Oh, my Lord! Something just happened. My kids and I baked something super special for Dad aka Shawn Ryan, because in all truthfulness I missed his birthday by being in Florida on business. I've been trying to think all week of how to do something special (and how to one-up his grandma's AMAZING chocolate-chip brownies she made for him). Anywhoo, after our delicious project was in the oven, me and the kids retreated to the living room to bask in the amazing aromas. My son was gabbing on and on in the background about how dad was going to love our project, and emphatically started insisting how much we loved him. This is what happened: "Mom, we love dad. We LOVE him!! We REALLY do!  God gave us love, not fear! He gave us the power to love, He gave us wisdom! DEAR GOD(elevated voice), thank you so much for giving us LOVE. Lead us to the cross! Lead us to the cross!  God thank you for giving us WORSHIP! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" By this time me and Bean had joine...

The Good Woman woke up one day, and realized she no longer felt refreshed. She wiggled her toes, and felt a dull ache that resided all along the bottoms of her feet. She flexed her hands, in and out, in and out. The same ache. It took all the energy she could muster to swing her feet over the side of the bed and pull her creaking body upright, placing her hands on her legs and slowly bending into the squat that would propel her into a standing position. She had been to the doctor after her last baby, and had blood tests done. The tests showed that her thyroid was low, whatever that meant. She listened as her eyes glazed over, hearing the words "T4" and "thyroid stimulating hormone alerts the brain..." all the while wondering "When will I feel better? When will I get my life back?" She could only remember that earlier that week, her husband impatiently picked up around the house, throwing the dishes in the dishwasher, asking what was the plan for dinner. ...

Something truly amazing happened a few minutes ago. Carefully, directly, firmly, and lovingly, I sent all my babies to bed for a nap. I sent my two eldest upstairs to their napping destinations, promising in a gentle warning manner to be up soon to check on them. I heard them head upstairs, and less than a minute later, I heard...nothing at all. After treating myself to a delectable chocolate-oozing sugar-pumped brownie (and sneaking my 7-month old a small taste) I also gently laid him down in a room to doze. He didn't protest to my amazement. Just watched me slowly back out of the room and close the door. We've been in the middle of a nap war for a few months now, and sometimes with the last ounce of energy in my body I feebly ask them to go upstairs and place themselves in their beds, on the floor, wherever they can be separated and close their little glittering eyes and quiet their energetic hearts. My husband and I both dread heading upstairs numerous times in one after...