Community Bible Study devotional

Last week I heard a devotional that was inspirational.  Here are some thoughts I wanted to share with you.  These words are from Cindy Beqette and "The Red Sea Rules". 


"Sometimes God Will quiet a storm; other times He will let the storm rage and He quiets His child."


As Christians, we know we will face storms.  Yet still, they can stun and rattle us just as much as anyone else.


If God doesn't quiet your storm, He has another plan.  He may want to quiet you, His child.  Sometimes deliverance takes place in our hearts rather than in our circumstances.


How does He do this?  He calms our hearts by changing them.


Here are some ways He does that:


1.  When you surround yourself with God's word, fear will turn to faith.


2.  Get to praising.  God tells us he inhabits the praise of His people.  Have you ever felt the quieting and calming of your spirit as you lift your hearts in worship to God?  It is truly astounding how praise and worship change our hearts.


3.  Make a gratitude list.  It chases away our self-pity.  It's hard to complain when you're recognizing the things you have to be grateful for.


4. Spend some time with people who make you laugh.  It may not change your circumstances, but it will change your outlook.  




Just because we are believers does not mean that strength comes easily or naturally.  However, it does mean we have access to everything we need.  We have the faith, trust, and the courage we need to press on.  When you get knocked down, God will give you the grace to stand back up and say "I still believe that You love me, You have a plan, and You will never leave me."  Our trust in Him is our gift back to God.


"If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

It was a timely reminder of God's goodness and an encouragement to me.  Thanks Cindy for sharing these encouraging words.




Much love, many laughs, and God's blessing be on your life both today and in all the days to come.;


A

A wild rumpus!

Well my big boy turned 10 years old.  I can't believe it.  He's such a big kid.

To celebrate, he wanted to have some friends sleepover, play games and watch movies.  As the boys got comfortable I enjoyed seeing just how uniquely different each one is.  I've love observing kids to discover their unique gifts and laugh at their funny quirks.  I'm not trying to pigeon hole anyone, but it is entertaining to sit back and watch their personalities unfold.

There was one boy who was the "put together" one.  He always had his sleeping bag and supplies put away and organized.  He was the first to get dressed for bed and the first one dressed in the morning.  I thought about asking him if  he could come over and give my kids lessons on listening "the first time".

There was one boy who was the most enthusiastic one of the lot.  I kid you not,  he and my son spoke at the loudest decibel levels they were was capable of.  This guy had signed on for the full sleepover experience and was not going to miss a beat.

Then, there was the relaxed calm kid who seemed to get along well with everyone.  In my family we call them "type O", because like type O blood, they go with everyone.

Then, there was the kid who was one moment right in the middle of the ruckus, the next, quietly sneaking off to play with the dog.  He loves our dog and the feeling is mutual.

Lastly,  there was the absentminded one.  The one who couldn't find his stuff.  I would find his belongings in the nooks and crannies of the playroom.  He was the one who still didn't have his shirt on, or teeth brushed, when the rest of the boys had their belongings ready to go at the front door.  He is a youngest child. I can spot them a mile away because that is exactly how I am was as a kid:)

Ten is a great age.  They are gaining a lot of independence, but they are still sweet and have not learned to be ashamed of their family and loved ones.  They still want you to come to the honors assembly.  They still feel like "big stuff" when a parent walks into the classroom and everyone notices.  They want to show us off.  I love that.

Many times I have wished I could freeze time and save each age.  Alas, it is not to be.  So I will cherish each age and thank God for the special gift he gave me 10 years ago.











"Okay, now look silly......"








"Now give me your serious face.... "

(that little sister-she's a stinker)













Now for the crime scene........

Evidence they did get some
(if only a little) sleep......









Evidence of a pillow fight......

Evidence that Big boy has eyes under all that hair......

At some point the shirts came off......

And everyone got home in one piece -whew!











HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET, SWEET BOY - LOVE, MAMA

How Family Night Exploded

   In the spirit of the holiday season, we try to carve out a night to have some time just for the four of us.  It is such a great activity, that I included it in the advent calendar this year.  To make it more "official" (or maybe so my kids would think it was a requirement?) Hmmmm..... I'll have to ponder that one.

  Family night is special, but a Christmas time family night is even more so.  We pop popcorn, drink hot chocolate, snuggle up with some soft throw blankets and watch a Christmas movie.

It didn't happen that way this year.  Instead, here is how it happened......


son:  Mom, can I have a friend over to spend the night?

mom: Not tonight sweetheart.  Remember, we are going to have a family night and watch a Christmas      
movie?  Hot chocolate and popcorn - ringing a bell?

son: But Mom, sister got to spend the night last Friday night and I didn't.  You always say "no".

mom:  That's not true.  I would have let you last weekend but you didn't mention it and I can't help it if everyone has conflicting schedules anyway.

son:  But mom, I haven't seen this friend all week.

mom:  I can't help it if you have to go to school during the day.

son:  But mom, can't he just watch the movie with us?  He won't be any trouble.  I never get to have a sleepover.

mom:  But son, I just scheduled for you to sleepover with a friend from school next Friday night.

son:  But mom, that is my friend from school.  I haven't seen this neighborhood friend all week.

mom: How about if you play with him and return at dinner time?

husband (quietly mumbles):  "It's ok with me if it's ok with you."

son:  But that is not enough time.

mom:  Son, sometimes parents need it to be "just us".

son:  Pleeeeeeese?

mom:  I guess that would be okay.  Go see if he can spend the night. How about I go get the makings for smores and we roast them over the new fire pit?

After roasting marshmallows over the fire pit (and racking up some "your mom is cool" points) we retired to differing areas of the house.

(sometime later after having lost track of time)

mom:  where is everybody?  are we going to watch a movie? I start walking around looking for my peeps.  My husband is in the kitchen working.  Not on kitchen things mind you, but working all the same.  My daughter is watching Frosty the Snowman on T.V.  Okay, I thought to myself, one down two (actually three now) to go.  I go in the family room and discover that the boys are watching Dragon Ball Z Kai and playing on the computer and ipad.

son:  mom, can we just play a little longer?

(after looking at the time)

mom:  okay, that's fine

(after letting them play much too long)

mom: guys it's time to go to bed.

(my husband heads upstairs to help our daughter, while I work on Christmas cards)

So that's how family night quickly dissolved into "everyone to his/her own corner of the house" night.

I had good intentions.  Doesn't that count for something? I just got worn down by an incredibly tenacious 9-year-old.  What is a mother to do?

Side note:  We did get some snuggle time.  It involved my youngest in the bed sandwiched between my husband and me.  Even the furball doggy got in and joined us.  I decided not to ask the boys if they wanted to climb in.  I didn't think they would appreciate the humor. What if they didn't get the joke?  Then I would just become "weird mom", and after getting brushed off for family night, I didn't think my ego could take it:)

Much love, many laughs, and a Merry Christmas to you!

Disheveled

My daughter is rough on things.  Make no mistake, she is very much the sweet little girl who likes to paint her nails, play with make-up, perfume, and put on jewelry.  But she is hard on things.

When she gives you a hug, you'd better bend your knees and get balanced, because she lunges into you and squeezes with all her might.  When she gives you a kiss, it is enthusiastic and memorable.

Whatever she does, she does with 100% gusto.

So it goes without saying that when she wakes up in the morning, her hair looks like this.........

Not bad you say?  Just wait...

Now what say you?

Whatever she does, she does 100%  She even sleeps hard.

Now, where did I put my hairbrush...

Much love and many laughs,

Bedhead's Mom

Phone manners and overused words and phrases

I'll admit it.  I'm a blatant user of the exclamation point.  Especially when I text.  It is so much more efficient that actually talking to someone.  


Don't get me wrong, I love to have a conversation as much as the next gal.  However, when passing along critical information like what time a movie starts, or "Did you mail that letter?", I feel texting can suffice.  If I just talked to you three minutes ago and I'm returning an answer to you, just check your message box.  We can dispense with pleasantries.


Oh, and please don't answer the phone just to tell me you can't talk now.  I release you to be free to let the phone go to voicemail.


How many times have you been about to wrap up an important conversation with someone, only to have a phone ring.  Don't answer it.  Just don't do it.  Finish what you started.  Don't hold someone hostage just so you can say goodbye.  


Back to the texting, I use a lot of exclamation points because sometimes meaning and tone are lost in translation.  I want the receiver of my text to know:
1.  I'm in a good mood (unless I'm not, in which case I probably won't text)
2.  I like them
3.  I don't want them to misunderstand #1 and #2


An exclamation point is the cheerleader in the punctuation family.  At least it is when I use it.  


I'm aware of my gratuitous use of them and no, I don't plan on changing it.  It is used to set the tone and I feel justified in this explanation.




That said, I thought I'd list some of my favorite cliche' sayings.  




1.  Sexy - example "wow, that washer and dryer are so sleek and sexy".  Rowrr.......  It just doesn't apply in cases such as these.


2.  Journey through this process.  It is quite eloquent.  It is just entirely overused.  So overused that I try to use it as much as I can.  Those who know me well will get the joke.  Those who don't will probably be nodding in an effort to look interested.


3.  3-D - It's a buzz word designed to get consumers attention.  But really, what is the purpose if 3-D soap?


4.  Holistic - sounds good doesn't it?  "Let's take a holistic approach to doing the laundry."  




Comments?  Anyone............anyone............? 




Much love and many laughs, 


A

A silent alarm just sounded....

Last night, when I needed to get cleaned up I decided to listen to my ipod and take a soak.  "Yes" I thought, "a little bathing would set me up forever!"  (Sorry-Jane Austen quote).


When I take a shower, nothing happens.  No one comes into my "suite" area.  (Man o man-why didn't I have doors put on the bathroom area???)  


But when I take a bath something mysterious happens.  


Within a mere 2 minutes of plunging myself into steaming hot water, I have a  visitor.  Another 3 minutes on top of that and I can score two more bath time guests.  


What causes this?  Is it the sound of relaxation pouring through the pipes and into my freestanding bathtub?  Is it the effervescence of my bath fizzies that hearkens to the weary crowd down stairs?  Has there been planted in my family's subconscious, the idea that bath time is also, "I have Mom's undivided attention" time?  


I can sympathize with the mother in Jill Murphy's book "Five minutes Peace please"  It is funny because it is so true.  So incredibly true.  


In the book, the mother elephant gets her kids their breakfast, and while they eat, she thinks she'll sneak a 5 minute bath.  Well as you could probably guess, with in 2 minutes, two of her kids are goofing around in the bathroom while her youngest child jumped right in for a soak himself.  

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Don't click on it, you can't sample it here:)

You can find this book in the children's fiction section of your local bookstore.  It is not fiction.  Not at all.


Maybe that's where the Japanese got the idea for group bathing.  Who knows?
  
So, I've decided enjoy the interruptions with the realization that one day when my kids are grown, I'll actually get those 5 minutes of bath time peace. 


And while I'm at it I think I'll invest in some bubble bath.   Cause no one needs to see my Rubinesque-ness or make comments about it-thank you very much!


Much love and many laughs,


A

Ways to avoid bedtime

My boy is funny.  He is a man-child.  He is tenderhearted and kind.  He is all boy and I love it.

Two  (unintentionally) entertaining traits of his are his vast store of energy and his very active mind.  Sometimes his mind is so active that he has difficulty going into "sleep mode" at night.

Below are some reasons he's listed for being unable to sleep:

1. "My ankle hurts."  (Last year he sprained his ankle and it only seems to flare up at bedtime.  Too bad for him, my husband noticed that the "trick ankle" switches from time to time.)

2.  "I have too much energy."  (Understatement of the year!)

3.  "I can't sleep because my nose is like..........."( fill that in with various sniffs and snorts and you have a idea).

4.  "My body is trying to force my eyes open and then closed." (Picture him pretending to fall asleep and jolting awake with eyes wide open.)

5.  "Since Monday, my body hasn't wanted to go to sleep."

6.  "It feels like there are rocks in my [4" memory foam egg crate topped] bed."

And these are just some of the doozies we've heard in the past.

Needless to say, I'll be updating you with the future bedtime excuses as they occur.  He really is a creative fellow and a joy to our lives.  I'm amused by his excuses because it's noon on a beautiful sunny day.

If you catch me at 11:30 on a school night battling this problem, you might get a different picture.

It's all about context people:)




Much love and many laughs,

A