Friday, January 14, 2011

You Just Want Me to Be Great!

45 minutes until swim practice.

I can see it in her eyes. She doesn't want to go.

I am NOT in the mood to deal with the drama of the ever changing teenage attitude.

I have two choices. I can ignore it, or I can hit it head on knowing that I will walk into a hornet's nest if I do.

OH YES I DID!!!

After I successfully deliver, what I believe to be the single best lecture I have given to date, she responds with eyes rolled so far back in her head that I'm pretty sure she could see her brain stem. She delivers the next statement with such conviction and passion that I am sure she believes she has closed the case.

"This is all your fault! You just want me to be great!"

"Fine, call Kimsey and your dad and tell them you won't be at practice."

15 minutes later someone was swimming a 200 freestyle warmup.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

"Did You Hear That Maddy?"

Watching sports today is an art form-especially navigating the commericials.
SO, mom's of boys, listen up.

One Sunday afternoon, while doing laundry in the basement, I hear Hunter launch into hysterical laughter. Laughter reserved for embarrassment or bodily noises that boys find hilarious and will remain unmentioned.

I then hear him utter words that bring me to a cold sweat.
"Maddy, did you hear that?"

I cautiously climbed the basement stairs and stupidly asked, "Hear what, Hunter?"

"That commericial."

With fear and trembling I inquired, "What did it say?"

"Ask your doctor if you are healthy enough for sex." was the reply he gave.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Maddy's eyes pop out of her head. She looked at me in horror as if to say "YOU AREN'T GOING TO TELL HIM ARE YOU?!?"

I was NOT about to have THAT conversation-not without Paul. But, much to my chagrin, I also knew I could not let it go."Do you know what sex is Hunter?"

"I think so."

Gulp!

"What is it?"

Suffice it to say, he is not quite there, but his little gifted mind is definitely putting it together. I relayed the events to Paul when he returned home from his errand. He then proceeds to tell me the PROCEDURE for watching sporting events. Given that the target audience is middle aged men, he turns the channel during commercials.

Yeah, that would have been good to know.

Walking in the Light

Wow! This year year has been a whirlwind to say the least. I am shocked we are near the half way point in February. Part of me wants to dance. If the start of the year is any indication of how it is going to go, I am happy it's flying by. I will usher in 2009 with bells and whistles.

Yet, I am humbly reminded that every day is a gift, and I need to walk in the Light. I need to let Him guide me through each day. I need to listen to His still, quiet voice...Yeah I know for me that's a stretch. I'm never still long enough to catch my breath.

As I write this, our dear neighbor of ten years is fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer. I am awed by the faith she has in God. I am humbled by the fight she has within her to beat the demon we know as cancer. Hunter, in his six year old wisdom said to me, "Mommy, why are you sad? We are just going to pray and Jesus is going to make her better." The faith of a child and the living testimony of one who is dwelling in God's amazing grace reminds me to walk daily in the His unfailing light.