Entitlement is flabbergasting

I hate when my husband comes home frustrated.  I really don't like it when it is because of others lack of care, or rather, care of what others think as opposed to what is right.  My husband's UIL competition is next Friday.  8 days from today.  The dates have been on the calendar (for the band, the school, the district) since last August.  Parents sign the handbook in August stating they have received notice of the dates, that their children will attend barring any emergencies, and that these competitions make up MAJOR grades for their children.  Then, he gets called today to speak to the principal because his UIL sanctioned competition interferes with (get this) hair, nail and dinner appointments for the girls (I am assuming) and boys that are going to the 8th grade dance that same night.  His competition is 3 hours before this dance, and if the kids are really pressed for time, the parents can pick them straight up from the competition.

There are numerous things that are frustrating.  1) Why wouldn't a UIL competition that these kids have been working on all semester be more important than an 8th grade dance.....for both the administration and the parents?  2)  It is belittling to my husband and the entire program that the PTA should be given precedence, when his date has been on the calendar for 8 months.  3)  It is frustrating as a wife as our family time revolves around all these competitions, yet the children who signed up for this program aren't expected to give it the same respect.

That right there is frustration enough going into a Friday.  He's expected to make some calls and try to get either a) an earlier time on Friday or b) move it to Saturday.  My husband's cousin has a baby shower in Corpus that Saturday, and since we haven't been able to go down there in over a year, this was going to be a day trip to see our family.  But, what is most frustrating to me as I watch my husband go through this over and over is the lack of commitment to his program.  Each time they have an event outside of class, there is ALWAYS a parent calling/emailing the day of with an excuse for their child.  Then, getting angry at my husband when he says the child will receive a zero for the grade.  And even angrier when there is no make up.  Do parents not understand when their child doesn't show up, it affects the whole sound of the group?

I know this is a rant and I'm sorry, I just hate to see Eric frustrated.  He mentions today when we're speaking how these 8th grade dances are like what our proms were like in high school.  Last year, they had to limit the number of LIMOS that dropped kids off at the school.  This is a dance in the school cafeteria for goodness sake, for thirteen year olds. One year, at another junior high in the area, a parent called to see if their child could be dropped off in a HELICOPTER.  Are you kidding?  The children are being taught that responsibility is great, unless it interferes with something really important like dropping a few hundred, or thousand, dollars on something as spectacular as a school dance.  Or, it's great to belong, but only until we don't have time for that.  Eric's second group has their UIL competition this Saturday (like in two days) and not one chaperone has signed up.  So, that's another day away from our family because parents don't want to be involved.

This is just so hard to take after yesterday's post.  There are children lying in beds fighting cancer alone, and we are worried about 13 year old nail appointments interfering with a competition.  Or, children across the world, that just need some shoes, or a little food, and are praying to receive these things we assume are dire needs, yet they are used to going without.

I'm not trying to be on a high horse and say I have this all figured out, because I know I don't.  I have my own idols in my life (more on that in another post that is started and I just can't finish), things that I give more importance that they should, but I just see our culture continuing to move this way.  Self-worshiping, without care of others.  It hurts my heart, knowing that this is part of the sin in the world.  Our fallen lives we leave.

Lord, be near.  In Romans 8 it says we are hostile towards you when our mind is set on the flesh and not on you.  Be with us, each day, in every part of our day, turning our eyes to you.  Your spirit gives us life.  Be with Eric as he bears this burden.  Keep giving him a kind heart and gentle words.  Help him to be bold to declare your gospel.  Help me to hold my tongue when it only makes things worse.  We love you, and want to serve you alone!

Hard

This post gets bumped to the top.  I have 3 or 4 in draft form, all waiting for the rest of the words to be put to page.  But today, I learned something new.  Something I didn't want to.  I didn't want to know this truth.  But I can't un-know it, so now, what do I do with it?  Proverbs 24:12 tells us that "Once our eyes are opened we cannot pretend we do not know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows we know and holds us responsible to act."

Today I was bringing lunch, praying with and visiting a friend.  She is in the hospital with her precious 3 year old boy battling ALL (leukemia).  There have been some complications with his body from treatment and she's frustrated at day 10 of being an inpatient with few answers.  I tried to encouraged, I listened, I prayed.  Silently, while we chatted, out loud the drive up there, quietly when she went to put food in the fridge and little L was in and out of sleep.  Prayed over that boy, the family, the nurses, doctors, etc.   This boy is surrounded by prayer, you can feel it. 

The nurse came in to change out some medicines.  My friend and I began chatting with her about how all of the nurses looked in their 20s and 30s.  She said it's a hard, busy floor and most others can't keep up.  We chatted about a few things, and then she began the stories I wanted to unhear.

A story about a 18 year old.  He's been a patient since he was 16 and when he's inpatient, a lot of times he'll just leave and go to the zoo or the museum.  They text him and he comes back just in time for chemo.  They can't control him, so they're glad he at least tells them where he's going now.  Then the hard part: "His parents aren't involved."  What do you mean his parents aren't involved?  Her response, only "it's a long, sad story."

My friend and I couldn't believe it.  We started asking questions and the nurse mentioned it's more common than we think.  She said, "It's really sad when it's babies.  This isn't an ICU, we aren't supposed to do all care, but some parents just don't show up."  Me, "Babies...that have cancer?"  Yes, once a 5 day old.  Born with neuroblastoma.   The parents 'didn't want to get attached' and so the nurses took turns carrying the baby around in a Bjorn.  Can you imagine?  My friends with kids, can you EVER imagine??  The nurse said what I thought: "It's not a PUPPY! It's a baby!"  

Even worse, the baby that was there 18 months and never ONCE had a parent visit.  Can you imagine??????  I think of the orphanages.  Different countries have different types.  I've heard of EE and C8inese orphanages (not all) that you walk in and it's silent.  The babies don't get needs met when they cry, so they learn not to.  This was NOT the case at the few Ugandan orphanages I visited and helped.  It was boisterous, loud, playing, a little fighting amongst the toddlers, loving 'aunties.'  Touch.  Food.  Diaper changes.  Things children need.  It breaks my heart to think of children in the other type of orphanges.

Just like it broke my heart today.  To think of children, going through cancer, with no touch (besides pokes and prods and pressure cuffs), no love, no parent crying, grieving with them, worrying for them, praying for them.  No family and friends surrounding them, meeting needs, lifting them up.  Just a baby in a bed that doesn't, most likely, even have a foster family.  Heart broken.  But, then I remember the truth.  As I'm working through my current book/bible study, I learned last night that no matter what I feel, I must know the truth.  So, in these hard circumstances, what do I know as truth?  That God sees these children, that they are created in His image, that He has a plan and purpose for their life, not to harm but to prosper them.  I know that man is sinful and selfish, and all I can do (about that specifically) is pray and repent when I see it in my own life.  

So will you join me?  Praying, for these unseen children that are fighting for their lives alone, some of them not even able to walk or talk yet.  Pray for their parents, that they will come to know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus, and seek redemption and forgiveness in Him.  Pray for the nurses and doctors that treat these children, that their hands would be kind and hearts open.  Lord Jesus, be near!

Anna's Imagination

Anna has such a fun little imagination.  She's become a little obsessed with My Little Pony.  

She and Cara have always loved horses and getting quite a few little ponies for birthdays and Christmas has increased the obsession.  She likes to carry one around in her little purse and take it everywhere.  She knows most of their names, Rarity, Princess Cadence and Celestia, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash (said: gash), Apple Bloom, etc.  I need to get her little voice saying them on record, it is precious.  She gets to pretending about them, and all of a sudden we all have a part.  It is precious.  

(Anna holding Rainbow Dash in Gatlinburg, TN over spring break.)

Her other favorite thing to play right now is Mommy and Baby.  She's the mommy, of course.  So every time we're in her room playing, I end up in her bed, being put to bed.  I don't mind, I like to rest :).  It is precious how she mimics.  She tells me to lay my head down, then puts her little baby blanket on me, then prays for me.  She tell me, "say good night mommy," then we go around about how she's the mommy and I'm the baby and I need to call her mommy.  She is such a little cutie, and I can't imagine my life without my Anna Banana.  

 A cute after bath impromptu photo shoot.

 

I love this precious girl!

Part One -- October 2012

I was uploading for an October 2012 post, and I realized with pumpkin patch, Micah's birthday, Dewberry Farms, and Halloween, we had entirely too many pictures for one post ;).  So, I thought I'd break it up!  Here are some sites and sounds from us (now 6 months ago) :).  

We are doing a small science coop with 3 families.  We meet every other week to do the science experiments that go with our Apologia Science Exploring Creation with Astronomy.  This was one of our first weeks, learning about the sun and making a sun spot viewer.  The kids had fun.  

Then, Daddy took Cara on a Daddy/Daughter date to Chick-Fil-A.  She had a sweet time, she loves alone time with us. 

silly faces.

We also had 1st grade bible presentations at church.  Cara was so cute up on that big stage.  

Then, my best friend Trayce from Santa Fe, had a baby shower for sweet Sophia, due in December.  The girls and I picked up my mom and then drove down to Galveston.  

Emma, Cara and Julianne, Trayce's other 2 girls.

I went to a wreath-making workshop at my friend's house and I finally finished my Baylor wreath :).

When Anna was still in preschool during October, I got to take the big 2 to Dewberry Farms with our playgroup.  I hadn't attended in forever, and it was good to see old friends and spend the day playing with my bigs. 

The rolling slide.  Fun!

The big balloon jumper.

Bike Riding.

Sweet Siblings.

A few of the kids at the end of the day.

Cara the fireman.

Swinging the hammer.

Riding the train.

Micah on his birthday morning (he was still tired)!

Opening family gifts.

Legos, his new favorite.

Building his new car with Cara.

Another gift from Nana.

We went to the pumpkin patch at the local Methodist church.  My kids are obsessed with pumpkins during October.  We typically go numerous time during the month of October.
Anna, 2

Cara, 6.

Micah, 4

Micah was cold

Mommy and her kids

Daddy with the kiddos

Soccer!  The family came up to watch Micah play soccer on the day of his party.

It was chilly!

chasing the ball

Nana, Cara, Yaya, Micah and Papa

Next installment coming soon :)