I say "Amen"

I had quite an interesting experience last night. I have really been trying harder to have the girls obey completely and happily. A few weeks ago I would have thought obedience and happiness could not be in the same thought but it is! It has been wonderful overall and our house is so much more joyful! Mommy included! I have gleaned much from a website a friend recommended raisinggodlytomatoes.com -it has been a wealth of information. I am a much more pleasant Mommy than I was just two or three weeks ago. The girls are happier and are getting along so much better. My older two who used to snarl at each other on a daily basis are now setting time aside to bike together and practice their archery! GOD IS GOOD!

Anyway, last night as we were getting ready for bed I was helping Audrey with prayers (2yo) and it was time for the amen. No amen from Audrey. Very gently I said, "Say amen now Audrey." and she looked at me and actually crossed her arms and said, "No, I not say it!" I told her to obey, still nice and calm. "No, I not say it." It wasn't that she had to be perfect or scripted, it was that she was in outright disobedience and being rude and disrespectful. She was challenging me and I was not going to lose the battle. Still nice and calm Mommy says, "Alright, no pacifier until you choose to obey." She looked at me and reached for it, her cunning eyes telling me, "I am so going to have that binky, lady!" I reply to the blue-eyed girl, "No ma'am, not until you obey." So she promptly looked at me and started screaming to the top of her lungs. This was not sad and tender tears, this was "I am mad as heck and you are going to pay!" screaming! Quite a new experience for us. I took both of us to the couch and we sat there, side by stubborn side. I would (still nice and calm!) ask her if she was ready to obey. Her reply? "I not say it!" and then we would have a fresh round of screaming. We had this cycle going on for a while and then she was tired of screaming and we just sat there beside each other. Eventually we both fell asleep. I woke up at about 1 in the morning and took her to her bed and joined Barry in ours. At 4:AM I feel a soft little pat waking me up. I open my eyes and there is Audrey standing beside the bed. "I say amen now Mommy." She was grinning from ear to ear. I just looked at her for a second. I say, "Thank you for being obedient, next time do it the first time. I love you." She crawled up in bed with me and we snuggled up and went to sleep. Spirit broken? By no means! A step closer to having an obedient heart? By ALL means!