Chicken Shit

My heart has been so full lately.  Not sure why - but I am full of thanks for the simplicity of it. 

The testing of patience has also become a daily occurrence. 

A few weeks back, one of my good friends was coming in from NYC to choreograph on my dancers.  I had already played the Thursday out in my head:  Drop Bk3 at pre-school for 9:00, take Briggs and Grayson with me to Sam's and Albertsons, unload the groceries at the house before heading to the Baton Rouge Airport for 11 a.m. Scoop Ang up and head straight to pre-school for noon carpool.   Easy.  Well, needless to say, I was pretty aware of my patience being tested multiple times.  Whether it was the fact that it took the seafood handler 15 minutes to get her machine that weighed the salmon to work properly; or the fact that I strolled up to the one register operating, behind an elderly couple who needed explanation on why the 4 identical items she had purchased had rung up different costs (I'd need to know that too) and delayed us another 15 minutes.  I hauled it out of Albertsons and headed home to drop the cold goods before heading to Sam's.  I had 30 minutes to be in and out - I've so got this....Got to Sam's, threw kids in the cart, gave Grayson my Sam's card to satisfy his fussiness and show the very nice Sam's representative at the door...  And then it became supermarket sweep!  I was in and around the entire square shape of that store, when Briggsy finally says "Mommy, is it time to check out!?"  Me:  "Yes buddy, it's time to check out, we're going right now.  Let me just grab my c-....." Card.  CARD.  Grayson!  Where is my CARD!!!  I can honestly say, I almost freaked out, but instead said "Let's just re-count our steps, boys".....as if either of the two had anything to say about that?

By the grace of God, there was the card, untouched - like God was shining a damn light on it in the middle of the seafood section.  Thanking Him that no one picked it up that morning!  Checked out, sped out, loaded the SUV, and hauled it home to drop more cold items (the 5 gallons of milk....right?).

I recognized the entire morning that my patience was being tested...but it was ok. Because it always is!

This past Friday was no different.  I had already posted on facebook a status about the exhilarating feeling I received from talking Briggsy down from a temper tantrum.  What made it so difficult was that Grayson was temper tantrum-ing right next to him, and BK3 is in his ear going "You know you're goin to get shots at your checkup today, Briggs?"  All the while, buckled into one bench of our SUV, in a 10 car deep Chic Fil A drive thru.....They've got some impeccable service.

When we got home, we had a 'picnic' under the house since we only had presently 45 minutes until we would load back into the car and head to Briggsy's 3 year check up!  The boys ate their chic fil A and asked to play afterward.  They had 5 Minutes.  I said GO!  Briggsy chose the four wheeler and drove in circles perfectly content (he is unaware how to steer just yet).  Bk3 decided that Briggsy driving his four wheeler wasn't ok, so he chased him....in the circle.  of COURSE I got all of this on video.  He grabbed onto the back bar of the four wheeler and proceeded to get dragged...  I let it go.  No wrestling on the concrete - that means grass, carpet, floor coverings, etc, all in the clear.  Briggsy thought it was the best thing ever to drag his older brother.  Before the first circle completed, it was time to load up for the Pediatrician's office. 

We walk into Dr. Sanches's door, and I see a mark on BK3's back side.  Yep, I scooted in closer, sniffed, it's CHICKEN SHIT.   All down the back of his shirt, and on the top of his shorts.  Greeeeaaaat.  How am I supposed to clean that?!  Well, again - I'm learning.  Learning to say "Hey dude, just look straight ahead and don't touch it. Don't sit anywhere in this Doctor's office either.  Stand.  Just stand BK3."  LOL.

A successful 3 year check up, and a few wrestling matches later, we were headed OUT - and I was so thankful that nobody really noticed the Chicken shit.....

We took the boys out to the LSU v Western Kentucky game/tailgate today.  It flooded.  Briggs and Brannan were the happiest boys allowed who were given the green light to play in the water.  I figured, Hey, they're here - let's just do it.  I think they'll remember this day for the rest of their lives. 

I think my heart is so full because I've been able to see the joys of these sweet little individuals that I call sons.  I surely understand that I'll blink and they'll be graduating...or I'll blink and just take a nap?  In my dreams.  I'm learning to recognize the simple, and enjoy it.  Learning that my three son's cannot understand the smart phone life.  And that I should just PUT IT DOWN.  If you know me, you know that's tough!  But I'm working on it.  Again, Thankful for the gentle reminders from our loving God, to love my surroundings, no matter what it may be:  supermarket sweep, wrestling matches, four wheeler rides through chicken shit, or regular fights on who's going to pray to Jesus first...  It's all good, and I'm thankful.