and my spirt was overwhelmed. (Psalm 77:3b) Yeah yeah yeah- I am a complainer- especially today. How fitting that this verse was on my daily calendar- guess He knew ahead of time ;) Funny how things work like that. I wonder, could I go an entire day without a complaint? Even a little tiny one? I am sure I can- but do I? Do You?
Maybe I piqued your interest- are you still wondering what my complaints were this beautiful spring day? Well besides the normal small things from daily life, my complaint today stemmed from dealing with church parsonage living. Not much of a suprise to those of you that know this life- it almost goes hand in hand at times. Today we were supposed to be having a fan installed in our living room, we were given a time frame of "sometime after dinner" which was fine with me. I knew I had time to straighten things up when both kids were napping and I would be able to take them out of the house so that things could be done without them underfoot. Well, as you can assume- it didn't work that way. Instead, I had a hurried phone call from Tim right after lunch telling me that they were coming then- like then as in, I hang up the phone and the doorbell rings. Micah thankfully was just taken up for his nap, but lunch things were still out, there were cheerios on the carpet thanks to Addie dumping out her snack bowl, blocks everywhere from the two of them building a castle just moments before, and the worst part of all- there was me, not yet showered (I was planning on going running then showering), in old clothes that are not what I would want a close friend seeing me in, let alone a respected person from the church. Before I could scoop Addie up and head for upstairs to claim "crazy children" Tim is there- letting the person in and *gasp* there he is seeing me and my house in all it's disarray. Lets just say, I was not a happy camper. I hurried upstairs and camped out for the next hour while Tim cleaned up the toys underfoot and the fan and light was installed.
Now don't take this the wrong way, I was very happy to receive an update to our home, but I just wish people could respect our time- esp. with us having young kids (even a 15 min. notice would have helped here). No, not the end of the world but I am so embarrassed by what happened and I defintely complained to Tim after all was said and done.
With all that said, it sure is nice having a fan and new light- this entire room looks nothing like it did when we moved in. I was able to paint it two years ago, we got new furniture about that same time and now the broken light was finally replaced. Slowly, we are improving the look of the house and more and more it becomes a bit more "ours" (in the sense that it has things that reflect us instead of previous owners).
The weather today was absolutely gorgeous and thankfully, all of us were able to go outside and enjoy a nice evening walk. Micah insisted on pulling Addie in the wagon instead of riding and amazingly, he pulled it the ENTIRE walk. I kept asking if he needed either Tim or I to pull, but he wanted to do it himself and he did a WONDERFUL job of doing it. Addie just smiled in delight and periodically clapped and squealed as she sat back and enjoyed her big brother's work. It is supposed to be beautiful again tomorrow- at least until late evening, so I am planning on taking the kids outside to run off energy again- gotta love the beautiful spring we have had thus far.
I have a few things I want to accomplish before going to bed tonite, so instead of rambling on and on, I think I will just end my chatter here. Take the challenge with me, see if you can spend an entire day with out complaining- even the little things. Take joy in life and see if your entire outlook isn't 100% more positive at the close of the day. If nothing else, I am sure those around you will appreciate your effort. : )
Maybe I piqued your interest- are you still wondering what my complaints were this beautiful spring day? Well besides the normal small things from daily life, my complaint today stemmed from dealing with church parsonage living. Not much of a suprise to those of you that know this life- it almost goes hand in hand at times. Today we were supposed to be having a fan installed in our living room, we were given a time frame of "sometime after dinner" which was fine with me. I knew I had time to straighten things up when both kids were napping and I would be able to take them out of the house so that things could be done without them underfoot. Well, as you can assume- it didn't work that way. Instead, I had a hurried phone call from Tim right after lunch telling me that they were coming then- like then as in, I hang up the phone and the doorbell rings. Micah thankfully was just taken up for his nap, but lunch things were still out, there were cheerios on the carpet thanks to Addie dumping out her snack bowl, blocks everywhere from the two of them building a castle just moments before, and the worst part of all- there was me, not yet showered (I was planning on going running then showering), in old clothes that are not what I would want a close friend seeing me in, let alone a respected person from the church. Before I could scoop Addie up and head for upstairs to claim "crazy children" Tim is there- letting the person in and *gasp* there he is seeing me and my house in all it's disarray. Lets just say, I was not a happy camper. I hurried upstairs and camped out for the next hour while Tim cleaned up the toys underfoot and the fan and light was installed.
Now don't take this the wrong way, I was very happy to receive an update to our home, but I just wish people could respect our time- esp. with us having young kids (even a 15 min. notice would have helped here). No, not the end of the world but I am so embarrassed by what happened and I defintely complained to Tim after all was said and done.
With all that said, it sure is nice having a fan and new light- this entire room looks nothing like it did when we moved in. I was able to paint it two years ago, we got new furniture about that same time and now the broken light was finally replaced. Slowly, we are improving the look of the house and more and more it becomes a bit more "ours" (in the sense that it has things that reflect us instead of previous owners).
The weather today was absolutely gorgeous and thankfully, all of us were able to go outside and enjoy a nice evening walk. Micah insisted on pulling Addie in the wagon instead of riding and amazingly, he pulled it the ENTIRE walk. I kept asking if he needed either Tim or I to pull, but he wanted to do it himself and he did a WONDERFUL job of doing it. Addie just smiled in delight and periodically clapped and squealed as she sat back and enjoyed her big brother's work. It is supposed to be beautiful again tomorrow- at least until late evening, so I am planning on taking the kids outside to run off energy again- gotta love the beautiful spring we have had thus far.
I have a few things I want to accomplish before going to bed tonite, so instead of rambling on and on, I think I will just end my chatter here. Take the challenge with me, see if you can spend an entire day with out complaining- even the little things. Take joy in life and see if your entire outlook isn't 100% more positive at the close of the day. If nothing else, I am sure those around you will appreciate your effort. : )
12:25 AM
I don't think I could ever live in the clergy world. I wouldn't make it, I am too open minded and all the church gossip seems to always be looking for some fault in the pastors of the church and their families. When we lived in Oregon, we always went to the same church. Our parsonage was in the basement of the church. Our poor pastor had only about 800sqft. to live with 4 people. I don't know how they could do it. And that was only part of the basement, the rest of it was church kitchen, one larger room for our potlucks and the nursery. I am sure he and his wife had many times where they just wanted to have their time and respect fot their time. I am glad that you guys were able to get a fan though. I know you have said that it's always so hot in the summer, so I am sure that will hopefully help you guys stay cooler! I hope that it's nice tomorrow. Now that my eyes are feeling better, I don't have to keep the boys locked in the house.
9:19 AM
Sure do understand how you felt - ministry must be a calling not just a vocation or at times it wouldn't appear to be worth the effort. I do know after 23 years of parsonage-living the blessings have outnumbered the aggravations many times over. God says in His word that He will give us more than we can imagine. That will happen to us in July when we move to a new appointment and into a brand new parsonage just being built. I never thought I would have the privilege of living in a new home. What a blessing! Hang in there and enjoy your fan.