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Friday
Nov092012

Sisters

The other day, Michaela and Eliana were sitting at the school table working on a project.

They were cutting out circles that would represent different members of Eliana's family. (Note to self: Start math with Eliana. She actually wants to do it.)

I remembered that they used to sit side by side at the table a long time ago too.

Eliana wanted nothing more than to be right where Michaela was, doing what she was doing. 

She watched her every move.

Eliana wanted to help Michaela out with her schoolwork back then. 

Michaela loved every minute of it. 

 

I always wanted a sister growing up, and it is so delightful to watch the two of them; they really do love each other. I hope that remains true for always.

Thursday
Nov082012

This Little Piggy Is a Wiggly One (Ten Actually)

Often Eliana is found as close to me as she can possibly get, either right beside me or in my lap. Sometimes that's fine, other times I need her to be industrious elsewhere!

But then there are times when she gets very busy, working on something that was her own idea. 

She can be so focused and intent.

It's a full-body thing, too. 

When she's drawing on the Magna-Doodle (still one of her favorite things), her hands and her feet are engaged, as well as her hands. 

She does not want a ponytail, yet she must hold her hair back so she can see. Determined? Resolute? Opinionated? 

May these things be strong, good character traits one day... 

Eliana's toes are very cute. And dexterous.

And they don't stop moving.

Maybe they are tracking with her mind?

She has been paying attention to some things that Christian has drawn lately, and copies them, with impressive precision.

She will draw

and draw

and then wipe it clean with a swift motion!

Then she starts over. (A clean slate is a beautiful thing, is it not?)

This was a "silly anchor."

I can almost not do this with my toe.

She wags them back and forth, in opposite directions.

And holds them like this for a while!

And every now and then, they rest for a few seconds!

Bless these little feet, Lord, to go where you would have them to go. Whether walking, running, wandering, or returning...may she never be far from You.

 

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 

Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God. 

Wednesday
Nov072012

It's About Politics...You Can Skip It If You Want To

I have been studying World History with Michaela for years now, and we have covered just about all of the major civilizations, empires, kingdoms, regimes, and governments. 

Let me interrupt myself here to make it clear that I would never even begin to pretend that I am remotely close to being an expert on what has happened in the world since time began. I acknowledge that my adult studies have been largely limited to whatever Michaela was reading, or I was reading to her, for her lessons. I do think I have acquired a general knowledge of the whos and the whats of humanity's timeline (and a bit of the whys), though, and what with all of the hoopla over the last couple of months, and weeks and days even more so, some things have been racing through my mind, and heart too. 

There have been -ocracies, -archies, -isms, -acies, republics, and dictatorships for thousands of years now. Do you know what they have all had in common? A human being is always in charge (or maybe a group of humans). But people always mess up one part or another, or multiple areas (or get it wrong from the beginning of the whole thing). There is no perfect human system for maintaining a society, and the reason is societies are made up of humans: individuals who, even with the best of intentions for the greatest number of persons involved, will prove to be fallible, hurtful, and unable to keep the myriad promises made to a hopeful, wounded, expectant populace.

THERE IS NO ONE, NO NOT ONE, PERSON IN THE WORLD CAPABLE OF LEADING OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT MAKING MISTAKES.

I think this is really important to remember.

There are many answers that one could offer if someone posed the question,"What can we say is true of the human race that cannot be denied, but rather supported, by evidence that is observable?" What I think of, though, is the word self-interested. In a positive way, we might think of how we should take care of ourselves as far as our spiritual, physical, and emotional health go. Being concerned with one's own state of being is not all bad. However, unchecked, this self-concern can turn into something that is dangerous and toxic. Think for a moment about these (extreme) "self" words: selfish, self-absorbed, self-seeking, self-indulgent, self-centered, self-serving. All of these "self" words point to a problem that lies within (ironically) ourselves. It is, in fact, our self. We want what is good for us, what will make us happy, and we think we ought to get it, no matter what. 

I confess, this is a huge struggle for me. I want all of the good things (most of which are total luxuries) and none of the hard stuff. I want my things to work properly and not fall apart or freeze up or get stolen. I want my cake and I want to eat it too. (And I don't just mean that figuratively.) (It should be chocolate.)

But what if we look at another "self" word? What if we turn things inside out, flip it all upside down, and shake it? What if it's selfless instead? What if we don't look at us, what if I don't look at me, me, me? What if I look at you instead? What if I look at him instead? What if I look at those folks over there? 

That guy that walks up and down the street and lives among some trees on the side of the road.
That family that is dealing with estrangement.
That boy who is lonely.
That woman who is bitter.
That family who is full of joy.
That girl who made straight As for the first time.

What if we looked in someone else's eyes, held her hands, celebrated their happiness, carried their loads?

Do you know what load I would never want to bear? I would not want to have, nor could I stand beneath, the burden of running the most powerful country in the world. It would not only bring me to my knees, it would crush me. Fortunately for me (and believe me, for the rest of the United States of America), leading our nation from the White House is not what I am called to do. I do not have to worry about being crushed by the weight of that incredible responsibility. But I should still fall to my knees. The first thing I ought to do every morning is pray for this land of the free and home of the brave. 

Barack Obama is the president of the country right now, and will be for four more years. As a Christian in this nation, it is a privilege to pray for him and his administration. You see, he may be the leader of the free world for a time (and it is for just a time), but my God is on the throne forever. I might not like the fact that Obama won, but I do not need to live in fear of or for the future. (Not that this is easy, not to live in fear.) (For me, that would be true no matter who was president.) Whether excited about this election result or not, the best thing we can do for Barack Obama and those on his staff is to pray for them. This is not only benefiting the authorities, but it is obedient to God. He's the boss. 

I also can't stop thinking about our military. These men and women have given up so much, as have their families, and there cannot be enough thank yous. I need to pray for them every day: for their safety, for their strength, for their wisdom, for their courage, for their discernment, for their healing. I am beyond angry and heartbroken that there were some service men and women who did not get to vote because their ballots did not reach them (in time or because of an accident or whatever). There is so much wrong with that, that I cannot even begin to talk about it without tearing up. I pray that such a thing does not happen again. It is unfathomable that the very people who are responsible for the (global) safety of the U.S.A., who are committed to the protection of our freedom, and who join a legacy of men and women who fought to establish and preserve the government that we have, would not be able to vote.

I am proud to be an American. I do believe this is a great nation to live in. I am very grateful that I do live in it, because have you seen our world? It's messed up in a few places. That is what makes me even more grateful that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God. He is a King who does not mess up. He has promised a future. I was going to add some modifier of future, but...the promise of a future is good enough.

And now that I have far exceeded the amount of words that should ever come out of my mouth (or fingers) regarding politics, I must end this post. There really isn't a great way to do that, so I will leave it at this: I hope that I did not offend anyone too greatly, but gave pause for thought. I am the most selfish person I know, so I did not mean to write judgment. I want to try to do better. I need to start with prayer.  

 

 

Tuesday
Nov062012

And Grandma Thought I Might Forget to Take Pictures of the Kids...

A little while back we had our pictures taken for a church publication. Somehow our photos were misplaced/erased, so we had to do them again. After the second photo shoot, I had the kids go in the backyard so that I could take their pictures too; the photographer took family ones at the church, and some of the kids, but I wanted some pictures of them individually. 

They actually cooperated! Enthusiastically!

They just wanted to be outside; it was a gorgeous day.

Michaela is almost always ready for me to take her picture. 

She is such a little lady.

Eliana was being a bit silly. She was amped up and it was not easy for her to sit still.

She stopped a few times for me.

She makes me laugh!

Even Christian let me get some shots.

I asked them for a sibling picture. Christian was under the impression that this would count. 

I talked them into a couple more...that didn't involve the swing. They seemed to enjoy the whole thing, which I can't always say...

Then back to play...

And a fun finale...

Next time I'll have to get one with each of them! 

P.S. I'm a fan of make-up when it comes to pictures of myself these days. Ha!

Monday
Nov052012

I Wonder...Bears and Other Animals

At the end of the day, I find funny things around the house.

Three bears in a pen?

At least they won't go hungry. 

(That is a steak from Eliana's play kitchen.)

Speaking of bears...

I wonder what their story is.

Are they hiding?

This one needs better protection!

Or are they being oppressed? In that case, one bear liberated...set them all freeeee!

So many bears, so many squares. Tiny bears, under squares. 

Bitty bears, colored squares. (I could go on for a while, you know.)

And a rainbow of animals. It's like an artsy telling of "Noah's Ark."

The little minds in this house are very busy. Sometimes I get to know with what...sometimes, I just get to wonder.