever do make it to "parking school" maybe I can finally put that fish on my bumper...or, maybe not! 

I Spy

Can you spy the lego in this picture? I did around 6:30 this morning while gulping down my first cup of coffee. I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming. 

Can you spy the forbidden "chew toy"?Zoeghnut (you know, our girl that sleeps curled up like a doughnut) walked into the kitchen and deposited Thing 2s tennis shoe at my feet right after I spied the lego and took another long drink of coffee. I'm pretty sure I finally got T2 to put them AWAY and now I've got another redistributing them. PERFECT. 

 Can you spy my heart? It's all over that little man; God has designed it that way.

I LOVE Friday mornings bc they are the only time that is just us two. Coffee, time with a boy and jigsaw puzzles...can you spy my contentment? :)

What about you? What do you spy lately that makes you smile?

Intentional Living - Post Preschoolers

         Ten years ago after the arrival of my first son this season seemed so far off I couldn’t even   Now that I’ve sent my youngest off to K the quiet house screams at me, “This day has arrived!” The ObGyn tells you all about navigating postpartum, but I've yet to come across a manual on post-preschoolers.

imagine it.
 It has finally happened.

 So now what?          

           

            Prompted by Jean Flemming’s, Pursue the IntentionalLife, I ask myself a lot of soul searching questions.  Where should my contribution of these few hours go?  What will make me want to spring out of bed in the morning? What choices made today will help me live well (and end well) spiritually?

            This is a critical juncture.  I’m setting the pace and tone for the rest of my life.  My time apart from my kids is only going to increase as the months and years roll by.  Jean says, “Spring is the best time for planting if I want a good harvest in the fall.  Vision, values, character and disciplines developed in the springtime of life serve even into winter.  Whatever the age, it is not too soon to prepare for the rest of life.” (p.32).

            The years of parenting preschoolers has passed; it’s time to plant in new “fields” I couldn’t go to with little ones. Just like my children, I need to continue to grow and move on to the next thing….at least for a few hours…until my little treasures come back to my nest. Then it’s time to really make those hours with them count.

           

What about you? What life changes are you facing? I’d love to hear what has helped you successfully navigate a new role, season, etc.

Boys!

I don't even bother to ask "why?" anymore. I just mentally calculate how much we have left in our HSA and don't say a word.