Hope for Mothers

From the movie Motherhood ~
" Motherhood is about accepting things you cannot control. Would you say how heart breaking that fact is?"

So true.


Yet there is Hope~


"I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me,
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD'S great love we are
not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is
in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD."
Lamentations 3:19-26

If You Keep Silent

As Christians, the idea of President Obama addressing the public school children of America on September 8th should not produce feelings of fear and a desire to withdraw. Conversely, it should stir us into action. Yes, the undertone of this address reeks of Communism. No, I don't agree with the federal government's arm reaching so far down to the local level. And on and on.

Yet, it has opened the door for my family and other Christian families to share our beliefs and concerns in a respectable manner. This issue has generated many phone calls to our school and they've had an impact. This is the very reason Christians are needed in the public schools. (If God has led your family to a different educational choice, Amen. Still, as accountable believers, we share this opportunity.) Our public schools are the heart of need in our communities. Let's get engaged and use our voices not to make public schools Christian schools, but to use our influence in the world to fulfill the Great Commission.

At the time of this writing, our school has decided not to show the address to grades K-3 but are considering showing it to grades 4 and 5. My ten year old is pumped and salivating at the chance to speak up for Christ after the viewing. Isn't this the heart and attitude we aim to nurture in our children? Why stifle it? I pray God will use this situation to exercise my son's spiritual muscles and further equip him in his lifelong service to the Lord. I pray there will be those God has prepared to hear.

You know your family and your child. If you have equipped your child to think biblically in this fallen world, if you know your child is capable of critical thinking, if you know your child has the Holy Spirit living inside of him, if you sincerely walk with the Lord yourself, if you are willing to pray with and for you child, then take hold of this unique opportunity and send him to school on Tuesday, September 8th to be the voice, if solitary, that exalts the name of Christ for a time such as this.

If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for a time such as this. Esther 4:14

When God Brought Me Low

When God brought me low
My soul stilled
My spirit rejoiced and
My mind couldn't comprehend it
My heart split open
And laid exposed
When God brought me low
My vision improved
Faith is beautiful
Religion is ugly
When God brought me low
He allowed the pain but granted greater grace
When God brought me low
He knit my heart to His because
When God brought me low
He really brought me closer
Closer to
His mercy
His grace
His humility
His faithfulness
His servanthood
His suffering
His sovereignty
His holiness
His goodness
His blessing
His wisdom
He positioned me to soar higher
When God brought me low

Close of Summer

We are down to the last week of summer vacation. It’s the intermission at the theater. It’s the quiet hush that falls over the audience right after the lights dim and right before the curtain parts.
While I type this a familiar scene plays out in the backyard. Four kids who have played together all summer are stretched out on various patio chairs, cushions, and a plastic picnic table. The furniture has been arranged as they see fit, and they are sharing a large bag of potato chips. One darling is in her Sunday school dress. Another is in her big brother's football jersey and a pair of capris. The big boys, amazingly, have more than tolerated the company of these girls all summer. These lazy days are dwindling down as quickly as the potato chips they devour. Kickball games and target shooting in the backyard will soon be replaced by soccer and football practice. Wednesday night choir, sight words, reading logs, and nine o’clock bedtimes will take the place of snow cone runs, movie nights and bunking in brother’s room. Weekday mornings will be marked by backpacks, lunch money and jumping out of the carpool line before the bell rings, instead of sleeping in and tea party breakfasts.
This morning, in an effort to savor a fleeting summer day, I took the kids and the awesome poodle to a favorite park. I tried in vain to snap a handful of photos that would adequately capture the essence of this summer. My son shot some hoops (pretending he was playing "street ball"), the girls fought over who could hold the leash. They scaled the mysterious castle and shrilled at the pond full of tadpoles. We walked a long while. The oldest having compassion on the youngest after her legs gave out hoisted her up for a piggy back ride. In the corner of my eye, I caught a quick glimpse of the father he will be one day. I felt a familiar pain in my throat as my eyes welled up with tears. It's impossible to hang on to any one stage of their growing up or remember every detail as I want. Before he carefully sets her down, they will be grown. I remind myself holding on isn't the purpose of raising children. Not holding on but letting go. We inched our way down the steep hill. We crossed the bridge leading to the jungle gym. The youngest one (apparently recovered from her leg ache) runs ahead of us eager to show off her gymnastic skills on the monkey bars (she mastered going all the way across right before school let out in the spring). We walked some more. The leg pains have reappeared and I carry the baby, indeed my baby the rest of the way. I make an interesting discovery on our way out of the park – my dream house. How have I missed it all of these years? A white Victorian with black shutters. Perfection.
We ended our outing (right before lunch) at an ice cream shop. The blonde teenage girl takes our order: one cake batter with Butterfinger and two blue cotton candies with chocolate snow caps all in waffle cones. The vote is unanimous on the ride back home: these are the best ice cream cones ever. They chatter happily as I mentally and emotionally gather my crew and settle us in for Act 2.

Notes from Camp

From my ten year old (published with his permission)

Godly Friendship

Sally Clarkson blogging about her friend Phyllis:

“But, I take the luxury of making special time to get together with her because, I know, can count on the fact that she has been in the presence of the Lord and whatever we chit-chat about or whenever we share heart secrets, I know that I will be exposed to a heart that has been shaped by scripture, watered by faith and dwelling in the presence of the Lord. I know that just being with her will fill my cup, point me in the right direction, give me perspective. I also know that it has been her habit to walk with the Lord for years and years, one day--one devotional--one prayer at a time--so her wisdom is cumulative--years and years of experiences of seeing God's faithfulness and learning how to live by faith, and insight on how to look at life.”

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Money Saving Tip

I can't remember where I got this tip but it's a great one! I've been doing this for over a year now and it works well.

I love Mrs. Meyer's lavender scented fabric softner. It's expensive - however I can strech one bottle to last over two months (maybe three).

Here's how: I pour one capful of the fabric softner into a small tub (I clean and recycle those little Glad tubs the deli meat comes in) then fill the rest with water. I dip a small cloth (clean, recycled burp cloths actually) into the mixture and toss in the dryer with the wet clothes. The clothes come out just as soft and sweet smelling as if I used a whole capful per load!