Where is it for you? Where is the place (maybe there is more than one) you can't wait to get to so you can relax; be yourself; take a deep breath; be around people who understand you?
Though this is starting to sound like the intro song from Cheers, that's definitely not what I'm getting at. :)
After a recent conversation with some dear friends, I have been thinking about church in this way. Church is where believers come together to worship God and fellowship together. To be completely transparent with everyone, there are many times that I feel burden and anxiety when I think about the arrival of Sundays. It's a long day for most, and especially so when you have little kids in tow. What should be looked upon as golden opportunities for service often feel like drudgery. Why is this? The most basic answer...... sin. Selfishness; laziness.
But going back to the conversation I mentioned.......... Our discussion revived in me a desire for church to be "home". It should be where I feel safe, and comfortable. It should be where I can go, and feel shelter, peace, and reassurance that we are all on the same team; moving toward the same goals. I should feel excitement at the prospect of assembling with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I should feel anticipation for the time when we can join together to sing praises to God, glean from His Word, and serve Him by serving each other. Trouble with the kiddos? Don't stay home because of it -- go to church where your family can help ease the burden and give support. Feeling discouraged by work or relationships? Go to church and allow your family to edify you. Tired from a long day, or week, or year!? Don't stay home. Go to church and be revived by the promises in God's Word, and good fellowship. Burdened by hardship or loneliness? Allow your church family to surround you with their care and prayers. Allow them to carry some of your load for you. God will bless you for letting them, and them for their willingness.
My mindset is changing in this direction. Can't wait to get to......... church tomorrow. :)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Praise the Lord for lightbulbs!
This morning I stood in the doorway of my livingroom and looked out through the large windows. The bright sun highlighting our warm wood floors, and the jungley green grass outside. I felt energized and content; as if I had taken a huge breath to my lungs as well as my spirit. In this moment I pondered accomplishment.................
My second daughter is Apple. (Actually Apple Chubble, but we are trying to wean ourselves from the Chubble part, as I am sure there will be a day in her teenage years when she won't want to be known for the squishy, fluffy, lump of love that she was at birth). Apple and Speep are known for their finger sucking. They both suck the same fingers, but on opposite hands. Apparently my father-in-law sucked the same fingers also as a child. What a tradition! :) The children suck there fingers much of the time, especially when sleepy or upset.
Apple will be 4 next week, and I feel like the finger-sucking needs to end (at least during the daytime). Her current obsession is Strawberry Shortcake, so about six weeks ago I promised her a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party if she would stop sucking her fingers during the daytime. I thought it would be a challange, but she's done it! I feel as though a light bulb has turned on for her. The notions of being a big girl; being socially appropriate; taking care of her body.
In the past week we have begun Chore Packs (www.chorepacks.com) . They are sets of cards with chores pictured on them. Each child has a small plastic pack with their own chore cards inside. Each morning the children do their chores after breakfast with the guidance of the Chore Pack. Amazingly, Peach has been the one having the most difficulty getting through her Chore Pack each day. She only has six chores, and two of them are Brush Hair and Brush Teeth, so I have been feeling a bit frustrated that she is the last one finished and still needs many reminders to stay on track, and to go back and re-do things that were done incompletely or half-heartedly. Today, however, a light bulb turned on in her. Both chores and school work were done in a focused and thorough manner, and with a very sweet attitude. Yay!
It seems even our dog has had a light bulb turn on in him. After three years, we are finally able to leave him out in the house when we leave. He has always been too rambunctious, destructive, and anxious for us to do this....... and what mom of four children ages 5 and under also needs an anxious horse-sized dog on the loose?? Not this one!! So, praise the Lord for our dog's light bulb or middle age or whatever has happened. :)
With all of these light bulbs, our week has been pretty bright.
So bright, I gotta wear shades!!!!!!!! Ha ha! I know I am totally going to regret posting that, but as a child of the 80's I felt obligated to say it. Now I'll sign out, before I regress any more.
My second daughter is Apple. (Actually Apple Chubble, but we are trying to wean ourselves from the Chubble part, as I am sure there will be a day in her teenage years when she won't want to be known for the squishy, fluffy, lump of love that she was at birth). Apple and Speep are known for their finger sucking. They both suck the same fingers, but on opposite hands. Apparently my father-in-law sucked the same fingers also as a child. What a tradition! :) The children suck there fingers much of the time, especially when sleepy or upset.
Apple will be 4 next week, and I feel like the finger-sucking needs to end (at least during the daytime). Her current obsession is Strawberry Shortcake, so about six weeks ago I promised her a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party if she would stop sucking her fingers during the daytime. I thought it would be a challange, but she's done it! I feel as though a light bulb has turned on for her. The notions of being a big girl; being socially appropriate; taking care of her body.
In the past week we have begun Chore Packs (www.chorepacks.com) . They are sets of cards with chores pictured on them. Each child has a small plastic pack with their own chore cards inside. Each morning the children do their chores after breakfast with the guidance of the Chore Pack. Amazingly, Peach has been the one having the most difficulty getting through her Chore Pack each day. She only has six chores, and two of them are Brush Hair and Brush Teeth, so I have been feeling a bit frustrated that she is the last one finished and still needs many reminders to stay on track, and to go back and re-do things that were done incompletely or half-heartedly. Today, however, a light bulb turned on in her. Both chores and school work were done in a focused and thorough manner, and with a very sweet attitude. Yay!
It seems even our dog has had a light bulb turn on in him. After three years, we are finally able to leave him out in the house when we leave. He has always been too rambunctious, destructive, and anxious for us to do this....... and what mom of four children ages 5 and under also needs an anxious horse-sized dog on the loose?? Not this one!! So, praise the Lord for our dog's light bulb or middle age or whatever has happened. :)
With all of these light bulbs, our week has been pretty bright.
So bright, I gotta wear shades!!!!!!!! Ha ha! I know I am totally going to regret posting that, but as a child of the 80's I felt obligated to say it. Now I'll sign out, before I regress any more.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Not on the flowers!!!!!!
My oldest daughter is my "Peach". We nicknamed her this before she was even born. At some point early in that pregnancy, I read that my baby was the size of a peach, and the reference stuck.
Peach is a funny girl; a thinker; a textbook "first born". She also seems to be a cat poop magnet.
Our neighborhood is overrun with stray cats. No yard is safe from their lurking presence or their "presents". A couple of years ago, some girls from church stopped by to watch a parade with us. Peach had a ball showing them around the house and yard. As we left the fenced yard to go watch the parade, I realized Peach had cat poop on her shoe. Not wanting to embarrass her, I held her back, and quietly informed her of the problem. She proceeded to yell, "Hey guys! I stepped in cat poop!". So much for discretion :)
Fast forward to this evening. Boyd and I sat in the yard while our children rode bikes, played bubbles and sidewalk chalk, and frolicked around in the grass. A beautiful evening, in both weather and sentimentality.........Until Peach walks up and I get a whiff of her new Disney Princess flip-flops. This time I didn't worry about keeping it quiet. I just said "Girl, you need to check your shoes! I think you stepped in cat poop". She did, and she had. So, she ditched the shoes and avoided the suspect area of the yard.
I didn't know she had retrieved her flip-flops from next to me, until some time later when she said something about wiping her shoes on the flowers (a peony bush next to the house). I said "What do you mean you wiped your shoes on the flowers? Why would you do that? You mean you wiped the cat poop flip-flops on the flowers????????????????????" She simply explained that she was trying to make her shoes smell better.................. :) Kids are too much fun!
Peach is a funny girl; a thinker; a textbook "first born". She also seems to be a cat poop magnet.
Our neighborhood is overrun with stray cats. No yard is safe from their lurking presence or their "presents". A couple of years ago, some girls from church stopped by to watch a parade with us. Peach had a ball showing them around the house and yard. As we left the fenced yard to go watch the parade, I realized Peach had cat poop on her shoe. Not wanting to embarrass her, I held her back, and quietly informed her of the problem. She proceeded to yell, "Hey guys! I stepped in cat poop!". So much for discretion :)
Fast forward to this evening. Boyd and I sat in the yard while our children rode bikes, played bubbles and sidewalk chalk, and frolicked around in the grass. A beautiful evening, in both weather and sentimentality.........Until Peach walks up and I get a whiff of her new Disney Princess flip-flops. This time I didn't worry about keeping it quiet. I just said "Girl, you need to check your shoes! I think you stepped in cat poop". She did, and she had. So, she ditched the shoes and avoided the suspect area of the yard.
I didn't know she had retrieved her flip-flops from next to me, until some time later when she said something about wiping her shoes on the flowers (a peony bush next to the house). I said "What do you mean you wiped your shoes on the flowers? Why would you do that? You mean you wiped the cat poop flip-flops on the flowers????????????????????" She simply explained that she was trying to make her shoes smell better.................. :) Kids are too much fun!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Speep......... I am Speep!
Alright, now re-read the title of this post with a low, commanding, "I dare you" sort of tone. That's better. I'm sure the first time through you were thinking pastel, marshmallow-y thoughts. But now you've got the hang of it.
My oldest boy coined this phrase last Christmas. One of his gifts was a Cars race track that quotes Lightning McQueen saying, "Speed........ I AM speed!" At not quite two years old, my boy could only get out "Speep....... I am Speep!" Being his family, we thought it was adorable, and now, anything to do with the movie Cars is referred to as "Speep".
I've been mentally shuffling through nicknames (we have alot of them around here), and I think Speep will be my oldest son's alias for this blog. He's a wild man. He's learned to gallop, and there's no stopping him now! As long as the gallop and the stairs don't meet each other, we'll be safe for another week or so......
My oldest boy coined this phrase last Christmas. One of his gifts was a Cars race track that quotes Lightning McQueen saying, "Speed........ I AM speed!" At not quite two years old, my boy could only get out "Speep....... I am Speep!" Being his family, we thought it was adorable, and now, anything to do with the movie Cars is referred to as "Speep".
I've been mentally shuffling through nicknames (we have alot of them around here), and I think Speep will be my oldest son's alias for this blog. He's a wild man. He's learned to gallop, and there's no stopping him now! As long as the gallop and the stairs don't meet each other, we'll be safe for another week or so......
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Day 1
OK, so I'm going to start a blog. ( I wonder how many thousands of people begin their blogs in that same way.?.) Names will be changed to protect the innocent. I won't promise allot of excitement or breaking news, but I think it will be fun, and maybe SOME PEOPLE will stop hounding me to do this kind of thing ( --- I know this isn't exactly what you were talking about, but close enough ---- and this is more my style anyway.)
If you are wondering about the name of my blog, I'll explain.
In the beginning.................. and then we were married. During the first few months of our marriage I made a shocking discovery about my beloved. He is unable to deposit socks into a laundry basket. Not only that, but he is unable to deposit socks in any room of the house except the living room. I am not claiming to be a neat freak, or even to be naturally orderly, but this was more than I could handle. Everywhere I looked there were dirty socks crunched up in little wads -- next to the couch, under the couch, in front of the TV, under the desk, aaaarrrgh! It seemed that no amount of asking, coaxing, pleading, or even demanding could change this stinky situation. On laundry days I would go through the apartment gathering up socks while gritting my teeth and grumbling about the laziness and lack of respect for others.
Then, God impressed upon me that if I couldn't do this chore happily for my husband then I should just do it happily for the Lord until He could work it out in my heart to do it happily for Boyd (remember I said names would be changed). So, I began Picking Up Socks For Jesus. (Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; )
If you are wondering about the name of my blog, I'll explain.
In the beginning.................. and then we were married. During the first few months of our marriage I made a shocking discovery about my beloved. He is unable to deposit socks into a laundry basket. Not only that, but he is unable to deposit socks in any room of the house except the living room. I am not claiming to be a neat freak, or even to be naturally orderly, but this was more than I could handle. Everywhere I looked there were dirty socks crunched up in little wads -- next to the couch, under the couch, in front of the TV, under the desk, aaaarrrgh! It seemed that no amount of asking, coaxing, pleading, or even demanding could change this stinky situation. On laundry days I would go through the apartment gathering up socks while gritting my teeth and grumbling about the laziness and lack of respect for others.
Then, God impressed upon me that if I couldn't do this chore happily for my husband then I should just do it happily for the Lord until He could work it out in my heart to do it happily for Boyd (remember I said names would be changed). So, I began Picking Up Socks For Jesus. (Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)