Focus III on Poop

When I was being potty trained it was really easy for me, so easy that I don't even remember it, which means it couldn't have been that insurmountable of an obstacle.  I must have been drawn to the porcelain naturally, consequently, I still am, hmm.  

Cooper has been in the midst of potty training for the last twoish weeks and he has been a champ when it comes to onesies (the act peeing in the toilet, not the popular baby clothing).  He even sleeps through his naps and the night without wetting the bed, pretty awesome.  Twosies thus far have been an issue though.  By issue I mean he went numero dos in his underwear and as I was cleaning that up he squatted again and pooped on the floor, while 4 of my best friends were chatting with me on Google+, awesome.


I started thinking about the change that Cooper is trying to make.  For two and a half years this kid has done his business in what he was wearing and continued on his way as if nothing were wrong, because in his mind, there wasn't.  Now he is at a point where he has to change his entire way of thinking.  It isn't just the act of going to the bathroom in the toilet, it is the act of recognizing that what he is doing is no longer acceptable and he needs to change that habit.


I read this verse this morning and the thought of focusing has ripped me to pieces lately:


"Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."


When we focus it isn't just that we need to know what we are doing and the direction we are headed, but we need to make sure our thinking is changing from the flesh to the Spirit.  We need to make sure our focus is on the Spirit and what He has for us, not what we wish we had ourselves.


That's when I thought about the change Cooper is making into self-sufficiency, and obviously we have a ways to go before we can wash our hands of helping him in the bathroom or even dressing him for that matter, but he is on his way to  life change because he is recognizing that the old way of doing things is no longer okay, their is a new better way to do his business.


We need to focus on the new, better way of doing our business, focusing our minds and our sights on the Spirit, not on the flesh.


What is something you have had trouble focusing on because it was difficult to attain?


Mine is staying in decent shape.  We will talk about that tomorrow.

Slowin'

My Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Life change is crazy.  Since Sarah and I have been married there hasn't been a single year where we have had the same combination of jobs or the same number of occupants twice in a row.  Since we got married one thing has remained the same, I have always been employed full-time.  Cooper was born, I still got eight hours to myself during the day, Micah was born, same thing, we moved, I got eight hours of freedom from the madness of unpacking.  I always had an outlet at work to be able to sideline my thoughts and just do the work that I felt called to do.

Then last November happened, I came to a point in my life where I had to make a decision, I need to continue my education and it was going to be in either Seminary or in teaching.  After a ton of prayer and seeking the counsel of some of the people I trust the most in my life I decided that God was leading me away from full-time ministry.  Since then I have almost completed my Single Subject Credential for English, and am now working part time at Selma FBC as the High School Pastor.

In the past when things changed it was all about life speeding up, an addition to the family, an opportunity to speak somewhere, a new house, fixing a new house, selling a new house, etc. but this time the change is about slowing down, and it is one of the hardest adjustments I have ever had to make. I check Twitter about 70 times a day in between making meals for my kids and doing the laundry... again.  Slow is hard for me, especially when my wife is working but her heart is to be at home with her boys and I love my boys but I wasn't made to nurture them the way Sarah does, so I would prefer to work as she stayed home.  It makes it even harder.

I know as a Pastor I am supposed to have this whole, "be still and know that I am God," thing down, but I don't, not even close.  I have been forced to slow down, forced to wake up at 6 am when my boys do and have nothing to do but take care of them (which is huge job in itself) all day long.  I have no where to go because Sarah has the only car, it is too hot for the park right now, and I am not taking my kids to any play dates because that'd be awkward for me and the other guardian who I guarantee is female (you know they are female because a man wouldn't call it a play date, they would call it tackle football).

Regardless, God is teaching me to slow down and to remember what is most important in my life.  I have to go and save Cooper from a scary lion that doesn't exist.

Things Change and That's Rad

Before you start reading look at the date, it may just blow your mind.  Now look at the time this post went up, too bad your head just exploded and now you cant read the rest of my post...

Big kid beds are sweet, and not sweet like daisies and sun-dresses on 3 year old girls, sweet like,  Jack Bauer really made Chloe shoot him in the chest.  It is a big deal, it is crazy when it happens and just like me when I saw the last episode of 24, Coop started jumping on the bed, playing with his Buzz and Woody toys, and even peed a little.

Transitions continue to happen in the Anderson home, and they are phenomenal.  Cooper is getting used to his bed by laying it in before nap time and bed time, reading books, in bed with mom and dad and occasionally taking a nap.


What I have realized since becoming a dad is that your kids are in a constant state of change and transition.  A day doesn't go by when I am not amazed at something one of my boys does.  For example I got a picture sent to me yesterday of Micah being a big kid and supporting himself, holding his head up, he looks like a stud, I know.

Not long after that picture was taken my wife sent me a second one of our same loving beautiful comedian.  He decided to vomit everywhere, on Sarah, on himself, and the whole time he looked adorably disgustingly cute doing it.

Cooper was this old not long ago, he was vomiting and looking cute doing it, now if Cooper vomits it not only is really not cute, it is cause for concern.

The transitions that our boys make also causes me to have to protect my boys in different ways.  I want my boys growing up taking risk but two days ago Cooper was rocking on a rocking chair backwards when he almost fell off the back and cracked his head on the most vicious coffee table ever created.

I don't have to worry about rocking chairs with Micah yet, right now my main concern is putting enough pillows on the couch so he doesn't roll off the side.

This turned into me throwing all of my thoughts onto the page, so take from it what you will, but I will end with this.

As Christians and beyond that as humans in order to grow we need to be in a constant state of transition, it doesn't have to be with our kids, it doesn't have to be with a new job our spouse, it needs to be in deciding to go a new direction with your life and going in that direction.

Most of us have broken our New Year Resolutions by now and that's okay, but transition is what grows us and makes us who we truly are.  Transition and enjoy the ride.

Look back at your life what are some of the hardest transitions you have ever had to make?