Better With Age, Part Two

I had been writing a post about Grant turning thirteen in my head this week, patting myself on the back for not worrying about the teenage years.  Then I received some pictures of my nieces and daughters in the mail from my aunt. 

All of a sudden my perspective changed a bit.  These were taken just a few short years ago…

and this..

And now this?

 

Can you imagine what we will be dealing with in a few short years?  I know.  It’s a little terrifying.  I’m kind of thinking about locking the doors and getting out the burlap sack dresses.  Who knows what Mike is thinking! 

But if they transform as much in the next few years as they did in the last few, we’re going to have a swarm of teenage boys outside our house. 

Better With Age

They say wine gets better with age.  I guess some cheese is too.  It is obviously  not true of the kind of great value cheese I buy because when that ages it just turns green. 

But age can bring benefits.  I’m glad I’m not the person I was at 16, 26 or even 34!  I hope that God continues to grow and change me into someone that reflects His glory.

Time keeps rolling on.  I have more gray hairs.  And my kids keep having birthdays.  This time our firstborn hit a big milestone.  Thirteen.

How does this…

turn into this…

in the blink of an eye?

I just couldn’t imagine that the sweet baby we loved so much would become such an amazing person.

I’m still important to him because he relies on me for food 24/7 .  He still needs to eat every two hours just like when he was a baby.  And he still needs me to drive him places.

But, I am no longer at the center of his world. I never thought the day would come.

Instead of planning a birthday party like I used to with fear and trepidation of keeping a bunch of little boys occupied, Mike took him and his friends out for pizza. I never even saw them.

He has a phone. He has a life.

Some people tell me I should worry about thirteen and beyond.  I’m so thankful for the time we’ve had and the time to come. Each stage has it’s joys and struggles and I intend to make the enjoy every minute.  In a few years, I’ll be even further out of the center of his world.  And that’s ok because he’ll always be in the center of my heart.

Happy Birthday Bud!

The World and The WORD

December should be about worship and wonder.  I know that.  But it’s just so hard to make it happen.  There are so many things to do and so many distractions. 

The internet is so convenient for shopping and finding deals and yet…

(http://theberry.com/2011/08/01/morning-coffee-38-photos-10/)

it gets in the way. 

It’s hard to find the balance of world and Word, you know?  I want to be in the word and worship.  However, there are things in the world that need to be taken care of too. My kids are going in a million different directions. I’ve got church responsibilities and home stuff to do. I’m doing a little part time job. I mean really little. Not hard. Not many hours and it seems to be sucking up an awful lot of time.

It doesn’t seem that God has called us to go live life in a commune, which quite frankly I’m pretty bummed about.  So I’m praying about balance.  How do I live life in the world while keeping the Word first?  How do I meet my kids needs without turning their eyes away from Christ?  How do I dedicate myself to scripture when I’d rather be reading Pinterest?

At Bible study yesterday, we were challenged to find ways to read the Bible and pray more.  I know what I have to do.  I’ve known it for 15 years and I continue to fail to do it.  It’s getting up early.  Blah!  I hate even typing that.  But if I’m going to put the Word before anything else, then it’s got to be done before the demands of the world are up.

Today, I read 2 Peter 1:12-21. It talks about prophecy and how the prophecy of scripture didn’t come from the prophets interpretation, but directly from God as delivered by the Holy Spirit. It’s a good passage to pair up with Isaiah 9:2-7 during the Christmas season.

It’s amazing to think of how God orchestrated all the prophecy and fulfillment for His glory and our salvation. Once I start, I could just keep reading and worshipping and wondering all day. But, eventually, the world calls.

How about you?  How do you balance the Word and the world? 

Is It December Already?

Yes it is.  Our tree is up and the craziness of December has begun.  Life moves so fast that sometimes it feels impossible just to keep up.

Christmas is supposed to be a joyful, special season but it all gets muddled and trampled by all there is to do.  On top of our normal everyday tasks we add; shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating.  Who do you think I am…  Martha Stewart? 

There are programs and concerts and parties.  It’s all supposed to add to the wonder and magic of the season but usually it just makes me tired and cranky. 

Last year I campaigned to Do December Different and find something to do for someone else every day.  It was good.  The kids were a big part of it and I loved how they focused on what we could do for others instead of just what they want.  But it added to the running and compounded the frenzy. 

This year I already feel kind of ragged.  As I was praying about Christmas this year, I felt a tug in my heart to slow down.  I think it was more like a kick in the pants:  S-L-O-W D-O-W-N! 

Even serving others can become just another distraction from the real meaning of Christmas which is worship and wonder.  Right?  I mean we are amazed that God for sent Jesus in His grand plan to save us from our sins.  God becoming man and dwelling among us.  So the wonder of the Christmas plan leads us to worship.  It’s all about Jesus and what He did.  It’s about God’s plan from the beginning of time. 

So although we are still going to elf a little this year, I want my focus to be more quiet and inward.  Taking the time to really make an effort to spend time in front of my tree with my Bible.  Worship.  And Wonder.

I want to encourage you to focus on Jesus too.  Let His love and truth fill your heart this season.

There are lots of advent sites with advent readings out there.  Take time to prepare your hearts for the coming of Jesus.  A family advent calendar that the Children’s Director at my home church (who also happens to by my sister) recommends is here.

A couple passages I read yesterday that were really meaningful to me were Psalm 25 and John1:1-14.  What are you reading for advent?  As we worship and wonder, the Prince of Peace will reign supreme in our Christmas and our life.  And who doesn’t want a little peace at this time of year?

 

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you  all day long.”  Psalm 25:4-5

Late Night Binge

I have late night binges fairly often as evidenced by my pants size and the empty snack size Twix bag on my counter.  But it’s not too often I go on a cleaning binge. 

Here I was having a normal Saturday night and all of a sudden because of a new Mr. Clean product, I’m scrubbing the tile grout, washing floors and chipping away at some hard water stains with a finger nail clipper.  What gives?

My house has been a pretty big disaster lately.  The Christmas tree mess.  Piles and piles of school papers and bills.  Five pairs of boots and snow pants.   A partially disassembled office downstairs.  It feels like chaos.  Ok, it is chaos. 

Yet in the middle of the chaos, which I hate, I am totally unmotivated to clean.  It might be that the task is too overwhelming.  It could be that I’m too busy.  My laziness no doubt is a factor.  I would rather do other things or nothing.

So why out of the blue, at the most inconvenient times do I go into a frenzy?  It’s 11:30 on a Saturday night and we have a big day tomorrow.  What on earth is wrong with me?  I filed months worth of paperwork.  I cleaned off the counter.  I cleaned underneath the toilet.  It’s so weird.

If only I could bottle this and binge on it on a Monday morning.  Can you imagine what I might accomplish?  In housework and in life.

But I guess as long as I can’t control when the cleaning binge wave hits, I may as well just ride along and clean like crazy until I get back to normal.  Then chaos can reign again.