Finding Joy in not Just the Good but the Bad and the Ugly Too!

It is easy to find joy in the simplicity and beauty of life. Although finding joy during these times is easy it is also dangerous. Dangerous because it is less of a conscious choice and more of a simple response to circumstances. Don't get me wrong. There are definitely times when we can pause and revel in the beauty of creation. Or have joy in the ease of pleasant circumstances. Who doesn't love a break? But can we consider ourselves practiced in joy if we face ease of life? Another question would be why do we need to practice joy? Isn't joy a happy state? A feeling of Happiness? Well I asked myself these questions when faced with some not so joyful circumstances. How can I find joy when facing trials of many kinds. Well I am not a Bible scholar and I am definitely not as knowledgeable and researched as I wish I was. But I do know the fruit of the Spirit. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-control. Okay so what in the world does one have to do with the other? Well the more that I thought about the fruit of the spirit the more I realized the fruit is not born in feeling form. It is not an emotion that suddenly comes over us. It is a choice at a state of mind. Through learning God's word and keeping His word in our heart we are opening up for growth from the Spirit. The Spirit produces Fruit. The fruit is choosing our mindset, setting it on things above or on life's circumstance. So back to the joy. Is Joy a feeling? Initially no. When going through life's everyday struggles and the circumstances of life I can choose joy, while not feeling "happy".  I can choose in the midst of being unhappy to rest in the fact that God is ultimately in control and does in fact love me. He also Chose me as his child. As I rest in this daily choosing I begin to have a contentment that surpasses what happiness could ever bring. I have Joy that these circumstances, the crap life brings, the bad and the ugly, they too shall pass. I have Joy that this life is not as good as it gets.

Going Out in Public Shouldn't Suck....Right?

I love my kids! I do and yes I am reminding myself. Not so much that I love them (really not in question) but that I do in fact like them. I really do. I just don't understand what it is about being in public that causes my children to turn on me. Sometimes I view going out, to well anywhere, as a top secret mission that I don't pick to be on. I am in fact recruited and then forced to participate. About 95% of my mission is spent playing defense. I rarely have an offensive strategy because 9 times out of 10 I am blind sided by the opposition. It's not like I am stupid. Really! It's not like I picture us leaving the house and heading to whatever public arena and my kids behave in a way that gets my family named #1 most socially appropriate family on the planet. No no no I stopped coveting that award years ago. No I plan on meeting tons of opposition and not getting any help from headquarters. I know that at the end of the mission it will either be considered a failed or completed mission. Failed means I knot only did not get the items I went to the store for (if it be a shopping trip) but I also succumbed to the opposing side and they in fact  took me hostage and I was probably tortured. 

Today was just such a day. Today's weapons; needing to go to the bathroom, and riding in the shopping cart. I know I know I heard you gasp these are to very terrible very frightening issues. Please know I will handle this story with care as the details may give you nightmares. It all begin when one of my precious angels, needed to go to the restroom. We were at the library and I knew it was a better place to go then Walmart where we were headed next. So I asked him to go to the bathroom while I checked out our books. He begins to insist that I go with him. I say no and he needs to hold on. While my dialogue with him is taking place, his cohort comes kamikaze-ing in from no where. He begins to scream I need to go too. I need to go too. I NEED TO GO TOOOOOOOOOO. Well I am not about to let sergeant McHandsy into the bathroom without adult supervision. So I tell them they both need to wait. Sergeant Handsy begins to yell about going to bathroom and how I never let him go to the bathroom. Wow. Never...huh...Anyways we get done checking out and head to the bathrooms. I take the boys into the women's bathroom only to find that the tall toilet is the only one free. Well this is acceptable for private instigator who started this whole mess but not for sergeant handsy. I need to break and let you in on a little secret, the sergeant does not in fact need to use the bathroom. I know this because his pre-school does such a good job of having him use the restroom after nap and after snack. I picked him up right after he used the bathroom. I was all for humoring him until I saw the only available toilet. You have to take into account that I had a baby on my hip and a library bag on the other arm. Not happening. Sorry bud time to call your bluff. This is when one of my engines goes out. He proceeded to scream and cry all the way through the parking lot and to the car. Not just cry but scream and yell. So all in all we got books the mission succeeded but he got a good shot in. As he crawls into the car I throw out a warning. I need cooperation at Walmart because he is riding on his last chance. I feel like this is more then fair because in most war type scenarios there is rarely Grace given and a warning. 

Well we get into Walmart and Private instigator brought a dollar with him purely because he wanted to buy his daddy a treat (he's been on a trip). After Sergeant Handsy exploded on the aisle because he had to be removed from the cart. So as we check out Sergeant Handsy throws an atomic bomb. I WANT TO BUY SOMETHING TOO. YOU NEVER LET ME BUY ANYTHING, YOU ALWAYS LET Private instigator HAVE MONEY TO BUY STUFF.... As this is going on, Private instigator is trying to make a purchase for his daddy, turns out he can't find a single piece of candy that is just a dollar. Everything has some sort of change added for tax. As I am trying to put out the fire with Sergeant Handsy I am frantically digging through my purse (diaper bag) so that I can find a nickel, or two penny's or something so that I can get the heck out of the line of fire. Of course I find nothing so I have to tell Private instigator to put the candy away so that we can make a run for it. The look on the check out guys face was priceless. Worst Mom ever Award...

Well I got two of the three items I went to purchase. I came home with all 3 soldiers I brought in. So although I came home with both engines completely shot to pieces I made it home with a safe landing. 

Okay never mind that is so cheesy. I made it home and am counting down the seconds until I tuck the soldiers in bed and I can take a hot bath and cry:)