Wordless Wednesday

Tub Time

My Problem

I'm having a problem. My problem is obedience. At first thought, anyone reading this who knows me may be thinking that my problem with obedience is with my boys. Not so in this instance. My problem with obedience is with me.

In the past few weeks the Lord has really opened my eyes to my disobedience and how it affects our relationship. Many times the Lord gently reminds me of my disobedience by the things I hear myself say to my children during times of their disobedience. He allows my voice to ring in my mind after the words have been released into space for all to hear. Then, just as gently, He whispers and says, "Do you hear what you are saying? I feel the same way. If you would just do what I ask you the first time, things would be a lot easier. If you would trust ME to do a work in you, the blessings would be innumerable, and your life would be better, just because you decided to obey ME. "

So now, my quest is not just to stay in the Word and in a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father, but also, to strive to obey Him, whatever the cost. The cost of obedience maybe high at times, but it is NOTHING compared to the price paid for me on the cross.

I Samuel 15:22 - Then Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. "

Wordless Wednesday

Chillin in the living room with grapes and a drink in the laundry basket.

I Wonder...

(Butterfly picture from Freeze.com)

Does it hurt the butterfly to go through metamorphosis?
Is it uncomfortable?
Does the caterpillar look forward with anticipation to the
change that it faces, or
is the end just worth the
pain of the change?
Does he crawl inside the warm chrysalis and
say, "Okay Lord, hurry. I need to change now."
"I want to change now."
"Now."

Does the caterpillar have to learn to be a butterfly, or
Does God give this creature the innate understanding
of how to be a butterfly?
And do butterfly things like flying, sipping nectar, and playing tag on the breeze with
his butterfly mates.
Are these all the things that he is learning inside his little tomb?

Whatever the case, he emerges a new creature.
The old is gone, the new has come.

I wonder...

Monkey takes Karate!

Finally, some pictures of my monkey and his new sport. A few weeks ago I finally got myself together and took my Monkey to start something new. Hubby and I had been talking for a while about Monkey's need to expend some more energy and decided karate would be a great outlet. We've heard A LOT of positive things about karate. This dojo is currently called Karate for Christ. In a few weeks it will change it's name to Savior Martial Arts.

I have been nothing less than impressed everytime I go. The instructors are great with the kids. They are very patient and energetic with the students. Monkey asks everyday if we can go to karate (we only have class 2 days a week). It definitely says something to a mom if your child is asking to go somewhere (especially something new) everyday.

My new karate kid won't EARN his first belt for a few weeks. The nice thing is that students not only earn belts with good behavior, good manners, and appropriate skills at class, but also good behavior and good manners at school and home. The sensei explained to the Monkster that he (the sensei) would be asking mom and dad how he is doing at home and at school too. Love it! Hopefully, this will provide some carry over.

Silly Face

Yet again, this week, the I {heart} faces website is doing a photo contest.
This week's subject is the silly face.
Since I have several silly faces in the house, it was hard for me to choose just one.
This one won out of all of them.
Enjoy it and then go check out the I {heart} faces website to see other silly faces!

A Time to Rest

It's amazing. I never knew why my mom always was going. I figured that it was just something she "did" as mom. Never did I think that I would come to do the same thing as a wife and mom.

From the time I enter the house I'm picking up toys, shoes, chairs, papers, bags of school things, and whatever else needs to be moved to its proper place. The funny thing - 24 hours later - I'm doing the same thing all over again - with the same stuff. Somehow these items find their ways back to their spots - on the floor, on the furniture, everywhere.

That is just one area of my life that keeps me going. Sometimes I feel like I don't sit until 10pm. Well - the running has gotten me into trouble. Not taking care of myself got me a dose of pneumonia. I finally went to the dr. last night. She listened to my lungs and said it didn't sound good. The good news was there was no crackling sounds - ruling out bronchitis. The bad news was she heard wheezing. Prescribing me an antibiotic and a chest xray - she sent me on my way - to Target to fill the prescription.

When I got home - I ate my dinner, sat for an hour to watch a tv show, and then got up to do the dishes. You'd think I'd learn something. :) Jeremy finished them for me while I ushered myself off to bed. I slept comfortably and then got up to go to work. I stayed for a half day and then left. So, here I sit in my jammies and slippers, eating soup and winding down, finally taking a time to rest.

A truly Wordless Wednesday

Since I have almost no voice - which my sons and hubby are probably happy about it is a good thing that today is Wordless Wednesday.

I was giving Monkeyman a bath yesterday. I couldn't believe that another birthday is coming so quickly. He'll start Kindergarten in the fall. I thought it would be fun to post a few pics of yesteryear. The time truly does slip through our hands like grains of sand. No matter how tightly you hold - it somehow doesn't stop or slow.

HE GETS IT

There are many times, in all areas of my life, when I feel misunderstood. There are days when I wish that someone else would walk in my shoes - just to get a taste of what one day is like. I am not wishing a different life. I am truly blessed with my life. I have a loving husband and two beautiful boys. I am blessed with a job that I enjoy and coworkers who are truly supportive. I have the privilege of loving children that are not typically developing - hopefully showing them and their parents the love of Jesus in the process.

Is it unfair for me to ask to be understood? Sometimes I think that it is. However, I know of One who understands exactly what I am experiencing on a much grander scale. It is at these times that I understand that I have NO RIGHT to ask to be understood, when Jesus left a beautifully perfect place where He was in perfect communion with His Father. He came to a place fully lost - inhabited by those He created - who didn't know Him, didn't recognize Him, didn't accept Him. Even those who were closest to Him didn't get it. How frustrated was He? Yet - He loved us. He loved me.

Instead of lashing out at me because I don't get it... He loving waits for me to get it and teaches me daily - lessons that are, unfortunately, repeated way too often. I am sinful. Living with sinful people.
It is no wonder that they may not get it.

I just praise the LORD that HE gets it. I can take comfort in the fact that HE gets it. Praise Him. He is worthy!