The Best of Me

I, frankly, am tired of my job getting the best of me. Now please do not get me wrong. I love being a teacher. I love German. Moreover, I love my students. Some of the neatest young adults you will ever meet want to learn to speak German. (I'll post on that another time.) Still, in light of all that, I am sad and yes, you could even say feel guilty, that I work all day and then when I get home I am tired and impatient. That is not fair to my girls or my husband. Tonight I literally had a mommy tantrum. After yelling at them for the umpteenth time about touching the computer, hitting each other, hitting me, yelling about their stupid Dora show that I refused to let them watch for the second time today, and throwing blocks, I sent them all to bed early, sat down and had a cry. When I figure out how to live a life of balance, I will let you know. Until then, I pray that tomorrow night, I am awake and filled with patience.

On Death and Dieing

Yesterday’s funeral got me thinking about my own mortality and funerals in general. If you are creeped out by rather frank thoughts on death and funerals, don’t read any further!

Here are some random thoughts:
1. Don’t forget, I am going to the U to be a cadaver.
2. When they are done with me, please do not waste an absurd about money on a box to put me in. I am not there and I promise, I do not care and nor should anyone else.
3. Please DO spend a lot of money on a nice lunch afterwards. DO NOT serve sandwiches, sandwiches are NOT comfort food. Pasta and chocolate will comfort people, sandwiches have no redeeming comfort value.
4. No stuffy formalities please, just show up in whatever you are comfortable in. Black is very boring. If you must wear black, at least wear my favorite color, purple, too!
5. Laugh and laugh some more.
6. Rest assured I am with the Lord!

A Celebration

This Saturday I went to northern Minnesota to celebrate my Great Grandmother's life. A week ago, at just a shade over 90, Deloris Pintar died. That is right, I said 90! Now there were many people crying and sad, but for me this was a happy occasion! To me, 90 is such an amazing thing. She had 4 children, something like 18 grandchildren and if I do some quick math, (no need to comment on my math skills, friends) ok no, I can't even do that kind of math...there are oodles of great grandchildren and at least 15 great great grandchildren that I can count off the top of my head. The point being, that this is an amazing life, even just considering the legacy of her through the generations. This doesn't even count a faith in the Lord to be admired and 100s of quilts hand crocheted or quilted with love that have found their way around the world. Nor does it count some of my own personal favorite memories: a garden full of strawberries, pancakes the size of my head, cribbage games where one was sure to hear words like "we're going to town tonight" or "hardy har har har", conversations with “just us girls” or being reminded to do my “better best”. I will miss the old girl, but yesterday I rejoiced that my 90-year-old great grandmother went to Heaven to be with Jesus!

Something to Ponder

Why is it that when my children need something, they walk right by their father to find me? This is a mystery of motherhood I will NEVER understand. I mean they find me in the bathroom, they find me in the kitchen, they find me at work, they find me in the shower, they search until they find me. They find me even if, clearly ,their father is the closest. Why does this happen and can I lead some sort of revolt in mommydom that a child must approach the nearest parent for requests?

Decree #1
I hear by decree that for all minor request such as drinks, butt changes, changes of clothes, homework help, signatures, ect that the Anderson Girls shall approach the nearest parent.

Ain't Nothin But A God Thing

Someone asked me recently how I, after all these years, convinced my husband to start going to church. I wrinkled by brow , as I often do when pondering something, attempting to figure out how to answer her question. I looked at my friend and said I didn't do anything. It was just a God thing. She looked puzzled. If you know my husband, you know that there is no way that I am persuasive enough on my own, to change my husbands mind once he has it set on something. You see, for him, there was/is no God, just forces of nature at work. For two years, every week, I'd ask, "Are you coming to church with us tomorrow?" One week he said yes. Guess what? He has been coming ever since. That my friends, ain't nothin but a God thing. Why does he stay? God works through and amazing place called Meadow Spring Community Church, but that is a story for another day.

Luke 10 38-42

In case you are unfamiliar with the story of Mary and Martha, I thought I would post it here.

"38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Oh, how this passage convicts and inspires me all at the same time. You see, I am, by nature, a worrier. Many, many times a day God whispers to me, "Michelle, Michelle you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." What a gentle reminder that the only thing that I really need in a day is God. I wish I could apply that on a regular basis, resting in his arms and laying my worries at his feet.