Getting Creative

With the cold days settling in, and quite a lot of rain, too, the boys and I have been getting creative indoors.

Nathaniel is not really "into" coloring or sitting for much time to create art, so he's been dancing and singing and making lava rocks of our couch cushions (jumping from cushion to cushion to avoid the hot lava on the floor). He's creative in his own energetic crazy way. I just have to take it and help him channel that craziness into something that doesn't destroy the house or his brother! He sings a lot, too. His singing is often an indicator of the mood for that day. He likes to sing all day sometimes - all his conversation in song - some days he wakes up and says he wants to have an "opera day" and then he just starts singing everything he says! He's been making up lots of new dance moves and asking me to watch his "dance shows." Very, very funny.

Josiah has been finding his own preferences and personality. While Nathaniel has been at kindergarten, I have been learning about and enjoying my little boy's humor and creativity. We've been attending the weekly story-and-craft-hour at our local library. Josiah is loving this! He especially enjoys anything with glue and talking with the other kids about their crafts. And he loves to play with play-dough! He's painted several times at home, too. While I have been working on a couple small canvas paintings to decorate the boys' bathroom, he's been painting right next to me at the table. It is fun to be near each other and just hear him chatter about his "creatures" he's painting.

I have been painting and sewing and baking, too. It has actually been a joy to have a few cold days, and it is good to sometimes slow down and stay home. I just finished a couple 8x10 inch paintings for the boys' bathroom - a water/pond theme - one has a lizard and one has a flamingo. They are just silly and not realistic - no great works of art - but cute nonetheless. And it is really fun for me! I have sewed and patched up about 5 pairs of jeans and took in the waist. I also sewed a horse mane and tail and ears on an existing sweatshirt for Nathaniel's Halloween costume. He has been galloping around the house for a fews days whinnying and snorting. The more I sew and paint, the quicker I get and the set-up and clean-up process becomes more efficient, too.

There have been many lonely days and the Lord is prompting me to pray when that lonely feeling nags in my heart. While I lay in bed between 6:30 (Tom is up, but not the kids yet) and 7 each morning I've been asking the Lord to review my day's to-do list for His plans. Nathaniel's anger and mouthy moments have lessened over the last 2 months. God is answering our (and your) prayers and I can see a little softening of his heart here and there with sweet conversations about our Savior.

I used to think that spending time doing "frivolous things" was not what God wanted for me, and staying home with children might be boring or not "big enough" to serve God. I have been realizing more and more lately that having a peaceful home, helping Tom whenever I can, working to discipline the children, working on peace in my stubborn heart, and creating a home with pleasant walls brings blessing to Him, as well. So, why don't y'all come visit us here???!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 10th Anniversary! 10 years ago today I stood with a happy heart and jittery knees to marry the love of my life. He's still the love of my life. He is kind and patient, funny and cute, and he has a sparkle in his eyes that I adore. He is a good Daddy and we are figuring out this parenting stuff together. He loves God and seeks Him on our behalf. I love you Tom and always will!

Full of Stories

Well, we've returned from our journey to South Africa. We are full of stories, pictures, prayers, and praises. We have new eyes for issues and concerns we've never had faces for. For example - we now know personally the children who are suffering from hunger and the women who cook soup for hundreds of these little ones on a daily basis. And now we've met and been blessed by many others who worship the same God - in their own passionate and lively way!

It was a difficult time for us to parent well and minister to other needy folks, too. Nathaniel was unhappy and upset about everything while we were there and it was difficult to help him with his overwhelming emotions. Honestly, I felt very ineffective and like a failure as I tried to do all things well. But I typically feel that way at home, too. God is working on us, and I do not enjoy His discipline, but trust that through God's workmanship Tom, my children's, and my heart will be changed and our reflection of His glory will be made more perfect through these trials and parenting challenges. We did learn a lot, see a lot, and experienced "real life missions with our kids" (which we've not done before).

South Africa is place of extremes - whites & blacks, wealth & poverty, mountains & plains, violence & peace, donkey-drawn-carts & BMWs, deserts & oceans, modern conveniences & earthen huts, huge elephants & tiny bee-eater birds. I hope you will see that in the pictures and be moved to prayer or to ask questions about how you may be involved, too. You know, a blog is meant to be interactive, so please comment!

By the way, the music in the photo show is titled "Two Weeks in Africa" by Caedmon's Call...check out the lyrics - how appropriate!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Easter Preparations

I have been reading and praying and teaching Nathaniel about Easter and why we celebrate. There is so much other "stuff" - such as eggs, baskets, and bunnies - and it is fun and cute, too. I really want him to see and know the wondrous gift of God's son Jesus. Then we can do fun stuff, once the foundational parts of this awesome holiday are set in place. I continue to pray that the Lord will use my efforts and that his "head knowledge" will someday grow into "heart knowledge."

Anyhow, this is what we are doing. I have gathered some verses, little symbols, and plastic Easter eggs. For the 2 weeks prior to Easter, we are reading these verses and discussing the symbols that I have put in each egg. It is a lot like an advent calendar, but with eggs instead. It is still kind of work in progress - I am trying to find the right symbols and good verses to explain God's redeeming work on Easter. So far, we have been opening 1 egg each day and then I plan to hide them all on Easter (along with some candy-filled ones) and have the boys search to find them all. Hopefully the kids will be able to recount the story of God's work by looking through all the symbols again. I'd like to use these eggs year after year. If any other families want to share this idea or modify, please do so!

Egg #1:
Message -- Help your child understand why Jesus was called "the Lamb of God" (his role as the unblemished sacrifice)
Passages -- Ex. 12:21-24; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7-8
Item-- a cotton ball or piece of wool

Egg #2:
Message -- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches. Act out the "parade" of Palm Sunday as a family. Have family members take turns putting themselves in the place of Jesus, receiving a royal welcome but knowing that the crowd's intentions would change in less than a week. Note: the word hosanna translates "save us, we beseech thee."
Passage -- Matthew 21:1-11
Item -- Piece of palm or other variety of leafy branch

Egg #3:
Message -- Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
Passage -- John 12:2-8
Item -- Small perfume sample or cloth with perfume or a piece of cotton with cologne on it

Egg #4:
Message -- Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
Passage -- Matthew 26:17-19
Item – a piece of Chex cereal or cracker

Egg #5:
Message -- Jesus gave the disciples at the Last Supper a new commandment, that they should love and serve one another. he showed them by washing their feet.
Passage: Look up John 13:34-35 to discover the "new commandment" Jesus gives.
Item – small piece of soap to represent the washing of His disciples' feet

Egg #6:
Message -- Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Talk about your child's experiences of betrayal or disappointment in friendships. Imagine Jesus' personal hurt at Judas's treachery and the subsequent desertion of Christ's closest allies.
Passage -- Matthew 26:1-16, 47-56, 27:3
Item -- 3 coins or plastic “silver” money


Egg #7:
Message -- Jesus carried His own cross.
Passage -- John 19:17
Item – small sticks in a cross form; or, a small plastic cross from a Christmas ornament or necklace.

Egg #8:
Message -- Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
Passage -- John 19:2
Item -- Small thorny branch, or a large thorn all by itself.

Egg #9:
Message -- Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
Passage -- John 19:23
Item -- Swatch of burlap and a nail. I’ve also seen miniature dice used for this one.

Egg #10:
Message -- Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
Passage -- John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
Item -- A nail

Egg #11:
Message -- They gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.
Passage -- Matthew 27:34
Item -- A small sponge

Egg #12:
Message -- Spices to prepare Jesus for burial. The name Good Friday probably evolved from the phrase "God's Friday." Talk about why the day Christ died is ultimately very good the best because we all need a Savior.

Passage -- John 19:40
Item -- 7 or 8 whole cloves, or other whole spices


Egg #13:
Message -- The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away. Get a clearer idea of the miracle of the tomb rock rolling away by finding a large rock and trying to roll it yourselves. Note that only an act of God could put the guards to sleep and move such a big stone.

Passage -- John 20:1
Item -- A small rock

Egg #14:
Message -- The napkin around Jesus' head was lying separately from His linen clothes. He was not there. He has risen!
Passage -- John 20:6-7
Item -- A scrap of linen-type fabric

Egg #15:
Message -- In Christ's death and resurrection we also become new creatures.
Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Item – small plastic butterflies or home-made with tissue paper

Nathaniel's Questions

Nathaniel asks all kinds of questions these days. Here's a sampling from the last 3 days of conversations with my little "ponderer".

On eschatology--
N: This is a picture of God riding on the clouds.
Mom: Oh, really? Like the song from church(Days of Elijah)"...behold He comes, riding on the clouds, shining like the sun..."
N: Yes! Can we ride on the clouds with Him?
Mom: Maybe, when we are in heaven with Him we will do many things with God.
N: And we will see Him!
Mom: Yes, and then we can know Him better.
N: And I will sing to Him in the temple!
Mom: Oh yes! We will sing to Him, talk with Him, and praise Him!

On vehicles--
N: What happens if a Land Rover goes in the mud and bumps into another Land Rover and they get all muddy and run into a mountain?
Mom: no answer

On recipes--
N: What happens if I mix mustard and wine and sugar and sauce?
M: I'm not sure, but it sounds pretty yummy to me!

Mom-to-Mom Questions

Once again I am feeling like quite a failure. I wish I could be a good mother who leads with gentleness and a good wife who serves and excites her husband, all for the Lord’s honor and pleasure. But, I cannot seem to accomplish all things at home, at church, and be a godly joyful mother (my most important job right now)!

I am longing for the wisdom of other mothers who love God, love their families, and love to serve His people in the church. If you read this blog sometime and have any insight to any or all of these questions, do share!! And please pray for our family and for me, too!

How do you discipline your children? For what actions do your children receive correction?

Do you use scripture during correction and discipline? What verses? How do you use it? (Out loud? In prayer? During the act of discipline or after during explanation?)

Do you spank? In what context and how do you go about using spanking?

Do you use other methods of correction and discipline? In what context and how do you go about using these methods? Details, please!

How important is it that your children take turns and share toys? Do you verbally facilitate this process or do you let them sort of figure it out (and allow some scuffling and battling)?

Do your children play with or without you? Or do they insist that you play with them or near them? For about how many hours or minutes at a time do your children play independently? What kinds of toys or activities engage them?

Do your children watch TV or play video/computer games? Which shows or games? How many minutes or hours per day?

Do you do daily quiet time with God? How long? When? What do you read?

Do you memorize scripture? How much? How do you get it to “stick”? Which verses?

Do you serve at your church? What do you do? For how many hours per day or per week?

Do you journal or write notes or write lists? About what? For what reason?

How often do you clean your shower & toilet, sweep or vacuum the floors, mop the kitchen, do laundry? How long does it take?

Do you exercise? How often? Where do you do this? Do you get a babysitter or wait for your husband to care for the kids in the evening?

Do you date your husband? Do you have conversations daily that encourage each other and even admonish each other in the Lord?

Do you cook home-made meals? About how many meals per day or week do you all eat together? How many hours would you estimate you spend in each day preparing and cleaning up after your meals?

Multitasking Moms

Every week I have the wonderful privilege and challenge to lead other women in a study of the book of Luke. If I am ever on your mind on Thursday, perhaps the Lord is telling you to pray for our bible study. I'd love it if you would pray for me and with me! Also, I had a great opportunity to share a short message with the ladies at a baby shower last weekend at our church. Here it is. I hope this is a help and encouragement to my other mom friends as well.

“Multitasking Mama”

Have you ever…

Talked on the phone, made dinner, and jiggled a baby on your hip at the same time?

Nursed a baby while helping an older child in the bathtub?

Taken your shower with another child or 2 in the tub for their bath?

Practiced spelling words or math facts with your child while you were driving?

Read a book to your child while you were waiting in line or for an appointment somewhere?

We can see from God’s word that He has made us to function on many levels and do so successfully and with His blessing. Here are a few verses to direct our attention to God’s daily "multitask" plans for our lives.

Dt. 6: 4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Eph. 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Prov. 21:5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

Col. 3:12-17 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

These verses give me instruction to teach the word of God while walking, sitting, when you get up in the morning and when you lie down at night. We are to practice many different disciplines such as compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, forgiveness, and patience. God gave us each 24 hours in each day, and He does want us to sleep, so His instructions are not impossible!

Here’s a few of my suggestions and some from other pastors and teachers.
1) Act out or sign bible verses and sing bible verse songs (you can do this with your kids while you walk, make dinner, or clean house) Here's a sign language dictionary.
2) Learn bible verses in a rhythm… Nathaniel likes to chant and clap. We often swing on the playground while rhythmically reciting verses, or say each word as we climb up and down our flights of stairs in our apartment.
3) Look for opportunities to teach your kids about God’s attributes, for example- the grocery store can be a place to learn about God’s creativity, God’s care for us, or our responsibility for stewardship of our money.
4) Use discipline as a time to show and explain to your children about God’s righteous standard and our failures to meet up to His standards. Then love them, hug them, pray with them, and explain Christ’s mercy and in doing so you will have shown and explained the good news of the gospel. If your kids disobey like mine does, you will have multiple opportunities to do this every day!
5) Listen to scripture from a CD or audio download, which you can do especially while you drive, cook, exercise, or do housework:
www.peasantprincess.com (great sermon series on marriage, can download to listen on your computer or MP3 player)
www.marshillchurch.org (many great sermons come from this church, I liked the series on Proverbs)
www.gnpcb.org/esv/browse (listen to any portion of the ESV bible either from your computer or download as MP3)
www.audiotreasure.com/indexKJV.htm (listen to any portion of the KJV bible on the computer or download as MP3)
www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ (listen to different sermons, seminars, etc. all with deep, biblical theology)
christianaudio.com/free_download.php (free book to download as an MP3 each month)

John Piper says it well when he speaks of one of the main purposes of the family:

"A parent ought to have in mind from the beginning: the way I hold this child, and the way I spank this child, and the way I affirm this child and the way I demand things from the child; should be telling them who God is and showing them who God is and giving them a feel for who God is; both in His sweet and tender side and in His tough and powerful and just and wrathful side. A child ought to see right through mom and dad eventually to God."

I encourage you to fill your lives, your days, with intentional work for the Lord. It’s not a matter of cramming many little details into a chaotic day. Pray for and seek out ways to fill your one spiritual plate with delicious, satisfying, and divine nourishment for your soul and your children’s souls.

One caution, though, be careful not to multi-task in a way that is illegal!
Feeding and Driving February 27, 2009 KETTERING, Ohio -- A Dayton mother is facing charges for breast feeding her daughter while driving her other children to school. Ms.C was pulled over by Kettering police Thursday while taking her other children to school. Police say C could have injured her child and others because she was breast feeding and talking on the cell phone while driving the vehicle. C was issued citations for child endangering and violating the child restraint law. C told News Center 7 Friday, "If my child's hungry, I'm going to feed it." C said she will take the advice of the officers into consideration, but she may breast feed her baby while driving in the future if she feels that it is necessary. She could face up to 180 days in jail and fines for the child endangering citation.