Colin works harder than just about anyone I know. Here is the playscape that he sacrificed time, energy, and a healthy knee for. The kids love it and I love him for working so hard on something for the family.
What started out as just a pile of lumber...
I have been very blessed this last week to have my sister visiting and practically doing all the cleaning and taking care of the kids. It's also helped to have her wonderful company through this sometimes difficult time of being house bound. The only bad thing is that I've been distracted so that I've neglected posting any pictures of our newest beautiful daughter. Here she is in her pink glory and also with first time big sister Molly who has been great in this adjustment.
P.S. Please don't forget to pray for Karen. The discovery of her tumor has helped me to be all the more grateful for the blessing of my daughter Mercy and is a reminder to us all not to take these moments for granted.
When I first moved out to California with Colin back in 2000, I was seven months pregnant with my first child, very lonely, and petrified of starting a new life so far away from friends and family. We got to our new church that first Sunday and a friendly lady about my age come up to me and greeted me with one of the warmest smiles I'd ever seen in my life. I immediately felt like we were good friends and like I was at home in this new church. In the five years that we lived there, those feelings were only confirmed and she has proven to be a lifelong friend who has never let me down once as a friend. Last Thursday, her six year old son found her unconscious and she was immediately rushed to a hospital. A tumor was discovered and after surgery on Saturday, it was found to be malignant. She will begin treatment soon as the surgeons were not able to remove the whole of the tumor. I ask for everyone's prayer for Karen, her husband, and their three young children who are the same ages as Grace, Noah, and Molly. They are headed for a struggle, so we ask God for much grace, mercy, healing, and strength to be added to them at this time. Karen is, by God's grace, one of the strongest women I know. God has taught me much about patience, graciousness, friendship, and being a good wife and mom through Karen and I pray that He will heal her so that many others can be blessed through her as I have been.
Visit www.welovekaren.blogspot.com to get more up to date and accurate information or go to www.homeschoolblogger.com/preschoolersandpeace where her friend Kendra has posted some great college pics of Karen.
Both mother and child doing well! A girl - 9lbs 3oz. - name still being debated! Thanks for all your prayers!
Col
Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful notes, phone calls, and prayers. Colin is feeling much better and was able to walk on crutches after the first two days. He went in to the doctor's this morning and the preliminary check looks good. He'll go see a radiologist and orthopedist later just to make sure there are no ligament tears or misplaced bones :( But we think everything is alright now. He'll have to wear a splint for awhile and has limited mobility because of it, but at least it's nothing more serious. The hardest part for me has been the taking care of all things by myself, but this goes to Colin's credit that I was so used to his constant help with the kids and the house that it is so hard to do without him :) As for baby, no signs of an appearance yet. I did have a doctor appointment today but I ended up waiting to be seen for an hour and eventually had to leave without being seen at all so that I could get back home to watch the kids before Colin's meeting started. I'll try and get back over there in the next couple of days, but really I'm hoping to go into labor on my own so that's not a problem. My mom's hoping for the baby to come on Thursday which is her birthday, and the thought appeals to me too if for no other reason than one less date to remember :)
Once again, thank you for your love and support everyone! I hope my next communique is baby news.
Today is my due date. This morning Colin fell off the playscape he is building for the kids and dislocated his knee. He's in a lot of pain and laid up on the couch. Now that Colin's out of commission I'm not sure how I can handle taking care of all the kids, a wounded hubby, the house, and baby preparations.Please pray for us as things are a bit stressed right now.
Okay, so today was the first time Molly has let me put her hair in a ponytail without immediately pulling it back out. I thought she looked so much like Gracie at this age.
The kids were playing outside today in the waterhose and were surprised by this little guy trying to join in their fun. Poor thing, I bet he didn't plan on this kind of party! He probably just thought God was finally sending him some rain. Well, the kids had a blast even if he didn't.
Last night, I decided I was not going to wake up to the dirty refrigerator again- can you say, "nesting?" So after all the other kids were put to bed, Gracie and I got to work cleaning it out. At first I employed her help just for practice, but in the end she was an actual help to me! We got the whole thing done in under half an hour. The whole thing was a pleasure to me, but more so than seeing the sparkling white interior, was the joy of working with my daughter. I must admit, I heard this day would one day come, but I never actually believed it would! Thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness in His promises, for this encouragement, and for giving us both the ability to accomplish such a task - that's no small thing for me at almost nine months prego!
This weekend was full of special occurrences.
1. First we had a guest preacher at church on Sunday. When he got up to preach I got excited because he had a British accent and I thought how fun for Colin to have someone from the mother land to talk to. Afterwards, Colin did get a chance to talk with him. Turns out he hails from Houston of all places and got his accent from diction lessons! Well, I thought it was a little too weird to have a British, reformed, Woody Allen impersonator preaching at our church. Too many distincitves and it just gets plain creepy. :)
2. We drove down to Redeemer OPC in Pflugerville Sunday evening to hear the great 81 year old G.I. Williamson preach. He was sharp as a tack and his preaching was fantastic!
3. On the way home we HAD to stop for some gas (part of the problem with spontaneous road trips on Sunday). Anyway, the gas station was in front of a field, and while we sat there we saw skydivers swarming the skies right in front of us. Turns out that field is where the Skydivers Temple land. They were swooping in and out - we were so excited to be treated to an unexpected show!
4. This is out of order chronologically, but sobeit! Anyway, last week Colin bought me a laptop that my sister had found and picked up for us. It was a great deal and it has been so nice to be able to be mobile while on the computer. It also helps because I can sit on something soft and cushy so my pelvic bones don't hurt so bad.
5. I'm thirty-four weeks now. Baby's heart rate was in the 150's. Hmmm....
6. There's not much to say here , but I want to get to number seven because....
7. Monday was our seventh year anniversary!! My mom came over to babysit and even cleaned house as a surprise for me while we were gone. Colin and I had a nice time going out to eat then out to Barnes and Noble. It was so relaxing and we laughed a lot and got to talk a lot - how wonderful :)
Okay, it's official...I'm entering into third trimester pregnancy induced psychosis. I am crying at anything, griping about everything, and comfortable in nothing. Please pray for my poor family who has to endure such a mom/wife. Today Colin made me cry for commenting that my legs looked like tree trunks due to the pitting edema. It's actually completely true, and doesn't really hurt my feelings because I know it will go away within a few days of giving birth, but I cried anyway because the swelling just makes me feel so uncomfortable. It's somewhere in the 100's outside today. Depending upon who you ask it got up to somewhere between 103 and 107. I don't think the a/c is working properly. Also, I don't think the refrigerator is properly cooling the water. It still feels just lukewarm to me. I cried twice at church on Sunday. Why do I do that? I hate it when I do that! Unfortunately, I'm learning that this is all a part of the joys of the last few months of pregnancy for me. Not everyone acts like this, I know it's true. I'm not trying to make excuses, just giving reasons. Really, just consider this your public service announcement. "We interrupt this regularly scheduled personality to fine tune the body of the next coming Gunn child. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please stand by..." (really loud annoying beep - actually that's the sound of me whining about the heat)
I thought I'd give an update on the pregnancy and the household happenings. Knox pottytrained himself completely a few weeks ago. We celebrated by going to see Cars at the the theater. It was fun but would've probably been more fun just to rent a movie at home - not to mention cheaper :) Gracie turned six this last week. We'll have a party tomorrow night with the family. I've got just over seven weeks to go in this pregnancy which is great, except that it's 100 degrees outside with no sign of letting up. Sigh... the thought of being pregnant during August makes me want to take a long nap. The upside is that the baby is kicking away, and I'm getting very excited to meet him/her. Did I mention that the heartrate was in the 170's this week? Me thinks it's a her :) but we shall see...
One of the things I struggle with in life is finding joy in the everyday. God is showing me in many humbling ways that while I may say that the biblical way of living is the only path to true happiness, it is rare that I show that in the way I act. Particularly in regards to children. Sure I may say that God is true and that children are in fact blessings rather than curses, but so many times, my countenance, words, and attitude reflect a heart that doesn't really believe it. Here is an excerpt from an interesting article
In our society parents do a wonderful job of portraying the difficulties of
having children: the financial burdens, the time drain, the guilt, the
exhaustion. But we do a lousy job of getting across something else about
parenthood: It's fun! When you are experiencing parenthood from the inside,
there is an overwhelming pleasure in the funny, fascinating things your
children
do. When my daughter was 2, she put her arms around me as I was
kissing her
goodnight and said to me, "Mommy, you're a wonderful husband."
That was better
than any of the movies I hadn't been to since she was born.
I won! I won! I won! Okay, I LOVE competition and thanks to Moms4Psalms, I won her competition and a prize! I got my free Mary Kay eye makeup remover in the mail today and am very excited to try it out. Thanks again, Moms!
Another winner is a site my sister sent me today. It's a menu planner for mothers and even included grocery lists! Sounds like fun to me!
And then we can all be winners by staying out of debt :) Here's a neat new site for that.
My sister finally called and asked when I was going to update my blog, so I guess I'd better! Bottom line is, it's hot. The last three days have seen temps at or above 100 degrees. Now as awful as that sounds, it really hasn't been too terrible. Thanks to our God for the mercies of air conditioning and swimming pools, we've managed to stay pretty comfortable. And there's a bonus in that, the kids are so worn out from the heat and all the swimming that they are sleeping like 12 1/2 hours every night! Now, if only I'd go to bed as soon as they do... Still I am getting like nine hours a night, which you'd think was more than enough. Somehow though I'm still exhausted.
I'm officially in my last trimester, yahoo! Only twelve plus weeks to go - why does that feel like much longer than the 28 weeks I've already been through? Anyway, my old friend SPD has reared its ugly head again and this time has spread down my thighs and in my groin muscles. Who knew that could happen?! So, I can't walk much more than just around the house and even that gets pretty uncomfortable fast. Dearest hubby is helping lots by taking over the grocery shopping, doing as much lifting of fat Molly as he can, buying me lots of chocolate :), and today he let me get the maid in! Truth is, he's been offering to get a maid for a while, but cheap and proud me wouldn't let him - I know, I know...
June looks like it might be a pretty busy month with five family birthdays. I've also got to get busy planning Gracie's party. She's only been talking about it since January. You should have heard her after Noah's party back then, "How long until my birthday? Six months!! Oh, no that's going to be forever! Can I have a swimming party with my cousins? No, wait! I have an idea! Let's have a swimming PRINCESS party! Oh, that'll be so great!" I still have no idea where she gets her dramatic side from - probably her dad ;) Anyway, all those birthdays will be a great distraction from the much awaited birthday of this newest little one on or around September 2nd.
So, that's the highlights I guess. Hope to post more soon.
There are so many amazing things about being a mother. First of all I never knew how amazingly strong your love for your child would be. Second of all, I never would have guessed the millions of ways that God shows forth His truth that children are blessings. I'm not just blessed because I have the children, I'm blessed in the way they make me view God and the world, the way they sanctify me constantly, and the way they make me think about things I wouldn't normally on my own.
For instance, tonight at dinner, Colin takes one of the kids off for a spanking and Gracie asks me, "What would happen if I took the spanking for ___? Would that be like what Jesus did for me?" I was so preoccupied with the interruption of the child getting disciplined that I was glossing over one of the main reasons we discipline in the first place. Without spankings we wouldn't know the significance of someone else's sacrifice for us. If said child had never known how awful it was to get spanked, what would they care if one of their brothers or sisters took over that spanking? And second of all, the selflessness and love of Jesus to do that for us is an act that was so generous and wonderful. Why would we be so grateful for someone to take our earthly punishment and so negligent to be grateful to our Christ who took our eternal punishment for us?
Part of the joy of this situation was also seeing one of my kids being blessed with a believing mind through faith. Affirmation of the covenant that He gave to us so long ago. Knowing that this is a gift from God above alone for this child that I love so dearly is such an amazing gift to me as well. This gift for this child that I would do just about anything to spare from pain or misery from God who willingly gave His Son into pain and misery so that my child and I could share in this gift.... it truly boggles the mind!
Another added blessing today came via my sons. There was some jealousy over a toy car today that was really upsetting one brother. The other brother came over on his own accord and freely and joyfully offerred up this car to his sad brother! It was so sweet to see him share and love his brother in such a way. Then later, Noah said out of the blue to his daddy, "Would you please read to me a story about Jesus? Read to us about God's love." A heart that loves God and longs to hear more about Him?! What better gift could a mother ask for on such a day?!
Soli Deo Gloria
Yea!!! I just read this update on James McDonald's blog. Praise God for healing this mother on this Lord's day that some like to also call Mother's Day :)
I just saw this on one of the bulletin boards I frequent. Colin got to spend a day with this lovely family not to long ago when he interviewed Stacy for his upcoming movie. Please pray for this family!
Emergency Prayer Request May 6 Friends and Families, I am typing this note while sitting in an ER in southern Wisconsin. We have been on the road for three and a half weeks, speaking at New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Michigan, as well as ministering at churches along the way. But an emergency has come up. As background, my wife Stacy, mother of 10, has no feeling in her left foot. Over a month ago, she injured her foot, but did not notice it until it became infected. Our doctor in Houston cleared out the area and prescribed an antibiotic. We noticed the infection returning Thursday evening while at the INCH conference. Stacy's podiatrist called in a prescription of antibiotics Friday. At the Michigan conference Saturday, we met with a homeschooling mother who was also an ER doctor who doubled the antibiotics and told us to watch the infection. Today, while visiting with the Erber family, it looked worse than ever, which brought us here to the hospital. The doctor here believes Stacy's foot infection has entered into her bone. She has recommended we return to Houston as soon as possible. Stacy is now receiving a shot of antibiotics. We will then plan the fastest route to get her home. This condition is quite serious, but we are trusting in the Lord and His Sovereignty. We ask for your prayers. Feel free to forward this request to any who may be able to offer prayer. In His Service, James James M McDonald
This last weekend was full of excitment. It started Friday when we had a tornado hit our humble little town. It didn't cause any damage to any of our family's houses and thankfully no one at all was injured. My mom's neighborhood got it pretty bad where tree after tree was uprooted - quite an amazing sight really! As my little family huddled in our shower underneath a mattress we found a good opportunity to share with the kids about God's power and His sovereignty when they asked, "Why did God make the tornado?"
Another bit of news is that my sister had her baby this weekend! As she described to me the whirlwind that was her labor and birth (which I unfortunately missed) I found myself dreading and fearing my own upcoming labor and not wanting to go through it at all. I am providentially faced with God's answer to my fears through the twister that my city went through. It is God who brings the storm, it is God who sees us through, and it is God who uses the storm for our good. If we go through life with all sunny days and no pain, we might never see how truly reliant upon Him we are for our needs and even our next breath. So I repent of my fears, and I thank Him for the storm and I ask Him for the grace and wisdom to remember these truths when I am in the next one.
I am so thankful to report that everyone made it home safely from their trek across the ocean! I don't think they had the best of times due to a bout with the flu, but they managed to squeeze in some laughs along the way. Colin says the kids did great on the plane and we're complimented on every leg about how well behaved they were :) They're all getting back into the routine except for the going to bed at 7 and waking up at 6am thing - I'll be glad when that goes back to normal again. Here's some pics from the sojourn.
Gracie and Noah on the first plane.
Gracie on a canon in Edinburgh
Noah shooting a toy gun. Seriously, 90% of his pictures on the trip were of him in this pose. Should I tell him guns are illegal in Scotland?
Grandma and Grandpa celebrating 60 year birthdays.
Colin, Grace, and Noah have all been away to Scotland this last week. They left here Friday morning and got there Saturday morning. Unfortunately that's also the day that their Grandma and Grandpa got the flu. Mrs. Gunn took it especially hard and had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance. She's doing better and is expected home later today. Mr. Gunn is back to normal as well. The kids got it a couple of days ago and are starting to get back up and around again. I think Colin is starting to feel sick now. It's so sad really, I wanted them to miss me but not like this! As Gracie was lying in bed all day yesterday she told her Grandpa that she liked Texas better - awww! Who wouldn't under those conditions?! I really hope they can salvage some of their trip the next several days. I want them to love Scotland - after all this is an important place to her daddy and me. Things around here are good if not a little lonely. I try to stay out of the house and busy if I can and we're eating a lot of chocolate too :) The weather's been great with a cold front today that actually had the kids in long pants again! I didn't think that would happen again until November. Well, see ya next time - same blog time, same blog channel!
There has been much activity around the blogs the last few months regarding R.C. Sproul and his defrocking. Much of it has been venomous and even gleefully so. For the most part, those who defend R.C. and the elders there have remained silent in an effort, I believe, to keep the heresay to a minimum. Here is one man who is standing for that other half. I think it is, at the least, enlightening to hear another side of the story.
First of all, I did not want to fail to mention what an enormous help my mother's helper has been to me. Mrs. Henley came over for a couple of hours today and was able to help me through a week's worth of chores in that time. We have an empty laundry basket :) and a clean refrigerator! During my morning sickness time, someone had spilled soy milk all over the fridge and I have just left it there for about two months now :( I am so excited just to open the door and see all it's shiny clean whiteness! Thank you God for sending Mrs. Henley and for her being so gracious to help out.
Secondly, I was with my sister-in-law shopping at Old Navy before Christmas when her purse went missing. She was very upset at losing her daughter's special bracelet not to mention some gift cards. Well, they call today and had apparently found it somewhere in the store. We may never know what really happened but what a praise to have her purse back!
Thirdly, here is an excellent posting followed by a lively comment section on the ever-present (at least on my blog) issue of quiverfulledness. I'm really trying not to harp, but I get so excited when someone says so eloquently what I have tried to but can't.
Lastly, despite appearances here at the Ceilidh, there is much exciting news around the Gunn household. We've had an ultrasound where everything looked healthy. Colin and my mom now know what sex the baby is, but I still do not-we'll see how long it lasts ;) We finally finished painting the den and will redo the floor in there and the kitchen once we finish painting the kitchen - but I don't think you should hold your breath or anything. The den actually looks great thanks to my other mother's helper -my mom. She has a gift in that area wher I am sorely lacking. Also, I've got my first rose bushes planted and have kept them alive for whole days now - again, no telling how long it will last. Gracie, Noah, and Colin are gearing up for their trip to Scotland next week - wish I was too. Knox's birthday is Friday, he'll turn three - his voyage into manhood begins :)
I'll try and post some new pics soon, of the den, the kids, and maybe, if I'm brave, one of me. Now, back to my happy quiver.
Last night marks thebeginning of life for Knox without his pacifier! Yahoo! He has been my only paci baby so far, the others found their thumbs pretty quickly. Not ever having gone through this before, I didn't realize the hardship that would come from not getting rid of that little sucker sooner than later. In retrospect, one year would be the ideal time for taking away the pacifier, but I thought I'd make it "easier on myself" by waiting until two. Well, two years came around and we were in the middle of a transition time, being somewhat homeless and all, so we thought we'd wait until we were settled. Does anybody know when life actually gets "settled"? Because I'm still waiting. Nevetheless, I decided that three years was the absolute limit. His birthday is ten days away, but the pacifier died yesterday anyway. Of course he cried for it all evening long, and finally crashed at 11 last night- we had company so he was up later than usual. The good news, he slept all through the night without it AND is already asleep again tonight without too much fuss for it. He did however walk up to me today and said, "Mom, pacifier died," then fell to the ground in defeat. Good thing I didn't have another pacifier on hand, I might have caved ;)
Now, before that title causes any of you to start throwing things, let me 'splain...
If you're my friend then you've had to have been blessed with an extra patient and gracious spirit :) (See that wasn't as bad as you thought). I am always saying things to people, then days later will realize how offensive it was, and forever after will cringe everytime I remember the conversation - say 20 to 30 times a day. Case in point: The other day I was sitting around with friends talking about how crazy I thought Michelle Duggar was for naming all 16 of her children with a "J" name. I was going on and on about how I would never be able to remember names and my children would grow up with an identity crisis for it all. I realize this doesn't sound too terrible until, like me, you realize that I was talking to a woman who had named all her children with "C" names. (Blush!) She of course had been given her extra measure of kindness from God and just sat there smiling and nodding.
For our family, it has been fairly easy to see where we stand on this issue. But that is not the case with many today, even those preachers who are so visible in the churchand to whom we look for scriptural guidance. I find it interesting to note that many of the great theologians of the reformed persuasion had some very strong opinions indeed. Hat tip to Doug Phillips' blog.
P.S. I'd just like to note that I'm quite loopy today thanks to a horrible chest cold which is making me guzzle the cough syrup. Please excuse any typos, or spelling errors, or nonsensical sentences :)
Yea!! I finally hit 16 weeks and am starting to feel much more human again! I really like this stage of pregnancy because I don't feel nauseous anymore, nor tired, and I'm still small enough to be able to sleep on my tummy - gotta love that. There's another reason I think I'm feeling much better, but I'm always hesitant to give full credit to one thing in particular, except God of course :) I found some supplements called Supermom tablets that were advertised in the latest No Greater Joy newsletter. I've been taking them all week, and while I still do get tired during the day, I'm able to work much more and will only need to rest for a few minutes in the afternoon as opposed to twice a day for an hour at a time (blink, blink!) . While I think this might also be attributed to how far along I am in the pregnancy, I also think it has something to do with these supplements. After all, I'd started to feel that wonderful pain (SPD) that plagues me during my pregnancies and was even starting to waddle a bit with it- yes I know! Already! Well, these past few days, I haven't even noticed the pain. I praise God for this, and pray it continues throughout the pregnancy. I'll let y'all know whether these pills really help with the swelling and fluid retention since that's another thing I've always experienced even with my cold January baby. I've been anticipating a bad turn with it this time around since I'm due in September where the average temp. in Texas is around 100 degrees - yikes! But, only the Lord knows what will happen, so, I try not to worry about then. But, as always my prayer is Psalm 51
God be merciful to me
On Thy grace I rest my plea...
I cannot even believe my appetite lately. One of the top subjects on the brain these past several weeks is food, which is a little odd considering most of it has made me nauseous to even talk about. It's a little embarrassing really. Tonight Colin had to talk me down from an Awesome Blossom from Chili's take-out. He flat out refused to even consider Quizno's, which isn't such a big deal really, but keep in mind all of this is going on while there's a party size lasagna in my oven. Oh, my. You'd think I was carrying septuplets with this attitude, but I have a new theory- it's another kid with the appetite of my #2 and #4 children and I'm just trying to keep up with it. These are the kids that are four and 18 mos, and both of them could kill me in an eating contest on any given day.
But, regardless, this whole thing reminds me of a verse we read last Sunday:
Philippians 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,
and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Philippians 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already
perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Went to my first doc. appt. today and got a great ultrasound of the newest munchkin. There is only one in there, much to Colin's disappointment, but he/she looks very healthy and is kicking around happily. I'm about 12.5 weeks and am starting to feel a little more human again.
Colin's about to start traveling some to do some movie interviews. He's got Phyllis Schlafly's next Monday up in St. Louis.
I've had an answer to prayer for a Mother's Helper! If you don't know what this is, it basically involves a young unmarried, an older lady whose kiddos have left the building, or maybe even a wife who doesn't as yet have any littles to keep up with. They will come and help out a mother of littles in the busyness of running a household. This could entail, holding a fussy baby so mama can mop the floor, or mopping the floor for the mom, folding laundry, baking, helping to cook dinner, etc, etc, etc.
I feel very strongly that young mothers are a lost area of the church's ministry opportunities. So much of the outreach of the church to these women involves mother's day out or mother's night out, i.e. getting the women out of the home and away from the family. While this is a nice idea for women to occasionally get a break from her duties, it is in those duties precisely that women need help.
I used to think it was just me that was crying secretly over the sticky kitchen floor or the pile of unfolded laundry. After talking to many moms, I've realized that most if not all, are struggling with feelings of fatigue and being overwhelmed. So, the result is that many moms will stop having children in order to cope or to feel that they are successful in their roles as wife and mother. I don't think this is the best answer to the problem. After all, if God calls children a blessing, we should believe that is true even though our need for a nap or some relief makes us want to say it's not. What's the answer? God calls us to bear one another's burdens, and what better way to do that than to help promote the strength of the family. Children are a reward from God and raising them, while a physical and spiritual challenge, is the highest calling a woman can have. Raising up the next generation of Christians is an honor and privilege and a sacrifice that we do not for ourselves, but for God and the rest of the kingdom. What an amazing difference the church can make by ministering to moms in this way.
These past few weeks of nausea and fatigue have been trying. I've felt like a lousy mother and wife, and have struggled to keep my focus. Well, there's nothing like a real life horror story turned miracle to snap your focus back in place. Here's the link to an amazing video.
What the world spurns, and treats as trash is called a blessing, a gift, and a reward by God. Who's right? It's easy to doubt when you're in the throws of morning sickness or those last few uncomfortable weeks before birth. Or even when you're drowning in a sea of laundry or overwhelmed with fussy children during the arsenic hour. But we must remember these are temporary things and don't negate God's truth of what children are. We must change our thoughts and think of children as God thinks of them. Otherwise we are left to our own judgments. And thanks to Andrea Yates, Susan Smith, and now this woman we are warned where that leads us.
Two minutes after I post, big princess gets it.
Myster solved...
Last Wednesday, apparently little princess woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. Colin took care of her because he knew how tired I was. Guess that's everyone then.
Thirty minutes after I posted last, the big guy came down with it. Thirty minutes after that, big guy #2 got it. An hour later, the last man standing fell. My poor men, big and little. Please pray for us all.
Well, I made it through to Friday, and praise be to God, no one else got sick this week. My morning sickness has been around, an everpresent remnder of last weekends hullabaloo. I'm afraid someone might report me to CPS for the amount of fast food my kids ate this week. We got no schoolwork done, very little housework, and the bare minimum in laundry. But we're happy to be at Saturday and praise God for his mercy in this trying week. Oh, did I mention Colin has another surprise visit to SF next week? I'll be praying for lots more grace to get through next week as well. Blessings...
I am soon to be the mother of five children, so I suppose it is only proper that I get the mother of all stomach bugs. Seriously, the sickest I've been in all my life, or what I can remember of it. The good news is that it only lasted about twenty-four hours. The bad news is, somewhere in the midst of all that, my morning sickness kicked in. Right now, I live on ginger ale and lollipops.
My kids in their tender young ages are having to learn a lot of hard life's lessons. For instance, even if we can't go to McDonalds everyday, they still have to be grateful for the food they're served. Or say, just because they cannot go and play, no live at the cousins house, they still must be content in the home God put them in. I know it's hard. I probably would've jumped at the chance to eat out or go stay with a fun relative when I was a kid. It's all a matter of perspective though. And from a three foot something vantage point, joy in the circumstances is a tough one to grab onto.
So, I'm trying to learn this lesson myself, albeit a little late, but my heighth and age offers some advantages that the kids don't have. I've been around enough to know, that the grass isn't always greener, and might even come with some grub algae which stunts growth in large patches, ahem. And, we should be grateful for the leftovers because at times they were hard to come by.
So, as I lost count for my trips to the bathroom after only about four hours this weekend, I realized that I must be grateful even in this time. God could have stricken me with an illness that was much less temporary and much more life ending. I could get this sick throughout the entire pregnancy as I know many have - thankfully my morning sickness is very predictable (at 6 weeks here, at 12 weeks gone). This virus could have struck at a time when my husband wasn't there or able to assume all of my duties (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!) . Or it could've stricken all of us at the same time instead of just me. Besides that, there are some actual good things, like losing three pounds in six hours - try that without surgery or child birth! Also, it was a little nice to be able to lie in bed literally all day and only worry about resting.
Though this time was hard, there were so many blessings in it still, and by God's grace I'm able to see His love and compassion through it. If any of those other things would've happened, I would have been completely deserving of them and even then I could not cry out against God. I'm thankful for the gentleness of God's lessons, and for patience in which He sustains and teaches me. I hope and pray for wisdom and grace to be able to teach my children the same.
This photo was taken just before Christmas in front of my favorite oak tree in our backyard. So, there you have it - all seven of us. Eight including the tree :)
Really?! No guesses at all! Okay, well here's another picture of the same animal, but from a slightly different persepective. :)
Now let's see who gets it!
Well, like most everybody around the blogdom I've been taking it easy on my blog. Colin's invoked a media fast this week, and I'm feeling detached. He's made one exception so that I can post on here. We've been busy hanging doors, eating pies, opening presents, visiting the zoo, playing with cousins, fighting pink-eye, etc... On the other hand we had a visit from a very strange creature. Here's a picture of it. Ten points to the person who guesses what it is:
Ecclesiastics4: 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
This passage is one I had not come across for a long time but I heard it in two different places today. My prayer is that I can be a blessing to someone as a friend.
Thanks to KimC for this tag. It's actually my first:) !
I love games, so I'll play along with this one... I like this ornament alot although I'll have no use for it anytime soon. You see, my husband and I haven't actually had a tree since we've been married. However, my favorite ornament(s) are the ones made by my late Grandpapa. He got a bunch of those eggs from the Leggs pantyhose and made twelve beautifully handpainted ornaments symbolizing each of the twelve days of Christmas. They were split up among the children after he passed away, but there are a few on my parents tree that we all take special notice of each year.
Yahoo! Just a couple of more hours until Colin's plane arrives, Lord willing. Colin says the pics on here have been great - just like he was here - isn't that dishonest, err, nice of him! It's been a really good week thanks to my mom, and my brother and his wife. They came around just in the knick of time to save me from the brink of loneliness! I am thankful to them and to God for them!
Anyways, see y'all later. We'll try not to hurt Colin when all five of us tackle him at the airport :)
Here's Molly all decked out in festive gear.
The spread - can you believe the kids came home telling me they were starving?!
Noah being cheesy.
Gracie and Knox eating by the swing.
Knox and Molly dancing at Grandma's. 
Bath time! They soaked two bath sheets full of water on the floor! 
Noah and his light sabers (notice Knox "dead" on the floor behind him) :)
I found this in the comment section at Amy's Humble Musings. It was written by anonymous which is a real shame because it is excellent. I couldn't resist sharing:
Sarah and others,
If you will permit the Dad of a few kids to interject here…
You have the most important job in the world. It is also one of the hardest.
When you signed up for duty, you committed yourself to a lifetime of service. Your performance in the vocation that God has given to you cannot possibly be evaluated in the midst of the day-to-day routine. It cannot be judged based on your response to any one particular situation or based on your execution of any particular day. It is hard to keep the focus on the long-term when the immediate is so tyrannical.
The enemy will do everything he can to keep you from seeing the ultimate goal of your vocation. If he can trip you up by discouraging you with your bad mood on a particular day or even reminding you of your sharp answer that you gave to one of the kids, he wins the battle.
And occasionally he does win a battle – but we will win the war, by the grace of God.
Keep your focus on what God has said about what it is you are doing. The best works that we do are most often done when we are unaware of them. Think of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
The good works that the Good King commends are those that are done faithfully, that are just a part of every-day life that most people, yourself included, never realized were good works at all.
As a mommy, you labor faithfully every day to serve the “least of these,” the covenant children that God has entrusted to your care. All of the feeding, clothing, drink making, spilled drink cleaning, diaper changing, room straightening, laundry folding, spilled drink cleaning again, all-night sick child comforting, mud-track mopping, book reading, diaper changing again, and bed making are all works that the Good King calls good because they are done to the “least of these”, our children.
Keep up the good fight and do not loose heart.
Colin's out of town this week in San Francisco. Here's a picture so he won't feel like he's missing out on the fun!
Yes, it's December, but it's also Texas. What'd you expect snowball fights?
On Monday, I blogged about how my precious two year old was keeping us busy. He is a truly amazing young man. So full of energy, so independent, so fun. I love him dearly, but I must say, he gave me a run for my money this week. Monday's already been said, we won't go there again - see I'm already blocking out the bad memories. Tuesday, we woke up to a freshly painted bathroom and a freshly painted son. Only problem was he'd used red nail polish. Another day I walked into the kitchen to find him guzzling syrup. Another day, he played trivial pursuit by himself by spreading ALL the cards around the playroom. Did I mention I love him dearly? Did I mention sometimes I have to say that to myself through gritted teeth?
But that wasn't the only excitement around here. So far I've had one chest xray, one purse robbery, and one gas leak in the house. I'm not gonna lie to you, there were a few crying babies around here, and one of them was of the thirty-something age. It's been a real struggle in faith to maintain composure and patience and perspective. I've failed that test often enough, but God promises that all things are for my good. And He never lies. I've seen that as I go through this trial, I have to cry out to God to give me grace, to give me strength, to give me ability, and to give me a heart that wants to obey. None of those things are innate in me, and the excitement around here has only been the wave-maker that surged my sin to the surface. It's taught me to cling to Christ, to pray when it's hard, and to thank Him for forgiving me and taking care of my children's hearts despite me.
Thank you Lord, for the lesson - I had so easily forgotten.
Okay, now that I've blogged on the "why" we obey. Now it's time for the "what" we obey.
I believe that God's law as stated in the Old Testament is still our standard for today. This includes the civil law and the moral law but not the laws of cleanliness, sacrifices, and diet. The latter were abrogated by Christ's sacrifice. In Him we have been made clean for He was our ultimate sacrifice. The dietary laws were clearly stricken in the New Testament.
As we live under Christ's grace, we must ask ourselves how we are to practically govern our everyday lives and our society. We must chose a standard of morality from which we derive our civil laws today. Where will we get that standard? We could try and make it up on our own, but that will invetiably be a flawed standard. Also, everyone will have different opinions on what said standard should be, so it will be difficult to come to a satisfactory conclusion. Why not, logically, chose God's standard set up for us in His Holy word? It is the only one that will be truly without sin.
I understand that for some of the laws, people may think the penalties too harsh. But we should not forget Who was the author of these laws in the first place. Could enforcing these penalties be sinful if it was God who set up the penalties in the first place? I think not.
We should not forsake the law of God solely in order to guard against the sin of pride. We should not teach moral standards to people to guard them from thinking we are prideful, nor to abstain from pride ourselves. Would it be better for a woman to go to church showing her cleavage and causing dozens of men to lust in their hearts, rather than to admonish her to dress modestly?Would it be better for parents to send their kids to school were lies about God were taught, rather than to teach them to homeschool their children. Having moral standards is not a sin, nor should it be treated as such when people are getting those standards from God's perfect law.
Sorry there's not much to report today. For what I've been up to lately, see my reading list here.
Today started off not so grand. My two year gave us a rude awakening this morning by spilling a box of granola all over the living room and pooping his pants - all before 8 a.m.! I understand poopy diapers, but poopy big boy pants are completely awful! So, by noon he had spilled three full boxes of food, two cereal and one carton of raisins, all over three separate floors. He'd also pooped his pants three times and wet them two other times. Did I mention, potty training wasn't going so well? By lunch time I'd all but decided to quit, but Amy assures me that baby steps are what we need! I bet I'll buy that better after a good night's sleep! 
See! If only he wasn't so cute!
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Cor. 12:9-10
I'm sad to say that the church is getting away from the teaching of obedience. By calling it "legalism" pastors are preaching against God's law as a prescription for how to govern our lives. We are under grace it's true, but that does not take away from our Lord's teachings:
Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. Ex 12:24
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Ex. 19:5
The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deut 6:24
...be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today. Deut. 11:32
Be care to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Josh 1:7
And there are dozens more at least.
And lest you say, that's just the old testament. Jesus says:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matt 28:19-20
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28
If you love me, you will obey what I command. Joh 14:15
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. John 14:21
It is clear to me that even though Christ paid for our sins, we are still required to obey the law. We do know that we are not ever going to be capable of keeping the law in its entirety while on this earth, but that does not mean that we should give up trying. As pastors today forego the Westminster Confessions teachings in the nineteenth chapter, they will say that the laws only purpose is as a mirror, and not as a moral standard to guide our lives, and not as a means to restrain the wickedness of all man. We are freed from the curse of the law, but not of the duty to God to obey.
People today, even Christians, treat God's law as a burden to obey, but have completely forgotten the blessings that come with obeying Him. Throughout His Word He teaches of the joy of the law, of the blessings that He pours out on those that obey Him. In the law we see the perfection of His character and also the perfection of what life could be. We don't just obey God because we are grateful that He saved us, all that's part of it, but we also obey because it is the best way, the perfect way, the only way that we should live.
VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of
the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and
enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of
God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.
One of the many surprises about motherhood came in a surprising form. The peanut. I hadn't given it much thought before I had kids, but shortly after Grace's first birthday, that changed drastically.
We were visiting my parents in Texas while Colin was away to Scotland. My dad was helping me during church on Sunday by standing in the back with Gracie who was 13 months old. She was tired and fussy from the traveling and the time difference so he gave her a peanut butter cookie to appease her. It didn't work and she just grew more agitated. So we quickly left after the service, went home, and I put her down for a nap. She kept crying for about twenty minutes, but I thought she just needed to let out some energy, so I left her. Finally, her grandma had all she could take of hearing this, so I went in to check on her. Thanks be to God for this. If I'd been home, I might have just left her for longer. I decided to change her diaper in the dark, thinking she might be uncomfortable although only slightly wet, but didn't want to wake her too much. When I took off her dirty diaper, I noticed hives all over her tummy, back, and private parts. Startled, I turned on the light, and it was then I noticed her nose, eyes, and even ears were swollen. I went immediately to my mother who is a nurse. She thought it might be an allergic reaction to the peanut butter cookie. We immediately rushed her to the ER and they quickly took her to a room to gave her shots of epinephrine, benadryl, and steroids.
As she dozed off from the medication and exhaustion, the doctor explained to me what had happened. This was what is known as an anaphylactic reaction to the peanuts. It causes her to swell with hives, drops the blood pressure, and can restrict breathing by swelling of the airway. He said that her reaction was a particularly bad one, especially since this was her first exposure, and the reactions will usually only get worse. I was given epinephrine shots to take with me where ever we go, and a little tool to stick down her throat to keep her airways open. I quickly realized this was not just a matter of an annoying allergic reaction resulting in itching and hives. This could easily cause her to die. Faced with the fragility of my precious daughter's life I quickly felt the weight from the responsibility that I was the one that had to protect her. As a small child, she didn't understand that she just couldn't pick something off the floor and eat it. She couldn't tell people not to give her anything that had peanuts in it. She couldn't meticulously scan the labels on her food to make sure there wasn't a trace of peanuts, or that it wasn't manufactured on equipment that processed peanuts. And faced with all this, I was afraid. The thought of losing my child in such a way, was more terrifying than the thought of losing my own life.
Now, children eating peanut butter sandwhiches couldn't play with Gracie because touching her could literally cause her death. She couldn't eat food from a bakery. If someone gave us food, I had to put them through an inquisition in order to make sure they didn't put anything questionable in the food, or make it on something which they had used to make a peanut food. Going to restaurants was an exercise in faith.
Moreover, we've learned that the problem is not limited just to what is eaten. She's had reactions when she sat on furniture where people had eaten peanuts the day before. One time, she accidentally sat in some peanut butter which caused her to scratch. When she then touched her face, she immediately began to swell and we had another trip to the ER. I know that even in this God is merciful. There are plenty of foods out there that don't contain peanuts and we live in such a time that food manufacturers are required to label any possible allergens in their products. As she's gotten older, it has become slightly easier because she can speak up and be on guard for herself. However, after reading this article, I realize that there really is no time when she will be at ease over this. And these types of stories only tempt me to live my life in fear. While I still pray everytime she eats something that God will keep her safe, I've also learned to rest in God's sovereignty and goodness. I realize that Gracie can be in a room full of peanuts and be safe if God wants that. She can also be in an entire house with only one teaspoon of peanut butter and have a reaction as we've seen. It is truly God that keeps her safe, and if it were to happen that her life should be taken, it would be God that does that as well. As her mother, I have realized the importance of protecting my child from danger. However I am a fallible being, and I can err. Thankfully, our Lord who is the Great Protector, never will. I find rest in God's love shown here:
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29-31
We've been busy here lately. Last week was not only Thanksgiving but also the time of a fight - us versus two stomach bugs. Yep, that's right, we were double teamed, and let me tell you it wasn't pretty. My oldest had projectile vomiting while sitting on the toilet, not to mention the fact that all the others kept me washing two to three sets of sheets every day. But despite the sucker punches by our opponents we ended up the victors and are no worse for the wear. I also painted our bedroom twice, no make that four times. We didn't like the first color we chose even after two coats, so I painted it again. I also painted the hallway and finished off the boys room. Pictures will come soon, Aunt Amanda. Then, we've also had a friend of Colin's here working all day on my computer so I haven't been able to blog. Oh, yeah, we also celebrated Colin's birthday yesterday. Grandma and Grandpapa babysat for us and we went out to see Walk the Line - a really sad story about a man who destroyed his family for the sake of worldly lusts. It was made up all pretty by Hollywood to look like a true love story between him and his second wife. I didn't buy it.
Amidst the fun and frivolity of the past couple of weeks, I had some particular encouragement as a mom. I've been taking the kids out a lot to the stores lately. I used to hate taking them by myself while we lived in California, but my strength has returned the last few months and I'm getting braver :) After many frustrating attempts at shopping, I tried to take the bull by the horns so to speak and invoke a guidance as to what was expected of them. I told them the most important thing while at the store was to glorify God. That means obeying mom, being nice to each other, and not whining for what wasn't theirs. It's really worked for them, and it's helped me to keep perspective as well.
We will sit down at a heavily-laden table (to my wife, all honor) and we will solemnly maintain that the God of heaven gave all this to us, and He did so because He wanted to bless us. This is simply outrageous. What kind of hubris would claim that the triune God who spoke countless galaxies into existence paid any attention whatever to how our turkey and potatoes got to our house? But this is not self-promotion. We do not claim that God gave us these things to celebrate with because we are somehow up there on His level. We have learned through Jesus that our God is the God who stoops. He became a man (this next Lord's Day is the first Sunday of Advent) and He partook of meals, just like we do. He celebrated annual feasts, just like we do. In partaking as He did, He sanctified all things, including the blessing of sitting down with family (along with honorary family members for the day) and eating the fullness that God supplies.
Thanks to God for His indescribable gift. It is the gift of Christ, given for sinful men, that enables us to give thanks as we ought for all the other gifts He gives us, down to the smallest holiday tangerines. We have already gone through several boxes.
A small thank you to Doug Wilson for this quote, and a huge thank you to God who teaches us through humble men and reminds us why we are truly thankful.
Here's a link to a great squib post by R.C. Sproul, Jr. In it he points out that we'r thankful for God's provisions so that wives don't have to work. I thank God for this too. I also thank Him this year and the past six years for a husband who knows that God's way is the best way, and that he has enough fear and love for that God that he'll obey Him.
It would really be too easy just to clean a house and cook for Thanksgiving without any other distractions wouldn't it?! A stomach bug is going around the little ones. That's alright though, because I have the cure. Twelve hours and a lot of momma loving. Noah cut his foot on some glass outside and although I think he'll heal just fine, you'd never know it from the blood curdling screams he was letting loose! Pumpkin bread will have to wait...And so will this blog.
In all things give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
I thought this was really funny! And I'd like to give a shout out to all my friends at PETA - not! I'll be think of you Thursday while I chow down on my little friend here, and loving every minute of it!
I wrote a post today, but because I had started it and saved it a few days ago, it posted for that date. Now noone will even see it! If you want to, go to November 18,2005 and read.
I love aquariums! This one looks just amazing, and would be really educational, don't ya think?! Any reason to go on a vacation, will work for me :)
My husband took the kids to the zoo today so that I could get some painting done. I think they all had a great time, but I got so overwhelmed by paint fumes that I started literally gagging. And no, the answer to your next question, is I'm not pregnant. My sister and my mom both asked me that when I told them what happened. But the test I took today was negative. Hey, here's a pop quiz for ya- How do you know you're quiverfull? You buy pregnancy tests in bulk, and always carry one in your purse, just in case! Seriously, it's become a mini-ministry for the community. I've had three friends recently find out they were pregnant by one of tests that I just happened to have with me. :)
Anyway, I'll post pictures of the boys room as soon as it's finished. We're doing a firetruck/cars theme. We drive by a fire house on the way home and the boys scream EVERY TIME they see the truck, and they let me know if the door to the garage is closed so they can't see it. I think they'll like their room. :)
Talking with my sister-in-law the other day, we began discussing some of the requirements that mothers will place on themselves in order to qualify to be "good mom." It's something that has been on my mind every now and again since I got married, but more frequently as of late. It seems that there are moms out there who, from the beginning, will say I want to do these things as a mom, then they go out and do them. For example, sewing, baking, setting the table for dinner everynight, cleaning their house on a schedule, making homemade cards with the kids for Dad's birthday, etc, etc. It's like they think, "Okay, these are the things a mom does." I for one, did not really know what a mom/homemaker was supposed to do. I often will read blogs of other moms and feel the frustration as they espouse their strongly held beliefs. I would really love to just video a mom that I admire going throughout her days. Then I could know what I shoud be doing.
But rather than look to another sinner for my answers of a perfect mom, maybe what I should be doing is take a tip from a popular Christian phrase, "What would Jesus do?" Or rather, what has Jesus done? Well, He's said to love others like I want to be loved, and to lay down my life for others. So what does that mean for me in regards to my family? Well it means putting my needs after theirs on a daily basis. Okay, now what does that look like practically? Well, it might mean getting up early to cook breakfast, when I'd rather sleep in. It might mean teaching my children how to clean and work and learn when they'd rather just watch tv all day.
But, getting these little things will only come if I get the big things right. To love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength is the big thing. The kicker is that without His grace I will never get that. It is a gift from Him to even allow me to try to love Him. So, if I seek Him, I thank Him for allowing me to do so. And I ask for the ability to try to do better, and to be pleasing in His sight. And when I fall, I thank Him for the sacrifice He gave for me so that I can rest despite my failings. And then, amazingly I recognize that while I am forgiven for these faults, they should bring about a righteous anger from a perfect God. But He as my Father, is patient, and kind, and consistent to discipline. He doesn't forsake me in my pit where I pitifully cling to a sin which leaves me cold, hungry, and despairing. He teaches me, He guides, me, and in the midst of it all, He gives me moments of joy and respite where He reminds me that not only does He tolerate me in patience, but He delights over me. Rejoices over me. Has compassion on me as a mother might for her own child. And there I find my answer.
You might not know it by looking at my house right now, but I love an orderly home without a lot of clutter. However, achieving that isn't exactly my forte. My idea of house cleaning usually focuses around the once a week Saturday rush. The day to day keeping is where I lack the skill. As I try to figure this out, I've realized also that while I've wanted to teach my children our theology, that it starts here, where the rubber meets the road, or more accurately where the spaghetti hits the floor. One of my frustrations is the cleaning up after meals. I don't know how it happens, but inevitably half of the food on our children's plates ends up beneath their feet. I sweep and vaccuum sometimes three or four times a day. (Cry! Sob! Look generally pathetic and sad!)
Today, as a lesson in a biblical work ethic, I got my children to work on washing the floor, and let me tell you it looked great! I was thrilled at their hard work and they were just thrilled to get to squirt the wood cleaner bottle. I decided to reward their hard work with a special treat - blackberry jam bars!
We set to work, and if you think they were excited about that squirt bottle, you should have seen them with a pastry cutter. Well, we ate our lunch while the jam bars cooled and then set out to reap our reward of deliciousness. It was devoured, or so I thought. The kids cleared their plates from the table, then went out to play in the backyard, when I turn to look at the table, and lo and behold-- half of the jam bars under the table! When will I learn?
I realize though, that while I can and have gotten angry at such annoyances that there is a greater reason for my little crumb problem than meets the eye. As Carmon has already so eloquently said, only the God who loves me enough to send His own son to die for me knows what I need in order to be sanctified today. Maybe it was a lesson in looking to Him when I'm too focused on things of this world, or maybe it's too learn to be slow to anger with my children as He is slow to anger with me. Whatever the reason, the Lord who loves me enough to give me four "special treats" so far, is not letting me stay untaught and clueless in the keeping of my house or my soul. I'm learning to trust Him in these times of aggravation that He knows why my kids can't get all the food from their plates to their mouths. Believe it or not, even this is for my good. And for that I'm so thankful.
Sometimes I wonder why I even bother having my own blog. I learn so much on other ladies' blogs, I'd usually rather just link to theirs while saying, "Ditto!" Time to learn from the wiser, if not necessarily the older :).
May you all know the heigth, depth, length, and breadth of God's love today.
The March of the Gunn Clan!
Part of the parading pipers and drummers. The wind, the music, the smell of haggis - ahh, memories!
Handomse Scottish men - notice the flag flying in the background.
Noah and his friend Daniel Johnston. Could there be any more jokes about poop?!
Kids doing an improptu dance around a cow pie. Who needs tv, eh?!
We had a very exciting weekend filled with lots of firsts. We drove down to Austin, and stayed with my sister Friday night. Colin and I got the chance to leave the kids with her and the cousins and go out on our own for a date. It was our first date alone in months. We went to downtown Austin to the infamous 6th street and saw a comedy show headlining our friend John Ramsey. He starred in his brother's film last year called, "Washington's Cross." It won the audience choice at Vision Forum's film festival. We'd never been to a comedy club before, and except for a few crude lines, the other comedians were pretty funny. John Ramsey on the other hand was fantastic! His jokes were clean, smart, and funny. He did several jokes on history and the bible that were so intelligent, I wished I had a rewind button just to catch the whole thing. He'd won the Funniest Person in Austin award this year, and it's obvious why. We hope he can go far with his routine.
The second new thing we did was to go to the Scottish Games Festival in Salado. It was really interesting and Colin got to talk to some Scottish folk, eat some haggis and scotch pies, drink some Irn Bru, and watch a pipes parade. It was really exciting. We met up with our friend Neil Johnston and his two children. Neil plays a mean bag pipe and wore his kilt in honor of the event too. His kids played great with ours. Gracie and Elissa(6) are best buddies, and Noah and Daniel(4) made a million jokes about the cow patties(the festivities were in the middle of a live field so to speak) and all other kinds of poop. We also ran into some people we knew through Vision Forum - the Fisher twins who made "The Art of Play", Josh Goforth and his brother Caleb, and Josh Wheeler. Anyway, a great time was to be had by all. We all came home exhausted. The kids were in bed by 6:30 that night, and Colin went to bed at 8! I was the strong one who stayed up until the wee hours of 10p.m. But we're all recovered and so grateful to our Lord for blessing us with these fun adventures and times of fellowship. Now on to the next one!
A lot of bloggers have been talking about grocery budgets for large families. As managers of our homes we are all striving to be better stewards of the provisions of God. Crystal has several links to others' websites. And KimC let us all know why the government thinks we should all stop at 1.3 children - they're too expensive to feed of course! Recently, a friend of mine and I were talking about saving money on groceries and I was shocked to learn that she feeds her family of five for 30-40 dollars a week! Thoroughly inspired, I decided to find ways to cut costs too. First I decided to potty train my two and a half year old( see yesterday's post), and then I decided to try out a new ministry I'd heard about. It's called Angel Food Ministries and it is basically like a co-op. You can buy a box of groceries for 25$ that will feed a family of four and is worth 60-80$ . They have a different menu each month and it is available at churches across the nation. I just dropped of our money last weekend and will pick up our box of food on the 19th. I'll keep you posted on whether or not this was a worthy endeavor.
We've been busy potty training my two and a half year old this week. He is my extra-ordinarily strong willed one and the training hasn't been going well. I won't even go into how many bed linens I washed on Tuesday. Anyway, in order to spend money on things other than diapers this month, I decided not to give up this time. So, this morning I told darling son that if he went to the potty instead of tee-teeing in his pants, that he would get a special treat. Next thing you know, he's got his pants off and is going potty! Ten seconds later he's running back into the kitchen asking for, "Special Treat!" I comply and happily give him a big bite of chocolate cake. The good news is, he stayed dry all day long. Thebad news is, my three and five year old were trying all day long to tee-tee for cake!
Carmon is organizing her blog roll. I'm organizing my clothes boxes. What's gotten into us?
Well, I know what's gotten into me at least - I'm going bonkers trying to find clothes for six people and about three seasons (Texas weather ya know!) in all these tupperware boxes. After almost a year of living out of storage, all of our clothes boxes are mixed up and messed up. I'm having to organize ALL of our clothes all over again! There's four boxes just for girls age 0-12 months! So I ask myself, what's the Christian's response to such a dillema? Be thankful for clothes to organize, recognizing my own weakness while praising God for His strength, and praying for patience and strength - I think. It's either that or scream, throw the clothes, and cry. While that sounds like a lot of fun, I know that this isn't what would please God most, and in the end I'd have to clean up the mess I'd make anyway. God promises that obeying Him is the only way to true peace and happiness, and even though this task ahead of me seems like a huge mountain to climb, I believe what He tells me is truth. And so I pick up my first outfit, and plod forth.
"Dad, you're the captain and we're your mateys!" by Gracie while playing pirate ship.
Praise God that Prop. 2 passed in Texas. Since Colin can't vote, being an alien and all :) , I voted at our new state of the art polling center. The line was long, and the sentiment was, this was something very important everyone needed to make the extra effort for. I'm so thankful for this blessing of God and pray that Christians will continue to fight for a truly Christian nation in which our laws are based on God's morality and not our own.
Keep fighting!
Okay, Okay, so I need help! Anyone with suggestions on a new name for my blog would be much appreciated. I'm second guessing myself here, as usual.
Signed,
No-Name
Well, as you can see, I renamed the blog. The old one was, well, lame, and I wanted a name that is clearer to the purpose. I started this blog because I realized that after years of toddler babble, I was getting out of practice in the art of communication. It came to a head when I realized that the thoughts in my head during moments of quiet were nonsensical rhyming songs, such as,
"Gracie is so cute and sweet,
I love her from her head to feet."
Not that there isn't a place for nonsensical songs, but I recognized that I was having trouble forming complete thoughts let alone sentences. Hence, a blog came to be.
I'm not delusional about my blog, although I am aspirational. I know that it probably isn't of much use to anyone other than myself and maybe a relative or two who want to keep up on the goings-on of myself and my clan. I do hope it will be of use as a tool of spiritual and mental growth for myself, and then hopefully others will be able to learn from my trials and errors.
So, that's it in a nutshell. May I be logical, rhetorical, and grammatically correct. May you and I be inspired, convicted, and maybe amused - but not necessarily in that order.
Today I met for a play date with a couple of ladies from our church. We all homeschool, except one who just sent her oldest to a local classical christian school. So, they asked me whether or not I'd ever send my kids off to school. The answer is that it would be my absolute last resort. I taught middle school English at a private Christian school for two years before I got married. I saw some really great homeschooled children come into a very secular society of young kids. Most of these kids professed Christianity but were living very much like non-believers. They dressed like a Brittany Spears or Kevin Federline wannabe, and their influence over each other was to become more and more concerned with their appearances and the opposite sex rather than becoming more God focused.
As a teacher I also know that I was not as concerned with each child's academic progress as I should have been. This was due to the sheer volume of work that was laid upon me and the fact that I just could not keep up with the needs of fifty different people. I felt terrible for these parents who were paying so much money for top quality education for their children when I knew that the kids really needed more individual attention than I could possibly give them.
Now, there have been enough humbling moments as a parent that I have learned to never say never. I remember as a single person, wathcing other people's children and thinking, "If my child were whining like that, I would certainly spank them." Now, however, as much as I try to discipline in a biblical fashion, I've heard myself excusing behavior and saying things like, "Oh, he just really needs a nap," while inside dying of embarassment. So, I'm not foolish enough to think I know everything about everything, and there may be extenuating circumstances that I can't even imagine now where I would enroll my children in a school. However, I know what I've seen and experienced and I know what I want for my children. So, just like in other things, when things get hard I will try to look first for other solutions to obstacles rather than giving in to a compromise of my beliefs. I would rather pay a maid, than pay someone to teach my children for me. I would rather they graduate later, than have them graduate at a school. And contrary to what an old college roommate of mine suggested tonight, I will continue to homeschool even if I no longer "just love it, because that's all that matters."
Like the naturally competitive person I am, when picking out a new vacuum cleaner recently, I started shopping for the best. To me, that was the $600 Dyson. However, when mentioning this to my husband, he reminded me that I married a Scot (i.e. tightwad). Usually I am in agreement with him on such matters, having about 70% Scottish blood running through me. This time however, was different. I coveted this. So I went to ebay looking for a cheap one. And I found one for about 400 bucks. Again, the answer was "No chance." So, I looked for the next best thing online and that was the Hoover Windtunnel. I found one on ebay for $100 including shipping. Usually retails for around 300. So I ordered it, and not surprisingly, my husband was right. First of all, I had it in my hands less than two days after ordering. Second of all, it has survived what no other vaccuum I've had could - sucking up all the sand from refinished hardwoods and a two pound bag of sugar that my little Dash drug all over the house - yes, that was a wonderful surprise this Monday morning. AND it still has amazing suction! I vaccuum about three times a day usually, and the thing is still pulling up tiles in my kitchen. NO, I don't think it matters they are just the stick on type. Unbeleivable, I think! So, I'm glad to say there are real and tangible blessings for submitting to my husband - only one is a great deal on a great vaccuum.
Here are some pictures from our trip to the film festival in San Antonio. I didn't get batteries for the camera until the last four hours of our trip - what can I say?! Here we are in front of the Alamo, outside in the gardens, with Carmon and her beautiful daughter, and at subway for lunch. I hate pics of myself, but I'm trying not to be too vain for the sake of curious readers :). cringe Here they are...
My two sons LOVE Batman and Superman. They have never actually seen these characters in a movie or on tv, but they've heard plenty from their cousin Mikey (9 years old). And they've gotten enough hand-me-downs from said cousin to at least recognize the characters when shopping for say, new shoes :) .
However, when talking about real heroes that are super I quickly point them towards their Dad and other men of God who are living their lives in accordance with God's word. No, these men cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound, nor do they have x-ray vision, but they are daily sacrificing in a million small ways that, in my opinion, is far more brave than any superhero you can imagine. By daring to raise large families and trying to bring every point of their lives into step with what God would want rather than what the world would dictate, they daily help to rid the world of evil. When I describe a real man to my sons, to show them how they should live, you can bet the guy ain't wearing tights, and he doesn't hide his true identity. He is strong and he is brave(Deut. 31:6), and he is bold (Rom 1:16). But his powers do not come from another planet or a really cool utility belt but rather from the blood of Christ (1Pet 4:11). My prayer is that my sons will be more like this Man every day.
