Verse of the day

Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man

But any fool will quarrel.

Proverbs 20:3

You can probably guess what I've been doing today. That's right. Playing referee. Arbitrating. Negotiating. Meting out sentences.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
Proverbs 17:14

I can't get enough of the book of Proverbs. There's an answer for every situation in there.

Except maybe my 1 yo 's obsession with cat food. Got some wisdom for that one?

Today

Laundry started, dishes washed, chores done, baby napping. Time to start school. Then I look around me and realize it's already happening and I didn't do a thing.

Jon is very intently studying a World History book on the couch.

Daniel is in his own little world of cars and blocks and such.

Emma is in horse land.

Andrew is doing his math.

I love homeschooling.

Not every day is like this, mind you. So many days I find myself staring longingly at the yellow bus, or in tears over my inability to get it together.

But today is what matters. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow we will get to tomorrow.
Thank you, Lord.

Tender hearts

It fills me with so much joy when I observe my children display a tender heart toward others:

A young man who gives up the front seat in the car for a young lady;
A precious daughter who can't bear to leave her puppy alone at night;
A tender son who gets teary when his baby brother gives him kisses;
A considerate preschooler who wants to help me do everything;
An adorable baby who is...well...he's just adorable.

God is at work in my children. His hand has formed them and shapes them still. I expect that they will know Him and follow Him all the days of their lives, for He who began a good work in them shall complete it...

A new blog friend

Andrew has decided to start a blog to share some pics he thinks are worth a look. Check it out...

Truly Thankful

Family, friends came one and all,
Answering the turkey's call,
Devoured we the Butterball,
And we were truly thankful.

But more than turkey and sage dressing,
Thanksgiving is to ponder blessing,
with grateful hearts our voices raised sing,
"We are truly thankful!"

Now to relish in the pleasin'
Smells and sights of Noel season.
For Jesus Christ, the Holy Reason,
We are truly thankful.

I absolutely love the beauty and wonder of the story of Jesus' birth. I love the celebration and tradition that surrounds that glorious day. Yes, I am one of those who starts listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. It's appropriate, I think, to move from Thanksgiving to Gloria in excelsis deo....this is most definitely one of my favorite times of year!

Put on a happy face...

I went grocery shopping today. With the kids. Yes, all 5 of them! It is a challenge, in more ways than one. Shopping wisely requires thinking, which is hard to do when 3 yo is incessantly asking "where my dollar go?" and others are begging for chicken from the deli. 11 month old is getting cranky in the baby pouch, carts are overflowing..I'm trying to keep a smile on my face, but it's replaced by the characteristic grimace I seem to make when my brain is being taxed (my 13 yo informed me of that one). I was reminded of an editorial I read in World mag the other day, written by Andree Seu....

"I have been thinking about faces. When I walk the dog, a face is the first thing-and in most cases the only thing-a person will see of me. If I get to thinking about the number of people who are lost, and the shortness of time, I feel sad about all those ships passing without a gospel word. And yet, the face does pour forth speech. I remember the first time I saw [her] face. I was 23 and hippy-grungy and plopped on her doorstep, some unknown vagabond accompanying her "adopted" son. She opened the door and looked at me-and beamed. That was my introduction to Christianity."

I want my face to exude the love of Jesus... To beam with love and joy as I walk the dog, or shop with 5 kids, or whatever I do.
So I finally made it through the checkout line and we headed out the door. The children had waited expectantly for this moment....they each had a quarter for a gumball. I have 2 full carts of groceries, 3 young children milling about dropping and finding their quarters and blocking the doorway, one baby hanging on the front of me in a baby pouch...coats all need to be put on, gumballs are dropped...boots fall off...I look up and an elderly woman was looking at me with utter astonishment...her mouth was open in awe and her eyebrows raised... We must have been making quite a scene! I mustered up what love and joy I could and beamed a smile. Hurried, harried and harassed as I felt, I think Jesus shined through. And she smiled back. An instant understanding between us that there can be joy even in the midst of challenging circumstances. I was glad at that moment I had all the kids with me.

(But next time I'll consider going while they are all snug in their beds!)

Unity

My brothers and I used to fight. Alot. Unfortunately, I loved to tease--I'm ashamed to admit I was a mean big sister. We used to drive my parents crazy. I never understood why until I became the referee for my own SWF....Sibling Wrestling Federation. There are few sounds more peace shattering and disheartening than siblings who quarrel relentlessly, especially when it turns into a full-out brawl.

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like precious oil upon the beard,
Even Aaron's beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing- life forever."
Psalm 133:1-3

These verses came to my mind this morning as I enjoyed the "goodness and pleasantness"of brother and sister playing together like the friends I pray they will be. God so desires us to be united that He commanded a blessing to be there.

Unity- the state of being one or a unit...harmony, agreement in feelings or ideas or aims.

My children won't always agree with each other. But as they put one another's interests ahead of their own, they will walk in unity.
So this morning I forgo academics to nurture unity. There's a blessing there.

Brain food

I am taking a Spanish class with my oldest once a week, and I am really enjoying myself. I figured it would be helpful for him to have someone to study with, and I might just learn something, too. I didn't expect to like it so much, and somehow it's starting to sink in. I find myself thinking about how to say things en Espanol throughout the day and even as I wake and fall asleep! It's food for my brain, and I guess it's been a little hungry. Don't get me wrong, I read all the time. I'm a homeschooler after all. But I think my brain has gotten such a steady diet of How to Homeschool, or Encouragement for Moms, that it's become a bit malnourished, like someone who decided to eat only chicken and broccoli for years. (I love chicken and broccoli, but that would be a bit much.) I am devouring everything Spanish. It's been great brain food. Mi gusta hablar en Espanol. Mi gusta estudiar Espanol. Entienden?

Peace. Be still.

There are times when I long for quiet. Praying, thinking, meditating on His word, sleeping(!)...they are all precious pursuits that are sometimes crowded out by spilled milk, quarreling children, cares and worries, and/or cranky children in the middle of the night.
Jesus was in a boat one night, and the winds kicked up and the waves crashed over. (Definitely some spillage, quarreling among the disciples, and perhaps some crankiness going on in that situation)
And He slept.
And then He spoke.
Peace. Be still.

Children are in bed. All is quiet in the house.
Now, to quiet my heart......

I don't want to be a blog-napper but.....

when I read her post for today I found that she had put words to a thought that has been running through my head. I love to take part in the events in our community. I love meeting new people and taking part in celebrations and seeing what there is to see, even if I've seen it a dozen times before. Lately I have been dreaming some dreams. To not just take part in the events others have planned, but to be part of the planning and the doing. There are gifts God has given to me, and to all of us. We are to use them to glorify Him, and to introduce others to His Son... To fill needs, to inspire greatness, to bring healing, to model joy...The community should be a better place because we live here, we play here, we work here. "Where ever you are, be all there." And a new motto is born. Thanks, Jacqui!

I don't think I did the link thing right. Make sure you read her latest entry in Nov. or it won't make sense!

A man of few words..

is my son Dan. He's 3, and has finally decided that spoken words may be useful after all. Every now and then, I have to censor a word or two that he has picked up from others (usually his own siblings...). And sometimes, I have the pleasure of hearing these words from his precious heart:

"Thanks, Mom, for making this dinner" (He says this to me, on his own initiative, every night)

"I love you"

"You're my favorite mom"

"Oh no, you never let go..." (his attempt to sing a worship song from church)

Thankfulness, love, life, peace....overflowing from my little guy. For it's out of the abundance of his heart that his mouth speaks.
Makes me think about what's flowing out of me....

I'm for him

Have you noticed the negative campaign signs out there? One in particular really irks me. It says, "NO GOBLET". It's mean spirited and probably disheartening to Mr. Goblet and his family. I can just picture his cute grandkids reading the sign and wondering what it means. It's a perfect example of the human tendency to be negative. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to list the things you don't like? But what do you know about someone if you know they don't like the color blue, don't like red roses and don't like winter? It's like anti-knowledge. There's no substance to it, like a black hole. I can't hang my hat on it in other words. Now, tell me you like the color blue, and I know what color sweater to get you. You say you like carnations? I'll surprise you one day with a dozen. So Fall is your favorite season? I'll be sure to plan to spend some time doing Fall type things with you. I want to be for something, not just against everything.

Go Mr. Goblet! We're for you!

Abundant living?????????

So just moments after my post about a delicious taste of abundant life, things turned a bit sour....
For some reason our computer registers 2 hours earlier than it really is, so keep that in mind when you read my posts.

11 PM Head to bed, tired and ready to close my eyes
11:02 Baby senses me with his radar...sonar....smellar...whatever he uses to detect the very moment I enter the room.
11:03 Nurse the baby
11:10 Baby back in crib, lay down to close my eyes
11:15 3 yo starts crying...go to comfort 3 yo and discover lollipop stuck to the side of his sweaty head...lest you judge me too harshly for allowing 3yo to go to bed with a lollipop, I must tell you I had to get him to leave a party...with me and not Papa...drive in the car, not the truck...and put him to bed. It all just went so much more smoothly with candy in hand.
11:25 Walk away from still crying 3yo, he's cranky and pushing me away.
11:30 Ken decides to give it a try...with raised voice. 3yo stops crying, baby begins
11:31 Nurse the baby
11:40 Baby back in crib, close my eyes
11:45 3yo crying again. This time he's able to ask me what's all over his head. I get a washcloth and wash the stiff and sticky hair off the side of his cheek and ear. All is well again.
11:50 Back to bed, close my eyes
12:00 Alarm goes off. It goes off every night at midnight. Somehow I keep forgetting about it during the day. The alarm is impossible to figure out, even with directions. Ken and I are intelligent people. We should be able to decipher the code. Ken turns off alarm.
12:01 Giggle uncontrollably
12:10 Nurse the baby
12:20 Back to bed, close my eyes
12:40 Wild scratching on the basement door. Go downstairs to let cat into the basement.
12:43 Back to bed, close my eyes. Lay awake thinking about my next blog post. I think I had one too many pieces of chocolate.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I need to find someway to keep my eyes open this morning. Toothpicks....too pointy. Ahhh...a piece of chocolate, or two. After all, it worked last night...