We are 13 days away from normalcy....I mean school. To answer the obvious question: Yes, we are all ready to go back. Both the Olders start in new schools and can't wait. This summer has been great, it really has. But in the words of Jen Hatmaker - I'm over it. We all are. So, we will make the best of the nearly 2 weeks left, working towards somewhat of a routine so the first week of school won't be a total and complete shock to our systems. Shock yes, but hopefully not a total one.
I'm still praying, just don't have a lot of time to write about it. I do have a post teed up for tomorrow or Thursday, if I can carve out the time (because I have talks to give to the women's group at my church the next 2 Tuesdays) that really is rocking my world. I'm structuring the 3 Wednesdays of prayer (@URPrays on Twitter) leading up to the next Release around what the Lord gave to me last week. It's very powerful and I truly look forward to sharing.
In terms of checking in on this journey of prayer, I'll quickly share a miracle from last week. It is one of those things where I look back and smack myself on the head....like why didn't I think of that earlier!! It is really only important to our family, but that in no way diminishes what happened and we continue to enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit's labor on our part.
Last Sunday, August 2nd, we were out of town and ran out of pull ups for the youngest - Ella Grace. All we had were swim diapers. As necessity is the mother of many things, as well as desperation, we (really I) decided to plunge cold turkey into potty training. We've been toying with it, playing around, not truly committed (in all truth) for a couple of months, even buying big girl panties. But not forcing the issue.
The issue forced us, so to speak. As with a lot of things in my life, I won't really go for it until I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO IT AND THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.
Here we were, no pull-ups (I did go the resort gift shop and scoured it for emergency supplies, even diapers, to mitigate this potential disaster. Full disclosure here.) It became clear though, it was time to suck it up and go for it. We did and the first day was pretty good. The next 2 days were moderately successful with only 1 or 2 accidents. But my irritation/exasperation/frustration level was starting to soar. Why wouldn't this small child get it!?!?!?
Wednesday rolls around - it's time to lead the weekly prayer meeting. The whole time we were walking through the movements of prayer of Adoration and Admittance (we do the 4 As...our version of A.C.T.S. at the Upper Room), the verse you find in Proverbs (see 14:12 and 16:25) kept going around, rotisserie-style, in my head. There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end leads to death.
Between that and the word "Fresh," which kept coming to me, I knew the Lord was telling me I was trying to potty-train her the wrong way. I needed a fresh perspective to help my youngest get this thing down. I was trying to get Ella to do what I wanted her to do and in my timing. In my own strength, not His. If this year (and my whole Christian walk) has taught me anything, when I struggle with something, I'm usually in my own way. If I can just move aside, get low and let the Lord do what only He can do, things are much smoother, happier, fuller.
Ok, I got it Lord. Now what?
As we came into the Ask movement - where we present our requests to the group to be prayed over - I humbled myself. I asked for prayer over these talks I'm going to give but also over what to do about Ella. It was a small group, so we just went around and laid out our requests and then I walked around, laying hands and praying over each woman (it was all women that night) present. It was very powerful.
Then they prayed for me. My friend Ann put her hands on my shoulder, praying through all I'd voiced. I will never forget her saying,
A new women, as we were wrapping up asked me, "Have you prayed with her about it? I see you praying with her before she gets on the potty, asking for help."
DUH.
That was the 2x4 to the back of the head, the fresh perspective, the RIGHT way, to go about this. Seriously, Amy, get it together! The next morning, when she called for me, we prayed before she got out of bed. And she went potty....on the potty! We said, "Thank you Jesus!" We prayed 2 more times that day and it became clear, Ella had indeed gotten this.
Ella was potty-trained and we haven't had an accident since. After the 2nd time we prayed, she started telling me she had to go when she had to go. In fact as I was writing this post, she ran in here, told me she had to go and as she finished yelled, "I DID IT!" (as she every time now.)
Just like that, the Lord not only removed my frustration as I obeyed Him by doing it His (right) way, He opened up Ella's little body-mind-bladder connection. She is a big girl, thanks to Jesus' help. Truly, He is an ever-present help in time of trouble. No matter big or small your trouble is, He is the answer. And I am very, very, very grateful!!!
THANK YOU JESUS!
I'm still praying, just don't have a lot of time to write about it. I do have a post teed up for tomorrow or Thursday, if I can carve out the time (because I have talks to give to the women's group at my church the next 2 Tuesdays) that really is rocking my world. I'm structuring the 3 Wednesdays of prayer (@URPrays on Twitter) leading up to the next Release around what the Lord gave to me last week. It's very powerful and I truly look forward to sharing.
In terms of checking in on this journey of prayer, I'll quickly share a miracle from last week. It is one of those things where I look back and smack myself on the head....like why didn't I think of that earlier!! It is really only important to our family, but that in no way diminishes what happened and we continue to enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit's labor on our part.
Last Sunday, August 2nd, we were out of town and ran out of pull ups for the youngest - Ella Grace. All we had were swim diapers. As necessity is the mother of many things, as well as desperation, we (really I) decided to plunge cold turkey into potty training. We've been toying with it, playing around, not truly committed (in all truth) for a couple of months, even buying big girl panties. But not forcing the issue.
The issue forced us, so to speak. As with a lot of things in my life, I won't really go for it until I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO IT AND THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION.
Here we were, no pull-ups (I did go the resort gift shop and scoured it for emergency supplies, even diapers, to mitigate this potential disaster. Full disclosure here.) It became clear though, it was time to suck it up and go for it. We did and the first day was pretty good. The next 2 days were moderately successful with only 1 or 2 accidents. But my irritation/exasperation/frustration level was starting to soar. Why wouldn't this small child get it!?!?!?
(She will be 2 1/2 on the 21st by the way. Yes, managing my expectation levels continues to be an area of growth for me.)
Wednesday rolls around - it's time to lead the weekly prayer meeting. The whole time we were walking through the movements of prayer of Adoration and Admittance (we do the 4 As...our version of A.C.T.S. at the Upper Room), the verse you find in Proverbs (see 14:12 and 16:25) kept going around, rotisserie-style, in my head. There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end leads to death.
Between that and the word "Fresh," which kept coming to me, I knew the Lord was telling me I was trying to potty-train her the wrong way. I needed a fresh perspective to help my youngest get this thing down. I was trying to get Ella to do what I wanted her to do and in my timing. In my own strength, not His. If this year (and my whole Christian walk) has taught me anything, when I struggle with something, I'm usually in my own way. If I can just move aside, get low and let the Lord do what only He can do, things are much smoother, happier, fuller.
Ok, I got it Lord. Now what?
As we came into the Ask movement - where we present our requests to the group to be prayed over - I humbled myself. I asked for prayer over these talks I'm going to give but also over what to do about Ella. It was a small group, so we just went around and laid out our requests and then I walked around, laying hands and praying over each woman (it was all women that night) present. It was very powerful.
Then they prayed for me. My friend Ann put her hands on my shoulder, praying through all I'd voiced. I will never forget her saying,
"Lord, we know this is all in Your timing, but if You could just help Ella to get it, right now, we would really appreciate it."We all giggled at that, several of us being mothers, familiar with the trials of potty-training.
A new women, as we were wrapping up asked me, "Have you prayed with her about it? I see you praying with her before she gets on the potty, asking for help."
DUH.
That was the 2x4 to the back of the head, the fresh perspective, the RIGHT way, to go about this. Seriously, Amy, get it together! The next morning, when she called for me, we prayed before she got out of bed. And she went potty....on the potty! We said, "Thank you Jesus!" We prayed 2 more times that day and it became clear, Ella had indeed gotten this.
Ella was potty-trained and we haven't had an accident since. After the 2nd time we prayed, she started telling me she had to go when she had to go. In fact as I was writing this post, she ran in here, told me she had to go and as she finished yelled, "I DID IT!" (as she every time now.)
Just like that, the Lord not only removed my frustration as I obeyed Him by doing it His (right) way, He opened up Ella's little body-mind-bladder connection. She is a big girl, thanks to Jesus' help. Truly, He is an ever-present help in time of trouble. No matter big or small your trouble is, He is the answer. And I am very, very, very grateful!!!
THANK YOU JESUS!
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