Side bar: Moms, if you haven't seen that movie, please take the time to watch it. And if you have seen it, watch it again. It will make you feel appreciated and will speak volumes to a ragged, tired, weary body and heart.
My family doesn't have the "typical" fairy tale beginning. But who decides what's typical. Maybe we're the normal ones. (That's the hysterics part to all of this. There's nothing normal about us. I wouldn't have it any other way though.)
My husband and I have been married for almost 10 years. They've not all been good years. They've been HARD. What?! You mean these are not going to be rose colored glass stories? No. Because that's not real life. We had good times, but we had bad times too leading up to this point and it's okay to share that. If you don't share truths, how can God use your testimony for His glory?
We now have a total of 5 children. Two are my step children (I would completely claim them if I could) and 3 beautiful adopted children. We chose to adopt through foster care. We have had over 13 foster children total - some have been for no more than a night, but God wanted us to cross paths regardless.
Now, let's get to the heart of the first blog post.
Full of energy is a perfect description for both of our boys. Mauri (Age 5) wakes up literally bouncing like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. He has springs in his feet. But it's not just that. His mouth has a motor that will not stop and he typically will run sprints through the house. Now to the typical outsider it looks like the child would need medication. Hyper, ADHD, etc. We've even had concerns ourselves and have to remind him to "calm down" numerous times. Privately Jerry and I have discussed talking to the doctor about medication or alternatives because of how rambunctious he gets. He seriously cannot even eat without wiggling. The "wilder" he gets, the "wilder" John Blake (Age almost 3) gets. John Blake's outlet is to throw things. Usually at his brother. More specifically, his head. It's just a snow ball effect.
Yesterday as Jerry and I were having a discussion (we don't like to call them arguments), he said something that really hit home with me. He said "Mauri wakes up in a fantastic mood every morning and we try to take that away from him. I wish I woke up in half as good a mood as he does." I cried. I bawled. I owe my son and hug and an apology today because only today could I keep my composure and not be a sobbing basket case.
My husband and I had been making a mistake. There are times like at the dinner table when we need to use good manners and be still, but if he wants to bounce to the beat of his happy little drum in the mornings, who am I to stop him? And why should I try? What is he hurting? As long as the dynamic is staying happy and not overtly wild, then I am the one that needs to change, not him. Perception folks. It's all in the way you look at it. God calls us to be joyful. And my son sure has a lot of joy.
Psalm 30:5 ESV ...but joy comes in the morning.
Thank you God for showing me that my son's joy in the morning is not something I should try to squash, but should embrace and realize he truly has a child like faith. My children show me daily how much I fail and all I can do is hug them and start again tomorrow.
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