Snowflakes and Joy

First, I should point out that many doctors now call it Rheumatoid Disease because it is an auto-immune disorder it isn't the same as what happens in normal joints as we age.  So RA/RD whatever we call it I was "blessed" or cursed with it. It is awful.  It is miserable.  It is a life changer.  Out of necessity my life is planned around my disease. I try to not let rule my life but I have learned if I don't listen to my body I will be worse off. I can only physically do so much.  Take today.  It was a good thing I didn't have to be at work.  I was home in bed.  Crying in pain after taking my legally prescribed high dose pain pills.  I tried ice.  I tried a shower.  The shower is normally my best bet, but then it took 23 minutes to get dry and in pjs. RA/RD affects so much.  I get so weary of it. Yet, I am also thankful.  Not for having it, that would be crazy, but for what it has taught me and is teaching my daughter....

Parenting is beautiful. It is middle of the day, just because hugs. It is art projects brought home that say, “I love you.” It is watching and helping them achieve milestones. It is playing together, laughing together and creating memories together. Parenting is ugly. It is middle of Home Depot tantrums because the child is B-O-R-E-D bored and hungry and you have been there for 1.78 hours, in the same part of the store. It is discipling the child because they need to know that disrespecting their elders is not ok. It is getting them to admit the truth when they’ve been telling a lie. It is finding 4 week old milk under their bed. It is cleaning up diaper blowouts in the middle of a road trip. It is praying they get back on the straight and narrow when they’ve veered off and become “wild” Parenting is mundane. It is helping them write their anchor (spelling) words 3 times each, figuring out the new math or helping with the dreaded science fair project. It is singing the same song...

For unto us a child was born.  Unto us a SAVIOR was given.  Christmas and Easter go hand in hand. The baby in the manger grew up to be the perfect Son of God, the Lamb without blemish who allowed Himself to be our reconciliation to God.  He died and He rose again! Happy Easter and Hossanah! Growing up our Savior was perfect.  He obeyed perfectly. Mary and Joseph asked Him to do something, He did it. His chores were done quickly and Mary could nap knowing Jesus would not cause trouble.  My child on the other hand.  Let's just say she resembles Adam and Eve more than Christ.  You want an example? Sunday is a good example.  Yesterday we made it to church and then Snowflake had earned a ticket for being super helpful all day Saturday.  She redeemed it for lunch at McDonald's after church. We went. While there my head started to really hurt and BAM! Just like that the aura before the migraine.  Add on the early stages of a child dev...