far cry from 'a day of rest'

please, let me explain.

today is sunday. the HARDEST day of the week. the most STRESSFUL day of the week. and yet, the most important. our church begins at 1:00. therfore, in an effort to help bowen last through his afternoon nap we give a very needed, long morning nap followed by a very filling and nutritious lunch. (at 12:30....so it will last!) we allow him to run around the house hoping to 'get it all out'. today we managed to make it to church only 5 minutes late. we sit quietly near the back so any escape out the door with bowen will be of little interuption. the bishop, who is conducting the meating continues. his message: God wants a more punctual people. in other words....not us. so now that we're feeling uplifted (ha) we move along to sunday school.....bowen screams bloody murder through the opening prayer as if his arm has been cut off. we are then asked to switch sunday school classes. now, bowen thinks this is a great opportunity to run through the halls and kitchen, screaming at anyone or anything to get in his way. we manage to make it into sunday school (for the second time) the only seats left....the very back row making quiet escapes rather impossible and never inconspicuous. we quickly whip out bowen's new church books ($50.00 worth of 'oh i hope this makes church better' books), sippy cup, binky and truck. but bowen quickly decideds he would rather run up the isle. when james and i say "no, no" he screams! and then screams again. this time allowing smoke to rise. i lean towards james whispering, "are we raising a spoiled child?" to which he replies "yes!" we try again to let him read his books, play with his car, drink some juice, anything....yet he screams!! and screams!! so since i was the lucky one on the outside of the isle i get to take him out. (side note: james and i have decided that when we take bowen out of the meetings at church we'll take him to an empty room and let him cry it out without getting down from our lap....otherwise he thinks: i scream = mom takes me out = i get to run around = i explore = i will do whatever it takes to get out of class.) and so i get the first chance. 20 min. of screaming while i quietly sang "i am a child of God", "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam", and "tell me the stories of Jesus" weren't helping. until wait....he stopped. he was done crying. i thought "YAY IT WORKED!" back to class i go. only the very second i sit down he begins his rampage! this time james and i look at each other in utter disbelief at the monster we have raised and walk out! destination: home! and so i guess you could say bowen wins. and james was right, we have raised a spoiled child. and so, what did i get out of church? 1. God is upset with our tardiness 2. it couldn't have been an inspiration to wait till 18 mo for nursery 3. $50.00 worth of quiet books wont keep a toddler quiet and 4. a 'day of rest' can quickly turn to a 'day of stress' once children arive!

may God bless you with a better sunday!