Hey Everybody! I am sorry it has been so long since I have posted......it has been a crazy month (more about that later)
This weekend I am going canoeing with the youth group. My kids are at my parents. I miss them already!! It is kind of strange not to worry about checking to be sure no one has to go potty before we leave or cutting some one's food up before they eat it!
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive! Check back early next week for a new post. Have a Great weekend!!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Who's got your back?
So, anyone who knows me well, knows that my summer motto is: Spend as much time as humanly possible at the pool! I guess the big reason is, I feel like it is the only place I can really relax. When I am at the pool there is no way I can be distracted by housework!
By this time of the summer, the kids are kind of done with the pool. They have already mastered the water slide and 3 of the 4 are allowed all access to the deep end and diving board so, the thrill is gone. In an effort to renew their interest and kill the boredom, I went to the store and bought some diving sticks and a fish diving set. The set included several small plastic fish, (none that could replace Mr. Goldberg) some shells, starfish, seahorses, a net to catch them and ONE larger neon green fish.
After about three and a half hours at the pool I decided it was time to face reality and head home to make supper. I began to round up the kids and their new favorite pool toys. Amazingly enough we had all but one! We were missing the ONE neon green fish. I was ready to cut our losses and head home. I'd had enough fish hunting at the pool for one week. But, Jake did not agree. He began to protest with large tears. Saying, "that one was my favorite!!"
I asked my other kids if they had the missing fish or knew where it was. Josh said, "Some kid took it. He said it was his and he took it home." Frustrated but still wanting to make every effort to recover our missing fish I asked the kids to walk around the pool and see if the kid had dropped it. A few minutes later Josh comes back pointing across the pool stating the kid still had our fish! I said, "Did you ask him for it?" Josh said that he had and the boy said, "NO!"
We've had encounters with this same kid earlier in the summer. He was hitting and pushing my kids around. At that time I had just instructed them to put distance between themselves and him. Reminding them that we are to "turn the other cheek." Today, however, he was hanging out with a group of boys that had been bullying my kids and their group of friends. This group of bullies had already tried to steal one of our super soakers and was using their own squirt guns to spray Josh and his friends with a mixture of sunscreen and water. I decided enough was enough, and I was NOT leaving without the fish!!
I handed Josh my swimsuit cover up and marched into the water. I tapped the boy on the shoulder and asked for the fish back. He said, "NO, it is mine." I said, "No it isn't, it is ours." With no further arguments the kid handed over the fish. As I walked back on shore and returned the fish to the kids they cheered! They asked how I got the fish back. I told them, "I've got your back!" At that moment, I was my kids' hero!
We all need a hero. My mom has been my hero many times too. Even today, she was willing to drop all she had on her plate at home (which is a lot!) and drive three hours to fill in for my babysitter tomorrow so I could go to work. But, truth be told, she can't always be my hero. But, God can. He can help us fight our battles and solve our problems. And sometimes when there is no solution He can give us peace to deal with the problem.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
God has our back!
By this time of the summer, the kids are kind of done with the pool. They have already mastered the water slide and 3 of the 4 are allowed all access to the deep end and diving board so, the thrill is gone. In an effort to renew their interest and kill the boredom, I went to the store and bought some diving sticks and a fish diving set. The set included several small plastic fish, (none that could replace Mr. Goldberg) some shells, starfish, seahorses, a net to catch them and ONE larger neon green fish.
After about three and a half hours at the pool I decided it was time to face reality and head home to make supper. I began to round up the kids and their new favorite pool toys. Amazingly enough we had all but one! We were missing the ONE neon green fish. I was ready to cut our losses and head home. I'd had enough fish hunting at the pool for one week. But, Jake did not agree. He began to protest with large tears. Saying, "that one was my favorite!!"
I asked my other kids if they had the missing fish or knew where it was. Josh said, "Some kid took it. He said it was his and he took it home." Frustrated but still wanting to make every effort to recover our missing fish I asked the kids to walk around the pool and see if the kid had dropped it. A few minutes later Josh comes back pointing across the pool stating the kid still had our fish! I said, "Did you ask him for it?" Josh said that he had and the boy said, "NO!"
We've had encounters with this same kid earlier in the summer. He was hitting and pushing my kids around. At that time I had just instructed them to put distance between themselves and him. Reminding them that we are to "turn the other cheek." Today, however, he was hanging out with a group of boys that had been bullying my kids and their group of friends. This group of bullies had already tried to steal one of our super soakers and was using their own squirt guns to spray Josh and his friends with a mixture of sunscreen and water. I decided enough was enough, and I was NOT leaving without the fish!!
I handed Josh my swimsuit cover up and marched into the water. I tapped the boy on the shoulder and asked for the fish back. He said, "NO, it is mine." I said, "No it isn't, it is ours." With no further arguments the kid handed over the fish. As I walked back on shore and returned the fish to the kids they cheered! They asked how I got the fish back. I told them, "I've got your back!" At that moment, I was my kids' hero!
We all need a hero. My mom has been my hero many times too. Even today, she was willing to drop all she had on her plate at home (which is a lot!) and drive three hours to fill in for my babysitter tomorrow so I could go to work. But, truth be told, she can't always be my hero. But, God can. He can help us fight our battles and solve our problems. And sometimes when there is no solution He can give us peace to deal with the problem.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
God has our back!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Finding Mr. Goldberg....
It is funny how kids latch on to a particular toy. Especially, one that is small and seemingly insignificant compared to all the others.....Last summer at the Casey Popcorn Festival Hunter won a small plastic goldfish toy, which is fondly referred to in our home as "Mr. Goldberg." Mr. Goldberg often will be found resting in a jar of water (his fish bowl) on my counter. He eats breakfast with Hunter on a regular basis. Mr. Goldberg has also been on trips back home with us for visits and has always managed to make it home and back to his jar of water.
Today, Hunter thought that Mr. Goldberg would enjoy a trip to the swimming pool too! I was a little unsure, afraid that Mr. Goldberg may get lost in such a "big" body of water. Hunter assured me that he would keep track of him. So, Mr. Goldberg joined us at the pool.
We had been there for a couple of hours and Hunter had lived up to his promise always aware of Mr. Goldberg's where abouts. Then, shortly before it was time for us to leave we realized Mr. Goldberg was MIA! I could not imagine leaving with out him and Hunter's disappointment. And it wasn't like I could just go to Walmart and just buy a new one! I had no idea how I could replace Mr. Goldberg. There was no way we could leave without him.
By this time of day the pool was pretty empty so I decided to sweep the pool looking for our missing Mr. Goldberg. My friend and I walked/swam every inch of the shallow end of the pool looking for our missing fish. I began to pray as I often do when I cannot find something.
As we were carrying out our search and rescue for Hunter's missing "pet" I began to think of the parable of the "Lost Sheep." The shepherd would leave his 99 sheep to go and find the one. The parable is found a couple of times in the new testament, always talking about the lengths God, our Shepherd will go to come for us when we are lost. But, I thought also of how we are to follow His example. We are to reach out to others who maybe "lost."
I began to think of the scripture in Galatians's that says we are to reach out to help our friends who maybe struggling with sin. It is our job to help restore them. Not to judge them but encourage and support them. Gently point them back in the direction of Christ. I contemplated the lengths I went to find Mr. Goldberg, and would I or have I gone to those lengths to help friends I knew were struggling.
"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so completes Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." Galatians's 6:2-3 (The Message)
My prayer is that the next time I know a friend is struggling that I may go to such lengths to share in their burdens and help them find their way home.
By the way, we found Mr. Goldberg and he is safe and sound is his jar of water on my counter!
Today, Hunter thought that Mr. Goldberg would enjoy a trip to the swimming pool too! I was a little unsure, afraid that Mr. Goldberg may get lost in such a "big" body of water. Hunter assured me that he would keep track of him. So, Mr. Goldberg joined us at the pool.
We had been there for a couple of hours and Hunter had lived up to his promise always aware of Mr. Goldberg's where abouts. Then, shortly before it was time for us to leave we realized Mr. Goldberg was MIA! I could not imagine leaving with out him and Hunter's disappointment. And it wasn't like I could just go to Walmart and just buy a new one! I had no idea how I could replace Mr. Goldberg. There was no way we could leave without him.
By this time of day the pool was pretty empty so I decided to sweep the pool looking for our missing Mr. Goldberg. My friend and I walked/swam every inch of the shallow end of the pool looking for our missing fish. I began to pray as I often do when I cannot find something.
As we were carrying out our search and rescue for Hunter's missing "pet" I began to think of the parable of the "Lost Sheep." The shepherd would leave his 99 sheep to go and find the one. The parable is found a couple of times in the new testament, always talking about the lengths God, our Shepherd will go to come for us when we are lost. But, I thought also of how we are to follow His example. We are to reach out to others who maybe "lost."
I began to think of the scripture in Galatians's that says we are to reach out to help our friends who maybe struggling with sin. It is our job to help restore them. Not to judge them but encourage and support them. Gently point them back in the direction of Christ. I contemplated the lengths I went to find Mr. Goldberg, and would I or have I gone to those lengths to help friends I knew were struggling.
"Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so completes Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived." Galatians's 6:2-3 (The Message)
My prayer is that the next time I know a friend is struggling that I may go to such lengths to share in their burdens and help them find their way home.
By the way, we found Mr. Goldberg and he is safe and sound is his jar of water on my counter!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Time.......Have you mastered it or has it mastered you?
Tick, tick, tick, tick.....That is the sound I hear in my head every minute of every hour of everyday! It is like a ticking time bomb that I am slave to......some days I fear that if I don't pay full attention to the minutes ticking away and making the "most" of my time then I will explode!! I know, I know, I need help!
About a week ago we were at the pool and Josh noticed there was a girl from his class there too. I think he had a crush on her. He would sort of play in circles around her.....ever aware of her presents but too shy to actually say "Hi!" After about 45 minutes she left with her family and Josh never said hi. He looked at me and said, "I wish I could turn back time." I said, "Why?" He replied, "because I would go back and say 'hi' to her." I asked him if he regretted it and he said "YES!".....
Josh's comment of turning back time reminded me of a devotional I read about a month ago. There was one line in it that has been gnawing at me ever since......."Learn to master time, or it will master you." WHOA!! I think I have been mastered!!
Each day that I wake up, I think of my day in spans of time. Like, "OK, I have from 9 - 12 to clean the house, do laundry, go through my coupons and adds. Pick kids up at 12, feed them lunch and have them change....pool from 1 to 3:30p then home for showers and dinner, then off to Vacation Bible School, home Pj's on and to bed..." Only to get up the next day and do it all again! Constantly aware of the clock, and NEVER accomplishing what I had set out to in my allotted amount of time....forever frustrated!!
This is not what Jesus meant when He said that He came that we may have "abundant life." God is the Creator of time. His word says that "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8 God is not bound by time. I know that when I turn my focus toward HIM instead of on my impossible-to-live-by agenda, the chains of my ticking "time" bomb begin to fade.
Josh's comment about turning back time hit close to my heart. I began to think about not making the best use of my time with my kids and one day I will wake up and they will be gone...just like Josh's crush....and I will be the one wishing to turn back time.
I have not learned to master time but, I am working on it. My prayer is....
"Teach us (me) to number our (my) days aright, that we (I) may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
About a week ago we were at the pool and Josh noticed there was a girl from his class there too. I think he had a crush on her. He would sort of play in circles around her.....ever aware of her presents but too shy to actually say "Hi!" After about 45 minutes she left with her family and Josh never said hi. He looked at me and said, "I wish I could turn back time." I said, "Why?" He replied, "because I would go back and say 'hi' to her." I asked him if he regretted it and he said "YES!".....
Josh's comment of turning back time reminded me of a devotional I read about a month ago. There was one line in it that has been gnawing at me ever since......."Learn to master time, or it will master you." WHOA!! I think I have been mastered!!
Each day that I wake up, I think of my day in spans of time. Like, "OK, I have from 9 - 12 to clean the house, do laundry, go through my coupons and adds. Pick kids up at 12, feed them lunch and have them change....pool from 1 to 3:30p then home for showers and dinner, then off to Vacation Bible School, home Pj's on and to bed..." Only to get up the next day and do it all again! Constantly aware of the clock, and NEVER accomplishing what I had set out to in my allotted amount of time....forever frustrated!!
This is not what Jesus meant when He said that He came that we may have "abundant life." God is the Creator of time. His word says that "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8 God is not bound by time. I know that when I turn my focus toward HIM instead of on my impossible-to-live-by agenda, the chains of my ticking "time" bomb begin to fade.
Josh's comment about turning back time hit close to my heart. I began to think about not making the best use of my time with my kids and one day I will wake up and they will be gone...just like Josh's crush....and I will be the one wishing to turn back time.
I have not learned to master time but, I am working on it. My prayer is....
"Teach us (me) to number our (my) days aright, that we (I) may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
"Kid College"
It is summer time!! Love it! To me, summer has always meant staying up late, sleeping in, swimming, hanging out with friends, vacation, baseball games, little to no responsibility, and most of all trying to forget and stay as far away from school as possible!! So, since I am now an adult and cannot follow my own expectations of summer I have tried to allow my kiddos to enjoy summer the way I did. But, this summer is slightly different.....
If you have read my prior posts "Joshua" and "Hunter" you know that this school year was very difficult academically. Both of my boys have had real struggles making the expected progress for their grade levels. So, as we were praying for God to give us direction in how to help our boys succeed we were given the opportunity to send them to a Special Needs summer reading program at Eastern Illinois University. The program is from 9am to 12pm Monday thru Thursday for the month of July. Feeling that this was a complete answer to prayer we signed all three of our school age children up for it.
We talked to the kids about it when we signed them up, calling it "Kid College". They were still in school at the time and had not had a taste of freedom (from school) yet. So, they were actually quite cooperative and excited. At the time we were signing them up a part of me felt guilty, like I was taking their summer away.....robbing them of something....But, I knew that with all the best intentions in the world I would not be able to give them the extra help they needed with reading.
Last night we were at the pool and one of their friends was asking about planning a sleepover. I said, "Well the kids have to get up in the morning for summer school." That was it!! The switch was flipped and the excitement for "Kid College" was suddenly replaced with dread and despair!! For the following 14 hours I heard nothing but complaining....."Mom I don't want to go!" "You are taking our summer from us!" "WHY are YOU doing this to US???" Jason said, "They act like we are sending them in front of the firing squad!" I so badly wanted to fold....let them stay home...have sleep overs and sleep in. But, I knew that we had made this decision with THEIR best interest in mind!
As the kids were complaining to me, asking me why I had done this to them, and digging their heels in each step of the way, I could not help but think of times in my life when God had made plans for me with my best interest in mind and I was the one digging my heels in and complaining. One instance in particular was moving away from our families.
For several years my husband had talked about moving, going to seminary somewhere far away, or looking for a church position away from our hometown. And for years I dug my heels in. I would say things like, "You can go ahead and go away to seminary, Josh and I are staying here." or "My kids are graduating in Blue and White!!" (Our hometown school colors) The last thing I wanted to do was move my kids away from their grandparents and extended family. God had other plans.......
Fast forward several years and we are now settled in to a new "hometown" 3 hours away from our families. At the time it seemed so scary and unfair that God would ask such a thing of us. To move away from all we had ever known....way outside our comfort zone. He (God) had asked me to do the one thing I had said for years that I did NOT want to do. But, if you asked me today if I would do it all over again I would say "ABSOLUTELY!!" I would not trade it for the world now! In moving away from our hometown I feel we have the room to be who God created us to be. Don't get me wrong...it has been hard and I miss our family terribly! But, I know that God has used it to grow me in ways that would not have been possible if we had not followed the plans He had for us.
The next time I start to dig my heels in against the plans God has for me I hope to remember that He has my best interest in mind just as I have my kids' best interest in mind. There is a scripture that reminds me of this. I have it engraved on the front of my Bible.....
"For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
By the way, the kids LOVED "Kids College" and cannot wait to go back tomorrow! Jake wishes he could go too!
If you have read my prior posts "Joshua" and "Hunter" you know that this school year was very difficult academically. Both of my boys have had real struggles making the expected progress for their grade levels. So, as we were praying for God to give us direction in how to help our boys succeed we were given the opportunity to send them to a Special Needs summer reading program at Eastern Illinois University. The program is from 9am to 12pm Monday thru Thursday for the month of July. Feeling that this was a complete answer to prayer we signed all three of our school age children up for it.
We talked to the kids about it when we signed them up, calling it "Kid College". They were still in school at the time and had not had a taste of freedom (from school) yet. So, they were actually quite cooperative and excited. At the time we were signing them up a part of me felt guilty, like I was taking their summer away.....robbing them of something....But, I knew that with all the best intentions in the world I would not be able to give them the extra help they needed with reading.
Last night we were at the pool and one of their friends was asking about planning a sleepover. I said, "Well the kids have to get up in the morning for summer school." That was it!! The switch was flipped and the excitement for "Kid College" was suddenly replaced with dread and despair!! For the following 14 hours I heard nothing but complaining....."Mom I don't want to go!" "You are taking our summer from us!" "WHY are YOU doing this to US???" Jason said, "They act like we are sending them in front of the firing squad!" I so badly wanted to fold....let them stay home...have sleep overs and sleep in. But, I knew that we had made this decision with THEIR best interest in mind!
As the kids were complaining to me, asking me why I had done this to them, and digging their heels in each step of the way, I could not help but think of times in my life when God had made plans for me with my best interest in mind and I was the one digging my heels in and complaining. One instance in particular was moving away from our families.
For several years my husband had talked about moving, going to seminary somewhere far away, or looking for a church position away from our hometown. And for years I dug my heels in. I would say things like, "You can go ahead and go away to seminary, Josh and I are staying here." or "My kids are graduating in Blue and White!!" (Our hometown school colors) The last thing I wanted to do was move my kids away from their grandparents and extended family. God had other plans.......
Fast forward several years and we are now settled in to a new "hometown" 3 hours away from our families. At the time it seemed so scary and unfair that God would ask such a thing of us. To move away from all we had ever known....way outside our comfort zone. He (God) had asked me to do the one thing I had said for years that I did NOT want to do. But, if you asked me today if I would do it all over again I would say "ABSOLUTELY!!" I would not trade it for the world now! In moving away from our hometown I feel we have the room to be who God created us to be. Don't get me wrong...it has been hard and I miss our family terribly! But, I know that God has used it to grow me in ways that would not have been possible if we had not followed the plans He had for us.
The next time I start to dig my heels in against the plans God has for me I hope to remember that He has my best interest in mind just as I have my kids' best interest in mind. There is a scripture that reminds me of this. I have it engraved on the front of my Bible.....
"For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
By the way, the kids LOVED "Kids College" and cannot wait to go back tomorrow! Jake wishes he could go too!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Lessons from a Cereal Box Toy.....
I am a crazy couponer! I love to get great deals!! Since becoming a crazy couponer we have switched from generic cereals to name brand cereals because I can get them cheaper. Along with the switch comes all the benefits of the name brand cereals.....which includes TOYS in the cereal box!! This is something my kids are not well acquainted with. So as I was getting ready for work yesterday morning, the kids were in the kitchen getting breakfast and WW III broke out!! All over a little piece of plastic.....to toy in the cereal box.
For the last 24 hours I have thought over and over about that battle. My kids have more toys then they could begin to play with up stairs in their rooms and yet they were fighting over a little piece of plastic that would hold their interest for a total of maybe 10 minutes. I recently blogged about "A Lesson in Thankfulness" but, that was a lesson I learned in thankfulness......one I don't think my children have learned yet, and it is my job to teach them.
I didn't grow up "poor" but, I there were many things my parents could not afford to give us. I wore hand me down clothes and did not get all the latest and greatest toys that came along. We did not eat out often and did not take family vacations. My dad worked two jobs most of my young years to make ends meet. So, as a parent myself I guess I wanted to give my kids some of the things my parents could not afford to give us. My kids have Nintendo DS's, Nintendo Wii, each one has a TV in their room, and many of the most popular toys that have come out. There are still things I cannot afford to give them but, they do not want for much!!
Lately I have noticed more and more how they have grown to expect things rather than appreciating what they do have. It is not their fault. I have created the situation. I read a blog today called "Cultivating A Grateful Heart" at www.drkathykoch.com, she talks about how children today have so many material possessions that it dulls their level of gratitude. How can they be thankful for what they have come to expect. Dr. Kathy quotes a colleague that said, “How can children be thankful if they always get what they want simply by letting it be known. I believe sometimes the most loving thing we can do for our children is to deny them.”
In our relationship with God as our Father, He does not give us EVERYTHING we ask for because He knows what is best for us. It is not in our best interest to just hand us every little whim and desire we ask for. I need to follow His example and ask Him for wisdom to know how to turn this situation around and begin to "cultivate a grateful heart."
A large part of gratefulness is being content, being satisfied with what we have; not always wanting for more. Paul models a grateful heart in Philippians....my prayer is that I will model this to my children and someday they will be a model of a grateful heart to their children.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12
For the last 24 hours I have thought over and over about that battle. My kids have more toys then they could begin to play with up stairs in their rooms and yet they were fighting over a little piece of plastic that would hold their interest for a total of maybe 10 minutes. I recently blogged about "A Lesson in Thankfulness" but, that was a lesson I learned in thankfulness......one I don't think my children have learned yet, and it is my job to teach them.
I didn't grow up "poor" but, I there were many things my parents could not afford to give us. I wore hand me down clothes and did not get all the latest and greatest toys that came along. We did not eat out often and did not take family vacations. My dad worked two jobs most of my young years to make ends meet. So, as a parent myself I guess I wanted to give my kids some of the things my parents could not afford to give us. My kids have Nintendo DS's, Nintendo Wii, each one has a TV in their room, and many of the most popular toys that have come out. There are still things I cannot afford to give them but, they do not want for much!!
Lately I have noticed more and more how they have grown to expect things rather than appreciating what they do have. It is not their fault. I have created the situation. I read a blog today called "Cultivating A Grateful Heart" at www.drkathykoch.com, she talks about how children today have so many material possessions that it dulls their level of gratitude. How can they be thankful for what they have come to expect. Dr. Kathy quotes a colleague that said, “How can children be thankful if they always get what they want simply by letting it be known. I believe sometimes the most loving thing we can do for our children is to deny them.”
In our relationship with God as our Father, He does not give us EVERYTHING we ask for because He knows what is best for us. It is not in our best interest to just hand us every little whim and desire we ask for. I need to follow His example and ask Him for wisdom to know how to turn this situation around and begin to "cultivate a grateful heart."
A large part of gratefulness is being content, being satisfied with what we have; not always wanting for more. Paul models a grateful heart in Philippians....my prayer is that I will model this to my children and someday they will be a model of a grateful heart to their children.
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians 4:12
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