Everything I Need to Know: Lessons from Sunday School Music

Everything I Need to Know: Lessons from Sunday School Music

If Isaac had not been home with stomach flu today I would have been at my 6th day of my new job, teaching music to preschoolers at our church's preschool program.

I love this job. I get paid to teach them cute songs, how to play rhythm instruments, and do some fun dances & movement games with them. My job is more FUN than any other that I've ever had. The lesson planning takes minimal time, the prep work is easy, it took me only 20 minutes to get ready for a sub today, and the best part: I get to talk about Jesus. No apology. No innuendo. I can say his name. I can say that I love him. I can openly express my belief in him. I have permission & an expectation that Jesus is in my classroom. That is the sweetest part.

I have been teaching the kiddos some of my childhood favorites over the past 2 weeks. It is really sweet to experience these songs again 20ish years later. Some of them contain more wisdom than I ever realized.

This Little Light of Mine- it comes from the verse " let your light so shine before men that they see your good deeds & glorify your Father in heaven." As a child I didn't realize that I was singing such powerful scripture. I am often so guilty of letting myself get so bogged down in busy & worry that my light is either "pfoofed" out by Satan or hidden under a bushel (or stack of bills, of perhaps a diaper bag). I have the light of the world inside of me & I am constantly robbed of it's power, sadly by my own devices.

Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes- Oh be careful little eyes, indeed. If you see too much real housewives of new jersey & look at your finances with no faith & look at your preggo body and worry on your own, where is your faith? If your little ears listen to fear, if your little mouth speaks hurtful & hateful things, if your little feet go shopping when you're broke, if your little heart puts it's trust in self rather than salvation, and if your mind thinks of anxiety rather than the awesomeness of our savior- how can you know that we have a father up above looking down in love? He desires good for us, all He asks is our obedience. Obedience with our lives is the greatest act of worship. Did you know that was the message behind that cute little song?

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands-I am the worst about trying to carry the world in my hands. That's an impossible task for someone with hands as small as mine. I can't hold it all together on my own. The verse about the "little tiny babies" gets me everytime. For one thing, I think of my three angels that are already with God, there is and never was a better place for them. They will never have stomach flu or have to do puke laundry. I think of my Isaac who is farther from babyhood every day. I am so glad that Isaac rests in God's hands. I can't protect him, love him, or teach him like God can. And my yet-to-be-seen Hope. In the last week I have thought that I was in pre-term labor twice. I have no control over when or how she gets here. But that little tiny baby is in God's hands. I'll see her when she gets here. Lastly, I think of my beloved sisters who are dealing with infertility & pregnancy loss- take comfort in knowing that He's got the little tiny babies - past, present, and yet to come- in His hands. If he can handle the WHOLE world, he can certainly handle what you are going through. He's a great big God, but close & small enough to have a plan just for you & your family.

I am so incredibly blessed that God provided me with a job I love, more time with my kids, and the musical reminders of the sweet truths that I have known for years, but have been given new life by my life's experiences.

Thoughts on Stomach Flu:

Thoughts on stomach flu:

1) As a kid you think that being sick is the worst part. As a parent you are on clean up duty as well as having that feeling that you are doomed to start puking at any moment.

2) I feel like an awful mom today. I heard Isaac cry twice in the night for about 45 seconds, then I heard him cough. He's been a little congested so I didn't get up to check on him despite a very strong feeling that I should. I went in to wake him up at 7:45 and found him sleeping in a smelly bed full of puke. I felt terrible that I brushed off my God given motherly instincts in exchange for sleep.

3) Obviously, I am a little frightened that if I get sick it will send me into early labor. That's me, always worrying 10 steps ahead.

4) Even though I am positive that this is a highly contagious bug- how on earth can anyone with a heart deny their child the snuggling & closeness that they need when they are sick? Isaac is in my lap right now & even though it is scary, I have no intentions of moving him. I think mommy snuggles have magic healing powers.

5) I hate puke laundry.

6) I also hate cleaning the crib & bathtub after a pukey baby has wreaked havoc. Lysol is my bff today.

7) He ate french fries last night- let's just say that ANYONE would have been able to figure that one out.

8) If given a choice between a sick kid and work- work wins everytime.

9) Isaac & I are sitting in our loveseat, there are 5 towels under, next to, and around us. I have plenty of catching options if more puke should happen.

10) My mom used to spank my brother because he NEVER made it to the toilet to puke. I bet he did it on purpose. Those who know him will no doubt agree.

11) My dad has only had stomach flu 2 times in he & my mom's 34 year marriage. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry throws up & breaks a 13 year vomit free streak. Dad is a huge baby when he gets sick though, but only puking once every 15 years on average would definitely make it awful when it does happen.

12) I am sentenced to watch only Barney & Sesame Street today. Yuck. We have already watched two "Barteys" and one "Yelmo".

13) Is it possible to scrub off your skin from overwashing your hands? I will test this hypothesis today.

14) I am so grateful that this is just a virus & that my sweet boy isn't chronically ill. My heart goes out to my mommy friends who have been called to mother children that are constantly not well. I admire the strong hearts that God has grown in you to endure the heartbreak of watching your baby not feel well. For me today is a short lived annoyance. I am praying God's blessing on you and your children as you deal with daily difficulty.

15) If you think "don't puke, don't puke, don't puke" over and over and chant it like a mantra will it keep you well?? We'll see.

Psychobilly Freak Out

This is a TMI kind of post. If you are a boy, someone who isn't comfortable with "female" things, or someone who hasn't ever given birth. This may not be the blog for you to read. I warned you fair and square.

I am officially 34 weeks 0r 8 and 1/2 months pregnant today.

That means I have 6 weeks left until I am at my due date.

This means I am 3 weeks from being considered "full term".

Well, I had a little surprise today. I HATE surprises.

I noticed that I had some light bleeding today. Not a completely normal thing for someone as pregnant as I am. So in the interest of being calm and composed I ran to the living room and yelled at Ry, "I'm bleeding, we need to GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!!!!"

His eyes got big as I explained all the nitty gritty details to him and we (he) rationally decided it would be best to call my doctor first.

I called her office and they asked a few more invasive questions. After determining that my water had not broken and I am not having regular contractions- the doctor recommended that I stay home, make sure the bleeding did not increase and try not to worry.

As soon as I got off the phone my "try not to worry" became a big house cleaning party and me reading 2 pregnancy books about late term bleeding, as well as me google-ing the survival rate as well as possible complications for babies born at 34 weeks. ( 97% survival rate, RDS is the most common complication, most have no long term ailments relating to premature birth. See, I did my homework.)

Long story short- the bleeding stopped a few hours later. I have had no more contractions than a normal day, and all seems to be fine.

I prayed many times today that above all else, God would take care of Hope. I know he will regardless of what day she comes to meet us here on the outside. I am asking though for the prayers of my friends out there in the blogosphere. Please pray that whenever Hope gets here that she is done "cooking", and can enter the world breathing and thriving on her own. Pray that this nervous freaker-outer of a mom can rest in God and his perfect plan for her arrival. And that the man married to me can reign me in and deal with all the craziness that I dish out on a daily basis- I am so lucky to have him.