still here

lP got baptized this week and we had Grandma and cousins visiting.  We also had the primary program and hosted dinner for Grandma L and aunt E.  It was a wicked busy week because I was making movies to show the children after the program and for the baptism, and my software for doing that wasn't working.  We went to the beach 5 times, the Alligator farm and the fort.  The cousins were so lovely and we had a great time going around town together.

I've got to go do some things for my dad next week and that's another sort of busy.  I'm grateful that G and M do the dishes.  The children are so motivated by simple things like computer time, cereal and a tiny piece of candy.  I love them.

I'm so grateful for this wonderful life.

I am a child of God

When I was young my church leaders taught me to sing a hymn to drive away unrighteous thoughts.  I never imagined that the unrighteous thoughts that would most plague me would be resentment and rage at my children.  Recently I was struggling with so much anger at one of the.  I needed an intervention.  I was inspired to think of the song "I am a child of God" but change the words to:

I am a child of God and He has sent me here.
[He] has given me an earthly home with children kind and dear.

Lead me.  Guide me.  Walk beside me.  Help me find the way [to be kinder].
Teach me all that I must be to live with them again.

We've begun to have media free Sundays.  The kids are starting to accept it and find things to do and read to fill the day.  We actually do things together instead of fight over the computer and get into trouble because of more fighting.  Tonight we played solitaire, 4 of us playing 1 deck of cards.  It was one of the most peaceful evenings we've ever had.  We also had the missionaries over for dinner so it the house was more cleaned up and it was so nice.