From Jack...

Waiting

I have noticed lately as people ask about the job-hunt process that where a few months ago I was excited about the possibilities, I now feel tired and weary of this process and ready for it to be over. It has been looming ahead of us since we came to seminary and for a few months since we actually began seriously looking.
A song we sung in worship this morning has a line that the Lord used to both convict and encourage me- not that those two things are separate. Really, they should go together. Anyway, the line reads "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." That stopped me. I thought about it a lot and realized that waiting on the Lord as He has ordained it should produce strength. Not weariness. My weariness is a symptom that something in my own heart is not right. Am I truly waiting on Him-resting in prayer? Or have I let anxiety weigh me down?
How many times have I read Isaiah 40:31? Somehow, this time is different. I can see something I hadn't before.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

I saw this quote recently and like most moms, can relate to "the noise and clutter of my kitchen!" I pray for that same tranquility.

"The time of business," he said, "does not with me differ from the time of prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees at the Blessed Supper." from The Practice of the Presence of God by brother Lawrence

Together

I heard that soft, sweet voice.

"Mommy, what can we do together?"

I thought for just a moment

and remembered

"How about making our pumpkin bread?"

Big smile. "Yes."

Kayla loves pumpkin bread. We put it on our Walmart list this week. She also loves to help in the kitchen. So, we mixed and poured and stirred. Together.

She really wanted to have it with dinner, which was hamburgers and hotdogs. Not a choice combination for me- but hey, the kids loved it!

My Oxen

I am having one of those overwhelming moments of: my house is a wreck...there is no hope for it. A friend and her son were here for lunch after bible study today. I found my eyes resting on places of disaster: the toys, the kitchen counter, the foyer, the toys, the computer desk, the bathroom (oh no!), etc... Did I mention the toys? And the laundry- can I not get it all put away just once?
I know in my head the right answers to this issue. Which is really a heart issue more than anything. I think I should be able to do this. To handle my home. To keep it in order. The condemnation rushes in and I find myself weighed down by the things that do not matter. The momentary things. Doesn't Romans tell us there is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?" Even in something so small as how my house looks? Oh how I need grace.
Grace to enjoy lunch with a dear sister and to care more about her than what she may think of me or my home. Grace to admit my shortcomings and trust the Lord for all that I need. Grace to enjoy my family, even when it means letting things go around the house sometimes. Grace to learn what God would have me learn.

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty..." Proverbs 14:4

The Climber

I am enjoying Samuel so much right now. He has got quite the personality. He is either very happy and playful or...he is not and he let's you know it! I feel sure that when he learns to talk, he will have plenty to say!One of his new favorite things to do is climb. Loading the dishwasher is a challenge because I can turn around for a second and find him sitting on the open door. Or, as seen here, he climbs on his activity table and tries to sit on it, which you would think would not be very comfortable. I guess challenge is more desirable than comfort sometimes!

Although comfort often wins out. He is one who loves to be held. It is said that he is attached to my hip. Which is true. Sometimes inconveniently so. And though I cannot always hold him when he would like for me to, I do when I can. My 6 year-old too quickly grew up and doesn't really want to be held anymore. And I guess in some ways, that is as it should be. But I know a time is coming sooner than I would like when I cannot make it all better by picking Samuel up and letting him sit upon his perch. When it will take more than something so simple.

So, I will hold them while I can.

On the Other Side...

A sweet three-year old's birthday party. (Happy Birthday, Emily!) A moonbounce. An energetic 6-year old. Netting on the side of the moonbounce. An innocent game with a grown-up friend. A yanked out tooth.

And now we are on the other side of the drama and able to smile about it but I can tell you there were no smiles from Jack for a while last night. The tooth wasn't loose. Or if it was, barely. It got caught in the netting and out it came! An unexpected twist in the evening.

We heard, though, that the tooth fairy pays more for teeth that get knocked out unexpectedly-and she did!

Brothers

Kayla has a propensity towards order that I do not have. She must have gotten it from her dad!!

Jack has a book on Native Americans that he really enjoys reading. Maybe that's why I found him in front of the bathroom mirror Tuesday morning before Bible study doing this to himself...

Bird Watching

Jack is a pretty neat little guy. He's always enjoyed birds. For some reason, today he was partcularly interested in watching them. Although I think a big part of his enjoyment is getting his "gear." Today, that was binoculars, his bird book, a pen, notebook, a walkie-talkie, a camera, and his camo. Daddy helped get this bird's picture.

"What seemed overwhelming did not overwhelm her, for she believed that there was nothing she could not expect His wondrous kindness to do. 'He has been so kind about other things that we cannot doubt but that He will care for this too.' " Catherine Carmichael

(From A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot, on the life of Amy Carmichael)

Another Song

I used to sing "You are My Sunshine" to Kayla a lot at night before she went to sleep. When Samuel was just a newborn, she began to change the words as I sang. She still sings them occasionally. I never want to forget them so I am adding them here.

You are my Samuel, my only Samuel.

Samuel makes me happy, when Samuel smiles.

You'll never know, Samuel, how much I love

you Samuel.

Please don't take my Samuel away.

The Smell

I never think our house smells good. Actually, whenever I walk in I am wondering if it will smell good this time. But usually, I think it's kind of a stale smell. Not welcoming or homey. No one else's house smells badly to me. Just mine. So, while at Walmart today, I saw that Febreze Air Effects was on "rollback" and I bought some. Lavender vanilla & comfort. I was so excited. I knew this would make the house smell great.
So, as soon as we got home, before I even had all the groceries out of the car, I sprayed it. In the living room and the kitchen. Not on anyone, mind you. Just a little in the air. Immediately, Jack covers his nose, wrinkles his face, and says, "Aaarrgghh. What is that smell???" Brian grabs Samuel and says, "What is that? It smells terrible! Like an old ladies house!" Sigh.... I was so disappointed. I thought it smelled great. (Sarah: just like the lavender dryer sheets, which Brian also thought made our clothes smell like old lady clothes)
After dinner, everyone was outside so I thought I would try again, just to freshen things up. I sprayed a little and went out, too. Would anyone really notice? Yes.
Jack came in for something and then came right back out, face covered, and yelled, "Mom!!! It smells like someone has the stomach bug in there!"
I guess we are not a great advertisement for Fabreze.

Jack

Two little stories about Jack...
We were at Old Navy the other night to get flip-flops. It took him a long time to choose the ones he wanted and then to find the right size. Maybe because he was talking with another little boy about Spanish. Anyway, we were ready to check out and the cashier asked if we found everything we needed. I said "Yes." Jack propped his arms up on the counter and while nodding his head said, "Actually, I had a little trouble"
Yesterday we went for his 6 year well check. The nurse told him he needed to take off his shoes, shirt, and jeans. He said "What about my socks?" She said sure, take those off, too. So he took off the first one and said, "Oh man! I forgot to clean my toes!"

If It Had Been A...

Deer, lizards, and now....I almost stepped on it. A little brown snake curled up beside our back door. I yelled for Brian while I snapped pictures (which I did not post because I thought to myself..."Does anyone really want to see the snake?") Brian used the shovel to get rid of it-not as definitively as we had hoped. We thought it was dead but soon realized no. It survived.

Jack was fascinated. Kayla watched through the door for a while. Then everyone watched after Brian deposited it in the back of the yard.

The Three Muskateers

How hard is it to get a good picture? Very, when you have bongo-playing ballerina, a detective, and a darn cute little toddler!

Main Street

We used to live in the best place on earth, Bridgewater, VA. Every July, it's Lawn Party time, which means a typical country fair. Rides, food, tractor pulls, a junior tractor pull, even real sawmillng. Our favorite part was the parades. There are two- the Firemen's Parade and the Antique Tractor Parade. Early in the morning on the day of the parade (either one) people start putting their chairs out along Main Street in hopes of getting a great spot to watch that evening. By three or four o'clock that afternoon chairs are lined up as far as you can see. Some people leave them there after the parade and head to the Lawn Party. Others leave them over night for the next parade. Where else but Bridgewater?