Freedom Las Vegas

For ages (because I didn't really listen to the song) I thought it said "freedom Las Vegas".  Alas now I know better and I always feel a bit silly for thinking it said "freedom".  But despite feeling silly it's the ditty I sometimes sing in my head when I am pleased about completing or finishing something.

It's the ditty I sung to myself today as I finally left my place of work for the very last time as an employee! 

Hooray! I made it through!  I came so close to quitting so many times because I know now that I want to be a "full time, stay at home Mum" (take as much or as little offence as you like at the phrases) and having to go to work again and again was literally agonizing.  Tears have been shed, husband yelled at, cat sworn at, lovely little lady ignored because I was consumed by having to go to work when I wanted more than anything to be at home....

But God gave me strength and perseverance and got me through my severe "please don't make me go syndrome". He gave me a lovely place to work, kind people to work with and a generous and understanding manager. So admittedly, despite being happy to leave to be a "full time, stay at home Mum", I have had a little cry or four over the past couple of days because actually I'm really sad to leave.  I'm sad because I've made some wonderful friends, met some amazing people, heard some brilliant stories and been really privileged to look after so many people and I'll never get to walk the work corridors in the same way again.  

But this I know. That God gives grace for all situations. He doesn't promise easy rides but he promises sufficient grace in all areas of our lives.  He gave me plenty of grace to help me get through these last few months at work even though my heart was and is firmly fixed on my home and family. And no doubt when things are hard as a "full time, stay at home Mum" and I'm partly wishing I was back at work, I trust he will prove himself faithful all over again and provide me with more grace.  Grace is like the manna God provided for the Israelites in the desert. God provides just the right amount for each day, all I have to do is pay attention and go collect it wherever I am, whatever I'm doing.  I'm not going to be collecting it, living by it at my care home anymore but as a "full time, stay at home Mum". 

Same grace. Different place.

Potty training and rock collecting!

So the lovely little lady is waking from her nap and I have found time to blog hooray! I have found that the lady is very much like me and wants to take her own sweet time when it comes to getting up from a nap. Yes I nap at the moment as it's T minus 6 weeks until D Day.  I open her curtains and blind and allow her to come to her senses which usually take around 15 minutes any other attempts by me will arouse a chorus of her new favourite phrase "no muma!" although at least at nap time she doesn't wag her finger at me.

here are a few other bumblings of the little lady of late I thought I'd catch you all up on:

1. Potty Training.  Which, after 3 days at home with nothing on but her t-shirt, the little lady is making leaps and bounds at home with Muma.  She applauds herself after doing a nice big "wawee" and is still allowed the occasional chocolate button as reward after a successful poop! She has however realised that Muma will get her out of the car or out of the high chair if she says she needs a wee and then off she trots to her own devices...cheeky monkey.  One has wised up slightly now and the little lady has learnt the word for "wait!" which she says and signs in an accurate Mr. Tumble voice.

2. Rock collecting.  If you are not, dear reader, immersed in the world of In the Night Garden and you have a toddler- where have you been?  We went for a lovely albeit stony walk on Saturday during which the little lady wanted to do nothing but pick up stones and pebbles and give them to Makka Pakka.  She's very much taking the role seriously at home as we are in the final stages of renovating our garden and every evening Muma or Dadaaaa and certainly "Meeeee" go "out-out side" to collect in a yellow bucket the inordinate amount of stones on our soon to be lawn. "For Pakpak", "yes they're for Makka Pakka..." and onto the rubble pile they go when she's not looking!

3. Testing Muma's patience.  "No Muma" with the wagging finger was cute...at first.  But after the 37th time today it's wearing thin.  Sometimes I don't have to say anything! I looked at her the other day in a way which she clearly didn't not approve of and she shut her bedroom door on me and from behind it I heard "No Muma". I was about to explode when I realised it was an all to real picture of how I am guilty of treating God sometimes and so thinking upon God's character I decided to be kind and patient and just knock gently until she let me in.

4. Co-Co turn.  This is how she says her name.  EVERYTHING is Co-co's turn even when it's really not and this is how so many pairs of knickers end up with two legs in one hole, milk ends up on the kitchen floor and I end up with back brushed hair because it's Co-co's turn!  Somethings I'm just saying no to and risking a good scolding no.3 style!

Short and sweet people just a snap shot into our recent days.