Tweaking My Thursday Tweets

I have to be honest with you this Thursday.

My "Three Tweets Thursdays" is taking longer than Thursday. It's taking me all week. I make a draft, then edit, tweak, and edit again. My Thursday tweets are causing me to miss out on writing anything other than tweets and it's annoying me a little.

Every time I get on the computer, the girls start fighting. I'll hear screams coming from the other side of the house like they just witnessed our cat being run over. Because I'm an only child, it's mind blowing to me how much siblings fight, especially same gender siblings close in age. But, I digress. 

My intentions were great starting out and it was a clever idea. I always imagine there being more hours in the day than there really are.

As much as I love my blog and enjoy working on my writing, I'm also feeling a tad bit convicted that it sometimes takes away from my most important job-being attentive to my children.

When I read this quote by David O. McKay, it really spoke to me about my true calling. I liked that it was written by a man.

The noblest calling in the world is that of the mother. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece or who can write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will be exerting an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor man can give. (Gospel Ideals pp. 453-454).

I've got fledglings to teach flying lessons. Therefore, my Thursday Tweets will still be around, just every third Thursday. Stick around for next month's "Three Tweets Third Thursdays". Now, say it fast three times. 



Like my writing? If you haven't already, follow me by email to receive automatic updates in your inbox. P.S. I've got some pretty interesting drafts in the works. 

    

Three Tweets Thursdays IV-Nursing, Boobies, and Night-Nights

My girls and I love boobies. 

I had the privilege of nursing Jenna until she became uninterested when she was about sixteen months old. I'm still nursing Carissa and I don't really see it ending anytime soon.

With Jenna, nursing began as a money saver because we couldn't really afford the option of using formula. It was extremely hard in the beginning, but anyone who knows me well, knows that when I set my mind to something, I don't give up easily. Nursing the first time around was okay. I didn't love it and after I got the hang of nursing, it was just a part-time job with great benefits for my child. I would sometimes look forward to the day when it was over, yet when it ended it felt like watching the last episode of Friends. Nursing became like a familiar acquaintance to whom I had to say goodbye. I was sad it was over but I moved on, and I have enjoyed watching Jenna grow into the little person she has become.  

Nursing Carissa has been entirely different. She latched on well the first time and she just seemed to "get it" from the start. Most likely, this will be my last time. She loves it and this time for me, nursing has been nice. I don't think I'll ever be one of those moms that says I love it, but I like it. I know this time that nursing will end far too quickly and that children grow up in the wink of an eye. I already grieve that my little baby is two now.

Skin to skin bonding time with Carissa right after birth.

When your baby begins to suckle at your breasts and snuggle against your bare skin, you realize your breasts were never meant to be just sexual objects. God gave women boobies to nurse their children just as he gave cows udders to nurse their calves. There was no such thing as formula only one hundred and fifty years ago. It is beautiful that a woman's body was created to produce nourishment for their offspring that cannot be fully replicated. I know not every woman can nurse or wants to nurse, but it makes me sad when women claim that they don't nurse because they view their boobies as sexual. Because some man told them so? Because society has told them that their bodies are no longer temples but are only sexual? 

At our house, boobies are a source of sweet, warm nourishment. A place where my child feels safe and loved and calm. I am not ashamed of my boobies and I talk to my girls about them and tell them why God gave women breasts.

1. Nursing before bed has become a routine for Carissa, so she calls my boobies "night-nights". When I ask her if she wants to go "night-night", to her it means nurse. Sometimes I forget, and if I ask her to go "night-night", meaning sleep, and don't nurse her, she will get rather upset that I didn't keep my word. So if I want her to go to sleep, I try to remember to say, "It's sleepy time."

2. Carissa has started noticing other women have "night-nights" too. She pointed to my mom, whom she calls "Granna", and said "Do you have three 'night-nights'?" Over my shouts of laughter, Granna matter-of-factly said, "No, I have two." Carissa looked at me satisfied and said, "Mommy, Mommy! Granna has two 'night-nights'." 

This is Jenna a week after she was born, snuggling against Granna's chest.

3. After nursing two children for almost four years total, one can imagine that my chest area is beginning to look rather sad. Under wire and straps are a must. My breasts have also somehow shrunk rather significantly. I figure it must be because, literally, the life has been sucked right out of them. A few days before my milestone birthday, I was getting dressed and Jenna looked at me and asked, "Mommy, why are your boobies so small and saggy?" I laughed and told her it was mostly from all those years of nursing her and Carissa. "Oh," she optimistically replied, and looked down to continue coloring. I looked at my boobies in the mirror and smiled and then rolled my eyes at God.

           

Three Tweets Thursdays III

Hi everyone! I must confess that I have not looked at my blog in a week. I missed last week's tweets because of the July fourth holiday.

I had the privilege of going to Orlando this past weekend to watch my stepson, Hunter, play baseball in an allstars baseball tournament. 

They won third  place in their division, which is amazing, since they were competing against twenty teams from places as far away as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

This is the girls and I in front of the entrance to the complex, ESPN Wide World of Sports. It was a beautiful complex and the stadiums were similar to the AAA baseball teams' fields. In fact, we saw the Braves AAA team playing on one of the fields while we were there.

We are very proud of Hunter. He's a wonderful baseball player, with a good head on his shoulders.

Both girls get very excited when they know we are going to see him, even though they are a little shy at first. Jenna really admires him and once she warms up, she is all over him. In this picture, Jenna (on the left), and another little sister, are watching Hunter warm up for his turn at bat.

Jenna is at the age where she is truthful and opinionated, but can't decipher what may or may not hurt someone's feelings.

1. One afternoon, we were resting and watching TV in the Orlando hotel, getting ready for a long day at the ballpark. A young, blonde girl came on the screen in the movie we were watching. Jenna said, "She's pretty isn't she mommy?" I agreed, then she said, "She's prettier than you. Except when you wear lipstick. Then you are prettier." "Oh, really. Hmmm," I responded. I noticed that the girl had on a soft, pink lip gloss that really added color to her complexion. As insecure as it seems, I secretly have been trying to wear a little more lip color since then. If all it takes is lipstick to look a tad cuter, well then, bring on the lip color!

2. Not long after the lipstick comment, she told me that she thought Daddy was older than Mommy. My husband is ten years older than me, but people tell him all the time that they are surprised at his age and they think he's a lot younger. My husband loves to brag to me about this, and I usually say something like, "It's not your looks they're referring to, it's your immaturity." 

Rarely, am I ever told that I look younger, so I thought Jenna's comment was kind of funny. I questioned, "Why do you think I am younger?" "Because Daddy has lines on his face," she said. 

3. My husband, Jason, is a manly man. He's handsome, but he's not into hair and facial products or manicures and he washes his face with bar soap (which is not helping with the "lines"). He will let his eyebrows grow so much before getting them trimmed, they look like they're waving at people. Jason will wear whatever he can reach first in the closet and even though I will buy him new socks and underwear, he will still wear the ones with holes in them. I have to sneak to throw his underwear away because he's a borderline hoarder and claims his Sunday undies, "the holy ones", are comfortable and his favorites.

He'll come home from work and put on the same comfy basketball shorts and t-shirt almost daily. Jenna has observed this routine and she has pointed out, in pictures of him five years ago, that he is wearing the same outfit. 

One day she said, "Daddy's had those clothes a long time. He needs new pajamas, right?" "Do you think we should get him some?," I asked. "Yes," she said. "Me and Carissa get new ones and so, Daddy should too."

These pictures are only three of the many shots I have of him in his favorite shirt and basketball shorts.
Love you, babe;) 

   

Claiming Victory Over Horribleness

I was on Facebook this past week, and this is what came across my newsfeed:

One of my friends apparently "liked" this photo posted by "Being Liberal", which looks like a blog devoted to mudslinging against right-wing Republicans. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says liberal can mean broad-minded. I assume this writer wasn't feeling all warm and fuzzy and like being liberal that day about religious people.    

To be honest, I'm not a fan of talking about politics. I am not on team red or team blue. In my opinion, our nation's politics have become too much about hating another party, rather than finding the best solutions for the American people. And, mudslinging against another political party is always ridiculous and sophomoric at best. How can we be the United States of America, without unity?   

I don't usually like to get involved in foolish and idle talk about divisive issues, like politics. But, I will be bold for Jesus. 

I scrolled down at the comments on this post, and people were calling Christians corrupt and saying that religion makes you horrible. It's easy for me  to forget how persecuted we are, until I look outside my Christian social circles.

I liked what one guy said:

 If religion is the only thing keeping someone from being horrible, then thank God for 

religion!

Looking at all the comments, I started thinking about the Christians and non-Christians I know. Some Christians, myself included, have done some pretty horrible things. In fact, I know some wonderful non-Christians that seem more loving, kind, generous, and helpful than some Christians I know.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July and our nation's freedom this week, it always makes me think of the freedom we are given when we have a relationship with Christ. 

You see, the difference between Christians and non-Christians is really not who is more horrible, but instead, who has freedom from that horribleness. So, this is what I commented on the post that day:

The truth is we are ALL horrible people apart from God's grace. Thankfully, Jesus nails our horribleness to the cross when we place our trust in Him.

Then, we no longer have to be slaves to our sin. We don't have to carry around the weight of our bad choices, past or present. We don't have to be a prisoner to emotions like fear, guilt, shame, anger, and unworthiness. Jesus paid our ransom when he died on a cross and declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30). 

Isn't that a wonderful gift? A free gift of freedom for everyone, that doesn't have to be fought for or earned. "For God so loved you, that he gave his one and only son, that if you believe in him, you shall have eternal life" (John 3:16).

For those of us who do believe, let's claim our victory. We have the same power living in us that rose Christ from the grave. Isn't that amazing? With the Holy Spirit we will never be alone and we will never be defeated.

Dear Heavenly Father, I am grateful for living in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave and for your sons and daughters that fought for that freedom. Though my earthly freedom may be threatened at times, I am grateful for the secure gift you gave me of freedom in Christ, when you sent Jesus to die on a cross to pay the ultimate price for my sins. In the strong name of Jesus. Amen.