Stop Hating! Find your Place.

There's been a lot of drama in and out of church. People can say what they want to say but drama is part of today's world, whether it's at home, school, work, or church. It's everywhere. I can't stand it. No matter where you go, it's there. It's up to each individual person to decide how they will react or not act to it.

My prayers go out to those who intentionally aim to hurt others. I don't like to get in anyone's business but social networks makes it easy for you to just know. WWJD? Yes, I asked it. Well??? What did he do when he was spat on, had a crown of thorns put on his head, nailed to the cross, laughed at him and mocked? He performed the ultimate example of "turning the other cheek." He said nothing (Mark 15:5).

I will stand behind my Lord and Savior. I will stand behind my Preacher and his family. I will stand behind my church. Ever heard of a bad apple in the bunch? Well we have some of those. There are some in every bunch. They can say what they want to say to me or about me. It won't change where I go to church or how I feel about who's leading me and teaching me. It won't change who God is. He was, is and always will be the same. However, people, on the other hand, won't. People change, for good and for bad. People make mistakes. We are all sinners. No one is higher than the Almighty.

I'm much the observer, hardly ever the speaker. But this fires me up how people act. How do we expect to win souls for Christ when we can't even get along? Because I'm an observer in every way, there's much that I know that people may not think I know. I choose not to say anything. It's not my right to spread gossip, true or not. Don't get me wrong. There's standing up for what I believe in and the people I love. I will do it all day, everyday, if need be. Then, there's bad mouthing and words full of ignorance and foolishness. I've done it. We've all done it at some point or another. But all day, everyday of that is poison to self and to others.

We are all different. We are different colors. We have different personalities. We come from different backgrounds. We like and dislike different things. We handle situations differently. If you want to get right down to it, we pee differently. You heard me. WE PRAISE GOD IN OUR OWN WAYS! Whether you think one person or another is genuine or not, it's not up to you. It's between that person and God. God knows what's genuine. God knows what comes from the heart. There's no one church that's right for everyone. But Heaven will be the place for all those who truly believe.

Love or leave it. I don't care. I had to get my 2 cents in after hearing and reading about it all. Good night and sweet dreams.

Matthew 5:11 says, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

Also check out: Matthew 7: 21-23; James 1:26; Isaiah 29:13

It Really Does Take a Village

Valerie is officially potty trained. After Donna's advice, it took 2 days and 1 accident. I'm not saying the bubbles idea is for every child, but it sure worked for mine.

I've been thinking about the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." It really does take a village. However, that doesn't mean "leave your child with the village for raising." I know people like that. As a mother, I just can't imagine not actually parenting my own child. She spends a lot of time with grandparents, who are very helpful, but her daddy and I are the parents. Sometimes, the little journeys of this big journey of life can get frustrating, stressful and tiring but they can also be rewarding, joyful and exciting. I did have that one spout during potty training when I had a stressful day but in the end it was well worth the effort. Considering it only took us a total of 5 days, I can't complain. God has truly blessed us with such a wonderful child and great support from our fellow "villagers." Even potty training required the whole village. If it weren't for all the advice, it might have taken longer and been more frustrating. Sometimes Google won't do the trick. lol

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward" Psalms 127:3

Potty Training- Day 5 (1/18/12)

Today has been a good day of potty training. Thanks to Donna for the advice. Our first trip after waking up resulted in nothing. Not long after while I'm checking my email, I hear pee hitting the floor. Oops #1 for the day. Clean up time.

Donna, mother and grandmother, gave me some advice that made bathroom trips successful. Pee pee makes bubbles in the toilet. So for the second bathroom trip- we sit and we wait to listen for the pee pee. It was partially successful. Valerie was so interested in the bubbles idea, she would be quite and stick her ear towards mine to see if she could hear the pee. No pee but that's ok.

Trip #3 did the trick. Valerie was so excited, grinning from ear to ear. "Mommy, pee pee made bubbles!" She even wanted to wipe herself, however, she couldn't quite reach. Her treat? She got to flush the toilet and a Nemo sticker. The Nemo sticker wouldn't stick well, so we got another one to replace it. This time it was Minnie Mouse.

The next trip was also successful. She said she didn't have to pee. So we went to try anyway. Voila!

Potty Training- Days 3 & 4 (1/16/12-1/17/12)

Day 3-There's not much to this day. Valerie spent the day with her daddy while mommy had to work. She sat on the potty and tried but nothing. She would even tell him she needed to use it.

Day 4- Valerie stayed home half the day with daddy and the other will her Papa. Therefore, she was in a pull-up all day with trips to the bathroom. Two unsuccessful incidents and many trips just sitting on the toilet. The thunderstorm didn't help the evening trips either. I can't tell if she's pee shy or just doesn't realize the feeling of needing to pee. It's probably the latter, but, just in case, I walked off to give her some privacy. She immediately jumped on the toilet and ran. The thunder scared her. This last trip got me upset. I had to recoup and tell myself, "She's trying and not peeing on the floor on purpose." We had just gone to sit on the toilet and the next second she's peeing on the living room floor. Gotta love 'em! I had to apologize to Valerie for getting upset at her and explained in a calm manner that she needs to pee pee on the potty and not on the floor. Pee pee on the floor makes it dirty.

Before I left the parking garage after work, I was already in a tizzy. Regretfully, I aimed my stress and frustration at my 2 year old. It didn't help when she was being whiny while we were in the grocery store. Then she needed help with this and that once we got home while I was trying to cook. In the end, she's just a child who's still learning some of her boundaries. I wouldn't trade her for the world. Potty training is just one small step in her life. It's the not a crisis. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Tomorrow will be another day. I get to stay home with her this time. Long story short, I have no baby sitter. It was too late notice for my substitute babysitters. My babysitter (mother-in-law) for the day is caring for her very sick mother-in-law who's been in the hospital since yesterday. Hopefully, the docs will figure it out and Nana can get some help.

Potty Training- Day 2 (1/15/12)

Day 2 of potty training was not so dedicated but we tried. Much of our day was spent at church. That's a typical Sunday for us. Valerie was in a pull up all day. I don't think that helped but she did try several times. I had nursery duty, so I thought it would be helpful.

The first potty trip was at home before left. She sat but nothing. The second trip was in the nursery. She wanted a cookie but I told her she had to try to peepee first. She did try but nothing. We tried another time before church was over and still nothing.

I think it was helpful and also a little discouraging when two of the younger children in the nursery were being potty trained and doing better than Valerie. However, I hear that boys are easier to potty train than girls. Their equipment makes for easier potty training. I'm dedicated and she will get it in her own time. I can't force it or she won't even want to use the potty.

Besides the obvious "patience", this part of the journey requires a lot of dedication for both mommy and child. I can't get lazy and give up and just wait for her to use it when she's 5. lol... In all seriousness, it makes me think of dedication in my spiritual life. Am I as dedicated as I can be to the Lord? Am I putting forth as much effort in my relationship with Him as I am with this potty training. Shamefully, the answer is no. Who would've thought potty training would bring conviction? The Lord knows funny. :)

Potty Training- Day 1 (1/14/12)

It's been a very long time since I've blogged. There's a special reason as to why I'm blogging today. I'll need the good Lord to give me some patience for however long this part of my journey will take. Some may think it's silly to pray for things that may seem trivial but to me it's not.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Christians or not, we want the best for our children. God is the same way. We are his children and if we ask, we will receive. Of course, there are two things to remember: (1) It's not everything you ask for, but the things of good and for good and within His will for you, and (2) we will receive it in His time, not ours. That's where the patience needs to kick in.

So, this part of the journey of being a mommy has begun. Today started Valerie's potty training. Can we say much needed "patience"? Who wants to clean up pee and poop off the floor? But that's the job of a mommy. Valerie is will learn that the potty will be her friend. From advice of many friends and family, I've decided to use the no diaper, only underwear method. Of course, we will have to use the diapers during nap time and bedtime. My reinforcements are stickers, the privilege of flushing the toilet, and the realization that panties get dirty and wet when you don't use the bathroom on the potty. We'll see how this journey goes and how long it takes. I will keep you updated.


1st incident-
I tried the expensive waterproof underwear on. I covered her Tinkerbell saucer chair with a bath towel. After about 10 minutes, she peed in the underwear. Her 2-year old realization? The towel wasn't wet, even though she had peed in her underwear. So we remove the underwear to be washed and I put her in regular underwear.

For the next couple hours, I continue to ask her if she needs to potty. I give her breakfast (cereal and milk), her vitamin, and milk. When the milk is gone, I give her water.

Valerie then tells me she needs to poo poo. We sit and nothing. I explain to her that if she needs to poo poo, she needs to do in the potty or her underwear will get dirty. Then I encourage her by showing her the stickers and telling her that she only gets it if she uses the potty not just for sitting on it. I get the "Ok, mommy." So I watch her as she plays to stay on top of the training and try to prevent accidents.

2nd Incident and 2 pairs of underwear later -
I move the potty from the living room to the game room where she's "cooking" at her new kitchen she got for Christmas. I notice that expression she gets when it's poo poo time. I remind her about using the potty.

As I'm on the laptop in the same room, I see out of the corner of my eye, a little 2 year old opening up her potty. She proceeds to sit and, literally, 2 seconds later, "Mommy, I poo poo." I clap and congratulate her. She notifies daddy who also claps and congratulates. Of course, it was the usual "Great job, baby. Good girl!" I clean her up.(Side note- I've read that "Good girl" is not good to use. It may make her think she's bad if she doesn't do it in the potty. But it's natural to say it and I don't think she's having any confusion.) I give her 2 stickers. We go to the big potty and we flush.

3rd Incident-
About 5 minutes later, Valerie ends up peeing on the living room floor. I tell her she needs to use the potty and that mommy will clean up the mess. Obviously, she wasn't completely finished from the 2nd incident. Remember "two steps forward, one step back"? I think we're now at "one step forward, two steps back." I'm sure that's normal in the beginning. I clean up the mess with no negative attitude, which instantly, put my thoughts back to "patience." Thank God for patience! I'm sure this will not be the last mess I will have to clean up.

4th Incident and 3 pairs of underwear later:
Daddy asks Valerie if she needs to potty. She insists that she doesn't. Then she comes running out of her bedroom saying, "I'm wet!" Another mess on the floor.

So we put her in a pull-up in order to go out to eat. We try to get her to potty before bedtime. I guess 1 successful potty trip is better than none. We'll see what tomorrow brings.