Athena in a Minivan

Choir Concert

Last night Butch and Sundance had their choir concert at church. They sang "Jesus Loves Me" with the sign language, Jingle Bells (while ringing bells), Bubbling Up (about God's love) and a song about creation. They were so precious. I love to hear them sing songs of worship and praise to God. I had such a hard time getting Butch to wear his church clothes. I compromised and let him wear jeans with his shirt and sweater. What precious angelic voices 4 year olds have who are singing praise to God. My prayer for them is that they never tire of praising God with song. They are such precious gifts from God. He has truly blessed us with darling boys.

Mondays

This is what my laundry looks like on Laundry Day. It is amazing how much laundry three little boys can make. I wish it would just do itself. Many days I find myself moving unfolded clothes from the couch to the bed and back again. I know it frustrates my husband. The Bible says in all things give thanks, I think that means laundry too.

How laundry makes me thankful:

• God gave me three beautiful boys and a husband who can get dirty.
• God has blessed me with a washer and dryer.
• We have clothes in abundance. (maybe too many)
• I have my health to wash clothes.
• Disposable diapers.
• Indoor plumbing.
• A beautiful world to get up in and life abundantly.

Hmm, maybe giving thanks does make the load (no pun intended) easier.

Thank you Lord for this laundry and the family who made it. Thank you for your blessings of each day. Thank you for who you are and your loving-kindness and grace for today. Thank you for your Son and this wonderful holy time of the year. Amen

Decorations

Today we are decorating for Christmas. I miss my mom during this time of the year. She loved to decorate the house for the holidays and she loved to share Jesus with everyone she knew. I was looking at my calendar and it is already jammed. I think I will try to eliminate some things. I just want to be with my family and close friends during this time. I love to be with them. I hope my sister and I can make cookies this year. It always makes me laugh and we have such a good time doing it. Well it is off to Home Depot to get some more stuff for the house.

Hurt Children

I think I understand a little how God must feel when we are hurt.

Today, Sundance was at science school and he fell and got a stick in his eye. He couldn't even open it. He did not want me to take him to the doctor but of course I did it anyway. It turned out he had small particles in his eye.  We had to restrain him while the doctor flushed his eye with saline and tried to get the particles out of his eye. He screamed and cried and begged for us to stop.  We then called a pediatric ophthalmologist who wanted us to do it again, this time with more force. Once more we had to hold him down while he cried and cried. I cried too. It is hard to hurt your children even when it is for their own good and in the end will benefit them and make them better. His eye will heal and there will be no long term damage to his eye. Praise God for His protection over my sweet darling little Sundance.

I think I had a glimpse into how God must feel when I keep crying and asking Him to take away my pain and suffering. He knows that it is only through this pain that I will benefit and come out stronger and better in the end. God is my ultimate parent and he loves me so much more than I love my own children. He loves me so much he died on the cross for me. He suffered my sins. He made them His own. How can I not serve a God that loves me this much with my whole heart? How can I not give Him my all? God, thank you for loving my as a parent who has my best interest in heart even when I do not see it and keep begging you to stop. Thank you for loving me. I praise you for who you are.

This morning

The thought of putting up the Christmas decorations is just overwhelming. I went in the closet and got out all of the stuff. We are having a house full of people at our house for Christmas day and it will be great. maybe I will just put up the tree, the nativities, the stockings, the wreaths and some bows and garland. Oh yea, and the lights and the deer and the soldiers and and and. I have to help the kiddos remember that Christmas is all about Christ coming to Earth as a little baby. How much God loves us that He would give us His Son. That He would endure the cross for my sins and now is preparing a place for me in heaven. What a glorious thought!!!!

Go to Sleep

I never knew that my inability to go to sleep as a child would come around to bite me in the @#$$. When I was a little girl, I shared a room with my sister. We would stay up talking and laughing way past bed time. Mom and Dad would tell us to be quiet over and over. Finally Dad would threaten us with a spanking and we would go to sleep. Well now I am apologizing to my parents. My twins will not go to bed at night. They stay up laughing and talking. Now I am the frustrated one who can't get the children to bed. I know that my sister and I have remained best friends through all our late night talks. I only hope the same will be said for my boys.

My ideas and some stuff

I have read so many weblogs during the past few months that I decided it was time to start one myself. I love to write but not on paper. My HS English teacher encouraged me to write daily as a way to make it better so this will be a great way to do it. What does a mom have to write about? Changing diapers, sibling fights, cooking dinner, how to make the world better for my kids. I guess if God and I are the only ones who hear my thoughts then it will be a success.