"Help! My kids are demon possessed!

I had never felt so defeated. So lost. So spent. As a mother of four ages 11, 10, 8 and 5, I have had plenty days of doubt and exhaustion. Days when I was sure my children were possessed by some out-of-this-world demon and I was destined to extract said demon if it was the last thing I did.

But this day was different.

This day was far worse than I had experienced before.

It was last Monday, to be exact. I woke full of energy and ready to begin our school day. The kids, did not. And so it began. The complaining. The whining. The rolling of the eyes. (A favorite of mine. Sends lasers up my spine through my arms to my hands and continuing to my brain.) We started school. All of us together at the kitchen table. The boys were giddy. Madison followed suit. I was repeating myself what felt like four or five times. I felt invisible. No school work was getting accomplished. Luke was dissecting a mechanical pencil. Micah could not sit still in his chair for more than thirty seconds. Brady was taunting the three oldest and I caught myself fantasising about the school bus coming to take these heathens away.

My patience had been tried and I was at the end of my rope. I felt as if I couldn't go on without breaking down in tears or breaking someones face. So, I chose to distance myself from the situation. I took Brady, my five year old, and we went in his room and played. The oldest three were left to their schoolwork at the table. They knew what work had to be completed by looking at their assignment sheets. If they needed help, they would have to look to each other.

I am not sure if that was the best thing to do, but I felt like, at the time, I had no other choice. After some time, we had to gather our things and leave for music and ballet lessons.

The kids and I and my husband had a talk about what happened and some very important changes that need to take place in our family. It was time to reevaluate. Take away privileges for a period of time. It is always a good thing to do every so often or whenever the need arises.

Family meetings are a great way to come together and share ideas, emotions, concerns, stories, etc. I always feel better after one of ours.

I hope this post speaks to some of you reading. It is natural to feel defeated at times. To have doubts. To look at your children and think, "Is this how I have raised you to behave!". This is when you fall to your knees and raise your head towards Jesus in heaven and offer your children to Him in prayer. For years I have prayed for specific requests. Like this: "Lord, please help Luke with this anger. Please give Maddie confidence and Micah kindness in his heart." I still pray this way but I also want God to show me what my children need and what my husband needs. I want to know how to pray for each of them. So I ask Him to show me. Show me Lord, so that I may do your will! I ask Him to open my heart and guide me. My way might not be His way. I want to walk along His path for me and my family. For His path is the only way to heaven. I have found that when I really look and listen, He shows me. Always.

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the girl with the heart of gold

After two years, my sweet Madison cut her lovely long hair and donated it to charity! This was all her idea. I am so proud of her for following through with her decision.

What a beautiful girl.

Inside and out.

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fingerprint art

Did you think you guessed correctly about what madison was making in this post?

Here is her finished product.

Isn't it the cutest turkey you have ever seen?!

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what is Madison making?

Do you know?

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daughter of mine

                                  here you are                            

standing right in front of me

growing up to be

so much like me



dramatic and goofy

craving attention and acceptance

little white lies

curious and emotional

confident yet conflicted

a better version than me

in you I can already see

and I forget

in the midst of all things boy

you in your beauty

you in your sweet spirit

need to be allowed to soar

need to be hugged

whispered to in your ear

so that you know

no one can take your gifts away

no one can take your worth

He has given you grace

He has washed you clean

you continue to be

a little Princess and the Pea

and yet

a little like sweet Orphan Annie

your spunk

your style

your grace

oh yes, who can forget that face!

my daughter

my mirror

my gem

my heart

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up to and in to

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turned 11 in May. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He bought himself an ipod with his own money. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming somewhat moody. He is playing football. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is taking guitar lessons and is a  joy to be around! 

 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involved bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lieing some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

In the photograph below, the bigger boy is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and rarely got in trouble at school. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He is playing football. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has lost both front teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

And of course, the little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off by saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are not home. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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rockstar

there are no words

just beauty

oh yes, and rockin' roll

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the skinny

I thought you all might enjoy a post on what our four beauties are up to and in to these days. And of course with photos from our Spring Break trip to Gulf Shores.

 As you can see, Luke does not care for getting his picture taken. Luke turns 11 this month. He is incredibly witty and when it comes to schoolwork he is extremely independent. He is critical of his siblings. He goes out of his way to show love to his Grandparents. He played football, basketball and baseball this year but his favorite is football. His relationship with Micah, our 7 year old son, is growing closer. He wears the same clothes days in a row. He wants and iPod for his birthday. He is full of random facts. He likes his hair long. He battles with his anger. He is becoming quite moody. He placed 2nd overall in the half-mile run at Field Day. He is mildly obsessed with sweets, like his Mama. Luke is a joy to be around and plays the recorder very well! 



 Madison, sweet Madison. Except when she is not sweet. Then you better take cover and let her run it out. She is emotional and has a knack for figuring out all things technology based. She still loves wearing high heels and lipstick, when we allow her to. She is a talented and graceful classical ballerina. Her memory is superb, unless it involves bringing home her planner from school. She is a social butterfly and your typical mother hen. She tattles a lot. She hates cleaning her room with a passion. Madison is a pack rat. She is very confident around boys. She runs super fast. She is happy wearing t-shirts and shorts. She does not deal with being tired well at all. She has been caught lying some lately. She loves loves loves to sing. Every night when I tuck her in bed she asks questions. Madison craves to feel accepted and loved. And I for one love her very much!

 This is Bubba. That is what his Daddy calls him at least. I can not bring myself to call him that. So he is Micah to me. This kid is so cool. He is quiet around others and hardly ever gets in trouble at school. He recently got three stitches in his foot. He is a leader. He has such an amazing natural athletic ability. He never boasts. He loves all fruit. He has yet to lose any of his top teeth. He argues with his mom and dad. He has great facial expressions when telling a story. He is outside every chance he gets. He puts up with his little brother constantly following his every move extremely well. He is a man's man. He has a special relationship with my Dad. Micah claims he is bored all the time. He loves to snuggle at nighttime. He is a fisherman at heart. He has taught me to think outside the box and how to show love deliberately.

  

This little whipper snapper is Brady. There are so many words to describe this child, both good and not so good. To put things in perspective let me start off my saying he is four years old. He is always on the go. He is a hitter and a kicker. He doesn't listen very well. He loves boiled peanuts. His hair is long and I love it. He is obsessed with his big brother, Micah. He wants to know where we are going and who will be there. He misses his siblings while they are at school. He dresses himself every morning. He is obsessed with hats at the present time. And shorts with pockets. He describes things as beautiful a lot. He gives awesome hugs. He loves playing with kids his own age and doesn't understand when they don't want to play with him. He thinks he is 10 years old and will tell you he is five years old, neither being correct. He flashes a side mouthed smile that cracks me up and melts my heart.    

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the boys who play baseball...

 ...and those who love them.

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ballerina

Madison has taken classical ballet since she was three years old. She loves to dance. And sing. And wear high heels, but that will be addressed in a different post! I, as her mommy, love love love to watch her dance. She is graceful, a leader and ever evolving in her growth as a dancer.

Recitals are always a blast. It takes me back to my days of dancing and performing. The tutus, the bobby pins, the tights, the lights, the stage markers, the scenery, the costumes, the makeup, the clapping, the roses....I could go on and on.

How could I forget the snacking in between dances!

The thrill of it all can not be replaced! Nor the tremendous sense of accomplishment and desire to do it all over again at the end of the show.

My darling ballerina! May you always take time to dance.

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2 and 4

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hand in hand

She feels safe...

...she feels surrounded by love...

...as they walk hand in hand.

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tongue twister

Simply scrumptious siblings sitting side by side.

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mother bird

We have a bird nest in our front tree again this summer! Actually, we are on our third bird nest. The eggs in nest #3 just hatched a few days ago and I hope to get some photographs soon. I do, however, have some photos from bird nest #1. They are blurry but you can still make the three tiny beautiful baby birds out.

And here is my mother bird checking in on the baby birds.

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