Every so often I crave change. Sometimes it sparks creativity in me and other times it doesn’t. El Dia Hermosa (the beautiful day) was the name of our blog when we first started it back in 2007. I love the name and it still applies but lately I have not been posting anything for many reasons. The main one being I feel our life right now is so crazy. Too crazy. Don’t worry everyone is healthy and Arissa and I are doing well but I feel like a dog chasing my tail most days.
A few months ago I was at work ( I work in a call center selling cable) talking to a customer and she had some kids screaming in the background. A common thing on the phone. I asked her about how old they were and we started talking parent talk. She described her life as “crazy good” which I found to describe my life to a T.
I always thought life with kids would be the same. It seems no one informed us of the all consuming attention they need, especially with two rambunctious little boys who are 21 months apart. I remember thinking when we first had Nehemiah that we would go camping a few months after he was born. That never happened. Now don’t get me wrong people do it every day. I once saw a video of a pro rock climber who lived in his cargo van with wife and kid that was inspiring. They would put the kid in a plastic tote and climb rocks all day. I now know that video did not include a poop explosion, fits, and bedtime bought’s that go 21 rounds. Lets just say life does not look the same as the quite house of a recently married couple who’s biggest argument was should we buy pop tarts (me) or spinich (Arissa). These days we can’t even hear each other when we are arguing.
That is the crazy part but there is so much good too. We get to raise two boys who bring so much joy to us. We laugh every day. We play and eat together and get to live in a great town, in a great house, with a great church. I have a job that lets me pay the bills and a photography business that will hopefully take off soon. We are learning to merge the crazy and good and striving to find balance in it all.
It seems like every day the thing we lack the most is time. Our time with God and each other seems to be minimal. I long for more of it but know that doesn’t exist. We just need to learn to better manage the time we have. This name change to “crazy good” I feel gives me the freedom to write what is on my heart and mind. So don’t judge just know we are trying to balance it all and I find writing as an outlet for sanity. Pray for us too if you think of us we need it these days.
Adam
Ummmm….will you freak out if I tell you it never really changes?
I was so excited for the day when our kids would be “easier”…and just when I thought that might happen… I realized that teenagers need you ALMOST as much as infants do. Their needs are just different. The poopslosions are less literal…you do eventually get to go the bathroom by yourself…and you will have a few years where you actually get to sleep through the night…until they start driving and staying out late. AND THEN…you become a grandparent!!! The Crazy Good Life is a good life though Bro. Anything else is just kinda boring. Oh, and I believe that God will give you MUCH grace and that the “minimal” amount of time that you feel like you are spending with him…well.. he will SUPERNATURALLY “stretch” that time to meet your needs and fill your spirit. Because he KNOWS how crazy our lives are…seeing as how he is right here with us at every turn. MUCH LOVE TO YOU BOTH!!!
Thanks Cheryl I appreciate the encouragement.
Bear, every year is fun and an adventure. The best and funnest thing I did is raise you and Gabe. Yes I would do a ton of things different but every situation is a memory in the making. In a few years that picture of Nehemiah on the potty on the way to Pueblo will be hilarious. It is to me already. Don’t listen to what people say about the teen years being terrible, I didn’t and we had so much fun. Yes I worried more but knowing you guys were with Hans and at church events eased my mind a lot. Plus all the counseling I got from Hans, Chad and other men who love God that kept saying .let go…you gotta let them be boys. Listen to God’s voice, ask for His help and then do it, pray for the boys friends….who they will be. God will orchestrate their lives we can only point them in the right direction with love. Heck look what I came out of, awesome that I began seeking out God early even on my own. : ) Enjoy the ride!!!! so proud of the parents you and Arissa are.