First Boy Ever Injured by Bible...

I know this sounds like a Tabloid, but it is true. I was in my room having my quiet time and Jeb was in his room having his quiet time and Cay was asleep. It was a dreamy moment. Then, I hear a squeal followed by some footsteps. Yes, he comes running in claiming, "My Bible Cut Me." I was like...what did you say? Please explain. Apparently, he was thumbing through his favorite Bible (100 Ways to Know God Loves Me) and listening to the accompanying CD when the corner fell on his skinny foot and cut him. Yes, he was hurt by his Bible. I just laughed. Only my child could find a way to be injured by a book.

We had a fun weekend with cousins this weekend. Lib and her family were here and Ky. turned 3 and had a Monster Jam party.

We have had the joy of sharing our baby goats with lots of friends this past week. It is always fun to have friends over to play. Also, we have had cousins in and out during the week and I love Meg's smiles (see pics).

Cay has had to be in time out a few times lately. He has really taken to mauling his brother and head-butting. He will headbutt me, concrete, stairs, wooden floors and toys. It is odd. I am hoping he will figure out that it creates more pain than it helps.

There have been quite a few things that I have been thinking about lately or reading that really struck me. Maybe they will you too.

I have been so heartbroken over so many of my students' stories and often unimaginably horrid situations. I really sometimes wonder how some of these kids can go through so much and even half-way function. I try to share my faith as much as legally possible as their instructor...but it is a really tough balancing act. I have been impressed by both their strong faith in God and their utter hopelessness when they don't know Him.
C.S. Lewis once said, "The sources of unbelief among young people today do not lie in those young people...This very obvious fact--that each generation is taught by an earlier generation--must be kept very firmly in mind...Nothing which is not in the teachers can flow from them into the pupils." I am praying my walk will be close and steady with God so that my children/students can SEE and experience the pleasures of knowing God in a tumultuous world.

I was reading Homelife Magazine and preparing for my classes this week. I am sharing an article called "Moms Who Do Too Much" about helicopter parents as we begin our unit on writing argument papers. So, I read this article, "The Relief of Imperfection" by Joan Webb (based on her book by that title)and I thought about how I always had a believing professor at Mizzou who said, "Perfection is an enemy." ...
"Many of us play God in subtle ways. We ma have trouble conceiving than there is an equal option or goal other than ours, or that God is at work in the painful circumstances we're so determined to avoid. Matt 16:21-23 : I want you to know that in a few days I'm going to be killed, said Jesus...Peter says...there is not way we can let this happen to you. Jesus says--Peter you think you're helping, but you're really hindering Me. MY Father is doing something here. Stop trying to be bigger than God. Since we want to choose (and want everyone around us to choose) to follow Jesus and want God's purposes fulfilled, we may attempt to step in and figure out a perfect, protective solution to preventing hurt, or (in our opinion) a disastrous situation. We may actually be hindering God's strategy for insight and growth in another's life or in our church. We cannot know God's agenda for another's spiritual growth or HOW GOD PURPOSES TO SHOW HIS POWER." Wow...what a relief. Now, I do think there are times (many times) when we as believers are to "speak the truth in love " see 1 John, but then there are those times when it is best to step back and let those we care about experience the consequences of their own decisions. Both are tough and knowing when to do which really is a matter of prayer.

One more totally unrelated thing I read:
"Kids need to see their families and churches caring for the least of these." Soren Kierkegaard once told of visiting a wealthy cathedral: "The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, sell what he has, give it to the poor, and follow me." He said he started laughing at the irony of the church, but no one else seemed to notice it. I used to be sad that our church looked like a barn (BTW--it does look better now with our new addition--praise be to God for that!) but now I find comfort in its pragmatic metal self! After all, Jesus himself was born in a barn. Now, if they would stop spending so much money on lights and Hollywood effects (no church is perfect)--hee hee. Oh well, still, I do think money is spent sharing the gospel and not on showing off bricks and chandeliers.

Fall Family Fun--Part I

Besides almost being swept up in a gang fight at the mall this weekend, we had a lt of fun! No, seriously, I didn't know it, but the mall is no longer a safe place for you to take your family. We were not there long, but there is some serious gang activity, fighting, and people being thrown down and arrested. It was SCARY. I got my kids and got out of the food court as fast as I got there.

We did have fun, though, at a local farm this weekend. This is our 3rd year going and even though it is not cheap, we like to support a local agri-business and Jeb has the time of his life. This year they added a cool, huge pipe slide (his favorite thing) and a neat zip line. He also enjoyed riding the cow train, swinging in the hay and playing in the wheat box. Cay enjoyed the animals and hanging out with his buddy Ella. Jeb and his friends started the corn maze but ended up chasing each other, hiding and running from their parents. It was a work-out! We all went on a hayride and picked some cute pumpkins as well.

A funny thing happened on the way to the treat basket...

Today when we got home from school Jeb decided to tee-tee off the porch (as usual). Caleb insisted he join in the fun...a few minutes later when Jeb and I were swinging I did notice the puddle on the porch near the rails. He did it! We ran over there and cheered him on and I ran inside to get an M & M. It is never too early to start rewarding the idea of putting it somewhere other than the diaper, right? I gave him his treat and of course, Jeb needed one too. So, in that brief instant when I was on my way to the treat basket and back I guess he figured..."Hey if she likes some pee, I may get an entire pack for a poop." I came back out and there it was ...tracked all over the porch. What in the world would I do with all the "spare time" I spend cleaning up messes.

Hey, my new steam mop arrived and so far I have cleaned all our tile, the wood floors a few times and even steam cleaned my couches! We are germ-free for winter's beginnings!

The stitches are out and Jeb is looking mighty fine! In case you missed it, Monday we went to the ER. We were there 3 hours, and in it for 200 bucks, for 5 stitches. He was playing bucking bull on my bed and the bull got the best of him ...or shall I say the foot board of the bed did.

Today...

I was sharing with Jeb at lunch that I was glad it is the weekend b/c I was so tired. His reply: "I know you work so hard, I love you." WOW...kids do notice things that you do!!

We had fun at the park with some buds and cousins lately.

Cay and I are enjoying some nice walks at least once a week now that Jeb is back at school. I must be boring to walk with because he always falls asleep on me!

Cay had a meltdown, the largest one I've ever seen from him to date, today when Jill had to leave with her I phone. He is one techno-nerd.

Reflections on Esther and life...

Well, I have had a hard time wrestling with God over what to do this fall. I wanted to be in a small group, or lead one, or something, but nothing was weighing heavy on me to do or be a part of. Then, I started thinking about how much I miss relating to other women. Since I have been working and kids have been in school there is very little time now to just hang out with other moms like I used to...sooooo, I re-joined the Women's Bible Study at my church and they were studying Esther. I was not pumped about that since I don't have time for all that homework and I don't particularly like Old Test. studying and I after all this book of the Bible doesn't even talk about my main man--Jesus. But something kept telling me that if I would just get myself together and show up and make myself available that He would meet me there and having something for me to hear, learn, and grow. I got my hair blown back this morning. I loved it. I called two gals that I know and told them to come join us and I really think they ARE!

I am impressed with a few things that Beth Moore had to say:
A. YES, it is indeed "TOUGH TO BE A WOMAN."
B. That though God's name is NOT in this book of the Bible, it is ON IT...HIs work is all through it.
C. He CHOSE NOT to make himself the star of this miraculous story b/c quite possibly he wanted us to see that He sometimes uses VERY ORDINARY people (and women in that day were chopped liver BUT he found great value in their influence) to accomplish miracles for Him and with HIS help.
D. It offers HOPE To us that God indeed does have a plan--a purpose--for us. ..that part of our abundant life is allowing him to use us at such a time as this.
E. Providence--According to Webster (not a theological dictionary might I add),God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny. What a thought. God uses both mundane and trivial events and people ...nothing happens by chance.
F. Coincidences--Miracles where God prefers to remain anonymous. I'm going to chew on that this week.
G. She also talked about how when we don't feel God's presence and power in our lives that does not mean he is not there. He usually is there and is working and when we finally realize it we have a huge personal revival.

Ephesians 1:11 (New American Standard Bible)

11also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things with the purpose of His will...

Philippians 2:13 (New International Version)

13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

It helps me to write this out...sorry that you had to hear it, but it's gotta be good for you??

Our certified inspector will be here for HOURS on Thurs. I am prayerfully hoping that she finds our home to be suitable and that the kids don't act like heathens. This is really one of our last steps in becoming foster/adoptive parents. I can't wait to see when/if/how God will use us in ministry. I don't know when my "such a time as this" moment will be...but I do know that God's purpose RIGHT NOW is for me to mother and disciple the two kiddos I have RIGHT NOW! What a privilege. A day really never goes by when I don't think that my mission field is purposeful and wonderful.

I am supposed to be coming up with 3 ways I think that it is tough to be a woman---just three! Can you help me narrow it down?
I think the main way that I feel that is tough to be a woman is to keep BALANCE. I want to be a great Christian, wife, mother (and this one is quite consuming), daughter, sister, granddaughter, aunt, friend (to people of all ages--kids, my elderly neighbors, my own peers), servant... volunteer, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, teacher, pet-owner, homeowner, bill -payer, laundress, maid, cook, and did I mention having FUN and enjoying life MYSELF ...some days I totally feel like I just can't do it all or I totally flopped in one area...everyday I try to get up and "make it up" in that arena!!! uggghhhh....

Also, can you help me name our farm? I am on to something like Providence Acres...which J tells me is a loony bin in CA..but I told him that somedays we have so much to do around here that I feel loony? I am still open for ideas???

The "New Kids On the Block" are here!

The new baby goats have arrived. Mary had twins, boy and Oconee Belle. We are not naming boys since they will not be here long term! Kong has twins, Foxie and big boy. Wallflower has twins, Rose (our big girl) and little Jr. Jr. is the smallest and skinniest. His sister is seriously outdoing him! We have one more left to kid out--Triple Cheese our enormous girl. She is going to have 3 for sure! It is fun to have such cute and gentle animals in our care. The boys love going to visit them each day even if it has been a muddy mess. Sgt. is with all of them and Sherman is with the girls without child on the other side of the fence. Everyone is adjusting to being apart. They stay in the corner of the fence as close as possible!

Fun at the beach with family...ONE LAST TIME!

Well, we took quite a spontaneous road trip to the beach to visit family and briefly enjoy the sun and sand again. It was obvious we were back "home" at the beach instead of at the "highfalutin" beach we'd been to twice before this summer: there were 2 rebel flag swimsuits (bikinis and trunks), men wearing boots on the beach, cigs smoking everywhere, and an ALMOST fist fight where the cops came and everything. I had a good laugh over that! Still, I think the beaches here are the BEST for walking, having a breeze, water just the right temp, etc.

We had a lot of fun visiting with the cousins. My nephew has the best giggle and it was good to hear that sort of uncontrollable laughing this time of year when I can get so bogged down with work and business and cold weather coming. And, he played a good soccer game while we were there. Jeb loved taking his bike to a neighborhood and riding all over. He is really, really into bike riding now. We ate some good food , and the kids had so much fun running around and swimming in the ocean. My dad's sailboat was cool to see and visit and it is docked at a nice, peaceful marina. I hope he can enjoy it for many, many years.

Caleb got to meet one of his aunt's for the first time. She was crazy about how friendly he was and he was friendly that day. He was walking up to people all over the beach ( I mean right up to them) and smiling and waving at them. It was cute. I told them he was running for office next fall to look for him and be sure and vote.

We got to visit my sister's church while we were there and the message was great, as usual. I meet very few folks who love the written word as much as I do. Her pastor is one of them. He loves reading. There bulletin is about 4-5 pages back to front of text--things he's read and wants to share and other prayers, and church biz too, but mostly what he's read! WOW! Here is some good stuff I thought was poignant that I'd like to reflect on:

The end of a one of his prayers: "Holy Spirit we humbly ask that you might make Jesus more real to us this day that we might love him more dearly and follow him more nearly throughout our week. Amen"

Quest for Joy 15 statements in the Search--from John Piper...I took the ones I liked and I thought I'd chew on for a while....

2. Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly. (it doesn't just happen all the time)
3. Resolve to attach all known sin in your life. (attack it not just see it/ask for forgiveness and move on...attack it...)
8. Preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself (I must memorize more of the Word to have it there to preach to myself!)
9. Spend time with God-saturated people who help you see God and fight the fight. (yup--it is time for Wed. morning study again-yeah!
14. Do the hard and loving thing for the sake of others (witness--yes, it is hard...yes, it is loving yes, I need to do better...Mercy--yes, be patient/forgiving with folks...
more in my next post...that is all I can chew on right now....