He loves to smile, loves to be held, loves to sleep, and loves to be with his family. he is such a joy!
Jasper and I were reading the Bible this morning, and we read Psalms 92:1 that says, "For it is good to give thanks to the Lord..." What a wonderful way to start out our morning! I asked Jasper what things he wanted to give thanks to God for, and he said, "Mmm.... My flashwight and Bwody." He truly loves little Brodybug (and, apparently, his flashlight), which is such a joy to my mother's heart!
I got started thinking about all the many things to give thanks to God for, and my list of things and my heart were overflowing.... Here are a few of my thoughts...
The last few weeks with Jasper have been rough. Really, really, horrible, this-is-my-nightmare type of rough. I started having serious, intense panic attacks during the day and horrible anxiety attacks at night (due to J's behavioral issues). I couldn't eat. Could sleep. Couldn't drink. Couldn't stop crying. I dreaded morning time because that meant Andrew would go to work and I would have to face the day, with Jasper, alone. Jasper was doing things that we never dreamed he would do. Our lives were truly miserable, despite constant discipline, taking away his privileges, talking with him, cheering him when he did things right, explaining when he did things wrong, more discipline, etc. It. Was. So. Awful. Anyway, my panic attacks were so horrible that I couldn't even function anymore, and last Monday afternoon, as I was sitting on my kitchen flooring, bawling uncontrollably, I called my pastor for counseling (with Andrew's blessing). Pastor Sol counseled us from Scripture and gave wonderful practical advice and within 24 hours, Jasper was back to "normal" and my panic attacks were gone, for the most part.
Our nightmare lasted for 2 long, long weeks with every night being a sleepless night due to J's tantrums. My milk supply for Brody vanished. Household chores came to a screeching halt. Alone time with Andrew was non-existent... due to J's tantrums. I feared for Brody's safety, I feared for Jasper's safety, I feared for everything, and with good reason.
We are thankfully done with our nightmare now, and as I look back on that trial, I have SO, SO, SO many things to give thanks to God for. Here are just a few of the things that I would like to give thanks to God for...
1. That God sustained me during this hard time. That He gave me grace and strength for the days that comes only from Him. That I can find refuge in Him during trials (Psalm 91:1-3).
2. Wise, godly, practical counsel from our Pastor, who counseled me on the spur of the moment with no heads-up.
3. Prayers and listening ears from our parents.
4. Prayers and listening ears from our friends.
5. Friends who take Jasper for the day so I can sleep and cuddle with Brody.
6. Parents who take Jasper for days so I can sleep and cuddle with Brody and Andrew.
7. Instead of watching videos before bedtime, Andrew and Jasper now read the Bible together before bedtime (this change happened solely b/c of the "nightmare")
8. The opportunity to share with other struggling moms the Scripture and practical advice that Pastor shared with us.
9. A husband who loves and comforts me.
10. A husband who comes straight home every night after work, even though he knows it won't be fun.
11. A friend who dropped everything, put in her contacts, and was on her way over here b/c my panic attack was so bad.
12. A new, biblical way of parenting that we hadn't thought of before this nightmare happened.
13. I'm very thankful that Brody takes a bottle of formula SO well (Jasper would never, ever take a bottle). Although my milk supply has vanished, Brody very seamlessly switched to formula and we have been given a lot of formula and babyfood for free!
14. That Jasper still dotes on and loves on Brodybug.
Other things that I'm giving thanks to God for today...
15. That Andrew had a positive phone interview with Chic Fil A the other day.
16. That Andrew and I got to have a date monday night.
17. I'm thankful for beautiful spring days.
18. I'm thankful that Jasper and I got to ride our bikes together for the very first time today (today, for the first time in history, Jasper learned how to pedal his bike by himself.... he now is quite the speed demon and we rode our bikes, side by side, up and down the street together while Andrew was home with Brody)
19. Hot suppers that are "easy on the wallet."
20. Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents who play, talk to, read to, and love on our boys.
21. Our long afternoon naps today.
22. A girls' night out tomorrow night,
23. A husband who sweetly encourages me to have a girls' night out tomorrow.
24. For spring skirts and summer hairdo's.
And so, so, so much more!!
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