the "portant" things

So the boys are not feeling very well today. Daniel is finally recovering from his weekend, he was slightly "stopped up" for the past few days. And now David has a small cold. We had to get out in the rain last night. I know, bad mommy. So today I've made him a "comfy" spot on the couch where he can lay and watch his movies while being surrounded by all his favorite items. I've even made him some pancakes shaped like teddy bears and dinosaurs to make the cold go away. He was very specific in telling me what he wanted with him on the couch. With his stuffy nose he told me, "momma, I need my 'portant' toys, my juice, my favorite poppy crackers (cheeze-its), and my sniffy towel". Dutifully like the momma-soldier I am I rounded it all up and proudly presented it to my boy.

Sigh.

I didn't get the REALLY "portant" toys and he was distraught. He sighed, heaved himself off the couch, all the while telling he guessed I'd have to make him another comfy spot because he's having to get his own toys, and walked me to his bedroom where he pointed out exactly which toys were "portant" and which ones were not. That settled I made him an EXTRA special comfy spot on the couch where he is now content with all his favorite things. I don't know what I'll do if he has to get up to potty... Ever heard of a super-duper-extra-special-comfy-spot???

Pray for me sisters.

the draft

Okay, so what is it about the NFL draft that keeps men so captivated?? I don't get it. All Scott wanted to do when he got home from work yesterday was turn on the draft and see whom the Cowboys had chosen. You should have seen the sour look of discontent when he saw that they picked someone he hadn't counted on. What?? I was lost. I got up and started folding the four loads of laundry that needed to be put away. As I was folding the clothes I listened and giggled at my husband. Each time there was a good pick made he would throw up and hand and say "about time!" and each time there was a "bad" pick made he would either sigh, scratch his head, or stand up. All this drama over names and teams being flashed across the screen?? What is the big deal? What makes this moment on television so incredibly important? What makes these men so different? A few answers came to me as I thought (to myself not to distract hubby) about this "draft" that was going on. What set these players apart was talent, desire, a passion to play, and a man holding a microphone calling out their names.

That's when God reminded me of a scripture. Leviticus 20:26 says, "You are holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own". For just a moment, apply those words to yourself. As if God is speaking straight to you. "You are holy to me because I, the Lord, and holy and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." (emphasis mine) As Christians, God has set us apart to be His very own. No that does not mean we are better or more special than everyone else. It simply means we are different. And hopefully others see that difference on us. Just like the players drafted yesterday, we have something in us that is desirable. The loving hand of God. He's chosen us. Drafted us. We play on His team because He's held the microphone and called out our names. What a joy to be in God's drafting line-up. What a blessing to be counted for His team. Today an announcement was made at church. God has drafted another pair for His "starting line". He gently called them by name, gave them the play, and passed them the ball. Now it's their turn. The work is tedious and they'll meet the enemy head on, more than once. But the end rewards will be amazing, and well worth the sacrificing challenges. They have been chosen since before birth to take the task laid before them. They've been on God's list. And now, they've been drafted. I'm going to miss their smiling faces. I'm going to miss her leadership at Bible study. I'm going to miss those oh-so-cute outfits of hers. And I'm going to miss seeing his un-abridged passion for teens put into action for our community. (and I'm really going to miss those kids!!) I could not have chosen a better family for this task. I know they are going to do some amazing things in God's name. He's chosen the best of the best. They will be amazing.

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Dear Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to meet these sweet sweet people. Thank you for blessing our church with them and thank you for blessing me with time to get to know them. I am better for it. I ask that you bless their new adventure. Give them the people they need and take them to the people that need them. Keep your blanket of love over them and surround them with strength daily. Thank you for choosing them, they will not let you down. Guide them and protect them and show them every step of the way how loved and supported they are. Comfort those they are leaving behind, we will miss them. And prepare those in the path ahead of them, they will need them.

Clinging to you.

oh these boys....

Just had to share some photos of my boys that I found while searching through all my pics on the computer. Enjoy!

Little Spinner Boy

I just had to post this. My sweet sweet boy loves this toy in Motor Lab at school. It's a giant red cone that they sit and and then spin themselves around and around. It's really cute. David ran straight for it today at school and stayed in it spinning around and around almost the entire time he was in Motor Lab. It was exactly where he wanted to be, doing exactly what he'd gone there to do. I began giggling uncontrollably watching his grinning face go around and around and around... spinning spinning spinning. I was definatly not able to hide the pride I have in my sweet boy. I mean, come on, he was the cutest child in the room. :) As I was watching him, feeling like the worlds best mom, I wondered if that was the same look God looks at me with. When I'm swooshing and spinning and looking so silly delighting in the creation God's given me, do I make Him giggle? Do I make Him beam with pride? I wonder what His laughter sounds like? What a wonderful blessing it would be to know that I've brought my Father joy. My heart longs to bring Him hapiness and joy, and beaming happy smile.

Lord how I love you. I long to make you happy and to see you smile at me. One day I will see you face to face and I can not wait for that moment! Thank you for the little joys in my day today. The secret giggles only you and I shared. Thank you for my beautiful sweet sweet boy and for those precious moments that I can capture and hold in my heart forever. I am ever in love with you. Your giggling Daughter.

Go Zoomers!!

Tomorrow will be David's first soccer game. He is so excited for it! His team is green, green jersey, green on the shorts, green GREEN socks... David LOVES green! He said that God knew he liked green and so he made everyone else like it too. :) All us parents are little worried about the first game. The kids haven't had much practice time and don't really get the whole concept of soccer. But then again, what 5 year olds do? They just like getting out there and running after a ball, trying to beat out the other 10 kids running after the same ball. It's really cute to watch them. Coach Steve has to remind them not to take the ball from their own team quite often. It reminds me of ministry alot. I'm the first to admit that sometimes I've gotten myself involved in ministries to "shine". I knew that I would look good and that others would notice me if I did it, and so with the wrong heart, I jumped in only to overwhelm myself and serve un-gratefully. I was stealing the ball from my own team. Someone else could have done that job better, and with the right heart. Someone else WANTED to do what I was doing, but out of selfishness/"ball-hogging", I didn't want to step down. It was when I finally realized that the battle was between myself and God that I took a step back and evaluated why I did what I did. I learned quite a bit from God during what I call my "awakening". God lovingly guided me and held my hand the whole time I kicked and screamed and said but I WANT to shine, I WANT people to pat me on the back. That's when God asked me the question, why is their approval more important than Me?? It's not. It never will be. I don't want to steal the ball from my own teamates. If we all do what God made us to do, we'd never get confused or kick the ball into the other teams goal again. We'd never chase each other down, tripping each other, or pushing the other out of the way so that we could have our 15 minutes. It doesn't matter who kicks the winning goal, if the team works towards God's purpose, every goal will be sunk and he will be glorified. Isn't that the main purpose? I want to live my life to glorify God. I want to please Him.

Lord you constantly amaze me. Thank you for this lesson taught through watching my sweet sweet boy play soccer. And thank you for helping me realize that cutting out my teamates undermines your gameplan. I love you Lord, and I am ever learning. I want to live a life pleasing to you. I want to live a life of service to you. Thank you Lord for loving me.