You know that feeling when you feel like you just can't go on because life seems to constantly be jumping up and biting your backside? Then God swoops in and lays a couple of "take my breath away" moments on you, and pulls you back from the brink. I love that! I've been living that for the past few days.
My two sisters ran a marathon this past weekend. They were so incredible! We met them at mile marker 20, and my older sister looked like she was about ready to quit (this was her first marathon and she just turned 50.) She got hugs and words of encouragement from us, and she went on to finish the race. It was truely one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. I felt kind of bad because I will never be able to run a marathon. Then I realized, that has never been on my "bucket list." I was there for them in a way that I could not be had I run the race with them. I watched my older sister's two daughters and her accident-prone dog. I brought the girls to the race to watch their mom and aunt run, and I took them home afterwards so they would not miss school the next day. So, in my own way, I did help them run the race. Being there for family is always on my "bucket list!"
My husband was fixing a car today when a spark from his cell phone ignited the gas he had drained out of the vehicle. The car was burned pretty severely, but my husband, and our house were unharmed. What could have been my worst nightmare, turned out to be okay. And the look on his face when I handed him the bag of marshmallows-- priceless!!
Now, for the BIGGIE!!! There was a training for foster/adoptive parents tonight. We haven't been licensed for 2 years, so we haven't gone to any trainings since then. The topic was Attatchment Disorders, and I really wanted to go. I mentioned it to my husband, but said we shouldn't even think about it since we had so much to do today. He just shrugged it off and went to work on the vehicle in the garage (did I mention it was a BLAZER?!) After he came back in the house and told me what had happened, we were both emotionally spent. We really needed a break. He suggested he call his parents to watch the kids, and we go to the training. Homerun! I have been complaining that he just is not on the same page when it comes to parenting the kids. I had made a million suggestions on how to reach them, but they fell on deaf ears (made me think I was talking to the kids.) He listened to the speaker. I can't count the number of times he said, "You were right." to me during the class. I finally feel like there will be some positve parenting changes in this house. His whole "I don't care" attitude changed. He asked the speaker if it was okay to walk away momentarily when it got too intense and he said it would be a good time to just go to the garage and chill out. Of course, I couldn't miss the opportunity to write on my handout, "Just don't start anything on fire." I have been asking God to help us find the right direction for our family. Instead of a burning bush, he used a burning car.
