It's okay if I don't blog right

I've been trying to convince myself, that although I created a blog in order to chronicle my life, I don't owe it anything. It is easy for me to feel indebted to post and keep up with my news. But so often I just wish my thoughts would translate into cyber space in case I or anyone else wanted to pick up and read the threads, because, truth be told, I just don't have very many moments alone to peck away at my keyboard and formulate thoughts worth reading.
The hurry scurry of life must slow down soon, right? And then I'll have more time to write, more time to pray, more time to ponder . . . Much as I hate to say goodbye to the warm sultry days of summer, there is a certain cozy loveliness that comes with cooler temperatures and the hope of snow for Christmas as I'm reminded almost daily by my children to pray for snow.
I'm excited about the children's progress in their preschool books. I love to see things make sense to them, and their eagerness to do "one more page please?" So far Louie and Laura are working at the same pace. We'll see how long that lasts. I've noticed strengths and weaknesses in them both. They may help each other out. Dylan climbs the stool behind Louie, peering eagerly over his shoulder, wondering at all the amazing things on the table, as he chews a crayon and tears up an old magazine. I like to see his interest.
I'm enjoying the routine of a play date once a week. Although it takes effort to get the children out of the house every Tuesday morning, it is worth their enjoyment as it has become a highlight of the week. I enjoy the conversation I get with the other moms and how it provides a relaxed way to play with our children while sipping coffee!
More posts to come soon. I'll be talking about "How to live full in small spaces", next. Stay tuned!

To Love Like Jesus

My mind has been drawn to this thought lately, of love and all that goes with it. Acceptance. Forbearance. Patience. To love the sinner. To love the unlovely. To be in the world, but not of the world. To let the love of Christ dwell in us richly, that we never allow prejudices of color, rank, religion, wealth or anything else to stand in the way of us being truly Christ-like. Think of how wonderful it could be if we spent our energy living close to Christ and spending time on our knees, instead of judging one another? 

I want to share two things. The first is part of a story from one of my children's books. It is the story of an adopted girl. Here it is:

 "Our home was in the city of Seoul where millions of people lived. Most of these people had straight black hair and slanted eyes and high, flat cheeks. But, because of my American father, I looked different. My hair was almost brown and my eyes and cheeks a little too round. In Korea, people thought different was bad. When someone looked different, she didn't belong. People would point. People would whisper, "Do you see that child? Do you know why she's different? She's half American. She's a mixed-blood child. There's no place in our country for children like that."

Does that sound familiar? How often do we judge (and then act upon our judgements), based on someone's appearance, color, or clothing? I'm preaching to myself . . .

The second thing I wanted to share is an article that was shared with me:

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Please read, and let Jesus teach you how Christian you are.

Finally, we will all someday be judged by a righteous God. Are you ready?

A Day in the Life of Me

It's 5:23 a.m. and somewhere through the red glow of the lamp and the fogginess of my brain, I hear Fred's voice. "Good morning. You don't have to get up if you don't want to." I feel for us face and give a feeble kiss. I try to shake the sleepiness from my head and rub my eyes. "I have to fix your breakfast" I reply without enthusiasm. "And what about your lunch?" He leaves the room and I slowly get myself out of bed and stumble blindly to the bathroom. 

Then just like that, I realize that Dylan hadn't woken once during the night! That is a six hour stretch for him! So I quick checked on him, and then feeling, that since my sleep was not disturbed, I must be well rested, and cannot mope around anymore!

I made flat, fluffy scrambled eggs, just the right size for Fred's toasted bagel, and heated ham and cheese also. This is the special breakfast he requested. Then I turned to lunch making. Thankfully there was leftover pizza, fruit, a candy bar, etc. to throw a quick and easy lunch together with. 

After we talked for a minute and said a prayer together, he took me back to bed, and tucked Dylan in beside me to nurse, which he was eager to do after his fast, and never missed a wink of sleep. Babies are amazing that way!

I don't think I even heard Fred's van drive away and I was already in dreamland!

8:00 - I hear a thump and shuffle in the children's room. It sounds like Laura's noises, so I prepare to shush her. I send her out to the living room and catch a few more winks while Dylan sits up to burp. Louie gets up and joins Laura in playing. I can hear their quiet chatter, and I drift off again . . .

9:00 - Dylan squirms beside me, and I sneak away from him. I quickly made a repeat breakfast and got the children to their chores, while I combed my hair. Laura cleared the table and put trash can liners in the small cans, and helped Louie put away dishes. Louie gathered the trash and wash, and I got it all sorted. Dylan woke up then, and I changed and fed him. Just as the children finished the dishes, I was ready to load the dish washer again.

10:00 - The children got right to cleaning this morning, picking up all projects and toys, and setting their small chairs on the couches so I could vacuum. Louie even suggested that we move the big chair and vacuum under it too! I swept and vacuumed every floor surface. Then took out the trash and hung jeans out to dry.

11:00 - After sending the children out to play, I rocked and fed Dylan, and laid him down for his morning nap. I continued to work on house cleaning, laundry, and phone calls while peeking at the children every now and then. I made them a "picnic" pbj outside, and prepared snacks for later. I seasoned a roast to go in the oven and folded and hung wash. About 1o'clock I called the children in for a quick bath and got them dressed and combed. Then Dylan woke up and I fed him, changed him, and set him to play on the floor.

2:00 - Got Dylan all shined up and dressed and changed into a fresh dress myself and headed out to town for appointments and errands. Our first stop was the post office, then the pediatrician.  The children love going in the big hospital building and riding the elevators to the 5th floor. It was then that I discovered my mistake! I was an hour late for Dylan's appointment. Instead of 2:40, it was 1:40! That was a huge disappointment after feeling like I was so on track in the morning! Oh well. They kindly fit me in anyway and the children ate all the celery, apples and carrots I had along for them. After a very nice visit with the Dr, and Dylan was given a clean bill of health, we headed out to Dr Tina's, the chiropractor. My mom met me there for her appointment, and helped me with the children. Then it was shopping! It was sort of fun shopping, as it was not my normal shopping day. I got the children a hamper and stocked up on some good fruit and vegetable deals. 

At 6 p.m. I am finally headed home with a very tired bunch of children to supper waiting in the oven. When we walked in the door, it smelled sooooo good! I quickly gave Louie and Laura some roast and got some green beans heating, while I nursed Dylan. Then I ate and put away groceries while the children played. I boiled eggs for tomorrow's lunch, and mixed up a batch of cookies and let the children poke M&Ms into them.

8:30 - It is getting to be bedtime for some rowdy little children who didn't get naps. They picked out their pjs and got dressed. Laura brought her pants to me. She had gotten them on backwards. I finished filling the dishwasher and folded another load of towels. The children tucked themselves in bed and waited for me to finish rocking Dylan, to help them say their prayers. Within minutes of lights out, a train blew through and scared Laura. I went back in and patted her until it had gone.

10:00 - Hubby came home and kissed the already sleeping children. We talk and pray and get showers. Time to call it a day! 'Night all!

Just beginning . . .

For several years now, I've wanted to blog. But there's always been this little nagging fear, reminded by all those diaries of my youth collecting dust under my bed. Yes . . . only a few pages are written on. 

So although I don't want to feel forced to write on my blog, I'd like to write more than three times. :)
So here's to me! And all my hopes!