Not the mommy.

For the record, I'm not purposely avoiding Serious Tuesdays, I promise.

There are certain times in my life when without a doubt, 100% certain, absolutely, fo sho I know that I am not ready to be a mom yet. Working in Children's Ministry, I spend a fair amount of time with children of all ages. I love them all dearly, but I also reach what I like to call "my kid limit." There are only a certain number of hours in my week that I am able to spend with kids, and then it seems as if my patience-o-meter suddenly bottoms out at 0, and I know I need to get away from them as soon as possible. Believe me when I say I love kids, but I do have a limit.

Tonight was one of those times when the limit of my love was tested, and I know for sure this is a situation that as a mother, I will be forced to deal with. Tonight at VBS, I had a volunteer come up to me and try to tell me something but couldn't get it out without laughing. She said, through chuckles, "Sorry, but apparently Weston peed his pants." I looked at the 3 year-old and, sure enough, the whole front area of his shorts and the bottom, front half of his shirt were wet. I too, began chuckling, and then asked him to come with me. He proceeded to grab his shorts and then reach up to grab my hand. I then grabbed his forearm instead and walked out of the room. And this is how the conversation went:

Me: Weston, did you pee your pants?
Weston: Yyyyyeah.....
Me: Okay, do you need to go to the bathroom still?
Weston: Yeah!
Me: Okay, go to the bathroom.
(Waiting for him to come out. Grab him before he can run back into the room.)
Weston: We need to win!
Me: What?
Weston: I need to go so we can win the game!
Me: Okay, but Weston...did you wash your hands?
Weston: (cute smile) Nooooo....
Me: Okay, let's go wash your hands. Okay Weston, from now on when you have to go potty, you need to tell me, okay?
Weston: Ooooookay....
Me: I don't have any other clothes for you okay, so we are just going to tuck in your shirt and wash your hands and then try not to touch your shirt or your shorts okay?
Weston: Ooooookay....

So there he was. Wet shorts, wet underwear, and a wet shirt. I continued to watch him grab his shirt and his shorts throughout the night, just thinking about how gross that was and how he probably smelled. And I have to say...I did laugh when another volunteer who was unaware of the situation picked him up to sit on her lap. BIG mistake. It all happened so fast I didn't have time to warn her and by then it was just far too funny!

Tonight's experience is one of many, but I couldn't help but notice that while I was grossed out, he was just so gosh darn cute about it that I couldn't help but just laugh. I know that doesn't mean I'm ready to be a mom yet (because I haven't seen a kid throw up yet or be thrown up on, which I'm pretty sure will be the ultimate test...and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that won't be happening anytime soon), but I do hope that all of these experiences are preparing me for days when I will be forced to deal with those situations and most likely won't be laughing about it!

Just Flirting.

I saw a first last week. As I was wandering aimlessly down the card aisles, looking for something halfway decent to send my brother and another for my best friend, I came across a new section of cards- Just Flirting. Yep, it's true. There was the "Romantic" section and then the "Romantic- I Love You" section and then squished right somewhere there in the middle was the "Just Flirting" section.

Now, call me crazy, but if you are "just flirting" with someone...wouldn't it be weird for them to get you a card? To me, buying a card that pretty much says, "hey I just bought you this card because I thought of you and I thought I should buy you this card that talks about how much I love spending time with you and how much I really like you" just takes it to a whole new level. There is nothing that says "just flirting" about a just flirting card. Really, it's an oxymoron.

I think it would be best to re-name the section "Romantic-D.T.R.". Because I think anyone who gives a "Just Flirting" card is really just hoping it opens up the possibility of having "a D.T.R."- or "a Defining The Relationship" talk. It's kinda like "oh look, I bought you this card because I thought I should buy you this card that talks about how much I love spending time with you and how much I really like you...do you like spending time with me and do you like me too?" If it could include check yes or no boxes too, that would be helpful.


It's just an idea. My take on Just Flirting? Well, my momma always said...don't put all your eggs in one basket, sweetie.

I'm baaaaack.

For some reason, I woke up before my alarm this morning and with a smile on my face! (That's rare, really.) I was ready for a good cup of coffee and Bible study. Several co-workers made the comment today of "Abby's back." Not that I've necessarily been gone physically...but definitely mentally. I think it all started when I made a joke, and then it continued as I rolled my eyes at someone and called them Gina. (It's the little things really.) After work, I spent the afternoon at the pool (holla!) which only continued to brighten my day and darken my skin tone. One of the girls at VBS said, "Your skin looks different." I said, "oh really?" She said, "Yeah, I think it's 'cause you white...but you look different." Hmm...I am hoping to change nationalities by the end of the summer...

I ended the day by re-reading the ending of one of my favorite books. I have two books that sit at the head of my bed with bookmarks in them that let me know to "start reading here" when I just want to read the ending again. I'm never disappointed.

And I think I just might be getting some of my peripheral vision back. I don't think I ever mentioned that I was never able to collect unemployment (I made too much money at the one job I still did have...imagine that), but God has been faithful and has been showing me ways in which I can still bless others. I donated things to be sold at a garage sale for my friend to raise support for a trip to El Salvador. I was blessed by the gift from the speaking engagement, which allowed me to send support to another one of my friends preparing to leave the country. I am so thankful that God is still faithful, even if at times we aren't.

Stones of Remembrance.

After a day like today, with three-hour long staff meetings and the enormous amount of work ahead, these are the things I want to remember:

A fellow staff member bringing me a cute vase of hand-picked flowers with a ribbon tied around it on Wednesday morning to encourage me.

My friend Mac's three-year old son, Tate, bringing me a balloon sticker so I wouldn't be sad that "the fire broke my building that I worked at."

A few months back, our 4-6th grade Sunday school class raised a little over $600 for missionaries in Cambodia to buy a school building for children. This is part of the e-mail I received today:
"This morning we told the children that the children’s ministry that had sent the money for our first building had had a very sad thing happen. We told them that their building had had a very bad fire and now their place to meet was destroyed. They took up a love offering and asked us to bring it to you. The offering came to $3 .00 and 26,800 riel ($6 . 70) or a total of $9.70. I think that their teachers helped some…They were very moved to think that the children who had helped them were now in need of help. They were so thankful to be able to take up an offering for you. This is actually their very first offering."

Trusting Him on a whole new level.

I can't describe to you the emotions and the pure exhaustion I have felt over the past 6 days. I can, however, share the questions that have been running continuously through my head:

Is Christ really enough? When you take away everything we had to "do" children's ministry, is sharing the simple message of the Gospel enough for me? Am I trusting Him fully? Am I trying to do any of this on my own strength? Am I willing to let Him use me through this to bring Him glory? Is He enough for me personally?

There are a lot of things I hate about this trying situation. I hate not knowing what we have and don't have and having to search through a room of random, salvaged stuff on an hourly basis. I hate having to make so many adjustments. I hate that my computer was ruined. I hate that nothing is convenient. I hate that there is still work to do, and yet I was already over my hours for the week on Monday. I hate that my new office is up a very steep, 17 step stairway with windows facing the collapsed building. I hate that a lot of things smell like smoke or are water damaged.

But God has brought me to know and appreciate these things: I love the overwhelming support the staff is sharing with each other. I love the daily encouragement I receive from church members. I love the prayers that are being lifted up on my behalf- prayers for refreshment and strength. I love that we continued on with Sports Camp. I love that many women, through tears, continued to show the love of Christ by serving the meal last Thursday. I love that my dad still cooked the chicken even though he'd been up since 3am. I love that other men continued to serve into the evening with little sleep. I love that we continued with services and Fam Jam on Sunday. I love that our own personal tragedy did not affect our willingness to be used to share His love with those in our community.


"God, my God, I cry out. Your beloved needs You now. God, be near, calm my fear and take my doubt. Your kindness is what pulls me up, Your love is all that draws me in. I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb. I will lift my eyes to the Calmer of the oceans raging wild. I will lift my eyes to the Healer of the hurt I hold inside. I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You. God, my God, let mercy sing her melody over me and God, right here all I bring is all of me. You are and You were and You will be forever the Lover I need to save me. 'Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God so hold me now. I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb." Bebo Norman