Mixed Emotions

I am struggling a little bit today. I love this time of year and yet, the excitement that I have is always tempered with some sadness. I watched and listened today as our wonderful choir and orchestra put on a beautiful performance. The songs of joy for our sweet Savior's birth were inspiring. It has just been in the last few years that I can actually attend a performance like that. My father was a music minister and he loved putting together the Christmas and Easter musicals for our church. Some of the sweetest memories I have are of him sitting in his chair with his huge headphones on going over the music again and again. Since he has gone to be with the Lord, these performances, Christmas particularly, are very hard for me, as it was shortly after his Christmas musical that my father passed away. So the last few years that I have been able to make it through the performance, I am overwhelmed by the beautiful sounds, and yet hold back the tears because I always picture my dad up there directing. Even as I listened to the words of the songs I was overcome with the same sadness for Jesus. The truth of the matter is that Jesus did come as a sweet little boy, much like mine. But how he lived, and died so young, and so brutally......joy of His birth, sadness for His death. And yet, His death and resurrection, holds the key of hope for all who believe. So it is joy mixed with sadness that I feel this time of year. As I get older though, I am appreciative of every day I have with my family and every blessing the Lord has given me. For we don't know what tomorrow brings, but it is the hope that only comes from Jesus' birth, death and resurrection that we cling to.

God's patience and our obedience

"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9 My husband had an opportunity to do something yesterday that God laid on his heart to do almost 2 years ago. When God originally asked my husband to do this, he was willing to do it, but this particular request involved several other people. Trying to get these people together all in one place, my husband's work schedule, and lack of preparation time were just some of the reasons why it took almost 2 years for this to get done. There were times that he felt he was deliberately disobeying the Lord because of the time that had passed. There are times in our lives when circumstances prevent us from answering God's call immediately. There are also other times when we place our hands over our ears like a child and scream "I can't hear you.....I'm not listening....la,la,la,la...." because we don't want to do what He asks of us. Whatever the reasons, I have found in my own life that it is ME that misses out on the biggest blessings of my life for delaying a response to the Lord. I teach my children 1st time obedience (I ask just once and you obey immediately), but how often I fail in responding to my heavenly Father. If your phone was ringing and you knew the person calling you was going to be a long lost loved one you hadn't spoken to in years, or a daughter who had run away, or a child that was missing, or the bank saying they just put a million dollars in your account just for being a great customer, you would answer it immediately! How much greater than these are the rewards when we answer God's call, and yet, we let it ring. God is patient, and He will keep calling. But if we pick up the phone and immediately slam it down, He will eventually stop.

Sunday Solice

The youngest woke up with a severe head cold so we stayed home while Daddy and the oldest went to church. After playing numerous games of Chutes and Ladders and watching the Grinch with him, I finished up (and started) some projects for Christmas - gifts for friends, invitations for parties, prizes for our MOPS meeting this week. I know it's only December 2nd, but I am not stressed - which is a miracle. Normally by now I have a tremendous amount of anxiety for numerous reasons. So I am thankful that even though there is a lot going on, I am not stressed. The children's gifts are already bought, the decorations are up, the cards are ordered and the events are planned. There is still lots to be done, but for the first time in many years I am enjoying the season instead of constantly saying "I hate this time of year". I wish I could say what is different this year. Maybe it's because I got a jump on things early. Maybe it's because I'm less concerned about what people think of me and my gift (or party, or house, or whatever) and more concerned about staying in a budget and that it really is the thought that counts. Maybe it's because I have friends who are dealing with a lot more than I am this year and my thoughts and prayers have been focused on them. Whatever the reason, I am thankful for the peace and joy that has draped over me this holiday season. It is the peace and joy I am sure God wants us to have every day of the year.

Baby Shower!

We had a baby shower for our good friend Christy last night. What a great time we had. Delicious cake from Edible Art (that is the heaviest, most yummiest cake I have ever had). It's great to be around such loving and fun girls. We ate and talked and ate some more, and Christy got a lot of cute stuff for her new baby girl that is on the way.

I attempted my first diaper cake this week. It's basically diapers wrapped and tied with ribbon shaped to look like a cake. I added some pacifiers, socks and other things to it. I had a great time doing it so here is a picture of it.

Turning off the t.v.

Ok, needless to say my kids have watched a lot of t.v. in the past week. With both of them throwing up and then running fevers, it's not like they had much strength to do anything else. So we let them watch movies and t.v. more than normal. Well it obviously was a little too much for my 3 year old. Case in point - the boys watched SpongeBob several times. I know some parents think this cartoon is awful. I don't have a problem with my oldest watching it occasionally, but it's hard for my 3 year old not to watch it when big brother is tuned in. That's where the problem began. This morning my youngest was on the floor with me getting ready to open the Chutes and Ladders box when it got stuck. He looked at it inquisitively and said "What the?" Thankfully no 4 letter word came after. Just "What the?" It may seem funny to some, but it's not going to win me any "Mother of the Year" awards. So instead of flipping out, I calmly said "let's not say that honey. It doesn't sound good". Well, of course, his response was "Well what can I say instead? I can't say Oh My God because Jesus isn't happy when I say that. So what else can I say?" Did I tell you he was a 13 year old trapped in a 3 year old's body? And yes, he has said oh my God before, hence his response. So the only think I could think to say was that he could say oh my goodness if he feels the need, but it's best just to ask Mommy for help. I'll check in Dobson's book "Parenting the Strong-Willed Child" tonight to see if my response was correct!

Thanksgiving Day

Today has to be one of my favorite holidays. Maybe because it's the only one that hasn't been hijacked by the secular world and turned into something it wasn't ever meant to be. It's a time for families to get together without the stress of buying gifts that will soon be sent to Goodwill. It also is a time for reflection on what we are thankful for. I am thankful for so many things this year, and I will list them in another post. But when I am thankful, I know who I am thankful TO. I often wonder about the people that don't believe in our Lord and Savior. Sure, they can still be thankful, but shouldn't there be an object to which they should be thankful to? Are they thankful to themselves for picking good friends, making wise career choices, and exercising regularly? I am thankful to my husband for all he does and all he means to me, but I am thankful to the Lord for bringing him into my life. I am thankful to my moms for all they add to my life, but I am thankful to the Lord who allowed me to be born to my mom and dad and gave me another mom through marriage. The root of all thankfulness should begin with our Father in heaven. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

Answers to Prayer

A sweet woman in our church had brain surgery on Tuesday. There was a prayer gathering for her on Monday night, the auditorium of our church was left available for those that wanted to pray on Tuesday during the surgery (one woman stayed the entire time), morning bible studies voluntarily stopped doing their studies and prayed for her. There were many more events of prayer, both corporate and those of us that prayed all day long from wherever we were. Julie not only made it through the surgery, she did unbelievable! All her neurological signs are still as normal and she is even cracking jokes. This is the 2nd time in less than 6 months someone I know has gone in for brain surgery. Each time, our church has answered the call to pray for these loved ones. And I mean did they pray! What a wonderful blessing to witness what God can do when He hears our requests. God is great and very present in our lives. Those that don't see Him need only to open their eyes.