(Disclaimer: These names have NOT been changed to protect the innocent, as there are no innocents in this story.)
On the way home from church last night, I had both girls in the car, fighting over some stupid object. Aurora was in the passenger seat, reaching back to grab the coveted item from Arleigh, who was sitting directly behind her. Arleigh was yelling and screaming at Aurora who thought it would help if she yelled back at Arleigh, so between the 2 of them screaming and it being a long day, I flung my arm back to aimlessly flail about the back seat hoping to make some contact with Arleigh's leg in an attempt to demonstrate the seriousness of my never-ending threats of some sort of abstract disciplinary action that was SURE to follow her yelling.
When I whipped my arm back in haste #hastesoundsbetterthanfrustration, Aurora's head was turning around, coming BACK to the front seat (from where she had been flipped around facing the back) so in the blink of an eye and in slow motion, I squarely elbowed her in the side of the head, face, ear, etc. Of COURSE, as SHE started balllllling, Arleigh's now screaming in the back seat, because in the process of me almost knocking Aurora out cold, I had indeed made contact with Arleigh's leg and now she's yelling, "I have a rAaaassshhhhh!" (because apparently, I have really good aim and contacted her leg precisely where she has a little rash....#praises #wheresthemomoftheyearaward??)
So, all that to say that, thru that series of unfortunate events last night, I ended up laying on my bathroom floor for a few minutes contemplating life #andhowtorunaway while Drew rallied the troops and "YayVerilyYay-ed" them into bed until I felt I was safe enough to come out. (*YayVerilyYay* reference video link posted below) #momoftheyear #oratleastoftheDAY #whoelsecantakeout2kidsatonce #ishouldteachakid-defenseclass
So, as I was "Having a moment" aka: #minimomvacation aka: #mommeltdown, I wouldn't call it "CRYING" out to God, I would say it was more of a "pathetic wimpering"- this song, (which I had just come from teaching the kid's choir last night) was running on repeat thru my head - GRACE WINS EVERY TIME.
.......... and i was like NOPE. #thanksalotobama
No, but seriously, I was like, "Really, God? REALLY?? OK fine."
And I let the Grace of the Almighty, Beautiful, Creator, Delight of my Life, Everlasting, Friend, God of All, Heaven's Breath, Inspirational, Jesus, Keeper of my Heart, Lover of my Soul, Mediator between God and man (and me and my girls), Name above all names, Omnipresent, Protector, Quick to hear and heal, Restorer, Redeemer, Savior, Truth, Unmatched, Unending, Victorious, Wonderful, Worthy, Well of Living Water, X-treme Lover, Yeshua, Zealous, Mt. Zion ....
WASH OVER ME....
Heart, Mind, Emotions, Body, Soul, Spirit.
And, you know what? It worked. I was able to get up off the floor and walk out and face the rest of the evening of parenthood without collapsing into myself and hiding for days and weeks with no end in sight.
So, yeah, like my mom keeps saying, He IS Greater.
*Turns OUT.* Falling into His arms, whimpering like a cold, wet baby kitten - wasn't the worst thing in the world.
Our Pastor said recently that Our Comforter isn't always there to make us FEEL better, but to STRENGTHEN us to go on and face life. #myparaphrase And, manohman did I experience that last night. (Along with multiple other times in my life)
Also, Another Disclaimer: #ilovemykids #ilovebeingamom #mykidsaremyblessings #myquiverisfull #myquivermakesmequiver #Illhave10more #minivacationsNOTKIDS #illtradeyastraightup #wheresthecoffee #thatmomentyourealizeyouneedsomethingstrongerthancoffee #checkplease #passportplease #mistakesweremade #apologiesweremadeallaround #goodthingskidsaresoresilient
(*YayVerilyYAYreference video - 0:40-1:10 specifically)
Also, I have to add this in here:
