Count it all joy

The last two weeks have been nuts. It started with this weird virus that gave everyone (but me, thank you Jesus) high fevers and this weird rash. The fever made the kids throw up. Everywhere.

Just when we were out of the woods with that one Sarah came down with RSV. Then Hannah. Then Moses. And Miah. Then HG got an ear infection. Then I came down with the nasty. Aaaaaand to round things out nicely we just came back with more antibiotics and what not to treat Sarah's ear infection.

Have any of you ever gave three babies breathing treatments back to back? I'm wondering if I can OD on albuterol. The fumes, man.

Through it all I have earnestly been praying for healing. That God would drive the sickness from us (Ex 23:25). Apparently the answer was no. I asked that his grace would be sufficient (2 Cor 12:9), but honestly it didn't help my sleep deprived, sick self all that much. I found myself wallowing in a bit o' self pity and kiiiinda inwardly yelling "Why God, WHY?!" (please laugh with me here) as I cleaned up another round of vomit or got up for the twentieth time or held an inconsolable baby in my arms. Honestly, I was so confused. I was asking God to heal my littles and he just simply didn't. I was asking for wisdom as to how to comfort them and nothing came to me in a flash of light. Slowly over the last couple of weeks my heart has settled on this: in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33). We will. Furthermore, I'm supposed to consider it pure joy when I encounter trials of many kinds (James 1:2). How in the world can I develop the character God wants me to have if I balk at every trial, every test? God works in us, yes, but I have to cooperate. I want God to just zap me and make me patient, make me kind, make me super mom... but it doesn't necessarily work that way. I have to be more willing to do the hard thing and not get so upset that it's, um hard! Thank you Jesus, that you are more patient with me than I am with myself.

Grace Laced Mondays

Grace: God's unmerited favor. That's exactly what He showed me when He blessed me with these three rugrats.

Auntie Roo Roo

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Your Daily Hayes

Your Daily Hannah

Playing is hard, hard work.

Choosing

Today has been one of those days. One of those days when your precious little one hears your request and looks you straight in the face and disobeys... and the baby didn't sleep much last night.. and then there is this nagging cold.. and then I remember. Choose this day whom you will serve. Choose. For the last couple of weeks my littles and I have spent a few moments in the morning talking about choosing. "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 When days get to going the way this one has I find it is I that needs the reminder more than they do. I encourage Moses and Sarah to STOP before they act and think. Are we using our words, our hands, our actions to bless? Are we choosing to serve the Good Kingdom? Are our actions grace filled? I pray the answer is yes. By Gods grace he enables us, allows us, to choose His way. The best way. I will be joining Ruth over at gracelaced.com in "Grace Laced Mondays". I'm looking forward to being intentional about finding grace in the everyday. Won't you join us?

Your Daily Sarah