Grace Abides...Joy Abounds

Signs...

2011-08-31T15:50:00.000-05:00

Signs of Learning...

Signs of Life...

Sharing Inspiration...

2011-08-19T22:03:00.011-05:00

When embarking on a new year of homeschooling, I'm constantly on the look out for inspiration. (I'm talking, the see-you-through-the-tough-days and make you wanna kiss-the-person-who-wrote-it kind) Yes, I receive much inspiration through my time in the Word and by observing my children's natural born curiosity, but it's always refreshing to hear from real-life, less-than-perfect Mommas who, like me, are choosing to "do school" a bit differently...

So, here's a couple places I've found inspiration lately. May you discover a beautiful nugget to bring courage and help to your heart...

And, if you don't mind...what's been inspiring you lately?

Another Box Day...

2011-08-19T20:37:00.005-05:00

As you may have gathered (check out the date of my last post, and the date on this one) I ran out of blogging-steam, midwinter...no excuses, but am ready to re-emerge with (what else?) but more sweet photos of the little guys. Humor me. And, hopefully, all is forgiven? : )

Looks like, we're sitting on the threshold of a whole new year of learning, and there's excitement in the air...

Well, why shouldn't there be?

Let the learning...continue...

This Week in Kid Quotes...

2011-01-20T21:30:00.013-06:00

I've had plenty of "material" lately (kid quotes), but not a lot of time to record them. These were a few that were just too good to let get away, and made me smile, on the inside. : )

"He does...He does love me, Mommy!"
(Lady N's sweet declaration after hearing our routine bedtime line: "Jesus loves you.")

"That's a telescope...to see stuff with."
(Lady N. answering my question as to what she is holding. She was actually holding an empty papertowel roll, at least that's what the adult in me saw!)

"That's spikin'."
(B.P.'s happenin' remark after hearing some good news.)

2010-12-08T14:31:00.002-06:00

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever,
and love me, I pray!
Bless all the dear children
in Thy tender care
And fit us for heaven,
to live with Thee there.

My Guitar Hero

2010-12-01T21:17:00.003-06:00

You'd be amazed by what a classical guitar in the right hands can do for one tired Momma and two lil rugrats during the ever-foreboding time we Mothers know as "making dinner." By this juncture in the day, it's usually not just the pasta water that has reached the boiling point. In fact, one might say myths and legends are made from such as has taken place between the hours of 5 and 6 PM.

...And yet, what's that I hear...entering the realm of frazzled nerves, endless banter and beeping microwaves? It's music...oh yes, this is true...but not just any music. It's the melody of an instrument so adept at calming the frazzled nerve, so soothing and endearing...it has wooed countless hearts and is referred to by psalmists. This music belongs to the Classical guitar and the fingers which so nimbly play belong to my Guitar Hero...

: )

A Fall Scene...

2010-10-09T22:36:00.007-05:00

This flaming tree had us pulling our mini-van (en route to our favorite eatery, mind you) to the side of the road. Can you blame us? It's like this tree decided to shout "Fall!" despite our humid, near-ninety degree temps today. And look, the tree right beside it is still green.

Learning in September...

2010-09-29T21:56:00.006-05:00

B.P. putting his mark on things...

The kiddos had such fun on their first "official" field trip to the local fire station, followed by a picnic at the park.

A little time outdoors enjoying the awesome Fall weather!

B.P. making letters just for fun!

Shaping Up...

2010-09-24T21:55:00.004-05:00

OK, after a lifetime of walking, not running, away from anything involving (or even remotely related to) physical exertion...I must finally admit that all my Converse-clad grade school P.E. teachers were right...I really do need to... (gulp) exercise. Just seeing it in print makes me a bit tired. I must admit I have come up with more excuses for not breaking a sweat than just about anyone I know...a fact I have always been somewhat strangely proud of.

Oh, I've had a few albeit short stints of trying this and that by way of getting in better shape...but nothing stuck. (I took bowling as a P.E. credit in college, OK?) Exercise has never seemed like much fun, but I do wish I had run a few more laps or found interest in much of anything sports-related before now. I guess we all have to start somewhere, though. And, for my children's sake, I'm wanting to make the effort to be a better role model in this area...

All this to say, I have not found some great program or fitness video, my husband and I have just reached the conclusion that, for us, exercise or some sort of regular physical activity is no longer an option...it's a necessity. And, I'm happy to report that our last few weeks have included more trips to the bike trail than have our previous last 6 months...And we smacked around some tennis balls tonight, while our children fielded them, red-cheeked, all around the court, happy and heavy-breathing. It was...in a word: fun.

There, I said it. : )

This Week in Kid Quotes...

2010-09-20T14:41:00.006-05:00

The scene:

Lady N enters the room with her latest Happy Meal prize…It's actually The Green Arrow, but how's a Mom to know that, when it looks just like any other little man in tights with a bow & arrow??

She announces:

“Mom, there’s a man.”

Hopelessly-uninformed-me suggests:

“It’s Robinhood.”

To which Lady N. replies, matter of factly:

“It’s Robin from McDonald’s.”

: )

Everything's Fragile

2010-09-13T20:59:00.007-05:00

Sometime a phrase enters my mind and sparks creative inspiration. Such is the case with the title of this entry. I found myself whispering this phrase one day and the more I thought about it, the more meaningful it became.

Let's break it down. Everything is...well, everything. Anything I can see, smell, hear, touch, feel, and even more so, those things I cannot. My spirit, my marriage, my health, my friendships...my life.

From Noah Webster, of the 1828 vintage:

FRAG'ILE, a. [L. fragilis, from frango, to break.]

1. Brittle; easily broken.
The stalk of ivy is tough, and not fragile.
2. Weak; liable to fail; easily destroyed; as in fragile arms

Before I met Andria, I lived in Nashville, TN. In 1996 I had just started a temp job as an IT tech (but basically I just moved computers all day long), and the boss placed me with a full time tech, William. William was in charge of the project, and I didn't know what to do other than attach myself to his hip and follow his every move. So all day long we moved computers from offices in an old 12 story office building to a new 21 story office building. When we had a gap or break in moving the computers, I tagged along with William as he went to diagnose and troubleshoot computer problems for users. If not for William, I would not have gotten my foot in the door of the IT field.

More than that, William became my close friend. We ate lunch together everyday, and played golf together after work. He was married and had 5 children. For a single guy like me, he modeled what a Christian husband and father looked like. He encouraged me and looked out for me. For all intents and purposes, William was my big brother. When I moved back to Illinois, I missed him fiercely. And not long after Andria and I were married, I got a call that he had liver cancer. Four months after his diagnosis, he passed away. He was only 38.

We ARE brittle. We ARE easily broken.

Even now when I think of him, 9 years after his death, I can't control my emotions. But what is profound to me is how fragile we all are. And not just our health or our physical lives. Just think of the last time someone said or did something that offended you. It could have been innocent or premeditated by that person, but either way, you bear a wound and the relationship has forever been changed.

Weak...liable to fail...easily destroyed.

When I consider the fragile nature of everything, I don't despair or feel depressed. Instead, I find myself surprisingly encouraged and uplifted. Because I am reminded that there is One who is not fragile. Quite the contrary. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).

William's body was broken. His family, his relatives, his friend's (including mine) hearts were broken. Yet by His wounds, by His sacrifice we are healed and by His grace we are saved.

A Song in the Heart...

2010-08-26T21:15:00.006-05:00

I've had a song rollin' around my head lately. It's a ditty from Matthew West called "My Own Little World." And, it's got a lot of heart.

You know, it's so easy to get caught up in our own little world, especially when we have a few things in our lives that "blow up" without warning. You know, when the furnace starts leaking, and you don't realize it til you need to find an insurance adjuster. Then everything else systematically starts leaking: the dish washer, the kitchen sink, your two year old!! Or, your lil girl goes to bed with a tiny bump on her nose, then gets up with a dot-to-dot of (later to find out) impetigo (oh my!)...And your van won't start...again...

Oh, of course, we know there will be days like these...but, I'm thankful for the vision adjustment that a little four minute song can provide in the midst of life's unplanned "stuff." Today, this song was a great reminder for us of God's heart...and helped "move" us out of our "messy" world for a moment to see with new eyes...

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give ‘til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s population: me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, “help this homeless widow”
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, God, what have I been doing?
So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money than I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world

You can see and hear more here...

This Week in Kid Quotes...

2010-08-19T14:39:00.013-05:00

The Set-Up:
Right now, our kids are very into the movie, Toy Story. B.P. has been running around the house quoting Buzz Lightyear quite a bit. But my favorite line came a few days ago, when I overheard him say to his little sister:

"You're a sweet girl...aren't you, Jessie?"

To which Lady N. replied,

"Thank you, Bugz."

: )

And, by far, my favorite quote of the week...borrowed from a dinnertime prayer:

"...and help this food to be good."

Reasons Why We Learn At Home

2010-08-07T17:01:00.012-05:00

Well, with our curriculum all out of the boxes, I've been thinking...

Because our lives are defined by the choices we make, and because our children may someday wonder, like many others, why we ever decided to do such a thing as home school...I've been, once again, revisiting the "why" of our choice. And, guess what? I'm almost sure there will be different reasons that stand out every year we choose to continue this at-home learning adventure...

We, like so many, who eventually decide to home school had our initial reservations. Oh, there were many stereotypes in our minds of the typical homeschooler, (um, not good ones) and there were fears and trepidation aplenty, mostly mine. Could we do this? Should we do this? Shouldn't we just leave our childrens' education to the experts? (See great article about this here.) Will everyone think we are crazy? (I'm sure some still do!) Will our kids turn out OK?

Somewhere, though, in the middle of the longs nights of reading, talking, praying, and more talking, we began moving forward with our decision...and then, in time, a strange thing happened: It just felt right...really right. And, although, I can vouch for the fact that homeschooling isn't always good days and eager learners...I can say: it's the choice that's right for our family...for now. We had our reasons then, and the list just keeps growing...

This year, the reasons that stick out in my mind have a bit of a Christmas morning feel to them. What I mean is, we're really looking forward to homeschooling this year, not because of all of the Reading, Science and Math that will be taught and hopefully "caught." But, more for the "fringe" benefits that come from a family learning the Three R's together side-by-side. This year, our reasons for homeschooling feel kind of like presents we have the privilege of giving our children...(bear with me, here)

The first gift being: more time. I'm thinking, more of our time...and more of their time. More time to grow. More time to learn in their own way. More time to be creative. More time to develop the imagination. More time to think & build confidence. More time for family. And, more time to learn the things that are most important to our family, having nothing to do with the three R's. Time to just be a kid, a little longer...And, how often do you get a chance to give someone more time...really?

But, the gift we're most excited about giving our children has to do with desire. After all, don't our desires determine, in large part, how we will use the time we've been given? See, what we're most excited about giving our children is: the gift of having their desires (or appetites) trained for the godly, the good, and the noble.

It was Ravi Zacharias who reminded me recently (through a radio program) that God has given us the marvelous privilege of training our inner appetites and passions for what is good. His "talk" made me realize how cultivating healthy desires makes us good stewards of our own hearts. And, what better time to undergo training than when one is young? Oh, to be young again! There are so many things out there vying for our attention, our time and our desire. Distractions abound! Some good, some immoral, some benign, some worthless, and some worthy. I hope our children will be able to discern the difference and prefer the noble to the ignoble. This is our humble prayer and passionate pursuit...

So, I guess one can always feel that getting an education is akin to receiving a great gift. I just hope our kids feel like they got a bit more...in the long run. So, in short, we choose to home school this year, based not so much on all the things our kids will miss out on in a classroom, (yes, I did say miss out on) but rather on all the things they would miss out on if they were not at home!: )

Box Day!

2010-08-05T22:19:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was Box Day at our house!

What's Box Day, you ask? : )

Well, B.D. consists of not-so-patiently awaiting the Fed-Ex man's arrival with the bulk of our son's Kindergarten curriculum...and then ripping into it, of course!

Here's what it looked like:

When everything was out of the box, my son commented, "Wow! This could be the best Kindergarten ever!" Followed promptly by, "Could I have a snack now?" : )

This Week...

2010-08-01T16:10:00.013-05:00

Favorite Kid Quote:

The scene: Lady N. enters the kitchen donning a blanket over her head. (think shepherd-style)

She announces:

"Mom, I'm married."

To which I reply,

"Oh, you are...?"

"To who?"

Her matter-of-fact response:

"Baby Jesus."

: )

Read All About It...

2010-07-30T21:57:00.006-05:00

Check him out! This is Mr. B after reading his first "reader" last Tuesday. We were so excited!!

It's funny how things happen. He and Lady N. have been enjoying pouring over all the new books we will be using next school year. I hadn't planned to get too "into" anything for a few more weeks, but when they started checking out the readers, it just seemed too good an opportunity to resist. B.P., with minimal help, was able to sound out all the words in his first reader and has since read through the second, and is "finding" new words everywhere...

This morning, we passed a "Fast Cash" on the way to the grocery store. I didn't notice, but heard my son say, "ast"...fast"...followed by, "Mommy? Why's that say fast?" I didn't feel we were quite ready for a lengthy discussion of all the reasons you can't or rather shouldn't get money...fast. I mumbled something, not very informative and praised his ability to "find" a new word...

But, Oh! the many questions that accompany this season. I can hardly keep up...it's wonderful, fun AND exhausting!! I know I'll be fielding many more questions as reading fuels curiosity and learning leaps forward. I may not always be ready, but I hope to always be thankful...

thankful for the little things, like curiosity, shared experiences and the opportunity to "Mother," for a little while... : )

Back Up & Running

2010-07-27T22:18:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is...our NEW Acer (too cool for school) laptop...SWEET!!

A little back story: my previous laptop (which shall remain nameless) had always been a good and trusty laptop. A few issues here and there, but for the most part, we had a good working relationship. Then, over the last few months, it began having...shall we say, issues. First, it was the occasional inexplicable error message, then a few more oddities, (frustration mounting) followed by days and days of booting-up only to be greeted by the blue screen of death. Finally, there was nothing left to do. My I.T. husband was left with the difficult, yet necessary decision to ultimately..."pull the plug." May he rest in peace...the laptop, that is. : )

So, after perusing the back to school sales, we settled on the Acer and will let you know how it does...but ain't it cute?

So far...This Week:

2010-05-20T15:13:00.015-05:00

Favorite Quote:

"G-o-l-l-y! It's almost 8' o clock!"

said by our 5 year old son upon getting out of bed and checking the clock on our microwave. :) Uh, son, do you have a plane to catch?

Favorite Moment:

Overhearing our lil girl singing along with the chorus of this beautiful new song...

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

by JJ Heller from the album Painted Red

My Fair Lady

2010-04-25T21:22:00.003-05:00

This picture of our Lady N. cracks me up! The joke is: she would much rather go around growling like a tiger than bowing like a princess! It's amazing how much of us is "us" from the most pint-sized version of ourselves. : )

Lady N. is a girl who has a great sense of comedic timing. She gives us a good laugh, daily. She has a flair for the artistic. Her creative mediums of choice include (but are not limited to): chalk, markers, crayon, lipstick, applesauce and all things gooey. She loves, LOVES chocolate and shoes and mentions her latest fashion accessory to passers-by. (I have NO idea where she got this!) She can hold her own in conversation and doesn't shy from the lime light. She's brave: having yet to meet a piece of playground equipment she wouldn't scale in a minute and well, the terrible two's are not lost on her either. She is especially fond of: pickles, cats and her brother (probably in that order), and would rather do it "all by myself," thank you very much!

Days with our little princess are an adventure I wouldn't miss for all the world. Lady N.: you're so much fun...we love you, darling girl!

Look What I Found!

2010-04-15T15:17:00.027-05:00

The birds of the air nest by the waters;

they sing among the branches...

How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104

There's Within My Heart a Melody...

2010-04-04T21:44:00.019-05:00

Hymns. I can remember learning countless hymns as a child growing up in a small country church. Every Sunday, I was surrounded by family, singing songs like: "The Old Rugged Cross," "Power in the Blood" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer." Because of weekly piano lessons, I had learned to read music and liked "trying-out" the harmony parts. And, occasionally a song was chosen from the older-still (softcover) songbook with music written in "shape notes." The melodies, in diamonds and triangles, seemed foreign and pretty, at the same time. And they flew by on the page more quickly than the standard notation...

Although I haven't see one of those worn Baptist Hymnals in years, I can still recall the page of certain favorite songs all this time later. I can also remember my deceased Grandmother's favorite song (page 401) and what song my late Grandfather used to sing as a "special." (He could never quite make it through "Ship Ahoy" without crying) Yes, hymns were part of the fabric of my childhood and only later have I realized how embedded they became in my heart and mind...something, for which, I am truly grateful.

So, now it's my turn to enrich my children with those great songs of the church that nourished the hearts of our grandparents and maybe even their grandparents. My husband and I are deliberately passing them on to our children with the hope that they, too, will find comfort and encouragement for the times when we can't be there, but a song in the heart can.

We've found Easter to be an especially good time to introduce a new hymn, because of the many wonderful passion hymns to choose from. This last week, we were learning "At the Cross." After singing once a day for about week, our two year old can sing the chorus all by herself. I'm always surprised just how much is sinking in.

Some of our favorite resources for getting our kids singing include: Focus On the Family's "Hymns For A Kid's Heart" series. There are 4 volumes available, and each includes a book with an enclosed CD. Each book is well-written with illustrations, and unfolds the inspiring "stories behind the songs." The arrangements are very in-keeping with the traditional versions of each hymn. For hymns that sounds a bit more modern stylistically, we love the WOW Hymns CD. And, although not hymns, we really like using the Glory Revealed projects. They are fun, acoustic, well-done songs with scripture as lyrics. You can't beat the theology in those songs!

So, as another Easter comes to an end, I am thinking of a hymn, we used to wait all year long to sing. It goes like this:

 Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

 Happy Easter!!

Signs of Spring

2010-03-30T21:40:00.024-05:00

We're hoping to attract some blue birds to our backyard this Spring. Something feels so "right" about putting up your first bird house. Who knew it would be so exciting? : )

Can you believe SPRING'S finally here?

We're enjoying some great weather this week,

and this one-time indoor girl is really enjoying
more time outside. The kiddos LOVE it!!

Seeing Through Smoke

2010-03-28T22:14:00.024-05:00

This weekend, my husband and I joined two great friends to do something very out of the ordinary for us. We sent the kids "packing" (all smiles, by the way) to their grandparents', while we "road tripped" to Music City and took in a concert.

We had planned to stay overnight to avoid the long trip home in the middle of the night, and it was a good thing we did...because as it turns out: we're (getting) OLD. : ) After standing 4 straight hours in a packed house to watch the concert (not including the 45 minute wait outside before it began), we all felt every bit of our age..and then some!!

But, was it all worth it, you ask? My, YES!! This concert featured 3 artists, but the group we had traveled hours to see, was none other than NeedtoBreathe. I don't know how I would describe the concert except to tell you that they were truly great. Their music sounded amazing, as good as and better than the original recordings. They really engaged the audience, and the production was excellent in all respects...but better than all that, they were, in a word...inspiring.

They consider themselves a "rock band," and they performed right alongside artists that had all the markings we've come to expect, lyrically, from "rock." But, these guys, were the headliners, and they were unashamedly, unabashedly shining the Light. It was such a stark contrast. The first hour of the concert was some really good, and some not-so-good music that left the audience feeling the artists' emotions, their vulnerabilities, even their suicidal tendencies...it was murky, often depressing and, at times, touched on fun. But, then there was NeedtoBreathe...

singing:

Before the truth will come to fill our eyes
The wool comes down in the form of fire
And when the answers and the truth have cut their ties
Will you still find me
Will you still see me through smoke

I was born in a house in a town just like your own
I was raised to believe in the power of the unknown
When the answers and the truth have cut their ties
Will you still find me
Will you still see me through smoke

Who do you believe when you can't get through
When everything you know seems so untrue
When I'm lost in a place that I thought I knew
Give me some way that I might find you

The song is called "Through Smoke." And that pretty much sums it up. There was smoke in the room that night, but by the end of the show, it was clear...where the Truth lie. I couldn't help but smile and feel a real down-deep hopefulness, even giddiness. After all, it's not very often these days, we see the Truth come out swinging and standing tall...the shining Victor it should be. On Life's stage, too often, we see bad hailed as good or the two placed awkwardly together, as if they were one in the same, relatively speaking. I was reminded once again that when light comes on the scene, it's really no contest. Light dispels darkness every time.

And, I know, I know, a Christian rock band?? We've heard it before, but don't think Stryper...think genuine. NeedtoBreathe works, because they're not trying to be something they're not. And, yes, I know, these guys will come and go...(Although, they did grow up as PK's, so I give them a better than average shot at longevity) But, the message of some 2000 years...IT will remain.

Good times...

2010-03-14T20:54:00.010-05:00

It's been a good week...

First, the kids are well...in fact, everyone is well, for the first time in weeks! We're holding our breath til Spring...

And it was a great week for getting those proverbial boxes checked. We were able to mark-off the dreaded tax appointment, get much needed hair cuts for the kiddos, finally pay the overdue charges we owed the library, purchase a picture album and begin the process of archiving over a year's worth of pictures (the source of some pretty serious Mommy guilt), get a jump start on clothing our Lady N. for the warmer weather and conquer various other odd jobs that had been hanging over our heads for sometime.

I admit freely, I LOVE to get boxes checked. As a perpetual list maker, who is also a procrastinator, married to a procrastinator : ), I can (if I'm not careful) get really bogged down with mental lists of "what hasn't been done" and "what needs to be done." It's a disease, really, and with all the things that can go wrong with a schedule and two small children, I am learning to let go of unrealistic expectations and just know things (that need to be done) will get done...eventually. And, in the meantime, I want to be present in the here and now to enjoy all the many blessings God has given. Letting the overdue sometimes go undone is the healthiest thing I can do. There are seasons where, out of necessity, the important things: play, sleep, prayer...get done and not much else and then there are seasons where the boxes get checked. I'm learning, either way, it's enough.

But where was I? Oh, yes, the good week we've had! We also had the treasured opportunity to deepen several friendships this week. And our kids got to play and hang-out, too. After a full week and a half of sick-at-home, they enjoyed spending time with friends, visits with Mamaw, playing outdoors, shopping and church activities. Here's a few peeks into what our week looked like, for the little guys:

This picture was taken just one day after the "Getting Well" post.

B.P. cheesing it up with friend, J.T. They're "all ears." : )

At any given moment during the day, one of our children is wearing this Dr. Suess hat...hands down, the best thing our son got for his birthday!

And last but not least for the week...lastnight, with the kids all tucked in bed, I got to experience the girly good feeling of crying my eyes out - again - while watching "Little Women"...Good Times!

Getting Well

2010-03-06T22:06:00.020-06:00

4 illnesses

3 weeks

2 tired parents

1 mini van...

to haul us all in, back to the doctor yet again! : ) This morning, our lil boy and baby girl (who's not such a baby anymore) were tucked into their carseats, blankets and lovies in tow, while Lance and I tried to stay awake for the half hour ride. Conversation was sparse. The night had been long and the radio was providing some much needed soothing. As row after row of dry, lifeless trees and bushes passed on either side of us, Lance finally said, "Everything looks so dead, doesn't it?"

Without thinking, I said, "Yes, it makes it hard to believe, in a few weeks, it could all change."

Our moods took a little lift as we embraced the truth and Lance mentioned the song, "Invisible God" from Andrew Peterson. He couldn't remember the exact line, he was thinking of at the time...but I have the blessing of the internet at my disposal, and I'm not afraid to use it!

Invisible God -
I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the moon in the space of a dark night, for the smile on a face in the sunlight. I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the sound of the storm on the window, for the morning adorned with a new snow, for the tears on the face of the old man made clean by the grace of the good Lamb.
And oh, I long to see your face, Invisible, Invisible God. All the works that you have made are clearly seen and plain as day, so mighty and tender. O Lord, let me remember that I see you everywhere, Invisible God, in the seed that descends to the old earth and arises again with a new birth; in the sinner who sinks in the river and emerges again, delivered.
And oh, I long to see your face, Invisible, Invisible God. All the works that you have made are clearly seen and plain as day, so mighty and tender. O Lord, let me remember, your power eternal, your nature divine. All creation tells the tale that Love is real and so alive. I feel you, I hear you, Great God Unseen I see you in the long, cold death that the winter brings and the sweet resurrection spring.

By the way, the kiddos are now warm in their beds, tucked with blankets and lovies...and I am thanking God for lots of things, not the least of all: antibiotics, children's Tylenol, the internet and Spring - soon to come!

So Long, February...Hello, March!

2010-02-28T15:37:00.010-06:00

Oh, forlorn February, I will not be sad to see you go!

Anyone else have a February? Yeah, you know what I mean. It really goes without saying...No, really...

Well, on one of my especially pitiful days this month, I picked up my copy of "Queen of the Castle," a book subtitled: "52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker." And, you might be thinking, I hope she bought that for herself with a subtitle such as that...and I must tell you that actually my wonderful husband purchased this book for me at Christmas. And, I must also tell you that I was, uh, how shall we say, a bit "put off" by the subtitle. I'm thinking, "Is this the way my family sees me? Really? YIKES!"

Thankfully, my husband caught on quickly and reassured me that the title "Queen of the Castle" and the contents of the book were his only purchase motivators, and that he was in NO way implying...well, you know. Another Christmas saved...our poor men! : )

Well, turns out the book is really great, and as I was saying, I was reading last week...hoping for encouragement, and that's exactly what I found. The book is broken up into small sections, one for each week of the year. On this day, I opened up to Week 8: "Pray first, Act Later."

There were good morsels throughout, again confirming to me that I can go to God right away whenever I feel those February feelings coming on...with a whispered prayer in the middle of the laundry or in the middle of microwaving chicken nuggets...whatever...

But what I was most touched by was the closing prayer. The book's author, Lynn Bowen Walker, had included such a beautiful prayer to conclude the section, and with her permission, I'll include here. If you wish, you can also read an excerpt from the book at this link.

Thank you, Lord, that You who makes the sun to rise and the sun to set each day, who makes Spring and Summer and Autumn and Winter, who provides all I need, are the perfect picture of faithfulness. Thank you that I can be transparent before you; I can acknowledge when I'm hurting and when I need help, and you are so willing to meet those needs. Help me to remember as I pray just who it is I'm talking to.

God is good, even in February, but here's looking forward to March mirth!!

Blues Banished

2010-02-21T15:35:00.020-06:00

This weekend offered such a welcome break in the Winter weather. It was as if old Man Winter just "gave out," and Spring sprang up out of nowhere. On Saturday, we could resist Spring's warm invitation no longer, and we were out as a family, enjoying the blessing of the great outdoors once again. I could see it in everyone's faces: This was just the break we needed to tackle a pretty mean case of the Winter blah's.

Our 2 year old, Lady N, swung and swung to her hearts' content...all with a watchful eye to the skies. She saw and mentioned every jet ("Big Jet!"), every wisp of cloud and every traveling ladybug. She even noticed the tiny moon that no one else had given a moments notice...completely outshone by the noon day sun.

Our son, however, was busy. He made himself a little "pad" atop his Swing & Slide "fort" and rushed indoors to get Snoopy and a blanket. He was in no hurry to swing or slide and would have liked it if we had all somehow managed to get up in that cramped space right along with him.

We eventually went back in and settled once again into the work and routine of the day. But later that evening our son blindsided us, in a good way...

We were traveling back home in the van, when out of nowhere, he mentioned the number "77." My husband, curious, asked why the number 77?

Our son said, matter-of-factly, "We use the number 77 to tell God how amazing He is."

My husband and I just looked at each other, pleased and puzzled. We had to find out more...

Without further prompting, our son continued: "God made all the stars, the animals, the planets and everything...and He made parents because He loves us. We tell God how amazing He is."

We were speechless...I think we mumbled something like, "That's right." "That's good, Buddy." Then, we shared a smile...a knowing smile. I'm pretty sure we had all enjoyed our unexpected brush with Spring. I know I did.

Shaun White is cool!

2010-02-18T21:21:00.012-06:00

Ah, to be as cool as Shaun White...and I'm not just talking about his hair! : ) My husband and I stayed up late (for us) last night watching Shaun pull out his gold medal performance. It was AWESOME!

For those of you who could possibly have been doing something else during the must-see Olympic snowboarding : ), each athlete was given two separate attempts at the pipe to "best" their score. Shaun gave a "WOW" first run which got fully rewarded by the judges. Every other snowboarder then rode trying to outscore Shaun, to no avail.

And, this is where it got really good. After finding out he was the clear winner, Shaun took his final run...nothing to prove...and already assured the gold. I wondered what he was going to do? The commentators kept talking about this "new trick" that he had been working on....teasing it....teasing us. I thought it might be another 4 years before we would ever hope to see what Shaun had up his sleeve. Then Shaun was off, sliding down the hill toward the pipe...

With nothing to lose and nothing to gain, really...he laid it all on the line and had fun. He started out with the same gravity-defying tricks from his first run, then with one more time up the pipe, from out of nowhere, he cranked out the newly named "Double Mctwist". His snowboard flying in frenzied loops and twirls, Shaun landed on his feet in a moment I'm sure he will never forget. It was one of those moments you can only hope to see when watching the Olympics. I had to grin right along with Shaun's million dollar smile. I know it's silly. I don't even know him, but I'm proud of him.

I love it that Shaun was "on" when it really mattered, and then he went above and beyond...pushing the envelope even when it really didn't matter (from a medal standpoint). Something about that gets me excited...and I think it's that I would love to do a Shaun White in real life: living with courage, a willingness to risk and a commitment to enjoy the ride! I think snowboarding has a new fan. : )

Leaning...

2010-02-08T21:13:00.017-06:00

One of my favorite moments right now, is when our little girl "takes to flight" in my arms. Oh, it's a bit of a back-bender for me. She's a big girl. Only two...still sleeping in a crib, but the girl "likes to eat" if you know what I mean. : ) She's solid, through and through...and I like it...SO squeezable, but where was I?

Oh, the flying thing. Man, I love the fact that I see her spirit and glimpse a bit of who I think she will become in everyday moments....like the "flying." It happened tonight. I picked her up to tell her our night-night "bit" when she leaned back and arched....arms out.

"I fly-nin,"

The ends of her mouth curled up in a big smile and she floated through the air...Happy, with a capital H.

"Flying" is tiring business for me. My arms which have not seen the benefit of a barbell since, well....we'll just leave it at that, get pulled and stretched mercilessly. But, flying works out great for her. All she has to do is lean back...I do all the rest!

Things We Love About 5 & 2:

2010-02-03T14:13:00.014-06:00

Well, I mentioned in my last post how much fun this "stage" with our kids is proving to be, so I decided to get a little more specific. I figured it might make for some fun reading a few years from now. : ) So, here goes:

Some things we love about ages 5 & 2:

It's still OK to say things like, "I am SO happy!" or "I love you so much." or "That's scary." and, of course, "I've gotta go p**p!"
Sharing happens...I'm not saying it happens very often, but it's starting to happen from time to time!
Pajamas are totally OK for all day wear...
Singing can be, and sometimes is...anytime and all the time. And, who says "Jingle Bells" and "Away in a Manger" are only for the holidays?
Doing a "show" (think America's Got Talent or The Gong Show) for Mom & Dad is cool and totally self-intiated.
Learning is fun and books are cool!
Stuff like snow, birds and squirrels are infinitely interesting.
For our 2 year old, doggies are "foofies."
If you want to get the kids to come running, just say, "Vitamins!" (Gummies)
For our 2 year old, Mom or Dad can totally "save the day" by squashing a spider or battling (i.e. removing) the occasional scary piece of sock lint from the bath water!
Anyone walking down the aisle at a grocery or convenience mart is fair game for conversation.
Mom & Dad are cool.
There's hardly anything a good nap, snack or tickle can't fix.

Parenting Heralded...

2010-02-01T16:09:00.009-06:00

This is really shaping up to be a fun stage with our kids...

I love it when (rarely) I hear people say something like: "You know what? I loved every stage with my kids....I kept waiting for the bad one everybody talks about, and it never came." Gives me hope. : )

But, yeah, ages 2 and 5, while sufficiently challenging and humbling are pretty darn joyous and full of fun surprises. I feel like the neurons in my brain are firing on all cylinders watching all of the changes in my kids and teaching them about things like sea mammals and calendar months. 'Course then there are the moments when the person on the other end of the line asks for my cell number, and I go totally blank, too. Really, it's just one extreme right after the other, and I'm loving it....most days.

There are those moments of inspiration, like the one I wrote about recently. (Eyes to See) Then, there are the moments (20 minutes later, to be exact) when we search out our kids after a "too-long" silence and find red crayon graffiti spread all over the bathroom vanity, closet and carpet. (We just left it on the carpet...it might be an improvement!) There is just never a dull moment...

And, I'm realizing more and more that parenting is rarely easy...but always worth it!

Truth be told: I get bowled over sometimes when I imagine all the bundle of potentiality in my children. I think of all the people they will meet as they live and grow. I think of how each encounter will produce some kind of result, some bit of influence, that could potentially reach every person that that person comes in contact with. If you think about how much a parent's investment could return in the months and years...over time and into future generations...well, it's like when God told Abraham to look up in the sky and behold the stars...

I believe a Mother's job is sacred and full of forever-kind of potential. It makes all of the service to our families that is overlooked, sometimes unappreciated and usually unlauded rich with heavenly vision. It makes me want to be totally "checked-in" to my parenting role and available for my kids. It's something that gets me through the toughest days...and makes me what to shout for joy on the best ones. And, sometimes, one day can be equal parts of both! You Moms know just what I mean... : )

Eyes to See

2010-01-24T20:57:00.021-06:00

Recently, my husband - the heart of our home - had to be gone from us for a week. His job sent him away (I'm not bitter) to sunny Florida, (well, maybe just a little) while we remained home counting the gray, cloudy days. (which would be all 7 of the ones he was gone...really)

Yep, it was on one of those cloudy mornings when our little boy, looking out the window over breakfast, asked, "Is the sun inside the clouds?"

Well, I was taken aback a little...I really am loving this new questioning phase of his. It's showing me all kinds of new things about what's going on inside his head. Our son was a "late talker" so I relish our relatively new ability to enjoy back and forth conversation...I especially love when he asks questions...

I responded with, "Well, it's on the other side of the clouds." I know it wasn't a very elaborate answer, but it satisfied him for the moment....

Then, as he observed the dense fog moving gradually through our backyard, he said, "Some of the colors are disappearing..."

And as I looked out the window to consider what he might mean by this, I saw it...I saw what he must be seeing. Yes, he was right. The fog had done it....It was washing the colors away. The fog had successfully covered what little color was left, after the winter chill and gray of a cloudy morning. Not a very pretty sight...Yep, nothing inspiring about this morning....except:

My little boy had brought the metaphor to life. There was a glorious sun shining just beyond those clouds....and yes, there were rich colors to see if we could somehow find focus through the fog. My son reminded me that morning to remember that, ultimately, our God is always "right there," even on the grayest, ugliest days...even, when we don't have eyes to see. He is faithful to inspire and "color" our lives with His glory...

My little boy reminded me that I needed to re-adjust my focus and pray for "eyes to see" God's goodness. I love it when that happens....when I hear the Lord speaking through the fog on a lonely, less than perfect morning, through my five year old... : )

Sleeping Beauties

2010-01-17T22:00:00.009-06:00

Don't you just love 'em this way?

It's our big boy fast asleep in his Mickey PJ's paired with his suit vest, which he insists on wearing 24/7 right now. Oh, and I don't mind...afterall, LOOK how cute it is, and he's practicing buttoning, to boot! : )

And, here she is our lil girl who does NOT go to sleep, thank you very much, without her "kitty" (If You Give A Cat A Cupcake) and her "Junior" (Asparagus, of Veggie Tales fame, of course).

She recently got a new Veggie Tales CD of worship songs. I say, new, because she also owns another V.T. CD, which she dubs her "Bob" CD. Well, I was interested to see what she would call this new CD. Turns out, she is now asking for the "Bob Chips" CD! I have to laugh because on the first track the Veggies sing whole heartedly, "Come, Now is the Time To Wor...ship" which I can only surmise she is hearing as, "Come, Now is the Time to Eat...Chips" : )

My Top 5 List...for Blogging:

2010-01-16T20:49:00.011-06:00

Well, I've not been blogging long, but decided to think "aloud" about the "why" of blogging, and here's what I came up with...

To hopefully inspire others with the very real Hope we have in Christ.
To attempt to remember what I learned in creative writing class, back before the days of texting, instant messaging, or national news in a two minute sound byte.
To have an outlet for this introverted, thirty-something, wandering mind, so as to preserve sanity, and it doesn't hurt that blogging is free, easy and relatively painless. : )
To make "connecting" with others easier in this modern world for a not-so-modern gal. (Who, admittedly, also feels a bit of trepidation considering this is clearly addicting and could cause more losing battles with cellulite.)
To help tweak perspective by focusing on those sweet moments of inspiration in everyday. They're there...but sometimes sandwiched between the muck and the mire and hard to find in the ordinary and the 'dailyness' of life. It's those "stills" of life I most wish to "record." It's where we hear His "still small voice" reminding us how important our lives...and our moment-by-moment choices are.

Anonymous wrote about finding everyday inspiration beautifully...don't you just love anonymous?

A commonplace life, we say and we sigh,

By why should we sigh as we say?

The commonplace sun and the commonplace sky

Makes up the commonplace day.

The moon and the stars are commonplace things,

And the flower that blooms and the bird that sings;

But dark were the world and sad our lot,

If the flowers failed and the sun shone not.

And God who studies each separate soul

Out of the commonplace lives makes His beautiful whole.

Caution: Morbid thoughts follow...

2010-01-13T14:36:00.007-06:00

Have you ever dreamed that someone you loved passed away? I did, lastnight. It was uber-scary. I mean, isn't it crazy how dreams can trick our emotions? I was feeling so much of what I would really feel had this dream, God forbid, been true. I woke up and after calling the person, weepy, and mentioning weakly how much they meant to me...I felt better...but, still, the feeling was there for awhile, nagging...hard to shake.

I've decided, though, to be thankful for the dream. Afterall, it was just a dream. In truth, none of us are promised tomorrow, so I'm thankful this person is still a very real, breathing part of my everyday...but, let's face it: I have no real control (not to take away from the very real influence of prayer) over someone else's destiny. I can't begin to even speculate about my own mortality...times, dates, etc.

I guess what I'm saying is, I hope the dream doesn't serve to feed fear. None of us can use more of that in our lives. Isn't there always something we could be worrying about? Especially, as wives and mothers...it can just be crazy. I hope, instead, the dream and its powerful play on my emotions will serve to open my eyes a bit... in a lasting way.

The thing that I couldn't shake (and don't want to shake) is just how much this person means in my life...not the silly, nice..."you mean so much to me" sentiment...I mean...Wow! My life would be SO different without you! I need you...I really do (who of us like to admit that?) And, Wow! Because you're a part of my life this and this and this (inserting SPECIFIC examples) have happened and this and this will happen and that's pretty GREAT, AWESOME, TERRIFIC!!

It's really wild how much I take for granted everyday. I hope/I pray for that to change in me. Afterall, I would never want to be the someone that somebody else was taking for granted....

Told you it would be a bit morbid...sorry! : )

Like a Child

2010-01-10T16:45:00.001-06:00

Wow! I just finished my first post and stopped to take a look, so to speak...when the phone rang. It was our 6 year old niece. She is a vibrant third child. The baby of the family...full of life and all girl. She wanted to let us know that she had just asked "Jesus into her heart." She didn't have much by way of explanation...I'm guessing she doesn't know the Nicene Creed or have a good grip on whether the fish that swallowed Jonah was actually a whale or not....I'm guessing she simply came to Him like a child. And, really, that's what we all must do. I think it gets harder the older we get, but I was thrilled to hear her news. Thrilled to know the grace & joy she has found...I'm reminded of several verses where Jesus speaks of children in helping to show "us" the way...places like Matthew 18...

Never blogged before...

2010-01-10T16:38:00.003-06:00

OK, I admit it...I read blogs, but never really wanted to start one. I am, as a habit, a very private person. I don't take advantage of so many of today's high-tech solutions for reaching out and touching everyone...anyone, but I've been "toying" with the blog idea for a little while now, and finally thought: Why not? I do have something to say. I do care about people. I do have a life and most importantly, I know the Giver of Life. My family and I are not extraordinary people. On the contrary, we are very ordinary people living everyday lives, but aware increasingly from moment to moment that where Grace abides...Joy abounds. We want to share a little of our life and hope with you...Happy reading.