giggles and girls...

Did the girl thing the other day. Tea party, dressed up bears and little girls in princess gowns, special treats fancy plates and cocoa in fancy tea cups...and make-up! Oh, what fun can be had with a box of colors and powders! Before Emma was born I had already had two boys, and felt fairly confident I could handle a third. When I found out we were having a girl, I was overjoyed and overwhelmed. Would I know how to be a mom to a girl? What if she loves dresses and make-up and tea parties, and.....all those things I felt so far removed from after 7 years with all boys? And here I am, six years later...tea party, dresses, make-up, and giggly girls. Yes, she loves all those things, just as I suspected she would. And I'm so thankful that God is using my little girl to remind me of how much fun it all can be.

A little extra shut eye...

Last Christmas, much to the dismay of my 3 oldest, Daniel decided a little extra shut eye was his Christmas gift to himself. So, instead of waking at his usual 6:30 or 7 am, he slept until 8:30! This year, we were all laughing and remembering how hard it was to wait to open presents, and kidding around about him doing it again. Well, unbelievably, he did! Daniel slept until 8:30 am on Christmas morning. He sleeps in once a year, on the day when most kids are up before the crack of dawn! Our rule is we don't open presents until everyone is awake, and I won't let them wake him up. My motto is "NEVER wake a sleeping child." Especially one with cranky tendencies. Oh, the torture! I'm still giggling about it.


We had a beautiful day. As Emma put it, "The best gift is that Jesus was born."
I must whole heartedly agree.

More blessed to give

I realized today that my oldest has grasped a concept that will bring him true joy in life. He is determined to give me a Christmas gift this year, and has already shopped for his siblings and Papa. I have tried to convince him that he does not need to buy us anything, but he explained that it feels selfish to receive gifts and not give them. He's so excited about the reaction his family will have upon receiving each present, purchased with his own hard earned money and careful consideration of what each would want the most. I am tempted to be more forceful in my encouragement to save his money, but to what end? He is experiencing the joy of giving, and discovering the truth of God's word that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Speaking of giving and receiving, have you ever thought about the fact that a giver can't give if the receiver won't receive? I must admit, I have a hard time receiving at times. I think it's pride, actually. But I'm choosing to be a better receiver these days. Who am I to stand in the way of a giver's blessing?

Matthew Kjaer

December 13, 2006

And now......
What a joy! Smiley, happy, lovey boy.
Happy Birthday!
I remember the night he was born like it was yesterday. I was 9 days overdue, and so very ready for this baby to begin his life on the outside. I decided that I would make my request known to God, and I was very specific.

Father, if I could have this labor go exactly the way I want, it would start this evening, with my water breaking, after the kids are in bed, and would end in time for Ken to come back home and be here when they wake up. Amen.

That evening, after putting the kids to bed I decided to fill out Christmas cards. And then the pangs began. But having had a few instances of false labor, I was ignoring them. I called my Dad. And the pangs kept coming. And got stronger. Soon I was walking around the house, in an effort to keep the momentum going. Ken was starting to think this may be it, and so was I. A couple hours of walking and contracting and I called the midwives in Cooperstown. It being my 5th labor, and being so far away, with contractions about 5 minutes apart, they told me to come on in. Ken's mom came to stay with the children, who were all in bed save for Andrew, and we headed to the birth center. We stopped for gas along the way and saw a young lady from church who blessed us with her excitement to be the first one to know we were on our way. As we drove, the contractions became stronger, and I wondered if I should tell Ken to hurry up, but didn't. I was still afraid it was false labor and decided that if I wasn't that far along and in this much pain I was going to treat myself to some pain medication! We finally made it there, and I was having some super strong contractions. We walked in and I stopped to bang, I mean rest, my head on the wall as another wave hit and the receptionist asked Ken if I needed a wheel chair. Ken said, "No, we're fine." (Yes, I hear you chuckling, I chuckled too) I waddled to the elevator, got to the room and the nurse discovered I was fully dilated! She broke my water and Matthew was born about 10 minutes after I got to the birth center! Not a moment to spare. And it was 11:30 pm. Plenty of time for Ken to get back home and wake up with the kids. God had graciously granted me the labor I had prayed for, save the water breaking...which I was so thankful for in the end because Matthew would have probably been born in the car!
And that's the story. Thanks for letting me reminisce!

My testimony

I frequently think about the way God used two dear young girls and their loving, accepting families to woo me to himself. I was a smartmouth 13 year old, unsuccessfully trying to fit in with my peers at school after moving here from downstate. Jenny lived across the street with her parents and sister. Her mom ran a little Christian bookstore out of the front room of their house. Her father played the organ at the Reformed Church. I practically lived at their house for 2 years. They fed me, put up with my idiosyncrasies, and introduced me to Christianity, as a lifestyle. Their faith was never hidden, and they invited me in to have a taste. I attended church from time to time, youth camps, special events. And God used this family to gently lead me to Him. But I hadn't yet accepted the forgiveness and grace of The Redeemer. The seeds this family had planted, another family was to water.

Dee introduced herself to me as we waited in line at the cafeteria in school. She complimented me on how pretty I looked that day. I was a hurting 15 year old, dealing with divorced parents and an angry alcoholic step-father. We became friends, and for the next 3 years I practically lived at their house. They fed me, put up with my idiosyncrasies (do you see a trend?) and introduced me to Jesus. They talked about Jesus, wrote about Jesus and sang about Jesus. Every car ride promised beautiful harmonies and melodies about Jesus. They brought me to church and special events, even family vacations...and then one day, as I rode in the back of their car Dee's mom asked me if I wanted to pray and accept Jesus as my personal savior. I did, so I prayed after her. And I was saved. Seeds of God's word now watered, were able to sprout.

Sometimes I marvel at God's hand on my life even then, placing these families in my path at just the right moments, equipping them with grace and patience to deal with me in all my pain and ignorance. I always felt welcome in their homes, I always felt loved. I am so thankful for the time they were willing to spend showing me the love of Jesus. I would not be who I am today were it not for their willingness to share the Gospel with one of the lost.

It's my heart's desire to do the same. May my family be that example of Christ's love to the hurting ones. Acceptance for those who feel rejected. Tenderness for the needy. Encouragement for the downtrodden. Safety for the insecure. All things to all people, that we might win for Christ those who are lost.

Amen.

I am contagious

Every day a strange and wonderful phenomenon is happening to us, through us and all around us. We are spreading germs wherever we go. Granted, these are the thoughts of a sleep deprived mom who is on the tail end of a cold germ's trail of havoc...but I'm thinking it's more than cold and flu germs we're spreading.
Take Dee for instance. She has spread the Cozy germ. Or maybe a better way to say it is she has helped germinate homemaking creativity in those of us whose decorating seeds lay dormant. Everyone who is inspired to make snowflakes after seeing her pretty ceiling bedecked with the beauties say, "Aye!" along with me.
Take Keila for instance. She has spread the Faith germ. She is helping to germinate the faith seeds that lay dormant in the rest of us. Everyone who is inspired to let your faith speak to your circumstances instead of letting your circumstances speak to your faith after reading her blog say "Aye" along with me.
Take Jenn for instance. She has spread the You Can Do It germ. She has helped to germinate a sense of daring and confidence in the lives of those who thought they could never act in a play. Everyone who is inspired to be part of something they've never done before after speaking to Jenn say "Aye" along with ......my HUSBAND...who is in this year's Christmas play because of her encouragement.
And the list goes on. My husband helps germinate generosity, my Pastor helps germinate the Word of God, my in-laws help germinate a sense of belonging, my mom helps germinate perseverance....
And these are just the good things we help to germinate...to spread, develop and grow.

There are other, less beautiful germs I have spread, or have been the unfortunate recipient of. Doubt, criticism, complaining, rebellion...But we shall focus on what's good and noble and lovely, methinks.
"When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" Doubtless you've heard that saying before. It's true in my house. I can set the mood as quickly as I can smile or laugh...or yell or grumble.

I am contagious...but I'll try to spread only the germs that don't make you sneeze!