It's official...now...

he is a PURPLE team player!  No crazy stories from last night's game.  I guess nobody was in the mood after the team pictures and a late start.  Or maybe it was because everybody was too cold!!! 
Aunt Sara and the girls went for hot chocolate. 
Aslynn learned a very important lesson...when Mom says grab another sweatshirt or jacket...she knows what she is saying!  If you dawddle...and Dad says, "Let's go!"...you will not have another chance!
Mom learned a lesson too...check the camera battery BEFORE leaving for an event involving family!

Thanks, Auntie, for letting me use your camera!

It has been a month...

since we came home from the hospital following Alisa's second surgery.  It hit me this afternoon as I was washing dishes.  As Alisa was telling Grammy how she was doing, I took her picture.  She is a picture of God's grace...and it is a beautiful picture to us!  She continues to do well...sleeping through the night, good strength, normal appetite, abundant silliness, and very active.  We are thankful for the blessings and lessons that have enriched our life because of this little girl...and the grace that God offers to cover her life...and yours!

"How skillful the hands of the artist, who painted this picture of her,
He saw with the eyes of a Master how beautiful her life could be,
Where once was a portrait of gloom and despair, this masterpiece made in its place.  It's signed with His blood and framed with His glory, this beautiful picture of grace."

Jesus died on the cross to cover the penalty of sin and its ugliness.  Because of His love...His grace is offered to each one of us...so we might have life more abundantly!  

Lamenting at the supper table

"Ok, girls, let's get the dishes done.  Teddy, you clear.  Girls, you know your jobs!" charged Dad.
"I wish we had paper plates.  It would be easy to just clear everything into the trash can!" whispered Teddy to his sister.

"Ash, remember last week, when we went out to eat...we didn't have to do dishes!" said Alisa.  "Yeah, we just got up from the table and walked away...too bad we can't do that today!" agreed Ashlynn.  "Why couldn't we eat out tonight...at least, then, we wouldn't have to do the dishes!" whined Alisa.

Ohhhh...how many more years of this they will endure!  It makes me smile.  They have at least until their children are old enough to help...at least 20 plus years of three meals a day...times...plus...!  They thought it was funny when Lucy was calculating the number of dishes she had washed since she had gotten married.  I laughed during that episode too...because it didn't include all the extra baking dishes for special events sprinkled throughout the year! 
I just counted up the things I have been asked to make this week alone...that I said yes to do...four in three days!  And I just added graduation cakes for later in the month.  It's a good thing I have kitchen helpers...and whiney dishwashers with legs...who unwillingly signed up for endurance training!

I'm weak...and I know it!

When there is a buzz inside the house...you know you have to let it out! 

The kids sounded much like this huge fly this morning! 

How it (referring to the fly...I know how the children got in!) got in our house...

I do not know...but it is creeping me out!

I am finding homeschooling to be more challenging during these nice weather days! 

 Worse than the classroom atmosphere I had to fight every year...

because the teacher is the mom and the mom is the teacher! 

So...

I opened wide the screen door and said, "Go...play...enjoy the beautiful morning air!" 

Then I continued to speak, "You only have a half hour...and then it is back to work!" 

How stupid I sounded...(almost as bad as I looked...as I tried to shoo that huge, nasty fly out the backdoor!)...'it has been more than a half hour...

Ted is gone today...

he wondered if we would be ok without him. 

I was out to prove to him that I could still function without his direct supervision. 

We had a strong start...

but I lost it...

prancing around the diningroom chasing the kids...

and the fly out the door! 

It is a good thing he is out and about today...

I am not a very agile prancer! 

Happy Wednesday!

A small reminder from my daughter...that smells so wonderful!
"I have found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me, He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;  The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see all I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.  In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay, He tells me every care on Him to roll, He's the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star.  He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul..."

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

A few decoration ideas for tonight's ladies' meeting...strawberry and lemon inspired! 

Yummy desserts and fellowship in the merry month of May!

Ted agrees...I have taught our children well!?!  They hosted a snack (tea) time for their friends.  I was downstairs working on ladies' meeting things and Ted was upstairs.  He watched them come in and gather things for their little break from running through the sprinkler...yes, you heard me correctly!  Crazy kids!  I came up and saw what they had cleaned up...and giggled...those are my girls!  Fancy plate, pitcher, and the array of snacks...

I really need to do something productive...

and all I can think of...is how nice this would be!  What a beautiful spring day!

What kind of enabler am I?!

enable [ɪnˈeɪbəl]

1. to provide (someone) with adequate power, means, opportunity, or authority (to do something)
2. to make possible

Verb 1. enable - render capable or able for some task;
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation;
equip - provide with abilities or understanding;
endow, endue, gift, indue, invest, empower - give qualities or abilities to

Antonyms:  disable, disenable, incapacitate - make unable to perform a certain action;

Faced with several, very different situations the last few days, this word has been rolling around in my head.  We are to be preparing our children for the journey of life.   If we, as parents, don't train them...who will?

 Am I enabling my children to do right or to do wrong?  Am I enabling them to be able to function as the individual that God has created them to be?  Am I enabling their selfish, sinful heart's desires?  Am I enabling them to be lazy? 
The questions are endless and the consequences great.
Proverbs 22:6 tells parents to "Train up a child in the way he should go..." It does not talk about the way the child wants to go or the way that is easiest to go or the way that causes less work for Mom and Dad!  Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." 
In order for me to help train our children in the right ways for them to go, I need to be studying God's Word and continually dealing with my heart, so I can then in turn help them see the condition of their hearts.  How easily I forget Proverbs 21:2, "Every way of a man (woman or child) is right in his own eyes:  but the Lord pondereth the hearts."  So often we deceive ourselves...forgetting that God sees that high look, the proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked...and He calls it sin (verse 4).  I don't always call it sin...I will call it something not so harsh or I will brush it off as unimportant.
Satan likes to see God's people disabled, distraught, and distracted by every thing going on around us.  He knows when things are in a turmoil and we are not seeking the Holy Spirit's help, we cannot go in the way of understanding (verse 16).  And I imagine, he is quite pleased when we excuse ourselves or refuse to deal with an issue because it could be painful or embarrassing (see...that falls under the high look and proud heart category).
As a woman, I see how easily I am distracted and distraught over the little things of every day life and dealing with people.  How often I let my emotions...feelings...get the better of me!  God doesn't wink at that behavior.   Honestly, He doesn't wink at many of the behaviors that I wink at...or pretend I don't see!
He gave me His Spirit...which enables me to follow His Word...which applies to every little detail of each day, circumstance, relationship...(you fill in your blank, my list is quite long!) 
I am seeing in our children...weaknesses...which I have allowed to prevent me from enabling them to do what God has given them the ability to do.  They can do what is expected of them.  How high are my expectations?  Do I have any expectations?  God does!
God has given my husband that ability to see that and to point it out to me.  If he is the God-given authority in our home...why would I not listen to his wisdom?!  There are so many times when my understanding of something is limited by "my motherliness".  I am not doing our children any favors!  God expects our children to do right...according to what their ability is and what they have been taught.  God expects fathers to admonish and nurture.  God expects mothers to follow the father's leading!  Here I am...thinking I understand what is happening...instead I am enabling an easy way out!   Sometimes...I don't have a clue!  Thankfully, God has provided me with wonderful mate...who deserves to be respected and followed...because he is God's man for this job!  Am I enabling him in this task?  That is something for me to think about as his wife...
All that to say...God has enabled/equipped us with the plan (His Word),
the power (His Spirit),
and the people (Biblical authority in the home...Christ, Dad, then Mom)
which helps us enable/equip our children for life! 
What a rough way to travel when we don't follow His plans! 

The pied piper of our street

We didn't even hear the tune...but the kids did...and they came running yesterday afternoon!

I didn't know we had that many kids on that end of our street!

From the looks of things...and knowing how many dollars they took out of their spending bucket...the ice cream truck did quite well on our street!  The looks on their faces as they walked down the sidewalk were priceless!  It is the first treat of the season from the truck...it is a treat...not an expectation!  They picked out their own treat, paid for it, and enjoyed it with their friends.  Now what parent should be upset about a $2.00 bomb pop that brought such excitement?! 

Perspectives from around the table

"Why does it take so long to get our food?"  "Our waitress is very friendly."  "Why do they serve bad drinks here?" "We have been waiting for 1 hour already!" (It had been 8 minutes since the order had been placed.)
Ted and I looked at each other and secretly wondered if it should have been an "adult only" date night.  As the kids continued to look around and jabber, we knew this was the cheapest entertainment we could find!

Teddy, inquiring as to why he had two forks and one knife when he didn't need any of them, "Apparently, I didn't need these!"  Ashlynn asked him, "Do you even know what that means...you know...the word apparently?"  "Yes...well, not really." Teddy admitted.  But he used it correctly!!!

"It has been at least a hundred years since we have gotten to eat at a restaurant. We go to fast food style places or do carry-out or always have to eat at home",  Ashlynn was lamenting.

"If they don't fix my chicken how I like it, I will...." began Alisa.  "You will eat it and enjoy it!" said Daddy, "It is hard for people to mess up chicken strips with ranch!" 

After eating our meal, which we had to wait for...something we haven't done very often lately...Ted asked the kids a few questions, "Do you think it was worth waiting for?  Do you think you would like to do this again?  Can you be patient next time?"  Alisa answered, "I can't promise that I will wait patiently, but the food was very good."

"We've never had this before!"

Such a simple request...how could we not grant it?!  Root beer floats for the girls...Teddy stuck with the plain vanilla ice cream.

"This is good!  Look at all the bubbles...thanks, Mom!"  About the time I think I am coming up with fun ideas for treats and meals...someone comes along and points out "an oldie but goodie" that I didn't think about.  How simple can you get?!

It can be done...but sometimes...

you have to talk loudly and carry a big stick! 

Well, that or a shovel! 

I can help our children sort, purge, organize, and arrange...but it never seems to stay that way for very long!  I can always console myself..."at least it isn't as bad as that show about hoarding and..."

Ted keeps reminding me, "You have to inspect what you expect!" 

Yes, and I expect them to be able to do it by themselves now!  How dumb does that sound?!  I don't have a good track record these days when it comes to the same things...and how old am I?   

I get tired of always being on them about it.  Their rooms are always half of a mess.  I can't give up!!!  If we don't help them learn better habits...yikes!  It isn't "their room to do with what they will" nor will it ever be that way...unless they are paying the mortgage.  I think that is how it goes, right Ted?!  Our children have responsibilities to be good stewards and care for their own things.  We have taught them this since they were little.  We will continue to teach them this till they move out. 

I wasn't a crazy neat person growing up...but I did like things picked up and put away.  I'd risk the wrath of Mom and Dad for being late in the morning and having to run up to the bus.  I'd skip breakfast and do my make-up on bus or in the car rather than have to come home to a mess.  Ask Mari...we shared a room.  It was good training for me...to be sure.  I still can't leave our home for a trip (short or long) without certain things being done.  It adds stress to trying to get out the door, but the return home is so much more enjoyable!  What used to be intolerance and absolute aggravation has now somewhat been abated to more of an annoyance. 

I still don't know how people can pass by a pile several times and do nothing about it...especially if you know it is your pile to deal with at some point.  Before getting married, my apartment was spotless.  Ted kept his things neat and clean.  Why wouldn't it be when there was only one person living in a place and everything had a place?!  Things changed when we got married...now there was "stuff" from a two people.  I vowed I would not get upset about the piles.  We would work around them and eventually find a place for everything. 

Ha ha ha...Ted says I have changed quite a bit...since we were married.  Ha ha ha...yes, indeed! 

We moved to a house.  Then children came along. 

I find it impossible to not have piles and baskets and such. 

I have just learned to deal with it...move it out of the way when company comes...and eventually go on a purging frenzy.

So...we have taught our children well...for the most part.  Too bad they pick up on my weaknesses so thoroughly! 

Some piling is ok...temporary...like the laundry pile to be carried downstairs.  Someone, however, does have to deal with getting it there!!!

Pile it up...walk around it a few times to make sure it is your responsibility...or you hurt yourself by tripping over it...or waiting till Mom has to physically assign someone to the task because..."yes, it is your stuff...all three of you have something in that pile..."

Take your time to do a thorough job...the basket will hold things safely till you are ready to finish putting things away. (I am afraid that I have taught this helpful little tip too well!)  

Just make sure you take care of whatever job you have before Mom and Dad come in to inspect...and don't...no matter what...shove it under the bed or in the back of your closet...because you won't find it on Sunday morning when you need it!!!

And if it is too far to walk to put something away...it is ok if you leave it out for the next time...just remember where you left it and know that if someone stubs their toe on it...it will be your fault!

Now...upon further inspection...I believe I have a laundry basket in our room that needs to be emptied...so I can carry the big stick...

next time...

with confidence.