Protect me? Comfort me? Like a mother hen?

Once again it has been made clear that God longs to be in relationship with us and that he never stops pursuing us-although we continue to fill our lives with everything else but Him. We escape through TV, shopping, friends, sleeping, eating-not to mention other addictions. We even busy ourselves with church stuff thinking that would fill voids within us or confirm that we are committed to him. Does it really do that?

Matthew 23:37[ Jesus Laments over Jerusalem ] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Two parts of this verse that jump out at me are, "How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings..." and the second part "but, you were not willing". There is a tenderness God wants to show us and he wants to brood over us and protect us, love on us and comfort us. Yet the latter part of that verse makes me think: Have there been times that I shot both the message and the messenger and didn't want to hear or "receive" the warmth of the wings of the mother hen because it wasn't the right mother hen, the right time or it wasn't glamorous enough? It just wasn't the right package? Was I not willing?

You'll do what? Lead me? And Carry Me?

In the midst of life's craziness one thing is certain:God & His word. It sounds so churchy and religious but, it's true! The crazy thing about it is that you don't always feel Him. One of the biggest revelations that I have learned over the last 8 years, 9 months,and 2 days of motherhood (not including the 41 week gestational period of my first born) is that, Isaiah 40:10-12 says, He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. That scripture doesn't evoke a picture shepherd who is impatient and yelling at the sheep because she is too slow, or disorganized or is late because she is trying to get her little lambs together. It tells me that the shepherd is tender to the sheep that is pregnant for the first or the millionth time. And he is all the more patient with the sheep that has many little lambs to take care of. He knows that it's a tough job-He has many lambs to take care of too.

No frills cell phone

I love how Dolly likes to show off her cell phone- or one of many of her mobile devices. The only thing this phone has going for it is that it's hot pink. It doesn't make any noise. The buttons don't go down when you press on them and there is some generic text message on the green paper screen. Despite the fact that it has no features, rest assured that Dolly will let the neighborhood know, by sheer volume of her voice that someone other than herself is handling her phone and she wants it back. That's my Dolly.

It bought me to tears

Today I was called to the computer to watch the video of the now famous Susan Boyle. Given the nature of the show she was on- and her age, I didn't know if she was "good". The audience was balking at her even before she sang and laughed even more when she compared herself to a character of Les Mis. Someone the audience probably never heard of. Out of this homely woman came a song that only she could sing with one of the most powerful, angelic voices I ever heard... No doubt more powerful in person. Yet my heart broke. So often we discredit those who are not as glamorous or not as rich or not as popular or socially graceful as ourselves. We write them off and look down on them without skipping a beat. We often do it so subtly that we hardly recognize that what we have done is blatantly prideful, disrespectful, ugly and wrong. But we don't feel bad about it because we believe in our hearts that we are just a little bit better than "they" are. And in the lyrics of DC Talk I say, "We all want to be loved, We all want just a little respect..... Tell me whats wrong with that?" Give a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

Why I do what I do... Part I

This is my favorite beach in Florida, Indian Rocks Beach. When I look at this picture, I feel peace and I feel that everything is alright in my world. Here is today's confession: I am a full time mom. My attention is not divided by a career and other hot pursuits that put my children and husband on the back burner. I know that there is a life lesson in every storm. I know that I have a heavenly who watches over me, walks beside me and gently guides me. I love the fact that when I struggle and cry out to Him, that He WILL answer me. I know that every seed that is being sown will eventually reap a harvest. I rest in the fact that the attitude I display while doing my work ( Diapers, Dishes, Spills, Blowing bubbles, dancing, Cooking, Cleaning and even answering the same question for the 100th time) is all an act of worship. I realize more and more how imperfect I am and how with every imperfection, God has an awesome opportunity to demonstrate his power through me to my husband, to my children, and to my friends. He works out of me those things that need to be worked out and works into me those things that I need the most.

Nothing in my life including my wonderful public education, complete with home ec and wood shop, never prepared me for what I am today. A lot of my mothering as been on the job training. Alot of my mothering has been watching others and doing the exact opposite. Alot of it has been praying for my unborn children-years in advance. Most of it is resting in the peace that God gives that I am on the right path by raising children who honor him. And resting in the fact that his word promisses to lead me into all truth- and that includes how to take care of all that I have been entrusted with.

Several years ago, I was at a party and an older woman asked me if I worked out side my home. I replied with a "What are you kidding me?" look on my face and then said, Yes, I take care of my children- out side of my home. I homeschool at home and outside my home. I Believe with all of my heart, despite what naysayers say that the college education you have or did not complete is Never wasted because you stay at home. I have a B.A. in Psychology, an A.A. of Arts, and a certification in Life Coaching and they are not wasted one moment as I work from home loving and caring for my family.

So whoever says you are throwing your degree away clearly only believes that you are only effective in this society, in this world if you are working 9-5, while someone else is raising your children and you are getting some kind of paycheck. Other than that you are useless.

Most people who disagree with your decision to homeschool feel intimidated by your audacity to believe that you are capable of teaching your own children- especially if you do not have a teaching degree.

Let me say that you have been homeschooling the day you brought your baby home. Teaching him the difference between night and day, teaching him to count, showing him his fingers and toes, teaching him his alphabet. Did you need a teaching degree to teach all of those things? You can cook for your family and if you can't you can read and follow a recipe, Did you need to go to Culinary Arts School for that? To the mothers and fathers who want to homeschool all I can say is that you already are. Take the next step.

In this fallen and broken world, I do what I do to grow well adjusted, Godfident, Children. And that's my occupation.

The Refridgerator Bandit

To protect the identity of the said innocent, I have posted a picture of a baby goat instead. There is a little girl no more than 2 that has been spotted hiding in the corner of the playroom and living room eating snacks that she has taken without permission. Last week I found this little person with a little box of pepperoni behind the chair in the living room. Her little mouth was greasy and when questioned about the incident, she denied even being at the crime scene (although the evidence was right next to her). Last night she sported a chai tea goatee. She got into Big D's chai tea and ate the powder mixture. This morning upon my arrive in the playroom there was a ball of cream cheese in the famous corner where the baby bandit takes her stash and secretly eats her loot. Of course I threw it out. Less than 3 hours later, I found shredded cheese in the same spot. The bandit blamed it on an older sibling. 1 hour prior to dinner, the bandit had a pound of cheese on the couch about to open it an eat it. I caught her red handed. I don't know when the bandit strikes because she is so discreet about it. But she leaves evidence behind that always points to her. Yet she manages to shrug her shoulders and purse her lips and sing out, "I'm Sowwy".

She's riding her tricycle

Dolly surprised us all yesterday when she started pedaling fast on her tricycle. She kept turning around checking to see if I was still holding on to the handle and pushing her. Little by little I let go and before I knew it, my little Dolly was all the way down the road. This is all happening too fast. What will she do next?