It was twelve and a half years ago that this post (had I been blogging then) might have been titled "And Baby Makes Three." But now somehow time has raced ahead to this moment when my last baby is turning three. He is in fact, no longer a baby. He's not even a toddler. He's a preschooler.
How appropriate that he is huffing and puffing to get his "3" candle blown out. It took me 3 hours of huffing and puffing to bring him into this world. And like the sweet frosting that stained his face for hours, he is a sweetheart whose baby days will not soon be erased from my memory.
I'm so thankful it isn't one, two, three, you're out. I've got quite a few more great innings of parenting left. I'm so thankful, too, that you've been part of my crowd, checking in here for the score.
May you enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your family!
Life has been much the same since my Week in the Life posts…messy! I've been keeping busy with the change over to fall clothes for one. I've taken to throwing away any socks that no one claims. It just isn't worth the auction! "No Nonsense sock going once, going twice…" Things have been getting destroyed and lost at a steady pace. The 2yo's hair is still glued to his head. The play room disasters have been much better, though, since I instituted a "All toys must stay on this blanket" rule and a "I control all keys to the toys" rule. Believe me, I have no illusions that it will work long-term. But like immersing oneself in a good piece of fiction, I am enjoying the fantasy for now. I mentioned my hopes that my new system was working at my Wonder Women Bible study this week. One woman was astonished. "You lock up your kids' TOYS?" She so needs to read my blog.
I learned something on Friday. We are studying the attributes of God as well as pottery. I thought it would be great for the kids to learn to make real pottery on a wheel. My friend Kris set the whole class up and was careful to remind me to have the kids wear old clothes and bring towels. Despite noting that on my iPhone calendar, I didn't actually remember until we were ten minutes away from class. First, I despise feeling like an idiot for failing to remember things like this. I've always known I hated that. But what I realized anew is that I really, really hate getting dirty. Or more specifically, I really, really hate when my kids get dirty.
I had brought my good camera to take some "Look we're making pottery!" pics and I was excited to watch the kids do their thing. I realized quickly that my camera wouldn't be coming out for a loooooong time. I was going to have to help the 6yo and I was going to have to watch my kids demolish their mostly new fall clothes.
Kris was so organized and had made homemade play dough and brought toys to play with it for the younger kids. I was thrilled with how good the little ones were until I saw what they did with the play-dough. Apparently homemade play-dough doesn't peel off the floor quite as nicely as the store-bought kind. More on that later.
So the teacher of the class taught us 50 easy steps to making a bowl. She was nice enough to go over them a second time, but I sat down at the wheel with the 6yo and felt like an idiot. Now whaaaaa???? My 6yo is also my ants-in-the-pants kid. I was really scared when he was sitting next to the throttle for the wheel. I knew we were in trouble when parts of the clay went flying when he tried to make his bowl. I kept hoping he could just figure it out on his own, but nope. I had to get my hands dirty. I am not OCD, but I was starting to hyperventilate when I saw the mess on my only-worn-once pants and the splatters of goo all over the kids.
I was relieved when they told me it would wash out! The 6yo managed to make a bowl with professional help and was done. I decided to try my hand at it. The teacher was disgusted with me. I had clay flying everywhere. I made…nothing. I just gave up. It was too humiliating. When I walked over to where the little kids were doing play-dough, I started feeling woozy. The play-dough was like a giant piece of gum stuck to a 3-foot square of floor. And that wasn't the worst of it. It was also stuck all over my kids. My friend, Shannon said, "Oh, I think it's on your Gucci purse, too." Somebody get me a cool rag, please. For my head.
We spent what felt like an eternity cleaning everything up and I bolted for the car. I said, "How did everyone like it?" Good! they all yelled. I said, "Anyone want to make pottery their hobby?" No, they said. "Good!" I yelled.
I am so glad that I am not the Potter, but the clay. The day gave me new appreciation for the mess that God has to contend with in dealing with all of us. Praise God I don't have to be the one to clean it up!
The biggest thing going on with our family lately is our adventure into video ministry at church. Here's one of our latest offerings starring us! While we are working hard to develop our video talents, I must confess that the carving talent is NOT mine! I carved one pumpkin. The great looking jack-o-lanterns belong to my talented neighbor. 🙂
I figure Halloween is as good a time as any to discuss the vampire book craze! My 17yo babysitter is wild about this series. She's been telling me forever that I need to read them. And it's caught on with many of my friends at church as well as lots of teenage girls. So I finally made time to start it. I was up until 2:30 a.m. one night finishing! You might want to check out my friend, Gregg's blog for a humorous take on this girly obsession.
Obviously, it's an engaging book. I don't stay up all night reading boring books. I enjoyed it a lot. BUT… You probably knew that was coming. 🙂
But, I have some concerns I wanted to share with you. I will note when my concerns will also spoil the book in case you haven't read it.
First, the book is a sad commentary on family life today. The 17yo main character fends for herself. Not only that, she must protect her divorced, inept parents. My heart aches for young people in this position and I'm quite sure there is more truth than fiction in this depiction. However, I wouldn't feel comfortable with my daughter reading this book for this reason alone. I do not want her to imagine (any more than may occur naturally) that her parents are clueless and incompetent so that she has to make her own choices. Could you discuss this issue with your daughter before she reads the book? Yes, but if I had any concerns that she was in a rebellious phase, I wouldn't do it.
Second, the book, like every other romance (in my opinion) portrays an unrealistic view of men that leads to disappointment and even divorce. The fact that the 17yo's boyfriend is a vampire is unrealistic. Of course. LOL But honestly, everything else about him is more unrealistic than that! Before I present some spoilers, let me just say that I honestly believe romantic books and movies create discontent in women the way scantily clad women and car advertisements create discontent in men.
I've counseled enough engaged women to know that although they know these romantic expectations aren't realistic, they still cling to them. I know I did! I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I wanted it ALL. And though I am married to the hunkiest, toughest man (he's a black belt in jujitsu), who's a great father, provider, and friend, he just isn't ALL.
In So You're Not Wonder Woman, I talk about a vision God gave me of what really happened on my wedding day. I was in my wedding gown, walking down the aisle when suddenly I saw Him–the Groom of my dreams. I know it sounds so corny, but I was marrying Jesus! The look in His eyes still blows me away. I knew beyond a doubt that He would never hurt or disappoint me. He loved me with every fiber of His being and I loved Him more than I've ever loved anyone. I was ready to seal the deal! But then he looked to my right. I followed His eyes and there was my husband in his tux waiting to marry me. Um, he wasn't exactly ALL I wanted. Jesus told me with His eyes that He wanted me to marry my husband. I didn't want to. I knew this very human man would hurt and disappoint me in countless ways! But Jesus insisted, reassuring me that He would be with me always, filling up the empty places and comforting me in the painful, lonely times in my marriage.
Since then, Jesus has been so much more to me than Edward, the vampire boyfriend, could ever be. Reading Twilight was actually a wonderful reminder to me of the passion that I have for Jesus. So if you like Edward, give Jesus your time and attention! He's never tempted to suck your blood.
Now for some spoiler concerns…
Okay, Edward is a phenomenal dresser. You KNOW that isn't realistic. I'm just happy when my husband isn't wearing two conflicting plaids.
Next, he asks the girl questions about herself for two days straight. Any married woman will tell you that she's ecstatic if she's asked a couple of questions about herself in a row and not about where his socks or dinner are!
My serious concern with teen girls reading this book is although there are no sex scenes, the scenes that are there are highly erotic. If I had teenage hormones, I could be scarier than a vampire after reading this book! Not to mention the fact that the main character has her boyfriend IN HER BEDROOM while her father is downstairs. And as the reader, you are really hoping she gets away with it! Not what I want my teenagers to be cheering for.
Finally, you have a teen girl willing to give up everything for a guy and again, the reader is cheering for her! Yikes. Giving up your life for a vampire is cool, so why not turn your back on your faith if you fall in love with an atheist? Why not run away if your parents don't like your boyfriend?
Don't get me wrong. I am not a book burner. I'm a book lover! I so enjoy reading a good book now and then. But books can change us. Beware…not of vampires, but of the scary ideas some books can teach us when we're not looking.
Nope, I'm not talking about all the Christmas decorations in the stores. Though that would be a subject worth discussing! It felt like Christmas because it was such a GREAT day! The weather was divine. We did chores and some school, then Aunt Karen came by with clothes, cupcakes and candy for everyone. We all went out for lunch to Pizza Hut using the kids' reading certificates. We changed outfits quick at home and headed to the park to take family portraits. I can't wait to get them! We will be using one as our Christmas card so you will have to wait to see them.
We got home to receive my early Christmas gift from my mom–a Kindle! Can you believe that? You can watch a video and read all about them on Amazon if you've never heard of it. It's much cooler than I expected it to be. Only trouble is I can't read all day! I've already downloaded 3 books and I love it. What a generous mom I have! She and my brother had a great day, too. You have to check out my brother's prize-winning costume here.
We quickly got our costumes on and headed to the neighbors' for dinner. I'm including my favorite shots. One funny thing my daughter said the day before when we were carving our pumpkin:
"I wish I was the mom so I could carve the pumpkin." I said, "Well, you'll be a mom someday and can do it. But for now you get to enjoy being a little girl."
Her: "Well, I don't like being a little girl because little girls have to do what their moms say."
It seems appropriate that it should feel like Christmas on Halloween. Halloween can be a dark holiday–focused on death, demons, blood and gore. Jesus found His way into my holiday, making it a light-filled, joyous occasion. Hope yours was, too.
Last week I opened my refrigerator and was greeted with the unexpected. This post title reminds me of something Erma Bombeck would write and I loved Erma.
My 4yo daughter lovingly placed this "flower" in some water to keep it fresh. I vaguely remember her saying, "Mom, I picked you a flower and I'll put it in some water." I honestly wasn't paying much attention. The moment I saw this, I smiled and then wanted to cry.
Was it guilt? I guess so. A little anyway. I was probably busy writing a blog post when she wanted me to notice the gift she had bestowed on me. I was touched by her love for me, despite my inattention. I was also moved by what I felt was a sign from God.
God pulls weeds from my life–things that keep it from being the beautiful, thriving life He wants it to be–and He tries to gently show them to me. When I tell Him I'm too busy to pay attention to the weeds, He puts them where I'm sure to see them. He doesn't put up a WANTED poster listing all my lawless, evil deeds. Instead, he puts a dandelion in my refrigerator, like a note saying, "I love you. Let's look at this. Together."
I’m a Christian psychologist turned homeschooling mother of six. My life can be a little crazy, so I look for sanity-saving ideas to use and share. I hope you’ll read my About page to learn more.
