Slowing

My fingers tap keys slow.

I am weary.

I am weak.

We've been fighting a blessedly minor cold for about 5 days now.  Mommy's been down too.

My in-laws were here for a bit and what little energy I had left was drained.

Sweet Aeralind is having emotional breakdowns at the lunch table and I can't yet discern if it's a discipline issue or her own outburst of exhaustion.

My stomach is stretched and filled and my joints are sore in the carrying.  I've never carried a baby longer than this and am having trouble fathoming the next month or so.

All day long my silent or verbal prayer is: Please give me grace for this moment.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore, I will boast all the more greatly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Counting slowly and in weakness the 2267 - 2303 graces that He has provided.

• Coming to end of myself and begging constantly for the grace to make it through this next moment
• Aeralind lying across my sore back as I crouch on the floor
• Exhausted pregnant and post-nasal drip body keeping up, by grace, with crazy toddler twins (who barely slow down for sickness!)
• Finally fixing my leaking tire
• A good stretch of sleep despite numerous wakings
• Girls able to put their shoes back on
• Laughter
• A Derek clean kitchen
• Nice lady at Publix who stopped her car to tell me "You nave is so adorable!"  Always appreciated after a bazillion negative "You, are you going to have your hands full soon!" comments.
• Talking to the mother of 50 year old identical girls in the Publix checkout line.
• Being able to bless Andy and Rachelle with hand-me-downs
• Aeralind starting to eat again- she must be feeling better
• The three of us drinking EmergenC "tea" from teacups
• Making scones with the girls for Auntie Jenn
• Visiting with Jenn.  It's always like no time has passed and very deep
• "Tea" and scones with Jenn
• Laughing as girls perfectly poured water in tea cups but kept forgetting to quit pouring when the cup was full.
• Bronwyn thinking long and hard about whether to disobey me and go to the front yard
• Her making the right choice
• Sleep sacks requested before each nap
• Aeralind's sweet good-by hugs for Jenn
• "Physco" baby's near constant movement and apparent head down positioning
• So many new words daily
• Homemade roasted pepper, Parmesan, and, olive oil wit a touch of rosemary pest- so good!
• The surprising yumminess of Kale Chips
• Publix yogurt
• Hunting down rags that the girls used to clean walls, windows, and each other
• Aeralind smearling oatmeal in her hair and grinning proud
• Colds weathered well
• Quiet moring with Derek's mom
• Girls loving on Granpa
• Reverse dinner- ice cream for appetizer
• Yummy dinner when finally completed
• Early momma bedtime and full night of sleep
• Spending Birthday money on yummy fabric to make the girls winter dresses
• Crazy girls crawling under bolts of fabric steering and joyfully squealing about their "Gar!" (car)
• Aeralind turning to climb successfully down from the changing table and repeating me perfectly as I called her a "Pyscho Wiggle"  Hysterical.