Going for the Gold

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics... Baby did her best Shaun White...

She needs to work on her landing.

Hope

There is a Day

There is a day

That all creation's waiting for,

A day of freedom and liberation for the earth.

And on that day

The Lord will come to meet His bride,

And when we see Him

In an instant we'll be changed

The trumpet sounds

And the dead will then be raised

By His power,

Never to perish again.

Once only flesh,

Now clothed with immortality,

Death has now been

Swallowed up in victory

We will meet Him in the air

And then we will be like Him

For we will see Him, as He is

Oh yeah!

Then all hurt and pain will cease

And we'll be with Him forever

And in His glory we will live

Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

So lift your eyes

To the things as yet unseen,

That will remain now, For all eternity.

Though trouble's hard, It's only momentary

And it's achieving

Our future glory.

We will meet Him in the air

And then we will be like Him

For we will see Him, as He is

Oh yeah!

Then all hurt and pain will cease

And we'll be with Him forever

And in His glory we will live

Oh yeah! Oh yeah!

Written by: Nathan Fellingham

I Cor. 15:51-57

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:"Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Big Picture

I don't deserve my kids...

And they certainly do not deserve me.

But God gave them to me...us.

For many reasons.

And I'm so thankful.

So why is it so hard for me to see the big picture?

Why do great ideas of parenting come to me after the crisis is past?

Why am I more concerned about not being tardy than I am about the spirit of the child I'm pushing out the door?

Why does the stress of grownup life filter into my tone when speaking to them?

I had the opportunity, this morning, to teach my kids a great spiritual lesson. But it slipped away because I couldn't...didn't see the big picture.

I had to ask forgiveness before we even started our day.

I long to go to school and sweep them out of their classes to spend the day loving them.

I long to bring them back home and tell them what we should have done this morning.

I long to hug them and kiss their little faces and say what I should have said.

But I will wait.

And when we come home after school I will kiss their faces, hug them and say all the things I need to say.

Until then, I will go about my days activities with a spirit of humility.

Spending time with God.

Praying.

Listening.

And learning, always learning to look at the big picture.

Behaving Ourselves

Below is a journal entry from my 1st grader...
{nothing was changed}

Dear Parins,
You are cind. You help me do my house work. My mom and dad have been good this week.


Just thought you should know we've been behaving ourselves.

The Joys of Car Line...

Car line in and of itself is not stressful to most people.

I am not most people.

I find it stressful.

First of all, some of those parents are really scary. They seem to be in a hurry. Um, it's a line of cars that is stopping and starting based on how fast kids can get into the back seat. I hate to break it to you people, but...

THE LINE WILL NEVER MOVE FAST.

So honking at me b/c I'm letting someone, who is holding up traffic in the road by the way, cut in front of me isn't going to get you through the line any faster.

And then there are those who just cut you off. Ya nice example for your kids. And we wonder why our kids are selfish and nasty to others...hum...

Second, they put those kids right on the curb. Heaven forbid someone gets pushed and falls off into the path of a car. Who's driver isn't looking straight ahead at the road in front of them, but is trying to find their kids in the mass of kids sitting on the sidewalk.

And then there is the fact that when I finally get up to where my kids are they all pile in and start talking at once. But then there is my poor 5 year old who is soooo excited to see his brother and sisters that he pipes up too. And then the baby who will not go unheard.

Then my girls push to the passenger side back seat window and hang out to wave at all their friends. It's sort of reminiscent of those old war time movies when the families lean out the windows b/c they may not see there loved ones again.

But today was especially fun as we pulled up to the line and I stopped my 5 year old starts wailing and gaging. And before I could get anything back to him he started throwing up all over himself. Now when I say wailing I don't mean fussing because he doesn't feel good... I mean all out wailing. So I grab the Walmart bag hanging from the dash (the bag that drives my husband crazy) that we use as a trash bag and tell him to throw up in it...

Which he does. At some point I have to roll down my window and tell the man with the walkie talkie my name. He just looks at me strangely.

Then upon the patrol opening the door to let my kids in he says in a LOUD voice. "I threw up."

The girls of coarse start freaking out and talking about sick germs and not wanting to touch him. All before they are actually even in the car.

So now that everyone within earshot is staring at us... we get the door closed, I smile and wave and pull away.

Sigh.

But the good thing about car line is that I know we'll have another chance to create a ruckus tomorrow. Because it's always there. And in my case will be for years and years to come.

"Mom, we're bored"

Can youtell

what

Team Babetz

does to

pass the time

during the

long, cold, rainy

months of

winter...

Techno-work

This is my 4th graders report on The Battle of Bunker Hill. Oh the times, they are a changin...

I know there are probably lots of parents who have been walking down this road for a while. But this is our first venture into using technology for homework. He wanted to do a power point presentation...

UHHHH (insert deer in headlights look on face here)

We don't even have power point on our computer, so I had to bring in reinforcements...

I'd like to give a big shout out to Aunt Diane!

We couldn't have done it without you.

Seeking Counsel

Prov. 20:18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

We as parents like to ask advice. We want to know how other parents do things. From birth plans to drivers ed., we like to be in the know. But something I've found is that when we ask, we tend to ask of those who are in the same stage of life that we are. I've done it. It seems we find comfort in realizing that we are struggling in the same areas as others. Or maybe it's because we tend to befriend those who are in the same stages of life as us.

But in our almost 10 years of parenting we've realized that we learn more when we ask someone who has not only been in the trenches where we are... fighting the battle... but they've come out the other side and actually won the war. Now I know there are no guarantees, each child is different and has a will of their own, but Prov. 20:18 says, plans are established by counsel. So we have sought out families who are past our stage of life. Now we have friends who are in the trenches with us and we definitely seek their prayers and encouragement, just not often advise.

An example of this would be how Gregg and I chose to educate our children. We sought Godly counsel from parents who chose to home school, private school, and public school their children. The biggest factor were the kids themselves. We looked for kids who were spiritually grounded and seeking the Lord. We asked them what the struggles were, what the benefits where. How they saw their children grow. What they would have done differently.

We've started doing it again as we are heading into those stressful middle school years. Prov. 20:18 is pretty clear. Wars are not waged without wise guidance. But wisdom comes with having been through the war... knowing the right strategy... or the wrong one.

So as we look ahead at our parenting path my prayer is that we will continue to be humble enough to see that we don't know much about the road ahead and that we need to continue to seek out wise counsel.

Last First's

When you're dealing with the baby of any family, there are a lot of last firsts.

The last first steps.
The last first solid food.
The last first words.

The list is tear stained and a mile long.

This morning we checked another last first off the list.

The last first hair cut and frankly, it's long overdue!

So, like any good mom, I bribed her with smarties and TV shows we don't normally watch because I knew that would hold her attention.
And this is the result. Don't look too close. Homemade haircuts are never straight. Especially on a toddler.

But it's cute and better than the birds nest that had taken over the back of her little head.

So the last first haircut was a success. A sad success.

Listening

Ps. 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

Ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent...

Ponder, and be silent...

Silent.

I'm all for quiet. Especially when it's around 7:00 at night and my kids are going crazy. Running after each other with laser guns or light sabers.

Then, I am all about quiet.

But often when I pray...

I pray.

I praise.

I request.

I talk.

Be silent?

I know the Lord has much...MUCH to teach me. And I want have a heart that is open and ready to learn. So when I read this verse last week it kind of jumped off the page and thumped my nose. I need to spend some time being silent...

Pondering what I've read in His word...

Pondering directions He may be leading me...

Listening...

Ya see, I usually fall asleep with the TV on or while reading a book. But I don't think I'll do that any more.

I'll be silent.

I'll ponder.

I'll listen.

Ya know it's interesting, my children hear me better when it's quiet. When they are listening to me. So then it would stand to reason that I would hear my Father better if I were...

Silent....

Pondering...

Ps. 4:4
Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

I hope you will take some time to be silent and ponder.

Roller Skating

With 5 kids we get our fair share of birthday party invites. But with Gregg working Saturdays it can sometimes be difficult to accept.

I always chuckle at the folks who don't know us that well...

They are very quick to say, "Oh, just bring all the kids."

Um ya, they have no idea what they're offering.

Today my 8yr old was invited to a roller skating party. She's my social girl. She loves her girlfriends and I really want to cultivate that in her. But I also really wanted to see her try her hand at roller skating. So I got a sitter and we went.

By the by, roller skating is one of those things that hasn't changed at all in the last 30 years. Stepping into a roller rink is like stepping back in time.

I'm so glad we were able to go. She had a ball! She couldn't even stand up at first and she didn't even care. She had a grin a mile wide on her little face the entire 2 hours. She got a little better with some help from the wall.

She fell A LOT. But laughed and laughed. Her little friends were so nice to her. They didn't tease her or laugh at her. They helped her around the rink and waited for her to catch up. They are really sweet little girls. Anyway, they had a ball!
And right before we had to leave she got a good feel for it.


She's a great sport!

Brrrrr

This little cold snap we've had here in the south has reminded me why I left MN.

We're looking forward to some warmer days...

Aren't you?

Texas

Keep your eye on the ball...

Hook-em-Horns!!!

Panic...

So we're driving home from school today and my son looks over at me and says, "Hey Mom, I know how babies are made."

Panic...

Panic...

Poker face...

Panic!!!!!

In a split second 1,000,000 thoughts go flooding through my mind all at once...

We were getting ready to have "the talk" with him but someone beat us to the punch.

Seriously, he's in 4th grade.

Those boys still think girls have cooties.

That boy probably gave him some school yard version of the birds and the bees that isn't even accurate.

Now I'm going to have to undo all the falsehoods and get his facts straight.

Where is Gregg, he would handle this so much better than I am...

Talking about how babies are made in 4th grade.

Ridiculous.

Then I'm jolted back to reality...

Well don't say it in the car with all you younger siblings, I think to myself.

Panic!!!!

Poker face...poker face...

And so as I am about to calmly say, "Hey Bud, why don't we talk about this when we get home."

He says, "I know how babies are made...with Legos."

Relief and nausea washes over me.

I listen to him explain the intricacies of Lego babies while silently saying a prayer of thanks to God for protecting my son's innocence.

And giving us a little more time. Not much... but a little.

And in case you're interested...

A block with no arms and no legs painted like its wrapped up in a blanket, and a head.

Changing Directions

For years, I'd say the past decade, I have prayed about one specific thing. Well, I've prayed for lots of things, but one thing consistently.


For a certain circumstance to change in my family. For God to make things better.


You know, change things to be more like I want.


But He hasn't.


In fact, over the last decade things have gotten worse.


That is certainly not what I wanted.


But I continued to pray. And wrestle. And occasionally pitch a fit. And finally...

I got angry.


Angry at God for not making things the way I wanted. After all I wasn't asking for anything huge. Nothing is huge for God anyway.


Why? Why has He chosen not to answer? Or, even worse, to answer by making things harder.


That is how I spent a good portion of the last year.


Angry.


I don't recommend it.


So what changed you ask?



My attitude.


I realized, or rather God taught me, to look at things differently.


I remember a long time ago a friend of mine, who was struggling with fear, watched one of her children fall off their second story deck. As she was running to find her child, she began praying. Not that the Lord would protect her little one from broken bones or worse. But that He would give her the measure of grace needed to deal with what she found. She said that was when she knew God was at work in her life to conquer her fear.



While I was praying about this coming year God brought that story back to my mind.

And so...

I choose to enter into this year praying for grace.


Not change.


Grace to accept what I find.


Daily.


My circumstances haven't changed. They may never change.


But I am confident that God will give me my measure of grace for each day.


He said He would...


2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


I can't do it. My sinful nature wants change.


I am weak.


He is strong...


For me.


And in case you're wondering. God did protect my friends little one. It was fall and he landed in a pile of leaves.


Amazing Grace.

2010

Original title, I know. But I couldn't think of anything else.

I'm not big on resolutions. I don't like to set myself up for failure. But I do have some things in mind that I would like to work on. Like reading my Bible through in a year. I downloaded a great 'system' from Pipers Church, Bethlehem Baptist and so far... 3 days in... I'm doing great. But I also have no sick children.... Ya know!?

I really would like to just build on the work God did last year. Trust me...there is still plenty to be bone. I've been working on a kinder tone with my kids. For any family who was with me over Christmas you can stop laughing now. Christmas doesn't count. Too stressful. Just kidding...Just kidding. That is why I'm working on "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Prov. 15:1. I need more soft answers and less harsh words.

I am also working on being more deliberate in my prayer time. Maybe organize my thoughts and have a plan. There are some things that have been pretty heavy on my heart and since ICorinthians 14:33 says, 'For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.' I figure He won't mind if I make things a little more...peaceful...orderly. Not that I'm not praying in the mean time... oh, you get the idea I'm sure.

And then there is my home. {sigh} I MUST PURGE. I say that every year but this last year proved to be very frustrating and it's not going to change unless we PURGE. We have a lot in the attic that we would use if we had room in our actual living space. And now the attic is so full of stuff we don't use that we can't store the things we occasionally use up there. So our living space is too full of stuff and we are running out of room for people. Not that we're adding more people...seriously... alright Steph, get back on track. I don't see us moving anytime soon and I really want to enjoy the home God has given us. SO PURGE I WILL! And if the Lord sees fit to move us I'm sure it won't take us long to build up "stuff" again.

So there you have it. Not that any of you asked...but somehow writing it out helps. This is just a sampling of what I need to work on. I'm so thankful for God's grace and look forward to 2010.

Holiday in a Flash

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. It was full to overflowing with God's goodness to us. From the gift of His Son to the gifts under our tree.
We always start at my mom's house. And in the beginning, I tried to organize the chaos.

Oh when will I ever learn...

It can't be done.

My Grandmother lives with my parents during winter months. I'm selfishly glad to have her here during Christmas and thrilled for the time my kids get to spend with her.
Gregg got a fancy pants new camera from his boss for Christmas so we had fun taking pictures of each other taking pictures. He took most of these pictures.

Our little one wouldn't let go of this football. She's her dad's girl for sure.
Can you tell what they are all yelling...
We goofed off with the cousins...
And my sister made these sweet dresses for all the girls...they love to match.
More goofiness. Actually it was an effort to get a few more minutes of happy out of the little one. Her poor schedule was destroyed but she was a trooper for most of the time. And that's the great thing about a schedule. You just create a new one when the time comes. For us, that's Monday. {sigh}
I stuck this one in b/c she's cute. That's all.
Then it was on to New Years. We always have finger foods and special drinks. Um, come on people... it's root bear. Barks. It's a standard at New Years for us. Now I know we are proud, flag waving white trash. But we're not THAT bad.
We don't set off fireworks, so in their place I got the kids glow sticks. They proved to be a great hit.
And so our new year was wrung in by a little light sabering with the glow sticks. They had to keep themselves awake somehow.
We had a great time and are looking forward to what God has for our little family in 2010.

Happy New Year everyone.