Slowing

My fingers tap keys slow.

I am weary.

I am weak.

We’ve been fighting a blessedly minor cold for about 5 days now.  Mommy’s been down too.

My in-laws were here for a bit and what little energy I had left was drained.

Sweet Aeralind is having emotional breakdowns at the lunch table and I can’t yet discern if it’s a discipline issue or her own outburst of exhaustion.

My stomach is stretched and filled and my joints are sore in the carrying.  I’ve never carried a baby longer than this and am having trouble fathoming the next month or so.

All day long my silent or verbal prayer is: Please give me grace for this moment.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore, I will boast all the more greatly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Counting slowly and in weakness the 2267 – 2303 graces that He has provided.

  • Coming to end of myself and begging constantly for the grace to make it through this next moment
  • Aeralind lying across my sore back as I crouch on the floor
  • Exhausted pregnant and post-nasal drip body keeping up, by grace, with crazy toddler twins (who barely slow down for sickness!)
  • Finally fixing my leaking tire
  • A good stretch of sleep despite numerous wakings
  • Girls able to put their shoes back on
  • Laughter
  • A Derek clean kitchen
  • Nice lady at Publix who stopped her car to tell me “You nave is so adorable!”  Always appreciated after a bazillion negative “You, are you going to have your hands full soon!” comments.
  • Talking to the mother of 50 year old identical girls in the Publix checkout line.
  • Being able to bless Andy and Rachelle with hand-me-downs
  • Aeralind starting to eat again- she must be feeling better
  • The three of us drinking EmergenC “tea” from teacups
  • Making scones with the girls for Auntie Jenn
  • Visiting with Jenn.  It’s always like no time has passed and very deep
  • “Tea” and scones with Jenn
  • Laughing as girls perfectly poured water in tea cups but kept forgetting to quit pouring when the cup was full.
  • Bronwyn thinking long and hard about whether to disobey me and go to the front yard
  • Her making the right choice
  • Sleep sacks requested before each nap
  • Aeralind’s sweet good-by hugs for Jenn
  • “Physco” baby’s near constant movement and apparent head down positioning
  • So many new words daily
  • Homemade roasted pepper, Parmesan, and, olive oil wit a touch of rosemary pest- so good!
  • The surprising yumminess of Kale Chips
  • Publix yogurt
  • Hunting down rags that the girls used to clean walls, windows, and each other
  • Aeralind smearling oatmeal in her hair and grinning proud
  • Colds weathered well
  • Quiet moring with Derek’s mom
  • Girls loving on Granpa
  • Reverse dinner- ice cream for appetizer
  • Yummy dinner when finally completed
  • Early momma bedtime and full night of sleep
  • Spending Birthday money on yummy fabric to make the girls winter dresses
  • Crazy girls crawling under bolts of fabric steering and joyfully squealing about their “Gar!” (car)
  • Aeralind turning to climb successfully down from the changing table and repeating me perfectly as I called her a “Pyscho Wiggle”  Hysterical.

holy experience