God is good!!!
and He answers prayers - not in our time, but in His time. And His timing is good too.
This past weekend, the boys and I were very busy. But the good busy, full of fun and sunshine and laughter. Sunday morning, my friend dropped her kiddos off to me at church (at her daughter's request) and the boys were thrilled to be able to spend the day with their friends. We just simply don't see them often enough and they're some of our favorite people. At church, Andrew asked me to hop into the inflatable boxing ring and "fight" him - how could I say no? It's rare for Andrew to ask me to do anything so when he does, he really wants it and so I do it. For a split second I felt a little silly but what's feeling a little silly compared to bonding time and giggles?! (He claims he won; I say it was a tie).
To fill the time during the afternoon, we went bowling (Andrew had won five free games, there were five of us...seemed like a great idea) and we had a great time. There was one kind of major meltdown from Christian, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle, the rest of the kids ignored him and we didn't let it ruin our day. They kicked my butt (by the third frame Andrew felt bad and insisted I play with the bumpers up for the rest of the game lol) so when we got home I made them help me wash the car (really I just wanted them to have some water play, the weather was gorgeous). We wrapped up our day with dinner and a quick game of Disney Scene-it and finally a quick skype chat with my mom and dad. Then I took them back to their dad's.
Usually, the boys are pretty tight-lipped and don't tell J much at all about the time we spend together. Sunday, however, they were going a mile a minute, their words tumbling over each other's, so excited that they forgot about competing for attention and just rambling on and on about our day. Practically bouncing, totally full of energy. So full of joy and happiness that they both gave me hugs good-bye and let me kiss their heads. FOR.THE.FIRST.TIME.EVER. (well since their dad took them and the custody changed and that whole mess)
None of the typical awkwardness. None of the typical weirdness. None of the typical avoidance.
I don't expect it to be like this every week. I know it's a process and we'll take steps back while we're moving forward (I like to think of it like a cha cha). But I have been praying for a breakthrough like this relentlessly for over a year.
He has heard me, He has answered me. It wasn't immediate, but I never expected it to be. But as I keep doing the next right thing - getting the boys dedicated, giving Andrew any and every opportunity to be closer to God and helping him strengthen his relationship with Him, taking Christian to church every chance I have, delving into Bible Study with a spiritual mentor, acknowledging His call on my life and taking the necessary steps to get there - my prayers are being answered. I will keep being focused and persevering, and things will keep on getting easier and back to good.
Because God is good and if He is for us, no one can be against! <3
This past weekend, the boys and I were very busy. But the good busy, full of fun and sunshine and laughter. Sunday morning, my friend dropped her kiddos off to me at church (at her daughter's request) and the boys were thrilled to be able to spend the day with their friends. We just simply don't see them often enough and they're some of our favorite people. At church, Andrew asked me to hop into the inflatable boxing ring and "fight" him - how could I say no? It's rare for Andrew to ask me to do anything so when he does, he really wants it and so I do it. For a split second I felt a little silly but what's feeling a little silly compared to bonding time and giggles?! (He claims he won; I say it was a tie).
To fill the time during the afternoon, we went bowling (Andrew had won five free games, there were five of us...seemed like a great idea) and we had a great time. There was one kind of major meltdown from Christian, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle, the rest of the kids ignored him and we didn't let it ruin our day. They kicked my butt (by the third frame Andrew felt bad and insisted I play with the bumpers up for the rest of the game lol) so when we got home I made them help me wash the car (really I just wanted them to have some water play, the weather was gorgeous). We wrapped up our day with dinner and a quick game of Disney Scene-it and finally a quick skype chat with my mom and dad. Then I took them back to their dad's.
Usually, the boys are pretty tight-lipped and don't tell J much at all about the time we spend together. Sunday, however, they were going a mile a minute, their words tumbling over each other's, so excited that they forgot about competing for attention and just rambling on and on about our day. Practically bouncing, totally full of energy. So full of joy and happiness that they both gave me hugs good-bye and let me kiss their heads. FOR.THE.FIRST.TIME.EVER. (well since their dad took them and the custody changed and that whole mess)
None of the typical awkwardness. None of the typical weirdness. None of the typical avoidance.
I don't expect it to be like this every week. I know it's a process and we'll take steps back while we're moving forward (I like to think of it like a cha cha). But I have been praying for a breakthrough like this relentlessly for over a year.
He has heard me, He has answered me. It wasn't immediate, but I never expected it to be. But as I keep doing the next right thing - getting the boys dedicated, giving Andrew any and every opportunity to be closer to God and helping him strengthen his relationship with Him, taking Christian to church every chance I have, delving into Bible Study with a spiritual mentor, acknowledging His call on my life and taking the necessary steps to get there - my prayers are being answered. I will keep being focused and persevering, and things will keep on getting easier and back to good.
Because God is good and if He is for us, no one can be against! <3