A great day for a parade...

Today was a beautiful day for a hometown parade. We had such a good family day today. The boys were excited, but Abby was even more excited to see her boys in the parade. She kept asking mommy, "Are they comin' mommy?"
We were so proud of Isaac and Jonah. We are so pleased that of all the activities that children can choose to be involved in, so far, they have alot of interest in wholesome activities. They followed their den leader's instructions and marched with pride.
Afterwards, they were exhausted...Daddy had bought two big cups of ice and they stayed good and hydrated the whole distance. But, the mile trek was a long-haul for these short, little legs! Boy, were they tired!
They looked so handsome in the Boy Scout uniforms. They were very proud to be in the parade...
I wish they could stay this way just a little longer...

New couch, feeling better, homemade pizza...

So many people have asked me to post pictures of the new couch and chair (see post below regarding the recent change). So, here are a few pictures of the brown microsuede set that we are so blessed to have. As you can see we, we are already making memories on the new furniture and maybe in about 10 years I can re-post all that we have experienced in this living room.

I must add that minute by minute my headache (see previous post) is improving and the kids and I are having a great evening. I feel refreshed and renewed thanks to God's mercies. He has answered my prayers!

The kids and I made homemade pizza for supper, have homework finished, and all baths are now complete! They are resting on the new couch watching a Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas movie (because Jonah said it is almost Christmas Eve, after all!) and I am about to commence sewing on the Boy Scout uniforms. We hope everyone has a great Thursday evening!

Headache - Be Gone!

Well, I am happy to say that after 2 nights and 3 days, I am finally in the recovery phase of a migraine headache. I have been very fortunate the last few months to have evaded them completely, however this one has truly knocked me off my feet for a few days. I have had moments that I thought the pain was improving and then it would slam me again. I actually stayed home from work today to give in and sleep - which I have done all day! My head now feels very tired - I sort of have a weird feeling - what the doctor calls an 'aura' that will hopefully leave in a few hours. If you have never suffered from migraine headaches, let me assure you that they stop life right in it's tracks for me. This, you can imagine, is very difficulty for a working wife and mother of three children. I am so very grateful that my family is so supportive - right down to the children whispering when they come in the door and Mike anticipating what I need before I am even able to think enough to ask for it. He serves me with such tenderness and truly understands the grip it has on me until it passes.

I remember the first migraine I had was with my first pregnancy 9 years ago. I was at my in-laws home and it was unbelievable. Mike called my mom and she came quickly - I was lying in the floor and she rubbed my head for hours. Ever since, I have several a year. I realize that there are migraine sufferers out there who have several a week - this is not my case at all. But, even as infrequent as they are, all of life stops whether I want it to or not.

I say all this to say that it is a grand reminder that I can plan all I want - cram as much into a day as I desire - but when it is time to stop - stop I must! It is a frustrating prospect for me in that I have a lot of 'irons in the fire' at any given time. Today's 'irons' were no less than any other day. So, now I feel like I am several days behind at work, behind at home, tired, guilty for not being able to do better, tired, guilty for missing so much at home the last few days, and - did I mention - tired?

So, here it is 3:40 p.m. Mike is on his way home with my precious cargo. He has a church meeting, so the kids and I will be home together this evening. We will do homework, I will wash the dishes from yesterday and throw in a load of laundry or two, count my blessings, give everyone a bath and try to keep it all calm - for the head's sake. Tomorrow, I am praying for a special measure of grace - to accomplish all that is in my heart for the glory of God! And, I decided that I will work a few hours on Saturday morning as well - maybe this will help get rid of some of the guilt for not working today??

I just love these kids!

What a fine looking bunch, huh?
We love these kids!

Abby and I are home by ourselves tonight while Mike and the boys are gone to Boy Scouts. Yes, we are now a full-fledged Boy Scouting family. My boys just love it. Actually, I have to start sewing their patches on their uniforms tonight because they are going to be in their first local hometown parade on Saturday with their scout troop - and are they ever excited!

I just told Abby that while the boys were gone, she needed to take a bath. Her spontaneous comment to me in response was, "No, mom...I not a stinky baby!" Where do they learn these manipulative tactics, anyway? I absolutely adore having in-depth conversations with her these days - just so innocent and thought provoking from a toddler's point of view. Last night, I was laying with her in her "big girl bed" trying to help her go to sleep. In her usual fashion, she wanted to converse. She sat straight up and said, "Mommy, you 'fraid?" I said, "No, Abby, I'm not afraid because Jesus is with us." She said, "Yep. He's in my heart. I not 'fraid too, mommy. He's at my chuch [church]... in da cross... on my bible. He lubs me mommy in my hot [heart]. I goin' a pray, ok, mommy?"
She then proceeded to clasp her hands, close her eyes and say,
"Heabenly Fader, Heabenly Fader, Heabenly Fader, mommy not 'fraid. Amen."

I just love these kids...

Update: After bathtime, Abby yelled repetitively "I want a snack, mommy." I told her, "Abby, you have to wait. You have to have patience!" Her reply was, "But mommy, I don't want a patience right now. I want a snack right now!"

I truly do love them so much!

On this Sunday, I am thankful for...

Today, I am thankful for laundry...rather strange, huh? Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to have an entire day devoted to the task of managing the laundry in our household. And, I must say that it is quite a task. Who would have thought that adding just 3 little people to this home would cause such a backlog of laundry that never seems to be caught up? However, it dawned on me that my family must be a very blessed family because there are so many clothes to be washed. The Lord has more than met our need for clothing - and I am so grateful!

Today, I am also thankful to be a member of a local church that loves and supports the missions causes around the world. From Haiti to Venezuela - to our local areas need - our church believes in the great Commission and puts their feet and money behind it.

Finally, I am thankful for spontaneous "I love you's" from my husband and children. These four people are absolutely the best at just telling me a random times "I love you" verbally. They will tell me at times that I least expect it and it is so beautiful to hear. I am so thankful that I loved for who I am - imperfections, goofiness, hopes and dreams and all...

Passion and Intensity

I bought this book yesterday that has really got me thinking about these two words - passion and intensity. The title sparked my interest and I am so excited to get into the meat of it. All evening, while riding in the car and spending time with family yesterday, I kept think about these words...passion/intensity. I wonder if I display any of these characteristics in my daily walk with the Lord. It has been great food for thought.

It seems to me that there were very few - if any - scriptural accounts that did NOT reflect some degree of passion or intensity. Some that immediately cross my mind were when Christ sweat drops of blood, when Zaccheus climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus, when Jesus displayed his anger at the selling that was taking place at the temple, when the woman intently reached out to touch the hem of his garment, when Mary and Martha asked Jesus why He had not come sooner when Lazarus died, when Peter adimantly denied Christ, when Paul preached the gospel and was imprisoned for His faith...there are so many that my mind is directed to.

It appears to me that our Christian experience - our journey - should be passionate! It should be intense! As Christians, we follow a passionate, intense Christ! We must passionately pursue Him, seek Him with intensity, share Him with drive and desire to see others come to Him.

Are we walking lazily through this life, just glad to be here, just barely making it? Are we passively hoping that others will catch a glimpse of our "Christianness." Are we focused on ourselves, our comfort, our lives, our material possessions, our happiness, our dreams, our plans? Are we attending Sunday morning corporate worship out of obligation and putting on an "I'm alright, your alright" attitude for two hours? Are we fulfilling an obligation to teach a class or sing a song so we can "feel" like we've worshipped or served?

Some thoughts that my heart is examining and dealing with this morning - please join me:

*how long it may have been since we took a lost friend to lunch and verbally expressed face to face our concern for her soul;

*how many times we come to church "hoping" we won't sing the same songs we sang last time or that the music will be 'entertaining' - when in reality there are Christians around the world who just long to get together with other Christians and sing ANY song together - i.e. Chinese underground Christians;

*how many times we knew that God had placed someone on our hearts to all/contact/visit/pray for that we just did not take seriously;

*how many among us need us to be real - not perfect, not having it all together - but real;

*how many times we've acknowledged to others around us what God is doing in our life, how His Word is penetrating our lives;

*how many times we have ACTUALLY read His word this week - not just a book about His word, but actually allowed His word to speak to us and change us;

*how many times recently we have been passionate about our love of Christ, our love for my family, our commitment to our church;

*how many times we have passionately and intensely prayed in the Spirit - praying for our will to line up with His will completely;

*how many times we have taken a risk for the cause of Christ?

Alot to think about today...

The best laid plans...

And, at this time, I still haven't found it. I have been sitting here on my NEW COUCH waiting for a blogging revelation and it has yet to come. I have looked out the window, looked at my children, waited on my husband to say something profound - yet nothing! I have nothing to say of immediate importance, nothing from a recent book that changed my life, nothing that is affecting me emotionally or socially.
Except -
I took the day off today to be with my sweet family...I desperately needed a "down-time" day and so far it has totally met my expectations. The children slept in, Abby slept in her bed all night, Mike had put my favorite flannel sheets on the bed last night so I'd be cozy, the phone hasn't rung even one time yet and I woke up feeling pretty relaxed, settled in and peaceful. It is really nice.

The only plans we have for the day are to visit a local town festival, walk lazily through, eat something yummy, wander through the craft booths
and visit the my in-laws tonight for dinner.

I plan on not hurrying around much today - I'm hurried out!
I plan on not rushing around much today - I'm rushed out!
I plan on not working today - I'm worked out!
I plan on not worrying today - I'm worried out!
I plan on not doing much of anything - I'm anything'd out!
Sounds like fun, huh?