Dec 8, 2008

A Weekend of Wonder.

I'm sitting in my living room right now writing to you and this is what I'm hearing...

"Someone ought to take him out back and hit him over the head with a hammer."

Yep, my lovelies, "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Or as we like to say around here, "remember it's Sunday which means it's football. Stay out of my way or I'll clock ya." We take our football very seriously.

This past weekend has been special. Any number of reasons really. (Most of which I plan on sharing with you here. So hit the ESCAPE button now or forever hold your peace.) But as some of you may have heard - and as many of you may be feeling - we are in a recession.

Recession - an extended decline in general business activity, typically two consecutive quarters of falling
real gross national product.

When the economy is bad, well, let's just say around our house - it's worse. If it's bad where you are, it's worse where we are. Mainly because our livelihood is one of discretionary means. And what I mean by that is, if the economy is bad guess what the first thing is to go? You got it. Music. Entertainment. Books. Movies. All the things that we make our living from. (Well, all the things the AG makes a living from...I'm feeling pretty useless right about now.)
So yeah, it's hard right now. It's unpleasant. And uncomfortable. And tight. Which is why this weekend was even more special to me.

Friday night the AG took me out for my birthday. He really surprised me this year with tickets to a play! I love that kind of stuff and didn't even know there was anything coming to town that I would be interested in. But he had bought the tickets almost 6 months ago...before that whole recession thing...and the tickets had sold out quickly. So good for us! It was a wonderful night out with sushi and my best friend.

But going out like that would never have been possible had we had to get a babysitter. I can't afford the going rate anymore so there are more and more nights in for the AG and I. But now that Meridith is here we at least have her to call on. And if she isn't working (and thankfully she wasn't on Friday night) then we have someone wonderful and patient and fun and our kids love - and it's absolutely free.

Thank you, Lord. I appreciate that.

Because we needed a good laugh on Friday night after a hard week, I specifically prayed that this play might do the trick. I needed a good laugh. I KNEW the AG needed a good laugh. And that was exactly what we got. We both laughed and laughed and it felt good (like a medicine, some might say) and helped our anxiety and our worry. And refreshed our spirit.

Very sweet, Lord, very sweet.

Saturday brought a trip to Home Depot to pick up some paint for Rocco's room. Because people, it's time! He is sleeping through the night and ready for a room all his on. (And momma having hers back wouldn't hurt either.) We had a gift card to Home Depot for the paint, and all the crib sheets, curtains and bedding had been given to us as gifts, so his room is all but ready to go.

Thanks for simple favors, Lord.

We still need a dresser and changing table for Rocco. But I am trusting the Lord has the perfect ones. I keep checking Craig's List or Ebay because now is not the time to be purchasing extravagant furniture for a child's room. I am not a girl of great sentiment, so I don't need some vintage dresser for $8200. I just need something sweet and brown and perfect for a perfect baby. Keep an ear out for me if you were to hear of something for sale. Or for free. Or even just for really really cheap.

You've already provided, Lord. Haven't you?

Friday, Saturday and Sunday came with only one accident from Remi. You heard right. It's official - Remi is potty trained. She has worn nothing but big girl panties since Friday morning and it has gone incredibly well. We've done Home Depot without accident and Sunday morning church without accident. So I am assuming it's a done deal. She seems repelled by the thought of diapers and loves the idea of underpants with Elmo on them, so I'd say we're in it for the long haul.

That's just like you, Lord. You remember everything. Everything. Nothing goes unnoticed, does it? And just when we can't take anymore...you lighten our load.

Sunday was special for me for many reasons. Sunday morning was our children's Christmas musical and it felt good and right to be sitting in a service where children danced and sang and laughed and forgot lines and dressed up like shepherds and cried on the front row. That felt right. Amidst a society of Xbox 360, MTV, cell phones and texting - it seemed particularly nice to see children do what it is children do best. I loved the fact that Remi sat spellbound on my lap as the children moved and swayed and sang with all their hearts. I loved seeing the children of my friends arrayed in their adorable cuteness. And I loved looking out and seeing their momma's smiling and crying and holding up video cameras like their child was the only one in the room. So yes, it was precious.

Ohhhh...so that's why you love children so much, Lord. Because they symbolize exactly what it is you like in all of us. The simpleness. No pretense. Just unabashed praise. And unapologetic joy. I forget that sometimes.

Lastly, this weekend the AG and I got the chance to make Christmas a little bit brighter for a little girl. We were told what her Christmas wish list was comprised of and off we went to pick out some toys for her Christmas day. This is a challenging thing to do when you are concerned with what your children will open on Christmas day - but my children are always well taken care of. So this little girl was my priority. But do you have any idea how much Hannah Montana stuff is?? Geez Louise. It ain't cheap! And as I sat in our morning service yesterday I sulked a bit. Afraid that what I got her wasn't enough. That what we got her she wouldn't like. That what we got her would not make her as happy as what some other people might have been able to do for her. And I felt lame. And ashamed. And embarrassed. And well, silly.

And then I was reminded by the words that came out of one adorable little mop-topped boy, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones...he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42) Can you believe that? That's what he said. And though he said it to the whole congregation I imagine he might as well have looked at me on the front row and said it straight to me.

And I thank you for using a child to remind me. It isn't the first time you've done such a miraculous work through a child, is it? Thank you, Lord. Always.

17 comments:

KWolfAK said...

Thank you. I needed that today. I've needed that for a while!

Shelley said...

Right there with you sister. The children sang last night at church, and it lightened me. I felt His presence and the joyfulness of the small children gladdened my heart.
"And a child shall lead them".
Thanks for reminding me of what's most important.

Sissy said...

Kids are so cute at this time of year...don't cha love it? Our kids musical is next week and will be sure to entertain.

Glad you got a night out and some time with the AG. Sounds like it was a wonderful birthday.

Unknown said...

Your words are a blessing to me, particularly right now, as I am going through the same thing you are.

Isn't it amazing what kids can teach us?

Rhonda said...

Oh, the part with the proud mama and hers being the only kid in the room..... WEEP! Very well said! And congratulations Remi on the potty training!!!

Robin said...

Thank you. I needed to hear that today too.

Leigh said...

Oh, wow. How'd you know I needed to hear this?

My husband works in radio...another field that is shaky in a bad economy. We brought home our baby boy from the hospital on Sept 14 and on September 15, the station fired hubby's morning show partner, for "budget reasons." We have tightened our belts until our eyes are bulging, but we are still worried.

And then a friend whose husband is a contract employee in Afghanistan called me. Seems there are soldiers with no families back home, who needed such simple things as Chap Stick, deodorant, baby wipes (for bathing without water). So, we boxed up goodies for 3 soldiers in need and quit worrying about ourselves for a little while. It felt WONDERFUL.

God will provide. He hasn't let us down yet!

Anonymous said...

Isn't God AMAZING!?!?! No matter what, He's there in the midst giving what we need. Maybe not what we want but what we need.

Stephanie Wetzel said...

Right there with you on the discretionary income. My husband is a writer, and we just found out his publisher posted the lowest sales since the 1960s this quarter. Ouch!

I'm always amazed at how God chooses to speak to me. He knows exactly where I am, so of course he uses the perfect messenger to touch my heart.

Lynda said...

I love the children's pageants, too. God bless you.

Melissa said...

laughter is such good medicine. Glad you and hub had a good time out.
I will be blogging about something similiar if I ever get around to it today:)

Tracy P. said...

Amen, amen.

Anonymous said...

Melissa~
Thank you for your gift to me through this blog. You've brought that much needed medicine, laughter, to my life.
To say that I know COMPLETELY how you're feeling right now would be an absolute TRUTH! I'm a SAHM to 3children and so desperately wish I could do something to help out my hubby and our financial situation, too. Hubby owns a DECORATIVE concrete business. And let's just say that I thought 2007 was bad! 2008 had to go and blow it right out of the water!
I'm so glad that you and the AG got a much needed night out. It's those kind of times that refresh us, and we remember for years later.
If we lived closer, I'd happily give you our changing table. Because that would be so much easier than convincing the Hubby to take it down! ;)
And with the youngest just getting potty trained this Summer, I KNOW what a great relief it is to have Remi potty trained. Yep, just a "little thing" can be such a huge help. It's a big difference having only one in diapers instead of two, and yes, I know that from experience! ;) Praying she stays on the dry and narrow!
So, if it's any consulation at all, this Mama is feeling the pain, too. I'm in this foxhole with you. Praying for you and yours.
Please don't lose your wonderful sense of humor. Your foxhole companions are counting on you to keep giving us our doses of medicine!:) (But no pressure!)

Unknown said...

Saturday morning I was standing at my mirror - getting ready for the day - an noticed some little lines around my eyes. I would have LOVED to buy some eye goop, but when you can hardly get the rent paid, eye goop is NOT part of the deal.
I went to a Mary Kay shin-dig Saturday afternoon. I won a door prize. It was eye goop.

Saturday morning I was looking at Gert's ears and her cute little Christmas earrings, and i thought "Gosh, I wish I had some cute holiday earrings"... but when you come home to a dark house because your powers turned off, new earrings aren't gonna do. Saturday afternoon we got a package rrom my step mom. What was in it for me? 2 sets of cute little holiday earrings.

yeah... He provides... and sometimes gives us what we don't even need.

Anonymous said...

Our Pastor told us yesterday that our job is to Believe and then let God do his job, and that's to make the impossible possible!

We've gone through trying financial times before but as I look back, I see the God always provided the necessities along with much of our wants.

Right now our dates consist of going to Sonic for the brown bag special ($6.99 for 2 burgers, 2 cokes, 2 tots or fries) each Sunday night while the kids are in youth (our church doesn't have Sunday night service, just youth) and I have to say that I cherish our cheap brown bag Sonic dates! We get to sit and chat and re-connect before the busy week starts up on Monday mornings.

Tassie said...

Melissa-
Thanks for sharing yourself with us. I try to remember that we don't hold God in our hands, He holds us in His.

katy said...

Thank you for that...a few giggles, a few tears, and for some reason my load is feeling a little lighter right now...

Thank you Lord for letting Melissa share that with us <3