Misunderstood

So...

Have you ever had one of those times when you say something to a person or a group of persons, and the response is not at all what you were expecting? Maybe you haven't. I, however, have had many. I was pondering this in the shower the other day. I've gotten to the point where I can tell by the look on someone's face if they are really getting what I'm saying or just nodding to be polite. Even Josh does it to me. He gets this glaze in his eyes and just nods. I imagine most of the time he does this is because he knows how I hate to repeat myself and doesn't want to say, "What?" one more time. I've relayed the story to him of a time when I was asking my sister a question, and she THREE times asked me to repeat myself. Finally, when I put my hands on her face and made her pay attention to me, did she hear what I had to say. At times, I think it's probably because I speak softly, which makes it understandable why people don't get what I'm saying. Truly though, I feel like many times people just don't get me. I personally find myself extremely funny, but I have come to realize that not everyone shares that thought.

*Disclaimer for what's to come* No offense to anyone who posted on my Facebook page recently regarding a thought that I had in my status. I know your responses were in love. :)

Recently, after listening to someone talk about how he had yelled at his son, I was so convicted because of the way I treat my children sometimes. They deserve SO MUCH MORE grace than I give them. I just started thinking of all the times that I've overreacted to something they've done or said or didn't do, or whatever--all because I was tired, or my pregnancy hormones were in full swing, or "they just need to learn". My Heavenly Father is never too tired to treat me with kindness, and I do not feel like He ever thinks, "My gosh, I have told her over and over not to do that. She should know by now that that makes me furious." I realize that my boys need discipline; I'm not saying they don't. There are just so many times that I have flown off the handle for something so insignificant because in my mind it's justified. I want to be mad. I want to yell. I'm so tired of dealing with that. I realize the Lord doesn't expect me to behave as He would, nor am I so ignorant to think this is attainable. All I'm saying is my boys deserve better. I was actually glad of this conviction I had because it first led me to actually realize, Mary Ann, what you are doing is not okay, and it is not justified! You can say the same thing with lovingkindness, gentleness, and self-control (among other things). It also led to a great conversation with Josh.

Anyway, this line of thinking led me to put a pondering thought into my status update to which I expected no reply because for some reason in my mind it was as if no one was reading it and I was just thinking aloud. However, people actually read it! Who'd have thunk it? I'm guessing they were just reading it as though I was feeling bad for myself, when in all actuality I was rejoicing because my day had been so wonderful without my anger.

To wrap up, getting the comments from people trying to make me feel better reminded me of my thoughts in the shower of how I'm just "misunderstood". I've decided, though, that it's not necessarily because people don't get me. People just think differently than I do. I don't laugh at every joke I hear. Why should I expect all people to like mine? I don't agree with everything that is said around me. Why should I expect everyone to agree with me? I could probably go on, but you get the picture. But how void would life be if we all laughed at the same things, ate the same food, read the same books, wore the same clothes? It really is a good thing that not everyone thinks I'm wonderful and hilarious (although I am).

So...

As I was folding some laundry, I overheard this conversation between Max and Leo while they were fighting some pretend bad guys.

Max: Come on; we've got to get those evil guys!

Leo: They're not evil; they're good.

Max: They aren't good. They're evil. They cackle. Wahahaha.

Just thought I'd enlighten you in case you were uninformed like me and didn't realize that anyone that cackles is evil.

Toothless, Part Two

So...

I thought people might like to see that Max's mouth no longer looks like the picture in my recent blog, and now he looks sooooo cute with both of his front teeth missing!

Good Taste

So...

Last week Josh's mom asked me for a Christmas list for the boys.  I first asked Max what he'd like to have and was compiling a list on e-mail.  Got his finished and asked Leo what he'd like, and his response was, "Uh, something expensive."  Like mother, like son.

Toothless

So...

Max is 6 now.  He's lost a few teeth and been cool with that, of course.  Lately, his front teeth have started loosening up, and he lost one a few evenings ago.  However, the way he lost the tooth was less than desirable.  

I was in the kitchen fixing dinner, Josh at the computer, the boys running around.  Max runs into the living room, dives onto the ottoman and smacks his mouth on the arm of our chair, which is really hard below the cushion.  Big thud.  Painful crying.  Josh jumps up and goes to him.  We both think he must have broken his arm because it looked kind of funny in between the chair and the ottoman.  Not the arm.  He looked up at Josh with his mouth full of blood.  I believe Josh's words were, "Oh gosh, Buddy!"  We took Max to the bathroom and had him swish around some salt water and got him cleaned up all the while trying to keep him from freaking out because he was spitting out so much blood, and he could see himself in the mirror. After slowing the flow, he bit on a rag for awhile and watched a movie and appears to be okay for now.  Here are some lovely pictures for you to enjoy.  Josh also blogged about this if you want to read his interpretation.  It has a bit of a different spin.

My Husband

So...

I just wanted to say how much I love Josh. 

We had an unexpected date tonight.  Our friends that live across the hall asked us to watch their boys for them last night, so they watched our guys tonight in exchange.  It was great!  We went to St. Louis Bread Co. (known as Panera everywhere else) for dinner, and then we did some Christmas shopping.  The reason my husband is so great is the fact that he went Christmas shopping on a date.  You must understand that finding Christmas presents is my favorite thing about Christmas (the material part of it).  I love trying to come up with the perfect gift for each person.  I really hate it when I can't come up with that gift, though.  

I digress.  For those of you who know Josh, shopping is really not fun for him, but because I wanted to, he did.  It's not just the fact that he went shopping that makes him wonderful obviously, but when I thought of how he was doing something just to make me happy, I started thinking about how great he is overall.

Josh is an amazing man.  I'll just list some of my favorite qualities about him.  He's a man of God, which to me means he leads our family in worship, studying God's Word and teaching it to his family, being an example to our boys of God's grace and love, having faith in Christ, loving us all unconditionally and on and on.  He's extremely intelligent, which not only comes in handy when we're playing trivia, but he keeps me informed of important things.  I'm not saying I'm stupid, but he's certainly a level (or ten) above me sometimes.  Of course, he's a hottie.  I love those blue eyes and dazzling smile.  He's the best daddy around.  I couldn't ask for a better father for my little guys.  He's so sweet and tender when they need him to be, yet he's still able to dole out the discipline when necessary as well as being a wonderful example to them. He is the perfect fit for me.  God new exactly what he was doing when he put us together.  I can't wait until he gets home from work so that I can just melt into his arms, before my belly gets too big for it that is.  Yes, I'm pregnant again for those of you who didn't know.  I'm delighted that Josh and I will be having another little one to love and nurture.  Thanks, Lord, for my wonderful husband.

Halloween or Reformation Day As We Like to Call It

These pictures are in reverse order.  Our day started at the bottom and completed at the top. We went to the Magic House earlier in the day with some friends, which the boys loved!  Then, of course, we went trick-or-treating with everyone's favorite superheroes.  I am well protected; I assure you.