Homework

I just got done helping The Boy gather up some pictures for a PowerPoint he is putting together for school.  ***when I was his age....I had to cut pictures out of magazines and paste them onto cardboard"  HAHAHAHA....I digress.....

The project is and ABC project about him....for every letter he comes up with a word that relates to him, a brief paragraph explaining why he chose that word and he has to have a corresponding photo or graphic.

We get to the letter "E"

He tells me the word is evil and he'd like a picture of BuhBuh for his PowerPoint.

I read his paragraph at it says:

"E is for evil.  My younger brother BuhBuh practically defines evil.  He will do absolutely anything to annoy me such as when I start heading to the bathroom he runs straight in, locks the door and takes his famous half hour craps"

The Daddy and I quickly veto him from using a picture of BuhBuh with the title "E is for Evil" and the above paragraph from his project.  

We proceed down the line of letters, looking for pictures and after finishing a picture of H he tells me what he needs for J.  

I asked what happened to I.

He laughs....

I ask him what word he chose for I.

He says "intelligent" and we both laugh.

He's contemplating changing that one too.

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."  As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.  Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."
 "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.  Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."
  Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him."
 1She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
  Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her.  So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."  word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,  an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.  I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.   

1 Samuel 1:9-28

I read excerpts of this passage at Little Dude's baptisim.  It seemed fitting for as hard as it was for us to concieve him.  When we were in the hospital to deliver we had foud names....2 girl names and 2 boy names.  AS they showed me my baby boy My Sweetie asked "What are we going to name him?"  Without hesitation, I blurted out the name that had been on my heart for years prior.  As we arrived home with our newest little bundle, we found a card in the mailbox; a congratulations card with a scripture. 

"For this child, I prayed"  1 Samuel 1:20

His name was perfect.

Today I was drawn back to this passage that I read for Little Dude's baptism. Now, while Little Dude has indeed had his haircut and I am not handing him over to my Pastor, when we baptized him I WAS dedicating him to God for his whole life.

Today as I dropped off a very excited 3-year old for his first day of preschool,

I wondered how much it hurt Hannah to do what she did.  I wondered if she was sad.  I wondered if she cried.  I wondered just how quiet her home felt when she returned.  

The scripture doesn't say anything about her sadness, but as a mom I would only assume that her heart was hurting a little.  

1 Samuel 2:1 titled Hannah's Prayer does say,

  "The Lord has filled my heart with joy; how happy I am because of what He has done!"

Rather than wallowing in what she was loosing, she worshiped and rejoiced because of what God had given her.

This precious baby of mine isn't really mine afterall.  

He is a child of God.  

I thank God for the opportunity to have been entrusted to raise another one of HIS children. 

Little Dude has been given to me as a gift to love, care for, teach and help to grow.  

But it's in his Heavenly Father's hands that he is truly being held.  

Not mine.

"As long as he lives he will belong to the Lord"  

1 Samuel 1:28

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Fresh

Measuring UP

5 feet 9 inches

4 feet 4 inches

3 feet tall

So, I'm a little late....

My 8th grader on his first day of school.  Yes.  The shirt says "Loser"

No worries.  This is what the back of his shirt says.

My 2nd Grader on his first day of School

Showing off the new backpack....Star Wars, of course

And they are off!

School is back in full swing.  Football practice has started, soccer won't be too far behind.  Homework is already causing me stress and the temps are a little cooler today.  I can almost smell fall. 

I always have a hard time getting back into the swing of things.  Summer is always so good and so busy.  It is nice that we are back on "schedule" a little.  But I miss having them home with me every day.  

Praying for a year of learning and growing for my babes.  Praying for health and no broken bones. Praying for easy mornings and not too many tears during homework time in the evenings.

Perspective

Me:  (Stroking The Boys hair)

The Boy:  WHAT are you doing?

Me:  (nostalgic sigh)  Just looking at you...you're so handsome

The Boy:  (clearly annoyed) 

Me:  You're not the little babe in my arms anymore.  You've grown up so fast. 

The Boy:  Not to me.

Me:  13 years really isn't that long....

The Boy:  13 YEARS!?!?!?!  THAT'S my whole life!!!

Multi-Tasking Momma...FAILURE!!!!

Me:  (sitting on computer working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend)  BuhBuh, what is Little Dude doing?

Me:  (continuing to stare at computer screen, so intently that I missed his respones)

My Sweetie:  Hun, did you hear him???

Me:  What???  Huh???

My Sweetie:  Did you hear what BuhBuh said??? 

Me:  Um, no, sorry.....What did you say BuhBuh??  What is Little Dude doing....

BuhBuh:  He's mowing.....the lawn.....with the mower.....(mischievous grin)

The Boy

"By the time your children leave the nest, you have either basked in the essence of their lives or missed it."

                                                                                        ~Charlene Ann Baumbich

WHERE did my little boy go??

I went to wake The Boy today and it hit me.   

He is growing so fast.  

He is currently 4 inches taller than me. 

His voice is deepening.  

His legs are getting hairy.  

He NEEDS a daily shower.  

He needs to wash his face every day.  

He is learning what it feels like to have a crush and to be crushed.  

He is hungry for independence.  

He desires to fit in someplace.  

He has a love and knowledge of God's love and grace for him that I am sometimes envious of. 

He feels sheltered by his parents. 

Isn't as open to hugs from mom.  

Will be begining 8th grade in less than 2 weeks.  

Will be 14 in a little over 3 months.  

WHEN did this all happen???

Sadly, it all happened right before my eyes.

I wish I could hold on to him tighter because he feels like he is slipping away faster and faster every year.

But I can't.

I can only bask in the essence of him, give him the foundation that he needs to build his life on, be his number one supporter and take comfort in the fact that God is really in control not me.  **sigh**  

Serving in St Paul

In August of 2008 I found myself tearfully saying goodbye to My Sweetie, BuhBuh and Little Dude and setting off to serve on a youth mission trip with The Boy. I was going along for both the experience and as just one of the adult chaperons. I remember how affected I was by after the experience from both being with the youth and reaching out to helping someone in need of help.

The youth pastor at the time use to joke (well, maybe she WAS serious) that I was going to take over for her when she left. I would laugh, thinking she'd be around for awhile longer so that I could learn from her some more.

I remember when the announcement came that her and her husband, also a pastor, were being re-appointed. I choked back tears as I sat consoling one of the youth who had decided to come to church for the first time. I kept saying, "God, I'm not ready to take over"

Last Sunday I again found myself saying goodbye to my Sweetie, BuhBuh and Little Dude to head off to serve on another mission trip with The Boy. But this time, I climbed into the drivers seat of a 15-passenger van, this time as the leader not just a parent chaperon.

During our time in St Paul our group served in a variety of ways. Some of us helped serve at the Salvation Army Preschool and in Nursing Homes. Some of us helped our host church for the week prepare to hand out 400 backpacks of school supplies and organize 200+bags of groceries to send home with the kids who came to the church every afternoon so they'd be sure to have some food over the weekend.

We also helped with some yard work of some women who were no longer able to care for their yards themselves. We also spent our afternoons hanging out playing and reading with kids of the Boys and Girls Club East.

We all had to assist in meal prep and building clean-up a couple of times during the week.


In the evening there were activities unique to the St Paul area like a visit to the Cathedral,

and History Museum.
We listened to a speaker on poverty and did some eye opening activities. We had a community cook-out

and watched break dance and popping competition, in a church which removes the pews from the sanctuary to make it a dance floor once a week.

We also had a pizza picnic at Indian Mounds Park.


After our evening activities we had worship and sharing and heard a message.

We ended our evenings with small group time with our youth groups.

It was an exhausting schedule. Coffee was essential....


But, the work was rewarding and I saw God working through each one of my kids throughout the week.

I saw bonding between my kids and I saw new friendships with other youth who were on the trip from other churches as well.


I really looked forward to morning devotions where the only thing I needed to do was sit and be with God. I know, I can do that at home, but often times I don't make time for that....I'm working on that.

My favorite time during the trip was during the Thursday night foot-washing ceremony. The staff came out and washed each of the adult leaders feet and prayed over them. Then as adult leaders we washed our youth's feet and prayed over them. What a blessing it was to do that one-on-one with my kids. The kids were all pretty emotional after that so when we went into small group time I decided to literally throw the "pre-written" list of questions over my shoulder and just let them share whatever they wanted about their week.

As we got back in the van Friday morning to come back home, all of those kids expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude for bringing them on this trip.


I may not have been ready to take over a year ago, but God has sure provided me with everything I've needed in order to do so.