Light in the Darkness

We had our tires slashed this week. This event intended for evil was a great challenge to our week. It forced me to rearrange my schedule Tuesday morning so Nathan could make the school run. I lost Tuesday afternoon when Nathan found out that it was actually two tires flat instead of one. I added more hours to my day on Wednesday when I had to deliver two tires to be fixed at the shop, and my husband and I had the afternoon ruined when we found out that they were flat due to vandalism. Thursday then got blown up when we had to spend half of it going in to get the tires they ordered for replacement and pay $400 for them (Merry Christmas, Discount Tire).

In the midst of it, though, didn't come the anger I anticipated. I was mildly frustrated that my schedule kept changing, but the thing that overwhelmingly stuck out this week was peace. Peace in the midst of violence, in the midst of chaos...peace in the storm.

I realized that this was a great opportunity to watch God's hand at work. So, I sat back and watched. I watched as the right people crossed the right path to open up opportunity to report it to the police (for it wasn't as "isolated" an incident as they let on earlier in the week). Then, out of nowhere, came provision. A neighbor, whom I had never met before, came out to talk to Nathan while he cleaned out cars this morning. She had heard of our plight and was so angered that she chose to spread light into the darkness. She wrote my husband, a perfect stranger of a neighbor, a check for $100 to aid in the replacement cost. When Nathan insisted that she need not, she told him that someone at Christmas time and children should not have to suffer at the hands of vandals.

It reminded me of two things. First, we NEVER know where God's blessings will come from next. Even when we think we have God figured out, we are reminded never to count Him out...never take our eyes off the sky waiting for Him to move in our situation or in our lives. Second, we NEVER know how much God can use us in a situation to shower blessing into someone else's dark circumstance.

Thank you to our neighbor, to this stranger who blessed us so. Thanks be to our Heavenly Father, who supplies for our every need in His perfect timing and brings light to the dark world we live in.

My Unexpected Blessing

We had day one of our garage sale today. The kids love garage sale day. They set up a stand with donuts, water bottles, and lemonade for 50 cents. Jonathan is learning how to give correct change, and the big kids have to work together to pour out the lemonade. It is a fun way to earn a little extra money.

Well, after the day got on, Nathan had to leave me to tend to the garage sale and three kids on my own. The best way to cope was putting them all down to naptime. I was surviving the last thirty minutes of the sale, when this beautiful Hispanic woman and her three kids piled out of their minivan.

She was very pregnant and looking very tired. As we visited, she told me that she is seven months along and uncomfortable. The kids mingled through the "treasures" while we continued our conversation over the clothing piles. She told me that she has c-sections, so she has to stay in her maturnity clothes a long time. Being a mom of three kids, my heart just melted and went out to this sweet woman and the struggle ahead for her in bringing this fourth child into the world. Years of long days showed in the wrinkles of her face. I could tell even a few minutes of quiet over the clutter of my house gave her a little relief.

She was especially interested in the maternity clothes. After several minutes of visiting, mom-to-mom, she sheepishly asked me how much I was asking for the clothes. I told her to take every one she could find in her size...free of charge. I just could not bring myself to take any money and just hoped that they would give her a few extra miles and bring unexpected options for the long months ahead. I knew this had to be the first thing she had done all day for herself, and I was so blessed to play even a small part in it.

As she loaded her kids and drove away, tears welled in my eyes. I realized that, in the process of trying to be a small blessing to someone else, the real blessing of the day was in MY heart rather than hers. I tearfully tried to pull my sobbing self together, being "strong" for the other strangers driving by the dwindling minutes of my garage sale. The more I tried to pull it together, the more I felt like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally, over-emotional at the drop of a tissue. I am so grateful to pass along an unexpected blessing and was surprised to receive a huge unexpected blessing to my heart.

Praying a special blessing to the stranger who needed a little and gave a lot!

I Live For...Little Moments...Like That

There are really too many little moments in life that I wish I could frame. I wish that I could take a snapshot and quilt them all together. Then I could relay the stories to friends, or I could snuggle up under the memories on the dark and cloudy days of a cold tomorrow. They are so fleeting, too quick to catch on camera. I fear that the picture would miss the essence that makes them so beloved. Instead, I will write them to share with you all. Sit down with a warm cup and enjoy!

Naomi this week has really taken to sharing the world around her with Elliot. As Jonathan goes to school, she relishes the time she does not have to share toys...and her little brother. Earlier this week, she was telling Elliot some of the things we do with our hands. She ended the time saying, "And, you take your hands like this (lifting his hands over his head), and this is how we praise the Lord, this is how we praise the Lord!" In sing-song fashion, she wrote a song on the spot, like we've done a hundred times before, all to teach Elliot how something simple like raising our hands glorifies God. *precious*

A few months ago, Nathan and I ran across some Bibles on sale at a store closing. We held onto them for a "special" occasion. Last night, our children's AWANA program started at church for the year. We sat down as a family after school and relayed stories of our day. I told the kids that we had to get ready for AWANA, and I had a surprise to mark the special occasion. I presented them with their Bibles, especially proud to give them their first edition of the actual Bible (not just the Bible story books they had until now). Jonathan reacted, saying, "OH MOM!!! It's so great! I just can't believe it! I love it so much! *pause* Thank you so much!" You would have thought it was treasured gold, food for the hungry, or water for a thirsty soul. The thing is this: the Scripture says it is all three. Nathan's highlight for the evening was driving the kids home after AWANA and listening to Jonathan learn how to read out loud by reading John 3:16. *precious*

You just cannot snap a picture of these precious moments. But, we write them on our hearts. We share them as our heritage and pass them along through the years. I live for little moments like that!

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." Psalms 119:28 NIV

Building Blocks of Marriage

Andrew Peterson's "Dancing in the Mine Fields"

I am loving this video that was released from one of my old favorite artists ahead of the release of his new album. I think it is all too unfortunate that, while we are surrounded by so much that seeks to destroy marriage in our society, there is such a lack of glimmers of material to build up and celebrate the success of the most rewarding job one takes on in life. So, I am celebrating an oasis amongst the desert. I hope that this brings hope and a little water to quench your thirst in a dry and weary land. I could not be more grateful for my best friend for life. I love you!

Happiness Is....

A new pair of glasses and the first break my contacts get for three years...yeah! (Pictures to follow soon!)

"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" 1 Samuel 12:16

Jonathan and Naomi's Song

(as sung at the piano, Naomi playing the music as Jonathan writes out the song)

"The Lord has done great things for us,
We are filled to the top with JOY!!
We are so thankful.
This is my song, this is my song, this is my song.
I sing and jump, AMEN!"

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

My children astound me! A few weeks ago, my kids went through a big music phase. They really enjoy music, but they were especially enamoured with it. My son, Jonathan, begged for days to make instruments.

Giving kids noisemakers is a tricky decision. It usually means they are shortly occupied, but it adds in that much more noise into an already loud existance. So, in the end, I have to say that Jonathan's persistance won out. And the gamble to give into the desires of a three year old paid off.

I finally got the opportunity to make instruments at my parents' house. Instead of the typical drums, he had his heart set on a guitar. Here is where the snowball started. My brain starts thinking, "How can I achieve this goal quickly." So, I started bringing boxes and rubber bands together. My mother chimed in, "I could just buy him a guitar (which, I thought to myself, would be the EASIEST solution)." I reminded her that she, too, would have made one if I begged and pleaded at three to have a guitar.

My father, being of a kindred spirit with MacGuiver, could not help but get the gears in his brain turning on the sturdiest version of a guitar. He quickly added in his ideas of how to construct a homemade guitar (which definately included an industrial-grade staple gun). So, as he went to working his magic, my beloved husband HAD to add a few suggestions of his own on how to bridge my ideas with my father's (you know, translating "wifespeak" into "manspeak").

In the end, all the ideas wielded a fabulous guitar (thanks to my mother's discarded boxes, saved rubber bands, Mary Kay shipping ties, and some good old fashioned duct tape). Jonathan played with his new guitar for hours. He slept with it. He woke up with it and snuggled it until it was time for church. Jonathan insisted that he wear his cowboy boots and hat (which we had to dig up) and take his guitar to church.

This brought the "dressing ourselves at three" argueement to new heights. I finally conceeded some ground and let him have his way. What came next was the entertaining part of the story.

Jonathan always loves singing in church. But an instrument, now that was really worshiping in style! He sang and strummed at the top of his little lungs for the whole service. By the end, the associate pastor was rolling on the ground watching Jonathan perform for his audience of one and enjoying singing to the Lord.

It made such an impact that Jonathan the worship band invited Jonathan to play in their gig that evening for the service in the park. He would not sleep or be deterred...he was playing with the band asap. Instead of spending his evening with his friends playing on the train slide, Jonathan hung out with the band doing sound check, eating with them, and playing all ten songs in their set. For 45 minutes, my son who has a five minute attention span sang into the mic set up for him and strummed along to every note, glorifying God.




"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day." I Chronicles 16:9,23

Surviving a World Bigger Than Myself

So, I realize that a month without a new post makes us all feel out of touch. I actually checked my blog on Saturday and thought, "Wow! NY pictures are my last post?" It seems like I've lived a lifetime since that visit.

It seems that I've gotten busy going about keeping up with others in my life. My husband's schedule would put some celebrities to shame. My kids are very busy. I'm by nature a very busy person. But, as many around me remind me regularly, I've gotten a little bad about taking time for myself.

That led me to two very distinct realizations:
1. They are right. I need to take a little more time for myself.
2. There really is a short period of time we have on this earth. I would rather be a bit fatigued for thirty years and felt like my time here was spent glorifying God at every turn and investing in other people who will leave a legacy far more reaching than my own, than to look back on life and realize that I did nothing that was meaningful or that will last for eternity.

So, all that being said, I think that I will go take a nap and leave the housework for another time (I can't tell if this is more to satisfy more me time or to feed my need for procrastination. Take a minute to talk amongst yourselves! :))

Listening For Crickets in the City

So, after a few days in the Big Apple, I have so many grand stories of subway escapades and near misses of losing my son in New York standing next to my husband. Two toddlers from Middle America meeting the big city is a little exercise in letting go. We have so many fun adventures every day that it is almost impossible to overcome anticipation to reach sleep. I'll start with my favorite moment so far.

You see, I almost missed it. It was so easy to pass right by that moment without a moments notice. The passing cars and taxi cabs roared, horns beeping, ambient people chatter added to the noise. I was lost in conversation with a long displaced sister. However, the sweet voice momentarily peaked at just the right time, and I listened to a few minutes that brought a fresh country breeze to my spirit overridden with city air. I heard Jonathan singing.

Now, you must realize this is nothing new. My children live a musical-style life that randomly breaks into song just as the plot turns. My sister added that all transitions in the life of small children must be accompanied by a ritualized song to ease the tension. However, Jonathan started into a short verse of Jesus Loves Me, followed shortly by the chorus of I've Got the Joy...Down in My Heart. I heard the small voice of my son praising Jesus in the midst of the relative chaos around him.

It was such a precious thing to hear him call out to God when he truly believed that no one was listening. It was like a private conversation with a close friend just to check in and say, "I love you...and I'm missing you. Just thought you should know. I'll check in and catch up later." I wonder what that would look like in text messaging if Jonathan could send his shout-out that way.

It reminded me of a sermon illustration I heard recently (I wish I knew the source, so if you do know forward it along so I can give credit where credit's due). A Native American visited a friend in New York. As he walked the streets, he was surprised to find a familiar sound that seemed out of place. The Native American's friend hurriedly tried to follow his friend for blocks hunting the noise. Finally, he reached down to move a plant covering a cricket. "How did you find the cricket over all of this noise?" the friend asked. "Easy. It all depends on what you are listening for." To prove his point, the Native American reached in his pocket for a few small coins and released them from his hand. When they hit the pavement, everyone walking on the block stopped and turned to see where the money fell to the ground.

It reminded me that I should handle with care what I am listening for. If I am not careful, I may miss the sounds of my children's childhood that is really important.

"The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:2-5

What a Mighty God We Serve....the rest of the story

In one of my gleanings last year, I blogged about the wonderful things God was doing in our lives as we sought His will for our financial situation. I wanted to follow-up with that and say that God did it again. We are officially debt-free outside of our house payment. And not only are we debt-free, but also God did it in 14 months (four months earlier than we projected). April 4 was our independence day. Yahoo!

"The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none." Deuteronomy 28:12

Technology at its Finest

The real meaning of my blog is to prove that if I can mother two toddlers, anyone can. Here is a case in point:

Yesterday was a very unusually slow day. We had nothing planned, nowhere to go, and the kids were their usual selves. However, it was unusually quiet...you know, fewer phone calls than normal, very quiet with visitors, etc. I somehow missed Nathan's call that he was coming home for lunch...again, that was unusual, too. But, it was almost 5 p.m. before I realized the source of the strangeness.

You see, my parents blessed us with a wonderful gift at Christmastime of a new phone. We were in DESPERATE need of one (ours had this aweful buzz on it constantly). In fact, it was over and above what we needed to meet every need we had...built-in answering machine, four handsets (one for every level of the house AND the garage), great caller-id...I mean, the works.

So, after missing a call that should have forwarded from my cell phone to the house, my concern grew. I glanced at the handset on the charger in the kitchen looking for answers, only to find that one of the handsets was "in use." My thoughts went, "Hmm...that's funny, being as that I am on my cell phone. I wonder which one it is?!?" I quickly ended my conversation to start the great hunt. I found three of the four handsets with the sinking realization that one of my blessed children had turned on handset #2 (yes, they are numbered) and hid it somewhere in the house.

I remembered something about Naomi playing with one in the basement, you know, the office (the one that is REALLY not clean). I started the hunt there to no avail. For two hours, I searched high and low, refrigerator and freezer, only to come up empty-handed. As bedtime fast approached, I feared the worst. Just when I gave up all hope, Jonathan tried jumping off the furniture right into my tirade of punishment, when, to our surprise, the jump loosed the functioning handset and brought it out of hiding.

Needless to say, Jonathan received no punishment, the phone was on for 8 hours 50 minutes and 5 seconds, and turning it off revealed a still-full battery. Praise God for serendipitous moments that only He can arrange, the sense of humor to laugh it off, and a cell phone to check messages in the meantime!!!

The Little Bit...and Then Some

So, like any mother of two toddlers, I feel completely overwhelmed and frazzled most days. I struggle to keep up with daily chores. I agonize over getting organized. The list is long and distinguished. Some days, it feels so consuming that it takes a small pep talk to get going in the morning.

That is....that is how life was last week. And as many weeks as I can remember before that. I finally broke the cycle and am proud to say the grass IS greener on the other side.

Some may ask, "So what made the change? What caused such a big difference?" My answer is the little bit and then some philosophy. I'm sure that I've heard this principle before, but I finally got it last week. You see, I got tired of wallowing in the things that weren't getting done, so I did what I could to change it. Instead of getting frustrated that the dishes weren't getting done without a dishwasher and the house hadn't been cleaned in two weeks, I asked for a little help and paid someone to come watch the kids.

A paradigm shift occurred by putting a little skin in the game, and it felt GREAT. But then, I was awake that night worried about the mere days it might take to have it all crumble again. My paradigm philosophy answered back to my fear by quickly interjecting that it simply didn't have to continue that way. All I had to do was focus my worry time and a few minutes a day (the here and there moments that present themselves when the dishwasher delivery man is twenty minutes late, when the kids sleep an extra 15 minutes, when I can raise myself out of bed thirty minutes early and avoid the pity party, etc.) and apply it to MAINTAINING a small sense of order on the important things.

It was a miracle in the making. My house is clean one week later. The kids are happy. My husband is happy (he finds me glad he's home, not happy that it is HIS turn with the kids). So, I now find myself with a little more time that is not dedicated to reinventing the wheel design for my life. Instead, I choose to dedicate the extra time saved to doing the "and then some" of life. You know, picking one drawer a day to reorganize or one drawer of clothes to reclaim in the kids' rooms. I've given myself permission to not declare victory over the house in a day, but I've committed to not losing the ground I win.

I'll keep you posted!

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." 2 Thessalonians 1:11

I thought I raised them better....

I believe that Wal-Mart is a necessary evil to a fallen world. In fact, the word loathe only begins to describe the anamocity I feel toward the retailer who does today what they try to do everyday ("...take over the world!" for those of you deprived of an Animaniacs education). So, I had to muster up all the strength I had within me to try to take on the void of Wal-Mart with TWO toddlers in tow and NO reinforcements, only to discover what I always discover....they don't have what I came to buy. In fact, the conversation went just like this:

Me: (dragging my toddlers with hands touching EVERYTHING in sight) Please stay clear of the two stockers in the aisle, guys. There isn't much room for us to squeeze by.
Stocker: (oblivious to the world around her, not only doesn't move, but also refuses to make eye contact in the event I actually have a question)
Me: Excuse me, but I can't seem to find what I came here to buy. I am looking for some toilet targets to help with my potty-training toddler. Where could I find them?
Stocker: (obviously does not have kids, because there was no angst, remorse, or pity in her eyes that I am AGAIN trying to potty train my son. eyes roll across her face to take her attention off of her ever important work) We do not carry those. (quickly, she turns back to the pressing work in front of her of stacking the 100th package of diapers into the rack)
Me: Okay, guys. They don't have the only thing that we drove thirty minutes to buy. Maybe we can find some stickers to bribe you with. Follow me, please. (using every form of personal restraint I have not to go off on this emotionally-void woman. it really wasn't her fault that the largest retailer in the WORLD NEVER carries what I need!!!!!!)
Checker: (as we walk up to the register with severely over-price stickers) Did you find everything you were looking for?
Me: (trying unsuccessfully to keep all octopus limbs in the cart) No, actually I didn't.
Checker: (shocked by an actual answer)Oh...well...um...your total will be $8.15.
Me: For stickers?
Checker: Yes, ma'am. (hoping that I would just pay and leave already) Thank you and have a great day.
Me: Thanks, but it would be a better day if I had toilet targets. (muttering under my breath as I hearded my two toddlers toward the parking lot)

So, imagine my disdane when my son (bless his little heart) states on the way out, "Mommy...that's Waw-Mart. I wuv Waw-Mart, Mommy. I just wuv it." There was no time to waste in informing him of the blood-sucking nature of Wal-Mart. There was no reasoning to him that Wal-Mart might actually look similar to hell...long aisles of crap that you don't need at prices that are slightly cut to make them look like a deal, but is still $8.15 that would make more money at 12% interest in an IRA. He simply has bought into the incredible marketing scheme of falling prices and coming out most times with the next toy that will bring his life meaning and happiness. I really thought that I raised my children better. I suppose there is still time.

"The thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give them life..." John 10:10

Finding My Pretend Voice

So, I just want to apologize for the length of time it took me to feel at peace writing again. I think there were a few things mulling over in my head that got in the way. I even signed on a few times, but I lacked the words to write.

Over the past several weeks, I have been greatly changed by my children. I feel like I've grown up a little as they raise me. They continually teach me the trite lessons of what growing up looks like, what is really important, and how precious life really is.

It was over a month ago now that a puzzling situation came upon me. The first time it happened was in the car, and I didn't realize the weight of the situation at the time. But then, a day or two later, Jonathan was playing by himself during a quiet few minutes of his sister's nap, and it happened again. As I was hurriedly trying to complete A task for the day, I faintly heard Jonathan use a pretend voice. He has been venturing on strolls through make-believe, but this was a huge milestone of finding a creating a place known only to him; creating an environment of safety and adventure.

As a parent, I didn't know what to do. I was paralyzed to even mention that I heard a different sound from his mouth. I didn't want to take this treasure from his hands. And, at that moment, I remembered in my own life how important it is to blaze new trails in search of adventure and mystery. I remembered how I longed to create my own voice in a world of noise and confusion. I believe that it is that longing to create an intimate place shared only with the beloved friends we treasure in our hearts that births the desire to really have our hearts be known by the Creator and those around us as we grow older.

I have really admired my children over the past few months for all of the discovery and all the ways God continues to use them even now (I hope to share some of those precious memories soon). My heart is so pleased that they try to create their own world and break out to experience the adventure ahead.

My beloved spoke, and said to me:

“ Rise up, my love, my fair one,
And come away.
For lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come,
And the voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land." Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Of course, the stove breaks....

when you need to have three dozen cookies by Saturday afternoon and you find out about it at 9:50 p.m. I can't tell what is funnier: trying to fix the oven by directions over the phone or attempting to cook biscuits at 450 degrees in a toaster oven (I'll say it kind of works, but not very successfully and I wouldn't do it on a regular basis....we'll put it in the same boat at a blow-torch broiler). Who knew that you could have an electric gas stove (no, I'm not pulling one on you or being a girl that doesn't know what she's talking about). Evidently, we have no regular pilot light. We have a pilot light that comes from an electrical charge. Yeah, I don't really understand why, either. All I have to say is that I've always hated that stupid oven. Oh well, God's blessing seems to come even at times that surprise us. Someone out here in po-dunk nowhereville actually has the part and will tell Nathan how to fix it himself to save money. How gracious God is to us (even when we complain about the things He blesses). It is almost enough to make me want to like that stupid oven.

Know-It-All Children

Dear Mom,

I am dreadfully sorry for all of the times that I insisted that my knowledge surpassed that of your aged wisdom. I realize now how young and stupid I really was. I think that I always expected this day to arrive, however I hoped to make it at least to my son's third birthday before reaching the monumental cairn of life called "Mom is now stupid and knows how to do nothing in this world."

Today, my beautiful son realized that, at the ripe age of three, he KNEW how to get something open that my frail, female, 26 year old brain just would not be able to figure out. It is beyond the streets of shivelry, past the point of politeness, and reached a turn down the overlook to outrageous and demeaning. For goodness sake, I am the one who is still trying to convince his little brain that pottying in the pot is a good idea, and now HE is telling ME how the world works. It just is not reasonable.

However, in the haze of the madness of the situation, it occured to me that it was not that long ago that I recall pulling the same prank on you. How often the pain and frustration of life might have passed me by had I only listened and heeded your advice....especially on the mundane, "Don't touch that; it's hot" warning. If only I really heard the urgency of your heed to stop what I was doing BEFORE someone poked an eye out. Had I only translated that tone in your voice properly before exiting the house after the exasperated, "Are you really wearing THAT outfit tonight?" Oh, the wisdom you gave and I left it on the doorstep like yesterday's newspaper.

So, I truly am sorry for not listening to your advice. I realize that you really DID know what you were talking about, that your years of learning the hard way gave you some really great tips, and I did store them away in the back of my mind. I plan to spend some good time unpacking those boxes and organizing them into useful ways to practice what you preached.

With Love,
Your Favorite Daughter

Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 12:28

What Lies Beneath........Worse than Forcasted

So, I have received a few concerned comments about the previously mentioned rodent problem. I am now here to set your mind at ease and assure you that it truly is worse than we first thought. Let me explain....

You see, I mentioned before that this is not a new problem in our house. We have expelled enough mice in the last four months or so that I simply lost count of the unwelcome invaders. I am determined that this is far beyond living near an empty field. This is far beyond a small nuisance that requires a walk to the hardware store two blocks from home to invest five dollars in some traps. This is war!

Thursday afternoon was my breaking point. I resolved to cleanse my living room area of all evidence of the mice. Nathan helped me remove all furniture from the living room and witnessed the fact that the mice crossed the wrong girl this time. There were droppings all over the carpet underneath our furniture. I can't tell you how many toys I threw away or cleaned due to the mass contamination. It was, in essence, worse than we thought.

As if that were not enough, while we were away for the weekend, Megan was forced out of the house after coming home to two dead mice in traps downstairs and being greeted by a third trying to take in the movie she was watching upstairs (I would have reached my limit, too, and slept somewhere else). Needless to say, Megan and her fiancee removed five dead mice from the traps this weekend.

The glimmer of hope comes from this: we have not found any more mice this week and, after careful and detailed exploration of the basement, we have not found any nests. But, in fair carnal truth, war is war and the damage has already been done. I've invested $70 in field artillery. The frequency pest controller is in the mail. My girlfriend (who once had a serious mouse problem herself in the neighborhood) swears by this machine for ridding your house of peace burglers and keeping out any unwanted future house guests. I am taking back the night and taking back the control and security in my life! I don't need a cat to come make my house worse. I need technology! (Okay, so I know it's getting a little deep now, and I apologize Mom for giving you hard times about mice growing up, but this is serious stuff).

I'll keep you posted on the results.

"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.'" Ezekiel 34:25

The Creature Living in MY House

There is an unidentified creature taking residence in my home. He does NOT pay rent. He is not welcome. I cannot for sure even tell you what kind of parasitic monster it is (okay...so I know that might not be a word, but this is serious business!!!). I am not the only one to register a Smith-Ness monster sighting (wouldn't that make it Smyth-Ness given the nationality?), so don't even try to tell me that I am making this up! It is real. It is a problem.

It all started a few months ago. We have had a small mouse problem we've been attending to in our basement. Megan knew she'd have a bit cheaper rent, but I know she hasn't enjoyed the roommates down there. Anyhow, a few weeks ago now, Meg's Saturday morning sleep-in session was rudely interrupted by a four-legged creature that had an unfortunate meeting with the mouse trap. After a forty-five (yes, that's 45) minute altercation with the trap, Meg finally gave up on sleep, only to find that the "mouse" and trap both disappeared. Several of us have hunted both since, simply to come up scratching our heads at the fate of both.

Fast forward to last week. Nathan and I quickly tried to prepare the house for Naomi's first birthday party (which ended up really being an entire weekend of Ode to Naomi festivities....pictures to follow soon). In all our efforts, we stumbled upon a neatly crafted mouse nest (I'll spare the details of where...you just don't want to know). That small issue was taken care of.

BUT, THE REAL POINT OF THE STORY happened last night. Nathan and I returned home after a day of Nathan being sick and a late night meeting to a little couch potato action watching unfortunate events culminate into a Rockies loss, only to watch a full our assault on the house. Meg and I watched this CREATURE (definition: smaller than a bread box, bigger than a mouse, similar in size to a chipmunk, brown on top and white on bottom, the rest of the features blurred by its speed) shoot across the room from under the rocking chair to disappear into the toy corner (you know, the one where my two toddler children play with all of their toys, inserting some of them at will into their mouths....yucky eeww!).

Needless to say, I do not believe all of these mishaps to be accidental or unrelated. So, please pray for us that we can catch this sucker that is totally not invited to live here and that we can clean the house before my children contract Ricin (that's right, the incurable disease carried by small animals of the rodent variety). We are in the midst of running "Operation: Small foot" in order to rid our house of all unwanted living organisms (well, and some wanted as Megan chose to start moving out on her own...we love you and realize that it is good for you to get your own place, so you and Dustin have a place in a few weeks. But, we will miss you!). Until then, I will let you in on the details of the extermination.

Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

It Goes Too Fast!

I heard the cliche. People always tell me to enjoy things- my life, my kids, etc.- because it all goes too fast. I believed people when they gave me the advice. I even took it to heart and tried to take deep breaths while enjoying the scenery. The tragedy of it all is that, even when you stop to take in the little moments along the way, it still goes way too fast! So then, I am left with the stress that everyone tells you it goes too fast, the responsibility of trying to take in as much as I can, and the defeat that the time I try to preserve will never be enough. That is a lot of weight.

The real truth behind the mayhem is this: I have great kids and I have a great life. Every single day is a joy. And I've come to know that if I spend too much time trying to preserve what already happened I am doomed to miss the wonderment right in front of me. I froze when I heard the lyrics to Kenny Chesney's new song Don't Blink,

"Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you're taking naps and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your better half
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink."

But then, I realized a few things. One, I am blessed to have so many memories and great events to treasure and look back on. By savoring those moments I have warm thoughts to keep on cold days. Two, there are many fun memories to come. By looking forward to them I have reason to get out of bed every morning. And three, I can only hold on to so much. I have an entire eternity of memories to hold on to. Every day will be special in its own way.

So, as I look on to what the rest of this month holds, I realize that my baby is about to have her first birthday. I only hope that the next year is filled for fun moments she wants to hold onto and remember. There is so much ahead for my little ones. I can't wait to hold their hands through it and enjoy the memories with them.

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The LORD has done great things for them.'The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:2,3

"I hear babies cry..."

I have to say that I think that the person who wrote What a Wonderful World did NOT have children of their own!!!!

(Note: I am still grateful to listen to crying countless moments of the day and still think that it IS a wonderful world.)

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—" 1 Corinthians 15:51