Carpe Karios

Thanks to my sister for posting this link to a really good article. Don't Carpe Diem
I needed to hear that.

Happy Birthday Simeon!

Yesterday, Simeon turned seven years old.  Seven. I actually asked him last week if he was sure he was going to be seven because somehow, in my mind, I was stuck on six. But no, seven.  Seven wonderful years of Simeon. I could not have imagined who he would be when I first held him in my arms so many years ago.  And I know I cannot imagine who he will become.

He is happiest when someone will play football with him. He sighs and resigns himself to playing by himself when he can't convince anyone to play with him, but he still plays. He has two Vikings jerseys and two more on his want list. And oh, how he struggles with losing.  He is getting better at coping.

He is a typical middle child in that he is a peacemaker, but sometimes he just gets tired of making peace and loses it. Self control in his emotions is a struggle for him.  I love that, in spite of those times, he's the one who plays with and gets along with everyone. He seems to unite the family. One of my favorite things about Simeon right now is that he giggles. Somethings strikes his funny bone and he disolves in giggles and it is hard not to laugh with him.

Simeon doesn't necessarily reveal how he is feeling about normal, daily events. It's hard to tell if he is excited about something.  His heart is tender, though. You often see him with tears in his eyes when someone else is getting in trouble. He is quick to apologize to me when he feels like he has done something that upsets me. He loves to read a children's Bible at night. Out of the blue, he will share that he really likes something. And he loves to be at home.

Dear Simeon, I am so thankful that God gave you to me as my second son. You have added so much joy to my life and I love spending time with you. May God continue to mold you into a man after His own heart and use the gifts and talents He has given you for His glory. I love you.

Meat in the Freezer

This morning I am grateful for meat in the freezer and meat waiting at the butcher's to be ground.  Joel spent 6 hours yesterday butchering 3 deer that we received from a friend.  My meat supply had all but run out, so I am thankful to have meat to choose from again.  I am also grateful for the hard work my husband puts in each year to provide for our family in this way.  He enjoys hunting with all his relatives in December, but it is also a lot of work.  I cannot imagine having to pay at the store for all of this good, healthy meat that we enjoy throughout the year.

It is also apparent that my children are growing up.  Everyone except Lucas went with Joel to "help" with the butchering for a few hours.  Most of the kids played, but Josiah was thrilled with the whole process and when I went to pick them all up for supper, he was showing me how he could run his hands along the loins of the deer.  Thankfully, I have come a long way and was able to watch him do that without gagging and even feign excitement!  He was also in tears when I told him he could not stay for the rest of the butchering.  Oh, and Lucas was all excited to see the deer hanging and wanted to pet its' ears.  Oh my. . .

Report cards

Report cards came home Friday.  It is always interesting to see what the teachers have to say.  Joel and I both laughed out loud at one of the comments on Ezra's report card.  "I have noticed that Ezra is on Ezra's time and works at Ezra's speed which is not all that fast."  Yes, we have also noticed "Ezra time". . .The teacher is confident that it is something she can work on with him.  I, on the other hand, am at a loss as to how to speed up Ezra time!

Praying for the Vikings

Sunday noon prayer: 
Boy 1: Dear Jesus, please help the Vikings to win today.  
Boy 2: Dear Jesus, thank you that the Vikings have a new quarterback.  Help them to win today.  
Boy 3: Dear Jesus, please help Adrian Peterson have a good game today.  Help the Vikings to play well. 

Jesus and Fingernails

While painting Evelyn's fingernails tonight, I noticed that she was still nibbling on her nails. When I told her that she needed to stop doing that, she told me that she really liked to. So, I told her it was a really bad habit and it made it hard to paint her nails nicely. She thought about that then asked me, "What does Jesus do with his nails?" Of course, I told her that Jesus did not bite his nails. She replied, "I won't bite my nails again." Not to be a doubter, but, we'll see. . .

A lesson from David

I am studying Beth Moore's David study this fall. It has been very good and I am always amazed at how God meets me right where I am in each study I do. This week we've studied what David did when he was forced to flee from Saul and hide in the caves. Beth Moore had us read Psalm 142 which is one that David wrote while in the caves. Then she pointed out six things David did in response to overwhelming circumstance.

1. He prayed.
2. He cried aloud.
3. He poured out his complaint to God.
4. He rehearsed his trust in God.
5. He longed for God's presence.
6. He confessed his desperate need.

This week we received sobering news from Joel's brother, Josh and his wife Amanda. Their precious baby girl, Gabrielle, who is due in February, has a heart with no chambers. What that means, in the bare basics, is that her heart has to work a lot harder than a regular heart and she will have to undergo her first of several surgeries when she is just five days old. And there are no guarantees.

So, I find myself, like David, crying aloud and pouring out my complaints. Now, I'm supposed to start rehearsing my trust in Him, right? I confess that often times I forget to go there. But this time, I can't quite get there. I'm not sure exactly why this time I have struggled to rest on the character of God. Perhaps it has something to do with the memories of watching my sister and brother-in-law live through and with losing a child and the deep hope that Josh and Amanda don't have to suffer that pain. Perhaps, as I almost scream at God that He has to do a miracle on that heart, I believe I want wholeness for little Gabrielle more than He does. My head knows that He is trustworthy. My heart can't seem to find the strength to trust. So, this morning, on a walk with the kids, I forced myself. I know, that sounds awful, right? But, I found two things I could say and I repeated them. Over and over. I don't even remember now what those two things were and it didn't magically make me feel better.

But tonight, I feel like I can think about the whole situation without dissolving into tears. That I can begin to pray for the miracle that Josh and Amanda are praying for, without demanding it. And I guess, that's a step in the right direction.