During times of sickness

I was recently talking to a young mother who  has been laid out by morning sickness. Not only can I relate on that note (I have intense sickness every single month of each my pregnancies), I have also spent many years dealing with chronic, debilitating health conditions. 

After spending the last handful of years so very sick, my advice is make the most of that time in which when you can do nothing but lie in bed.

Spend your alone resting time listening to things that are GOOD and TRUE and LOVELY, filling your mind and soul, so you have more to pour out to your family when you are well.

 

Listen to an audio Bible, classic audio books that you may not have read yet (or reacquainting yourself with old favorites), podcasts that encourage you in your role as a mother, sermons that help you grow. 

Stepping Heavenward is an encouragement in times of prolonged sickness.

Let the children come and draw, play quiet blocks and dolls on your bedroom floor while you listen to and discuss great audio books together.  

 As hard as the road has been, I have seen many blessings in my infirmities.  You develop such an active prayer life, and a deeper compassion, when you  have nothing else to do but lay down all day.

Still Making Every Day Fun

This is an update on this post, from 7 years ago. Monkey is still at his mischief.
Here are some highlights:

 

You never know where you will find him.

He has a tendency to make Abigail's animals angry at him.

Maybe because he cheats at board games...

He has had zip lining adventures (in armor no less)

Sometimes he does nice things, like make us cookies

But usually, he is naughty :( 

Like when he makes himself and his well fed friend, sugary midnight snacks.

Our The Boxcar Children Picnic

"Jessie...cut the loaf of brown bread into five big pieces..Violet put the bottles of milk on the table, and Jessie put blueberries and cheese at each place. "

Thoughts on Teenagers

 "Our culture presumes that teens will be disrespectful, disinterested, and irresponsible. Our culture generally under-challenges youth... the result is that our young people miss out on the blessings that come with obedience." ~Tim Echols

" Teenagers must be treated and educated as the young adults they are and encouraged to participate more fully in our social, economic and political life." ~Thomas Hine

"The theory of adolescence undermines the Christian understanding of human nature. It underscores the modern disinclination  to treat a person as responsible for his or her own actions. When we assert the "fact" that teenagers are to act as irresponsible children rather than responsible adults, it becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. When school, church and family treat 16 year olds like children, those teenagers act in ways that justify that treatment." ~David Allen Black

Too Old To Be Read To?

 Occasionally when I mention that I still read aloud to all my children, I see raised eyebrows. Yes, it is true, my boys love reading and are fully capable of zipping through novels on their own.Yes, I could hand my boys their history or science books and tell them to handle the assignments alone. But....

I LOVE reading aloud with my children. I LOVE to curl up on the couch with them as they listen to me read. I LOVE experiencing wonderful stories together, and being able to discuss them as we go. Often we stop reading and end up down a rabbit trail that started from something we read, but it is through these rabbit trails I really learn my children's' hearts and am able to speak truth into their lives I may now have thought about mentioning otherwise.

Read aloud time is a time that we are all drawn together and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

What Are Your Children Reading?

 “The desire to appear broad-minded is one not easy to overcome, for it is rooted in our ego and is simply a none-too-subtle form of pride. In the name of broad-mindedness many a Christian home has been opened to literature that sprang not from a broad mind, but from a mind little and dirty and polluted with evil.

We require our children to wipe their feet before entering the house. Dare we demand less of the literature that comes into our homes?”
A.W. Tozer

"Be as careful of the books you read, as of the company you keep, for your habits and character will be as much influenced by the former as the latter." 
Paxton Hood

I will set no wicked thing before my eyes
Psalm 101:3

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things
Philippians 4:8

Stuck at home?

 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence Acts 28:30-31

We read this scripture in church this week, as we finished up the book of Acts.

This one verse really stuck out at me as a stay at home mom.
My husband takes our only car to work each day, so I can't go anywhere. Not to mention I have homeschooling to do, a house to keep, meals to make and naps to schedule around.  So even when I do have the car, getting out is just not something that can easily be done.

But does that mean I can not further God's kingdom? Absolutely not!

I can keep my door open to anyone who comes through it. I can try to create a comfortable and welcoming home for them to visit, and I can pray that the Lord would give me wisdom and confidence in my conversations and interactions with those who do come visit.  I can invite neighbors, other moms, and friends to share part of their day with me as I serve them tea or a snack and hospitality.

I can pray for those in my life. Friends, family, people in my community or in government.It only takes a few minutes most of the time and it blesses both me and the person I am praying for. You can even include your children in these prayers and bless them as well!

I can send cards of encouragement, or words of encouragement via email when the Lord puts someone on my heart.

I get to raise up a new generation to love and serve the Lord in my very own home.

I can bless my husband by making home a comforting place to come to after a hard day at work.

I can make crafts to use as gifts to bless those I love, or to sell and use that money to further the Lord's kingdom.

Paul had a rich ministry,  writing most of his epistles that make up our Scriptures while he was "stuck at home".
 Mama, do not let the enemy convince you that you are wasting your life being "stuck at home". You can still do so much for the Lord's kingdom!

Mama, don't give up!

I posted this little snippet that the Lord put on my heart last week on my Facebook:

 Mamas with little ones, I know you feel like each day is the same thing, saying no a million times, cleaning messes.. But be diligent. Teach them how to clean along side you, teach them to do what you are doing even if they don't do it well, take the time to teach them to obey you the first time every time. I am now able to see the fruit of that labor and it is such a blessing! I've been through a child who made me cry daily because I didn't think they would EVER obey me, and she is one sweet helper now! I am able to enjoy a nice long shower in the middle of the day and know the toddler is in good hands and not wrecking anything! I even get many nights a week off from cooking dinner because a child asked to make it, and is capable of doing it on his own. While most dread the teen years, I am looking forward to seeing my son grow into the man God wants him to be! Don't give up!

Now before you go thinking my children are perfect, I feel the need to tell you that all FOUR of the little ones in my house acted up the next day!  But then later in the week, I delivered CHRISTmas cookies to a neighbor we have not really gotten to know in the couple of years she has lived here, and she spoke some really encouraging words to me. 

She said that she notices us from across the street and she wanted to tell me that she appreciates how well behaved my children are. That they don't scream, and she sees them outside working with me, and getting along with each other. She said she could see the work I pour into them paying off. It really blessed my heart so much! And then a few other people this week  mentioned in passing that our children were so sweet and well behaved. And the Lord poured the encouragement He had given to me for other moms, right back into my heart. It was so beautiful.

As I was typing this I remembered another occasion where a different neighbor had commented on my children. She had come over so I could help her with a project, and my boys started to bicker. I made eye contact across the room with the instigator and pointed down the hall. Without a word, he went to wait on his bed for me to get a moment to talk to him. She told me she was impressed and couldn't wait until her children were old enough to go to  their room without being told. Actually quite a few times moms have mentioned looking forward to when  their children grew out of disobedience. 

 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but children don't grow out of disobedience. Those toddlers who don't listen to you now, will be 8 years olds who talk back and slam doors when you ask the to do something before you know it.  Children are trained out of disobedience. It is expecting and demanding obedience from them the first time, every time from the time they can crawl, and following through on your expectations EVERY SINGLE TIME that causes them to grow into obedience.  It is hard work, every day, many times a day, sometimes many times in just 15 minutes! But the effort and love that you pour into their little lives now will pay you  back many times over as they grow to be a help and a joy and a blessing to you. I am living that blessing first hand!
Be willing to put in that tedious effort that feels never ending when they are young. It is worth every second!  

Serious Play, Careless Work

"Is anybody paying attention to how a child works? Is it assumed that if asked to rake a lawn he'll do it halfheartedly? Will he sweep the garage in silent fury or will he rejoice in doing a thorough job of it? Will she scrub a sink till it shines and know herself to be a useful member of a household?  If a child is not given to understand that he has a responsibility to help make the wheels of home run smoothly--if he is not given work which matters-why should it matter if he cooperates?"

 " If the "quality time" his father spends with him is limited to amusements rather than work, small wonder the child assumes nobody really likes work. His choices in how to spend his time, like his preferences in food, are taught at home--by observation of parental attitudes."

" Very rarely did a parent even have to tell a child, let alone nag him, to do his job. It {the jungle life where she was a missionary} was expected and the kids met the expectations. Nobody over two had much leisure, but they had a lot of fun. I've never seen people laugh so much. It was a peaceful life, a life without anything like the severe stresses and conflicts we have created for ourselves. Wouldn't it be lovely to go back to all that?"

"Happiness, after all, is a choice. Let your child see that you put heart and soul into the work God has given you to do. Do it for Him--that changes the whole climate of the home. Draw the child into acceptance of responsibility by starting very early. Expect the best. If you expect them to oppose you, to "goof off," to be terrible at two, rude at ten, intractable as teenagers, they won't disappoint you."

"It takes longer, of course, to teach a child to do a job than it takes to do it yourself--especially if you have not given him the chance to watch you do it fifty times. It takes sustained attention--the sort of attention a child desperately needs. He can't get too much of that. He needs to be convinced that he is a necessary and very much appreciated member of the family."

Article by Elisabeth Elliot

See the entire article here

Stepping Heavenward- On being a Mother

"My darling precious children! For their sakes I am continually constrained to seek after an amended, a sanctified life. What I want them to become, I must become myself. "
  

"People ask me how it happens that my children are all so promptly obedient and happy. As if it chanced that some parents have such children or chanced that some parents have not! I’m afraid it is only too true, as someone has remarked, that this is the age of obedient parents! What then will be the future of the children? How can they yield to God who have never been taught to yield to human authority? And how well fitted to run their own households will they be who have never learned to rule themselves?"

"If I required a little self-denial, I said cheerfully {to them}, 'This is hard, but doing it for our best Friend sweetens it'. If you do this cheerfully and pleasantly my darling, you do it for Jesus, and that will make Him smile upon you."

"When you speak contemptuously of the vocation of motherhood, you dishonor not only the mother who bore you, but the Lord Jesus Himself, who chose to be born of a woman and to be ministered to by her through a helpless infancy."

"I want to see little children adorning every home as flowers adorn every meadow and every wayside. I want to see them welcomed to the homes they enter, to see their parents grow less and less selfish, and more and more loving because they have come. I want to see God's precious gifts accepted, not frowned upon and refused."

[of her sickly daughter]

"Thank God for sparing her to us a year. If he should take her away, I should still rejoice that this life was mingled with ours and has influenced us. Yes, even an infant in an ever-felt influence in the household. What an amazing thought! I have given this precious little one to her Savior and mine, living or dying, she is His. "

“Here is a little mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worth all it will cost, since it is abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother’s heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, to her most tender cares, to her life~long prayers! Oh how rich I am, how truly, how marvelously blest!”

~Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss in the 1800s

Disobedient To Parents

Continuing my post on Romans chapter 1:

Dear mother, do you realize that allowing your child to disobey is a sin on your part? God calls children to submit to and obey their parents. (Ephesians 6:1, Colossians 3:20)

A child left to his own way brings his mother shame. (Proverbs 29:15)

Our culture is raising disrespectful, disobedient children, and it is being accepted as the norm. It is not acceptable in God's eyes.

Do not forsake the rules of your mother (Proverbs 1:8)

It is our job as others to raise up our children in the way they should go. If they can not obey us, how will they obey their heavenly Father?

It takes commitment, a huge amount of your time and energy, but the rewards are worth it. Not only will you be blessed by an obedient child, but your child will be blessed as well.

Immediate, first time obedience is possible. You will be weary at first, but find so much joy in your children if you persevere.

Breakfast- Peter Rabbit Style

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries;

-Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter

My good little bunnies went down the lane with me to pick blackberries early this morning, so we had fresh picked blackberries, milk and bread for our breakfast today.

Encouraging Teamwork

Today I let my children make cookies. I sat on the couch and forced myself to read a magazine. It's not that I didn't want to read (in fact I was really looking forward to it), but  I have to admit it is so much easier to do things myself, clean up myself. I'm one of those people who likes things done a certain way, and I've been battling it for years now!

I could have just had the oldest(10) do it, he is completely capable of making cookies (as well as many other dishes, praise God for the help when I need it!). I could have had my middle son(7) do it. He is getting to the age where he is becoming capable. He still needs a little help but with some practice he'll be independent soon. I could have done it myself with my 3 year old "helping" in measured doses. 

Instead, I  decided that teaching them to work together was much more valuable than any of their individual cooking skills. I wanted them to learn patience when their sister takes forever to stir in one ingredient, or when their brother mis-measures  an ingredient. I wanted them to learn that being kind and caring to each other was more important that the finished product. I wanted them to learn that working as a team is part of life.

We've been reading I am also reading Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends out loud as well (finally!, and that is part of what spurred this on. While I know and agree with these things, the little kick to put them into practice was much needed in or home!

Godliness-Self Denial

 And as my friend Sheri commented: "This from a woman who made her home in the tribe of murderers who killed her beloved husband. If anyone knows how to make order and beauty in the midst of trials, it's Elisabeth Elliot!"

 

 

Families Worshipping Together

Kelly at Generation Cedar had a great post today about children in the church service. She explains so much better than I could!

 I was wishy washy about this for years. Feeling led by God to bring my children,but afraid to take on the responsibility and effort that would go into keeping them quiet. Once I did, I found it to be such a blessing. But then I was pregnant and was not able to sit through the service myself, let alone make sure they did. So we went to a season of using children’s church again. Once the baby came, I had to really make an effort to do what I felt the Lord was leading me to do once again versus what was easier, and it has been a blessing once again, though a challenging blessing.
It would be a lie to say it is easy keeping a 1, 5 and 9 year old in quiet and still in church, when you are the only parent attending. Especially when everyone asks why you wont "let" your children go to their classes anymore. Harder still to explain why you feel led to do so, without comping across as condemning their choices (which am not saying classes are wrong, I know I have been in places where I needed to be able to focus on God without my children, when I was a new believer trying to learn myself, when I was pregnant,I was thankful to have them available when I was in a season to use them). I just feel that God has led ME to this, and has blessed us greatly for obeying.
Anyhow, here is Kelly’s amazing post!


As we’ve discussed the idea of church nursery and children’s ministry, I wanted to restate something I mentioned in the comment section from a recent post:  This issue is not about “right and wrong” as much as it is about “wise or not”.  It’s not about attacking your church and its intentions, it’s about the challenge to think, possibly about positions you  may haven’t thought of before.
I challenge you to ask questions. 
“What is worship?”  “How does age-segregation in the church affect the body?”  “Does age-segregation hinder the ‘older teaching the younger’ model from Scripture?” “From whom do children learn to worship in spirit and in truth?”
These thoughts by John Piper are a beautiful and timely word for the discussion of family togetherness at church (excerpts only–full article can be read following the link):
“God-centered worship is supremely important in the life of our church. We approach the Sunday morning worship hour with great seriousness and earnestness and expectancy. We try to banish all that is flippant or trivial or chatty.
Stumbling block…The greatest stumbling block for children in worship is that their parents do not cherish the hour. Children can feel the difference between duty and delight. Therefore, the first and most important job of a parent is to fall in love with the worship of God. You can’t impart what you don’t possess.
Togetherness...Worshiping together counters the contemporary fragmentation of families. Hectic American life leaves little time for significant togetherness. It is hard to overestimate the good influence of families doing valuable things together week in and week out, year in and year out.
Catch the Spirit...Parents have the responsibility to teach their children by their own example the meaning and value of worship. Therefore, parents should want their children with them in worship so the children can catch the spirit and form of their parents’ worship.
Children should see how Mom and Dad bow their heads in earnest prayer during the prelude and other non-directed times. They should see how Mom and Dad sing praise to God with joy in their faces, and how they listen hungrily to His Word. They should catch the spirit of their parents meeting the living God.
Something seems wrong when parents want to take their children in the formative years and put them with other children and other adults to form their attitude and behavior in worship. Parents should be jealous to model for their children the tremendous value they put on reverence in the presence of Almighty God.
Not an excessive expectation…Children can be taught in the first five years of life to obey their father and mother when they say, “Sit still and be quiet.” Parents’ helplessness to control their children should not be solved by alternative services but by a renewal of discipline in the home..
Not all over their heads..Children absorb a tremendous amount that is of value….
Music and words become familiar. The message of the music starts to sink in. The form of the service comes to feel natural. The choir makes a special impression with a kind of music the children may hear at no other time. Even if most of the sermon goes over their heads, experience shows that children hear and remember remarkable things.
The content of the prayers and songs and sermon gives parents unparalleled opportunities to teach their children the great truths of our faith. If parents would only learn to query their children after the service and then explain things, the children’s capacity to participate would soar….
Sunday worship service is not useless to children just because much of it goes over their heads. They can and will grow into this new language faster than we think—if positive and happy attitudes are fostered by the parents.”

And there is even more from John Piper at Desiring God

Ruth

I absolutely love reading the book of Ruth to kindergartners.  I still remember the first time Peter and I read it, and this week I found out he does too! They "get it" so quickly. I love that God has made his Word so accessible, even to children! 

⁹ “ To whom will he teach knowledge?
      And whom will he make to understand the message?
      Those just weaned from milk?
      Those just drawn from the breasts?
       ¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
      Line upon line, line upon line,
      Here a little, there a little.”

~Isaiah 28

Ruth is especially fun though. There are so many ways to bring it to their level. 

 

 I scattered grain in the back yard so they could "reap" like Ruth did. I gave them barley and they  tried to make it into flour. After about 15  minutes they were glad when I tossed it in the Vitamix and did it the easy way.  We used the flour to make bread (and math turned to science when it didn’t rise quite right for them).

  We talked about the Israelite culture a lot(social studies).  From family structure, to farming practices, to the impact of redemption. We talked about character. There is so much to learn from both Boaz and Ruth.
This time the Lord really showed me specifically about Ruth’s respect for authority. She asked for permission, she followed orders with a good attitude. She was know as "excellent" among everyone in the town.

How blessed I am to be their teacher! ♥

Make your children a priority

MAKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR CHILDREN A PRIORITY
With all the good and necessary tasks and opportunities that demand our attention each
day, we need to prayerfully consider what God wants us to do with our time. When
we struggle with the constant act of balancing other responsibilities with the
clear responsibility to nurture relationships within the family, it is good to
remember what God has to say about our priorities.
We must remember that we are responsible to build relationships.
God has commanded us to disciple our children. To do this, we must
have strong, healthy relationships with them.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be
in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest
in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
(Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
We must believe God when He says that our relationship with Him is demonstrated through our
relationship with people. We express our love for God by how we love those made in His image.

“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:21)
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all
thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
We must treasure the opportunity and privilege that God has given us to display His love as we
lay down our lives for our children, spending time with them, discipling
them, loving them, and teaching them God’s Word.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s
good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion
from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:16-17)
We must remember that love is demonstrated through actions! We must invest time and
energy building a foundation of love and trust that leads our children to welcome and value
our instruction.
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
(1 John 3:18)
We must remember that the season of childrearing is short! Use it well!
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
“As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.”
(Psalm 103:15)

From: http://www.doorposts.com/

A Mothers Joy

Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her; Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her.That you may nurse, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may suck milk, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and cuddled on the knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.
Isaiah 66:10-13

I read this today as i was looking for another verse completely as I was, ironically, nursing a toddler peacefully to sleep. I looked at her so cozy and happy, not a worry in the world, knowing she is safe on mama’s lap, and couldn’t help but rejoice that our Lord loves us that much. He wants us to feel safe, content and secure as well.
I am so thankful that the Lord uses illustrations that hit so close to home. I have a child on my hip more than half the day… He speaks to us through the every day acts of life. Being a mother at home is no less a task than any other. This is where he calls me to be, at home, nursing a baby, teaching my children, filling their tummies at meal time, washing their clothes. And I resolve to worship him and thank him in each act of service! 

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. – Martin Luther

Often we don’t view our daily activities biblically. We wrongly believe that the more mundane the task, the less significant it is to God. As difficult as it may be to believe, the hands that tenderly bathe your baby at night are no less holy than the hands that serve you communion on Sunday. Every small act of love to your family- every diaper you change, every meal you prepare, every toilet you scrub, every errand ou run, every fever you tend to, each tooth you pull, every moment of undefiled intimacy with your husband- each one is a holy act with it’s done as unto the Lord. – Stacy McDonald, Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

Making Everyday Fun

One of my best memories from when I was a child was the days my Dad got off work early. I’d come home and find my stuffed dog "Fluffy" in some kind of mischief. He’d set up scenes with laundry baskets, ransom notes… It was always a fun surprise.

Fluffy and Monkey reminiscent of my childhood

 So last year when I was on bed rest and I allowed my boys to go to a birthday party without me for a good friend of ours (I am NEVER without my children), I was at home miserably lonely, missing them when I saw Fluffy laying on Andrew’s bed. I decided I wanted to leave my children those kinds of memories. So that afternoon I started my own tradition, similar but updated and adapted to our family! 

Monkey on the treadmill

I took Andrew’s "Monkey" and placed him in several mischievous situations and snapped pictures. When they got home I told them I was so tired because Monkey had been acting naughty all afternoon! They giggled and said "What do you mean?" so I showed them on my computer all the times I had "caught" Monkey being naughty! They thought it was great, and I printed the pictures to place in a small album that Andrew keeps on his bed. Since that day we’ve added many other pictures from when they were sleeping, or playing outside….

Monkey making cereal for breakfast
 

We also occasionally tell Curious George type stories about the time our family went on a field trip and Monkey climbed into the space ship at the museum and took a trip through space…. or when Monkey went with us to the grocery store and ate every single banana… The boys ask for these stories a lot more often than my imagination can come up with them, but they mean so much to them I love to do it!

What kind of memories are you making with your children?

Passover reality

I blog to encourage other women, but I have realized lately that sometimes being reminded that you are not the only one who struggles is an encouragement as well. So on that note I am sharing the reality of the Passover  dinner.

It was actually a very simple dinner, nothing elaborate at all. We(well my 8 year old actually planned the menu) decided on lamb meatballs (seasoned with fresh garlic and rosemary and they were awesome but not till after I made them did I realized they were not "scriptural"! oops), salad, cucumbers, apples dipped in honey  matzoh and grape juice.


I had a cranky girl from the beginning who had to be bribed with ranch to dip her matzoh in just to stop crying long enough for me to get through the verses I wanted to read and the prayer before we ate. Even with that she managed to grab a handful of the salad that was set too close to her seat and toss it on the floor. As dinner went on my boys were more hyper and silly than somber and spiritual.  Abigail pegged the dog in the head with a meatball, and one of my boys decided to, out of nowhere, start dancing in his chair, which knocked one of those pretty antique goblets across the kitchen resulting in hundreds of pieces of shattered glass on the floor.

But that does not mean dinner was not a success. It was still a tradition I hope my children will remember through out their lives. I know that  they were at least exposed to the truth of Christ’s love even if it is not yet meaningful to them. Reality is life is not picture perfect, but that does not make it any less meaningful or worth it!