Season's of a woman's life

"Women's lives happen in seasons." This phrase from a wise leader at Asbury Seminary rings in my head quite often. The more I ponder it, the more it rings true for me.

Currently I am in the season of young motherhood, which includes rainstorms of tantrum tears, mudslides of dirty laundry, refreshing breezes of children's laughter, and long droughts of tiredness.

At times I think this one will be my favorite, other times I wish for the sunny days of seasons past or to come. I wish for the freedom and spontaneousness of the newly married season. I long for the individuality of the working season. I crave the wisdom of future seasons.

As I have oft been reminded lately -- to live as God intends, I need to live fully in the now. The season I am in now has beauties that won't be repeated. In this season God is planting seeds that will only bear fruit in years to come.

Dear friend as you read this I encourage you to abandon yourself to your present season whatever it may be.

Maybe not perfect days but perfect moments ...

The past few days have been a little rough. The whole family has been sick; the house is a disaster; the bills are piling up; I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I know I am not the only one who has had days or weeks like this.

I have the tendency to put pressure on myself to create a "perfect day" especially during a holiday or when Tom has a day off. No perfect days exist, but perfect moments do.

Last night I experienced one. It had been a hard day, but bedtime was approaching. All four Fuersts were on our bed just being together. We had our quilt tossed over us as a tent. We giggled. We laughed. Phoebe gave everyone kisses. Tommy squealed in excitement. It was 30 minutes of perfection.

Thank you God for perfect moments in the midst of hard days.

Phoebe and Tommy are getting so big ...

Phoebe can now do so many things including ...
Jumping up and down.
Sing twinkle twinkle little star (thanks to grandma)
Open doors.
Put her shoes on.
Eat very successfully with a fork and spoon.
Carry her own bag of stuff into church.
Open skype when my computer is up.
Climb into her car seat.
Climb up and go down slides on her own.
Throw Jet his ball then chase after it herself.
Say please and thank you when she is in the mood.
Set the table (sort of).
Help put laundry in the dryer.
Talk you almost into anything (I think she gets this from her dad.)

Tommy is learning new things too. He can...
Grab things he is aiming for.
Sit supported by a pillow or couch.
Roll over.
Pull himself up with a little help.
Put EVERYTHING in his mouth.
Goo and Gaa.
Laugh the most adorable little laugh.
Follow his sister everywhere with his eyes.
Charm the ladies.

My kids are growing and learning and they are teaching mommy things too.
I am learning that...
a messy house sometimes means happier kids.
stolen moments for yourself are necessary.
running in the yard is a lot of fun.
you can pray for the same person 12 times a day.
peaches and toast make a good lunch.
kisses do cure a lot of ailments.
patience develops through hard moments.
love ever expands.

It will be fun to see how we all grow over the next months.

Phoebe in Big Church ...

So from time to time I take Phoebe into big church for worship. She loves the music and I love to see her dance. Yesterday was an adventure. The crazy woman that I am I take both kids in with me. No car seat for Tommy - just holding him in my arms. First two songs go great. Phoebe is dancing and smiling. I am enjoying just watching her cut the rug in God's house. Then Tom gets up to do announcemnts. Phoebe yells, "Daddy!" and before I know it she is running down the aisle. I am thinking to myself, "When did she get so fast?" So I take off after her with Tommy in tow. I hear gasps from suprised people as we run past. I hear footsteps behind me and my friend Janet scoops up Tommy so I can try to catch my daugher. I finally catch her three rows from the front. She is not happy at being thwarted. She begins yelling, "I want daddy!" At this point people are trying to stifle their giggles at our crazy perdicament.
We get back to our seats after much protesting from Phoebe. The next song starts and she is once again content with dancing in the seat next to me. I turn to look at the screen then look back to see her on the floor crying. She took a dive in just a few seconds and the good smarartins behind us are trying to help her off the floor. I decided it's time to go. We'll try it again some other time - maybe when Tom doesn't do announcements :)

Parenting not for the faint of heart ...

Any pride a person might have ... once they become a parent it gets smashed to bits. Just when I feel like I have got this mom stuff down -- one of my children throws a curve ball. Currently it is a toddler refusing to sleep. Last week it was a baby throwing up from his vitamins. Next week who knows ...

Parenting is like a rock tumbler. As a new mom or dad you still have a lot of edges. Then comes the child - helping knock off those edges of impatience, self-centeredness, self-indulgences little bit by little bit. And man does it try one's soul at times. I hope I am more shiny today than I was last year - imagine what kind of gleam I will have gained 18 years down the road. I hope my children will be able to see Christ in the shine they are helping create.

For those fellow moms and dads on this journey of parenthood - hang in there. Keep thinking of the polish God is creating through the tough times.

Living out the Incarnation ...

Advent is here. I really don't believe it. My personal calendar is off kilter from so many life changes in such a short amount of time.

We just got back from a three-week long trek to Missouri (up to Iowa) and back to Florida. My daughter is no longer such an easy travler. She loves her routine, her familiar surroundings, the safety of the known. Who doesn't? Most of us just don't scream about it has often as she did while we were away.

What made her more comfortable than anything else during our travels was someone getting down on the floor to play with her. When grandma rocked baby dolls; when grandpa built towers of blocks; when Miss Judy pulled up to the coffee table for a tea party; when great-grandma laughed with her at Curious George -- only then did my drama prone daughter transform into a grinning girl. Her nerves eased when the adults around her became like children.

Oh what a shadowy picture of what Jesus did for us. He got down on our earthly level so we might know Him - for our nerves to be eased - for us to delight in Him. Advent is anticipating His glorious incarnation. After this season of waiting may we be Christmas people who live out His coming.

Favorite recent Phoebe moments...

It has been a long time since I posted. Mothering two is a full-time and a half job :) I wanted to record some of my favorite Phoebe moments as of late ...
- Yesterday I heard her singing "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..." How sweet to hear the name of the savior on your daughters lips.
- She kisses her brother all the time. She loves him so much. She just has to be reminded to be gentle!
- Whenever she leaves the room. She sticks up her little pointer finger and says so sweetly, "I'll be right back."
- She asks why to everything. I think she just wants to prolong the conversation!
- I love when she hasn't seen me for even five minutes, she runs up and hugs me at my knees.
- Watching her make friends. How she'll hold their hands and chat them up.
- How she intently builds a tower just to knock it down with glee once she is done.
- Whenever there is music she just has to dance! Which now includes spinning in circles till she falls down.
- When we drive up to our house she throws up her hands and shouts home. She also shouts church when we drive into the parking lot.
- How she holds your hand when you pray and says amen at the end.

I love my little girl and am thankful for her everyday. Amen.