Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Quick Quip

At the dinner table tonight I told David that Abby thinks it would be neat for her and Anna (her best friend who lives in another state) to have matching Lands' End dresses.

Nathan jumped in saying, "You and Anna always have matching clothes."

David quickly quipped, "Anna's dad* and I have matching outfits too."

*Anna's dad is also a pastor .

Monday, March 28, 2011

Parenting = Path of Doubts

I no longer have infants and have to wonder if the reason they are crying is because they're hungry, need a new diaper, or are colicky, or are mad, or are hurt, or. . . but that doesn't mean I now know what I'm doing with these older children.

This is still new territory for me as a parent.  I travelled it as a child and now have an adult's perspective, but I still don't know what I'm doing.  I still think I'm ruining my children, not preparing them for the future, and am forgetting to teach them some valuable lesson.

Parenting is just plain hard.  It stinks (in different ways at different times). It is a cross to bear.

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Marriage Worldview

If you don't already watch Pr Fisk's Worldview Everlasting videos on YouTube, you should start.

Here is a good one to start your addiction.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Just Because . . . .

I have a school room doesn't mean learning isn't taking place in other rooms of our home.

I buy a set curriculum doesn't mean I don't allow tangents or self-interest to steer learning or creativity.

I keep a schedule doesn't mean it is rigidly kept with no exceptions.

I require copy work doesn't mean the children have beautiful hand-writing.

My children are home doesn't mean they are available to play at anytime of the day.

One of my children excels in one area doesn't mean the others do as well.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Spring Desires

When spring weather pops its head from under the long cold winter's blanket, my kids are anxious to be outside riding their bikes.  I, on the other hand, am anxious to clean the house from top to bottom, side to side, and give the walls a new cheery color worthy of the joy of spring and summer.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Learn by Heart

The devastation in Japan has once again impressed upon me the need to learn by heart Bible verses, hymns, and my catechism and to diligently teach them to my children.  Sure it's easy when you can rely on picking up the Bible or hymnal or even the piece of paper they're written on for the week.  But when everything is gone, there is only the memory.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

I Can Imagine The Significance of the Moment Part II

On page 265 of Decision Points, President George W. Bush is describing how he secretly went to see the troops in Iraq on Thanksgiving 2003.

"We went to the mess hall, where six hundred troops had gathered for a Thanksgiving meal.  Jerry [Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority] was supposed to be the guest of honor.  He told the troops he had a holiday message from the president.  'Let's see if we've got anybody more senior here. . . .' he said.
"That was my cue.  I walked out from behind a curtain and onto the stage of the packed hall.  Many of the stunned troops hesitated for a split second, then let out deafening whoops and hooahs.  Some had tears running down their faces.  I was swept up by the emotion.  These were the souls who just eight months earlier had liberated Iraq on my orders.  Many had seen combat.  Some had seen friends perish.  I took a deep breath and said, 'I bring a message on behalf of America.  We thank you for your service, we're proud of you, and America stands solidly behind you.'"

I had tears streaming down my face while reading this passage.  Thank you American Troops!  Thank you families of American Troops!

Friday, March 11, 2011

I Can Imagine The Significance of the Moment

I'm currently reading Decision Points by President George W. Bush.  He wrote this on page 109 describing  what happened as he sat behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office for the first time:

"Then the door to the Rose Garden swung open.  I looked up and saw Dad.
'Mr. President,' he said.  He was wearing a dark suit, his hair still wet from the hot bath he'd taken to thaw out.
'Mr. President,' I replied.
He stepped into the office, and I walked around the desk.  We met in the middle of the room.  Neither of us said much.  We didn't need to.  The moment was more moving than either of us could have expressed."

Monday, March 07, 2011

This and That

I've been busy cooking extra things lately.  The last Sunday of February I made lasagnas and garlic bread for the high school youth Bible Study held at our home.  The first Sunday of March I made Wild Rice Soup for the Soup Fest competition as a fundraiser for the local Lutheran High School.  Today I busy baking buns and cookies for the supper before the Ash Wednesday service.

I solved my I Hate Shopping dilemma.  A friend in the congregation is a fantastic seamstress.  Her daughter suggested to me, after my rant, that I ask her mom to sew a dress.  So I did.  And she will.  Yippee!  The fabric and patterns for my daughter's confirmation and Easter dresses are bought and will be delivered to her tomorrow.

I read to the three youngest about The Black Death on Saturday.  I printed off templates for them to make doctor masks, they did and have been having fun with them.  Today they wore them while doing the clean-up.  They said they were pretending that the toys were all the black plague sufferers and they were going around helping.  Whatever helps them get their work done.

A lady in our church calls my husband's and my age "the old age of youth."  Well I just feel old, and crabby, and that everything is meaningless.

I thought I had more to say, but the oven beeped and so did the dryer and washer, and my thoughts ran away with the sound.  I'm going to go do what I should be doing right now. . . .boy that's a change.