Uh Oh……Here She comes

Uh Oh……Here She comes!

And barreling before her is a cart full of anxiety, irritability, love, hate, anger, tears, and cravings. Yes, we are talking about Aunt Flo! (as my best friend describes a woman’s menstrual cycle! I suppose Aunt Flo has an accomplice …….PMS!

As many as 90% of women will have an encounter with the emotional, and physical roller coaster we call pms at some point in their lives. And up to 10% will suffer from the severe version of pms, now known as pmdd. That’s it! That’s what’s wrong with me! Ha, if it were only that easy for me. ;)

So, do you often find yourself on that roller coaster each month.  Eating your child’s chocolate stash, biting your husbands head off, crying during the little Mermaid (the 26^th time through) For some woman, it is very mild. Perhaps it is a nice excuse to eat some extra chocolate, speak our minds, or wear jogging pants in public. But for other woman, although they may not have pmdd, their pms is enough to affect their “normal” process of functioning day to day. They’re families often suffer at the ticking of their emotional bomb. Yup….MY family! I tell ya, one minute, I am happy and loving, and then out of nowhere, I am irritable and it’s all his fault. Then I’m crying because he didn’t care enough to care why I was so mean to him 5 minutes ago. Yeah probably because he’s looking for a shield,  running for cover, planning an escape with the kids, praying or even trying not to laugh.

 Of course studies show that a woman with a good diet and exercise and possibly even a calcium supplement have a greater chance of being pms free.  Wow…that seems to be their answer for everything now days. And while I’m sure that may all help, really who wants to diet when their pms~ing right? I know I sure don’t. It’s the ONLY excuse I have to eat junk! The rest is blamed on poor self control!

In all seriousness, I know full and well that there is a great physician waiting for you to reach out and touch Him. He can, and He will heal you, (and me) If we just seek Him out in faith, reach toward heaven and touch His garment. He loves Us, and His plan for us is not to be emotionally unstable. Not even for one week.

Take a look at Luke 8 :43-48

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.  She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."   But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."   Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Isn’t God awesome, how in a modern day world he can still teach us through His classic treasure…..His written promise book, the Holy Bible!

Birthday Blessings

As I awoke the morning of my birthday, it was as if it was any other day in the house full of young boys. Just as any morning, I’m even lucky to get a “good morning” from the half awoken children that are preparing themselves to sit through yet another 8 hour day of sitting while listening to someone talk about subjects they could care less about. Pardon me, if they weren’t leaping for joy to sing happy birthday.

Fear not, for it is my day, and it will NOT be ruined by anyone. We shall continue on with the plans for the day. The big boys have consumed their coffee and I do manage to get an “I love you” from each of them as they venture to the bus. My Baely, so sweet and awake each morning, arises and gives me a hug large enough for the four of them. (I guess he had his brothers’ back) The youngest of the crew continue to get ready and I escort them to school. I am so excited for the day ahead. 

The plan was to meet with my dear friend Lisa, and hang for the day. We are also to pick up our sweet friend Kim along the day for lunch. I wanted my best friend to come and enjoy the day with us, but in all reality, it just isn’t her type of fun. She’s quiet, meek, and gentle. And well, Lisa and Kim are talkative, goofy and obnoxious. But how blessed I am to have such great Jesus following woman in my life.. So, well the bff says she’s not interested because we ladies “talk to much”…ok, she’s right! That’s ok, we will hang out tomorrow!

Lisa and I had breakfast, strolled through the grocery store (yes that is what mother’s do for fun). We were in route to wherever we felt like going when we U-turned into World Market. What a neat market that was, and again we strolled through leisurely at our own pace, no schedule, no rush, no fuss. The Christian book store in Ann Arbor is quite sad; we visited it none the less.  Made our purchases and headed to pick up our dear friend Kim for lunch. We enjoyed some warm soup and salad as we laughed and giggled our priceless hour away. Heading back to Dundee, we stopped at Silver Bells for some ornament shopping. Then before we knew it, the day was over and it was time to pick up our children from school. 

While to some the day may not have seemed fun or exciting. There is something to be said about a relaxing day of strolling through at your own pace. How sweet of a friend to cancel her entire day to wander aimlessly around Ann Arbor with you.

Back to reality……I pick up the boys, something is clearly wrong with Brandon, but of course he is 17, has life all figured out, and doesn’t want to discuss it with his meddling mother. My birthday is the day that we traditionally put up our Christmas tree. I ask Brandon to retrieve the Christmas items from the attic (normally he enjoys these tasks). He brought down one box, and slugged himself back upon the couch. Baely and Cole began to get a bit rowdy as young boys do. My joy is quickly brought to a halt, and I feel the anxiety rising in me. I surely can’t get mad at my boys for being….well, boys! So I departed the house 40 minutes early and headed for my sisters for a visit. I then was supposed to wait for a friend to meet up with and go to a chocolate party! Yes chocolate! I drove to my mother’s to discuss my gift (per HER request) The chocolate party plans fell through, so I visited for a bot. Planned my shopping trip to Lifeway with mom, and proceeded home. 

In my perfect little bubble, I totally believe that my family will have the tree up when I get there, and all that will be left will be to decorate. Wrong! The tree stem is missing, AGAIN!!! This isn’t even funny. This is really the 2^nd one we have lost. I mean, come on already….how do we lose ANOTHER tree stem??? So now I am just sitting in the middle of a home full of Christmas décor strung from one end to the other. Phil decides he is going to present me with my present. Even though I already bought myself a pair of boots and deemed them my gift from him. I opened that perfectly wrapped Kay box to find a beautiful birthstone Pandora charm. How sweet right? Well, if I was journaling in May, you would know that I asked for a Pandora bracelet for Mother’s day and never received it. Mainly due to financial reasons and my husband’s lack of knowledge about how affordable they can be. I am completely over it, and know that I’ll get one one day. I suppose it just took me a bit by surprise to receive a charm for a bracelet that I did not even possess yet. Not to mention, the knuckle head spent his gas money for the week on it. So later while discussing my pretty little charm, my sweet husband expressed the importance of getting the birthstone charm, ON my birthday. How does one become angry with that nonsense?

I all reality, I had a super blessed day. I am surrounded my some amazing woman that truly love me for me, Instabilities and all. My husband and boys are clearly the average chaotic, illogical. Loving, best group of guys you can ask for. Were they perfect for my bubble? NO! Do they love and appreciate me, even if they can’t always display it? YES!

I am blessed to have shared another birthday on this earth. I pray that I can be less wasteful with this year, and work hard to do the will of my Father in heaven!

Psalm 139: 13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.