God gave me many this week.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
1 . . . The most normal week with the kids since they have been home! "Normal" is hard to explain but it felt like coming up for air. Stepping off the roller coaster . . . for a whole week! The girls were calm, content and pleasant to be around (for the most part, of course). I enjoyed the girls - rather than bearing with them in love much of the time. It was truly a gift from God. I know the roller coaster will continue until they are fully healed and attached, but I enjoyed this blessing while it lasted.
2 . . . Hair help. About a month ago God crossed my path with a gal at Target (Jason knew her boyfriend). She is African American and had the cutest natural hair going on. After we talked hair for awhile she told me she styles hair on the side and would be happy to help me. YES, please! This past Friday the girls and I went to see her. She gave me a crash course in how to better maintain the girls' hair, how to do their extensions (braids) better and show me a couple other styles I can do with their natural hair. I cannot tell you the gift from God this was fo me. I have known it is important to take care of their hair well, but attachment, healing and dealing with RAD have taking priority these past six months. I tried looking at websites, but what I found was helpful for younger girls' hair styles or older girls who have really long hair. Nothing seemed to be helpful for my girls' older ages and short hair. And besides, I learn the best having someone sit in front of me and show me what to do (in all things of life). I feel like God decided, "Jen, now is the time to give your girls' hair more attention and here is someone (at Target!) to help you." He is so good to provide what I need, when He knows I need it.
3 . . . Going to get hair help turned into an unintentional girls morning out with my girls. I took the boys to Kate's in the morning and after getting the hair help from my new friend, I saw a few garage sale signs. I have been trying to tell the girls about the joy and value of garage sales so it was fun to take them to a few. By the last garage sale we were all hungry, Zoe especially. I took them to McDonalds and we had lunch together, which they LOVED. When we got back in the van Zoe said happily "My hungry is all gone . . . thank you, mom." My heart completely melted. This was the second unprompted thank you I have gotten from my sweet girl who is still working hard to trust that I will not leave her. Both girls were so lighthearted and happy during our time together. I know they enjoyed it and it brought me SO MUCH JOY!!
4 . . . Another phone call with Jen Summers on Thursday night. I have been finding myself in a new ball game lately. The kids are definitely in the middle of attaching and healing (praise the Lord!) and have made some great progress lately.This has meant less crazy behavior. At the same time, though, my competence and confidence in parenting therapeutically to deal with crazy behavior has increased. But, I don't need to do it quite as much . . . but I feel like I should be. I've been wrestling with this. Talking to Jen helped me wade through my confusion, turn my eyes to Jesus alone (and not the stuff I read in therapeutic parenting books) and trust Him fully to continue the work He is doing. A much needed gift from God!
5 . . . Our second overnight getaway from the kids last night and all day today. We had dinner with good, good friends (three other couples) last night, stayed in a hotel in Des Moines and had no agenda today. We watched two movies before getting out of bed this morning. How is that for relaxing?!? Jason and I were able to talk (even dream a little) about things other than how to get through this present week's crisis. That in itself was a huge gift! Another big gift: part-way through our second movie this morning I missed my kids - all four of them! It was such a blessing to feel the growth of my own attachment to my kids compared to the last time Jason and I went away.
2 . . . Hair help. About a month ago God crossed my path with a gal at Target (Jason knew her boyfriend). She is African American and had the cutest natural hair going on. After we talked hair for awhile she told me she styles hair on the side and would be happy to help me. YES, please! This past Friday the girls and I went to see her. She gave me a crash course in how to better maintain the girls' hair, how to do their extensions (braids) better and show me a couple other styles I can do with their natural hair. I cannot tell you the gift from God this was fo me. I have known it is important to take care of their hair well, but attachment, healing and dealing with RAD have taking priority these past six months. I tried looking at websites, but what I found was helpful for younger girls' hair styles or older girls who have really long hair. Nothing seemed to be helpful for my girls' older ages and short hair. And besides, I learn the best having someone sit in front of me and show me what to do (in all things of life). I feel like God decided, "Jen, now is the time to give your girls' hair more attention and here is someone (at Target!) to help you." He is so good to provide what I need, when He knows I need it.
3 . . . Going to get hair help turned into an unintentional girls morning out with my girls. I took the boys to Kate's in the morning and after getting the hair help from my new friend, I saw a few garage sale signs. I have been trying to tell the girls about the joy and value of garage sales so it was fun to take them to a few. By the last garage sale we were all hungry, Zoe especially. I took them to McDonalds and we had lunch together, which they LOVED. When we got back in the van Zoe said happily "My hungry is all gone . . . thank you, mom." My heart completely melted. This was the second unprompted thank you I have gotten from my sweet girl who is still working hard to trust that I will not leave her. Both girls were so lighthearted and happy during our time together. I know they enjoyed it and it brought me SO MUCH JOY!!
4 . . . Another phone call with Jen Summers on Thursday night. I have been finding myself in a new ball game lately. The kids are definitely in the middle of attaching and healing (praise the Lord!) and have made some great progress lately.This has meant less crazy behavior. At the same time, though, my competence and confidence in parenting therapeutically to deal with crazy behavior has increased. But, I don't need to do it quite as much . . . but I feel like I should be. I've been wrestling with this. Talking to Jen helped me wade through my confusion, turn my eyes to Jesus alone (and not the stuff I read in therapeutic parenting books) and trust Him fully to continue the work He is doing. A much needed gift from God!
5 . . . Our second overnight getaway from the kids last night and all day today. We had dinner with good, good friends (three other couples) last night, stayed in a hotel in Des Moines and had no agenda today. We watched two movies before getting out of bed this morning. How is that for relaxing?!? Jason and I were able to talk (even dream a little) about things other than how to get through this present week's crisis. That in itself was a huge gift! Another big gift: part-way through our second movie this morning I missed my kids - all four of them! It was such a blessing to feel the growth of my own attachment to my kids compared to the last time Jason and I went away.
6 . . . New curtains. If you know me, you know decorating and organizing are two of my favorite hobbies. But, again, in the last six months - nearly nonexistent in my life. Which I have been totally okay with. We have officially lived in this house for a year now (woohoo!). But, I have never loved the feel of my living room. Something was just off. I finally figured out that it was my curtains.
So, I used my birthday money to buy new curtains and I feel like I took a big breath of fresh air in my living room. From the picture, it looks like snowflakes on them, but it is an Asian-ish pattern. It changes the whole feel (hard to see from picture, but you get the idea). These curtains are such a little, non-important, unnecessary thing in the grand scheme of life, but a gift from God nonetheless. I love that He loves to give little, non-important gifts like this to his children.
(The boys are eating their bananas in the morning. They are usually really hungry rigth after they wake up so I have them eat bananas.)
7 . . . Wednesday night was also a wonderful gift, but that is for another post coming soon.
Needless to say, I have been blown away by God's goodness this week and I'm thankful for the many good gifts He gave me.
2 comments:
What a great God we serve!!! Excited about all the gifts he has given your family! And those curtains look awesome...gonna have to come see those in person. :)
"the joy and value of garage sales"..this made me laugh :)
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