The Good Life :)

One of the most common questions I get when I tell people I'm a nanny is, "Cool, so do you, like, just play with kids all day?", or sometimes the "That's so FUN! Do you ever want a REAL job?"

HA. (I'm not even going to address the "real job" accusation that I hear all the time. that's a whole different subject, one of which I tend to get fired up about... so I will refrain. It IS a real job, one which carries with it great responsibility to speak life and truth over little people, among other things. Over and out.)

Moving on...

Well...yes...it IS fun. and yes. I sort of "play" with kids all day.
What most people don't know is that I just washed my hair with burst of blueberry blast tear-free shampoo, survived quite the insane trip to the beach that included coralling 3 (next to my usual 5) kids, spilled drinks, a tired baby, and a major sand-in-the-eyes mishap, and I am currently reading a book about baby sign language.

Maybe the following list will give you a glimpse into the daily life I live as a nanny.

You know you're a nanny when~

-You drive a car with carseats in the back and the Toy Story soundtrack cranked up.
-Your perfume switches between stinky feet, hot dogs and baby sunblock.
-When a friend grabs your phone to play a game due to boredom, and they realize all you have are fisher-price games.
-The most common phrase out of your mouth is "Oh, I'm just the nanny."
-A "normal" schedule consists of days starting at 6 am and not finishing until the last head is down on the pillow at night.
-98% of your photos or status' are of or about kids.
-You can sing all the theme songs to Phineas and Ferb, Hannah Montana, and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
-You get excited when Parent magazine comes in the mail.
-You are much better at socializing with a group of moms and discussing Cars underwear and training wheels than you are socializing with people your own age.
-You're told you have a "mom" look when the need arises.
-You get two types of looks when you are out in public- The sympathetic, "awww poor single mom with five boys" or the judgemental "hmph young, single mom with five boys."
-When people ask if you've seen any good movies lately...you can ramble off every animated/kids movie but are pretty much clueless as to what "grown-up" movies are out.
-You watch the same movie over and over for months until the next big animated movie comes out....then you watch that one over and over and over.
-You realize at the end of the day that you walked around all day with dried oatmeal all over the back of your skirt.
-You can stand in Target with your "boss" discussing/analyzing what the best sippy cup is.
-You can have the worst day and have it all turned around by a sweet hug from a three year old.
-When "Miss" has become a permanent part of your first name.
-When it's not out of the norm to walk around the mall with a baby on your hip, pushing a stroller, and kids trailing behind you.
-Sunday is your dress up day, because the rest of the week you spend chasing sweaty boys in shorts and a t-shirt.
-You find joy and yet your heart aches when seeing simple accomplishments, like a babies first words, a kid reading you his first book, or facing fears and growing up.
-You can make a killer airplane-shaped PB&J, and a quesadilla that takes two seconds. flat.
-You love analyzing birth-order and personalities.
-The workers at the local kid's activity centers know you by name.
-When you go shopping for clothes, the first priority is to find things that are "kid friendly" and easy to move in.
-Your favorite thing to see is a child smile at you or repeat something that you have taught them.
-Every load of your laundry finds a mini sock that has somehow managed to make it into your laundry.
-You don't go anywhere without Hand Sanitizer and Clorox wipes.
-When a baby you have known since birth says your name for the first time... and you cry.
-When you've had a really rough day of discipline issues, spilled milk, washing the floors three times....and then the day ends with little arms wrapped around you telling you how much they love you.
-You get a beautiful water color painting slipped under the door after a long hard day.
-A sweet boy gets so excited to share with you something new he's learned or something he's overcome.
-You spend each day knowing that you aren't just "babysitting" but that you are playing a part in molding a life.
-You experience all this, yet have no kids of your own.

My life is crazy. It's over-the-top. It's exhausting. It's tough.

But it's one with great purpose, promise, and worth.

Because I'm nannying with Jesus at my side... helping me make decisions and guiding my heart and hands as He allows me to teach, admonish, and love.

It's a hard, selfless, GOOD life.

Thank you, God.

Love,
Lissy Lou

Thank you.

Another post of thankfuls. Because thankfulness should be a lifestyle...

God, thank you for laughter. What would a day be without the sound of laughter from the ones you love?! Laughter? It's like medicine. “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

God, thank you for naps.

God, thank you for black iced tea from Starbucks with raw sugar. Oh YUM!

God, thank you for yard sales and thrift stores.

God, thank you for pregnancy. It is such a joy to watch dear friends journey through such a special time. The miracle of life will never cease to amaze me. It is always miraculous, always beautiful.

God, thank you for Your provision. I love that I serve a God who loves to take care of His children.

God, thank you for sunshine! It's a beautiful day... and I'm thankful for it.

God, thank you for photography. I love that there are opportunities to capture perfect moments on camera and keep them forever.

God, thank you for ice water. There are few things more refreshing.

God, thank you for reading time with the boys.

God, thank you for bestowing talent upon your children and allowing us to share it!

God, thank you for peace and quiet.

God, thank you for the Holy Spirit. I find myself soaking up His presence, and it reminds me to savor each moment spent with Him.

God, thank you for mountains.

God, thank you for air conditioner.

God, thank you for vegetables and fruit.

God, thank you for HOPE.

God, thank you for books. The written word is powerful. I am thankful for the ability to read and write.

What are you thankful for today?

Glamorous.

Last week, my three year old said to me, "missy lou, why you don't have fwiends to play wif?"

AWESOME.

Being a nanny can be a tough job.

Let's be real. I'm nineteen, and it's sometimes easier to have a discussion about the latest parenting fads, the most recent news on the American Pediatric Association, and the best discipline tactics than it is to have a "normal" conversation with someone my own age. I spend the majority of my time waltzing around with a three year old attached to my hip and several kiddos in tow looking like a young single mom.

It's a running joke around here that with the perfume of the boy's sweat, the beautiful accent of grass stains on my knees, and hair that has been pulled out of it's pony tail multiple times... I shouldn't exactly expect to live a life of heels and glamour any time soon... especially when I'm driving a mini-van full of kids singing Justin Bieber. (yes, it's true.)

Is my messy, smelly, always-on-the-go life... glamorous?!

On first thought I laugh and think... absolutely not. But then...

I looked up the definition of the word "Glamorous"
Glam-or-ous
-adjective
1. Full of glamour; charmingly or fascinatingly attractive, esp. in a mysterious or magical way.
2. Full of excitement, adventure, and unusual activity

If we are looking at the dictionary definition and not society's definition... it couldn't be a more fitting description of my job. So despite the fact that my mind is constantly spinning with head counts, one-liners from How to Train your Dragon, the latest safety feature for BOB strollers... and on the rare occasion I go out, I accidentally drop a pacifier out of my purse...

I ADORE my glamorous, exciting, adventure-filled, very unusual life as a nanny.

Yes, my life is non-stop and always moving.
Yes, my life is filled with kicking, punching, pinching, spitting, poking, lunging, and hitting.
Yes, my life is exhausting.
Yes, my life is seriously smelly and dirty.
Yes, my life is hectic and rambunctious.
Yes, my life is not filled with 10 hours of sleep every night.
Yes, my life is jam packed with swim lessons, doctor's appointments, and grocery shopping.
Yes, my life is not filled with friend time and long walks on the beach.
Yes, my life is not.my.own.

BUT...

I have been entrusted with five precious souls.
God has blessed me with some seriously wonderful mothers to walk alongside. Mothers full of wisdom, advice, and beauty.
I am working a practical job that is preparing me for motherhood.
I am deeply thankful for the faithful friends in my life.
I get to hear the words, "I love you, Lissy Lou" on a daily basis.
My life is filled with snuggles, kisses, and tight hugs.
I have the privilege of hearing the sweet, child-like faith in the boy's speech... wondering, seeking, innocent.

Each and every day is a reminder that I need to be walking in truth, setting an example for five little eyes, ears, and mouths.

So yes. Being a nanny is a tough job.

But I couldn't have picked a more wonderful, rewarding, challenging, "glamorous" job. I am blessed.

Words.

I've been working on a letter to a dear friend this week and had gotten to the point of exhaustion. (Writing can be that way... oh so rewarding, but so frustrating, too!) I was tired of it. Sick of it. Frustrated. I wanted each word to flow together to create something beautiful.

It felt like I'd worked the words of hope, strength, and peace a million different ways and it still wasn't coming together. Early Wednesday morning, I trudged to the computer and started chopping, reworking, doing it all over again~ the whole time pushing down that still small Voice inside my heart.

"I'm here. Come to Me."

On the responsible days, I have my quiet time in the mornings. I sit in my favorite Adirondack chair on the front porch and usually have tea in my hand. But every once in a while, I put it off. I'll jump on the computer first. Or I'll write in my journal first. Or I'll listen to music. Or I'll decide to have my quiet time later in the day. Or, I'll skip it. *sigh* I genuinely hate the days when I spin into a whirlwind of meaningless chaos, and I choose not to spend time in God's Word. Without them, the day seems to drag on. The day seems to have lost meaning.

So, late Wednesday afternoon, the words still weren't coming together. I decided to stop. Do something different. Even shut down the computer. I did what I should have done to start with. I went downstairs and sat in my chair on the porch. I read Proverbs 3 for the 3rd day of the month. I had three versions out, just because I love reading the footnotes and comparing word choices... I also had The Message laying next to me. *Just a side note, I would absolutely never trade this paraphrased version of the Word of God in for the deep truths in versions such as the ESV or NAS or NIV. Sometimes I just enjoy the flow of the words and their simplicity. Nothing fancy or complicated.*

Just listen to this from the Message..."God can't stand pious poses but he delights in genuine prayers." And down a little further. "A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song." And another. "Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed." One last verse. "God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant; he stands with those who have no standing."

That was me...miserable, arrogant (trying to write without praying first), being hardheaded.

So,I just started talking to God. "I'm sorry, Lord. Help me. I need You. I can't do this without You."

No, I didn't finish the letter on Wednesday. The right words didn't land immediately in my thoughts. I finished today, but more important that getting my work done was getting my heart right. Living life in pursuit of holiness is a constant examination of my heart's motivation and my obedience to the heart and desires of God.

I love to write. I love to blog, text, email, and pen letters. But I need to remember Who's words are the fuel and food for my frail, sinful heart. They are God's Words. His Words are my favorite.

Thirst can always be followed by fulfillment when I am thirsting for God's Words.

Thankful,
Alyssa