Hooray! Winter is Here!

I woke up early this morning to rain that has been coming down all night. If you're in Florida in January, that is like waking to snow. It means a cold-front is coming through. So I checked the weather predictions for today and discovered to my delight that it is finally going to be COLD!!! It's supposed to be in the 50's all day!!! (Yes, you heard me right, the 50's. Hello! We're in Florida, and it's not been below 60 all winter, so yes, I'm excited about 50 degree weather.) My apologies to those of you who are in the 20's, or even lower today, and who are facing snow, but be honest now, you've had unseasonable warm weather for most of this winter too, so what are you complaining about? Besides, who decided to live where it snows half the year?

It is going to rain and be cold all day. (OK. Stop rolling your eyes. I'm a native Floridian.) Stop by my homeschool blog to check out what I'm planning on doing for school today. Yes, I know I'm a bit impulsive, but today demands something different . . . . if only to celebrate the winter chill.

Can you hear my teeth chattering?

A Blog You MUST See

Yes, this is it. Here you will see sweet, homemade handiworks (please buy something, so her husband will let her keep blogging!), glean timeless kernels of wisdom (from a mother of SIX who is my role model for being a wife and mother!!!), and just plain have fun. So come meet my bestest pal Eva, and visit this blog often as she shows off her many talents!

It's Amazing What Two Full Days of Sleep Can Do

After being sick and sleeping for 36 hours straight, with an additional 12 or so on the couch, I was up half the night last night. I woke unexpectedly this morning around the right time. The circumstances were a little different than I planned, but I was saved from missing the alarm clock that hadn't been set, and it was early enough for a sweet quiet time with my Beloved, so it was worth it. Started my day off much more focused.

I thought I'd really be dragging after being up so late and rising so early, but as you can see, I'm still here at 2am. But I'm ready for bed, so after I write one more post, I'm hitting the hay!

Don't Try to Please Me . . . Please!

It's 3am and I can't sleep. I hate nights like this. I have spent the last hour or so "surfing" Walmart's music downloads. This is the order of what I looked at and listened to:

1. David and the Giants (Rats! NOBODY remembers them anymore!)


2. Randy Travis


3. George Strait


4. Kenny Chesney (don't particularly like this guy, just wanted to see if I knew any of his songs)


5. Rascal Flatts


6. Tim McGraw


7. Garth Brooks


8. Harry Connick, Jr.


9. Bobby Darrin


10. Dean Martin


11. The Sound of Music (They actually have TWO movie soundtracks to choose from!)


12. Oklahoma (Is that REALLY Wolverine [Hugh Jackman] singing "Surrey with the Fringe on Top?")


13. Carousel (Doesn't ANYBODY remember Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae???)


14. Yul Brenner (Gosh! Don't these guys do any other roles? I only found the original Broadway Cast, but I was looking for the movie.)


15. South Pacific (at least some movie soundtracks still make it in there!)


16. Topol (for Fidder on the Roof, but I only found the original London cast, and even then only one song. I want the movie soundtrack!)


17. Camelot (but I got mad 'cause they only had one, and IT wasn't the movie soundtrack either!)


18. Rogers and Hammerstein


19. Gershwin show tunes


20. The Mamas and the Papas


21. Sonny and Cher


22. The Carpenters

Throw in a little Reggae, some Heavy Metal, and some Bach or Beethoven and I'd be "well-rounded!" Incidently, the boys and I had some free downloads, which we used a couple days ago on lots of Christian music, so that's why I was exploring other . . . errr . . . interests, tonight.

I'm not sure which is weirder: the odd list of music, or the fact that I was doing this at three in the morning!

That's Not What I Said

Today in the car the boys asked where we were going next. I said, "Home to get the baby corral out for [a friend borrowing it]." (The baby corral is an eight piece fence that I use instead of a playpen. I love it!)

AJ said, "Golden Corral! I love that place!" Ummm . . . no . . . we're NOT eating out!

So then I explained to them that I was talking about the baby corral. Within minutes I heard AJ and Stephen chattering.

"Yeah! And it would serve only mashed up foods--banana yogurt, and squashed carrots, and that stuff . . . "
". . . .And it would have baby pizza--crackers with soft stuff on top of it . . . "
". . . Oh! And the drink bar would only serve milk, apple juice, water, and formula!"
"And there would be stroller parking . . . "
". . . and high chairs at every table!"

Know what they were talking about? That new sit-down buffet food chain: "Baby Corral"

It's Going to Be One of THOSE Days . . .

Two of my boys woke up about an hour ago throwing up, one right after the other. Some years ago, this would have done me in, and I'd have been right alongside them. As a kid, I used to have to run from a room if I even heard someone getting sick. My family thought this was hilarious.

. . . Yeah. Real funny.

I don't run anymore, and do a rather formidable job of taking care of them as they are sick, but I still have retained a little of the freak-out reaction. So please pray for me today. I have a feeling it's going to be a long one.

Ummm . . . the Tooth Fairy is VERY busy!

. . . and forgot to bring AJ his money . . . for the last tooth, and for this one that he lost day before yesterday. Don't worry. The Tooth Fairy's not looking for a raise in her salary. Just a Daytimer . . . and an assistant. We told AJ she was catching up from all the Christmas backlog. Yeah, you know . . . all those kids that lose their teeth at the holidays (Haven't you ever heard the song "All I Want for Christmas? Don't you think it comes from somewhere?) I think he bought it. All right, all ready . . . just smile and nod and go with it, OK?

Hmmmm . . .

. . . AJ just asked me if he could take his CD player with us to the New Year's Eve party we're going to. I told him as long as he has earphones he can.

He said,"Well, duh Mom! I can't take the BIG one with me!!!"

Why NOT? You don't mind torturing ME with it!!!! Shouldn't we share the Veggie Tales with ALL of our friends?

Hmmm . . . is there a way to add songs to my blog? That way all of you could enjoy Veggie Tales!!

(Help! I think I'm going crazy!!!)

A Note to Michael W. Smith

Dear Mr. Smith,

Are you aware that the Veggie Tales are trying to assume your noteable position as the fine singer of "You Are Holy?" Personally, I don't think they do it so well, but I just thought I'd warn you that your song is being warped by things that should be in my refrigerator crisper. I'd be concerned buddy. If word of this gets out, there will be no Worship Again, Again CD for you! We'll refuse to buy it for fear the Veggie Tales might get hold of it! So if you own the rights to this song . . . or any others, you'd better think twice before signing on that dotted line again!

Very sincerely,
Lisa

P.S. By the way, thanks for giving them "Friends" too. I'm ever in your debt. Want to spend a couple weeks with a 6-year-old Veggie Tales song nut? Maybe it'd make you think twice about selling those produce-aisle-crooners rights to any other songs!!!

Where ARE my earplugs?

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! I have heard the Veggie Tales sing "Forever" about a thousand billion times now! And do the HAVE to sing "Better Is One Day in Your House"? I really loved that song. It's almost as bad as having to listen to them sing "Friends" back in March when AJ got the camping CD. But now? They're singing praise songs!!!! What WAS I thinking before Christmas . . . er . . . I mean . . . what was Santa thinking? He and I are going to have to have a talk.

Or maybe I'll send AJ to entertain him with Veggie Tales sing High School Musical.

OK, now there's another hot button for me. (We watched HSM on DVD about thirty times in the first three days we had it!)

Somebody SAVE me! I need a chick flick! . . . And a portable CD player with headphones for AJ!

For Christmas I Got:

• to have my kids with me again Christmas Eve and Christmas Day--without even asking for it!
• four days of uninterrupted quiet before Christmas
• two special nights with my bestest friend (we talked until 2am one night! No kids to interrupt!)
• time for lunch with more friends
• lots of rest
• time to scrapbook with another best friend
• the opportunity to take other kids shopping for their parents! (What fun!)
• a very enjoyable visit with my dad's family (aunts, uncles, cousins, oh my!)
• answers to a couple specific prayers
• lots of conversations with my sister
• a clean house (OK, it only lasted until Christmas Day, but it was fun for a week)
• not many pictures, but LOTS of memories
• a visit from my other sister and two days and nights with my niece!!!
• a few extra pounds (I think.)

I think I might return the last one, but I'll keep the rest!

Encouragement for My Cousin

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may have her young--

a place near your altar,

O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

Psalm 84:1-3

Dear Lauren,


It was such a delight Christmas day to spend time with you. Your new baby is so sweet. As you told me how hard it has been, having three very young children . . . how very overwhelmed you feel, it brought back memories of what that was like. I was fortunate that mine were spaced a little farther apart, but at the same time, it was still exhausting. One of my dear friends has told me that as our children grow we go from a stage of physical exhaustion to more of a mental/emotional exhaustion. With my oldest nearing his teen years, I can already see how true this bit of wisdom is. What will I do? I still have kids in the physically exhausting phase too! But this is not about me; I was reminded of a piece of wisdom I gleaned early on when my children were small, and I wanted to share it with you.


I read the above verse in a book that I loved when my children were smaller. It seemed then that no matter how hard I tried, "quiet time" never was. Not only did it very rarely happen, but even when it did it seemed someone always got up early, was sick, or decided not to sleep at night. The very thing I most needed to survive--God's quiet, strengthening presence--seemed to constantly evade me. Didn't He want to be with me? Why couldn't He just make them sleep?


In the book Meditations for Mothers by Elisa Morgan I read this:

The psalmist envies the birds who nest daily in the temple and therefore enjoy a daily presence in God's dwelling . . . . Mothers are among today's faint of heart who long for time with God.

This book is about taking a tip from the swallow in the psalm. She
built her nest in a place near God's altar. She lived where God lived. We
moms who long for God don't have to go somewhere special to find him. We can
speend time with God when we build a nest near him and then enjoy everyday moments in it with him.

Lauren, what I have learned is that to survive these years, when you most need God's infusion of patience and sacrificial love, you needn't have lots of regular time away from the kids with him. Instead, build your home life around Him. There have been many days (so many!) that I missed my personal quiet time, but because the kids and I were in a habit of reading together from His Word, I was fed as I fed them. As I prayed with them, I drew close to Him and they learned to pray from me. I have learned how to better disciple someone through discipling my children as we lived life together.

That's not to say you should give up on your personal time with Him, just don't get discouraged or frustrated when it frequently doesn't happen. He can make you aware of His presence, teach you, and allow you to enjoy His company in lots of ways if you make Him part of your daily routines with the kids. Sing praise music as you feed and rock the baby. Read Bible stories in the morning to the little ones (read directly from the Bible--you'll be amazed how much they can get!). Memorize verses or a catechism or confession with them. (We used the Westminster Confession of Faith-Children's version.) Play LOTS of music as you go through your day and pray about everything from the quarrelling they are doing to the boo-boo they just got. Explain to them what you are doing when you meet someone else's needs, and as they get older, let them help come up with ways to care for others in need.

You are in a wonderful place to witness, disciple, and draw close to God. When I think of working outside my home, it is the freedom to spend time with Him at my whim that most makes me want to stay home. Although you feel completely inadequate for this job of mothering, please know that it is in this very weakness that the Lord's strength shines through. Remember that "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11) He cares very much for your work as wife and mommy, and wants you to do a great job with these little children He has given you. Beyond what you are able to do physically or otherwise, He will personally teach, lead, love, correct, and nurture them.

Take heart my cousin! I have watched Him faithfully keep all His promises to me. He has given me a hard life, but it has been an amazing life too! I know that He will do the same for you. You know that I am here anytime you need me, even if you just need a cheerleader. I love you!

Lisa

Christmas Beyond Imagination

My friend Crystal posted this verse on her blog:

Isaiah 9:6-7 "For to us a Child is born; to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be calledWonderful Couselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Once again the Lord reminded me that this peace He has given me will have no end, because the Messiah's reign will have no end. There will come a time when the Lord's justice will be perfectly dispensed, and after that nothing will remain to cause strife or conflict. For now He waits for those who will come to Him to come. In the meantime, we are given the peace of the Prince of Peace to live in now. Nothing that I got today for Christmas can compare with that.

One of the things I love about Christmas is all the goodwill and patience people have for one another. I read an interesting comment a couple days ago which suggested that this is part of the promised blessings that the angels proclaimed at Jesus birth: "Peace on earth, goodwill to men." It thrills my heart to imagine the time when all of my relationships will know that kind of peace, and in fact, the entire world around me will live in peace as our Savior rules. It will be like Christmas all the time, every day, forever! Wow!

Come, O Lord! Come soon!

From Our House to Yours . . .

. . . we wish you a Merry Christmas. We are having another "white Christmas" Florida-style. (See this post for my description of last year's white Christmas.) I'm a little nervous tonight about leaving the outside lights on with all the wet, drippy snow (rain). The temperature is supposed to get up to a chilly 71 degrees. And it'll be rainy, so it will feel much hotter. I'm sweating already! (Maybe it's the fleece pj's the kids got me!) Of course, it'll be cold the day after Christmas. (OK, 60 degrees, but to us, that's cold!) Ah, well . . . at least there's the snow. (I'm turning green thinking of those of you in snowy places up north right now!)

Each year, it astonishes me that as I read the Christmas story yet again, I see something new. It is truly evidence that the Word of God is alive and relavent. It always moves me to spend time thanking God for the rich blessing of His only Son who took on flesh to become a living sacrifice for me (and you too!). The cost of this sacrifice is beyond my comprehension. I can't imagine choosing to live outside my middle class American suburb for longer than a few years (with furloughs to bring me home), much less leaving the glory of heaven and leaving behind the glory of being God to live 33 years with mostly ungrateful mere humans. Without forgetting this incredible gift, every year I ask God to make me aware of other little gifts that He gives to me. Since I don't have parents or a husband to spoil me, I turn to God to be better than either of those, and to show me the richness of His gifts.

This year I planned our Advent season well, but failed to follow through with my plan. I got lost in the trip to South Carolina that the younger boys and I took, in enjoying my time off from school a little too much, and in the busy-but-unproductive activities of the season. I neglected my First Love. But in His sweetness, He used some hard things this last week to draw me back to Himself. In an e-mail newsletter yesterday He reminded me that He is Prince of Peace. He came to restore peace between God and man, between man and man, and within each man. He came to restore peace in my soul. Today, the noise and clamor that I have felt for weeks now inside are gone, and as I surrender again to the Prince of Peace, I find peace. What a great gift!

So it is in the rememberance of this lesson that I wish you peace this Christmas. If you do not know what it is like to belong to the one, true Living God, and to enjoy a friendship with Him that brings hope and peace, I invite you to read the book of John in the Bible and to decide who this Jesus is. If you are one who believes that He is the Son of God, but you are feeling discouraged, hopeless, or like a failure, I urge you to ask Him to make Himself real to you and to draw you back into His love. I have yet to see Him not answer this prayer for me, and I love the fact that we celebrate the remembering of Christ's coming just before He gives us a fresh new start in the new year. With Him there are always new beginnings, and over time there is always productive change. May you and your family delight in Him this Christmas, and I am praying that He blessses you beyond your wildest dreams!

Just Another Example of Military Intelligence

I saw this at the recreation of a Vietnamese base camp, and wondered if this was a genuine detail. Having grown up a military brat, I actually suspect I know the answer.