Dear God,

Just out of curiosity, what criteria do You look for in a mother?

I only ask because I think you have made a mistake with me. From the moment each of my children were first placed in my arms, I was given a glimpse of the huge responsibility that I would carry. Each passing year has been met with great joys and new trials as we wade through the ever changing waters of parenthood.

Sometimes the water clears, the children behave, they do their chores without whining and go about their day without pestering each other. Other times, the water becomes murky. They throw a tantrum in the store, fight all day and the house becomes a destruction zone...And this Mom gets tired.

Today I realized that this job is too great, these children are too precious, and my tongue is too sharp. Today I messed up. With tears in my eyes, I asked my kids to forgive me for my harsh words. And as I stared through the crocodile tears welled up in their eyes, I was brought back to the moment when they were first placed in my arms and I finally understood the responsibility that I would carry. The responsibility to guide them through life and teach them about things like love, character, integrity and, well...forgiveness.

Adam took the boys backpacking this weekend and left Naomi and I to bask in quiet solitude.

Do you know what it's like to have 2 boys who have done nothing but wrestle, fight, whine, tackle, pound, hammer, wrestle, pester, laugh, yell, slop, drop, wrestle - suddenly leave the house for over 48 hours? I'm in heaven, minus the pearly gates and streets of gold, which, let's be honest, in this summer time heat would only serve to burn my feet.

I say all of this because, in the last 48 hours, the time that I would normally have spent making snacks, breaking up fights, ripping my hair out and making more snacks, has been spent, among other things, staring at a wall. But who can blame me? It's my form of detoxification, and it needed to be done before I could fully enjoy my weekend without the two boys who have a tendency to suck every last bit of energy from my body.

Don't get me wrong. I love them. I just like them better when I don't have to hear their background noise all day long. Amen.

In case you were wondering, I did manage to pull my eyes off the wall and get a few things done around the house. Now, normally I would have pooh-poohed the idea of cleaning my house when given the rare opportunity to do things like sit and read a book, but the truth is, the lure of cleaning my house and it staying clean for 2 days was too appealing for this mother to pass up.

I mopped the floors on Friday, and they have yet to be christened by apple juice or some other impossibly sticky substance. The longest running record for clean floors in my house was passed 46 hours ago. Amazing!

The boys bathroom is spotlessly clean. There are no pee stains anywhere. And the toothpaste is exactly where it should be...still in the tube. Hallelujah!

While Adam spent 48 hours with 2 boys who did nothing but hike, wrestle, fish, fight, whine, tackle, pound, hammer, wrestle, pester, laugh, yell, slop, drop, wrestle and throw rocks, I relaxed, watched movies, visited Starbucks, read books and sipped iced tea.

Oh, I should also mention that I ate too many desserts and not enough veggies.

Don't judge me.

From the ninth cloud,
Anna

Dear Lord, Thank you for such a beauti...

What on earth is that smell?

I'll be right back, Lord. I just need to figure out where that smell is coming from.

Sorry it took me so long. Lord. But as I was searching for the source of that smell, it occurred to me that I left a load of laundry in the washing machine last night, so I just threw it in the dryer really quickly.

Now where were we?

Oh, it doesn't matter anyway, I'll just start over.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for such a beautiful day, and for the chance to enjoy this quiet time with you before the kids wak...

What are you doing out of bed this early?

No, I'm not going to make you breakfast yet. It's 6:00am.

No, it is detrimental to my health to wrestle at such an early hour. Either sit quietly on the couch or go back to bed, but do not talk to me while I am conversing with God.

Okay, let's try this again.

Dear Jesus. Thank you for blessing me with such lovely...er, persistent childr...

I said be quiet!

No, I will not make you a ham sandwich. Who eats a ham sandwich for breakfast anyway?

No, I don't want to look at the scab on your leg. It's gross.

I said be quiet! Don't you understand that my praying to God to help me be a better person directly affects you?!?

Why are you bleeding?

No, you aren't suppose to pull off your scabs. Throw it in the garbage and grab a band-aid.

They are in the middle drawer in the bathroom.

I said the middle drawer!

Don't slam the drawer, your going to wake up your brother and sister!

Dear God. Please help me.

Amen.

We sat in church that Sunday morning, watching and waiting, as hands stretched out to pass along the tithe basket. As the basket slowly made its way closer to where we sat, my attention was directed toward the couple who arrived a little late, sitting just to our left.

We know them. We have been friends for quite awhile now. We know how they have struggled at times to pay their bills, keep their children clothed, and put food on the table. We know how each passing week brings with it a bit of anxiety as they wonder how they will come up with the money to fill their fridge with enough food to get them through another week.

We sat in church that Sunday, while the tithe basket - being dedicated to several families who had recently lost everything - started making its way down our row, when my attention was drawn to the husband as he said to his wife,"Do we have any more to give?" As she looked through her purse, she pulled out a $20 bill, and said, "This is all we have left, and I was going to use it for groceries." I thought to myself that she no doubt must be wondering where the grocery money would come from after giving it away to other families whose needs were greater than their own.

We know their hearts. They have always been this way. Giving from what little they have. But we also know something else. Something they can't possibly fathom as they give away the last of their money.

A few days before this happened, we received a phone call from someone who said that God continued to bring this family to mind, and that they would like to give them a gift. In an effort to remain anonymous though, they asked if we would deliver this gift to our friends.

We sat in church that Sunday, listening to their conversation, knowing their struggles, watching them place the last of their money in the tithe basket, and knowing that tucked away in my purse sat a little white envelope with a large amount of money set aside just for them.

It occurred to me that God had given me the opportunity to see the story from His viewpoint as I sat back and watched as...

One family gave from their abundance and blessed another family who, in their obedience, gave from their poverty.

I can't help but be thankful that we serve a God who, regardless of our circumstances, is active and involved in the lives of each one of His children.