It's Raining. It's Pouring.

It has been raining for several days in my part of the country. I mean relentless, continual rain! Anyone who cares for little children can learn pretty early on to dread rainy days. Rain means it will be an "inside day."

I'm not a big fan of allowing children to be entertained by hours of television. Even good children's programming can be overdone. But I do take advantage of one or two rainy days in a row by working puzzles with the children, coloring, playing with playdough and yes, getting caught up on the new episodes of Dora, Diego, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and several other favorite programs.

By the third and fourth days, though, everybody is bored. Even a two year old can only tolerate watching the same episode of Dora the Explorer so many times before he loses interest. Those days can be troublesome if I don't have something up my sleeve to entertain everyone.

Follow the leader, making music with household items, doing stickers, pulling out a new puzzle or a new book is a must! The children look to me and rely upon me to keep them from acting up and acting out from boredom and lack of outside play and sunlight.

I get restless like this when I haven't spent enough quality time with God. Even if I do devote some time to prayer and reflection and lean on familiar scripture for encouragement or guidance, sometimes it just doesn't seem to be enough.

When I start getting anxious, allow worry to overtake me I know the "routine" isn't working. When I begin to snap at my husband and be short-tempered in traffic and impatient in the check out line at the grocery store, I begin to resemble a two-year old on the third "inside day" in a row!

Those are the times I need to do more than the routine. That is when I need to open my bible and delve into its wisdom and beauty. I need to turn to God's word to get me back on track. I need to ask God to lead me to a new understanding of the scripture to which He leads me.

I can't control how many rainy days God allows. But I can control my attitude. Just as the children turned to me for guidance and help staying on the right path, I turn to God for His strength and wisdom.

"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his" (Job 12:13 NIV).

Running Laps and Fighting God

What a week we had! All three little ones are healthy again after a very unpleasant month-long round of strep throat! How I didn't contract it can only be attributed to Divine protection!

The boys, now that they are two have a whole new set of boundaries to push and ideas to implement that just generally throw everyone else's world into utter chaos! They have decided they don't like nap time any more. Oh, after lunch when I say, "Let's go take a nap," they're right there ready to go. They even act very quiet and look so angelic as they snuggle their blankies and I shut the door to get sister settled for her nap. They need their afternoon nap and when they do sleep, the go for at least 2 hours.

Yesterday, however, they were having none of it! After I ate my lunch and cleaned up the kitchen, I settled down to read for a few minutes. By the 2nd paragraph I began hearing banging coming from the boys' room. After the day I found them signalling to the workmen in the cul-de-sac with their window blinds, I ran upstairs. They were both on their backs in their beds kicking the side of the bed.

Later, I went upstairs and one brother was digging in one of the drawers while the other brother was telling him, "No, no!" The third time (yes I made them stay up there -- it was Friday and I was exhausted:-) I went up because I heard heavy footsteps from their room and I thought they were running circles. Well . . . they were - in their cribs. Round and round the circuit of their cribs. OK. By this point I just shook my head, told them they had better go to sleep and left the room. (I know it's entertaining for them when I'm exasperated, so I'm glad I could offer them that!)

The final time I went upstairs because of yelling, both boys were in one bed (one of the twins loves to get in his brother's bed even though he has been bitten and pushed). Both of them had their shoes on the floor, socks off and one brother had figured out how to put the socks on his hands like a sock puppet. He was quite pleased with himself and held up his hands for me to admire his newly acquired skill.

The other brother had decided he didn't really want his socks off and so held them up to me saying, "socks, socks." Socks went on the feet of both boys. All boys were returned to their rightful place in the room. I not very sweetly informed them that they had better get to sleep or they were going to be in big trouble. (I'm pretty sure I heard them making fun of me in their secret twin language as I walked back downstairs for what was, gratefully, the last time.)

Ummm . . . I've wrestled with God that much. Or I should say He has wrestled with me! He has tried countless times to get my attention, to gently guide me, then more forcefully direct me, then finally just throw up His hands and wait for me to figure out that He wants what is best for me. He doesn't give up on me! He just gives up on my obeying according to His time and His plan. He waits for me to get with the program and then blessess me.

But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 )