Our Champion

Yes folks it's true. He won the championship. All in a day's work. He won the champagne too. His fan club was thrilled. They didn't know he even played, but they loved that he won. In fact, they don't even know what Whirly Ball is or what an incredibly big important deal it is in this country, how fierce the competition is... (What...you didn't know this?)



Yeah read it and weep people...

This is why Microsoft has a bunch of happy employees. They're all slaving away at Whirly Ball.

I took this picture because I IMMENSELY respect this fact about my husband. No, not the Whirlyball championship...although that is pretty sexy I admit... but I never... repeat NEVER have to beg and plead with him to change diapers. He just does it. He just takes the initiative and does it. There are EVER so many things about him that I respect...that make him "an apple tree among the trees of the forest". Tonight he sensed my not-so-gracious mood and suggested I have a night out to Starbucks or something. I felt more like staying home and getting some school/meal planning and blogging done, so that's where I find myself now. He ground and brewed my Starbucks and I can't tell you how the sounds of that coffee grinder ministered to my heart while sitting here having my time. I love you hon. And I respect you IMMENSELY. --especially in your Whirlyball shirt....

So I ask you: Is this the face of an Angel??? ... Or hardened Criminal???
Well, as I've learned from watching plenty of America's funniest home videos, sometimes things are just more fun to watch BACKWARDS.
So I will let you unravel the events shortly after Brian arrived home from work... Here, is the angel with a soaked towel and a very innocent face...
And here is his baby sister getting her first swimming lesson on the kitchen floor....




Here is the panic and mayhem as we discovered inches of water on our hardwoods...
Here is baby sister again, soaked, crusty booger nosed and all....
and here.... is the hardened criminal...weapon still in hand.
(Don't you love the irritation on Gemma's face?) Having the kitchen flooded was a little more unfortunate today than just any ole day because we were having the window to the back kitchen door fixed and it was a might chilly (thus, the booger nose). Below is the beautiful yet in dire need of repair, leaded glass window we have all looked at for 2 years. Apparently this door was from an old tavern in Snohomish. I love it and so wanted to keep it.

After Owen got over his initial anger that the guy took our window...
He had lots of fun playing peekaboo and chewing on his lemon.
Prince Henry and the Compass...
We made our own compass today. We magnetized a needle by rubbing it against a fridge magnet, then placed it on a circle of paper floating in a bowl of water. Tonight we will use our compass again to find the North Star.

Yesterday didn't go quite as smoothly. We set out to make the London Tower using a rice crispy treat recipe but with Cocoa Puffs.

I should've known at this point not to willingly encourage my children to plunge their hands into this cauldron of sin. I had the distinct feeling that I deserved this day. (Dad...can you ever forgive me for torturing you with the sticky carmel apples...the sticky maple syrup...the sticky everything???? And does it help to know that I have now inherited your phobia as punishment?) hee hee..
So yes, it was a mess. Our London tower was pathetic, the kids were kinda unimpressed...
And Bub pointed out very morbidly and matter of factly that it was "kinda like the acthual thstory of the Printhes in the cathle. They're gettin buried alive like the real boy printhes." Yes. Sadly the real young King Edward was locked up by his uncle Richard and he and his brother never found. A long time later they found their bones in a chest deep in the castle. Our little toy replicas of the boys fared about the same.
The Pen is Mightier than the ...Henkley kitchen knife.
Okay, I guess it was actually the sword, but I didn't have any handy dandy swords hanging around for display. During Hannah's phonics today I amped up her understanding of the power of being able to write well with this little illustration. I think it really made an impact. And no...we don't let our children play with knives! I wrote the saying on the board and then read from Hebrews 4:12 (like our Writing Road to Reading book suggested)...

For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

At this point I saw the following verses and had to continue reading, remembering them as some of my favorite.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

On contemplating the power of the pen, (and for this matter...my BLOG being...even mightier than the sword?) I again am asking myself why I do this? What are the "thoughts and intentions of my heart" as I upload certain pictures and write certain things? Why? As busy as I am...What for? Creative outlet? To keep in touch with friends and relatives? I believe there is for all of us a battle and temptation of perfecting on our whatever web pages (myspace, facebook, blogs, etc..) the general temptation we humans have in this life to portray ourselves a certain way--because we wish we were that certain way, and want others to see us how we want to be... and not so much how we are.

What is not "open and laid bare" in all the many cute and fun-filled pictures in my blog (unlike when Owen is in the depths of depravity and I am happily snapping pictures), are the times when I myself am staring my own sinfulness in the face. The last thing I want then is a picture.

So today you see Hannah's powerful spelling lesson...and not my impatience and frequent complaining throughout this morning's struggle to get through. You see my funny loving husband in his Whirly Ball shirt and not the fact that I was on the phone when he arrived home and failed to greet him like he probably would've appreciated or the ungracious ways I spoke to him after dinner. You see my amusement over Owen's flooding of the kitchen, but never imagine the impatient way I snapped at him earlier for his incessant whining. And today wasn't even a bad day.

Why do I write this? Because the pen is mightier than the sword. I can write life giving truth or I can write about a million other things. The truth is that I don't want anyone for a second to come away from reading this blog thinking that for one second any of the good in my life has come from anyone but Christ, and anything but His grace--in spite of all my sin. His blessings of children, joy, learning, nature, humor, family, hot husband, a wonderful home, freedom to BE who He created me to be make me a truly joyful person. All of it though, undeserved gifts to a sinner who could be anywhere and doing anything if it wasn't for His grace.

If you are a struggling believer, a momma who feels like she's not living up, please don't look at my blog and think oh she must be specially gifted with a very strong faith to have all those kids and have the patience to teach them all because I can't handle my one or two! God has brought me here to this place. He has provided everything along the way, the very faith to set out on the journey. And yet I have still fallen and doubted Him. I have been where you are many times. God gives us the grace for today. He never said He would get us through tomorrow today.

If you are an unbeliever thinking I must be one of those "different gals", a little bit needy or feeble minded to need faith, and to feel such fulfillment while being so "tied down" in my career-less world of cocoa puffs, phonics and paper compasses, I would heartily tell you that I have simply never felt so free. Behind our fears often lie the greatest potential for joy. Since having toddlers, it became very clear to me that earthly parenting greatly mirrors what is happening in the spiritual realm. How much better God knows than I what will bring peace and happiness to me. Like a two year old, I screech and fuss for what I think I want and need... and I fear my own "noisy trains" and popping balloons because I can't control them. I don't know what the heck they are. Or why? By the sound of things, they might destroy me. I don't yet know that getting on the noisy train will take me to the great places my heavenly Father has in store.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet...without sin.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

How amazing it is that we are loved by a mighty God who "passes through the heavens" yet can sympathize with our weakness. He has been tempted in all the same things we struggle through and fail miserably in yet He, was without sin. None of us are hidden from His sight... comforting to those of us feeling alone, misunderstood and unappreciated...but maybe a little frightening to those of us who are trudging stubbornly on in whatever rebellion. All things are laid bare... all things? eek.


And yet, there it is again. Grace! GRACE held out to us. We can draw near with confidence to the Throne of GRACE so that we may receive MERCY and find grace to help in time of need...because of Him. Jesus Christ in whom we are made clean; all our debts paid. His perfect sacrifice completely covers over the worst of our sins. I don't know about you, but I want to "hold fast to that confession."