Cleaning Up

I made a cake tonight (pumpkin spice, in honor of fall and its gloriousness); I placed my mixing bowl on the counter after I had put the batter into the dish and I thought to myself,"I need to rinse that out before it gets hard and really stuck on and takes forever to scrub off."  I started to think how it's so much easier to clean the batter out of the bowl before it has a chance to dry and practically become part of the bowl.  It just rinses right out, with almost no effort.  The times when I have just set it aside for later, because I'm in a hurry or because someone needs me for some reason or because I'm being lazy, the traces of batter that are left harden, and then require a little more strength to scrub out.  This made me think of my sin, those things I do that displease my heavenly Father.  Or dishonor him.  Or sadden him.  But if I realize quickly where I've gone wrong, or the mistake that I made, or even what I've not done that I ought, and tell him I'm sorry, his cleansing comes right away.  His forgiveness washes over me, taking away the raw, unwanted garbage.  But it is also true, for me, that if I don't "come clean" right away, then those things that I have done or not done hang on, and harden, and cling just like that batter.  They are stuck and feel like a part of me that will never go away.  Sometimes they are around for so long that a habit develops, or a mindset, or a perspective.  Miracle of miracles, there can always be cleansing.  But it can seem like it takes a little longer to get rid of the mess, it's harder to scrub out, and clings more stubbornly making it harder to remove.  Looking at that messy bowl just reminded me that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9)  "Batter" to confess sooner rather than later, don't you think?  God is so good.

Good Fences Don't Always Make Good Neighbors

There was an accident on the next street today.  Some fencing pieces, the individual sections that make up a tall, metal fence, were knocked off of the truck they were on top of (by an overhead branch) and fell onto two cars in the school's carpool line.  No one was hurt, the cars were pretty messed up and I'm sure a couple of moms were pretty shaken up.  I spoke with one of them later that afternoon and we both shuddered to think what "might have happened."  It's a sobering moment, and one that leads me to think how precious life is, how nothing should be taken for granted, how much we have to be grateful for.  I'm thankful for the hope I have for the future.  Yet, I need to treasure the time I have now with this gift of a wonderful family.  Too often I'm rushing around like the proverbial chicken sans head, exasperated, frustrated, perforated...no, that doesn't fit.  Instead of appreciating all the morsels, the goodness, the delightful experiences, I allow time or expectations or fear to direct my attitude.  I need to chill out.  Relax.  Lighten up.  Loosen up.  Take it easy.  Cool it.  Let my hair down.  Calm down.  Hang loose.  Mellow out.  Synonyms are so much fun.

I also noticed the word diminish in the synonym list for relax.  That struck me, because I think that if I diminish and the Lord increases then the perspective that kind of change would lead to would then enable the chilling, relaxing, lightening, loosening, cooling, hair-downing, calming, hanging, mellowing of aforementioned I.  And that person might actually be able to live more joyfully in the moment. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

A Couple of Thoughts

There are so many committed and talented people in this world. 

I have a lot to learn, and much growing to do. 

Freedom for a Little Girl

People ask me one of two questions.

Is she permanently attached to your hip?  (intonation:  incredulity, alarm, sympathy, friendly mockery)

Is she permanently attached to the stroller?  (intonation:  amazement, maybe envy-she will sit without complaining for a while)

Well, people, today the girl was set  free!!!

This will be proof to all the naysayers, those who doubt, or who just can't believe it's true at all, that I do put my baby girl down.  And you will be shocked at where she ends up.  Only because her mother is who she is.  Have fun, she did! 

She headed out, exploring...

She then went over to the playground...

Ironically, one of the last things we did on this venture was swing.  Although her freedom was inhibited, I think she ended up liking the swing.  I would ask if she wanted to get down, and she would grab on and say,"No!" 

Big Brother, Little Sister

We've told Christian that he's special because he gets to be a little brother and a big brother.  For four years he was the baby of the family, and when Eliana came along things changed for him in so many ways.  He's done really well, and is a very loving brother.  He loves, loves, loves to make her laugh and excels at it. 

Today I happened to catch the two of them in several sweet sibling moments and couldn't resist the photo opportunities. 

Eliana always seems to want what is on Christian's plate; it could be the same thing on my plate or even on her tray, but she only wants it from his plate.  This happened twice with a veggie dog (I gave her very little pieces of it-do you think I'm going to deny this child food when she eats about three different kinds?), and with an egg/sausage casserole, which she wouldn't touch when I gave her some on her tray with a fork.  So, this afternoon, she climbed up into Christian's chair and took over his crusts. 

"I'm not too sure, but I think I'll try it..."

"Crunchy..."

"You can have that back." 

"Well, I'll try it again..."

"Not too bad for crust."  "She can have it!"

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Later in the day, Eliana had climbed into another chair (she does that a lot these days) and was looking at a book at a little table set up in the kids' room.  Christian sat down with her and began talking about the book and reading it to her (his reading, by the way, is improving every day; he is so excited to read new books all by himself, and to others as well).  This was precious to see.

I took the above picture on the wrong setting, but loved the expressions so much that I made it black and white and hung on to it.  I think it's sweeter than a sugar-coated caramel apple. 

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Eliana pretty much thinks that he is hilarious whatever he is doing, and loves to watch him.  They were playing with the ball popper tonight, and Christian thought it was so funny to watch her get her hair blown by the air that comes out of the top.  Then they were busy experimenting with different objects to see if they, too, would pop out of the top.  They were having so much fun!

Then Christian decided to take the thing apart; he might be an engineer...

Their final "game" was doctor.  Christian was checking out Eliana's reflexes.  I don't know how her knee bone was, but her funny bone got tickled for sure.

What a sweet pair.  Sigh.