Epcot and a new slogan for Walt Disney World 6/12/11

The place Where Dreams Come True and Meltdowns Ensue...that's the new slogan I've given to Walt Disney World after spending six nights and seven days in and out of four parks, two water parks, the sun, the lines, and a twenty by twenty hotel room.  They're just bound to happen...meltdowns.  And there's no age limit on who can have them.  Just like there's no age limit on who you might see wearing their favorite Disney character on a t-shirt (Over the age of twelve?  Who cares if you wear Donald Duck on the front of your shirt.  It's all good.  Really, it is.).

But some how some way, you find yourself at Epcot the very next morning - just like we did after every.single.person in our family had a meltdown on Thursday night (Jim because he was tired of folding and unfolding multiple strollers multiple times a day and because he had to find the nearest grocery store after twelve hours of all the magic he could stand at The Magic Kingdom so Parker would have something to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day.  Jake because Emily was putting his swim shorts on backwards.  Tough times, I know.  Parker because he was insecure about being laid in the bottom of the bathtub with no water in it yet when at home he's used to being snug as a bug in the net of his infant-sized one.  And me because I figured why not since everyone else was having one.)...

and in spite of it all, you smile

and love every single minute

as if it were

the very first day

instead of your next to last.

    

Time to Pray

This morning I woke up early - I say early because I beat everyone else to the punch...even Parker - and I actually spent time reading a devotion and in prayer. 

I would think that becoming a Mommy (especially to baby number two) would make me pray more (if nothing else for sanity, no?), but somehow it's not the first thing I do when I start my day, and I fall asleep at just the thought of talking to one more person, even if it is God, before I go to bed each night. 

I remember realizing right after Jake was born I had let the time I was spending with him become more and more than the time I was spending with the One who allowed him to be born.  I remember thinking, "Here's this precious life God has entrusted me with who I prayed and pleaded for for so long, and now I'm not even saying so much as Thank You each day for this incredible gift."  Imagine my guilt. 

Fast forward eighteen months to the days when I went back to work and Jake started preschool.  It's as if the first day was yesterday...but it wasn't.  And now to almost four a half years later when my mornings begin with breakfast to the tunes of Sesame Street, rice cereal and plastic bibs, "Mommy, You know what I want for eat?", honey buns and bedhead, a bouncy seat in my bathroom, and hoping I have something in my closet to wear that doesn't need to be ironed.  Imagine not having the time to feel guilty.

But because of His awesome power, He "...is able to do immeasurably more than [I] ask or think..."  (Ephesians 3:20).  Praise His name!  When I tell someone, "I'll be praying for you." but I don't...He heals them anyway.  When I forget to ask for His protection when I get in the car with my family to drive nine hours one way to Walt Disney World...He get us there safely regardless.  When I postpone taking Parker to preschool three days because I just don't know how to let go...He sends home a report card every afternoon with a huge smiley face on the front with notes from Ms. Kellan that he took a two and a half hour nap and almost fell asleep in the sunshine.

And as of this morning, He gave me time - not because I asked but because He "...knows [my] heart..." (Acts15:8).  It may not happen just like it did today, but in the moments I'm facing Parker and feeding him in his hand-me-down highchair, I'll say, "Thanks."  In the moments when I leave my driveway wondering what job God has chosen for Jim to do next, I'll say, "Please."  And I know without a doubt I'll be amazed at what He's able to do when He keeps giving me the time to have these little talks with Him.
    

There's a first time for everything.

And this week Parker has had three firsts.

On Tuesday, he rolled from his back to his tummy (This one’s been about three weeks coming since he started doing “crunches”...Way to go Parker! Do some for Mommy while you’re down there!...and rolling onto his side), on Wednesday, he spent his first morning with Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Kellen at our church’s preschool (By the way, he did fantastic and is apparently working his laid back Parker charm because even after day three, he is loved, loved, loved.), and this morning, he had oatmeal as part of his breakfast regime versus rice cereal (And yes, he ate it like he stole it. That’s my boy!).

Speaking of dropping Parker off, I’ve opened the doors to our church every morning and walked in to see a huge group of people standing in the foyer. Not just people (They deserve more credit than that.) – they are volunteers. I’m so amazed that after nearly two months, there are still so many that are giving up the hours of their days to re-build Tuscaloosa. It just warms me up inside…just like thinking about my lunch date with the sale racks at Gap (And then maybe we’ll even get in on some of that volunteer action before this weekend if over.).