Hurdles Happen

Life can bring with it circumstances, the good, the bad, the ugly. Sometimes it's hard to focus or gain perspective when "hurdles happen".

In the last month, my older kids have hit a stage of getting bored and then getting into the cabinets, cupboards, refrigerator, etc. and dumping stuff onto counters, tables, floors. Just to name a few of the messes:

1. Hershey's Syrup and ketchup on the table
2. a dozen eggs cracked on the table
3. ketchup, spices, flour and sugar across the kitchen counters
(that was all in one morning)
4. eye cream on the sheets
5. flour spilled, again, all over the kitchen counters, cabinets and floors
6. a whole box of fruit snacks opened and eaten which caused...
7. throw up all that afternoon and evening.

When I discover those kinds of messes, my blood pressure rises to dangerous levels...probably because I hate the time and clean up involved, not to mention I know my kids know they're not supposed to make crazy, crazy messes. It's really hard to control my emotions. A lot of times, I regret to say, that I lose my temper and yell at my babies. (I loathe myself when I yell at my children...it does nothing but make the situation worse.) None the less, those messes are an absolute "hurdle"!

I've actually done more kid proofing than ever, not because of my Speedy G crawling, almost walking, 10 month old. Here's a couple of pictures to show you some of the measures we've taken to avoid major messes.

(Speaking of hurdles, I never knew how much I went in and out of the kitchen until I put up that gate...gotta start stretchin' again...geesh!)



I'm kidding myself if I think I can completely avoid all hurdles and maintain complete control. However, I can make sure my kids have more planned, constructive activities. Gaining perspective is hard, especially in the moment, but I can't let these "hurdles" overshadow all the fun, giggle-filled times. In the same days and moments that these hurdles happened, this moment was captured:

Bring on the hurdles and the hard times! Look at those smiles! Those three blue-eyed babies are more than worth it!

Who am I NOT to be?

I discovered one of my favorite quotes watching Akeelah and the Bee. (If you haven't seen this movie yet, watch it and love it.) Laurence Fishburne plays a coach/mentor for the main character, Akeelah, played by Keke Palmer. Imagine his deep, soothing voice saying,

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” -Marianne Williamson

The biggest part of that whole paragraph that hits me the most is, "Your playing small does not serve the world."

The assumption is that we were made to serve others or something bigger than ourselves. How can I even begin to serve when my insecurities make me focus inwardly instead of outwardly? I am loving the idea that I don't lose if I fail, but that I lose if I don't ever try or take a risk. I don't want to play small and never even know what could have been if I had at least tried to play big.

So, seriously, Who am I NOT to be?