Family focused, eco friendly , ideas to celebrate Christmas

Okay last time I threw out ideas for activities to do as a family. This time I am going to focus on more eco friendly gifts that don't require a lot of wrapping paper, and will not take up a lot of space. Gift that keep giving .... and giving : memberships and subscriptions.

Christmas gifts Part 2:

-membership to AAA. Roadside assistance, plus discounts on hotels, airfare, rental cars etc. This is great for the single lady, a military wife, maybe an older couple , or anyone who likes to travel a lot.

-membership to an Association of Science and Technology museum. A yearlong family membership to our local museum is only $75. Galleries and planetarium shows are free with membership. IMAX movies are only $2. per person. Plus there is a great little thing called reciprocity. It means that my family can also go to any other AS&T museum for FREE!. There are hundreds of these in the US and some in other countries as well. So rainy day for vacation go the museum, family tags along for dad's business trip; go to the museum during the day. Family fun and its educational.

-membership to the zoo Pretty much the same thing as above. Most of these have reciprocity with at least some zoos though you might not get in for free. There are also special deals for members. We had a membership to the Columbus Zoo for one year and went up for their members' only opening night of the Christmas season displays. Model railroads, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, lights display, life size cartoon character, and feeding reindeer. It was a great family trip.

-For a couple who likes culture try season tickets to the symphony or ballet. If there is a family friend theater production buy one time tickets for the whole family. If the kids are smaller though, you might just want to offer babysitting services. Perhaps even go with another family and they can offer babysitting and you could buy the tickets.

-If the family or couple is more into sports try season tickets for a local sports team.

-For the family who likes to read, try magazine subscriptions. There are usually grade school kids selling them in Sept or Oct for a reduced rate as part of a fundraiser. These are great because they receive a gift at least 6 times over the next year. If you order several different magazines they can then take turns reading each others for an added benefit. My kids love it when they have magazine subscriptions. They literally knocked the postman over one day when he was delivering their National Geographic. Even my 9 yr old who is not a big reader loves the magazines because it interests him, and its an easy read. He also loves gifts, and mail. I love to see him excited about reading.

-fruit of the month club, yes I know it was an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond which was based on a true story. Personally though fruit is healthy and my whole family loves it. Maybe not an ideal gift for everyone but for those who are into health food or just really love fruit it might not be a bad idea.

next Part 3 homemade gifts
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, Family focused eco friendly, fun ways to celebrate Christmas

Halloween is over so it is officially Christmas season right? So in a small effort to thwart the mass buying of trinkets, gifts, and other items which will probably be laid on a shelf (or closet) and forgotten; I have developed a list of ways to celebrate the season without taking out a small loan or stressing yourself trying to find that elusive " perfect" gift.

Part 1

- Have a bunch of kids on your list? Take them ( and older siblings , and parents) to Chuck E. Cheese. Use online coupons and it can cost you less than $10 per person.

- Have a basement or family room in your house? Invite all your friends for a party. Have Merry Christmas Charlie Brown showing in the family room, while the adults can watch an adult Christmas movie in the living room. Have simple crafts for the kids, lots of yummy Christmas goodies, play Christmas charades, sing carols. The idea is to make memories, spend quality time with people, give the gift of yourself. Of course it is vital to take LOTS of pictures. If you are really into this, create a small collage or photo album for each family that attended. I promise they will treasure that night for a long time.

-If you are really adventurous invite your nieces/ nephews/ grand kids, etc for an all night sleepover. ( This would also double as a present for their parents!) If you have a fireplace let them roast marshmallows. Make some Rice Krispie Treats , or brownies together. Buy some sugar cookie dough and let the kids go to town decorating with sprinkles. icing, cookie cutters etc. Have a pillow fight in the bedroom. ( Suggestion- move all breakable items to another room first). Take turns reading Christmas stories aloud. About an hour before you are ready to crash, stick an old black and white Christmas movie. They should fall asleep in short order.

-Take your immediate family to a homeless shelter that includes kids and throw a Christmas party for them. Find simple ideas for Christmas crafts and help them make them. Teach the kids a few Christmas carols. Play some fun Christmas games and talk about the meaning behind a lot of Christmas symbols and traditions. ( Check out The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel for some great ideas). Bring some homemade popcorn balls or chocolate covered pretzels to give out to the kids.

- Practice some old fashioned Christmas carols and go caroling through your neighborhood. Don't like being outside? Try caroling at a nursing home instead.


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Merry Christmas Charlie Brown

A few years ago we were at Blockbuster around Christmas time. We could not find the Christmas movie we were looking for, so we ended up checking out Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. I could not remember much about the video, and I was not sure if the boys would like it or not. My fears were quickly however as they started to watch it. They began to life harder than I had ever heard them laugh. They found this simple , no nonsense , old fashioned video to be hilarious.

As I sat down to watch it, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it entertaining my kids rather well, but it actually had a pretty solid biblical message as well. The whole point about how the Christmas season was too commercialized rang very true with me. I also loved the point where Charlie Brown in frustration asks if anyone knows what the real meaning of Christmas is. The oh so wise Linus responds by quoting the true Christmas story from Luke 2.

At one point Lucy sends out Charlie Brown to find a Christmas tree. She wants a shiny, pink, aluminum one. He brings back this small , scraggly, live tree. Everyone is furious with him, and he leaves in disgust. It epitomizes his desire to bring something true and real to Christmas despite everyone else's desire to have it be artificial and materialistic.

Fast forward to last night when I was at a grocery store. Before my astonished eyes, I saw it. A small , red box with a picture of a Christmas tree on it, and the words Merry Christmas Charlie Brown on the box. Some marketing guru came up with the ideas to mass produce an artificial replica of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Are they serious? Wasn't the whole point to show how unnecessary all the fake decorations and commercialization are? Weren't people supposed to understand that Christmas was about celebrating the birth of a baby King who was born in Bethlehem over 2000 yrs ago? That it does not require a lot of money and hoopla to celebrate HIS birth, but simply a servant's heart.

There are so many ways to celebrate the Holy day ( holiday) season. Why is it a prerequisite to be stressed and spend lots of money? I am not against decorations or gift giving if done in a good spirit. If it becomes stressful and the source of angst and ill will, then why do it? Personally I think people of any religion would be a lot better off simply to find something which they can do to help others and do that wholeheartedly. If it helps them in the process, then all the better. I don't know.

I do know that I want to spend quality time with my family this season, and I want to teach them to serve others. And I do not need to buy an artificial Charlie Brown tree to do that.

Peace in the midst of chaos

Is it possible to have peace in the middle of chaos? I guess it depends on what your definition of chaos is. Personally I love my life, despite mounds of laundry that always need done, kitchen that needs mopped, dishes that need washed, kids who are literally screaming for my attention. A husband who would love to have some time with his sweetheart just to share a slurpee and an uninterrupted conversation.
Yes people can be annoying, frustrating, and rude. Crazy, horrible, mean, and unexpected things can happen, sometimes all at once. Yet somehow God has shown me how to keep loving, keep hoping, keep living through it all.

Our family song is "Blessed be the Name of the Lord". I am very slowly learning that when unpleasant things happen , that is the best time to sing "blessed be the name of the Lord". After all anyone can say thank you God when life is great, and things are going their way. How hard is it though to sing this when everything is falling apart and it seems like our world will never be right?

Peace is only tranquility until there is a storm raging on all sides and you are sheltered and protected by HIS loving grace and mercy. Then we can truly see how far and wide HIS peace, love and mercy stretch. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ( Philippians 4:7) Selah,

Homeschooling, unschooling, schooling, schooling, schooling

I am not sure what type of schoolers you would call my family, but whatever it is, we have fun. Monday we took a field trip to the interpretive center in South Charleston. My 9 yr old learned all about the Native Americans, how to make glass, and a little bit about the local history of mining. It was very interesting. I was really proud of him as he sat and listened for almost an hour to the tour guide explain the significance of the exhibits and artifacts. I love that I can take him to a place like and let him learn history by experiencing it first hand. ( not just through a book).
We then went to a nearby park and did fill in the blank Bible Verses and addition facts with sidewalk chalk. I love that God has granted me the knowledge about learning styles and the ability to put it into practice with a variety of ways.

Tuesday we went to a homeschool co op. The boys were able to hear a devotion, discuss the frogs in the story of Moses and the 10 plagues, dissect a handmade edible frog, receive a cool packet of info on frogs, and dissect a real frog. It was so cool and informative. Again my 9 yr old had a great time, and even shared some of his new found knowledge related to frog anatomy. He wants to do more frog dissections at home with his dad and me, so he can tell us more about the various frog organs he encountered.

Today we went to the local science and technology kids museum. They watched a movie about the fighter pilot and my 8 yr old was enthralled with this. They were also able to play with the Lego movie making exhibit, the hydro power / water erosion exhibit, and see some of their friends.

Its such a cool thing to know how your kids learn best and find ways to incorporate that knowledge into daily lesson plans. Its a heart warming experience to see their eyes light up when they learn something new or when their mind is finding ways to incorporate their new found knowledge into some practical technology. I feel so blessed to be a part of this, and all the conversations that pop up just because I am with them and willing to listen. Maybe this is how God feels when we come to HIM in prayer?

tacky humor

My husband insisted that I share this little story, so here goes. I was up early Saturday morning with my 2 yr old. I was checking email when I passed gas, rather loudly.
My two yr old looked at me and with a gasp said , "what was that ? "
I quickly replied, "a tree frog".
His quick response was , "a tree frog up your butt?"...
He then made a quick transition to " knock, knock, who's there..".
" who is there?" I responded.
"A tree frog up your butt..", he says.

Somehow I did not think two yr olds were supposed to actually "get" humor. It seems this one does though. Of course I had to tell my older boys. They laughed hysterically . They loved that they had passed on their creative sense of humor to their little brother. It was great to see them laugh, even if I was the ahem, "butt" of the joke. (pun intended).

ah well, the family that laughs together, ... hmm well , they have a lot of fun I guess.

Seasons Change

Warm apple cider, leaves changing color, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, crisp morning air; it all signifies the slide into autumn. From bare feet, splashing in pools, and ice cream melting as you eat it, we transition to hoodie jackets, fall festivals, and Christmas decorations on store shelves. Life too has seasons of change. Summer has always been my favorite season because of the carefree, warm, days. Yet now, I find myself looking forward to a change. We had a great summer, but its time for cooler weather. Life too has times which we enjoy and cherish, but then it is time for a change.

Addiction

You know its funny, I have never smoked, drank, did drugs, or gambled. Yet I know I am an addict. I know this because one is genetically predisposed to certain addictions. I had a grandfather who was an alcoholic , therefore I could very well have the genes to make it easier to become an alcoholic. Maybe that is why I have never been seriously tempted to drink.

I also know my personality. I take things to the extreme. Moderation is a difficult concept for me. And I am not a type A personality. I turn things inward, I brood, I become depressed easily. If things do not go as planned, it is a stressor for me. So when I become upset I retreat into certain things which are like an escape for me. Generally speaking my addictions are the ones which could be considered harmless, I guess. As a child and into my early teens I would read constantly.

This was my way of relaxing. I could retreat into the world of Charlotte Bronte or Jane Austen or even Erma Bombeck. Somehow after reading about the trial of others , even make believe others my world did not seem so bad.

As a teenager, things became harder to deal with, and I turned to sleeping. It was still a retreat, an escape, just not quite as productive perhaps as reading.

As an adult I have seen things like email, facebook, etc become my thing to turn to when life is hard to deal with. Perhaps as addictions go, they are not so bad. I am not wasting money , unless you go with the old adage that time is money. Yes there are things which I could be doing that are more productive such as cleaning house, spending time with my family, blogging, paying bills and the list goes on. And of course the old,,, everybody else is doing it, so it must not be so bad right? I mean if all my friends are posting stuff on FB a couple of times a day, then it must be ok to spend lots of time on this. Right ?

Well the flawed logic in this way of thinking is fodder for another post. I discovered fairly recently though another addiction. Its a place I go or rather used to go. I don't anymore thanks to my dear husband's unrelated problem, he has said to stay away from there. It was not a bad place really, just a place that held out the promise of making life a little easier. The place where you could go "and everybody knows your name". A place where everyone professes to love you and want the best for you. Sounds good right? Sounds like a healthy place to be , don't you think? But it was not that. It was a place where people rarely spent real time with each other. People did not "talk" much, well maybe there was some gossiping that was spread. There was however a lot of electronic entertainment, tvs, video games, Internet, you name it. I used to refer to it as the black hole of time, it seemed like once you went there you were sucked in and could not return. Before you knew it a quick trip to run in and retrieve something had turned into staying there for 8 hrs or more. I knew I was in trouble when I began to not only watch mindless tv shows, but actually laugh at them, and almost to the point of actually caring what happened to the characters on this silly drama. I promised myself over and over that I was going to stop going there, I knew that it was not helping me. I knew that it was just shallow promises of making my life a little better that kept me going there. In reality the price of "making my life easier" was a very high price to pay. My values, my judgement, my character, my way of life were all being questioned, laughed at, disregarded, and made fun of. In a nice patronizing way of course.

Its a been a month almost since my husband's moratorium (Sp), against going there. I can honeslty say that I am happier, more at peace, and confident than what I had been in a very long time. I am strengthenging my network of like minded friends, and facing challenges head on instead of backing down. I am learning that sometimes the greatest rewards come when you face something head on and do not back down. Perseverance brings rewards of its own.

Now if I could just do something about the FB addiction, oh well , gotta have something to do when my two yr old is driving me nuts. Right?

Changing Me

I left a family reunion early to go meet up with some friends yesterday. It was supposed to be a fun time but it didn't start out that way. I was developing a migraine on the way there , and it only seemed to become worse after I arrived. I was in so much pain, I actually felt nauseous. I took some medicine and sat down. It was about halfway through the meeting that I ended up beside a midwife whom I had never met. I struck up a conversation with her, and the things she began to tell me made all of my discomfort fade to the background.

She was working as a midwife in Uganda. She had returned to the US to receive more training, so she would be better equipped to serve these impoverished people. She told me stories of pregnant women who had low iron, but had no way of increasing the iron in their diet. Perhaps they could not afford the money to grow or buy beans. Or maybe they had a chicken to provide eggs, but the chicken had been stolen or sold by a husband to buy alcohol.

Malaria was a serious problem there as well. Mosquito nets were sometimes provided but these too could be sold for food or other items which the husband thought essential. If people ended up in the hospital, it was not always to their benefit. My friend said that in Uganda if someone was in the hospital they were required to have someone stay with them. The hospital was not required to provide food for the patients, or any type of basic nursing care. Oftentimes they would not even have basic medical supplies or medicine which they had prescribed. The doctors could tell you what needed done, but they often were not able to provide it for the patient. The burden then fell on the family members to provide the necessary items for their loved one. In one case a mother had received severe burns from cooking on an open fire; her caretaker? Her seven year old son.

One of the midwives last statements to me though was really profound. She said that if you can accept that in the midst of this abject poverty , there was not always a feasible , practical, solution to their problems. If you can accept that you might not change them, that it might be you who will be changed you could manage to live there.

How true . I think in our western culture we are so driven by measurable results. What is the bottom line, what can we earn, how can we make this company/ church/ club grow in numbers and dollars amount. What can we do to succeed, make this better, improve the lives or the profit of those around?

The reality is that in the midst of this poverty, true change could take decades if it comes at all. Maybe its okay to know that if I do the best I can, that is enough. Maybe it is acceptable to realize that simply talking with these ladies and teaching them what I know is all that could be expected. I cannot take full responsibility for everyone else, all I can take responsibility for is what God has taught me and is asking me to do.

Just another day

Just another day to wake up to a shining sun, and blue sky. Just another day to wake up to a toddler in the throws of the terrible twos. ( I mean how unreasonable for me to not allow him to eat frozen garlic bread for breakfast, of course he had ever right to scream, hit, throw things, and lay in the floor pounding his fist for at least ten minutes). Just another day to listen as my children ages 2, 4, 8, and 9 recite Psalm 23. I mean if nothing else sticks in their head, somewhere they have inscribed in their hearts that the LORD is their shepherd, they shall not want, and even if they walk through the valley of shadow of death they shall not fear evil... Its a humbling experience to think that God allowed me to be a part of this. Just another day to break up fights, tell them to stop calling each other names, and tell the 9 yr old that he can NOT return his younger brothers for a pet rabbit or snake. Just another day to watch them resolve a conflict on their own, see them truly forgive each other, and watch the 2 and 4 yr old give each other a hug and a kiss when told to say sorry to each other. Just another day to dwell on how messy my external surroundings are and how desperately I need to clean my house, van, yard, etc. Just another day to marvel how white my heart is, praise to the precious LAMB of GOD who washed my heart as clean as could be with his very own blood.

Recharging a Battery

I think I began to realize it when I snapped at my kids efforts to entertain themselves with puppets. I had agreed to let them play with puppets, and here I was upset with them because they were playing " too rough " with the puppets. I needed a break. That was all there was to it. I was becoming angry with them over silly trivial things. We were all bored with each other and so were bickering over silly things.

So I did it. I called an old friend, and asked if she would watch one or two of them this evening. She immediately went into planning mode, and by evening time had set up plans for a movie, candy, toys, and who knows what else. And she offered to take all three of the older ones!. This allowed me to attend a meeting with just the baby and two yr old. All in all it went well. I found the house easily, knew a few of the ladies, introduced myself to a few more, and basically had a great evening.

Somehow just being around other ladies who were not like me, but all like minded was just what I needed. It was like an invigorating cup of java and a refreshing glass of cold water all at once. Refreshing, and energizing at the same time. There were college students, married without kids, married with kids, pregnant moms, single ladies, grandmothers, a diverse group with one main goal: to empower women who desire to have a safe, natural childbirth by giving them options and useful information.

There is just something about having other people who have similar opinions, ideals, and goals. Ladies who have been there, done that, and are paving the way for those coming after them. I even felt like I was able to offer a little bit of encouragement and support to other moms who were just starting to look at birth alternatives.

I left the meeting feeling like I had been at the right place at the right time, like I had done the right thing for a change. It was a good feeling. I went from being frustrated uncertain, and pessimistic about the whole evening to joyful, reassured, and confirmed. Weirdness really is a relative concept. Somehow being around a group of people who were also on the "fringe" made me feel perfectly normal. How much fun is that!

Abundant Life

Christ said that he came to give us life and life more abundantly! I have always believed this, but honestly I cannot say that I practiced it very well. Lately it seems that even though there are still trials, God is helping me to go through the trials. The tirals do not disappear but He is helping me work through them in a Christlike manner. Prayer, praise and perseverence do wonders for a stressful situation. My goal is to become more worked up over the simple blessings God gives me , than the crazy , annoying, frustrating events that seem to occur all too frequently. In other words I need to be more excited over playing in the swimming pool with my kids than worrying about the silly drama , and arguing that happen within the family. I need to use my energy rejoicing that I have a family, a place to live, clothes to wear , and too many other blessings to count. Using my energy to stress about negative situations is like adding yeast to bread dough, it just makes it grow. Bad stuff will happen and it must be handled in a godly manner.

You will never believe.....

what my two year old did the other week at the movies. I had taken my kids to the downtown movie theatre for the free summer kids flick. We were running late and as I rushed kids down to the theatre from the parking garage , I accidentally left my wallet, diaper bag, and baby back pack in the van. We got into the theatre just as the movie was starting. Everybody quickly settled in and was enjoying watching "Aliens in the Attic".

After about 30 minutes , I realized the baby had a dirty diaper. Everybody was watching the movie so I thought we would wait til the end of the movie and then change her diaper. Well , she did not like that idea. She began to fuss and cry . I realized I was going to have to take her out to change her. Except that the diapers were in the van; which was on the second floor of the parking garage. I knew the older boys were enthralled with the movie and short of a nuclear exposion would not go anywhere. The two yr old though was another story. He was watching the movie now, but his attention span was as short as ... well a two yr old's. I soon realized that I had the fun task of dragging the two yr old and the baby back to the van to obtain a diaper, and then changing her , before we could return to the movie. I told the older ones I was changing the baby's diapers and not to go anywhere.

Then I took the baby in one arm , and with the other arm pulled the two yr old along beside me. Everything was ok til he spotted the arcade area on the way out. A bunch of flashing lights, and noisy machines proved too irresistible for a toddler. He ran over there and pretended to play all the fun games. All my bribes of candy and popcorn were useless. He was not going to leave the movie theatre of his own free will.

I realized that there was no way I was going to persuade him to go to the van , so I could pick up the much needed diaper. So we went back and forth between the arcade and the back of the movie theatre. Usually after about a few minutes in the back of the theatre, the baby would cry and we would head back to the lobby and game area. And then it happened . We were in the game area and I turned my head for a few seconds. Next thing I know the "claw" game, which my toddler had admired ,had a new novelty to win. My son. It was an oversized game filled with cushions, and regulation size basketballs. So of course the slot to retrieve the toys was larger too. Evidently it was large enough for an audacious two yr old to climb into it. The staff and I were understandably at our wits end. He was inside the game, and they quickly informed me they did not have a key to open the game up. They would have to call the manufacturer or something. In hindsight I really wish I would have taken a picture , but at the time all I could think of was that I wanted him out. I started yelling inside to him that I would buy popcorn or whatever he wanted, just please come out.

Meanwhile , he had jumped into the section with all the toys. He was picking up basketballs, so one of the movie workers said he could have the basketball if he just came out. I guess he heard this because he then threw two basketballs into the slot where you retrieve your toys. I quickly pulled the basketballs out. He then quickly and nimbly jumped into the retrieval slot himself. I then pulled him out feet first. Its kind of what I imagine it would be like to give birth to a baby who is presenting feet first. He was in and out in less than ten minutes, though it seemed like a lifetime while it was happening.

After he came out, he picked up the basketballs and started walking off with a big smile on his face. He had what he wanted. I am not sure it ever really dawned on him , what a crazy , inappropriate thing he did.

My nerves took a little longer to recover. The movie was almost over, so we retrieved his siblings and headed for the van. They were jealous of the basketballs til I expained how he had obtained them. Then they were just in shock. After changing the baby's diaper (finally) , and buckling everyone in the van; I called my dear husband. Of course he did not answer. So I texted my best friend. I forwarded the texts to my husband as well. He finally responded by asking me if I was sure that I was not dreaming this whole thing up. Um no, sweetheart we have the basketballs to prove it. He then called to actually talk to me. He asked why I was laughing about this serious situation. I told him I could either laugh or cry. I chose to laugh. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Next time though, I will not forget the diapers. Oh yeah he is not allowed near claw machines, anymore at least until he is too big to fit into them.

Decisions

What does it look like to follow God? While there are some basic tenets to be followed, the path can and will look different for different people. How do you know if you are following the right path for you? Do you feel a sense of peace with the work you are doing , whether it be parenting, a job, your role in the church and community,? For a long time Brian and I have not felt like we were exactly where God wanted us to be. We now must decide where God is leading, and if we choose to follow. Though many will discourage us and try to tell us we are not doing God's will, we must follow God not man. Oftentimes people become upset because they are not following God and it angers them to see others who are . Or maybe they are doing God's will by living a "normal" life in suburbia and being active in a place of worship. They think that if that is where God wants them then that must be where God wants others too.
Brian and I know the "normal " life is not where God wants us. Though as one Christian comedian used to say weirdness is a relative thing. It has taken many years but I am beginning to assemble a group of friends who think homeschooling can be a "normal" thing, , having more than 2. 5 kids is a blessing not a curse, homebirth is a natural safer way of bringing life into this world ( for most women) , and that modern medical practice does not hold all the answers and is often a source of the problem rather than a solution. Now God is calling us to take another step of faith into the unknown.. We are not sure where it will lead but I know with HIM as our shepherd; we will be well provided for . I just ask for my Christian brothers and sisters to pray with Brian and I, that we will have the courage and wisdom to follow where HE leads . Pray for our kids as well that we may model Christ like behavior to them in all things. I LOVE YOU JESUS! Selah...

Blessings... I think

Dear Lord,

Thank you that my children are creative,,, even though my 9 yr old is up at 1 am creating his newest "invention" with his K'nex toys.

Thank you that my 4 yr old is learning his letters,... even though it means he writes the letters on his pillow, the wall, or whatever else happens to be nearby.

Thank you my 2 yr old likes to help "clean up" by loading the dishwasher and wiping off the table... even though he was the one who dumped the food and drinks on the table in the first place.

Thank you for my little girl's dirty diapers and outgrown clothes.... it means she is receiving plenty of mommy milk and growing bigger as a result.

Thank you for friends and family who feel confortable just "stopping by" .. even though it means they see my messy house and my two yr old without clothing.

Thank you for all the clothes and food and books, and toys my family has been blessed with... even though most of them are on the floor or being used by the dog for a chew toy.

Thank you for electric, trash, gas, water, and medical bills. It means we have a lighted, warm house with clean water and people who come and take our trash away for us. It also means we had drs and medicine who could make us better when we were really sick.

Thank you for salvation which you have given to me, even though it cost you your only Son dying on the Cross. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Selah.

New family member

Well, it happenend today. We were driving to Taco Bell at Southridge and saw the balloons at the end of the Wal Mart parking lot. These usually indicate that the lady who heads up the local canine rescue organization is there encouraging people to adopt stray dogs and cats. For some strange reason I decided that I would allow the boys to have a puppy. When I say puppy though, I don't mean a small little furball. This dog is the same size or bigger than my sister's full grown dog. My dad says he will get to be the same size as the dog on the Beethoven movies. $20 for dog food, $5 for collar, dog dish, and toy,,, having an animal which will love my boys and play fun games with them.. priceless. I know there are going to be messes to clean up, and most of his care will probably fall to me.. Why don't I feel bad about buying the dog then? Why is it that I pet him and watch him snuggle up to my husband and lick his face and think , yeah, I did the right thing? Time will tell. I just know my boys could use an extra friend right about now. Come to think of it, I think we all could . A friend who doesn't get mad or yell, or try to get back when we have done something wrong. A friend who forgives. That would be nice. I know it is just a dog and everything, but there is something therapeutic about these four legged creatures. Who knows maybe they have something to teach us about God and His Love, something we haven't been learning anywhere else.

titleless post

I don't have anything terribly amusing or interesting to say, hence the title of this post. Just wanted to say that I had a day that was rather productive, not too much frustration or friction between family members. Just another day to enjoy life, and be thankful for all the blessings He has bestowed.
I was able to attend a brunch for Compassion sponsors Saturday and met a former sponsored child. He is working on his MBA and has a job in research at Johns Hopkins University. It was inspiring to see what God has done in his life through a Compassion sponsor. I had thought a lot about being an advocate for Compassion , and God confirmed it Saturday. I didnot say a lot to Brian but he felt the same way I did, and took the initiative to speak to someone about it. Even though it did not have the response we thought it would, we still felt and saw God working. It is a positive thing when someone else, especially your husband , feels that God is speaking the same thing to him as what I felt God was speaking to me. In other words we agreed on something.. will miracles never cease. :) I know God placed this desire , and compassion in my heart for a reason.. He does not expect me to just sit around and do nothing, or bemoan the state of the things.. He calls us to take an active part and make the world a better place to the glory of His name. Selah.

Hope Floats

I remember a Sandra Bullock movie that came out in the 90's with the title Hope Floats. I watched the movie and it was a good though very sad movie . For many years after I watched it though, I didn't understand the movie's title. After having experienced some of what life has to offer, I am starting to understand it.
Oftentimes I become frustrated with my circumstances, and my seeming inability to change them or even my role in them. I generally become discouraged, angry, sullen, and even withdrawn. Depression seems like my closest friend during these periods. Yet when I am so low that it seems like nothing will ever change or become better, it does. Usually its just a tiny insignificant thing which occurs, but it in some way or another is an answer to prayer. A gift, an encouraging word, a smile, a hug, an evening with a special friend, it always comes when I need it the most.
I cannot count the times when I would cry out to God in deep grief saying that no one cares about me. It would be then that my phone would ring , my best friend who lives out of state would be calling me. Or one time I actually wrote in my journal that even though I knew God loved me , I couldn't feel His Love. I was in a coffee shop and a perfect stranger who was passing by stopped, looked at me and said, "God wants me to tell you that He loves you. " She then sat down and talked to me for about 30 minutes. I still cry when I think of it. He finds so many wonderful , creative ways to show His love to His children.
And I guess maybe that is why, everytime my spirit sinks down inside of me, it still manages to somehow find its way back to the surface. Find its way back to living, dreaming, loving, creating, and forgiving. Hope floats.
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Blessed be the name of the Lord

Though my house is a mess, we have clothes to wear , food to eat, toys to place with, and books to read, blessed be the name of the Lord . Though my husband graciously allowed me to take a much needed nap, but forgot the feed the boys dinner,, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Even though my van is beat up and needs a LOT of repair work, I have a van which runs, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Even though my kids are staying up til much later than they should, at least they are listening to Adventures in Odyssey rather than some mindless tv program, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Though I am disatisfied with many aspects of my life, and what I have accomplished ( or lack thereof) , blessed be the name of the Lord. Though I often feel like my walk with Christ is not what it should be, HE is what HE is , and does not change now or in the future. HE does change me and countless others who are willing to submit to HIM. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD! He gave his life on calvary to save me from my sins. How could I do anything but love and adore, and serve HIM. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Questions

According to my dear mother I am now officially old. Somehow it didn't take my 34th b day to make me feel old. I think I have felt old for a while now. At the same time I still feel like there is so much I want to do , ( before I "get old") . What does it mean to love? What is friendship really about? How do we determine what our priorities should be? What does it mean to do God's will? What is the importance of being a good parent? I mean how do we know we are doing the right things in our parenting?
I keep thinking of Sacajawea the Indian guide for the Lewis and Clark expedition. Few people have heard of her, and even fewer know anything beside the fact that she helped out on the Lewis and Clark expedition. In reality she was a teenager who was one of the wives of a French Trader. She had been kidnapped as a child by an enemy Indian tribe. The winter that the expedition camped out in North Dakota she gave birth to a young boy. She took him with her throughout the entire expediton. Imagine traveling from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean and back , over the Rocky Mts, navigating uncharted territory, boating through rivers. Throughout the harsh winters and hot summers and threats of animals, unfriendly Indian tribes, you are traveling . Your only food is provided by what you find on the trail through fishing, gathering, or hunting. Most of us could never manage this . Now imagine doing this with a newborn baby strapped to your back. And we think parenting now is difficult. Yet history records that not only did this little boy survive the trip, he later was sent to live with William Clark to receive a "proper Christian education" . Kind of makes you think.
Why is it so much harder to raise kids today when few of us ever have to worry about clothes, or food. or keeping our kids warm in the winter , and cool in the summer. Maybe the Word as always has something to say about, I believe its Matthew chapter 7 vs 7 that says, ' ask and you will receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you. God will provide.

Princess Rules

I guess its not abnormal for a new baby to take over a household. Honestly though there is more pink in the house now than what there has been in the last 12 yrs combined. The novelty is starting to wear off for the boys. Even so , hey still love her and have to hold her at least once a day.
She is so precious. There is just something about little babies that makes you want to stop everything and pay attention to only them. Maybe its the fact that they highlight the fact better than anything else that time does not stand still. In a few months they usually are babbling, sitting up, rolling, playing with toys etc. The time when they are so small and helpless, and completely dependant on the adults in their lives is so short. The time is to be savored and enjoyed. I think that is the way God intended it to be.
God gives us these little helpless creatures to remind of His power and wisdom and how in reality we are completely dependant on HIM. If we re smart , we acknowledge this and go along with it. If not , we cry and scream and try to have our own way. Like a colicly baby it doesn't do a lot of good. You still are taken care of the same. Its just more frustration for your Heavenly Father. Eventually everyone will acknowledge His rightful place in the universe He created. Better now than later.

ITS A GIRL!!!!

I can't believe its been 6 months since I posted. That's what happens when you have the internet removed from your house. Well our little bundle of joy arrived Dec 29th 2009. Ariel Gracelynn Malcomb was 9lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long. She is a blessing from God and her big brothers have already decided they re going to spoil her rotten. She has daddy wrapped around her little finger and I have to kick him out of house every day just to make him go to work. :) Of course I don't mind holding her all day , though big brothers and daddy make sure they get their turn as well. Well I will definitely be posting more in the next few weeks. As our little princess allows of course.