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Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Things

So I keep trying to recount our holiday travels, and it just sounds like a laundry list that I don't want to publish.  It really was lovely.  Maybe someday I can reform it; but until I do, here are some posts that are making me think or inspiring my creativity.

Just starting to get into more natural options for my family's health and wellness (cause we can't shake the yuckies!!!).  This post on natural remedies for colds and coughs intrigues me.  More research to come

Love these ideas for savoring family life and treasuring each year.  Also love her 24 ideas for keeping a family journal.

Oh, Ann.  Why did you have to go and make a daily docket?  It's so lovely.  It actually makes organization enticing in a retro way.  Best part: it keeps first things first.  Time in the Word and thanksgiving are at the top of the list.

How nice of Forbes to share this!  Join the Christmas Conspiracy!  Spending less on ourselves and giving more during the holidays.

We're all trying to figure out how we make this Jesus' special day.  Loved reading this family's new traditions.

Such a good idea.  I think young moms (probably all moms) need to do this.  If we just keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting what we've always gotten.  Time to step back and reevaluate.  

And now that our children have been blessed by every aunt, uncle, and neighbor; it's time to start another tradition.  Appreciate Kristen's perspective.  Must add this to my to-do list for tomorrow!

Enjoy my favorites from this last week, and maybe my writer's brain will come back tomorrow!  Blessings!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Home again, home again...

We've been on the road since Saturday.  And my body feels like... it's been on the road since Saturday.  Don't get me wrong.  It was totally worth it.  Visiting with friends.  Celebrating Christmas Eve with our usual gang and family.  Making the long trek up to Michigan to visit my grandpa and other family.  All. totally. worth. it.
My mother is also up in Michigan to spend time with Grandpa while he's in the hospital.  When we got to our hotel, she was there waiting for us with... wait for it... cookies!  If you know my mother, you know this is pretty much expected.  Today at lunch, Caleb said his favorite part of the whole trip was getting to the hotel and seeing Grandma.  Not his presents.  Not playing with his friends.  Not even feeding the chickens at my sister's farm.  Just seeing his grandma.  Priceless.

I have several fun things to share from the trip, but... for now, let me just say that it's nice to be home.  It's good to make food for my family.  It's lovely to fold warm, clean laundry.  It's bliss to spend the morning cleaning out two closets (if you know me, you know how happy this makes me).  And it's so relaxing to bathe the kids, snuggle them in their footie pajamas, pack them into the car, and drive through the Walkway of Lights before they're turned off for the season (We've visited no fewer than 10 times.  This is where my husband and I have our best conversations because the kids are so completely enthralled in the lights.)  Oh, and have I mentioned that Teacher Man doesn't go back to work until next Tuesday?

So I'm going to go snack on some kettle corn, catch up on Downton Abbey (have I mentioned before that we're also Masterpiece Theater junkies?), and revel in the fact that the boys' rooms can serve them better, the Christmas decorations are no longer in my road, and my 3 year old actually ate what I prepared for dinner (gnocchi).  It's a Christmas MIRACLE!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Birthing alone

Did the title alone scare you?  Just the idea makes me feel panicky, and I'm not even pregnant.  So don't worry, Mom, this is not my new birthing plan.  However, millions of women birth their babies without any trained attendant because they have no. choice.  They have no access to a hospital.  They cannot afford an attendant in their home.  And they cannot stop the inevitable.

My MOPS group has started to support a child survival program in Kenya that provides prenatal home visits to pregnant moms, a birthing attendant during labor and delivery, and healthcare/nutritional support after the baby is born... all through the local churches of Kenya.  Amazing!  How are we doing this?  Compassion International.  Why are we doing this?  Because we're moms.  Because we're in MOPS to help other moms be better moms.  Because that doesn't just mean the moms in our neighborhood.  It includes a Maasai mom in Kenya who is only 15 and expecting to bury several children before one survives.  And that is not okay with us.



I just. can't. imagine.

I keep thinking about Mary.  Tired from a dirty journey, laboring in a stable, smelling (and I mean smelling) the stench of animals, and very possibly birthing alone.  Grateful for her sacrifice to bring our Savior into the world.

So as you make your budget for 2012 and come up with your resolutions, consider Compassion.  It's amazing what $20 a month (a child survival program sponsorship) can do. 

The Magi Arrived

Yesterday, I was ready to DO something.  And Teacher Man was officially on break!  So we decided to let the Magi visit.  At the end of dinner, we read in the book of Matthew how the three kings had brought gifts to Jesus; and we explained to the boys that just as the kings wanted to show their love for Jesus through their three gifts that we had three special gifts for each of our children to show them our love.

Can you tell who my older son looks like?  Holy cow.

Teacher Man and I gift-gather all year (woot.com, IKEA, onesaleaday.com) and pick three gifts at Christmas for each child.  While I've heard of many people doing one gift for the mind, one for the body, and one for the spirit; I had specific things picked out for the boys that they were ready to enjoy right away.  Having only had children for three years, I am blown away by the number of toys one can accumulate in that time.  We purposed in our gifts this year to give them things that they could play with in multiple ways... gifts that would stimulate creativity, imagination, and learning.


I wrapped up two of their gifts (the smaller ones) and stashed each of their bigger gifts in different places around the house, making clues and hiding them around the house for the boys to hunt for their gifts.  (Caleb didn't mind doing Ben's hunt for him.)  They LOVED this!  Caleb is still talking this morning about how he looked around for clues and wasn't it so funny that there was a clue hidden in Mommy and Daddy's pretzel tub?


Reading one of Ben's clues.  It's an adventure!

On the hunt!

It turned out to be a very special evening for the boys.  We were overjoyed today when we watched how perfect the gifts were for each boy.  Caleb spent HOURS last night and this morning setting up and playing with all his new track and accessories.


And Benjamin has spent all morning pushing cars around the roads on his play mat.  

We know Christmas isn't not about things; but, as parents, we are always excited to give our children good things...things they'll enjoy...things that will help them grow.  So excited to celebrate more this week with our children as we remember that our Father gave us the Greatest Gift.  Merry Christmas, friends!  

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

In case you were curious:  Ben received an IKEA soft ball, an alphabet puzzle, and an IKEA play rug.  Caleb opened an abacus for math class (his favorite time of day) and a Melissa and Doug tool box (working on those fine motor skills).  Then he raced around the house following clues to find a big box of wooden track.  Fun!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Caleb watched this no fewer than 7 times today.



Love.

Quick update on Grandpa Robert

A girl's love for her grandpa never changes.

Thank you for your prayers, friends.  My mother's father (Grandpa Robert) made it through surgery well although there was a lot of infection in his abdomen.  At this point, he's looking at 10 more days in the hospital and two weeks of rehab at a care facility closer to his home.  Today he was in a drug-induced coma to allow his body some forced rest.

This will be a tough Christmas for our whole family, not having Grandpa with us at the big family celebration, taking turns staying with him at the hospital over an hour away from the rest of the family, adjusting to a new season.  I ask that you'd pray for Grandpa... that he'd be encouraged this Christmas, that his body would heal well from the trauma of three surgeries, and that all of us in his immediate family would know how to love him well.

Would you lift up my mother and her two brothers as well?  This has been a week of unpleasant surprises, late nights, and tough decisions.  And I know my mom just sounded weary on the phone last night.  The surgery has gone well, but recovery seems like such a long road.  Thanks for walking alongside us in the journey... for being the Body.

Blessings to you as we continue to celebrate the coming of our Savior!

Monday, December 19, 2011

In everything...

You know those days.  They start with someone screaming you out of your sleep...which wouldn't be as bad if there were a real problem and not just a desire for night-night music to be turned on... at 6 a.m.  Yes, he's still alive.

Heaven help me, but I was in a funk today, partly due to my wake-up call.  My brain was in permanent coast mode, my body set on super slow.  How the boys lived through the morning is beyond me.  I vaguely remember doing puzzles, cleaning up breakfast, making lunch, and scrubbing the cemented banana off my kitchen floor; but that's about all I've got.

But then my mailman left this in my box.


Thank you.

We had left a note to our postman saying the same thing (along with some pumpkin bread... I have trouble wasting my time with any other kind.).  And in the midst of his drizzly delivery day, he stopped to say thank you.  And it lifted my heart.  I came into the garage with the note, and checked on the laundry.  Washer empty.  Dryer full of wet clothes.  Huh???  Must check breaker box.  Breaker off.  Can't get it on.  What's that smell?

Now normally in my house that question can be answered by sniffing the baby's bottom, but this was different.  I smelled gas.  Near the furnace.  Our poor handyman.  I call him about all kinds of things, and he always has grace for me.  He told me to spray super sudsy water all over the joints of the pipe to see if any of it bubbled.  And, boy, oh boy, did we have a few bubbles.  It was a small leak.  He came and fixed it as soon as he could.  And we had the opportunity to say thanks... both to our patient handyman and to God.  Because if the breaker hadn't switched, I wouldn't have smelled the gas (I had to be super close.); and if I hadn't smelled the gas, it may have come up another day under different circumstances.  So we give thanks.

Thanks for a dryer that caused a breaker to flip.  Thanks for the leak being right in front of the breaker box.  Thanks for my way over-sensitive nose that normally just gets me in trouble.  Thanks for a handyman who serves us even after he's had a hard day.  Thanks for friends who let us crash at their place while we wait because I don't know much about gas but I do know it's dangerous and makes me nervous.  Thanks for their little boys who made my little men giggle and smile and watch way too much Thomas television.  Thanks for a husband who rushes home to make sure I'm not juggling this all alone.

Yet the day isn't over.  Teacher Man had a meeting.  I hate meeting evenings.  It's not that I don't believe in the causes we support with our time; it's just that I'm a jealous wife.  Jealous for my man's time and attention.   Oh... and I hate juggling the cranky children solo right before bed.  I don't know where they get their moodiness...

Teacher Man leaves, and I'm sad.  Then the phone rings.  Grandpa isn't doing well.  He's being prepped for emergency surgery.  This recovery will be long and difficult.  Surgery could last 4 hours.  My mother is hundreds of miles away from me so she can sit at his bedside.  Sit and pray.  I want to jump in my chariot (which could be mistaken for a minivan) and drive to sit by her and support her, but I can't.  My babes are sleeping, Teacher Man is working tomorrow, and there is really nothing my presence can do.  So I sit and pray.  Because really is there anything else more powerful?

Pray for the surgeon's hands to be filled with skill, for his mind to be given understanding.  I pray for my grandpa. For the peace of God in surgery.  For the encouragement of his heart in recovery.  And I pray for my mom and her brothers.  For a peace that passes understanding.  For comfort.  For faith in the Sovereign God Who stands at the helm through all this.  And I give thanks. again.

Thanks that my mother has two brothers.  Thanks that my grandpa was still in the hospital when they discovered his complications.  Thanks that they caught it early.  Thanks for the years of farming that strengthened his body. Thanks that he has always rested in the hands of his Creator...  I must give thanks.  And in giving thanks, a peace washes over me because I rest in the same Hands.

In every thing, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


Last I heard, he's still in surgery.  Would you lift us up tonight?  I'd be ever so thankful.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Life

You know, one day my sons will be men.  One day they'll be the ones making tough decisions, leading the church, fathering the our grandchildren.  How on earth do we communicate to them how precious every human life is?

How do we keep their hearts tender to the value of every aged soul when we live in a culture that pushes the elderly into isolation?  How do we help them to celebrate every sweet babe no matter how many breaths he takes on this earth?

They've gotten more than their share of criticism, but what I will say for the Duggars is that they've given their children a precious gift by instilling in them a love for life.  A love for their elderly grandfather who died in their home on hospice care.  A love for their sweet little sister who consumed their family's world for months as she fought for breath.  A love for the sister they will never know who passed into eternity before taking a single breath.  A love for one another as they live each day serving and treating each other as valuable people, endowed with life by their Creator.

There's a lot in the media about how disgusting it is that the Duggars shared photos of their stillborn child's hands and feet.  Sigh.... How broken and twisted is a world that encourages p*rn*graphy and violent photography but cringes at a family's only opportunity to touch their child!  How do we treat a mother's loss so flippantly?   How can anyone look at this family in pain and judge them harshly?  How have we fallen so far?  So far from seeing life for the incredible gift that it is.

Teacher Man and I sat on the couch with tears in our eyes when we saw the pictures.  Hurting for their loss.  Saddened by the little life that never saw the sun but overjoyed knowing that she stands whole in the presence of the Son.  And angered by the evil response of the world.  Every child is a gift from God.  Every. child.

So we will continue to pray for friends who have lost children, for those who are losing loved ones, for the elderly in our midst in need of healing.  We'll reach out to them in practical ways and speak of them with honor and dignity.  We'll rejoice in them, our little men, our precious gifts, and love them with abandon.  Because each and every life is equally precious to God, from the 40-year-old successful businessman to the babe just conceived with no voice of its own. And we'll pray... pray that God will keep all our hearts soft and will give each of them a deep love for life. all life.  Amen.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Ugly World, Beautiful Savior

I think this is why Christmas has been so hard for me.  Most years I can put on the music, turn on the tree, stare at my lavish decor, and pop an extra Christmas cookie in my mouth... and it takes me back.  Back to a time in my life where the biggest concern was the number of days until the present-opening fiesta. Back to a time when I knew that all my needs and many of my wants would be taken care of at no cost to me.  Back to the days when I was blissfully ignorant of the world and the evil in it.

This year is so different.  When I look at our garland of Jesse tree ornaments, I'm reminded of how many sinful generations this world had to go through before the Savior finally came.  Yes, there's redemption in all those stories; but there's also murder, incest, prostitution, pain, hurt, and evil.  When I reflect on our focus this year of giving to others, I am reminded that the needs of this world are so much bigger than myself, though not bigger than my God.  As I think about the birth of Christ, I think about birth.  The reality of birth.  Do you remember birth, mommas?  It's messy and awful and painful and breaking; yet there is such beauty in that first cry.  Such beauty in the first cry of the Savior, born to rescue me.

It's these sensitivities that are changing me.  Drawing me into a deeper, more real love for my Savior.  It's this desire to keep focusing on the realities and the needs of this world that keep me from slipping into the euphoric sense that all is well everywhere during the twenty-five days of December. Peace on Earth...  Because it's not peaceful.  It's sinful.  It's broken.  It's ugly.  And more often than I'd like to remember, it's just evil.

A couple days ago, they found a four year old in my community living in horrific conditions.  It's the stuff that movies are made of, though it's so extreme I'm not sure anyone would believe it's true.  I wouldn't if I hadn't seen the pictures...read the quotes from Animal Control about the rats and the mice...heard the commissioner talk about the smells and the toys amidst trash.

This is the best-for-me Christmas I've ever had.  God is breaking me in so many areas where I need to be broken, need to have my blinders ripped off.  Need to feel His heartbeat for the world and the lost around me.  Need to sense His urgency.  Teacher Man and I keep talking about our desire to enter full-time ministry reaching out to the children of our community, and the same thought keeps being echoed.

There's not much time.


I just don't feel like we have many days left.


This world is so broken.  He must be coming soon.


How do I balance all this?  World hunger and meal planning.  Child slavery and library time.  Poverty and my Christmas shopping.  Prostitution and bedtime stories.  The lostness of this world and the lostness of my own children.  See what I mean?  Now that the evil is in front of me, I have to do something.  But the dailies that I must do for the health of my family seem so trivial compared to the wounds of this world that need the Healer I know.

So I pray.  I pray with an open heart that God would show me how my two hands fit into His tapestry of grace.  How my frightened, weak heart can beat courageous and passionate.  How my little warriors can make an impact.  How His redemption is making old things new and transforming the broken of this world into a radiant bride.

It's a gloomy day here.  And my heart is heavy.  But amidst my sadness at the reality of this world, I have hope to move forward.  God has a great and marvelous plan for my life.  His perfect love casts out fear.  And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

May Emmanuel, the God who dwells with us, touch our hearts and minds this Christmas.  May He transform our lives to be a truer reflection of Himself.  May He be near the broken and the needy.  And may He wake the sleeping to the actions of grace.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

My new morning routine (and how it eases up the rest of my day)

I am not a morning person.  Not. at. all.  Ask Teacher Man.  He'd be happy to tell you what I look like.  What I sounds like.  How grouchy I really am.  Actually he might not tell you.  He's nice that way.  He also did all my dishes last night when I burned my hand making him cheesy garlic bread.  And brought me ice packs.  And got me Tylenol.  Love that man.  I found his first gray hair on Saturday while giving him a haircut... but that's another story.

My mornings fall into three categories: weekday (Teacher Man gone), Saturday, and Sunday.  Saturday is chilled, and I try to let Teacher Man sleep while I make hot breakfast although sometimes he returns the favor.  Sunday we've worked out a trade off of showering, feeding the kids, dressing the kids, and getting the stuff together to be out the door by 9:15 a.m.

But the weekdays...well, it's hard for me to pull it together until recently. This is a new routine for me now that I'm not nursing or waking up three times a night.  I can actually muster the energy to do it, and it makes the whole day better.  I got the idea from Large Family Logistics because, though I have no intention of rivaling the Duggars in family size, I would like to streamline my household jobs so I can enjoy more time doing things I love.  So I have a five-item wake-up routine that starts as soon as Dave leaves and I get up.

1. Get out of bed.
2. Make bed so I cannot get back in it.
3. Open blinds to let light in or let in the promise of light coming later. (This feels surprisingly good.)
4. Throw load of laundry into washing machine.
5. Unload dishwasher.

This means that my room looks nice whenever I go back into it, instead of depressingly messy.  The house is bright and cheerful as soon as the sun comes up.  The laundry is not an issue since most weeks I only have around 5-7 loads.  Once it's started, the momentum of having it going is enough to get it done by the end of the day.  Lastly, I have an empty dishwasher for when the men's dishes start to pile up after breakfast.

Just the act of doing all these things also helps me to feel successful.  Even if the children wake up 5 minutes after I get out of bed, I've already gotten a lot done and have done things that will help the rest of our day to go so much more smoothly.

Because I need to have time to do this:


And this.

And to go get clothes for this little dude.
I love his chubs.

I was telling a friend that I'd like to start making a loaf of bread in the breadmaker first thing in the morning, but I think I'll wait until after the holidays to try to add to the routine.  My 5 things are working really well for me and keeping this house in good shape without distracting me from what's really important.


Not that they would let me forget.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Our Moment of Panic

Last night, I heard it.  My name cried out in complete panic.  Teacher Man pounding on the back of our baby who was clearly choking on something.  His lips turning purple. My husband and I vacillating between horror and lifesaving.

And then as quickly as it began, it was over.  Baby boy cried.  And breathed.  And we started breathing again too.

Every moment.  Every breath that we have is precious.  I wish I could take comfort that this situation will never occur again in my life as a parent, but I know that just isn't true.  So I'll choose today to trust the Lord and learn to enjoy every moment of the little lives that He has entrusted to me.  And I'll leave my hands upturned and open.  Because all. is. grace.

(Surprisingly enough, Ben choked on some drainage not one of the many objects that he likes to put in his mouth.  Never a dull moment.)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Things I've Said Today

 Just for the record my boys are 3 and 14 months.  And this is a slice of our day.

"Stop putting your brother in a headlock.  He doesn't like it."

"When you grit your teeth, you're about to make a bad choice."

"If you eat your train, I'll give you some crackers."

"I know you want to sleep, but you need to get in the car."

"Is that smell your kid or mine?"

"Get out of your brother's face." (said this at least three times)

"Be gentle.  Did you hear me?  I said, "BE GENTLE!!!!"

"Stop playing with the trash can."


"Does that cracker really taste better now that it's been on the floor for 10 minutes?"

"If you leave that on the floor, it WILL be eaten.  Do you want it to be eaten?"

Grace.  Just enough for each day.  Hoping tomorrow will be a bit more graceful.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

How we're doing...

From the outside, I'm sure my life looks a little nutty right now.  We've had doctors' appointments, specialists' appointments, therapists' appointments, re-certification meetings, insurance calls, and even an outpatient surgery in the last two weeks.  I should be frazzled, exhausted, and overwhelmed (and I was pretty out of it last night).  But, to be honest, I feel great!  Because on the inside, I just have enough.

Enough grace to live each moment.  Enough friends to pray for me and remind me that I'm being prayed for. Enough love from our part of the Body.  Enough support from family and friends who helped me juggle my sweet babies yesterday. Enough grace from my husband last night, who did dishes, tucked me in extra early with more blankets, and got up with a sad boy last night.  Just enough.  

Don't get me wrong.  When a friend offered me a cup of coffee after lunch today, I took it.  I needed it.  It gave me just enough energy to pick up my house when I got home so Teacher Man could come home to way less chaos today than he did yesterday.  And now I'm sitting. And I really don't want to get up.  

But I have a peace that even if and when we have life's emergencies, we'll be supported by God and by the Body.  Never in my life have I lived in community like this.  I always felt like I could only depend on my immediate family for help. Until now.  

A dear friend allowed Ben to stay at her home all morning.  Grace.
Other friends texted to remind me that they were praying and loving us from afar.  Grace.
Friends from around the globe messaged or emailed me to let me know they were holding us up in prayer. Grace.
My mom read to the boys so I could have 5 minutes of privacy.  Grace.


A gal from our church sent Caleb a get-well-soon letter in the mail (Thomas-style, of course). Grace.
Caleb's new Imagination Library book arrived yesterday. Grace.
Another friend brought by a Blessings Basket with a present for Caleb to open for each of the next 7 days. Grace.
Friends met us at the library today to chat, read, and then share lunch. Grace.


One of my other friends just shared this today as well, but it's so true.  I feel like I now live in a community that "does life together."  They don't need to see me looking good.  They want to know I'm doing well.  They don't need me to be proper.  They need me to be authentic and to care deeply.  They don't just love me when it's convenient.  They love me sacrificially and inspire me to be a better Christ-follower.  This is what it is to be a part of the Body.  When we are weak, Christ empowers the rest of the Body to strengthen and help heal us.    Even if it's a cup of coffee on a tired afternoon, each little and big act of compassion keeps the Body healthy and reminds us of the love of the Life-giver.

So thank you to each member of our community.  It's a blessing to do life together.  

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Couldn't have been better

First, let me say that I'm not a morning person.  Caleb's surgery time had a 6:45 a.m. arrival required.  Did you catch that?  6:45. In the morning.  In a city an hour and a half away.  Right now caffeine and adrenalin are carrying me... oh, and that enormous thing called the grace of God.

After arrival, Caleb was so chilled.  He played a couple rounds of Go Fish (with Thomas cards, of course) with Grandma Joan.  Then during the pre-op chat with the nurse, she gave him three Thomas stickers!  What?!?! They have Thomas stickers?  Suddenly his world got a lot better.

Then. The worst part of the day. Letting the nurse carry Caleb away though he wanted to stay with Mommy and Grandma.  Later he would tell us, "I didn't like leaving you."  (tear.) And I would tell him, "I didn't like not having you with me."  (I may have to go hug him in his bed right now.)

After a half hour of waiting, my mom and I were taken back to recovery.  My sweet baby boy was calling for his mom.  They immediately put him in my arms, and we cuddled for an hour.  Ah, a whole hour of cuddling with my eldest.  Wonderful.  The recovery nurse also worked her magic with even more Thomas stickers and a Thomas movie to pass the hour.  We were in and out of the hospital in three hours!  Unbelievable!  It was only 9:15 a.m.!  A whole day in front of me.  Oh my.  A whole day in front of me?!?

On top of Caleb having the best time possible, we heard wonderful recommendations for our surgeon before we went to the hospital and then heard great things about our anesthesiologist after arriving at the hospital. And so far, Caleb has had NO side effects from the surgery or the anesthetic.  So. so. grateful.

So thank you.  Thank you to all who prayed for my sweet boy. and for me.  I almost chickened out as I was filling out paperwork.  Should we just do the tubes and not worry about the adenoids?  But then I realized that my decision-making skills may have been a bit inhibited by only 6 hours of sleep and the frappucinos I chugged on the way up.  So I went with our previous decision.  Thank you to whoever was praying around 6:45 a.m. Clearly, I needed it.

We'll be spending the next few hours cuddling. Reading. Letting Burger King make our supper. Sitting. Probably drinking a little more caffeine. And just being together because as my big boy says, "Leaving is my least favorite part."

Monday, December 5, 2011

Would you... please?

I still see him like this.

But I know he's more like this.
(chokes and then sobs)

Caleb is going in for surgery tomorrow: his second set of ear tubes and the removal of his adenoids. I didn't think I'd be nervous since I was so grateful for God's timing for this surgery.  But I am.  And he is because he's old enough to catch everything that's going on.  But I know that He isn't the least bit afraid and holds us all in His hands.

Would you pray? For the doctor to have skillful hands.  For the surgery to be successful.  For safe travels in the wee hours of the morning.  For a peace that passes all understand for this momma and her sweet firstborn.   We report to the surgical center at 6:45 a.m. Thank you for being the Body.

And thanks, Ann, for dropping off the frappucinos. You blessed me tonight, and your present will keep my eyelids from closing on the freeway.

(First photo credited to Mandie Anderson of Thotful Designs.)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Christmas Reality

In this journey to be intentional about the Advent season, I'm finding myself longing.  Longing to relax into old habits, craving to indulge in materialism, frantic to avoid reaching out of my comfort zone.  I didn't expect it to feel this way.  Somehow, I thought the newness of all our changes would keep me from missing the things that we just don't want in our life anymore.


It is hard to be purposeful with little ones.  Their lifestyle of neediness leaves a person drained of all energy, creativity, and sometimes sanity. (See picture above. Help. First I laughed my head off then I worried about my son's priorities and his immortal soul.  But first I laughed.)  I can literally feel the energy draining from my brain as I put my little ones to bed.  It's just hard.  But we need to be intentional.  We must.  They say we're losing our young people in the church.  They call us hypocrites.  Could it be allowing our love for Jesus to bleed into every area of our lives, this painful and exhausting and purposeful process, that is the difference between a false front and a salty life?


So we gather around the table to read the Word from the "In the beginning."  We read about Adam and Eve and their bad choices.  We read about how Noah made God smile.  We read about things that are just so decidedly un-Christmasy.  But so definitely Christly.  This is His Story, which He offers us to share.  It's right. But it's hard.  It's got a lot of ugly. Wicked men.  Evil serpent. Worldwide death.  Wouldn't it be better to spend all month talking about a sweet Nativity scene?  Or do we brave our way through the muck and mire of humanity's history so we can rejoice with a deeper gratitude when we celebrate the Christ-child's arrival?  And so we plod on.

I'm a romantic.  Even if things don't look lovely, I want to pretend that they are.  But I don't think Christmas is supposed to look rosy.  Personally, I think this year God is blowing the mist off of Christmas for me so I can realize and celebrate the harsh and wonderful reality of Advent.  Emmanuel, God with us.  The world is ugly.  It's full of sin.  And broken people.  And sickness.  And death.  And our only hope is in clinging to a Savior who was willing to be born homeless in filth so that we could stand righteous in white.

And really, what is the ultimate romance?  There's only one true romantic.  It's our God, like a lover orchestrating a perfect proposal, weaving each event and moment of our lives to draw us into a passionate love relationship with Him.  Greater love has no man than this.  He's already laid down His life for me.  No love greater.

So for one more day, I will turn away from the false.  From the clean stable.  From the clean picture of Mary. (Because I remember birth, do you?)  From the smiling Bible characters.  I will look to see the people.  The sinners.  The sacrifices.  The lost waiting for their Shepherd.  And I will prepare my heart to rejoice anew on Christmas Eve as we remember that He came to die so that we, the sinners, could find life and grace and mercy.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Exercising (no pictures, please)

When I found out that we were expecting Caleb, I was running at least 12 miles each week. outside.  Sometimes in the snow.  And I had abdominal muscles.  It was amazing!  Only a couple months into the pregnancy, my sciatic nerve started acting up, and I wouldn't be able to walk the day after I had run.  So I walked and walked and walked to make up for the fact that I wasn't running.  Someone told me that walking would help labor come so I walked some more.  Caleb arrived 11 days after his due date.  I'm convinced that people say things to give pregnant women false hope.  Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Caleb and I exercised together after he was born.  I did Pilates with him, ran with him, and started feeling healthy again.  Then came Ben.  During the pregnancy, I had serious circulation issues that forced me into compression hose (a.k.a. incredibly tight torture hose).  There was no way I was exercising in those.  They don't breathe.  It's like wearing plastic pants.  To this day, I have no idea how I got them on when I was 9 months pregnant.  That said, during that pregnancy, I did couch exercises.  Lifting maple cream cookies to my mouth, bench-pressing a remote, and watching about 367 episodes of West Wing.  


So after Ben was born, it came as no surprise to me that I was not quite as healthy.  With two littles to chase after during the day, I had no motivation to exercise.  And evenings were NOT an option.  I was in a coma by 8:30 p.m.  Sometime during the summer I just got tired.  Tired of being tired.  Tired of being lazy.  Tired of not feeling healthy.  So I started to run.

Do you know how hard it is for a mom with young children to motivate herself to run after the kiddos are in bed?  It's really hard.  It's incredibly hard.  It is unbelievably hard.  So I put the word out on good ol' Facebook that I was looking for a running buddy.  I needed some accountability.  Lo and behold, a couple moms that live in my neighborhood answered.  At this point, it's just one other mama and myself who run 3 miles twice a week after our kids are in bed, but I'm amazed by the results.  Now that I'm exercising I have more energy during the day, the clothes are fitting better, and I'm happier just knowing that I'm doing something.  As we run our miles, we talk about our crazy kids, our successes, our moments of stupidity, and at the end of every run we can look at each other and say that we're one step closer to being healthy wives and mamas.  While it's a gift to ourselves, it's also an enormous gift to our families.  Health (this one's obvious).  Perspective (this comes from talking about our less that glorious moments).  Energy (I really have more motivation than I've had in months).

And every Tuesday and Thursday, I know I'm going to make or get a phone call that goes something like this.

Runner Mom 1: Hey!
Runner Mom 2: Hello!
Runner Mom 1: You up for running tonight?
Runner Mom 2: Sure.  8:00, okay?
Runner Mom 1: Sounds good.
Runner Mom 2: Okay, I'll pick you up.
Runner Mom 1: Great!
Runner Mom 2:  See you later.
Runner Mom 1: Bye.

That's all it takes to get us out the door and doing something better for ourselves rather than sitting on the couch catching up on our blog reading and eating enormous amounts of kettle corn.  Cause that stuff is amazing.  Maybe when spring comes I'll be inspired again to exercise with kids, running with the ol' jogging stroller.  But until then, I'm incredibly grateful for accountability.  Because I know that without it, I'd be on the couch following the West Wing exercise plan, which is not famous for its fantastic results.  Man, I miss those maple cream cookies.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Amen.

Can you hear me now? Quick update.

We saw the ENT today.  I told Caleb that his ears were so special that the audiologist told to ENT that he had to look at them.  (insert manipulative, evil laugh here)  The ENT was wonderful, looked in both boys' ears, and told me that Ben is fine but Caleb should definitely have another set of tubes and probably get rid of his adenoids.  I shared our insurance situation with him, and we were scheduled for surgery with another doctor in his group for NEXT TUESDAY!

I consider this nothing short of an answer to your/our prayers!  While other times it has taken months to just see the doctor, we will have had our pre-operative appointment and surgery within eight days of my first prayer.  Only God.  Oh, and that just happened to be the only day next week that we were available.  Thanks, God, for managing my calendar even when I didn't have my binder (love that thing.) with me!

So so thankful.  Thankful to God and thankful to His people for praying.  I told my mom on the phone today that I feel like the most supported young family in the world.  We may not be financially rich according to the standards of our society, but we feel rich.  Rich in God's provisions.  Rich in friendships.  Rich in ministry.  Rich in family.  Rich in love.  So so blessed.

Failure to break.

I failed.  Already!  It's not even December 1st, and I've messed up.  Today was the first day of the Jesse Tree.  Did I remember?  No.  Now granted, today has been chaotic.  Haircuts, baking, cooking, church... yada yada yada... but I didn't keep first things first.  Why is this so hard?  How can we NOT slow for a few moments to remember the story of the Christ child from the beginning?

Shabbat... When my mother-in-law returned from six months in Israel, I remember her saying, "I miss Shabbat." so often. The hurrying and cleaning, the anticipation and then at sundown, it stopped.  Everything stopped as the family sat down to pray the same prayer that has been lifted up for thousands of years by God's people.

Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.


They rest.  They reflect.  And they step back, trusting that life is in God's hands more than it is a product of our own labors.


A new friend met me for coffee, and the topic of self-sufficiency came up.  Why is it that we feel the need to prove to ourselves and to God that we are self-sufficient?  Why do we find no sin in busyness without Sabbath rest?  Why do we think hard work is superior to meditation and prayer?  Why are we afraid to slow?  Afraid to trust in something greater that our strength.  And this is what I communicate to my sons without even speaking by hurrying by a moment made for more. So much more.


Resting before the Lord and preparing our hearts this Advent won't come naturally.  Our nature is to hurry.  To worry.  To try for self-sufficiency.  To keep plodding through the next thing.  Bootstrap faith.  At the end of it all, I'm pretty sure the only things that will come from this are an ulcer, a panic attack, hopelessness, and a lot of  foolish barns.


A wise friend once told me that if you had a container full of sand and tried to force some big rocks into it, you would never fit it all.  But if you put the rocks in first and then poured the sand over the rocks and into all the crannies, you would save your strength and find success in the task. 


Tomorrow is an insanely busy day.  I'll be in my van with my little men most of the day.  I hate insanely busy days.  But what are my rocks?  Is it the appointments or...


Fix these words of God in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.


All looks like sand when we stand on the Rock. 


So we stop.  We pray for friends who moved to the other side of our country yet love us so well from afar.  We open His Word.  And we remember.  Christ is first.  Christ is all.  We are here today to be used by Him, not to use His gifts for our goals.


My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.



"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874