Monday, March 26, 2012

Faith Prayers

I’m reading “The Circlemaker” by Mark Batterson. It’s stretching me. I’m not a prayer warrior. In reading it, I’ve been challenged to pray for my Jericho.

At first, I didn’t think I really knew what my Jericho was—that thing that seemed inconceivable but that I knew God had promised. After going back in forth in my head for the last few weeks, I think I know what it is now.

Here’s the problem: I’m scared to name it and claim it. What if my Jericho is not God’s Jericho? What if He tells me “No!”

So my faith is being stretched. Do I truly believe God gave me this desire? Am I willing to risk disappointment if it turns out that He does tell me “No” or “Not yet” or “THIS is what I want for you—not that.”

I don’t know yet. So I sit and pray for stronger faith.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dr. Jekyll /Ms. Hyde or just Hormones?

We are not the first family to deal with girl hormones. Or to wonder if we are all gonna make it through this time alive without a murder or maiming happening.

BUT, we’re not even to the teen years yet—we’re only halfway through the tweens with one daughter and just starting with the other. And the ride is already pretty bumpy. It feels like that point when you are on the top of a ferris wheel and you really want to get down, but you have to wait until they finish loading everyone, so you’re in space for what seems like days. The only difference is you have a seatbelt and a pretty view there.

I try not to blame everything on hormones, but when the same routine occurs every morning and one day your child is singing through the house and the next day, she’s growling at everybody…it makes me wonder how much those silly little hormones affect her (and therefore the rest of us).

I wish the Bible spoke specifically on it—you know—like “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Something pretty plain besides “Provoke not your children to wrath” (a verse I repeat to myself almost every day). Any tricks from you parents out there who have gone through this or are going through it? Any tips besides moving to Alaska for the next 8-10 years so that you don’t get in a yelling match with a ten year old? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

It’s been a While

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. Lots happening in the Royal household, but I just haven’t had the time or energy to post about it. I tend to do that a lot.

I get caught up in the moment and don’t capture it, making it hard to remember the details. It’s a catch-22. I either get so caught up in taking pics and jotting down notes that I forget to engage in the moment or I completely engage—leaving me too tired to record anything.

Spring break is here and it’s a reminder that it’s been a year since I made the promise to myself that I would be more intentional with my girls. They are 8 and 10 now—both tweens—and growing so quickly! I don’t want to look back on our time together and regret that we didn’t do something. Even more importantly, I want to know that I am using every spare minute to lead them—not just in the discipline, but in the fun ways, too.

Here’s a recap of some of the highlights over the past few weeks:
• Caroline celebrated her 8th bday—complete with a crafty party for 10 of her friends that left me worn out (but was totally worth it when she told me it had been the best bday ever!)
• Hope finished an Alamo project for extra credit that totally rocked!
• We’ve been to several soccer games and practices
• Caroline had her 1st volleyball practice
• Caroline sold 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies—her 1st time to ever sell them
• My whole family now eats hamburgers (yes—when you have picky eaters, things like this are milestones)
• We snuck in a quick trip to the farm where my girls helped to clear brush, drive the tractor and plant some onions
• We packed 93 boxes of food with Lovepacs—enabling over 200 kiddos to have full meals while on spring break
• We started renovations on our Lovepacs headquarters

As I look at the list, I’m almost tired—we did a lot—and this was just in the time we weren’t at school or work! I’m looking forward to making some fun memories this week and having the margin to write about them (not to mention, read a few books!).

Hopefully, it won’t take me as long in between times to do it…