In a rare moment, my boys are both smiling at the camera (well, almost at the camera)... AND being sweet to one another!
Can you stand it? I just want to squeeze those little cheeks!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I love my boys!
In a rare moment, my boys are both smiling at the camera (well, almost at the camera)... AND being sweet to one another!
Can you stand it? I just want to squeeze those little cheeks!
And the moral of the story is...
...never leave your preschooler alone with a pair of scissors. Not even kid scissors.
I had everything prepared for our preschool lesson last Wednesday, except for one part. We were talking about the number 5—and the corresponding Bible story was Joseph's jealous brothers selling him as a slave—so the project was to cut out five wallets or purses from a magazine and paste them on the number 5 page. Usually I do the "homework" first, to spare a lot of time-wasting and distractions paging through a magazine together in search of whatever objects we're going to cut out and paste. Well, I didn't do it in advance that day. And, of course, I couldn't find any wallets or purses quickly in the magazines or catalogs.... so I decided I would make a copy of some coins in my purse so Brandon could cut those out. I left Brandon at the dining room table with the number 5 page, the glue stick, and the scissors while I went around the corner to copy the coins.
Well, the paper got jammed in the printer.... blah blah blah.... so it took a bit longer than I had anticipated. When I came back to the table, Brandon had his hands across his stomach and a frown on his face. I asked him, "Brandon, what are you holding on to?" His reply: "Nothing." So I asked him again, "What are you covering up? What is in your hands?" Reluctantly he lifted his hands....... to reveal....... two big slits he had cut into his shirt with the scissors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Argh! It took everything in me to not completely blow a gasket.
All I can say is, I'm thankful that shirt wasn't one of my/his favorites. He started to cry a little and said, "I'm sorry Momma. It was an accident." And truly, it was.... he really hasn't used the scissors very much..... I gave him a hug and we had a gentle talk about proper scissor usage. That took big "love muscles" and "mercy muscles" to handle properly!!! All credit goes to the Lord!
I had everything prepared for our preschool lesson last Wednesday, except for one part. We were talking about the number 5—and the corresponding Bible story was Joseph's jealous brothers selling him as a slave—so the project was to cut out five wallets or purses from a magazine and paste them on the number 5 page. Usually I do the "homework" first, to spare a lot of time-wasting and distractions paging through a magazine together in search of whatever objects we're going to cut out and paste. Well, I didn't do it in advance that day. And, of course, I couldn't find any wallets or purses quickly in the magazines or catalogs.... so I decided I would make a copy of some coins in my purse so Brandon could cut those out. I left Brandon at the dining room table with the number 5 page, the glue stick, and the scissors while I went around the corner to copy the coins.
Well, the paper got jammed in the printer.... blah blah blah.... so it took a bit longer than I had anticipated. When I came back to the table, Brandon had his hands across his stomach and a frown on his face. I asked him, "Brandon, what are you holding on to?" His reply: "Nothing." So I asked him again, "What are you covering up? What is in your hands?" Reluctantly he lifted his hands....... to reveal....... two big slits he had cut into his shirt with the scissors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Argh! It took everything in me to not completely blow a gasket.
All I can say is, I'm thankful that shirt wasn't one of my/his favorites. He started to cry a little and said, "I'm sorry Momma. It was an accident." And truly, it was.... he really hasn't used the scissors very much..... I gave him a hug and we had a gentle talk about proper scissor usage. That took big "love muscles" and "mercy muscles" to handle properly!!! All credit goes to the Lord!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Undeserved
On the back cover of the April 2009 issue of Decision magazine is printed a selection from Ruth Bell Graham's writings. It seemed like a meaningful piece to share, especially as Easter approaches.
* * * * *
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him. ... But the other criminal rebuked him. "...We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)
He died—
the thief—
and yet,
before,
he'd cried for mercy
and, what's more,
his tortured soul
had found relief.
He got
a death
that he deserved;
a Life
that he did not.
* * * * *
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him. ... But the other criminal rebuked him. "...We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)
He died—
the thief—
and yet,
before,
he'd cried for mercy
and, what's more,
his tortured soul
had found relief.
He got
a death
that he deserved;
a Life
that he did not.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, & mind
Yep. It's been more than five months since my last post. But I've just been too wrapped up in motherhood and don't seem to have much time for blogging... And that's been a good thing—for me AND for my kiddos.
Anyway, the boys are napping and I have a few moments to write out some thoughts about Matthew 22:36-40....
"Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. So I ask myself: Does my life reflect that? I mean, really? If someone who didn't know me looked at my life, is there evidence telling that I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind? Do my actions reflect that? What about the TV shows I watch or the magazines I read? Are they filling me up with goodness...or garbage? What about how I treat other people—be it outside my home, or within the privacy of my own home? Or in the privacy of my own car after a driver has cut me off? What about how I manage my money and possessions? Am I willing to give away?
Good questions to really chew on. Next step: What am I going to DO about it? How DO I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind?? What actions does it require...?
Anyway, the boys are napping and I have a few moments to write out some thoughts about Matthew 22:36-40....
"Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. So I ask myself: Does my life reflect that? I mean, really? If someone who didn't know me looked at my life, is there evidence telling that I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind? Do my actions reflect that? What about the TV shows I watch or the magazines I read? Are they filling me up with goodness...or garbage? What about how I treat other people—be it outside my home, or within the privacy of my own home? Or in the privacy of my own car after a driver has cut me off? What about how I manage my money and possessions? Am I willing to give away?
Good questions to really chew on. Next step: What am I going to DO about it? How DO I love God with all my heart, soul, and mind?? What actions does it require...?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Baby's growing up
Today I cleaned up and packed away the Exersaucer -- kind of a momentous occasion in my little world! My baby is too big for it [read: he's too busy crawling, climbing, etc. that he doesn't like being confined in it!]. Wow. Where does the time go? He'll be 1 year old in less than three weeks! My, my, my...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Think on these things
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
Philippians 4:8
Today I read this verse while Brandon was watching Bob the Builder. I have read it before many times, and I have always interpretted it to mean believing the best in other people and situations. But God kindly reminded me this morning, "This applies to YOU too, Sara...how you look at yourself!"
You see, I'm one to hack on myself—true to my melancholy nature. Oh, I see many wonderful things about other people, but in myself I usually see mostly the bad stuff. So to have God point this out to me was an unexpected gift...almost as if He was saying, "And I think you're something special too..."
Philippians 4:8
Today I read this verse while Brandon was watching Bob the Builder. I have read it before many times, and I have always interpretted it to mean believing the best in other people and situations. But God kindly reminded me this morning, "This applies to YOU too, Sara...how you look at yourself!"
You see, I'm one to hack on myself—true to my melancholy nature. Oh, I see many wonderful things about other people, but in myself I usually see mostly the bad stuff. So to have God point this out to me was an unexpected gift...almost as if He was saying, "And I think you're something special too..."
Monday, August 11, 2008
Milestones
Ryan is10 months old now, and he's definitely passing a few milestones along the way...
For starters, he popped 3 more teeth on the top during the last week or so. (He's a tough cookie!) He has also begun crawling! It is fascinating to me watching him learn to coordinate his arms and legs so he can go places! Another skill he is striving toward is pulling himself up to his feet. He demonstrated his efforts yesterday when I went in his room to get him after his nap and found him proudly STANDING in his crib, waiting for me. :) My boy is growing up!
Hmmm... I usually can tell when Brandon's doing something naughty by his mischievous laugh... and now Ryan is crying... I better sign off!
For starters, he popped 3 more teeth on the top during the last week or so. (He's a tough cookie!) He has also begun crawling! It is fascinating to me watching him learn to coordinate his arms and legs so he can go places! Another skill he is striving toward is pulling himself up to his feet. He demonstrated his efforts yesterday when I went in his room to get him after his nap and found him proudly STANDING in his crib, waiting for me. :) My boy is growing up!
Hmmm... I usually can tell when Brandon's doing something naughty by his mischievous laugh... and now Ryan is crying... I better sign off!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
