The Sheep Was Driving Me NUTS!!!

So I had this meeting the other day. Had 3 of the 5 kids with me and they were SO good! They played with all the little toys and had a wonderful time with the other kids that were all there.

So there I was talking to a lady. She was asking me questions and I was trying my hardest to answer, but at the same time I was so distracted. There was this puzzle sitting on the table right next to me. It was one of those wooden puzzles and it was animals. All the animals were nicely put into their place, but the sheep was not in at all. It was sitting kiddy wampus on top of it's space where it should have been nicely put! When I first sat there I tried to figure out why just the sheep wasn't put away. I figured the kids just got tired of the puzzle or maybe there was just something harder about the sheep and the kid gave up! But by end of this bugging me I was sure that the kid who had been working on it had it out for me. He just wanted to leave that sheep like that just to drive me nuts.

I was working so hard at trying not to focus on this crooked sheep that all I could think about was the sheep! How does that work? I didn't want to move it cause I didn't want to look like I was crazy. So instead for the longest time I sat there unable to answer the questions very well or hold much of a conversation cause I was so focused on this sheep and focused on the fact that I didn't want to move it.

Well I ended up breaking. This sheep was just to much for me. The lady has asked me another question and I asked her to hold on for a second. Then I reached over to the puzzle and slightly moved the sheep so it would slip into place. Ahhh. That felt so good. And really I think waiting so long and trying my hardest NOT to move it made me look crazier than if I would have just moved it. So...moral of my story...If that sheep is bothering just move it!

Thankful...

My verse today is Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

The Lord has made this clear to me the last couple of days. While I still am not feeling like my good old happy self I am thankful for people who are making it easier for me.

Thankful for my husband who spent all night feeding and rocking the baby when she just didn't want to go to sleep.

Thankful for our neighbor in the "big brown house" who had words of understanding for me and allowed the two oldest to come over for a fun morning! This gave me a much needed break and I was able to get a few things done.

Thankful for my parents who sat with three girls during church today and took one out after church. She is still out with them having a blast I am sure!

Thankful for my friends at church who care enough just to ask how I am doing. I am blessed.

So today I am thankful for all the people God has put in my life.

Book Review: Unleased

Unleashed

Release the Untamed Faith Within

By

Erwin McManus

I was so excited to get this book from Thomas Nelson to review. The description of the book made me think a bit of "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I had just finished that book and was ready to take on another book like it!

Book Description

Unleashed gives a call to escape a tame Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians—just as Christ intended.

Author Erwin McManus wasn’t raised in a Christian home, so when he came to Christ as a college student, he didn’t know the rules of the "religious club." He didn’t do well in Shakespeare courses, so he didn’t really understand the KJV Bible he was given either. But he did understand that prayer was a conversation, and he learned to talk to God and wait for answers. Erwin’s way was passionate and rough around the edges—a sincere, barbaric journey to Christ.

Barbaric Christians see Jesus differently than civilized Christians. They see disciples differently, and they see Christ’s mission differently. Unleashed is a call to escape "civilized" Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians—just as Christ intended.

My Review
I read a few reviews that people had given this book. I read one that said the book was slow and boring! WOW! Really? To me the only way you might find this book boring is if you are happy where you are in your faith. Maybe I am wrong and maybe the book is just made for different people and not everyone is going to like it. Me...I LOVED IT!

I found the book challenging. Made me look at how I treat my faith in Jesus. Is it just something I do on Sundays? Am I just doing a few good deeds to make myself feel better and think that, that's all I have to do to follow Jesus? Really in reality following Christ is being unacceptable to the world. Something that I have been thinking about for quite sometime now.

One thing that really caught my attention was his referring to Braveheart. I love movies and I love when an author does a great job of describing someone from a movie and using them as an example. He likens being a barbarian Christian to the character Stephen in Braveheart. While I think there are a few things about that character that I don't think really fit I see his point. This man talks to God all the time and not always quietly. He has no shame in being different than everyone else.

One thing I did find a bit frustrating about this book was the over use of the word barbarian. Now if he had not changed the title of the book, it use to be titled "The Barbarian Way", then it wouldn't have bothered me so much. I think since he renamed the book he should have gone through and edited out or changed a few of the words. But really it was easy to get past...and see that it was a great book!

So anyone looking for a challange??? Got a great book for that!

Day Goes From crazy crazy to CRAZY CRAZY!

So my day got very interesting. It started off pretty nice with my husband taking care of the girls. He helped me get them dressed and we were going to be off to the Art Center for a nice day of being creative. It's pretty wet outside so I appreciate that we have a few things indoors that are free for the kids to do.

So what could go wrong on a great day like this? Well it all started right before we left. I was getting myself ready and finishing my hair brushing my teeth. You know all that great stuff. So I went to put the tooth paste back and what happens? The mirror falls off the medicine cabinet and breaks. Really??? Only this could happen to me!

Then we get to the Art Center. And I love it because no one else is there. I normally don't mind if others are there...but today I just was not in the mood to deal with others. Well this lovely couple came in with two little girls. The Inquisitor just wanted to play with the girls. But I could tell the parents weren't all that excited about it. Which got me a little frustrated. They went on the other side of the room to play with their girls and started "whispering" to each other quite loudly. "Are those all hers?" "If they are she needs to stop having kids!" Really??? I wonder why people care so much...

So that got me in a bad mood and I quickly rounded up the girls and we left. Hopeful to find some kinder people. I needed to stop at Walmart to pick up a few things...BIG mistake. I have to tell you...my girls did amazing! Most people would not want to go with 5 kids to Walmart, but sometimes you don't have a choice. The kids can make it better or worse and my girls made it a bit better this time because they were so good! But it was so crowded. Normally a crowd would not bother me. I love crowds of people...take me to a concert and I am in the crowd crammed in. Send me to a country in Asia and I love to get on the buses! But today Walmart bothered me. I can't count the number of times people almost ran into my cart or my girls. So we were in and out pretty fast.

Then when we got home it was like everything was bothering me. I think my nerves were just on edge and nothing was ok with me anymore. The girls are dealing with their emotional mom pretty well. I have been getting lots of hugs and kisses today and The Inquisitor has been very helpful with getting everyone to do quiet play. Not something that happens around here very often. So on the verge of tears since early this morning...I think I am feeling better. I have a wonderful homemade pasta dish in the oven and the smell of it is making me feel cozy. Also having a cup of coffee! :)

I know to some of you it may seem silly of me to write my weird day down. To others it may not seem like a big deal. But really this is helping me process my thoughts on how I am feeling. Also it's helping me look back and realize that it really wasn't a horrible day.

Proverbs 3:5

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

Oh my Blogger Friends How I Love You!

It's true....I do love you! It's like on a day when nothing seems to be going right people who read my blog...both those I know and don't know...can give such encouraging words. You guys are a blessing to me. Not that I feel 100% better, but you guys sure can put a smile on my face!

The Baby seems to be doing well. I have been doing a mixture of nursing and bottle feeding. She doesn't seem to care either way. Today and yesterday she has been giving me the cutest smiles and I just love it!

The rest of the girls are still adjusting a bit. Not that they really understand what is going on, but I see it. All their personalities are on hyperactive mode! So I have been going crazy with extra everyone here.

My husband has been doing a great job of helping me out. He does a ton for me and I appreciate it so much. Like right now he's getting the two oldest to clean up their room and playing games with the other two while the baby is sleeping to give me some time. Funny that I am sitting and writing a blog during my free time. But...writing helps me. Right now my husband really should be sleeping. He works nights and never gets enough sleep. I am blessed with a wonderful husband.

I look at my wonderful family and I think...WOW! I have so much more than I could have ever asked for. I have great daughters and an awesome husband. Sometimes I wonder why I am so lucky to be so blessed.

Is it THAT Difficult?

That's what I have been asking myself these past two weeks. I can really describe exactly what I am feeling. But my emotions are on an extreme path right now. I know that it's pretty normal after you have a baby, but this is a bit more than normal. I am happy one moment, crying the next and then angry minutes after that. The only other time I remember feeling like this was after our oldest was born. But the circumstances seemed different then. She was in the NICU and sick. I had the hardest time nursing her once she was actually able to eat. At 2 weeks old she went back into the hospital. Also she was my first baby and I had no clue what I was doing.

So I sit here and think this time. Is it really this difficult? This is your 5th child you shouldn't be feeling like this. This should be much easier than the times before. There is nothing I can pin point that is going wrong. It's just my emotions are all out of whack!

So even though nursing is going well I gave my tiny baby her first bottle today. It's hard for me to admit this. There is guilt that seems to go along with this. Why feel guilty? Well because everything that is around me tells me that giving my baby a bottle is cheating her of the special bond she gets with me when she nurses. It tells me that I am giving her second best. So I have come to this place where I feel I need to start this. Part of my hormones being crazy is just having a baby, but also nursing doesn't help your hormones stabilize at all.

Now I have come to this place. Do I do what's best for one child while the others deal with my emotional behavior? I need to do what's best for my whole family. I need to do what's best for all of us in the long run and right now if that means giving my baby a bottle then that's what I need to do. I can't know for sure that this is what will do it. And maybe I will still feel like I am feeling, but it's a step to see. And if this isn't it then I will have to continue to pray about what to do.

What's in a name?

Many people have been asking about our newest little girl's name. We are known for being creative, but this seems to be a bit more than anyone expected from us. We had a name picked out, but something ruined it all for me!

Our pastor got up and talked about the importance of prayer. This is something that my husband in I stress in our lives and our children's lives. We always let them know that things can be taken away from us. Our home, our churches, our Bibles and so much more. But one thing that they can't take from us is prayer. They can try to regulate it, but it's not something that can be done. It's our connection with God...it's how we communicate with Him how we talk to Him. So here I am listening to this sermon about prayer and our pastor shares this verse.

Daniel 2:16-18

So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.

Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

I heard the name and something just clicked in my head. That's her name. Yes technically it is a boys name, but when I found there was a feminine spelling of it....I just knew it was right. Something I want for my children is to have a strong emphasis on prayer in their lives. What a great person to name my daughter after...one of the people Daniel went to asking for prayer. And because of their prayers God helped Daniel and spared their lives.

I also love another verse about Azariah...

Daniel 1:18-20

Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and out of them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s personal service. As for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.

The king found them 10 times better than the magicians and conjurers! They stood out and I believe this is because they had God on their sides. They were loyal to God and they trusted in God and He was on their side! I also love the story about them being thrown in the fire when they wouldn't bow to the king. But my favorite part is not when God saved them from the fire...that's a great part...so what is it that I like so much? That when they were confronted they made it clear. God can save us. He can save us from your hand. But they knew that He may not save them. But they wanted to make it clear either way that they would never serve or bow down to the kings god's. I love that!

So there is the story behind her name. Azariya means "Whom the Lord saved". Seems like the more children we have each of their names has a longer story to go with it! But that's ok...I enjoy telling the stories. I just hope you enjoy hearing them!