Inspiration

The kids and I got home a little while ago. Everyone has crashed from their sugar-highs and from all the fun and excitement tonight. Kevin has been home and in bed for hours, as he came back early because he needs to be up extra-early for an exam tomorrow. So, here I sit, trying hard not to eat anymore of the kids' candy and to ignore the mess that I could be doing something about. I suppose it'll be there tomorrow.

Before I get to what the title refers, I have to share what I overheard my adorable and math-minded son say tonight in the car. "Hey, you know those little trapezoid-shaped candies? I got five of 'em!" It took a minute, but I realized he meant Rolos. Never thought about that angle before.

I was checking out the Girltalk blog a minute ago, and spent some time reading through the ideas from different women about how they 'do their husbands good' (Prov. 31:12). Wow! Am I a slacker! I feel so convicted about my lack of creativity in making my husband feel loved, respected, and honored. I really am a selfish wife, so often thinking about my work load or my needs or feelings. I am determined to try harder in this area and begin striving to take care of Kevin even (gasp!) before I take care of me.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:4 ESV

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31 ESV

Happy Reformation Day!

We are redirecting our focus, as of the last couple of years, to learning about and celebrating Reformation Day on October 31 instead of Halloween.  The kids are excited as long as candy is involved, and Kevin and I love the fact that (hopefully) they will grow up with an appreciation of this pivotal time in history.  

We plan to read this together, sing A Mighty Fortress is Our God, which Martin Luther wrote, and have fun tonight dressing up as Bible characters and playing reformation-themed games with friends.  

Enjoy your day with your family!

Music

Kevin and I typically are not music-buyers; most of the cd's we own were gifts from my Mom! I have actually purchased two in the past year that I really enjoy. The first is Valley of Vision, from Sovereign Grace Ministries. The instrumentation and vocals are beautiful, and the lyrics are based on prayers of the Puritans. It was only $7, I think on the SG website. The second cd (that I am actually listening to right now) I bought at the True Woman Conference, and it's Keith and Kristyn Getty's In Christ Alone. They led worship during the conference. Their music is less 'worship'-genre, and more like modern hymns. The kids and I have been singing the first stanza to Speak, O Lord together before our Bible time together in the mornings.

Speak, O Lord as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy Word
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen in us
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak, O Lord and fulfil in us
All Your purposes for Your glory

Nature Walk

Autumn Morning

It's a lazy fall morning, the temperature outside being somewhere in the 50's, and it's cloudy, too. We have a field trip planned this afternoon, so we have done little in the way of school this morning, but that's okay. The kids are playing quietly in their rooms (not by choice: I banished them there after lots of arguments), and Annesley is sleeping.

Last night I spent some time cleaning out the basement. Sometimes those projects just begin even when they aren't planned; suddenly I just feel ready to tackle something, so there I go. I think the onset of Christmas shopping affects me this way every year. I start mentally calculating the influx of toys that's about to occur. 6 kids x about 8 bigger toys each (this includes all the gifts from grandparents, aunts and uncles, and us--though A. probably won't get this much this year) + lots of other little stuff. And we have two kids' birthdays in December. Now I don't mean to sound scrooge-y, and my kids certainly aren't complaining, but you have to make way or you'll soon be drowning. I love to see the excitement in the kids' eyes and the fun they have as they enjoy their new stuff, but deep down inside I wish for simpler times.

How do you resist the materialism of the era we live in without making your kids feel cheated?

Better Late...

Although Lily's birthday was a week ago, we have spread out the celebrations for the past two. We had a little family party when Kevin's Mom was here two weeks ago, and since that was the weekend that Kevin and I were gone on our little getaway, Keely happily agreed to plan and make the cake for me. You can see from the pictures that Lily requested a pig, and I thought that Keels did a fine job with the decorating. Unfortunately we didn't have enough birthday candles, so the '3' plus the other singles made six.

This morning Lily and I went out for her 'birthday breakfast', which is a tradition we began last year. Each child gets to go to breakfast alone with his or her parent of choice. It has really been a great way to give them some special one-on-one time, and I think they all really look forward to their 'morning'. Today we chose McDonald's, not for the cuisine, but for the proximity to the thrift store, where Lily wanted to s-t-r-e-t-c-h her $12 of birthday money. That she did, getting 4 stuffed animals and still leaving the store with $8. We had a great time together. She's a funny, insightful little person that I feel very blessed to be Mommy to.

True Woman Conference

I loved, loved, the time in Chicago for the True Woman Conference. I loved getting time with my dear friend Dawn to talk uninterrupted (and TALK we did), meeting Dawn's Aunt Debi and Uncle Ed who showered us with wonderful hospitality and care, and being encouraged and challenged by all the conference speakers. I haven't had a chance to even review my notes, but there was so much good teaching that I know I'll be chewing on it for weeks to come.

And can I just say that I have the best husband ever? He not only had all six kids by himself all weekend, but he managed to carry on with school on Thursday and Friday and the house was clean when I got back and they all actually had fun with Daddy. Okay, honey; enough's enough. You're making me look bad now.

Touche

I am a huge Jane Austen fan.  And I have been for about 15 years, since I first read Pride and Predjudice at the recommendation of Kevin's sister, Mandy.  It's a good story:  funny, romantic, and full of amusing characters.  I haven't seen the latest movie about Jane Austen, but sometime I'd like to...but anyway, I thought that this piece on Mr. Darcey was on target.  The first time I heard someone liken romance books for women to pornography for men, I was appalled.  But, I have come to believe it's true.  Even the 'respectable' ones can be, if their fictional men become the standard in our minds.  

I don't plan on packing away my Austen books, but I think I will refrain from buying that 'I heart Mr. Darcey' t-shirt.  :)

Art

This weekend Kevin and I went to the art museum to see an exhibit that I had heard about. It was really enjoyable; I love marveling at the beauty rendered in some of the pieces. Some. We tried to keep a straight face around some pieces like this one: Here's what the description says on the Nelson-Atkins website:

Rothko’s painting, much like a void, allows the viewer an opportunity to confront the self and discover the universe anew. The artist believed that his work offered a ritual passage to a sacred realm.

O-kay. We did see some really wonderful work, like this one, by Augustus Egg: Worldviews really are communicated by visual artists, just as they are by writers, musicians, and singers. In my humble and wholly uneducated opinion, true art reflects something of the beauty and reality of God's creation. Even modern art, though not my personal favorite, can be beautiful, but it seems that most new art celebrates the ugly, the deformed, the perverse, the chaotic. Christian artists, where are you? Rise up!

WooHoo!

I am so very excited that tomorrow my friend Dawn and I are going to Chicago to the TrueWoman '08 conference! Can't wait to hear all the wonderful speakers and be encouraged. I'll share pictures when we get back.

At the Cross

I've had this song on my mind last night and today and it has been a great comfort. Thought I would share...

At the Cross
Issac Watts/Ralph E. Hudson

Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sov'reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While Calvary's cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.

Chorus:
At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Update--summarized

Here's what's been going on here. I'll make it fast.

1. Last couple of weeks have been stressful and busy. I am blaming my emotional instability on hormones. That's my excuse.

2. My lovely Mom-in-law just left a little while ago after a fun visit this weekend. She is such a blessing.

3. Kevin and I were able to get away for a night and day and enjoy quiet meals together, a movie (Fireproof-starts kinda rough, but gets really good, so hang in there), and lots of time to talk. I really love that guy. And I really love my mother-in-law for bringing him into the world and watching our progeny.

4. We had a fun little birthday celebration for Lily this afternoon. No big party this year, but I think Lily enjoyed the cake, ice cream, and presents just the same. :)

5. Blogging has been hard to do lately: hard to find time and hard to write, but I'm going to try to get back in the swing of it.

6. God is faithful and good, all the time, even during the crazy and trying times.

Wednesday

Very strange this morning to be downstairs making a bottle instead of being the bottle. Sad, but life marches on, doesn't it?