what happened?

So, we went for months without having any major blow up and only a few minor issues. Jason and I figured out that until January, the last time we really had to issues consequences or set major restrictions was in September. I want that to come back!

Yesterday, with in thirty minutes of the kids getting home from school, I had 5 of them upset with me. I was mean because I want them to start doing their homework (rather than playing on the computer), complete their homework properly (rather than only partially doing it), following house rules (rather than doing what is convienent), get some exercies (rather than being lazy and continuing to gain weight).

Two of my younger girls are really struggling to make good choices. I think they are actually lucky to be alive and not have stitches or a broken arm or something. This morning, at 5:22 they were up playing and making enough noise to wake three other girls up. This of course upset the other girls since no one has any real need to be awake before 6:00. So, when they got home from school, they knew they were in trouble. However, one of them was only willing to put the most minimal amount of work into her chores and she was sent to her room for a time out. An hour and fifteen minutes later, after the other girls were finished cleaning, she was finally done yelling, kicking and crying enough to go finish her cleaning, take a shower and go to bed.

However, on the flip side, MB is really confusing me in a good way. She has always struggled to "act her age" and that has not really changed. Lately though she has made some statements and asked questions that have great depths spiritually. A few weeks ago, she was facing what could have had a very negative outcome. At that time, at church, we had been focusing on Scripture memory and the purpose of it. The verse she was memorizing was John 20:31 "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Well, the morning she was scheduled to to deal with the situation, she pulled me aside and said "Ginger, I remembered what we talked about how Scripture can make you more peaceful and get you through tough times. All morning, I have been thinking about that verse and you know what? It does help!" She gave me a HUGE smile, kissed me on the cheek and left. Last week, she asked me how to deal with feeling selfish when she gets her way because she was not nice to someone. And then, earlier this week, she asked God to forgive of her sins that she didn't realize she was committing and she told Him about the ones she did know about. WOW! It make my hear warm to see her going deep and at the same time, it humbles me.

Other than that, my high school girls and I decided to do the whole lent thing even though we are not Catholic. I have challenged them to go ahead and take it a step farther and not just give it up but to focus that time or money on their relationship with God when they would normally be particpating in their vice. Two of my girls gave up sodas, one of my girls gave up vending machine junk food, one of my girls gave up reading naything but the Bible, and one of my girls gave up atempting to control others. I have a really immature and somewhat silly obsession much of the time and that this computer games (not multi player games or Role playing games, games more like Diner Dahs and the such. I have given those up. We will see how that goes.

Please pray that things will take a turn for the better here real soon. We are not off until February 20th and much more of the stupid petty stuff will but me over the edge soon.