Friday, March 23, 2012
Peace......
It's rarely quiet in the house when I'm trying to prepare dinner. By that time of the day we're all tired and a little grumpy. So I usually have the kids at my feet constantly wanting something and/or arguing wih each other. However, on this particular day things were so calm. As a mom, having a quiet house strikes fear in me. I knew the kids were probably up to no good. I was wrong. This is what I found. Sweet baby, it was just too precious not to post.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Enough
I read something recently that completely describes how I’ve been feeling. I’m so frustrated by our society when it comes to materialism. Enough is enough. But since I’m so bad with words I just haven’t been able to express it correctly. The paragraphs below nailed it, it’s lengthy but worth your time. It’s from “Small Things with Great Love” by Margot Starbuck. After reading it, think about what you’re doing in your life to make a change and what you’re doing to teach your kids about “enough”.
“Enough can be a little unwieldy for North Americans like me to grasp. Because we’re bombarded by advertisements insisting that we deserve more and more and more, enough can be a slippery concept for us.
I embrace enough when I decide, for a moment or a season, to not reach for gas station sodas or Gatorade or vitamin water or chocolate milks for $1.69 a piece because I have to access to clean, drinkable tap water at home or even in the gross gas station restroom.
When a parent decides not to buy his kid a new backpack or soccer ball or wardrobe she doesn’t need, even though advertisers try to convince him that, because it’s back-to-school season, his daughter deserves them, he practices enough.
When I decide that the car I’m driving, while not the least bit cool, is entirely functional, I choose for enough.
When my husband bravely decides that our TV is adequate, even though it’s a bulky tube television and not a flat screen, he settles for enough.
When a couple designing a new home can easily afford granite counters but chooses linoleum because it will serve their purposes, they decide for enough.
And when the same couple takes a long hard look at what they actually need and chooses to stay in the home they already have, they vote for enough.
As we live into the pattern of Jesus, trusting in God’s good provision, we begin to say “No thanks” to that which we do not need. Though it’s not nearly as much fun as saying “Just one won’t hurt,” or “I’ll take one in every color,” or “The largest flat screen you’ve got,” or “Supersize me,” it’s a way that we walk – really walk – with Jesus.
The book “Living More with Less” shares the observation of one missionary who lived in East Africa. Bertha Beachy notes, “North Americans find it very hard to believe that their wealthy ways of living affect poor people on other continents. But in Africa, people are fully convinced that North Americans and their actions strongly influence their lives.”
I confess that I have to really concentrate in order to hear what my African sisters and brothers are saying. The voices of the poor simply aren’t as loud or demanding as the ones constantly insisting that I deserve to satisfy my every whim. They’re not taking out ads in Sunday’s paper or buying airtime on Home & Garden Television. When I really focus, though, and when I do pay attention to the voices of the poor, I hear in them God’s own wisdom.
Whether that reality – that my more-than-enough matters – becomes bad news for the poor or good news for them is up to me. And you.
What each one of us does with our more-than-enough is a decision that’s already in our hands. It is bad news for the poor when my more is slowly dribbled away on sale-rack shoes and electronic gadgets and rarely used tools that are just as easily borrowed.
It is good news for the poor, however, if, when I reach enough, I give thanks and do a little sharing. Those of us who have choices about what we do with our extra resources are invited into this wonderful possibility: that when we choose to spend less on ourselves, we have the privilege of spending more on what moves the heart of God.
Spend less. Love more.”
“Enough can be a little unwieldy for North Americans like me to grasp. Because we’re bombarded by advertisements insisting that we deserve more and more and more, enough can be a slippery concept for us.
I embrace enough when I decide, for a moment or a season, to not reach for gas station sodas or Gatorade or vitamin water or chocolate milks for $1.69 a piece because I have to access to clean, drinkable tap water at home or even in the gross gas station restroom.
When a parent decides not to buy his kid a new backpack or soccer ball or wardrobe she doesn’t need, even though advertisers try to convince him that, because it’s back-to-school season, his daughter deserves them, he practices enough.
When I decide that the car I’m driving, while not the least bit cool, is entirely functional, I choose for enough.
When my husband bravely decides that our TV is adequate, even though it’s a bulky tube television and not a flat screen, he settles for enough.
When a couple designing a new home can easily afford granite counters but chooses linoleum because it will serve their purposes, they decide for enough.
And when the same couple takes a long hard look at what they actually need and chooses to stay in the home they already have, they vote for enough.
As we live into the pattern of Jesus, trusting in God’s good provision, we begin to say “No thanks” to that which we do not need. Though it’s not nearly as much fun as saying “Just one won’t hurt,” or “I’ll take one in every color,” or “The largest flat screen you’ve got,” or “Supersize me,” it’s a way that we walk – really walk – with Jesus.
The book “Living More with Less” shares the observation of one missionary who lived in East Africa. Bertha Beachy notes, “North Americans find it very hard to believe that their wealthy ways of living affect poor people on other continents. But in Africa, people are fully convinced that North Americans and their actions strongly influence their lives.”
I confess that I have to really concentrate in order to hear what my African sisters and brothers are saying. The voices of the poor simply aren’t as loud or demanding as the ones constantly insisting that I deserve to satisfy my every whim. They’re not taking out ads in Sunday’s paper or buying airtime on Home & Garden Television. When I really focus, though, and when I do pay attention to the voices of the poor, I hear in them God’s own wisdom.
Whether that reality – that my more-than-enough matters – becomes bad news for the poor or good news for them is up to me. And you.
What each one of us does with our more-than-enough is a decision that’s already in our hands. It is bad news for the poor when my more is slowly dribbled away on sale-rack shoes and electronic gadgets and rarely used tools that are just as easily borrowed.
It is good news for the poor, however, if, when I reach enough, I give thanks and do a little sharing. Those of us who have choices about what we do with our extra resources are invited into this wonderful possibility: that when we choose to spend less on ourselves, we have the privilege of spending more on what moves the heart of God.
Spend less. Love more.”
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Science Experiment
Benjamin was curious about fizz (the fizz in soda drinks). He doesn't drink sodas so "fizz" is something new to him. For an example of fizz I found some club soda in our refrigerator, however, it was flat so there wasn't much fizz. So I started digging around and thanks to Daddy we found the only thing in our fridge that would produce fizz (refer to first picture below...yes, I was desperate because I certainly didn't want to pass up a learning opportunity). Of course, he wasn't allowed to drink it. So as we were discussing the fizz I suddenly realized how forgetful I am. Baking soda and vinegar. Perfect! He had a blast mixing the two together and learning about chemical reactions.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Arboretum
With David traveling so much lately and with the weather being so nice we've been trying to come up with lots of things to do to stay busy besides just going to the gym. So last week one of our adventures included going to the Arboretum and staying for almost 3 hours. The kids loved it. We brought plenty of snacks and had the place almost to ourselves. That's the beauty of going on a weekday! Pardon all the pictures I've posted....I couldn't help myself.
ALWAYS take time to stop and smell the flowers.
Pensive.
Guess she was thirsty.....
R-U-N!!!!!!!
As soon as I snap the picture Savannah spots a squirrel.
Gotta chase it now.....
Silly kids.
Hey Savannah wait for us!
Well, there goes Benjamin now.
I'm not sure what they're doing here but I thought it was a cute picture.
Cool dude.
We found a little stage. This is Benjamin putting on a show and Savannah is preparing to play "dead" for her show.
Snack time! They're pretending to eat like dogs here....I'm SOOOO glad we were the only ones around.
Sweetness.
Playing house.
She's definitely a girl...playing house some more.
Uh oh. Another squirrel. Gotta chase it. Poor squirrel.
ALWAYS take time to stop and smell the flowers.
Pensive.
Guess she was thirsty.....
R-U-N!!!!!!!
As soon as I snap the picture Savannah spots a squirrel.
Gotta chase it now.....
Silly kids.
Hey Savannah wait for us!
Well, there goes Benjamin now.
I'm not sure what they're doing here but I thought it was a cute picture.
Cool dude.
We found a little stage. This is Benjamin putting on a show and Savannah is preparing to play "dead" for her show.
Snack time! They're pretending to eat like dogs here....I'm SOOOO glad we were the only ones around.
Sweetness.
Playing house.
She's definitely a girl...playing house some more.
Uh oh. Another squirrel. Gotta chase it. Poor squirrel.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
First Haircut
I'm just now posting this but about a month ago Savannah had her first haircut. She did really well. I think she actually even enjoyed it!
Before
During
This is the best after shot she would give me.
Before
During
This is the best after shot she would give me.
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