Is Child Rearing Job Security for Therapists?

Wow, it has come to me just how much I am having to redo, back up, retrain my kids in howI have attempted to raise them. Think about how many things we have to undo as our kids grow up that could've been so easy to avoid had we thought about it a little more when they were growing up. Or, I know, listened to those who are doing it well already.

For instance, my oldest is my pickiest eater! If I could have a redo on something it would be this one. He was such a picky eater when he was a toddler that I thought he would die if I didn't give in to his whining and crying for his Chunky Pot Roast Soup. It has veggies, right? I did everything to validate that this was a good choice and the fact that he was eating it every meal, yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner was good right? Not exactly a great choice for a meal, but better than Cheetos and a Dr. Pepper. (Wonder if your insides turn the same color as your fingers do when eating Cheetos? I've seen what Dr. Pepper does to a peanut, too.....)

Then as I was enjoying a nice respite in the drizzle after our 4 1/2 mile hike yesterday on the parkway, I overheard a grandmother strike down the unruly behavior of her grandids as they were trying to "get wet" in the rain. I know it's hard to believe that a child would desire to experience the oddity of dripping rain on their skin. Like a retreiver waiting for their master to throw the ball, these kids were aching for a little taste of heaven to fall on their fingers. Ok, let me say, there was NO lightning and thunder and it was a nice light rain. I'm thinking that maybe these kids were dressed in some sort of dissolving clothing that when wet disappears, which of course would only be offensive to those not related to them. What could be better than dancing naked in the rain, right? I should've checked this out as to cut down on my laundry responsibilities. I so want for disposable clothing and my kids just don't feel right in surgical scrubs. They say people give them weird looks.......huh! Paper clothes! So then later in life when these kids are grown and want to experience the feel of the rain on their faces will they first go through the agony of reclaiming their childhood through shock treatments? I know, that's extreme, but come on, think about it. If they get dirty, most places in the U.S. have the means to wash one's child fairly clean. If they get wet, they dry, it's rain not antifreeze.

I feel confident that I have done many, many things wrong while raising my kids thus far and will probably screw them up some more before I die. It's my job. It's my life's work. Embarassment and agony are the goal. I am preparing them for real life, correct? This is nothing. So come on feel the rain on your face and let the kids get wet. Jump in a puddle or two and maybe smear a little mud on their face.

Thank you God for your enduring mercy and grace in our lives and our kids lives and our parenting skills. Help us to stay focused on you and your will for their lives and keep them fairly straight on the path to you. Forgive us for the wrong turns and the misguided advice. We love you! We praise you! AMEN!

Happy Birthday to you!

The boy's name Matthew \m(a)-tthew\ is pronounced MATH-yoo. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "gift of the Lord".

The boy's name Aaron \a(a)-ron\ is pronounced AIR-an, AHR-an. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "mountain of strength".

Fourteen glorious years ago, a lifetime away in the belly of southwest Colorado a baby boy was born! He blessed us with love and life beyond belief. The fourth of a string of men born to the Prices. Matthew was a gift, no doubt. He was our constant reminder of God's glory when times were not so glorious. He came into a home with 3 brothers and a foster sister. He lit up the room with those beautiful eyes and contagious giggle. Although he towers over me now, he will always be my little Matthew. Pudgy, freckley, soft, squishy....I could eat him with a spoon! All of my kids have such distinct personality differences and are all so special to me. Matthew is my quiet reserved child who can rip up a guitar! He loves to play music....I love to hear it...He's been playing my song for fourteen years! I love you Matthew!

Thank you God for Matthew's life! Thank you for his beautiful spirit! Thank you God for these fourteen years to hang out with him! Thanks!

Dumplins & Buttons

I had such an awesome childhood. Of course, I wasn't aware at it's awesomeness tendencies until I was much older than a child. Before their arrival from the mission trip in the Appalachia's, I wondered if my sons would be pondering the same thing about their childhood. Although not the Rockefeller's or Kennedy's of the South, we live a life full of happy memories, gospel accapella, music playing in their heads and their hearts and their fingers, God filled moments. Overall, a good life. I started to think back to my days of frolicking in the land of me where I was the center of the universe. Yes, it's different now!

Those thoughts brought me to the wonderful memories of my grandparents, and especially my grandmothers. Oh how I loved my grandparents! I spent many a weeks with them during the summers growing up. I don't remember my brothers and sister being there at the same time necessarily, which means one of two things: 1) I truly was wrapped up in my own little world where noone but me existed (again, it is different now), 2) My parents desperately needed a break from........me, which is similar to a situation I dealt with one of my children with whom I share some personality traits. Poor mom and dad.

My grandmothers were extraordinary women! Truly devoted to their husbands and their marriages. Truly devoted to the work the Lord set before them. My dad's mom was so sweet and loving. Every time we'd go to make the trip north to see them she would always have chicken 'n dumplins cooking awaiting our arrival! Oh they were soooooo good. I miss that! She was a vertically challenged lady, not cracking the 4'10" mark. She was married to my wonderful grandpa for 60+ years......she was a saint! On marital advice to one of her daughters-in-law, she was told to have said, "Divorce? No, never thought about it? Murder, yes, divorce, no." I can still see her laughing. And those butterscotch cookies!!!!!! My gpa and she were so in love. One day she laid on the couch for a rest and God decided she needed more than just a little rest and she blessed heaven, probably with a plate of cookies! I can't wait! She left behind a necklace. One sacred to the family. She had given it to her daughter, my Aunt Barbara to make sure that each granddaughter in the family got to wear it, if she chose, on her wedding day. It was a necklace given to her by my grandfather in 1912. I was proud to wear it on my wedding day. My aunt gave it to me last year. I was speechless. I didn't feel worthy. I missed my grandma. I miss her still.

I place a photo of the necklace for you to see. The box is tattered, the note is worn, the necklace is perfect. Her poem that she loved and lived inscribed in the photo. She was an awesome woman!

My mom's mother was a beautiful, graceful, lovely lady. She was married to my childhood best friend, my pawpaw. Since he died when I was only 5, I think she felt the honored responsibility to carry on his legacy to his grandchildren. Nan-naw and I spent our time together playing gooney golf (look it up), going to plays/musicals/movies, cooking and sewing. She was a retired home-ec teacher and was the most organized, tight bed-corners, tidy lady. I loved my nan-naw. She played the piano for church sometimes and for her Eastern Star group. "I walk through the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses....." my favorite one to hear her play and sing. She loved her God and he loved her! She loved to sew and I learned so much from her and my mother about the craft. I remember so vividly running my fingers through the old chocolate box that my grandmother had recycled for her extra buttons from worn out outfits and such. I loved that box! My mother remembers doing the same as she grew up. That box has had alot of traffic. I can still remember seeing her in certain outfits that the buttons clung to on her way to church, store, or "Showboat". My Nan-naw met the fate of losing her memory through some sort of demensia/alzheimer altercation. It was a first clue when she couldn't find her gas tank and was looking in the trunk. It just went down from there. Many years of little memories fading into the abyss of her mind. Leaving her with fractured images and confusing environments that we wanted to protect her from, but couldn't find our way into her world anymore. She was a sweet lady. I procured the button box when she had to make the move from home to the nursing home. I knew she had been forgetting alot when I opened the box and it was filled with buttons AND straight pins, OUCH! I visited her often in her last year. I watched her inhale some of her last bits of oxygen from her room. I will never forget pleading with her to let us take it from here and just to let go. She did. I miss my Nan-naw.

Thank you God for my wonderful childhood! Thank you for the influence of these wonderful women in my life that helped shape me into the woman I long to be in my life! Thank you God for my parents who saw to it that I had a relationship with my grandparents! Thank you God for the memories of these dynamic women! Thank you God!

Titus 2:4

Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Maintenance worker - Me!

I have often thought about how lucky I truly am for being the mother of four boys and ONE girl. Boys are so easy. They can be dirty, and not care. They can wear shorts of any color and a tshirt that obviously doesn't match, and not care. When they were toddlers they could be easily swayed out of a looming tantrum by shiny or slimy or creepy or crawley things. (SQUIRELL!)

I remember being a girl, not that I am not now, but the girl to my parents. THAT girl. Whiney, crying, "Where's my red sweater?", stompin', just plain ugly attitude to all in the house. I was the "middle child" and that apparently gave me certain rights to be a spoiled little diva I guess.

So when I was blessed with such a gift as boys, I was excited! Elated! In the scheme of things, boys are much less dramatic, most of the time. I guess this all depends on the type of maintenance you're used to tending to. High, low, high voltage, lawn, car, where am I going? I am wondering if my theory is really the most accurate. Although low maintenance on the outside, boys tend to be high maintenance on the matters of the heart. This is an area I am not sensitive to all of the time and not one I am always wanting to venture. I say this because I know that by asking a question I may receive an answer and it may not be one I want to hear. I'm just so used to being able to distract their thoughts (SQUIRELL!) with a good plate of roast beef and potatoes or tacos that when it comes to the serious stuff I fear I have failed at letting them know that I want to communicate with them.

They don't always come to me or my hubby, they just fester. Like me, fester. I've taught them FESTERING? I've failed miserably in this area. God leads me down this road often for a little roadside check up on my boys. I love God and all, but seriously? No more fly on the wall for me, I just don't want to know. Kidding!!!! I do want to know, I want to know it all. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the just plain wonderful. I am the mom and I want to wrap my arms around my little boy and kiss his road rash and goose egg and straighten his hair and repair any tears in the heart or delight in the shiny things of his teenage life or just stare......and thank God for my little boys!

Frogs and snails,

And puppy-dogs' tails;

That's what little boys are made of.

Sugar and spice,

And all that's nice;

That's what little girls are made of.

(Don't tell Sarah!)

In 1941, they said he wouldn't make it....

July 15, 1941 a woman named Jenny gave birth to a son. He was paralyzed on his right side and the outlook was grim. The local doc came to the house to check him over and gave her the news that he probably wouldn't make it through the weekend. She already had 8 other children, who thought they were getting a new pony. She was a busy lady. But for the next 48 hours she nursed that baby back to health with massage and cuddling and kisses and love, love, love. Had he not made it, I wouldn't be here today to say "Happy Birthday, Dad!" I love you soooo much and hope you have a blessed day!

Sweet, sweet Rissa Roo!

In my narcissistic view of my life played out on this blog in some weird catwalk style, I have realized that my "issues" or "problems" are just down right drama! Yea, it's good material for a blog, but in the scheme of things its just not as important as what is going on out there in your lives. Although, I will probably not stop my behavior none the less. I want you to know, really know, about some of God's wonderful people that have blessed my life.

I want to share a story with you. A story that is a painfully beautiful one with beautiful people and a beautiful little one. If you have time I suggest that you go to the blog and read from the beginning, it will pull at your heart and place you on your knees for this family. Its about everyday life in the life of a family with challenges. Know anyone like that? Love anyone like that? Check out Marissa Lynne's story here. If you don't have time to read the whole thing today just read the last couple of posts and know that your prayers and support for this little girl and her parents are what God wants to hear.

The challenges we face as mothers everyday to raise our kids without scarring them for life or hurting them in anyway or watching them be hurt in any way is so exhausting a task that we are worn out. Mostly on the inside where only few are allowed to go and to see what lies beneath our leathery exteriors. It's a painful job. It's a blessed job. It's a rewarding job. It's worth every moment of every day of every child of every second of their beautiful lives. I wouldn't put in my resume anywhere else!

I love this woman! I love her determination! I love her spunk and her faithfulness and her perseverance! I want to lift her up and help her to know that many are praying for her and her family and that God wants to surround her with His arms and keep her head above the waters. I want her to know how awesome she is! She has blessed my life with inspiration.

Let's do this. Go to the blog, read whatever you like, but please leave a comment so she knows we're praying for her. Keep them prayed up! Keep her lifted up!

Thank you God for Marissa Lynne's life and her parents. Thank you God for allowing me to know Alicia and love her through this! Thank you God for the plan you have in place for them and the faith that they have to see it through. Thank you God for life, love, truth, mercy! Thank you God!

Appalachia is the teacher this week.....

This week once again finds me sonless. I got my kids all back in the house last weekend for the first time in a month and they, the boys, left Monday a.m. to head off for a mission trip with the church. Oh well, house is quiet again. Sarah's home, sort of, but off to grandma's for bible school. Whatever will I do to fill my time? ............................... Oh, sorry, I was daydreaming a bit....

It was the first time all four of the boys have been away together and away on a mission trip. The oldest was going in a leadership capacity. The 17 yo is going on his third mission trip and the younger two are on their maiden voyage as mission volunteers. As I have been looking forward to their trip this week all summer it makes me want to be there. Not participating or combing their hair out of their eyes or making sure they eat their veggies or take a shower (cause there isn't one, they're bathing in the creek!) But in the capacity of the proverbial fly on the wall. You know, to see if anything my hubby and I have been trying to impress upon them has actually sunk in and might be utilized in some way. Like, comb the hair out of your eyes, eat your veggies, take a shower, share the Good News, help out your fellow man unselfishly and without judgement, serve and be served. You know, the small stuff. I am in hopes that the wonderful work of the Lord not only pulsates through their hearts but through their throbbing sore fingers and muscles to the people of the Appalachia and their hearts.

My boys are beautiful people from their very marrow to the outside cells of the last layer of their skin that is warmed by the sunlight of everyday that God gifts to them. I am proud of each and every one of them for who they are and what they are becoming each day. All are Price boys and all are one unit, but all are so different, but they are painted and stained with the tatoo of the Heavenly Father.

I pray for blessings on Mrs. Becky Simpson and her ministry with the Appalachian residents. Bless their ministry beyond belief. Heap the blessings to meet each need there today, Lord. Bless each of those residents with the longing of you if they don't know you and the constant Hope in those that seek you daily. I thank you God for the gift of these boys who are becoming men each day. I thank you Almighty Father for placing them in my heart for a lifetime and in my presence for what seems to be a blink of an eye. I thank you for how you bless them when they have no idea. I thank you for how you bless me as I watch them come to know you. This eternal life is beautiful! Thank you God!

Harvest what you sow....then eat!

Let's have a moment of silence for those who have given of themselves in the name of the best BLT on the planet and some stinkin' awesome salsa fresca! Thank you God for garden fresh tomatoes! You are an awesome God!

Fuzzy Brain

I am suffering from mold growth on my cerebral gray matter and it's ticking me off! Things are itching to get out of there and I can't seem to find the time and patience to let them breath on the cyber pages of my blog. I am hindered by the ignorance of not knowing the mac and its idiosyncrocies and missing my ibm and longing for a new computer that moves faster than the speed of snail.

My garden is insane! Lovin' the fruits and hating the bugs. Wanting to keep it organic but am having fantasies about inihilating insects with the most powerful poison I can find! Kind of like the time you realize what happens in the chemical reaction between salt and slugs.................oh sorry.........I was just thinking.....nevermind.

Life is a puke inducing roller coaster right now. I don't want to get off but parts of it make me technicolor yawn. I just feel sorry for the chap who sits behind me! Whatch OUT! Too late. My kids are growing up and off on their own alot this summer with mission trips, camp, visits to grandma and grandpa in CO and I am missing them. I have those moments in every hour where I do inventory of where my kids are today. Don't want to leave one somewhere....again....oops...did I say that out loud? Don't worry we found him. I think that's why my thoughts are so fuzzy right now. My family is not together but far apart doing its own thing and loving it I'm sure.

My brain however has a hard time functioning in the mode of constant checking and rechecking on where I left my babies. I've tried to put the milk in the cabinet and the cat in the dishwasher and the tupperware on the clothesline, but I think I'll be ok. Soon the boys will be altogether and off together on a mission trip with church, but again altogether. Little Sarah will be home from camp and off to bible school with grandma. My brain will loosen its preparation H grip it has on my frontal lobe and I will be able to function without washing the cat!

God please be with my family during this time of awe and wonder as we move through this life walking where you ask us to tread. I ask that you watch over them and me as we are apart and wrap your loving arms around our hearts and warm us fromt he inside out as we go about your work and your will. We love you! God Bless!