It was a small class today. Only one other kiddo in Naomi’s class today, and Tatum had full attention! Naomi had her try the back float, and I usually hold her head, but today!!?? We sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (10 seconds) as I let go and she floated.
This face represents a tired Tot but a brave girl whose mommy is proud!
Surprises daily so CARPE DIEM!
It’s those little moments in the day when I am filled with shock and awe.
1. The other day we were picking prayers sticks and she picked Bobby. Then she said, “Bobby!”
2. The paper today had a Target insert. She grabbed it and said, “What do they have at Target!?”
3. She then grabbed the comic section and said, “I want the funny paper.”
4. At Trader Joe’s today, she pointed to the yogurt and said, “Mommy, can we have yogurt.”
The surprise about ALL of these examples is that there is no precedent. She did not know the stick said Bobby. We don’t usually read the inserts in the paper, and she wouldn’t know it is Target. Moreover, I don’t read the funnies. (My mom does, but how would Tatum know this?) Finally, yogurt? I don’t buy it and I don’t ever talk about it in the dairy section.
Surprise and awe.
Maybe this brilliance will translate into some musical capability. Testing it out today with her new Fisher Price keyboard. So far, she just wants to hit the Cymbal button. 
CARPE DIEM!
The Father to the fatherless
That is who HE is.
Comfort. The word of the day is COMFORT. I’m not only comforted by this truth, but TOT is comforted. How do I know? Psalm 68:5 “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”
Psalm 10: 14 “to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless…..17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed.”
Knowing that Tatum may face fear in her life…or persecution…or struggle, I am comforted that she is to be covered with God’s protection. And….so are the 150 million orphans around the world. Step up. Do something.
I love you Tatum. Thank you Father God for being her Father and loving her beyond what any humancan comprehend. Your future is bright my darling.
Those fingers!
It’s catching on! Tatum has her fingers in her mouth in every picture here, and apparently, Robert is finding those fingers of his quite tasty. Tatum is such good influence on her friends! What a leader! (LOL)
Such a fun time with her bestie, Robert and mommy, Jennie. It’s pretty hard to not laugh constantly when those two are around.
Minnie Blessings
Today was a day to remember. Why? I fell in love again for the first time.
The opportunity to be Tatum’s mommy over again hit me today. Being at the doctor and being tested for some health issues, it was made aware to me that I could not have been able to have children. Wow. Now, God knew this, and Tatum came into my life.
Minnie mouse symbolizes dreams coming true and happiness. This is what I see when I look at my Minnie blessings: Tatum
A couple more fun facts about Minnie. Supposedly, Minnie was truly a princess but not by name. She was by how Mickey saw her. He even said: “Gosh, Minnie, you’ve always been a princess to me.” (source e-online). This is how I see my daughter and this is how God sees her: A princess who gives Minnie blessings to everyone around her. This is how God sees US!!! Wow, what a revelation.
(http://www.eonline.com/news/598867/12-mickey-and-minnie-mouse-facts-that-will-make-you-believe-in-love-forever)
Mess Happens
Sometimes the biggest messes we make create the best opportunity to clean up.
We do it every day; we make a mess of something. Maybe it’s a conversation we messed up, or maybe we spilled our salad dressing all over the counter. Sometimes it’s deliberate (our messes) and sometimes they are quite innocent. Whatever the case, it’s a mess. What we do with the mess? Well, now that is the true test.
Let’s say our mess was an accident. You were at Starbucks at the sugar/cream station, and your ripped yellow packet missed the garbage and the cream you poured dripped all over the counter. Did you just walk away? You just created an opportunity to clean up. Clean up not only your mess, but clean up your intentions. Are you thinking about the fact that you are late or the next person who will be using the cream/sugar station?
Was your mess intentional? Tatum’s mess yesterday was intentional, but she did not realize the ramifications of her intentional actions. When I walked in from her nap, there it was. Two whole books torn to bits all over the floor. It was a sea of pages surrounding her crib. As usual, I had given her about 6 books for her to read while in her crib for nap time.
She loves to sing and talk with her books during that time. However, she decided to tear out each page of two of her books. This was not out of anger but for enjoyment, yet when I walked in with my face filled with sadness, she knew the fun was over. This makes me think she knew it was wrong.
Now what? How do I handle it? How should she handle it? This was an opportunity to clean up not only her floor but her character. After I silently picked up each page one by one as she watched my somber face, I placed them in a plastic bag. I was as silent as a mouse, and she knew I was very sad. As I did this, I tried to think of what to do!? I capitalize on the mess. So, she wants to tear up stuff? Great. Let’s get a box with paper and designate it the tear-up paper box! Have at it!! But books, “NEVER, Tatum…NEVER HURT YOUR BOOKS because it is mean and not nice to the books or to me.”
Mess Happens. Mess gets cleaned up with the right attitude and a plan to make the best of the mess.
Make every mess a learning opportunity.
It is good. Very good.
Good? Friday. No, there is no question after that word. It is good. Very good.
I was just reading a post (Put it to Rest) I wrote last year, and I was reminded of how death can be such a beautiful thing. It has no sting if it is recognized as a chance for a new beginning.
1 Cor 15: 55-57: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”; O death, where is your victory?; O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That “sting” can be the part you put to rest and say, “NO MORE!!!” The rest (double entendre here..) is victory. What I put to rest, that is victorious because I can say goodbye to something and know that it will be redeemed for GOOD. What is leftover, the rest, is God’s beautiful redemption. A new creation. The rest may rest, but is redeemed.
Is your head spinning?
Yes, I overthink it, but truly, this is all about LETTING GO (sssssssubmitting) of whatever you want to control or HAVE and say, “I can no longer make all the balls in the air dance. I want to let them fall and know that you have them dancing without my hands in the way.”
Here is my list of the balls I have in the air. Let HIM make them dance.
Tatum (her future)
Dating and what the future holds for a cohesive family
My friendships
My career (whatever that may look like)
My finances
My health.
There’s probably more, but that is enough balls for one post.
I give them to you Jesus. I have no fear because you just took it ALL on the cross for me. YOU did it FOR ME. Your yolk is so heavy and mine can be so light. All I can do is all I can do.
Thank you for these three days to ponder the depth, breadth, height and weight of your love for me, Father. That you would give your son, YOU in a bod, up, knowing that we will be reunited with YOU through HIM.