Last Sunday, our youngest daughter got hit with a nasty stomach bug. It started over the weekend and did not let up until Saturday. This poor girl could not keep food down, was having accidents, going through miserable hot and cold flashes, and was just completely lethargic.
Then on Tuesday, our youngest son got hit with it. Mind you, he is still in diapers, so the blowouts and clothing changes were on a non-stop repeat. I was up to my ears in laundry, and my husband and I were literally praying for the poop to stop coming.
The kids finally started to feel better, but even a week later, their tummies still aren’t fully right—and now, their dad is sick. My poor husband can barely move; he was hit the worst of all yesterday. He had a winter coat on inside, cycling through intense chills and hot flashes, with zero appetite, diarrhea, and terrible all-over body aches.
Of course, I stepped into high gear. I made sure to tend to the farm animals for him, keep the kids occupied and entertained all day, all while maintaining my composure and working my normal day job as a Regional Property Manager.
The Peace in the Chaos
With all this chaos, you’d think I’d be losing my mind. Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of calm and peace. I can only attribute this to the Lord God Himself. I have been praying the prayer of the Holy Spirit every single day, and honestly, if He hadn’t been right here with me, I would have had the epic mental meltdown of the century.
As much as my kids don’t listen, do whatever they want, scream, yell, fight with each other, and drive me to absolute insanity… they are just kids.
They are trying to navigate life the best they can. They’re trying to have fun on their summer vacation, listen to their parents, please us, help their siblings, and just live. I am so deeply grateful to have the perspective to realize all of this without dreading waking up in the morning.
There came a time in my life when a week like this would have been all too much. But today, I look around and realize: This is what I prayed for.
This is what I knew God wanted for me. I never wanted to be anything else than a wife, a mother, and a daughter of God. I am still in awe that this life is ours to live. Without the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who knows where I would be right now? I made some dumb decisions in my younger years, thinking I knew it all—and boy oh boy, was I wrong. But I thank the Lord for those trials and tribulations. Looking back, I used to think “what if,” but now I stop myself. That “if” didn’t happen because it wasn’t meant to.
Living Off Jesus (And A Lot of Coffee)
I realize sometimes I just blab and go on and on, but I guess that’s the point of a blog, right? To just come on here, write what’s on my heart, and have readers like you say, “I feel that,” or “I know exactly what she is going through,” or even, “How the heck does she do it?!”
HA! The only answer I can give you is that I live off of Jesus. The constant thought of Him dying on the cross for me keeps me going. It reframes the little things in life that I find so exhausting, turning them back into blessings.
Today, my focus is simple:
- Don’t lose my cool.
- Protect my husband’s health and sanity while he recovers.
- Pray that this stomach virus doesn’t hit me next!
…But hey, if it does, at least I’m highly experienced in wiping butts!
Until next time, my friends.
From yours truly,
NTM
Not That Mom 
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