Saturday's Surprises

Miles never ceases to amaze us. It has been a great week with him (challenging sometimes but wonderful, too).
Miles doesn't give his heart away freely like Will and I do, so I was suprised to hear him twice today use such tender comments about "new" folks in his life. Kristin Dutt is a girl I get to meet with weekly. She met us at the High School on Saturday where we ran a 5k (Jake and I). Kristin (we call her "Dutt") watched the boys, fed them their donut breakfast and made sure they were taken care of while we ran.

Jake finished around 29 minutes. I finished at around 35.5 34.23 (just checked the results and did better than I thought) and the boys did GREAT! Kristin has a way with them because when it was time for us to leave, Miles asked, "Can Dutt go with us"?

Then later, as we made Miles' birthday list he asked if he could include "Mr. Brett" - a college student who we've had the privilege to spend time with lately.

What great surprises to see Miles interested in the people that are so important to us (and that are not family).

Saturday's Surprises did not end there. When we got home, as we were getting things done around the house, I asked Miles to take our picture. He was EAGER to do it and did a great job. That led to him asking to take more so we put the strap on safely and with is little hands he walked out the door to do some photo composition. He came back in a few minutes later and we were blown away by his artistic eye!

Check out the photos that follow!

ABC Bible Verses: K, L, M

Week 11: K - "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies" Psalm 34:13
*sigh* as mentioned in the first post on the ABC verses, I would pick up our list on Mondays and teach the verse over breakfast. Then we'd review it throughout the day and Tuesday do an activity that helped us remember it. So I picked up the list and thought "GREAT verse - how in the WORLD am I ever going to help them understand it? and WHAT kind of activity could we possibly do?"
We reviewed it over breakfast and gave them a chance to hear it a couple of times. Miles immediately started to tackle it mentally but kept swapping words around and leaving things out. I told him to be patient and we'd talk about it after we'd cleaned up from breakfast. I knew we needed this verse and that it would address some of the things we're struggling with!
So, we cleaned up and talked about it again. This time he scoffed, "How can my tongue do evil?" *DING* (lightbulb went off). I asked the boys what evil means and then to give me examples of some evil/bad/wrong things we can say to each other (they loved that).  We talked about how it's not just our tongue or lips that say bad things but they come from our heart!

Then I said, "Now try saying a bad thing about your brother without using your tongue". It is AMAZING how much children like the silliest little things.

This attempt got them going on talking with their tongues out so we did the verse in that way (neep nor nun shrun emul an nor nits nrom nellin nies). We practiced it that way for a while and then I had an idea for an activity!

The next day we made puppets from paper bags with big tongues hanging out (Will chose to make a puppy puppet and Miles made himself as a superhero). Then the puppets said the verse! Now it's memorized!!

Week 12: L
I really don't know what happened to L. I'll check with the boys after naps and see if we even did it! I think we did but I can't recall what it was!

Week 13:M  "My little children, do not love in word only but in deed and action" 1 John 3:18.
We've been doing "M" for two weeks now that school has started back and things are a little more crazy (not many pajama days around here). And I think now, that we may have memorized it wrongly but we'll work on it. I really like this version (the Good News translation) "My little children, our love should not be just words and talk, it must be true love; which shows itself in action". The boys are still getting tripped up over some the words and syntax but when asked what it means they say, "Don't just say it; do it"! And I LOVE that they get the meaning!


 I'm so proud of the boys for all the time they took to learn them with me (did they have a choice?!) and for Jake's support! He would get so excited when he would come home and they would have learned a new verse. Jake also got into "gentle reminders" through the verses we memorized!
I'm so thankful that my friend, Melanie, taught her girls last summer and was an example to me! I pray that it won't end here (I still feel like we need to make it to "Z" even though the summer is over) and that the boys would cultivate a hunger for Scripture in their lives through our summer verses!
BTW - if you want to memorize the verses and you don't feel like "coming up with" activites like we did (only b/c I didn't have a copy of the book) check out Susan Hunt's "My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God's Word in Little Hearts" or find their page on Facebook under the same name. Apparently she has little devotionals that go with each verse and activities to do together!

ABC Bible Verses: H, I, J

Week 8: H - "He is not here. He is risen" Matthew 28:6
We got to talk through the story of Jesus, why He died for us, how He trades us his forgiveness for our mistakes and how He didn't STAY in the tomb - but rose from the dead!

Week 9: I - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13.
What a GREAT verse! Miles has recently started saying, "I can't do it" and this is a great way for us to remind him that he CAN and that God is always there to help him (whether he feels he has the strength or not). These verses are also really convicting to us as parents. We CAN do all things through Christ (we can be consistent, loving and expecting the best, finding the energy to do laundry, dishes, make food, fix endless amounts of sippy cups for thirsty children AND find time to play with them at the things they love).

Week 10: J - "Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" John 14:6
This verse is really DEEP! Whoever knew? (Whoever taught it to a preschooler knew!) The boys have started telling little white lies around our house (as most kids do, I suppose). Mostly because they don't want to get in trouble or they want something to be so they feel their words can make it so! But this verse reminds us that Jesus is THE TRUTH! He is the real way, no matter what ways we attempt to contrive something to be so. He is forgiveness. He is love. He is peace. He is hope. He is LIFE. He is ...

ABC Bible Verses

Week 4: D - "Do everything without complaining" Philippians 2:14
AH! This is one of my favorite weeks!! I especially love the way Will says, "wuhout tumpaining". I had to watch myself on this week, too! How easy it is to complain about the struggles around us?? We all go through it, we decide to upload a photo and what we expect will take us a couple of minutes takes up so much time that naptime is over before we know it!! What a great gift to give our children to take it all in stride, to hold our tongue before we complain and to face everything with the grace of Christ! I need more of this verse in my life! By this week, I've quit trying to stress where it's found (just letting them know it's in the Bible). They were starting to mix up all the numbers and books and I decided at their age, the important thing is that they get the VERSE! We will work on Books as they get a little older and chapters and verses after that (after all, the chapters and verses weren't put there by God anyway!)

Week 5: E - "Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:17
This week were packing up and heading for Pensacola to visit Jake's family there. Before we headed out, we downloaded a box template from Microsoft Works. Then I let the boys color a sheet of paper drawing whatever they liked! Miles has gotten very interested in drawing lately and can draw some spectacular people! This week, though, he was interested in drawing aliens, Santa Claus aliens, and space ships full of eyes. Will is still pretty much filling up the paper with color - he hardly leaves a speck of white! After they colored, we traced the templates and cut our paper (meaning, the boys cut and I tried to turn the paper quickly enough to catch the blades at just the right angle)!! Then they each got to use a glue stick and attach the sides of their little box! After that, I let them pick a prize and put it in the box. We talked about how every good thing comes to us from God; our friends and family, our food, our house, our car, our toys, our clothes, everything! My trip to India has had an indelible impact on the boys because in moments like this they frequently ask me if children in India have _____ (a house, a car, clothes, etc).

After we got our boxes set, we headed out to pick up Memomma and drive to Pensacola. On the way, we stopped at Bates House of Turkey (and if you have never eaten there it is a true "rest"aurant)! They had the perfect children's plate (some turkey, a pickle, carrot sticks, etc). As we finished up, Memomma and I were commenting that we needed to get a dessert. The waitress overheard us and said, "We actually closed a few minutes ago". It was disappointing but we got gathered up to leave. Before we could, the waitress arrived with two pieces of pie. She said, "The Manager said to give these to you". I burst out, "Every good and perfect gift is from above" .... what a precious teaching moment for the boys! He is constantly showering us with good gifts out of nowhere!

Miles hasn't quite gotten this verse, but I haven't corrected him because I like his version as well, "Every good and PEACEFUL gift is from above"!

Week 6: F - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life" - John 3:16.
I wasn't sure how well we would do with a verse this long! Miles (realizing that prizes were involved as well as a desire to learn it before anyone else) mastered it within a couple of hours. I love the way he kept saying it, "whoever belives in Him will have ever-LIVING life" (isn't funny how they get the true meaning?)

Week 7: G - "God is love" 1 John 4:8
After last week's LOOONG verse, we were excited about this one! We had lots of conversations about how God loves us, how He shows us that love and how we can be loving like God!

ABC Bible Verses: A, B, and C

Week 1: A - "All we like sheep have gone astray" Isaiah 53:6
This was a GREAT week! We went on the Saturday after the last day of school and raided Party City's cheap stuff! Little spiders, a plastic ant, crazy looking praying mantis, glow sticks, bouncy balls, and more useless junk that kids love! We hung the bag in the kitchen next to our list for the Bible verses. I had decided that we would learn the verse and talk about the meaning on Monday, do an activity on Tuesday and that if they could recite it by Thursday, they could pick something from the bag.

Miles had it memorized by the time breakfast was over Monday!

So ... Tuesday we got up, grabbed some toilet paper rolls, clothes pins (that we painted black), cotton balls and glue. We had a fun (messy) time, painting the clothes pins, glueing on cotton balls and making a face for our sheep. We talked about how all of us make mistakes - except Jesus - and that we all go astray.

Both boys had it completely memorized after that and got a prize from the bag.

Week 2: B - "Believe in Jesus and you will be saved" - Acts 6:31
This week was pretty simple - we just colored a picture of Jesus on Tuesday but we spent lots of time talking about how knowing Jesus is the only way that we can be close to God because of sin. Will is especially cute saying this verse!

Week 3: C - "Children obey your parents in everything" -  
So some of the verses had some real rubber-meets-the-road moments to them! I remember that I used this verse repeatedly this week! It was really a great tool since God is saying it. I knew that I had Him on my side when I wanted them to help clean up, get their shoes on or share with one another! Instead of a craft this week, we played "Simon Says". It was a good way to see that we can obey and lay our will aside (especially if it helped to win a game!)

Miles is a Ring Bear (again)

Miles was asked to be a ring-bearer (or Ring Bear as he says) in another wedding this summer. He AMAZED us! He was obedient and a real joy to be around while not taking away too much attention from the couple. My favorite part was when he was in place with the groomsmen he scanned the crowd for Will and whisper-called "Weeyule"  .... "Weeyule" until Will waved to him. Consequently, he grinned proudly and turned back to the couple at attention.

Summer 2010

I can't believe the summer is winding down! Most of my friends are thankful to be heading back to a normal routine and having the kids back in school. But I have always loved the summer's laid-back, come-what-may days! And I'm sad to see them go! I have loved being home with my children this summer. We have had some really precious times (and some growing moments as well). I love the time I am able to spend with them and count it as a true blessing that we have this time together!

In the Spring, I began thinking about our upcoming summer and had decided I really wanted to make some plans. On my list: visit Jake's family in Florida, visit my family in Georgia, stay in pajamas all day if we want, and memorize Bible verses. My friend, Lynelle, has always told me that children are capable of absorbing Scripture but I didn't know if that would apply to my children (they have both inherited some of my attention issues)!

In the next post, I will write more about the verses, but I just wanted to say, we accomplished all of my hopes for the summer! We may have erred on the side of "pajama days" though, because I can't seem to get them into any real clothes! And tags have become a MAJOR source of contention around our home! Thank goodness for bandaids ... we never seem to actually use them on boo-boos but they're a real cure when taped over a rolled up tag!

Plah-steek

One of the most striking things about Kolkata is the poverty. Naked children run around everywhere. Beggars are at every turn. You stop to buy a cold bottled coke (a luxury on a mission trip to Kolkata) ignorantly doling out 70 rupees for this treat. When you turn, you realize that a crowd has gathered. They stand with piercing eyes, hands out, mumbling “money …. baby” and gesturing to the baby on their hip (her head covered with scabs and skin rash).
Before and during travel to India, you are reminded of why not to give to beggars. Here in India, most beggars have a “handler” (a pimp of sorts). Someone who really gets the measly coin we offer. Often the child on the hip doesn’t even belong to the beggar but is another way to up sell the need. If you give once, you’ll be targeted and pressured harder and to give more the next time. If you give a packaged product (food or otherwise) the handler will resell it and keep the money. All very good reasons not to give which also become a barrier to any real connection. There is also a sort of scale of giving:
• Women earn more than men
• Children earn more than women
• A child with some disability or disfigurement earns more than anyone
So, in India, you use who you can to get what you want from them. If you are a man you are not likely to earn much as a beggar so why not find some woman who owes you a debt, stick a baby on her hip and let her earn twice as much as you could.
There are many reasons not to give to beggars in Kolkata.
I KNOW all these things with my head. It’s my heart that stumbles over it.
A family of beggars lived outside the Baptist Mission Society where we stayed for our visit to Kolkata. Day after day we would return to the BMS for air condition, running water and rest from the day. Day after day we would see the same family begging; a grandmother, her pregnant daughter, and four small children.
On the third day of our trip, we’d just come from shopping in an upscale department store. We had packed lightly intending to buy appropriate clothes from the outdoor market there but because of a holiday, the market had been closed and we were running ‘low on clothes’. I returned with two small plastic bags and hopped out of the cab to be greeted by this family. One of the boys came to take a peek at what I had purchased. At first, I thought he was asking for my clothes. Then I realized he was saying “plastic” (which came out plah-steek). I took my clothes out of my bags and handed the bags over to the two oldest children.
No coins. No food. Just two small plastic bags and my relationship with this family was sealed. The smallest girl ran over and grabbed my legs. She clung to me until I picked her up. Every day after this, the family greeted me as if I were family. The boys would walk with me hand in hand to the end of the block each morning and when we returned at night, the mother and grandmother greeted us with huge smiles and hugs – never asking for another thing. The hugs turned into choppy conversations where I was able to tell them over and over, “Jesus loves you” and to show the love of Christ by my willingness to be present and genuine.
Matthew 25:36-40 says, “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
I didn’t read anything in there about plastic bags, but I know the difference it made for me in Kolkata. And I know that there are a million reasons (sometimes very legitimate reasons) not to give to the poor but I also know that Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these . . .” and I know the blessing of giving two plastic bags and sharing the love of Jesus.

God Answers Prayers We Don't Even Know We're Praying

Sometime in early to mid December I was riding in the car by myself. I have no idea how it happened or where the boys were - but I know I was alone because I was praying and was able to hear God.

You know how prayers sort of leap from your heart without you realizing it sometimes? Well, that's what happened this day. I remember my heart saying, "I would like to go on a mission trip". Jake and I were able to go to NJ a couple of years ago on a mission trip and we are involved in many ministries locally, but I have a real passion for overseas missions and have not had opportunities to cultivate that since having children.

Jake and I met because of a mission trip to Belize in 2003. We both went again in 2004, after having been married for only 3 months. So, it seemed logical that Jake and I would go somewhere together to serve. What was illogical was how we would do it. Because of the economy and other factors, Jake lost his job in late 2009. So this prayer was completely irrational! We had dipped into some savings in order to weather through the months without income so the thought of us both going somewhere seemed impossible to me.

But my heart spoke up and prayed this prayer anyway. Maybe it was really the Spirit interceding for me with groans too deep to understand . . . but there it was before God.

After the prayer, I thought, "How irrational? There is no way we can go somewhere, we just don't have the money."

Then I heard God. "If I call you to go somewhere, I will provide."

And you KNOW He will if He says He will!

Later that week, I was at the ELC and a friend came in talking about some gifts she'd found to give for Christmas. I asked her about them and she didn't really remember the details but she said, "All I know is a business called Freeset gets women in India to make the bags so they don't have to sell their bodies."

An hour later, Tiffany came in and handed me my Christmas gift - it was a really cute jute bag with wooden handles. I glanced at the tag and saw the words, "Freeset". The bag is so cute! But I didn't really have time to read the card because I needed to run upstairs to do some copying and laminating.

When I got upstairs, I saw Jeremy Griem pass by. Jeremy is the Global Ministries Pastor at our church and an old friend from seminary. I called out, "Jeremy, please keep me in mind for any overseas trips you have coming up" (still realizing it would be impossible for us to go).

Jeremy came back into the workroom and said, "You know there is an all women's trip coming up to go to India to work with Freeset".

He told me about how in a Sonagachi (a Red Light District in Calcutta India), every night thousands of women are forced to stand in a line to sell themselves in the sex trade while of 10 times as many men come through to "shop" from the line.

I travelled to India in 1999 on a mission trip and was there for right at a month. I had stayed in Calcutta, but had no idea about Sonagachi. I also remember thinking when I got back that I would never go to India again. But here it was - the answer to my prayer that I didn't even know I was praying.

I came home and told Jake all about it. I was pretty excited and he said, "You're already there aren't you"? We talked through the "practical" side (money, what to do with the boys, work, etc). And I told him, "I just believe it will be possible".

Over the next few months I prayed, read, bathed in Scripture, shared, wrote support letters and watched God weave a team together. I am still overwhelmed at His care for details in my life. Friends and family took on this journey with me through prayer and financial support.

I carried my Freeset bag everyday so that I would remember that when God calls He will provide.

I've been home from India for 2 days now. Proof that God answers prayers we don't even realize we are praying.

India is 38 "chain days" away.

We had our third team meeting last night and I always leave with flushed cheeks. I have so much emotion about this trip. I am overwhelmed with how compelled I feel to go, how clear it is that God led me to this project and the excitement I feel. But I also have this undercurrent of anxiety. I am nervous to leave Jake and the boys (and our families). I remember the cab ride from the airport to the hotel when I was there before. In a short half hour, I was broken, ashamed (of my hat, earrings and other 'costly' things I had worn to travel), and emotionally frozen and in shock by all the pain I saw.

Even as I write this, my cheeks are burning. When I return this time, I will see an even deeper wound in humanity. Women who were stolen, sold or forced into this life and literally have no hope to escape ... none except through Christ. I am encouraged, though, that we will have the privelege of meeting a group of women who have seen God's power work in their lives in dramatic ways. I am humbled that we will be able to work alongside them. I am hopeful that we will be able to share hope and the love of Christ which "covers a multitude of sins".

To prepare my heart, I am reading "The Good News About Injustice" by Gary Haugen (President and CEO of International Justice Mission). One thing I know that we need prayer for is the anger that many of the women struggle with. You can imagine how they must grapple with a loving and just God and the depth of pain they've lived through. Please pray God will prepare me (and the whole team) spiritually for how to support these women in the few short days we are there.

And especially thank you for China

The past 6 months or so it seems we have had a strong emphasis on Missions with Miles. I wanted to prepare the boys for me leaving for India so I took a few minutes with Miles to explain where I was going and why. When I told him I would be leaving for India in a couple of months, he kind of looked surprised. I said, "you will stay with Daddy and your Mimi and your Nanny Ray." He got excited and asked, "Can you go to India tomorrow so I can see them?"

A couple of weeks later, AK Lama came to the Missions Conference at our church. I was at Beeson with AK and he was the one who led our small team to India back in 1999. I told Miles all about AK and then we were able to have lunch with him. Miles was so excited to see him and actually hugged him when it was time to leave (and Miles, unlike me, is not a hugger).

We made a "chain of days" with multi-colored chains to show the boys how many days there are until I leave for India (and when I return). Each day we tear off a chain but Miles still asks every few days when I will go to India. He is also discovering so much about the world asking, "Is Georgia in America? Is India in America? Is China in America?" etc.

Last night, I was putting Miles to bed and we had our bedtime prayer. After I prayed, Miles said, "Dear God, thank you for Emily and Ella. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy and Will. Thank you for YOU and for Jesus. Thank you for You being born .... for Jesus being born and especially thank you for China".

Peace

I once heard the definition of peace - the biblical sense of peace that is. I had typically thought of peace as "rest" or "quiet" or almost a nothingness. But when a friend shared this definition of peace with me it resounded in my soul! Peace (shalom) is things being as they were intended to be and having what we were intended to have. Almost a "Garden of Eden" mentality.

There are times in my life that I have felt that peace and one of them was last night.

As I fixed dinner last night, I could hear my sweet boys upstairs playing. When I snuck up there to see what was going on - Will and Miles were both in Will's crib. They were playing "Fishing Boat". Will had a remote control that he was using as a fishing pole. Miles would jump in and out of the boat, tell Will to "cast the line" and then he would hook a pretend line to the "fish" (usually Will's giant Nemo his Aunt Monkey and Uncle Jake gave him) and then Miles would say, "Reel it in, Will!" Miles would say, "Let's cast the sails" and Will would say, "Otay" and Miles would say, "Will, say 'aye aye cap't'" and Will would obey! They were so precious and so peaceful.

Jake was getting ready for his new job (he starts today) checking out his suits, ties, etc. He is dressing so sharp! Not that I didn't like the Carhartt's and t-shirts but he just looks so nice in his new suits.

Typically, the time between the boys waking up from naps and getting dinner on the table is the CRAZIEST time of the day(filled with whines for candy, fights, stress, etc). But this day was so peaceful - truly peaceful. Life as I think God intends it to be.

What a great description of peace - things as they out to be; as God intends them to be for us. It makes me want to strive for peace everyday! Maybe if I strive to be what I ought to be; what God intends me to be - then it will be a domino affect on my home and children.

Peace out

Heavens! What a day ...

This morning we decided to play at home with Miles' new toys and to take it easy. Miles had asked me, "Are you going to be mad at me today?" What a sad question! I answered, "I don't ever want to be mad at you - I do get frustrated when you make bad choices" and he seemed fine with that answer. So, I packed extra patience into my heart to make sure I did my best to not get frustrated with mistakes and bad choices.

Mid-morning or so, Miles and I were busy upstairs putting together a foam pirate ship (without instructions) with the hot glue gun. Will was downstairs at the train table playing with a pick-up truck (with no wheels) and the Toy Story characters.

Miles was busy punching out foam pieces and then said, "Will is playing downstairs but he should be up here with us". I am so thankful he did because I think it made me more aware of Will downstairs. Only a few seconds later, I heard a gagging/hacking noise. I perked up and listened again. I heard the same noise again followed by a banging noise. I realize that something was wrong and jumped up. I instinctively jerked the glue gun out of the socket as I ran downstairs so the house didn't burn down. I flew down the stairs to find Will clawing at his mouth. His eyes were wide open and his face was NOT red but sort of blueish.

I grabbed him and threw him over my lap and began to hit his back. It did not help and I knew immediately (remembered immediately) that I needed to do a finger sweep (I am praising God for the requirement to take 1st Aid training at the ELC again this year). I flipped him over and he was not happy with me at all! He was hitting at me and had tears coming out his eyes and was still choking. I tried to sweep his mouth but he kept batting at my hands. Finally, I swept deep enough into the throat that I could feel something. So I swept quickly once more until a little green plastic head came out.

Miles got a Buzz Lightyear Lego set that came with a small green man and his head comes off. Apparently Will thought it looked good enough to mouth on for a while (he is still really bad about putting things in his mouth) and he just got carried away.

He gagged for while and sort of threw up a little and we both cried and then Miles started crying and said, "We'll never finish my pirate ship now" (he doesn't handle emergencies well at this point).

We settled down by playing with the new playdoh Miles got and I calmed myself enough to call Jake.

It was a horrifying experience. But .... the pirate ship is complete, the Lego's are packed away, and Will told Jake on the phone, "The peece-min [policeman] says not to eat toys .... dey choke you".

All that before lunch - Heavens! What a day!!!