Extraordinary Life

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One of my favorite things so far this summer break has been being able to do Bible Time with my boys again. We had largely gotten away from doing it with any regularity while school was in session. That school run in the morning just derailed the nice little time slot right after breakfast when we were used to doing it, and I never found another time that worked quite as well.

Now that school is out though, that nice little time slot is back, and so is our singing, verse-practicing, and story-reading.

On Friday morning every single boy helped sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Even Emmett sang, and there was nary a poopy chicken invoked. (See my post before last if you're confused--he's been known to throw a "poopy chicken" in wherever he thinks it fits.)

The big boys repeated after me the verses we’ve been trying to learn. I had read these verses in my own reading quite a while ago and ended up printing them off on a poster to put in the boys' room. They've been hanging there for months, maybe even a year, but the boys haven't really learned yet what they say.

“As for you, my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9, NKJV)

I took a few liberties with the verse on the poster, omitting the name of “my son” (Solomon) and not including the last part of the verse (“But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever”), but when I read it in Chronicles so long ago, I just knew I wanted it to be on my boys’ wall, as a reminder for both them and me.

It’s about time they know what it says. 🙂 ...continue reading →

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The other day I followed a car out of town, and on that car was a bumper sticker that said, “All men are animals. Some just make better pets.” Or something along those lines.

Now of course I didn't, but I’ve never wanted to rear-end somebody so badly. Rear-end them and see who showed up to help. See who took their statement. See who fixed their car.

It could’ve been all women, certainly. But chances are, it would’ve been some of those “better pets.”

Just the term makes me see red.

Men are not animals, and men are not pets. ...continue reading →

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Man, I love a toddler.

Especially mine.

I just saw sweet little hands uncurl around a big lava rock, a pile of colored rubber bands, and a broken piece of a sparkly geode as he left his treasures on the counter in order to grasp a water cup with both hands.

I leave drinking cups on the counter for the big boys, and Emmett always has to drink out of them both. “I firsty,” and he holds up a hand. Drinks long. Puts the cup back. “I firsty,” and he holds up his hand for the other cup, too.

He loves to say “chicken,” and his two favorite uses are “poopy chicken” and “chicken house.” He said “poopy chicken” out loud at least four times during his Aunt Nikki's graduation, but hopefully no one was able to decipher it.

That aside, he’s very polite. Help him with something, and he’s sure to say “tanks” at least twice, if not three times. When I pray with him at bedtime, he says, “Thank you, Mom,” only it’s so fast and clipped that it sounds like “Tay tu, Mom.” When he wants something and is afraid of not getting it, he says, “Peas, peas, peas!”

He loves to copy his brothers in the things they do and say, and the other day when we were in the car, he was mimicking literally everything they said. He gets goofy right alongside them, and there is so much hooting and hollering and laughing. ...continue reading →

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The children of Israel had just watched the God of their fathers decimate Egypt in ways unimaginable. They had just followed that pillar of cloud by day and been protected by that pillar of fire by night. They had just seen the waters of the Red Sea parted. They had walked across on dry ground. They had seen the armies of Pharaoh perish in the waters they had just passed through. They had sung and danced before the Lord.

“Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. With Your faithful love, You will lead the people You have redeemed; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength.” (Exodus 15:11-13, CSB)

And yet.

They faced the wilderness.

Three days with no water.

And when at last they came to water, it was bitter.

After such an incredible deliverance, they found that the world was still broken.

Their way was not going to be easy just because they followed the Most High. ...continue reading →

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I should've cleaned up the boys' room.
I should've cleaned up the green room.
I should've cleaned the shower.
I should've cleaned the car. (Are we noticing a pattern here?)
I should've mowed the lawn. (Oh, wait, it was raining.)
I should've done bookwork.
I should've paid bills.
I should've done Bible Time with my little boys.
I should've sorted the next size of clothes for Emmett.
I should've done flashcards with Sebastian.
I should've practiced reading with Alec.
I should've gotten up early enough to see Eric off to work.

But I did do the dishes.
I did fold the laundry. (The overflowing, falling over, loaded to the gills basket of laundry.)
I did bake the cookies I had mixed up yesterday.
I did make granola.
I did pick up the toys.
I did sweep the floors.
I did walk for twenty minutes.
I did read my Bible.
I did work on a photo project that has been on the past two winters' to-do lists.
I did feed and water my chickens.
I did read to my baby.
I did play Candyland with my five-year-old.
I did practice memory words with my kindergartener.
I did kiss my husband on his way between this and that.

You win some; you lose some.

And this is me not losing at blogging by not breaking my blog-every-month streak.

Today felt like a productive day, should'ves aside. 🙂