Just when I think I'm really going to go crazy there are those golden moments that make it all worth it. Is there anything better than looking out the window at your kids playing together in the sandbox or the sight of all of them on the swingset eating a popsicle? I try to sit back and engrain those memories in my head so I can remember them forever. Plus, soon enought they'll be throwing sand at each other and sword fighting with their popsicles, so why not savor the moment!
Oh and another one is when they are asleep at night! So sweet (and quiet!)
Psalm 129:3
"Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children are a reward from him."
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
More Pie Please
I like pie a lot! But I'm not sure how many more pieces of humble pie I can stomach! While we were in Colorado, we had a pass to the water park. There are a couple of pools there including a big kiddie pool with a little slide. Jenna was helping Annie go down so I was going to hop in the pool to catch her. I thought I'll just step on this soft little landing mat, little did I know that althought soft, it is very slippery - so I fell. Now, I didn't just stumble or lose my balance, I did a total face plant in the kiddie pool in my swimsuit. Not a pretty sight!
After I got over the initial shock I started to laugh. Mainly because my husband was already laughing from across the pool! What I didn't realize until a few minutes later was that I scraped my foot down to the muscle. I was really wussy about it. (I'm not sure how it is that I can pop out a 9 1/2 pound baby like nothing, but limp and moan for weeks because of a scrape!) And now 3 weeks later, I still have a band aid on that spot and can't wear certain shoes, which is also a major source of pain to me.
There are so many times that I do a spiritual face plant! Just the other night, Mike and I were meeting with a couple and I just blew it. I had actually wanted to reschedule because Annie was cranky and I was tired. I felt off of "my game". But we plunged right in and I was way too talkative. I have gotten better about being quiet and listening in those situations, but not that night! Fortunately we know them well and I think they'll forgive me. But I was so disappointed with myself! Sometimes my ministry needs to be sitting there with my mouth shut!
It felt a lot like falling in the pool - instant humility! The trick to a humbling experience is to learn from it. I'm going to slow down and pray before those kind of meetings that God will be in control of my tongue and help me be focused on the people we're meeting with even if there is a lot going on in my little life at the time.
And, I'm going to slow down and be a lot more careful in the kiddie pool!
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, the comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom."
Philippians 2:3
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
After I got over the initial shock I started to laugh. Mainly because my husband was already laughing from across the pool! What I didn't realize until a few minutes later was that I scraped my foot down to the muscle. I was really wussy about it. (I'm not sure how it is that I can pop out a 9 1/2 pound baby like nothing, but limp and moan for weeks because of a scrape!) And now 3 weeks later, I still have a band aid on that spot and can't wear certain shoes, which is also a major source of pain to me.
There are so many times that I do a spiritual face plant! Just the other night, Mike and I were meeting with a couple and I just blew it. I had actually wanted to reschedule because Annie was cranky and I was tired. I felt off of "my game". But we plunged right in and I was way too talkative. I have gotten better about being quiet and listening in those situations, but not that night! Fortunately we know them well and I think they'll forgive me. But I was so disappointed with myself! Sometimes my ministry needs to be sitting there with my mouth shut!
It felt a lot like falling in the pool - instant humility! The trick to a humbling experience is to learn from it. I'm going to slow down and pray before those kind of meetings that God will be in control of my tongue and help me be focused on the people we're meeting with even if there is a lot going on in my little life at the time.
And, I'm going to slow down and be a lot more careful in the kiddie pool!
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, the comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom."
Philippians 2:3
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Weeds Be Gone!
Every year as fall rolls around I get crazy thinking about all the activities we could get involved with for the coming year. Opportunity abounds! Piano lessons, gymnastics, karate, scouts and the list goes on. It's so weird how in the spring I can't wait for everything to be over so we can have a more laid back schedule and in the fall I crave routine and activity.
For some reason last fall I had this need to do way too much. I was helping with Sunday School, hosting Bible studies and in charge of the Christmas program. While I was trying to get all my stuff together one Sunday morning, I looked over and saw Mike feeding the kids breakfast. Not that he had any important stuff, like a sermon to think about! All the activites I was involved in were good things to do, but were they edifying my job in serving my family? If I'm not home to keep the "home fires burning", then the home might just burn down!
As you know, I have been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. Not only do I not really enjoy gardening, I'm totally ignorant about it. It's unbelievable how weeds grow and look just like the plant. They are smart little things! If you aren't careful you could pull the actual plant and not the weed. And when the weeds get too big, when you pull them the plant come right out too!
I think activities can be like weeds in my life. They'll uproot our whole family if I let them get too overgrown. Even if I could keep up with all the running around and costs, I must ask myself if it's going to be edifying to my family and our desire to be followers of Christ. Why is that so hard to do? I think I better get out the weed wacker!
Matthew 13:7
"Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants."
For some reason last fall I had this need to do way too much. I was helping with Sunday School, hosting Bible studies and in charge of the Christmas program. While I was trying to get all my stuff together one Sunday morning, I looked over and saw Mike feeding the kids breakfast. Not that he had any important stuff, like a sermon to think about! All the activites I was involved in were good things to do, but were they edifying my job in serving my family? If I'm not home to keep the "home fires burning", then the home might just burn down!
As you know, I have been spending a lot of time in the garden lately. Not only do I not really enjoy gardening, I'm totally ignorant about it. It's unbelievable how weeds grow and look just like the plant. They are smart little things! If you aren't careful you could pull the actual plant and not the weed. And when the weeds get too big, when you pull them the plant come right out too!
I think activities can be like weeds in my life. They'll uproot our whole family if I let them get too overgrown. Even if I could keep up with all the running around and costs, I must ask myself if it's going to be edifying to my family and our desire to be followers of Christ. Why is that so hard to do? I think I better get out the weed wacker!
Matthew 13:7
"Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants."
The Late Show
I didn't get a chance to blog at all yesterday, which was very distressing to me. But, there were some laundry issues that needed my attention and we took the kids down to the Lakewalk along Lake Superior. Their favorite outing!
After we got the kiddos to bed, we got a babysitter and went to a late movie. We don't go out as often as we should, but a lot of times at night I just don't feel like I have the energy. Typically, we go for a more interactive date at a coffee shop, but last night there was a pirate movie we wanted to see (which was awesome by the way!). So we went to the 9:20 show. We were the only ones there and I was tired. But it was good to get out together, get away from the stresses of life and enjoy getting lost in a pirate movie together. We bought way too many snacks - we must have been thinking family style. But we got to sit there, watch and eat uninterrupted together.
On the way home at midnight, we were tired so we didn't say much. But I was reminded that it is really important to take time out together. When was the last time you dated your mate?
After we got the kiddos to bed, we got a babysitter and went to a late movie. We don't go out as often as we should, but a lot of times at night I just don't feel like I have the energy. Typically, we go for a more interactive date at a coffee shop, but last night there was a pirate movie we wanted to see (which was awesome by the way!). So we went to the 9:20 show. We were the only ones there and I was tired. But it was good to get out together, get away from the stresses of life and enjoy getting lost in a pirate movie together. We bought way too many snacks - we must have been thinking family style. But we got to sit there, watch and eat uninterrupted together.
On the way home at midnight, we were tired so we didn't say much. But I was reminded that it is really important to take time out together. When was the last time you dated your mate?
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Why Bother With Church?
We've been away from our church family for 9 weeks, so I was really looking forward to being back with them today. It's nice to go to other churches and worship with other believers, but there is just nothing like worshipping at SonLife for me. The people there have known us since before we had kids. They have been with us in good times and bad times, they have allowed us to make mistakes and grow. And they still love us. They are a great and gracious group of people.
So, I was excited, my children however had other plans for me. Annie cried and screamed almost the entire hour. Grant and Abby came running outside to find me (during the sermon) to tell me that they were tired and hungry. They didn't pick up their crayons like I asked them to after church and did several other annoying and disobedient things. All of which was made worse by Annie's screaming. Then we headed home and I made lunch and fed everyone before Mike even walked through the door. What a fulfilling worship experience!
So, I was thinking to myself, Why did I come to church today? I never get anything out of it and I could just as well be chasing kids at home. That's been on my mind a lot lately! Why bother?
Of course I have to go to church because I'm the Pastor's wife, right? That is true, but I want to be in church - even when it's hard. Here's what I've realized:
I need to be in church with my family. We need to worship together. They need to see that this is an important event. Not that we are legalistic and are there by force, but that we WANT to be there. It's a joy to be with our church family and to praise the Lord together. I like to shut my eyes while we are singing sometimes to keep from being distracted. One day last year Jenna asked me, "Do you shut your eyes so you can see Jesus?" I do not want to miss those moments with my kids.
And if I'm not going to go because I don't get anything out of it, that really is just plain selfishness isn't it? Who said church is about me and what I can get from it? Isn't it really about God and what we bring Him?
Acts 2:42-47
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and good, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
So, I was excited, my children however had other plans for me. Annie cried and screamed almost the entire hour. Grant and Abby came running outside to find me (during the sermon) to tell me that they were tired and hungry. They didn't pick up their crayons like I asked them to after church and did several other annoying and disobedient things. All of which was made worse by Annie's screaming. Then we headed home and I made lunch and fed everyone before Mike even walked through the door. What a fulfilling worship experience!
So, I was thinking to myself, Why did I come to church today? I never get anything out of it and I could just as well be chasing kids at home. That's been on my mind a lot lately! Why bother?
Of course I have to go to church because I'm the Pastor's wife, right? That is true, but I want to be in church - even when it's hard. Here's what I've realized:
I need to be in church with my family. We need to worship together. They need to see that this is an important event. Not that we are legalistic and are there by force, but that we WANT to be there. It's a joy to be with our church family and to praise the Lord together. I like to shut my eyes while we are singing sometimes to keep from being distracted. One day last year Jenna asked me, "Do you shut your eyes so you can see Jesus?" I do not want to miss those moments with my kids.
And if I'm not going to go because I don't get anything out of it, that really is just plain selfishness isn't it? Who said church is about me and what I can get from it? Isn't it really about God and what we bring Him?
Acts 2:42-47
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and good, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
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