Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

I know I have told you about my Babes.  But this week I was truly blessed by them.  They came through when I was needed them.

Last weekend Nic was involved in Provincial recitals with her rhythmic gymnastics group - Saturday was workshops and practices and Sunday was the actual recital.  It was a long, busy weekend.  Throw in catching a cold and you can imagine why I crashed on the couch once all the kids were in bed on Sunday night (I did get to watch the first episode of the Borgia's, only just).  

I woke up Monday  morning, after having gone to bed at 9 pm (early for me), at 6:30 am.  Warmed up a cup of coffee (I will admit that) and sat down and watched the introduction to Esther: It's Tough to be a Woman by Beth Moore on the portable DVD player.  I will confess that I had this DVD for a week and I was cramming before Babes started that morning.  I had a lovely and blessed morning watching Beth and learning more about this study.   I made breakfast for the kids (waffles and syrup) and went and had my shower.  That was the beginning of the horrible no good hour!  

I had it in my mind to have my shower while the kids ate; then make muffins for Babes; get the boys dressed; clean up and get out the door by 9:15 am.  When I got out of the bathroom, I grabbed the face cloth to wipe down the Tormentinator's hands and face, when I realized he tried to use the syrup as hair gel!  I quickly whipped him up and put him in a bath.  While I got him bathed I told myself that I could get my "face" on and get Nicole to watch him while I quickly threw the muffins together.  I then scrambled and panicked when I I couldn't find some of the ingredients for the muffins, namely the main ingredient the bran flakes.  I finally found them after frantically tearing apart my pantry.  People started calling and BBMing me while I was trying to get this done.  Unfortunately, I think I "bit" someone's ear off of which I am truly sorry and you know who you are.  Nic wanted braids - she never wants braids - so I quickly did her hair before getting the Tormentinator out of the bath tub.  I got her out the door; Tormentinator dressed and started getting everything cleaned up and beds made.  I calmed down and let things fall into place.  I got middleman dressed and ready and  packed my bag for Babes and was ready to go.  Just as I was about to get the boys in their jackets and boots - WHERE ARE THE KEYS?!?  

I immediately thought I locked them in the van the  night before.  Now to let you know before you ask, we do not have a spare set, we lost them after Sam was born.  I called him, hoping he saw where I had put them.  It turns out he had them for some weird reason.  I was so happy at this.  At least I hadn't lost them or locked them in the van, thereby incurring fees to retrieve them or getting new ones. 

At this time, I was done.  I was happy the keys were found, but I was done.  I phoned Tracy (our week's Babes host) and asked her to get someone to pick up the snack and dvds.  Andrea came and picked them up.  She offered to drive me over, but she didn't have a baby seat.  Pat called shortly after that and asked if I wanted her to pick me up.  I told her no, I didn't have a car seat.  She had one and Tracy had one to drive me home so I had no excuse not to go.  I relented.

I was so happy I went.  I needed these sisters of mine.  I needed to be uplifted and I was welcomed with a hug by Tracy, which I so needed after all I had been through in the last hour.  Literally, how 60 minutes can change your attitude.  God knew what I needed and provided my sisters to lift me up.  Pat even presented me with a hot pick halter top, which we both think no plus sized girl should be wearing.  I wore it in the spirit it was intended, but there will be more pictures.  

I hope you all have friends like the Babes.  Sisters in the word.  Friends who lift you up.  I'm starting to miss them and I haven't even moved yet.  What will I do after the move?  I'll have to find some new sisters, but they won't be the Babes.

Come and link up today with your randomness. 

These last few weeks when I have been able to read your lovely blogs there seems to be a theme where many of you have expressed your pain over freindships lost or the lack thereof.  This has just broken my heart for many of you.  During a recent Babes' session with Beth Moore, she spoke about the circles of relationships we all have.  The two I am going to focus on today are 3 and 1.  

Beth (I hope that I can call her that, she seem like a lady who wouldn't mind), spoke about  Jesus' 3 - Peter, James and John.  They were the 3 that went with him to the Transfiguration and Getheseme.  They were his confidents, his support, his possee.

I have this group of 3 in my life.  Well actually, a group of 4 lovely ladies who I meet with each week - My Babes.  The 5 of us may never have actually gotten together on our own, but God had plans for us.  We met each other originally as neighbours, community coordinators, through play groups and through other acquaintances.  When I first moved into the community 3 years ago, I did not know any of these ladies.  They have now become my Sisters.  

When I think of each of them, I actually think of them in the family dynamic.  Tracy is our older sister with the amazing wardrobe that you just want to raid.  She also has such an amazing love of God and His wisdom and quiet and gentle spirit pour out of her.  Andrea is the next oldest, even though she is younger than me.  She is the the smart one.  She has a love of knowledge and encourages each of us in our studies and our lives.  She is often the first person I think of when I need prayer or support or need to talk to someone.  Pat and I are the mischievous twins.  We are the clowns.  We really are alike in more ways then we probably want to admit.  Extremely competitive (ok, probably more on my part, I have to beat her score on Vegas Stakes), we have each other's back through everything that is thrown at us.  Then there is the little sister, Cheri.  I don't just think of her as that because she's the smallest.  Cheri reminds me of Beth in Little Woman.  You may think she's weak, but there is a strength that permeates through her.  We all want to protect her, but have to allow her to face the world with us standing back and supporting her.

Now don't think this relationship came overnight.  It took time to grow.   It took patience.  It took some breakdowns.  It actually survived a split of our group, as we originally had 7 of us.  It took prayer.  It was made through studying the Father's word, the place all relationships should start.

That leads me to 1.  This is the relationship we have with the Father.  This should be our priority.  If it's not, our other relationships will fall apart.  We need to focus on this relationship  through studying the word and praying,   If we don't take time with the God who created us in His image and give Him all the honour, worship, praise and love that is His rightfully, how can we expect our other relationships to be nurtured and grow?  

Come share you're Randomness with us today.  I can't wait to see what you have all been up to this week.