"Adjusting"

Some of you have asked me how Elijah Brooks adjusted to our recent move.  He really has adjusted beautifully, and much more easily than I thought he would have. We have been here about 9 weeks now, and the only thing that caused him significant grief in this whole process was being left in his new church nursery on Sunday mornings and Wednesday's nights. He never once cried in his previous nursery, probably because that was where he started out and was used to it. He was used to the ladies and they were used to him - and loved him so much. When we moved, the 1st time I left him in the nursery at the new church, he cried so much that his eyes were swollen when I picked him up after church. He wouldn't play with any toys, but would just walk around and cry. It doesn't help that he is only 1 of 2 children in there his age on any given Sunday. He is a very social child and very much enjoys interacting with people. He didn't have anyone to play with most of the time and I think he was just plain scared of his new environment and new workers. Having a husband as one of the pastors, I have alittle bit of an advantage because I can take him to the nursery during the week and let him play in that specific room to help him adjust to the room - and I did that numerous times, just hoping that it would help to familiarize him with the new environment.  For almost 2 months, I dreaded taking him to church because I just hated to see him go through that, knowing there was nothing I could do to help him - but just keep taking him and eventually he would get used to it.  It made it especially difficult because both Jay and I have active roles in the services each week, with Jay leading or preaching and me singing.  I even tried taking him to the 8:15 service instead of the 11:00 service, hoping that would help since I wouldn't have to wake him up from his nap at 10:30 to get him there on time.  I definitely think that helped somewhat, but he was still having a hard time.  Taking him at 8:15 also meant that I would have to drop out of choir because the choir only sings at the 11:00 service. I have been out of choir for a  year already because of his schedule, and I really need to get back to singing for alot of reasons.  I am so thankful because God has worked out a beautiful new schedule so that I can start singing again. I am on the calendar to sing a solo 2 x's a month for the early service, so I can still be involved. The timing of the early service is just better for Elijah Brooks until he drops his morning nap. Anyway, I kept telling the workers that this was not like him - that he very rarely cries. I doubt they believed me because all they saw was a child with swollen eyes and a red-streaked face! I wanted them to see the "real Elijah Brooks" - the happy, bubbly, joyful child that we know. The workers are very sweet though and they all kept saying that eventually he would get used to his new surroundings.  Some of the workers play with the children more than others, so that was something that was bothering me too. With only 1 or 2 kids in the room, they need someone to play with and interact with them - not just sit in a rocking chair and not do anything.  

I decided several weeks to just stop worrying (which was a fight in and of itself against my own natural and sinful tendencies), and just pray for Elijah Brooks and pray for the nursery workers by name.  I started praying so fervently that Elijah Brooks would feel safe and secure, that he would trust his new workers to take care of him, that he would trust Mommy to come back and get him, but more importantly that he would trust God to be with him and provide for his every need.  I prayed too for the workers - that they would truly see their job as a ministry to these precious children and their parents (these are paid workers not from the church, so it is a job for them), that they would have a desire to nurture the children, to love the children, to develop relationships with the children,  and to provide for their emotional well-being..., not just their physical needs.  I am so happy to report that for the past 3 Sunday's, Elijah Brooks has jumped out of my arms onto the floor (rather than being pulled off of me screaming), run to the toy baskets and waved "bye-bye" to me!!  I cried a few Sunday's ago when it happened for the 1st time - I was also singing a solo 10 minutes after that, so it allowed me to really frame my heart for worship rather than being so upset that I was leaving him in that condition.  Last week, the same thing happened, and today I picked him up and he was running around playing with the nursery workers - who ALL happened to be sitting on the floor interacting with him!!!!  

I do believe that God has heard and answered my prayers in such specific and noticeable ways. No prayer is too small or insignificant to lay before the Father's feet.  He has not only worked in my son's precious and tender heart - but He has also worked in the hearts of the nursery workers as well.  Today, sweet Kiana said, "We are finally seeing the real Elijah Brooks - the little boy you have been telling us about"!  And with that, Elijah Brooks blew a kiss to all of the workers without being told to do so. 

I don't know know what next week will hold, but I am thankful for today's answer to prayer. God will still be God next week even if my child has a total meltdown - He will not change - He will still be in that nursery protecting my little one. I have to trust Him regardless of what happens next week. 

Let's continue to pray for all of the workers who work with our little ones. They have a great job to do and need our prayers. 

"My Man"....

It's official. Jay passed all of his oral and written exams for Ordination as Minister!  I have not the words to express how proud I am of him and all that he has accomplished over these past several years.  His discipline, diligence, determination, and stamina were unlike anything I have ever witnessed. He faithfully, and with great joy and humility, served our church in South Carolina morning, noon, and night all while attending Seminary full time, taking care of a wife who had multiple medical issues for a year, and becoming a new father.  God has His hand on Jay and I am so honored - and humbled to the core - to be the woman standing beside him as he begins this new chapter of his/our life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Congratulations Jay!  I am so proud of you, for all that you have done, and for all that you are. 

*He still has 2 remaining courses to complete at Seminary so he will officially graduate in May.   There will be another post to celebrate his graduation at that time. 

*Let me explain the pictures of the roses. Last night, after Jay had completed his examinations, he came home with a dozen roses.  I thought that was strange and wondered who in the world had given him roses.  He said that they were for me because I had worked as hard as he had worked taking care of Elijah Brooks alone so that he could study.  He had just gotten his wonderful news that he passed and he immediately thought about me and wanted to bring me roses to thank me.  Isn't he just amazing and aren't I so incredibly blessed? 

"Tonight's Realization"

Tonight, Jay is less than 24 hours away from being an Ordained Presbyterian Minister. I am less than 24 hours away from being a Pastor's Wife. Elijah Brooks is less than 24 hours away from being a "Preacher's Kid". 

After 5 grueling written exams (comparable to what lawyers take when they take the BAR), 1 oral exam before the Examination Committee today, and an oral exam before the Alabama Presbytery tomorrow (100 + pastors)...., not to mention Seminary...., he is almost done. 

I will share more thoughts in another post when I have time to organize them. Tonight, I am weary from pacing the floor in prayer for my husband - and taking care of a very agitated/frustrated child who is cutting what appears to be his I- teeth (poor baby and poor mommy). God has answered so many specific prayers today and we are just so thankful and humbled. 

This time tomorrow night, it should be official. What an overwhelming realization and humbling call on our lives.  Honestly, we tremble at the thought of this position. We need your prayers as we embark on God's call to ministry. 

"Lovin' Life"

"First Teenage Babysitter"

Yes, Elijah Brooks is 14 1/2 months old and has never been left with a teenage babysitter..., until tonight.  Jay and I had a dinner with our Senior Pastor/his wife, and our Associate Pastor/his wife.  The 3 ministers of the church and their wives met tonight for dinner and to talk about ministry goals for the year and to pray for one another.  Our Senior pastor's daughter (a very mature and super sweet 16 year old), came over to bathe Elijah Brooks and put him to bed.  I was pretty anxious about leaving him for someone else to put him to bed, but as soon as she got here, he reached for her and started playing with her - he's only seen her 2 x's.  When I was leaving, I simply told him "bye bye", and didn't make a big deal about leaving.  He turned around from playing with Laura and said very confidently, "bye bye"!  We prayed for him as we were driving away and had a wonderful dinner with the other pastor's.  I had told Laura that he would probably cry for 30-60 seconds when she put him in the bed, but he will usually settle himself down.  When we got home she said that he didn't cry at all!  She said she was so worried that he didn't cry that she went back upstairs to check on him and he was sound asleep :)  

This was a big night for us and I am just so thankful that he did so well.  She also said that she told her friends at school that she was so excited to be babysitting the sweetest, cutest little boy she had ever met - and she chose to miss the HUGE rival basketball game at her school to come here!!  Isn't she just the best?   You can make very good money babysitting, so we probably won't be having that many because we can't afford it and we hardly leave him. But if we ever have something that we need to do, it is so nice that we have someone that we can trust - and that our son obviously loves - of course his Bebe and E-Daddy will be called first..., that's for you Mom and Dad, just making sure you know you haven't been displaced! 

I just had to blog about yet another milestone so that I remember in 10 years!  This blog is more for me than anyone else :) 

"A Boy and His Ball"

Elijah Brooks has learned to kick a ball - doesn't he look so big? 

Listening to Harley (the neighbor's dog) bark

Trying to see Harley through the fence 

Harley?  Are you there? 

"I like to Sing"....

Today, Elijah Brooks and I went to Kindermusik class together.  This is a picture of him before we left the house, "warming up his vocal cords"!   He is the only boy in his class and now has 7 new girlfriends.  We danced, sang, bounced, did a "stop/go" activity, read a book, and he even held my hand as we walked around the circle.  He looked like such a big boy walking in the circle. He is the oldest one in his class, but they don't move the kids to the next class until they are 18 months - so we'll just stay put for this semester.  It actually works out just fine - we just adjust and get creative and do the same activities but adapt them for his age/stage.  Fortunately, I used to teach Kindermusik so I know how to adapt the activities based on the age level of the child.  I had to pull him away from the trashcan a few times, and he pulled down the lyric sheets off the wall - but other than that, he did great!!  That's okay, at least he didn't poke the eyes of a little 4 month old baby like another child did...., well, at least not this week! 

"Just sayin'"...

-Cars and trucks in my pots and pans

-A shoebox, hairbrush, 1 sock, 1 pair of tennis shoes, and a tank top in my bathtub 

-1 dress shoe under the kitchen table and the other one under my bed 

-1 sippy cup floating in the toilet (GROSS) 

-1 entire roll of aluminum foil unwrapped on my kitchen floor 

-1 ball in my brass planter and another one in my tupperware drawer 

-3 of Jay's tennis racquets scattered on the bathroom floor 

-1 pacifier in Jay's shoe

-1 top to the the blender in between sofa cushions 

-1 ice cream scoop in the firetruck 

-1 penguin in my Calphalon cabinet

This is my life now, and I love every minute...., really I do.  As Jay tripped over the numerous tennis racquets today in the bathroom, he quickly went to find Elijah Brooks in the other room and kissed him on the cheek and said, "I am so glad that I just tripped on the racquets because it is a reminder that you are here with us".  SO TRUE, SO TRUE.  In today's society, children are so often viewed as a hassle, an inconvenience, little beings that we just put up with etc.... 

It is our job as Christian parents to destroy that kind of thinking. Children are a heritage from the Lord, they are life's greatest blessings. They are not inconveniences - they are treasures - and it is our job to make sure that they know that. 

I do not write this to act as if I am some great mom who has it all together or who never gets frustrated when my plans do not go according to how I want them to, or who does not grow weary of picking up toys all day long, or who does not get frustrated when I can't go for a walk because of a crying child in a stroller.  I am by nature, a woman who likes structure, order, and predictability. I write this to convict myself more than anything for the times that I do think that I am somehow being "inconvenienced".  

Jay's statement is so very true - how long we waited for Elijah Brooks.  As I look around my house, which is never orderly anymore, I am reminded of how many years I ached, yearned, longed, and prayed for this.  This life..., this very life that I am living, is what I prayed for..., and God in His mercy was gracious enough to give it to me - and more.  

Thank you Lord for realigning my thoughts today - and thank you Jesus for children, for these little souls that you have entrusted to us believing parents. Give us the grace, strength, and wisdom to raise them in the fear and admonition of YOU. 

*Why do my blog posts always turn out to be so much longer than intended?? 

"My Toddler"..., Huh?

Toddler? I have a toddler now?  Where did my baby go? It hit me about a month ago when I did not receive my monthly, "your baby is this old" update online - but much to my astonishment, I received (automatically may I add), "your toddler is this old" update.  Who told them they could call my baby a toddler? And who told my "lilypie" ticker on my blog that it could automatically say, "your toddler is 1 year, 1 month, 3 weeks, and 6 days old"?  Don't I, his mother, get a say in any of this? Just because he eats on his own, drinks out of his own cup, runs everywhere, climbs on furniture, says at least 25 plus words (seriously), shows independence, has definite preferences, attempts to put on his own shoes, wears 24 month clothing and shoes, watches his "show" sitting on the couch rather than in my arms, pushes cars and trucks on the floor (who showed him how to do that anyway?), drops things in the toilet, asks to brush his teeth by looking at me and saying, "brush teeth"? (told yall he was talking), kicks a ball, spins in a circle, and jumps?   All of this makes him a toddler now?  

Well, I suppose it does, and I must come to grips with the fact that I no longer have an infant, but a toddler.  And may I just add, that I am having more fun with my toddler than I ever dreamed possible.  He is my little buddy now.  He holds my hand when we walk, but will still look up at me with his arms raised and said, "hold" - and I will gladly take any opportunity to reach down and pick up his little 28 lb body.  I will also take any opportunity I can to rock him, even though he must curl up in my lap now because he is so long. I will also savor every second that he, in his own little way, shows me that he wants me to come sit down on the floor and play with him.  He's only 14 months - not even - and I can't imagine how much more fun we are going to have together in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead as he continues to grow and develop from a toddler to a young boy, to a teenager, to a young adult, to a man.  WOW - how's that for perspective? The child I am rocking will one day be a man, and I pray a man of God. 

Elijah Brooks, you may be considered a toddler now by the American Academy of Pediatrics, but you will always be my baby. 

"New Trick"

Jay made the comment last night that Elijah Brooks hasn't done any new "tricks" lately - gotta love the wording of that! 

Well, I am here to correct that statement by saying, "yes he has learned a new trick".  He has learned to JUMP!  You know, the kind of jump where their little feet don't leave the ground but they bend their legs like they are about to take off? I managed to snap a few shots of "the jump".