I am sitting in a quiet house with two sleeping children snuggled into their beds for afternoon nap. Though Lily's naps have become less certain, this isn't unusual. The difference? It's 3:30, and they are completely tuckered out after their first day of preschool. Not a peep from that end of the house. And I sit here, having had a wonderfully productive morning of finishing one chapter, starting another, getting Canon's birthday gift boxed and mailed, getting laundry put away, more laundry in...and now a little break to sit and reflect on this new phase of life.
True, I've had a babysitter over the last few months so I could churn out this book. But there's something infinitely better about being alone in your own house. I know I am going to get to some of the projects that have been on my mind, use those spots in between writing inspiration to get the dishwasher unloaded or pick up a few toys. Four and a half hours, twice a week, counting the time it takes to drop them off and pick them up. I'll take it.
They both had a great time. Lily told me that her favorite part was the playground, especially climbing up on "thirty steps." Jack liked the time singing songs, and chose "Itsy Bitsy Spider"as his favorite song. Jack made a little paper crown with a tugboat, and Lily made a book about God's love. Everything I could ask for as my little ones come home from preschool.
And now, naps.
And quiet.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Vacation
As Lily reminds me, we are "far from home." But that's not what defines this vacation for me. I think it's more the fact that I have slept through the night without interruption every night since we got here, and have generally gotten to sleep in past seven while Grandma hangs out with the kids. Jack has slept late; maybe he senses that we're on vacation. Rest--that's a huge part of this real vacation! Help with the kids, play time at pretty parks and the beach, swimming, it's all wonderful. But on a much more basic level, I finally feel rested. It may get undone on our drive back across the country, and we certainly will hit the ground running. But I'm not thinking about that. I'm resting, enjoying, and soaking up the days with sunshine and cool breezes and beauty and family and friends. And I'm feeling really grateful for this break.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Trees by flowing streams
Yesterday, Jack was carrying around the little orange Gideon Bible that Lily used to carry all the time. "My Bi-bowl," he says. He pretends to read it. I can't help but look at Jack and see a tiny little pastor. He loves to pray, his sweet little whisper prayers. When I hurt my back, he just kept praying all evening that Mommy's back would get better, and he still prays it at meal times. He loves to sing Jesus Loves Me, Jesus Loves the Little Children, and Praise Him, Praise Him. These are his favorite songs, and he will often be singing them to himself, or sit at the piano and sing them. He and Lily both ask for their Bible story after dinner every night, and Jack insists on holding hands when we sing and pray after the story. It is a precious time, and I love how he looks around at his family with a smile as he sings. He has such a precious little heart; he's such a love. I hope he retains that sweet spirit as he grows up. His dad did.
Some of the verses I read this morning reminded me of Lily and Jack, and my prayer for them. They're from Isaiah 44:
3 I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, 'I belong to the LORD ';
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,'
and will take the name Israel.
This is my deepest prayer for my children--that they would know they belong to the Lord, and would flourish like beautiful trees well-watered by the Spirit. I see the Lord working in their lives, and I long for the day when they really know Christ as their Savior and are confident in their adoption into his family. It reminds me that in my daily life, my chief goal is to point them to Christ, and to our need for him, rather than just parenting their behavior. It's a fine line sometimes. Lord, give me the patience and love for them to keep showing them you no matter what else is going on.
Some of the verses I read this morning reminded me of Lily and Jack, and my prayer for them. They're from Isaiah 44:
3 I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, 'I belong to the LORD ';
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,'
and will take the name Israel.
This is my deepest prayer for my children--that they would know they belong to the Lord, and would flourish like beautiful trees well-watered by the Spirit. I see the Lord working in their lives, and I long for the day when they really know Christ as their Savior and are confident in their adoption into his family. It reminds me that in my daily life, my chief goal is to point them to Christ, and to our need for him, rather than just parenting their behavior. It's a fine line sometimes. Lord, give me the patience and love for them to keep showing them you no matter what else is going on.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Foundation
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)
I have Scripture readings delivered to my inbox every morning; it goes a long way toward helping me stay on track with a reading program. This verse stood out to me this morning. Thinking of God as "the sure foundation for your times" is very settling. I remember sitting on the giant granite boulders on the shore between Manchester By the Sea and Gloucester, feeling how settled and secure they were. Such a contrast to the rolling waves crashing in front of me. God is like that. He is a sure foundation, and I sit there and life rolls and crashes around me, but I have a steady place from which to observe and experience it. Not only that, he is a rich store of three things: salvation, wisdom and knowledge. I need those things so clearly: to parent, to be a helpful wife and dear friend to Joel, to counsel others, to know how to live, to have hope for the future. And finally the verse points us to the way we access the Lord's salvation, wisdom and knowledge: reverent submission to him (fear of the LORD).
Last night I watched a sobering documentary on Netflix: Maxed Out. Man. It told the story of how the credit companies work, interwoven with politics, legislative bills, creditor collection services, and the stories of people who have declared bankruptcy, who are living beyond their means, even who took their lives because of the mess that their irresponsibility with credit had made of their lives. It was very well-done, and very troubling. It made me all the more committed to living as much as possible in a debt-free lifestyle. It also made me that much more passionate about offering the opportunity for our college and career friends (and whoever else wants to go) to hear Dave Ramsey when he comes to Atlanta in the fall. I've already talked with them and they have a wonderful group rate for church groups. I wish I had studied this stuff when I was in my early twenties, and I look forward to sharing these wise principles with our friends.
I am enjoying the clouds this morning after days of heat. We even had rain in the night, and I hope it will revive my garden. My watering does not seem sufficient...it needs a good, soaking rain. Boy, do I understand that.
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)
I have Scripture readings delivered to my inbox every morning; it goes a long way toward helping me stay on track with a reading program. This verse stood out to me this morning. Thinking of God as "the sure foundation for your times" is very settling. I remember sitting on the giant granite boulders on the shore between Manchester By the Sea and Gloucester, feeling how settled and secure they were. Such a contrast to the rolling waves crashing in front of me. God is like that. He is a sure foundation, and I sit there and life rolls and crashes around me, but I have a steady place from which to observe and experience it. Not only that, he is a rich store of three things: salvation, wisdom and knowledge. I need those things so clearly: to parent, to be a helpful wife and dear friend to Joel, to counsel others, to know how to live, to have hope for the future. And finally the verse points us to the way we access the Lord's salvation, wisdom and knowledge: reverent submission to him (fear of the LORD).
Last night I watched a sobering documentary on Netflix: Maxed Out. Man. It told the story of how the credit companies work, interwoven with politics, legislative bills, creditor collection services, and the stories of people who have declared bankruptcy, who are living beyond their means, even who took their lives because of the mess that their irresponsibility with credit had made of their lives. It was very well-done, and very troubling. It made me all the more committed to living as much as possible in a debt-free lifestyle. It also made me that much more passionate about offering the opportunity for our college and career friends (and whoever else wants to go) to hear Dave Ramsey when he comes to Atlanta in the fall. I've already talked with them and they have a wonderful group rate for church groups. I wish I had studied this stuff when I was in my early twenties, and I look forward to sharing these wise principles with our friends.
I am enjoying the clouds this morning after days of heat. We even had rain in the night, and I hope it will revive my garden. My watering does not seem sufficient...it needs a good, soaking rain. Boy, do I understand that.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What is it?
My definition of "quiet moment" has changed. At this very second it means that I am sitting. Lily is, I believe, rolling up the carpet in the hall so she can pull the cloth-bottomed laundry hamper down the hall into my room. I decided to let her attempt it, and she is very pleased with herself. And now she is replacing the rug. I will take all the help I can get.
I am learning to harness Lily's desire to be helpful. This morning I asked her to teach Jack to put all of his laundry into his laundry basket (it had been in service holding some clean laundry)--I returned to find it all neatly placed in the basket. Lily had finished the job. She's great at finding "old juice" (sippies from earlier hours) around the house and placing them in the sink for me. She'll take a stack of kitchen towels and place them in the baskets in the kitchen. I find that if I give her one task, she's great. It's more a matter of training Mommy than training Lily in some jobs, because I cannot say "Please clean your room" and expect anything to be finished. Gotta break it down.
Which is not a bad lesson for me, too. Breaking tasks down into more manageable parts is about the only way I can get things done. Right now I am typing. I am also holding a stuffed lambie who apparently scratched his leg. I am holding him while Lily gets things together for drawing. And now I am being asked to help Lily to work on her drawing. It's a very orange picture of Lambie crying. Oh dear. That may be the end of this post.
I am learning to harness Lily's desire to be helpful. This morning I asked her to teach Jack to put all of his laundry into his laundry basket (it had been in service holding some clean laundry)--I returned to find it all neatly placed in the basket. Lily had finished the job. She's great at finding "old juice" (sippies from earlier hours) around the house and placing them in the sink for me. She'll take a stack of kitchen towels and place them in the baskets in the kitchen. I find that if I give her one task, she's great. It's more a matter of training Mommy than training Lily in some jobs, because I cannot say "Please clean your room" and expect anything to be finished. Gotta break it down.
Which is not a bad lesson for me, too. Breaking tasks down into more manageable parts is about the only way I can get things done. Right now I am typing. I am also holding a stuffed lambie who apparently scratched his leg. I am holding him while Lily gets things together for drawing. And now I am being asked to help Lily to work on her drawing. It's a very orange picture of Lambie crying. Oh dear. That may be the end of this post.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Birthday thoughts
It's a beautiful birthday morning. The birds are singing and the sun is up, the house even quiet for this moment. I read in Isaiah and Romans 11 today--passages that get sent to my email inbox to keep me on track. Romans 11 is an incredible passage, with thoughts far beyond what I can understand. I appreciate that Paul--who clearly understands what he's saying far better than I do--can only end with doxology, as his study of God's unsearchable ways leads him to worship. That is the only place we can go as we read Romans 11. I mean, you could head down a path of unending questions or even "that's not fair," the lump of clay shaking its fist at the universe. But worship is so much more beautiful, more elegant, truer. God made it all. He will accomplish his purposes. Nothing can stand it his way. And I get to call him Abba. And not only that, his character is completely trustworthy, so I can trust him with my deepest and most troubling questions. And that, too, leads me to worship.
Tim preached a really great sermon on Sunday, both morning and evening. In the morning he talked about Psalm 130, and reminded us that the heights of our worship is determined by the depth of our awareness of our own sin. Those who have been forgiven much and know they have been forgiven much are much more easily lost in wonder, love and praise than those who figure they're doing pretty well. Of course they are. I want to spend today aware of my own sin and grateful beyond words for God's grace through Christ toward me. Rather than focusing on my goals and my thoughts for the year, I would really like to simply reflect on the Cross, and know Christ better. Have the eyes of my heart enlightened, that I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance in Jesus, and the power at work in my life. Lord, let the power of the resurrection be evident in my life this year.
I am off to Nashville with Joel this morning, combining the PCA's General Assembly with a little birthday getaway. We don't need to be there until 7 tonight, where we will get to engage in worship with brothers and sisters in ministry from all over the country and the world. What better way to celebrate one's birthday?! I can't wait. Before that we may try one of the little wineries between here and there, or check out some of the sights in Nashville. It's an open day. The kids will be with Bob and Lisa, and Lily especially has been talking for two weeks about her sleepover. She can't wait. I hope it all goes as smoothly as it promises. Last night Lily told me that she needs to have her sleepover for two days, just like with the McElhaneys. Lily had never known such fun as sleeping in the big girls' room. Lily is convinced that she and Jack will be sharing a room and having a big ole time, which they may well do. I can't wait to hear all about their adventure, and pray for my dear Bob and Lisa with a grateful heart that they love our children so.
It's seven now, and the house is still quiet. What a birthday gift, to have a few uninterrupted moments. I receive it with joy, and am ready to begin the day. God is kind and gracious.
Tim preached a really great sermon on Sunday, both morning and evening. In the morning he talked about Psalm 130, and reminded us that the heights of our worship is determined by the depth of our awareness of our own sin. Those who have been forgiven much and know they have been forgiven much are much more easily lost in wonder, love and praise than those who figure they're doing pretty well. Of course they are. I want to spend today aware of my own sin and grateful beyond words for God's grace through Christ toward me. Rather than focusing on my goals and my thoughts for the year, I would really like to simply reflect on the Cross, and know Christ better. Have the eyes of my heart enlightened, that I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance in Jesus, and the power at work in my life. Lord, let the power of the resurrection be evident in my life this year.
I am off to Nashville with Joel this morning, combining the PCA's General Assembly with a little birthday getaway. We don't need to be there until 7 tonight, where we will get to engage in worship with brothers and sisters in ministry from all over the country and the world. What better way to celebrate one's birthday?! I can't wait. Before that we may try one of the little wineries between here and there, or check out some of the sights in Nashville. It's an open day. The kids will be with Bob and Lisa, and Lily especially has been talking for two weeks about her sleepover. She can't wait. I hope it all goes as smoothly as it promises. Last night Lily told me that she needs to have her sleepover for two days, just like with the McElhaneys. Lily had never known such fun as sleeping in the big girls' room. Lily is convinced that she and Jack will be sharing a room and having a big ole time, which they may well do. I can't wait to hear all about their adventure, and pray for my dear Bob and Lisa with a grateful heart that they love our children so.
It's seven now, and the house is still quiet. What a birthday gift, to have a few uninterrupted moments. I receive it with joy, and am ready to begin the day. God is kind and gracious.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Early morning train
Lily has been up since 6:20, so I guess a half hour in her room being quiet is as much as I can expect. But I'm not sure why she is standing in the hall making train whistle noises. I suspect it has something to do with Jack being awake. Lily generally takes it upon herself to go in and entertain Jack when he wakes up. At least she now asks for permission; I could hear her peeking her head out of the hall door, talking to Daddy. On this particular morning, Jack doesn't want Lily and her books and toys....he wants Daddy. And Daddy will come. And the morning begins.
At least it's not 6:15.
At least it's not 6:15.