Mean People and Lessons Learned

So I found out today that someone who I thought was a friend was saying some ugly things about me the other day to some other people I know. I know, I know, your first reaction is "what is there bad to say about Aleesa?!" But, once you move past that...

Well, the word got back to me. Of course, my first reaction was get even. It was fleeting; it's just not my nature to get even. Then, my second quick thought was confrontation, but again, just not feeling right about that.

So, once I calmed down, and thought about things (and Greg said some very wise words), I decided to pray. To pray for my reaction, and for this "friend." And, it also made me seriously think about some of the words that have come out of my mouth. And, how hurtful some of them could be.

Note to self: when you speak about someone in public, make sure it's something you want them to know you said. That's a lesson learned. And, sometimes these lessons, they hurt.

That's enough of that.

Prayers of a Six Year Old

So, a while back (just before Christmas), we were having some very difficult mornings. Attitudes were not the best. And, that goes for all three people in the car every morning on the way to drop off Caleb. So, our (Caleb, Cameron, and Me) New Year's Resolution was to pray every morning on the way to school. I pray for both Caleb and Cameron, and usually Caleb wants to say a prayer for me. Cameron, occasionally, throws in some wise words Upward.

Well, my brother, Uncle Jared is in Day Two of the Bar Exam today. So, I was explaining all of this to Caleb as we got into the car. And, I was saying how I prayed all day yesterday for Uncle Jared, and that I was going to do that again today and tomorrow. So, Caleb asked if when I prayed on the way to school, would I pray for Uncle Jared too, so that he could hear my prayers? Of course!!

So, I prayed for Caleb, Cameron, and Uncle Jared. I lifted up each concern that was on my heart for each of them and gave them over to God. I used some five dollar vocabulary when expressing my desire for Jared's wisdom, anxiety, peace, etc. Then came Caleb's turn. And, I'm pretty sure he said it the best...

"Dear God, please give Uncle Jared all the smartness he needs."

Sometimes his complete honesty and earnest, heartfelt words speak volumes.

Valentine's Day and Big Red

On Friday, Cameron and I attended/helped with Caleb's Valentine's Day party at school. Cameron loves going to his Bubba's school, and Caleb loves showing him off there. Well, this year, the Kindergarten teachers got together and decided that all the kids really want to do is tear into their Valentine's Day cards. And, since the party is only the last hour of school, once they open their cards there really isn't much time to do much else. So, using the leftover money from the Christmas parties, said Kinder teachers decided to limit everything and only make floats, and in light of it being Valentine's Day and red and pink and all, they decided to do BIG RED floats.

Not everyone knows this, but there is very little as far as sights and smells that absolutely disgust me. But one that will bring me to my knees in nausea is the smell of Big Red. Now, I knew what was being served prior to going so I had myself a good anxiety attack on the way to the school repeating the mantra, "I will not throw up. I will not throw up." And, then I wisely got there first, so I could claim my stake to the station of scooping the ice cream.

With my wisely placed position and the Big Red bottles as far away as possible, we set about calling kids up to get their floats. I found that over half just wanted ice cream (go kids!) and the rest wisely walked on the other side of the room to get back to their chairs. Only once did we come really close, but I was able to cover my nose and cough it out. Not even kinda joking.

And, much to my delight, my kids opted for ice cream after taking a whiff of the drink and deciding they didn't care for it. Later, Caleb would try just a small drink of it, and again decide that he didn't like it. Have I mentioned how intelligent my kids are?!

And, down in the books is our first school Valentine's Day party.

On another note, my mother-in-law came to town this weekend with one purpose of giving Greg and I a break and her time to see the kids. She took them to several neat places on Saturday while Greg and I spent the day together. Then she baby-sat on Saturday night while Greg and I went out with some old friends of mine. It was one of my favorite Valentine's Day ever (i'm not usually a big fan of the day), and we had the best time that night. We laughed so hard - I'm sure all those sappy two-somes around the restaurant that were trying to gaze into each other's eyes and enjoy a romantic evening trully appreciated the raucous we caused.

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend and survived Cupid's Day.

A Prayer...

...from the three year old last night at dinner.

Normal version:
God is great,
God is good,
Let us thank Him
For our food.

Cameron's version:
Dog is great,
Thank you our friends, family
Keep us safe, helfy (healthy)
Dog is good
Thank You
Our food.
AMEN - Go God

Oh, try as he may, Caleb just couldn't get him to say it right.

a trip to the ER

I am going to try to post once a week. Maybe it's a resolution, but I really don't want to put that kind of pressure on myself...

Now, about our trip:

We had some friends over after school last week, and while the Moms sat on the back porch visiting, the boys all played in the backyard. After about an hour, our friends were getting ready to venture home. Well, as is common practice for my boys, they were deep into an adventure they had created in their amazing imaginations. Apparently, Caleb's "role" called for making booby traps. So, he picks up a log off the wood pile to (in his words) "throw a booby trap." Exit log Caleb's hands, enter log Cameron's head. Cameron starts crying, but cries like I cry when I stump my toe on one of the toys they've left in the middle of the floor. My friend and I calmly stand up from our seats, and I holler out "you're okay, rub it." **sidenote** I had not at all seen what had transpired, I was merely telling him what I tell them several times a day. So, then Cameron's friend says in his cute 2 1/2 yr old voice, "Mom, Cawub hurt Camen." My friend responds, "it's okay, don't tattle." At this point, I see Caleb's ashen white face, and Caleb's friend says, "Mom, there's A LOT of blood." Umm, this is where we both ran like we were qualifying for the Olympics. **another sidenote**Where Cameron was in the yard, you can not see him from the porch. I get to Cameron, where he is covered in blood (it's a head wound - they do that). I scoop him up and carry him inside. By the time I picked him up, he had already stopped crying, but was holding his mouth open and moaning. He was worried about his gum. I took his gum, pulled back his hair, and got a good look. In a matter of a minute, Motrin had been administered, Caleb had started crying and apologizing, and we were on our way to the ER. Cameron's telling Caleb, "it's okay, it was an accident." And, it really was.

Due to the clean cut laceration and the depth of it, the doctor was able to glue my little Humpty Dumpty back together again. Cameron was most concerned that they bring him apple juice. He never cried again. Not once. Not from the moment I secured him in my arms. Later, I thought about this, and I wondered did he stop crying because of shock, because it didn't hurt, or because he trusted me to take care of him. It wasn't his concern anymore. Made me think...what if when I called on God for help, and he secured me in his arms, I stopped crying for help, or stopped trying to take care of the hurt on my own. What a concept, COMPLETE trust. It's neither here nor there, just my thoughts.

So, back at home, Greg has now got Caleb who is working very quickly on a get well card. When we arrive home, Caleb greets his brother with a big hug and the card. Greg had heated up dinner and set it on the table (thank goodness for leftovers). Cameron quickly got in his seat and started digging in. Caleb took about two bites and put his head in his hands and started crying. He said he wasn't hungry. Greg pulled him on his lap, and he said he was just so sorry he hurt his brother. At this point we all turn to look at Cameron, who has spaghetti noodles hanging out of his mouth on both sides and is smiling. We reassured Caleb over and over that he was fine, Cameron told him he loved him and he was fine, but our sweet sensitive soul had a hard time.

It's been a week now, and Cameron is very proud to show off his owie and tell anyone that asks what happens, "it was an accident, but Caleb threw a log and hit me in the head." :-)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Welcome to Texas where one day it's 85 degrees and then that night it's snowing! Yep; yesterday my boys were running barefoot in shortsleeves and shorts outside, and this morning I bundled them all up in their PJ's and rain galoshes to stand in the small patch of snow in our front flower bed. Poor deprived Caleb was so impressed - he even said "this must be what it looks like at the North Pole!" (Did I mention this was a mere "patch" of snow (measuring about two feet in diameter with the grass still poking through?) So, as not to crush his sweet six year old heart, I said, "sweetheart, it just might look like this at the North Pole."

Okay, so maybe I'm not so good

So, evidently, I'm not so good with keeping up with the blog thing. Well, that's not exactly true. I'm very good at reading other's blogs. I'm just not very good at updating this one. I suppose I'm just not finding myself all that interesting.

On Sunday, I am running in a half-marathon. As of December of last year, I could not run one mile. Seriously. I don't know why in the world I decided I would do this, but there it is. Needless to say, I have been very anxious about it. I checked the weather, and it is supposed to be freezing that morning. I'm from Texas, always lived in Texas, and I've been training in Texas. South central Texas. Where it doesn't freeze. I don't own warm running clothes. (**sidenote: good excuse to go shopping)

So, know all of this, I have been praying. A lot. God has lead me to the most amazing verse in Psalms, and a pretty stinkin' awesome song too. My verse is "I lift my eyes unto the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

He will lead me. He will help me. He will run the race with me.