The Schmidt Family

It's been one of those weeks. Heck, it's been one of those months.
Ivey is having trouble behaving in class.
Riley is showing no sign of becoming potty-trained any time soon (and she has to be 100% potty trained by August in order to start preschool-no pressure).
Work is swamped.
My house is a pigsty.
Blah blah blah.

I find myself getting bogged down by all of these things. All of these tiny, insignificant things that I won't even remember in a few months. I am sure I'll have moved on to other tiny, insiginificant things. I try with all my might to not worry. To "don't worry about anything; pray about everything". I really really do. But I know it is weighing me down because I am tired, grouchy and generally no fun. When life catches up with me, I become a victim to my "bad" emotions. I gripe, yell and think ugly thoughts. I don't stop to enjoy things. I am too busy trying to make sure things run well and I concentrate more on my checklists than my life. I let my life run me, not the other way around.

I was driving to work the other morning feeling grouchy because our morning routine was its usual crazy, hectic, running behind self. (Oh, and also I didn't get my morning mug of coffee because someone who shall remain nameless messed it up.) All I could think about was how irritated I was. How out of control I felt. How I felt like I was drowning in stress, exhaustion and grouchiness. And then, out of nowhere, a certain piece of Scripture popped into my head. That doesn't normally happen with me. I'll take it as a gift from the Holy Spirit.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

I've always liked this verse but on this particular day it hit my right between the eyes. And it hit me directly in my heart. I am weak! So so weak.

And that's just how it's supposed to be.

I cannot rely on my own energy, efforts or talents to do anything well. The only way that I can do anything of value on this earth is to be weak. I can let God fill me with His power. I don't have to do it all. I'm not designed to do that. And when I recognize that God is in control of my life (not me!), it is so much easier. I am glad that I don't have to be in control. I don't have to have all the answers. I don't have to be anything I'm not.
I can just be me.
Weak me. Who can "...boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me".
Thank you Lord!
"For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 10b

After many many months of waiting, we finally got off the waiting list and started Ivey at Warrior's Way Karate studio! He has been looking forward to this for a long time and so far he loves it.

He is in a class just for 4-5 year olds which is great. They do a lot of running around but also teach discipline and self-control. He already has a couple of stripes on his belt and he is so proud of them! They give stripes based on class attendance and performance. At the end of each class they distribute them, but you don't get a stripe every class. This was a good lesson for him to learn. The first class that he didn't receive one there was a lot of pouting and that bottom lip was sticking way out. It was a good opportunity to teach him that you have to work hard and be patient to receive rewards. He has come a looooong way with this: he even has been clapping for the other kids who get stripes even if he doesn't.

They even have parent participation nights once a month. Frank is pumped about this. He got in there and had a great time too!