And That's What You Get For Crying...

On the last day of school ENA has an awards ceremony. Matthew's first grade teacher decided prior to the ceremony to give all her students a "fun award". Derek and I were in Stephen's room at the time (we didn't know Mrs. W was going to give awards). We were however aware that Stephen's teacher was going to say a prayer of blessing over each child, so we were hanging out in 3rd grade.

One of the other 1st grade parents comes and tells me that Matthew was looking for mom and dad. I go to his classroom and he is in full meltdown, tears and all. Rob and Robyn (probably the kindest people on earth) are trying to console Matthew. The problem, Mrs. W. awarded Matthew with the "most injuries" award. Any of you that know Matthew will not find this shocking. He's had two sets of stitches in his head already! He does tend to get hurt a lot mostly because he's not paying attention. And then if you give him sympathy...watch out!! He'll work it for sure!

So Matthew tells me that he told his teacher he didn't want the award. Nice....I go and get Derek because seriously, why does everything with my kids have to be high drama? We talk to Matthew and tell him that he needs to apologize because he was ungrateful, etc. I ask him what award he wanted to get? He says "most creative" or "best in math". I told him that you can't receive best in math if you don't work hard for it--which he didn't!

So, before the ceremony he apologizes to Mrs. W. She asks him what award he would've wanted and he told her. So after the ceremony, we're having a pizza party and Mrs. W says, "Oh, I forgot to give one very special award" and what does she do, she gives Matthew a most creative and math award.

And that my friends is what you get when you cry!!!

(You can almost see the play by play except we don't have the "meltdown" picture!)

It's All About the Friends

This was supposed to be a family picture at Elizabeth's kindergarten graduation. She was more interested in seeing what friends were arriving. She's obviously quite distracted!


BUT the joys of a digital camera, we knew we needed a retake. Much better although not perfect!

More...More...More...

I was just talking to a sweet friend yesterday about how incredibly blessed our kids are and how much they complain. They are ungrateful. I guess in our selfishness we all are very ungrateful too. It's our job as parents to guide them and train them in the way that is right. It's exhausting most of the time and I see little fruit much of the time.

I suggested my friend use the verse, "to whom much is given, much is required". (Luke 12:48) So, the verse shows up in my devotional this morning and here's what Kay Arthur had to say.

"As you travel abroad, you begin to realize just how much God has lavished on the USA in both material and spiritual blessings. We have more freedom than others, more access to the media, more Bibles in all varieties, more literature, more schools, more training, more churches, more missions, more professing believers, more...more...more.
And yet in our prosperity we have turned from God. We have forgotten that Jesus said no one can serve two masters. Our affections cannot be divided.
...
Have our hearts become captivated with the seductiveness of "things" rather than with a fervent, sacrificial love for our God and for the furtherance of His kingdom?"

Derek lived it and saw it this past week in Nicaragua. We have been given so much, yet we are so ungrateful and we are always craving more...just like selfish children.

May God remind us each day that "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required".

Compare your house with this one...trust me, no matter the size of your house, YOU have been given MUCH!

Monday Appreciation

If your husband/daddy has been in Nicaragua for a week and you haven't talked to him the whole time, "coming home" is a huge deal! We love him and appreciate him more!

Last Sunday when he was gone, I wanted to quit life. :-) Derek came home Saturday evening and this past Sunday morning I was ready to conquer the world! It's funny how emotions can change like that.

And this little girl is more excited than words or pictures could show that her daddy is finally home!

Welcome Home Derek! We love you!

My Least Favorite Sunday

Mother's Day is the one Sunday a year that I don't like to go to church. It won't bother me that tomorrow I'll be hanging out in the preschool area all day.

Most mother's day messages are the same. "Hooray, you're doing a great job, celebrate motherhood and if the pastor is sensitive, they'll mention sisterhood and womanhood in general knowing that some sitting in the congregation aren't mothers". There's hardly ever a challenge, it's just a pat on the back sermon and I'm really not into pat on the back sermons. Where's the challenge? Where's the stand up and fight for your family? Be a warrior for Christ and be the godliest mother and wife possible. You usually won't hear that on Mother's Day. Father's Day, yes, the charge comes to the men, but Mother's Day just doesn't sit well with me.

My thoughts are probably deep rooted in memories of many mother's days where I longed for a child and just couldn't understand why in the world God wasn't giving us one. I would sit through those sermons and just be ready to burst into tears at any moment. Here we were celebrating "mothers" and I just felt like my world was falling apart and no one around me even knew. The pain ran deep. I still sit in those services and my heart breaks for those infertile women sitting around me. My heart breaks for those single women who so desperately just want a husband and a family, but God hasn't answered their heart cry. My heart breaks for those women who didn't have a mother or didn't have a great one. My heart breaks for those women who sit there while moms talk about birthing stories and nursing stories and some women just don't have anything to share. This day for whatever reason holds many raw emotions for me.

I am thankful for all the wonderful women in my life--my mom, my mother-in-law, my sweet friends and all those special women in my life. I'm thankful that God did answer and give us three very special kids. But on Mother's Day, I don't plan to celebrate motherhood. I live motherhood every day, I don't need one day to remind me that I'm a mom. I just plan to celebrate that God hears our cries, He answers them (not always how we want) and He gives us hope even when it seems our world is falling apart. He is faithful and He is good, even if life is hard!

Psalm 52:9

I will praise you forever for what you have done;
in your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Blacklisted

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Warning: Some of you may have to disown me as a friend or as a responsible family member after reading this post.

Years ago a pastor in Michigan preached a sermon on that one phrase "full of grace and truth". He talked about how Jesus was completely grace and completely truth. He went on to explain that most of us lean one way or the other, but we should strive to be full of grace and truth. I knew immediately that I am a "truth" person. It's in my nature. It's why I'm not really afraid to confront or point out error especially with my children. God's been working on me and I've realized that I need to extend more grace, not just to S, M and E, but to all those in my life.

I read this blog post today by James MacDonald and it made me realize that I've come a long way, but I still have a long way to go. I am still largely a truth person. I see things in black and white. There's very little gray in my world, but as I get older I realize that everything isn't black and white. There really are some gray areas.

Anyway, here's the story...this is why you may choose to remove me as a facebook friend or forbid your children from playing at our house.

Elizabeth had a field trip to the zoo on Monday. It was debatable whether we'd go because of all the rain. I showed up at school at 7:30 and they said that we were definitely going. I realized that it was very cold outside and my flip flops and shorts weren't going to work, so I quickly drove 20-30 minutes back home to change clothes and then drove back to school for the field trip at 9:00. They only put one child in the vehicle with Elizabeth and I, a sweet little girl that probably only said about 50 words the entire day. A good friend for Elizabeth because Elizabeth probably said 1500 words by the time we arrived at the zoo. I followed directions and met outside the front of the zoo. We were told to meet at 11:30 for a show. I showed up, they got to touch a snake and a giant cockroach. No thank you, I abstained!

We were free until 1:15 at which point we were supposed to meet by the play area and then we'd all leave together. At 1 p.m., it started raining and I had two girls walking around with maps on top of their heads so their hair wouldn't get wet. So, I decided we need to walk fast and get out of here. So we walked quickly to the van. About 1:30, we're on 65 and the kindergarten teacher calls and says, "I just wanted to check to see where you are".
I said, "Oh, we just left a few minutes ago".
"Do you have AnnaBelle with you?"
"Yes"
"Okay, I'll meet you at the school"
"Okay, I'll see you in a few minutes". I hang up and then it dawns on me that an entire kindergarten class with chaperones is waiting in the rain at the zoo for us to "show up".

Huge mistake! I am probably blacklisted from the chaperone list. I am probably blacklisted for any friends to come and play with Elizabeth and I probably have a few parents who think, "who is this irresponsible mom that can't follow directions?"

So, I apologize to the teacher and all the parents when they get to the school. They were all very sweet, but I know what they were really thinking. Blacklisted!!!

And so I said to another mom, "Next time I ask my kids 'why can't you just listen and follow directions', I will know the answer before it leaves my mouth." Because they have a mom who obviously can't listen and follow directions.

And there you have it. The apples obviously don't fall far from the tree.

And here's my sweet apple that was oblivious to all of it!

Wordless Wednesday