What Just Happened to ME?

 Good evening gentle readers. Where have I been? Let us process this together. So November began a journey I never expected.
**this might get graphic at least in your head***
Two days before Thanksgiving our Church's potluck dinner went down! And down and down. My dear husband was feeling a bit under the weather and had been trying to treat a sore on the bottom of his foot by himself (against his wife's pleading to go to the doctor, of course). His toe had swollen just that day and he was looking a little pale in complexion. I guess it was finally enough to deal with and he decided after the gathering to go to the ER. What we thought would be a few hours turned into 9 days! Infection had taken over and they had to amputate a toe! He was on an antibiotic drip for 6 weeks after, every day. We had to do that outpatient.
But wait, that's not all, just a few days before this happened he had accepted a lucrative gig as Santa Claus for the Zoo that was....1 hour and 15 minutes away from our house. After a very stressful few days where he was permanently replaced, he wasn't, he was, he wasn't, it was decided that he could continue his position when he was released from the hospital. BUT and it is a big BUT, he needed me to drive him. Every weekend Thursday – Sunday nights. AND he still had commitments to families he has been seeing year after year. And there was the little issue of the bandage being changed daily and help with his costuming. It was a very crazy season filled with the whole family all simply reacting to each thing that came along.
Isn't this a lot like the first weeks with a new baby? Sorry Dear Husband that I am comparing you to a baby but if the Santa boot fits! (he knows I am kidding). Each moment seems like a reaction, baby is crying, let's feed her, nope, change her? Nope! Tired? She doesn't want to sleep in the crib. Let's walk for awhile. Maybe gas? Let us burp the baby. Nope! I drive in the car, ah asleep, ugh won't transfer. React some more. Well, here's what happened to me. (if you ever read the “IF You Give A MOUSE A COOKIE” series it went a little like that) Because I had to go to the zoo everyday I met some amazing people, and because I met an amazing manager named Talia, she gave me a cashier position at the photo booth,and because I had a job, I talked with her a lot, because I talked, I talked about an upcoming mission trip to Uganda, because I love to talk about my friends in Uganda, she wanted to join me and because she always wanted to go and had a servants heart.....I HAD A FABULOUS NEW TEAM MATE ON MISSION TO AFRICA.
I tell you this story because it is a short term example of rewards for loving and caring. I was in a position by God's grace to love and care for my husband in need. He freely admits that he could not have done most of the things we accomplished that season without me. My regular child care clients were able to love me by giving me the ability to spend time at the hospital and switch schedules to drive to the zoo. Talia and I were able to love the orphans in Uganda the beginning of this month. These are just the rewards I know about. There are more. God knows what they are. He is the author.
Here, finally, is the encouragement for you. You don't know all the rewards that you loving that crying baby is bringing..YOU and THEM! The ones we know about are not limited to...
kids who feel loved:
are kind
are independent
are affectionate
have strong sibling bonds
are better at emotional regulation
provide biochemical boost for both of you
have improved brain development
form a trusting attitude
are more competent in all areas
have more organized thinking
know how to give and receive love
These are based on studies reported on by www.askdrsear.com He and his colleagues are the experts in attachment parenting and I have also mentioned before the groundbreaking research by Karen Purvis at www.empoweredtoconnect.org I also love this fun animated video https://youtu.be/WjOowWxOXCg

There is a little bit about my crazy life and I know you are navigating some crazy times too. Hang on. You really don't have a sense how this will play out in the long run but it is a wonderful journey of really long days that become really short years. Stay strong lovely moms!