Time Flies!

A lot has happened in the month since I last blogged! I've been wanting to write but a few things have kept me away. One is the frustrating slow speed of my dial-up internet access. Well, we just got wired up for High Speed! It is kind of sad how exciting it is to be able to check e-mails in less than three hours, look things up in a flash and be on the phone and on-line at the same time!

We've also experienced a big blizzard. It's been a long time since I've seen snow falling horizontally. We were snowed in for two days. It is kind of fun and cozy at first, but gets old after 48 hours. The plow trucks were unable to make a dent in the solid 5 foot drift in our driveway so we had to have a local dairy farmer come in and blow us out with his tractor! The good news is that it's all melting and we went on our first bike ride of spring today.

We had a little bout with the stomach flu. There is nothing I loathe more than the stomach flu. I sit up all night and calculate how long it will take to filter through the entire family. It's very depressing.

The main thing that has been keeping my attentiont though lately is a very high strung almost two year old. She refuses to wear clothes, get her diaper changed, get into the bath, get out of the bath, get her coat on, go to bed, stay in bed, stay out of the garbage and more! She cries and screams and says no. She crosses her arms and glares in protest! She colored all over her face in pink permanent marker before we were heading to the orthodontist. We got a few looks. She is exhausting!

I try to be patient. I try to be firm. Sometimes, I just try to avoid her altogether. In order to avoid conflict sometimes I just let her do what she wants because I don't have the energy to fight her. I've even tried yelling and well, once I tried throwing the diaper wipes across the room in frustration (which I don't recommend) and it didn't help anyway.

I've been trying to think about what God is teaching me through this. I certainly have no advice or remedy. I thank God every night that there are some moments where 2 years olds are so cute and sweet which allows me the desire to continue on. I know, I know someday this will be a blip on the radar screen. When she is graduating from college I will look back with fond memories on this time. I hate when people tell me that! Plus, I know it is true because my 6 year old was exactly like this. She would cry over what song was on and I'd send her to her room and she'd keep crying for hours. She is better now and it is kind of funny to look back at it.

But it isn't fun or funny when you are in it. And it is a test of my patience which I seem to have very little of. I know I am frustrated because I love her so much. I appreciate people trying to help me see the light at the end of the tunnel, but mainly I just want someone to feel my pain. To come by and see her running around naked and empathize that two year olds are difficult to deal with. Although I have a lot to be thankful for such as health, I don't need to be reminded of that! Maybe they could just help me clean the mess up off the floor.

I think that is probably what Jesus is asking of us when dealing with others. In Romans 12:15 it says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice: mourn with those who mourn". Which seems to be saying forget the advice, just be there for people - whether they have suffered a devestating loss or have just had a really tough day with a toddler!

Romans 12:14-16
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."