The Bane of my Existence*

*Obviously the following blog is going to talk about something that is "harmful" to me, but I am most likely exaggerating about its ability to cause ruin or death.

There is a terror in the Congo. This predator strikes during the daytime unnoticed until it is too late. It matters not how much I prepare myself, because it always finds me. (*Insert shrieking violin noises*). What is this horror? BLACK FLIES.

These little buggers travel in small swarms, hunting for innocent bystanders, feeding on the blood of their host...ME! It does not matter how much bug spray I use, if I travel outside my house, I must wear protection. It can be 105 degrees outside and I must wear pants, socks, long sleeves, repellent (with Deet and/or picaridin), and constantly stay in active motion to prevent them from landing on me... although the repellent really doesn't deter them, it's just used for placebo to make me feel like I've done something to thwart their sinister plans of feasting upon me for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Yes, that is me being devoured by the vicious
leech, all in the name of bloggery/photography 

These little vampires aren't kind. Not one bit. When they bite, you feel their unpleasant clamp. And when they are done, they leave you with a bright big welt that itches. If you accidentally touch it, the itchy sensation gets worse and will continue to itch for up to a week!

These little nightmare inducing fiends are everywhere here. They breed near water and unfortunately for us, we are located near the Congo River. They can travel miles away from where they breed and we happen to be on their way to and from their breeding grounds.

And of course, these monsters make me feel like a terrible mom. Kids need to go outside and enjoy life. But every time we go outdoors, the bloodsuckers grab hold and take a bite or ten. My poor babies! Thus, I have declared war on these beasts! I will not rest until they have ceased to be...or until I can sweet talk the kids into going back indoors to watch a movie while I apply more benadryl.

Motherhood Moments #4

Sometimes motherhood looks like this...

I often ask myself why I don't work out often enough and then I try to work out and I quickly remember why...clingy toddlers. Do you know how hard it is to transition from Chaturanga to upward dog with a toddler on your back? No? In this photo I am attempting a down dog with a high leg but little girl is riding the leg that needs to go up. She knows how to turn basic yoga into a Crossfit workout!

My Confession

Have you seen the movie “Courageous”? To sum it up without spoiling the movie, it is about five families who deal with the everyday struggles of life and their personal struggles to incorporate Christ in to every aspect of their life, especially their family life. It is an inspirational movie about the Biblical role of a father to his family. I can’t get enough of this movie!

My father died when I was four and my mother did not remarry until I was eighteen and in college. Don’t get me wrong, my mother did a wonderful job raising me considering the circumstances, but I had never had the opportunity to see a daily example of marriage. Before Kevin and I were married, I was worried. Would I become another divorce statistic just because I didn’t know how to act; would I break Kevin’s heart simply because I didn’t understand how a partnership should work; and would I be able to truly be fulfilled in a relationship I never had the opportunity to see or understand? With God, we’ve made our marriage a beautiful friendship. So what is my confession? Now, as we prepare to face our new roles as parents, new fears are coming to light. I have no idea had a family should act! What does a father look like? How are good parents supposed to interact and work together? What will discipline look like in a parental partnership?

Now, I feel like I am placing “pressure” on Kevin to be the role model father to our child, the father I never had. After watching “Courageous” (twice), he felt that one of my goals should be accountability. Hold him accountable to be the father who raises his children to be Godly; hold him accountable to be the Godly example to his child; and most importantly, hold him accountable to be the man God has asked him to be. That feels like a lot of pressure to me!

So, believing I could solve this answer on my own, I bought books – many books. And I have read these “many books.” Unfortunately, I have ignored the one book that could truly help me. To be honest, until I saw the movie “Courageous,” I did not think of the Bible as a parenting book. To be honest, until marital counseling, I never thought of the Bible as a book about marriage either. It is amazing how those ten different Bibles sitting on the shelf will stare us in the face day after day and we still don’t think of the Bible as an encyclopedia of answers.

With our daughters’ arrival approaching (although not soon enough), I have a new goal – to read The Big Book of Parenting Answers written by the Holy Spirit, with commentary by Jesus of Nazareth, and Paul of Tarsus and an introduction by Moses. I will also leave you with a sneak preview as to what you are missing if you haven’t read said book. (I highly recommend it; it’s been on the best seller list for centuries.)

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6