Better to find the silver lining in situations than to sulk because things aren’t turning out the way you thought they would.

I imagined my family of four all back under one roof tonight but instead, Sweet Pea and I are still at the hospital, Little Bug is at Grandma & Grandpa’s and Dave is home in our nice, comfy queen-sized bed.

I could sulk about all this but instead I’m finding the silver lining.

I’ve basically had two days straight of being able to focus just on my little Sweet Pea. When she is gassy I am able to just sit and hold her until the pain passes (literally) and she is comfortable again. There are no chores to do and no 2 year old to run after.

I’ve shared that I’m a little worried about how it’s going to be when I do have to care for both girls at the same time by myself. These days have allowed me to really get to know Sweet Pea even better, with no distractions. I easily recognize when a “gas spell” is coming and I’ve learned that she likes to be upright on my chest. I can literally feel her body relax when the pain is gone and then I lay her down to sleep.

I’m thinking maybe I need to find a good sling that will allow me to “hold” Sweet Pea in this upright position while my hands are free to take care of Little Bug. Any suggestions???

I’ve had a lot of time on my hands. Which has allowed for a lot of thinking, praying and just being still before the Lord.

Today public schools started back to school. I was thinking this morning had I stayed in the teaching profession, I would be starting my 9th year of teaching this year! Wow. I’m old.

That got me thinking how I would start every single school year out by praying. First day teachers came back I would walk into my classroom and before I did anything, I would sit in the middle of the classroom and pray and surrender the school year to God.

Being a teacher in the public school system is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. I dealt with difficult students who were not taught to respect authority but had to learn that respect was a non-negotiable in Miss A’s classroom and the pressures from the district about student test scores was utterly ridiculous.

But every year I started that school year off by giving it all to God, trusting that He would give me everything I needed for that school year.

He supplied me with strength, wisdom, patience and love for my students every single year.

Today it dawned on me that just as I started each school year in prayer and surrender to God, I need to start each new year of parenting in prayer and surrender to God.

God has given me my two little girls and I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay home with them full time.

The same God that equip me those four years with everything I needed to be able to be a teacher is ready now to equip me with every thing I need to be a mother to Little Bug and Sweet Pea.

Life is just going to be a little crazy while my girls are still so young. My first year teaching was a bit crazy, too. But we will eventually fall into a routine and my new “normal” will become juggling the schedules and needs of both girls.

I know you are suppose to enjoy the present and, believe me, I am. I know how fast babies grow up! However, I really do look forward to the future.

I look forward to what is to come…two little girls, sisters through the miracle of adoption, becoming best friends.

That is one of my hopes for my daughters.

And so as I sit here another night in the hospital with Sweet Pea, I am thankful for this time to reflect, refocus and remember God’s faithfulness once again in my life.

- Elaine