Lost it

Yeah. What Cole looks like. That was me yesterday. The other two look like they are holding back grins. I certainly didn't give off that vibe while I was YELLING and acting like an idiot toward these three beauties.


Each day over Spring Break this week I have given them a task to complete together. On Monday they did it. On Tuesday they didn't get very far because it was very windy and part of the task was outside. I gave them a pass and said they could finish on Wednesday. Yesterday they did not finish the task from Tuesday and they didn't even remember Wednesday's assignment,. And they left stuff all over the floor of the family room again.On the way home after baseball practice and dinner I told them that I expected them to finish the tasks I had given them before they went to bed.

We got home. Then the complaints started.

And I lost it.

Even as I was in the middle of completely overreacting I knew it was going to cost me. It's not like this is my first rodeo. It goes like this: 1) Children do something that disappoints 2)I express my disapproval with conviction 3) Children feel guilt. Often they weep. 4) I feel like a turd and deal with reciprocal guilt for days.

So today's task? To forgive Mom. I'm sure this one they have already completed. Their hearts are so open and pure toward me. I am so undeserving.

Why is it hardest to extend (and receive) forgiveness to yourself?

So what do I do NOW?

For three years I have been a part of the Children's Worship program at Littleton. At some nebulous point I went from team member to team leader. It became "mine" simply because I was willing. My boys needed a place to belong and be excited about coming to church. So I stepped up. It evolved over time, changing with each new "Children's" Minister we had. It didn't suit all children and it didn't suit all parents, but it was the very best we could make it. It served a small/short congregation of 60 each week. We had a strong, dedicated team. It used all my skills. By the end I thought it was excellent.

Three years, to the day.

It's not mine anymore. We hired a Children's Minister and quite suddenly I am relieved of all my duties. As is appropriate, she is building her program as she wants it. I believe she will do a good job, even though it is different than what I would do.

So what am I supposed to do now? When the thing you were doing, the thing you felt called to do is no longer needed, what do you do next? How do you re-find purpose? I am a do-er by nature and abruptly I find myself with nothing to do. Lord, I am listening. What am I to do next?

Those kids that always acted up and gave me trouble?

I miss them. A lot.

A Long Time Coming

When my baby brother (six years younger than me) was in college, he went on a spring break mission trip to Honduras. He never talked about it to me in detail, but it changed him. Both he and his girlfriend came back with a heart for children in impoverished nations. God gave them a signpost.

They were just kids themselves, not out of college, but they already had a clear view where their lives were going. They were following God's signpost. Toward international adoption.

Fast forward about decade. They have two great sons already. Their life is busy. But their life is not yet complete. They are missing a daughter they have never met. In fact, she hasn't even been born yet. Her birth mom isn't even pregnant. They thought she was coming from Haiti, but an adoption policy change made them ineligible after the mountain of paperwork was done. Over a full year from the time they started. After all the t's had been crossed and the i's dotted Haiti said "NO". What a harsh word.

But baby brother and sister-in-law were not to be deterred, just re-directed. Ethiopia it is. And Ethiopia will give them a happy ending. It's been a year and a half since Haiti said "no", but now they are so very, very close. She is a little small, but so happy. She better get used to smiling and waving at the camera. Aunt Kendra has a camera, and she knows how to use it! :)

Right now they are on the plane for the first of two trips. This trip makes it official, next trip she can come home. Even as I write and pray, they are in motion. If you ask them about their motivation to adopt their reasoning will be something along the lines of, "How could we NOT?"

They are changing the world.

With her one little life.

Because they have been blessed beyond measure and they know it.

If you think you haven't been blessed beyond measure, think again. When you see the signpost God sets before you, follow it. When you are called, answer. When you are questioned by those who do not understand, answer as my brother would:

"How could we NOT?"

Birthday season

All the boys were born between February 5th and April 23, so this time of year marks the beginning of birthday season at the Barton house!

And while we LOVE birthdays (at least the young peeps do), I'm starting to wish they could just stay small. I know, I know, experienced parents say it just gets better, but I don't want them to start being interested in girls and school dances. Right now I am still their best girl.

I remember turning 8. We had just moved to Jackson, MI and I was in a new school only a couple days before my birthday. My poor mom, she was busy trying to get her house unpacked and functional, and yet I expected her to bring a snack to school. She brought boxes of raisins. Somehow I managed to make friends there anyway. :)

So exactly how did I manage to go from being eight, to my middle son being eight? Its so bewildering to ponder that I will be forty this year and those gray hairs are only going to multiply. I don't feel so old (yet). But considering that Tyler will be in middle school this fall, I guess I must be old!

I guess the thing for me to dwell on is that I need to live NOW. In this moment, when I am not yet old and I am still my boy's best girl. I am one to anticipate and prepare for what is next, but in this instance I need to

JUST BE

and not let any day slip by unnoticed.

Resolve to Progress

Sure it's the end of January instead of the beginning. So what? The DAY is new, just like it is every morning. What do you resolve today?

I resolve to make progress.

On what, you ask? Nothing earth-shattering. Just progress. Leaving a room cleaner than it was when I entered it. Not putting off that task I don't enjoy until tomorrow. Small extra payments toward that annoying loan. Daily steps forward in my remodeling job. Progress.

Perhaps in the process someone close to me (small people?) will understand that progress is important and resolve to the same.

But I'm going to progress regardless.

Ghosts, Goblins, and a Word Search

I love to see my kids being creative. I think God put it in us all to create. A reflection of His own creative nature.

 Look at that! I made that!

When I make stuff (no matter who's idea I stole:) it makes me happy. Even if it's just for me and no one else notices. It is the act of creation that satisfies.

I saw it in Tyler this Halloween. His idea was to be a word search. It was the most difficult costume idea to execute so far. I have to add the "so far" because last year's challenge wasn't so easy either...T was involved in the creation more than in previous years. He wrote the fancy "Halloween". He brainstormed the words we put in the word search. He chose the design and size. He wrote in all the letters and words. He made the clever bar code. Although I did the sewing and construction, he was very much involved - idea to execution. And is he ever proud to wear it and receive compliments!

The momentum of the costume spilled over to other created things too. We made a spider for our front porch.

We carved some of our pumpkins.

We made a transparent ghostie for our table. And then the boys each wanted to make their own for school or their rooms. How fun!

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

Timelessness

Some things are forever. The entertainment of a pile of leaves is timeless. Look backward; you can see all our ancestors as children, jumping in and getting leaves stuck hair to shoes. Look forward; at what point can you imagine this will not be fun?

On Sunday the boys piled up the leaves that have fallen so far and made up all sorts of games to play. When they laugh together as a band of brothers it is a shot of happiness straight to my soul. Sometimes I am convinced that they need each other even more than they need me. And I can live with that.:)

I've been thinking a lot about joy, happiness, and contentment this week. How they are not the same, but are interrelated. Justin talked about it on Sunday in class and it has stuck around. Buzzing in my head at frequent intervals. Of all the people I know, who would I say is joyful? If I were to pick a single word description of a person, would joy be the word for any? And what would be their word for me?

Joy is like sunshine. It's warmth goes deep. When I'm around a joyful person their joy sinks into me. I wonder what sinks into other people when they are with me.