David Wasn't Shaken...We Won't Be Shaken

I've lost my mind.

I know you're laughing. But I did not just realize this...I'm only confirming what we already knew.

I am now going to make a Goliath costume for Mike and Christian to wear in the childrens' choir musical Sunday. Tomorrow is dress rehearsal. Right this minute I have a pile of red fabric, two pillows, some thread, a huge breastplate...what I need is magic powers. 

A sewing machine will have to do, though. Now it's time to tear it up!

Actually, to put it together, as the case may be.

And if you haven't heard this song, please listen to it now, or at your earliest convenience. It's stuck in my head, and it's a good one. 

From what I understand, this is Building 429 singing after the Sandy Hook shooting. You have to go to about 2:00 for the song. This has become one of our new family favorites. The first time I heard it was when driving to Memphis last week, and I've gotta tell you, on the heels of the Boston bombing, I had tears streaming down my face. A reminder that God is sovereign and that we are firmly in his hands is always good. 

Miles on the Car

It's not every day that I can relate to Tom Petty. Actually, that's not true. He wrote my theme song. If you ever want to know what it is, ask and I'll let you know. Even though that is a fact, in general, Petty and I have very little in common. 

However, his lyrics to "Runnin' Down a Dream" are just about the perfect description of my day today.

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
Trees flew by, me and Del [or me and Eliana, as it were] were singin' little Runaway [and we were singing whatever was on the Christian radio station, not likely that it was little Runaway]
I was flyin'

Yeah runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream

What was my dream, you may ask. I couldn't really tell you. Just like he says, it was a mystery. The only difference is that I went back and forth on the same five mile stretch enough to drive right out of Texas had I been going in a straight line one way.

And it was just one of those days that you say,"What was that all about?" and then go to bed. 

For the Simple Joys...

Last night I went to bed feeling sick to my stomach because of some of the news I was encountering. I made a decision as I tried to go to sleep that I would stop reading article after article after article in the upcoming days. I went from being a news-know-nothing to a news-knows-more-than-I-ever-wanted-to. 

I can thank Eric Metaxas' twitter feed for that. He is up on his news like it's his job. Maybe it is his job.

At any rate, it's not my job. At least, not in the same way. I believe there must be a happy medium.

So, while knowing all the news is not my job, I do have very important work, namely raising these children. And in light of all that I now know (ugh) doing this work is all the more, what's the word, imperative...significant...urgent...critical...I could go on, you know. I am armed with a thesaurus. 

Today, I left to take Christian his lunch (Surprise!) and then took the girls to the library. After the library, we went back to the church for Michaela's piano lesson. We were early, so we waited in the parking lot for a while. After her lesson (during which I read to Eliana), we picked up Christian and went to the park across the street from the church. I took about 70 pictures, which are now uploading to the computer. 

It takes a long time to upload 70 pictures. Did you know that? (I just checked...they're still uploading.) 

(I'm multi-tasking...the game is on. The Rangers have scored 9 runs in this one inning. It's been so long since the Rangers' pitcher was on the mound, he might not be able to go back out!) (Crazy!) (Adrian Beltre was walked two times in one inning! The commentator said,"He doesn't get walked twice in a week!") (I love this game!) (Especially when the Rangers are winning!) (Our pitcher is back on the mound after all. Darvish is a beast.)

The reason we hung out at the park for a while is because the big kids had a rehearsal for their musical. It lasted two hours, but I stayed there since I heard that one of the directors likes the parents to stay. (I was the only one who stayed who wasn't already helping with the play. It was fine, though. I tried to make myself useful. I don't think I was very successful. But...I tried? I helped straighten out some material that another mom was cutting. Useful! I also took some shirts out of their packages for the kids to try on. Useful!) After the rehearsal, they were supposed to have Bible study, but at this point (6pm) Christian hadn't been home since he left for school, so Mike and I both thought we ought to call it a day. 

We got home, had leftover pizza, and watched some Judy Grimes SNL skits. If you haven't watched them, I highly recommend it. I'm giggling now just thinking about Kristen Wiig's comic genius. 

So there was pizza, laughing, ice cream, showers...the kids were exhausted by the time they were tucked in. I'm ready for bed too. I want to be present. Today was a good start. And now my picures are all done, so I'll stick some in this post! 

They are getting big,

but they're not too big to have fun on a playground yet. 

Even though her feet are half the size of the state of Rhode Island.

A tennis court will do for fun as well. He looks grumpy, but he was having fun, I promise! 

For these simple joys, I am very grateful. 

A Lament

Where are you, oh my God?
Have we distanced ourselves so far from you that you would leave us to our foolishness?
Please, LORD, save us!

I'm Practically Asleep, But Here Goes...

I am already in bed. It is outrageously early for me to go to bed, but I was feeling loopy after dinner. I'm trying not to be a hypochondriac, but who am I kidding...I'm a total hypochondriac.

Maybe a good night's sleep will help. Since I'm not writing a real post, here are some things that have been on my mind and I hope to write about soon.

I will use my voice on behalf of those who do not have a voice. (Note: I am speaking of justice issues, not laryngitis sufferers.) More on this exciting topic soon.

Our house MUST get under control. That is final and no backtalk.

I miss having friends like I had in seminary, but the fact is, life like that just isn't my reality anymore. As special as it was, I need to live in the present, and invest in the women who are in my life today.

Now I must try to get some sleep. Monday is always a doozy, but the Monday after a vacation is especially good at tripping me up.