Busy Day and Observations

This week was thrown off a bit, due to the holiday Monday. To make matters worse, I completely forgot that Monday even was a holiday! So my day was really thrown off when I saw that empty bank parking lot and realized it! lol

This meant that banking and shopping was pushed to Tuesday. However we also needed to make a trip to Financial Aid at my son's college. This made for a busy day! But it was a good visit and the children really enjoyed it. They adore their brother and his circle of friends always manages to make them the center of attention. Yesterday when brother thought we had left, he was surprised to walk out of his dorm room and see us still there. The children had been playing with his friends and having such fun that we had not managed to leave yet, despite our previous goodbyes to him. Hide and Seek, I Spy, Story Rounds, playing in the dirt, tag....that crew managed to squeeze in a lot of fun!

However it wasn't just the children that caused a delay. At one point I heard someone call my name and turned to find a girl that had worked for me at the college years ago. It was nice to see an old friend and talk of the Lord's work in our lives. I met her sister who is a student there and she met my all grown up son, whom she remembered as just a little fellow. It was a real encouragement to get to talk for a while.

Once we pulled ourselves away from campus we headed back to the big city for The FisherMan to do hospital visitation. Some people find that to be uncomfortable but it is a part of ministry that he loves.

From there we got the kiddos a bite to eat and let them play on the playland. I even managed to run into an old friend there as well. God also opened up the opportunity to talk with a young mom who was traveling through to the beach. Hopefully I was able to offer some hope and encouragement to her as she was struggling with some insecurities as a mom and wife.

After all this we headed to Walmart...I was ready for bed! But duty called and I knew it had to be done. Thus began the looks of pity and stares from people who act as though they have never seen a family lol. With my young children in tow, I am accustomed to looks from many and questions or opinions from the bold. But since my pregnancy is showing it has turned to downright stares, condescending looks, and statements such as "you poor thing!" or "you've sure got your hands full!"

One thing I've also noticed is that the reactions tend to be different if I do not have all my children with me. Just Cornbread? Oh, I get the whole thing of how cute he is and people try to stop and talk to the sweet little fellow. Tender smiles are cast my way.

Just my girls? Lots of people wonder if they are twins. Some pay no attention and the rest might say something about me having a lot of help there or what pretty girls I have.

All of them? Pity, disdain or admiration lol.

What is with our country's outlook on children? Many here in the Bible belt will gladly go to church or quote scripture but conveniently leave out the ones that pertain to children being a blessing and gift from God. Two children is assumed to be okay for the most part, as long as they aren't too close together. Three, it is often assumed one of two things. If the first two children are the same sex you must have been trying one last time for the opposite OR oops, you messed up but have probably righted your big mistake and someone is now fixed.

Which leads me to another little observation. Have you noticed that guys will run at the mention of a period or hot flash, yet many think nothing of discussing a woman getting her tubes tied or worse, them getting the old snip-snip? Men, just for the record...it isn't something most women really want to picture!

And honestly it isn't really anyone's business what decision my husband and I (or you and yours) make in that department. Y'all, complete strangers think nothing of coming up and asking what your plans are, who's getting fixed? Folks think nothing of discussing in front of us who should be the one to have it done. Shouldn't that be sort of private? I mean, do you also want to know if I have any kidney stones? growths that need removing? unsightly hair?

:) I know, I'm exaggerating, but you get my drift.

I suppose in this day and age very little is private or sacred anymore. But maybe we should step back, think on it, and find little ways to change our thinking. Maybe we should also begin looking at more through God's eyes rather than the world's politically correct filter.

But don't get me started. ;)