Foiled Again...

Today I am taking a break from my regularly scheduled humor and inspiration.

This post has nothing whatsoever to do with dieting. If you are here for the first time checking me out, I promise not all my posts are so serious as this one is. And I can prove it.

You can look here…

http://oscbb.blogspot.com/2009/06/charlies-sweaty-balls-and-ymca.html

…or here…

http://oscbb.blogspot.com/2010/10/says-means-and-hears.html

Or if it’s weight loss inspiration you’re after, pop over here…

http://oscbb.blogspot.com/2011/01/plus-side-of-looking-like-crap-in.html

I think maybe today’s message might be inspirational, but as I’m still writing it, I can make no guarantees. It’s a crap shoot at this point.

But today, I have to take care of some emotional housecleaning. Because today was a big day in our house. I’m going to break this down as well as I can without getting sued for “slander.” (Even though the truth isn’t slander.) For the purpose of this blog, I shall refer to myself as Y.

X has been dishonest about a certain peanut payment X owes Y, and has been for more than 3 years. More like 6.

Y gets a call from Z offering to help collect said payment.

Y realizes that the amount owed to her by X should be between 30-50 thousand packing peanuts.

Y shows up to court today.

Y tells the truth.

Z is wonderful through it all, and very supportive.

X does everything in X’s power to make Y look bad.

X walks out of court only owing 6 thousand packing peanuts.

Y also gets lectured in court, and pinned for a greedy woman.

Y is DUMBFOUNDED.

And for the record, Y is really tired of being the nice guy.

Helen Keller said “I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

How I WISH that the whole of my day had gone better. I wish that for once, someone is being held accountable for actions besides me. I wish that I could get to be the fun, rich parent once in a while. It would have been nice if we had achieved something great today.

But that’s not my lot in life, it seems. Instead, I get to grin and smile through the small tasks- the homework, the laundry, the bedtimes, the constant bickering, the hurt knees and hurt hearts. I get the opportunity to show my kids love through SERVICE, through COMPASSION, through STRENGTH OF CHARACTER, and through GRACE UNDER FIRE. And frankly, that’s better for them than a bank account chock full of money anyway.

As much as we could have used the extra help, as nice as it would have been to have the chance to take a vacation to somewhere swanky and fun, I get to have daily teaching moments with my babies. When we show them that fun isn’t only found on a roller coaster or an airplane or at a resort somewhere. Fun can be about curling hair in the bathroom, and going googley over a picture they have drawn, and playing “zombie touch football” in the yard.

I know that we are doing more good by teaching them to clip coupons and hold on to their money, and to wait patiently for things they want. I don’t want them to be the kinds of adults who grow up expecting things to magically fall into their laps. And if this is the way God allows me to teach that lesson, I’m going to take it with gratitude. And with THANKFULNESS. God has provided us with an ABUNDANCE of blessings- a safe and happy home, full of love and joy, with an extended family and circle of friends that is amazing beyond belief. Who needs the extra money? Our family has already hit the jackpot!

Maybe you have someone like X in your life. Somebody who is always trying to put the screws to you, to make you look bad or constantly tearing you down. That person only has control over you if you let them. It has taken me a long time to come to this place in my life- but the actions of others, while annoying and irritating, can either make you lose your mind or make you better. I’m choosing to be effected positively through this experience.  So I’m on the hunt for the silver lining. Unfortunately, in this particular case, I had to provide my own aluminum foil.

And that’s the secret to life. If you can’t find the positive things, you create your own.

Here are mine for the day:

1. No amount of money could ever compare to what my children are worth. I would lay down my life for them without batting an eye.

2. My husband, who technically has no biological claim to these kids, feels EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Double Blessing.

3. This issue from court today that was “taken care of" in no way, shape, or form effects us as parents. It changes NOTHING. Our love was never contingent on the outcome. Likewise, our love for the kids is not contingent on the future choices the kids will make. NOTHING could ever make us stop loving them- past, present, or future.

4. I found coupons for foil. Handy. (As I imagine I might need to stock up.)

5. Every single time someone like X causes drama in my life, it only reassures me that by choosing Matt to be my husband, partner, and best friend- I made the best decision of my life. Tonight I apologized to Matt that I came into our relationship with so much baggage. (And FYI, I do NOT mean the kids.) He looked into my eyes and he said, “You. Are. WORTH. IT.” He is filled with more integrity in his hairy little toe than someone else possesses in his entire body. And that’s saying a lot.

6. I walked into that courtroom today knowing that I have lost 82 pounds. And even dealing with the last month of buildup for the court date, finding out we weren’t pregnant, losing a dear friend, having a roof that the landlord never seems to fix, and getting stalled out on purchasing a house: Through it all, I didn’t emotionally eat. I’m kinda proud of me for that!

7. God knows every single tear I have cried over those children, desperately trying to be the best mom I can. He thinks I can handle more. Ergo, God has more confidence in me that I imagined. I am honored. (I also think He’s highly overestimating my abilities. Just sayin….)

8. And finally- Yes, Judge- I AM GREEDY. I am greedy for my kids to grow up to be the best people this community has ever seen. I want to watch them change lives of others around them, be it through politics, art, music, or even digging ditches. Whatever they choose to do with their lives, I want them to encourage others. To be honest and forthright. To be people that do the right thing, even when it stings like a mother effer. (Cause, trust me folks, this HURTS.) And the only way the kids will learn those character traits is IF THEY SEE THEM LIVED OUT. Guess who has 2 thumbs and gets to do that? THIS GAL!!!!

So blessings abound, even in this seemingly unfair place I’m at in life. Yes, it sucks, but it could be worse. I'm counting my blessings.

When life foils you-

Don’t ever be afraid to FOIL it right back.