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a Jar of Sacrifice

As I watched my children fight over who got the biggest piece of brownie, I wondered what I had done wrong. You see, my children are innately selfish which is compounded by the fact that we live in a culture focused on immediate gratification. Does it ever feel like everything in our society aims at filling our desires quickly? From fast food to Facebook, we do not need to wait or to wonder.

teaching kids to give

My children do not even know true hunger because I make sure to always have snacks readily available. We don’t want them grouchy, right? What would happen though if I taught them to wait on food, to endure hunger pains? I imagine their impulses would die down and an improved self-control develop.

I know a family that allows only one of their children at each visit to get a happy meal at McDonald’s. The other kids get just a sandwich. Sounds unfair, right? The kids don’t mind though and are excited for whoever’s turn it is. They have had practice sacrificing their desires for the sake of another and now it’s natural. They seem to have lost that sense of entitlement that is so common among today’s child.

So lately I am in pursuit of ways to teach my children the beauty in sacrifice, so that they might be able to extend generosity beyond their little worlds of self fulfillment.teaching kids to give

One way we are practicing this is through a Jar of Sacrifice. We bought an oddly-shaped sea glass jar from Old Time Pottery. This is the place where not just spare change goes. It is a jar that chore money and birthday money can go. Nobody counts or pressures, it is just our own family vessel to practice giving. There’s a saying “Give until it hurts and then keep giving until it doesn’t”. When my kids do chores now, they don’t think twice about throwing in some or all of that money. They are slowly learning to loosen their grip.teaching kids to giveWhen the jar is filled, we will have a family gathering to discuss how we are going to bless others with its contents. They already have ideas brewing. I look forward to figuring out how to get the money out of that tiny hole, and I am certain there will be pride as we total those little sacrifices along the way.

teaching kids to give

My prayer is that their hearts will take such joy in seeing how these sacrifices have directly blessed others, that they will naturally be generous givers with all that has been entrusted to them, even if a brownie is involved.teaching kids to give

jar of sacrifice

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Sunday morning clothing battle – don’t I look pretty, God?

Sunday morning battle

(Lily was 5. This means her brothers were 1 and 2.)

Church starts in twenty minutes and the mad rush begins. I have laid out a pretty smocked dress from Lily’s closet. I scramble to feed the baby, fill sippy cups for the diaper bag, and dry my hair. I sense the protest from the other side of the house. The stomping gets closer as I hear the words I knew were coming,

“I am not wearing this dress!”
“Yes sweetheart, you are.”
Why?” she says with pleading.
“Because church is the house of God, and when we go there, we honor Him with our hearts and bodies. Our clothes are a representation of that. Your dress is beautiful and appropriate.” She pauses for a moment and then uttered the words which would change our Sunday mornings forever.
“That’s not why you want me to wear this dress. You want me to look pretty for the other moms! You don’t know what God thinks is beautiful on me!”

Bam! There it is. The truth I did not see. My conviction was instant. I had an image of how I wanted her to look on Sunday morning…in a cute dress with a big bow… for the other moms. I cringe writing that, embarrassed to admit it. She’s 5! Could I really be teaching her that her appearance, however fleeting, was the act of worship, not the heart behind it? Did I think I would be perceived as a better mom if my children looked a certain way? Honestly, maybe I would be. Did I really seek that validation?

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My eyes tear up and I apologize…not just for this morning but for all the Sunday mornings that we battled because of my pride. I humbly send her back to her room to choose an outfit that SHE thought honoring and pleasing to the Lord.

That was the last Sunday I ever laid out clothes for her. It took a few weeks to overcome my desire to explain the cowboy boots and mismatched outfits, but I eventually found tremendous confidence in not explaining it….because I knew that there was a little girl who truly felt beautiful to her Maker. Over the years her fashion taste has refined and our Sunday rush more peaceful, but when she comes to me seeking affirmation about her clothing, my question remains the same, “Do you feel it honors the Lord?”

So today, when I see a little girl in an adorable dress, I smile at the sweet vision, partly wishing Lily’s dresses had gotten more wear…and when I see a little girl with cowboy boots and a tutu strutting her stuff at church, my heart melts because I know God is looking down on her with great delight…His beautiful daughter twirling like a country ballerina as her act of worship.Sunday Morning battle

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. 4 No, your beauty should come from inside you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4
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the Darker Side of Mother’s Day

The dark side of Mothers Day

photo by askinyourface.com

I was halfway through venting to a girlfriend today about my exhausting schedule of Mother’s Day parties for my boys, homeschool testing for my daughter, coaching track, and the birth of yet another litter of pet bunnies…when I stopped dead in my tracks. I actually heard myself. My friend, who deeply desires a baby of her own, was nothing but supportive and encouraging to my rants, but I had forgotten. I had forgotten that particular Mother’s Day nine years ago when I woke up feeling hollow because…just days before there had been life in my womb. Even though I had already been blessed with a daughter, it was the loss of this unborn child which defined my holiday.

As mothers were celebrated all around the world, my heart ached in a place that was lonely…longing to hold that baby just once. Mother’s Day felt so…in-my-face. I lost two more babies before being blessed with my sons. That broken place in the depths of my soul never returned to the normalcy I had previously known. I was changed, less naive, and different. You see, there is a piece of me that is forever bruised. It is the tender place from which tears can come without notice…that place that allows me to cry with a woman I don’t know because I understand her longing for a baby of her own.

I looked back into the eyes of my friend and apologized for forgetting the blessing behind my hectic schedule. Her eyes filled with tears and then so did mine. We held each other with that understanding of loss and longing. So today my heart remembers that, although I will be uplifted in celebration on Sunday, there is a darker side to Mother’s Day, one which often gets overlooked, and behind it is a woman who needs a hug.

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Great books for your Tween daughter…about being a tween.

6 books for your tween daughter to read... about being a tweenNext week my oldest turns 11. She is all things first child; rule oriented, orderly, and driven. Over the years her strong will has served her beautifully as she has developed into a compassionate, servant-hearted, and intentional  young lady. I adore her.

About 3 months ago we started to notice a few changes in her moods.  Because I am homeschooling her this year, I get to experience these swings first hand throughout our days… so I have an invested interest to understand just what is going on inside her head.  I was shocked that she felt incredibly comforted when I explained to her that her moods were a result of hormonal changes and were completely normal. Her intellectual mind could handle a physiological explanation much easier than not knowing why she felt so…off.

Because she is quite introverted and loves to read, I knew she’d prefer to fill in the gaps through books. Most of these are from a Biblical perspective but regardless of your spiritual beliefs, I think you’ll find some great insight.

Here is a list of our favorite tween books so far:

  • Perfectly Unique – by Annie F. Downs   The author takes you on a thoughtful, funny and spirit-filled exploration of the way God created you different from every other person in the world, and He did this on purpose! Great perspective addressing body image and each of our unique set of talents. At an age when conformity can be the goal, this perspective can help our daughters build confidence and strengthen their faith through embracing their unique design. My 10 year old loved reading this!

books for your tween

  • You’re Already Amazing by Holly Gerth – (best suited for moms of tweens or actual teens)  We, as moms, need to get our own thinking straight before we can be of any help to them. The author helps you understand and embrace the truth that as a woman, you do not need to do more, be more, and have more—because you are already amazing just the way God created you to be. When my daughter was on a club soccer team significantly above her skill set, principles in this book helped me teach her that she could walk on that field with no fear or apologies. I didn’t need to be nervous either. She didn’t have to be anything more today that she already was. She is Already Amazing! It helped us find that balance of striving to do your absolute best while knowing your identity and worth is not determined by the results.  6 books for your tween to read...about being a tween
  • Graceful – Letting go of your try-hard life by Emily P. Freeman – (I’d recommend this for an older teen or the mother of a tween) – This book is written to the good girl who tries to do everything perfect from sports to schoolwork. It’s also written to the girl who feels like she can’t do anything right. The ultimate message in this book is you don’t have to be perfect. My daughter often strives to be perfect and is discouraged by correction, so this book was a good fit. It is written a little above her comprehension level so we went through it together.

books for your tween

  • BeTween by Vicki Courtney – My daughter just finished going through this book in small group with her friends. It is a magazine style book filled with articles, games and lists. It’s targeted towards the 8-12 year old reader. The book wisely encourages girls to enjoy being their age rather than succumbing to modern culture’s temptations to grow up too fast. It addresses topics like popularity, friendships, texting, fighting with siblings, and your attitude with your mamma. It’s irresistibly fun and an easy read.

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  • Soul Surfer series by Bethany Hamilton – Have you seen the movie Soul Surfer about a young girl named Bethany Hamilton who had her arm bitten off by a shark while she was surfing? Well, we have…like 30 times! It started a surfing craze in our home. My daughter has read and reread the book and devotionals dozens of times. Bethany speaks teen to teen about overcoming your fears and living out your faith. I ripped out a few pages from the devotional for issues my daughter hasn’t been exposed to yet, but still recommend it.

books for your tweensoul surfer

  • The Lily Series – by Nancy Rue – (for the younger tween) – We started these because my daughter’s name is Lily and it was just too cool to find something called the Lily series. There are several characters in them who each represent a different type of girl. We were surprised by how applicable these were to everyday decisions. They are short and each book addresses a different topic – “the Uniquely Me book”, “The Body Book”, “The Blurry Rules Book”, “The Walk the Walk Book”.

I’d love to hear any helpful book recommendations you and your child have enjoyed reading. Have a blessed day! alli

 

10 Ways to make your husband feel loved while traveling

When my husband travels, it’s hard on the entire family. Although I usually enjoy the first day or two of easy dinners and a pile of magazines as my bed companion, the novelty wears off, and we all want daddy back. He used to travel a lot!! I remember having a newborn, and my husband was out of the country for 3 weeks. I felt physically exhausted and assumed he should return refreshed from his “time away”. I acted like his business travel was a mini vacation. I could not have been further from the truth.

When he would return home, he would cling to me. The look in his eyes said it all. The travel schedule was rushed. The hotel room was lonely. The airplanes delayed. The meals quiet. His heart longing for the chaos of our home and warmth of our love. It was at this point, I made an intentional decision to start sending a little of that warmth with him. Here are a few ideas and ways to make your husband remember he’s loved on the road.

  1. Get him a voice activated Alarm Clock – Record a sweet message that he will hear when he wakes up. “Good morning sweetheart. Time to wake up. Have a great day!” My kids would record messages “I love you daddy”. Could you imagine a better way to wake up in a lonely hotel room?    10 ways to make your Husband feel loved while traveling
  2. Text him pictures of you and the children at fun activities. We were at a Fall festival in this picture and took 5 minutes to write daddy a note and text it to him. He loved knowing that even admist cotton candy and music, we were thinking of him.IMG_1421
  3. When he calls, DON’T COMPLAIN! I’m not suggesting to pretend everything is perfect, but you can discuss things without whining, nagging, or feeling entitled to a different set of circumstances. If you need to vent when he’s away, call a girlfriend, write in a journal, pray, go for a run.
  4. Call the hotel and order him room service (even just a beer is fun).my-best-ever-room-service
  5. Make him laugh… or cry- Hide ridiculous things in his shoes or dobskit. Be funny. Make him miss you. Humor is extremely underrated. You can also write encouraging notes, the ones that make his soul long for you. Talk about your respect and appreciation for him. My son has hidden his very special lovely in the suitcase – if that doesn’t say ‘i love you’, nothing will.!0 ways to make your husband miss you on the road
  6. Enter ‘reminders’ or ‘alerts’ into his phone that will pop up throughout his trip. 
  7. Comfort food – Stick in some of his favorite power bars or his favorite candy. You can even wrap them for an element of surprise.
  8. Hide a pair of your panties between his boxers – No judgement..
  9. Download a romantic but cool song or playlist onto his phone. Halfway through the trip, tell him about it.
  10. Facetime or Skype – Technology has made eye to eye contact possible. Little kids can actually believe they were with daddy….and I, sometimes just need to see my man.
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Ways to help a grieving family

DSC_0835 - Version 2Have you ever been so overcome with the grief a family is enduring, that you are frozen? Is there anything you could possibly do or say to alleviate their pain?  This link from the blogspot An Inch of Gray is written by a woman who lost her son while he was playing in the rain with his sister. Her story will have you in tears.  Her list is compiled of the many heartfelt ways her family was touched during their grief. I find them insightful and powerful knowing the vulnerability from which they came.  Please enjoy this glimpse into her heart as much as I did.

click here for What you can do to help a grieving family

click here for Her story

You know you are a mom of boys when…
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You know you are a mom of boys when…

photo-27mom of boys
  1. You have rules like “No peeing on your brother in the bath tub.” 
  2. You find a matchbox car when you reach into the bag of pita chips.
  3. You distract your neighbor in conversation, so she doesn’t see your son peeing in her bushes
  4. The smell of sweaty necks and stinky feet is oddly endearing.
  5. You have to swing by Chick Filet for a snack on the way home from dinner.
  6. You’ve actually spoken the words “New rule: you are not allowed to stick your pinky into the electric pencil sharpener”.
  7. You have way too much fun watching your kids play with a whoopie cushion.
  8. Whenever you sit on the potty, your tush gets wet.
  9. Shooting squirrels with a nerf gun is an acceptable pastime.
  10. You suggest Super Mario as a name for the pet bunny.
  11. You tell a babysitter they read better when they are upside down.
  12. The noise in the car is louder than your own thoughts.
  13. When the house is perfectly quiet, you know something big is wrong.
  14. You don’t ask about the bloody nose and scraped up knees when your son shows you his new trick on the scooter.
  15. Laying on the floor is never relaxing because there is always fear you are about to be jumped upon. “Incoming!”
  16. Your friends with just girls stare at you all with their mouths hanging open.
  17. You find his reference to “the Force” in Star Wars a brilliant parallel to the power of God.
  18. You don’t scream when your 4-year-old proudly shows you the Bb’s he drew…with the back of a hammer on your car door.
  19. When you meet a little boy, you stick out your hand…for a high 5.
  20. You have both a Lego and Star Wars font saved on your computer.
  21. You can’t imagine the day he falls in love with another woman.

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Prayers for Boston

Laura Winslow photography

Laura Winslow photography

As I watched the news coverage last night, I saw an image of a boy with his family…the boy whose life was taken at the Boston marathon. My heart sank. That photograph will never be viewed the same again. Its value is now different. I look around my home, every table covered in pictures of my family and friends, and my  eyes well with tears. What if it had been one of them? In an instant, my pictures, which are so familiar I no longer see, suddenly evoke a deep love and longing for people who are still alive. Just the thought of losing one of them arouses such tremendous emotion. So today I am humbled by the families who are living with that grief. I ask God why and what can I do. Pray  my child pray.  6678_10151853881091959_221807249_nkneel

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“scary people” in the homeless shelter

IMG_0869From time to time, our family will feed the homeless with a local group. It’s a multi-church ministry where a different church is responsible for feeding and serving several hundred meals on their assigned night. They have always been very gracious letting us jump in with whatever church is serving. We have loved our evenings there.

Tonight our hearts were ready. We were all excited. It was going to be the first time my youngest joins us. We walked him through the process as best we could. From the moment we arrived though something was different. Something was off. The 3 men and a guitar were still playing praise music. The donation tables were set up beautifully with clothes and toiletries, even a Lion King DVD. The aroma of chicken and potatoes coming from the kitchen smelled delicious. I introduced myself, explained that I had called earlier in the day to confirm we could help serve tonight, and then introduced my children to this new group of volunteers. The well dressed man was polite.

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When the hungry people arrived, we each took a tray in the kitchen. A woman barked at my middle child, “I will not allow you to hold a tray! You will spill it all over the floor.” He explains he has done this before and is really careful. “No!” Hum… We make a new plan. I will carry the tray, my kids can remove the meals and serve them to the people at the tables. A few minutes later we are again reprimanded by a second volunteer who had decided that all tables must be served in a clockwise order. I respectfully smile but think “really lady?” My usually energetic children are abnormally well behaved…too behaved for my taste. I can see them deflating in front of my eyes.

Where is the joy in the room? Isn’t that the point of the evening… to offer a small dose of encouragement to our brothers and sisters who are hungry. I hand each of my kids a tray of their own, bucking the “system” for dessert. After everybody has a sweet treat, we return the extra cookies and cakes to the serving table. A third volunteer now approaches us with deep anger, “You are NOT allowed to give them a second dessert!!” I can feel my fearful childrens’ fingers grip into my legs. My smirk though is undeniable and I’m holding back sarcastic laughter at the irony of the 50 extra uneaten desserts in front of us. I gently respond, “We actually haven’t given anybody a second dessert…yet.” She insists the weak , emaciated man in the yellow jacket had both a cupcake AND a cookie. IMG_2887At this point, I’m over it. I grab my children and we head straight for him. We sit, talk ,and pray with him over his tumor and hospitalized son, and then give him a piece of Key Lime Pie. My son gives him a hug and promises to keep praying for him. There’s now a line of others with their own prayer requests. They just need somebody to ask…somebody to see them. The ten volunteers, with their backs against the wall and nothing left to do, stare at us, not sure what to make of our rebellious interaction with these hungry folks.

During the car ride home, my son says “Those people are scary!” I respond, “Oh, the man in the wheel chair and the lady without any teeth?” “No mom, they were nice. The adults who were serving.”

How often do we get so wrapped up in the order of things and controlling a situation, that we forget why we are there? Tonight, joy was lost, the opportunity for relationship diminished, and the normally energized room, smothered by rules. We get so focused on “how to serve” that we don’t see the people we are serving. I do it too. I was in the grocery store last week trying to check out. I was talking on my phone, stopping my kids from sneaking bubble gum into our basket, and trying to swipe my credit card. As we left, I realized I forgot my sunglasses and turned right back around….but I had no idea who had just checked me out. I had never made eye contact. I never saw him.

Sometimes it takes seeing something in other people to realize what you don’t like in yourself. It may be packaged differently, but I too am guilty. In the demands of my day, I don’t always see the people in front of me…including my children. Hoping tonight serves as a reminder to open my eyes to the eyes looking at me.

20 ways to fill your child’s love tank on their birthday
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20 ways to fill your child’s love tank on their birthday

fill their love tank on their birthdayIt only happens once a year, so why not CELEBRATE! In my experience, it is rarely the gifts my children remember. It is the feeling of excitement when they get out of bed, the element of surprise throughout their day, and the enthusiasm surrounding them. This week my baby turned 6. We each now need two hands to share our age and I’m not sad at all; I’m thrilled.

With 3 kids, I’ve accumulated a variety of birthday ideas with the hopes of  filling my children’s love tank on their birthday. I think we should  pool our ideas, borrow freely, and be inspired to make those we love feel special. Isn’t that our goal? I slightly cringe when I see a mom relishing over her recent DIY project while another looks on feeling defeated by her sense of inferiority. I tap into my sister’s bag of tricks all the time when I am just not feeling it. So, here’s what’s in my birthday bag this week:

  1. Build the excitement with a COUNTDOWN. There are many ways to do this. This week we counted down with a chalkboard.2o ways to fill your child's love tank on their birthday
  2. Decorate the Bathroom Mirror. Use a window marker, dry erase marker or lipstick. Balloons, streamers, it’s all good.
  3. Window Marker your car with “Honk! It’s Lily’s 10th birthday!” This has delighted my children for years. With every honk, we all cackle with joy. (You can buy them at here for a few dollars)Birthday car.painted car
  4. While they are sleeping, decorate their room with streamers and balloons. Even just the doorway makes a big effect                                                                    decorate their doorBALLOONAVALANCHE
  5. Candles in their breakfast, why not?

    candle in pancakes

    photo by lilmissbossy

  6. Put Water Balloons in their bathwater balloons in bathtub
  7. Use the special “Celebration Plate”. We made one years ago at a painted pottery place. We’ve used it on birthdays, potty training milestones, soccer goals, and when loved ones visit.celebration plate
  8. Declare it a Screen-free Day for the parents. If the child is awake, put your cell phones down and turn off the tv/computer. Be present, not distracted.
  9. Wrap each food item in their lunchbox. Throw in a balloon if it will fit. Pure delight.decorate the lunchbox
  10. Measure them. We have a wall, a very messy wall, with dates, ages, and heights of our children, nieces and nephews, and neighborhood children. Kids loved to be measured!
  11. Retell their birth story. Even get their baby book out. My baby books stopped after the 1st child, but they take such delight in hearing about their first cry in the delivery room. My mother still calls me at the exact hour I was born with “Oh, I feel a contraction. Ouch. I think you’re coming today Allison.” I love it.
  12. Make or buy them a special shirt with their new age on it.IMG_6434Palmer's 5DSC_0827DSC_0952
  13. Allow your child to pick the dinner for everyone.
  14. Eat at the fancy table. We have a formal dining room table we NEVER use. Last year we used it to eat the delivery pizza for my daughter’s birthday. We light candles and the kids knew without doubt, that day was SPECIAL.
  15. Have siblings serve them, clear the table, and do their assigned chores for the day.
  16. It is a tradition in our family to play “My favorite thing about Palmer is…” and we all go around share. Our cousins even call in with their favorite thingchalkboard
  17. Celebrate the Waiting – in a world where we get everything right now, it’s tough to teach kids to wait, especially for good things. We thought we’d give them some practice in small areas (chewing gum, make up) so they’ll have some experience waiting for the bigger things like intimacy.  We make our kids wait until they are 10 to drink soda, then have a cooler full on their birthday. We celebrate those Waiting Milestones big time.celebrate the waiting
  18. Fill their closet or the kitchen cupboards with balloons. When they open them, they will fall out. Delight!

    balloon-closet-surprise

    photo by simple revelry

  19. Teach siblings that most important thing on somebody’s birthday is making them feel special. When we go to a birthday party, our goal should be to make the birthday person feel special. This can be an especially difficult in a society when the party favors are sometimes nicer than the gift brought.
  20. Make a party hat for your pet. I’m kinda kidding on this one, but kinda not. It doesn’t make your child feel special, but it sure is funny. 
  21. Let your child know that your greatest joy in life is that you GET TO BE THEIR MOMMY! They need to hear it…and often.

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Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World

I am re-posting “Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World” from a blog called We are that family. Thought it was a great perspective.

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The stinky feet of Passover

Washing feetToday is the beginning of Passover. Last night our family read the Old Testament story about when God “passed over” the blood-stained homes of the Jews. A lamb had been the provision of escape for His chosen people. We then switch to the New Testament story in which Jesus celebrates Passover with His Disciples. We use the Jesus Storybook Bible, a gift from my sister, which is hands down my favorite children’s Bible. Here is an excerpt that had my children rolling with laughter in a not so funny story:

“Jesus and his friends were having the Passover meal together in an upstairs room. But Jesus’ friends were arguing. What about? They were arguing about stinky feet. Stinky feet? Yes, that’s right. Stinky feet. (Now the thing about feet back then was the people didn’t wear shoes. They only wore sandals, which might not sound unusual except that the streets were dirty – and I don’t mean just dusty dirty – I mean really stinky dirty. With all the cows and horses everywhere, you can imagine the stuff on the street that ended up on their feet!)”

Why did Jesus voluntarily do such a chore? Do you think He needed to be reminded? We talk about what it means when Peter asks Jesus to not just wash his feet but “ALL of me.” We pray together and ask God how he wants us to respond to this story…which leads us to today’s Holy Week activity.

Lily told her brothers about an activity we had done on our missions trip to Malawi. We had washed the feet of the African ministry leaders who tirelessly serve those in the villages. We were there for 10 days but these faithful servants spent EVERY day feeding and ministering to the needs of the poor. They are truly the hands and feet of Jesus, and we were humbled with tears for the privilege of “washing their feet”.

My children select a beloved teacher who has touched each of our lives in a special way. They get a bowl and some towels. Campbell comes to me with a handful of random travel-sized shower gels, “Which of these is the most expensive?” We study them and are certain by the smell we had found the most precious. Ding Dong. Hugs are given. Chairs and towels are laid out. Hot water is added to the bowl. They wash. They dry. They lotion. I’m convicted for all the stinky feet I didn’t want to wash; for the times I grumbled allowing another to compensate for my selfishness. Not just my feet Lord, ALL of me.

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“Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.” ~Saint Teresa of Avila

DSC_0600click the cross for our other Holy Week activities.

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Preparing our home for Easter

Crown.

Easter Jpeg

I awoke this morning to the rumblings of a thunder storm and the excitement of a day in our jammies; the first day of Spring Break! As I think about our upcoming week, I commit to making this not just another Spring Break because it isn’t. This is a week in which we remember Christ’s suffering on a cross and His resurrection. Jesus knew this was His last week in earth. If you knew it was yours, what would you do? Doesn’t it make you want to read the scriptures of that final week to see what Jesus did? I’ve been rereading Max Lucado’s book called “The Final Week of Jesus” which walks you through just that.  So this is my challenge, how can I prepare my heart and home to receive and see clearly all God wants to teach us this week? I have planned a different activity for each day of this Holy week. Today we start.

DAY 1 – Simplify

I was inspired by an idea on Pinterest this morning called “Get rid of 100 things this weekend”.  Yes! Simply our surroundings. Clear the clutter so that we can breathe…think…hear. This is where our family is starting; a practical exercise in simplifying.

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I explain to my crew that God desires to be seen by us. He wants to be heard but sometimes our crowded and cluttered lives distract us from His voice. We discuss the idea of simplifying; cutting back the stuff to make more room for God.  I propose the challenge. Can we each find 100 things to give away?  It can be clothes, toys, books, toiletries. We set up bins for donations, consignment and garbage. We crank the music and begin. My 10 year old daughter, Lily, takes a mad dash for her room throwing piles of clothes and books into the donations bin. I rescue some classics and sentimentals but am impressed with the enthusiasm. My 7 year old, Campbell, approaches it from what the recipients would want to recieve. He immediately begins writing a note and coloring a picture for them which he counts as #1 of his 100. My youngest has no interest in anything except playing with the neglected toys that have just been put in the donate bin. One item put in, 2 removed. 500 items starts to sound like a big number and I begin wondering if we should have aimed for 100 total, not per person. Then I remember my overflowing closet and feel convicted. We got this.

DAY 2 Palm Frond Crosses

It’s Palm Sunday, a special day in our home because it is the source of our son’s namesake. When I was pregnant with my 3rd, with no agreed upon baby name, Lily came home from school waving a palm frond. She explained that the people waving palm fronds as Christ entered Jeruselum were called “palmers”. I went into labor on Easter and our Palmer was born the next day. ToWays to Prepare your home for Easterday we are making crosses out of palm fronds. Now I do feel compelled to tell you that Palmer thought the crosses were more fun as guns. Bang Bang. Here is a great tutorial:

How to Make aPalm Frond Cross Tutorial:

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Day 3 – Crown of Thorns

“The soldiers wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. “Matthew 27:29 “They mocked him and spit on him”.

When I think of a crown of thorns, I like to imagine it differently. I don’t like to think about the blood dripping down Christ’s cheeks or the piercing sensation of constant pain. I ask what it means to suffer at school? Has anybody ever spit on you, hit you, insulted you? How did you feel? Why did Jesus have to suffer?  We pull up grass from the ground and weave it together into a crown. We pierce it with toothpicks. The kids are both eager and reluctant to put on the crown. A few minutes later, Campbell hurts his elbow. He comes to me sprinting. There was nothing I could do, but he wanted me to know his suffering. We are each going to experience periods of suffering.  I take comfort knowing that God  knows my human suffering first hand. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all of my tears in a bottle and recorded them.” Psalm 56:8

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Day 4  Beauty for Ashes

About a month ago the forest immediately behind our home caught on fire. We watched as the fire moved from hundreds of yards away onto our property. As it crossed over our brick wall, I was advised to grab what I could.  A reverse wind came blowing the flames in the other directions permitting just enough time for the firemen to push it back. For a week the tall pine trees sizzled and smoke filled our home, but we were thankful.

For today’s project, my husband and children hopped the brick wall towards the burnt remains. They found the perfect logs.

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With rope and humility, Jimmy ties the ash stricken trunks together. The mid-afternoon sky turns black. The skies thunder and gusts of wind begin blowing. We all race inside later learning tornadoes were passing over our area. We talk about the parallel between our afternoon and that Friday in Jerusalem so many years ago when the skies turn black and the earth shook as Christ died. This cross, made from the ashy wood which took the brunt of the fire that could have destroyed our home,is now a physical representation of not only God’s sovereignty over our family but the freedom to live because we are not bound by our sin.

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“He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory”. Isaiah 61:3

crossClick here for a new Holy Week post”Stinky Feet of Passover”

Click here for a new Holy Week post”Stinky Feet of Passover”Washing feet

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Peter Rabbit Play

DSC_0534 - Version 2A first grade play is one of the great joys in life. Today my 7 year old, Campbell, was in the Peter Rabbit play.  He was, brace yourself, Onion #2. My highlight of the play was not the adorably painted rabbit faces, the garden of 1st grade vegetables, or even the live bunny Beatrice Potter carried around. My joy came in the friendship between the 2 onions. They say onions can make you cry, and this pair of onions succeeded.

When the lights when down and start of the play was imminent, Onion #1 was overcome with anxiety. His mom and I quickly prayed his heart would be flooded with peace and that he would recover. Onion #2, who is also prone to anxiety over sounds, lights, and all things overstimulating, quietly whispered to Onion #1. We all waited with breathless anticipation. What was going to happen to the little onions in the garden patch.

The play began, and without a pause Onion #1’s tear stained eyes cleared as the corners of his mouth began to turn up. I whisper to his mom, “I think he’s smiling.” What had changed? He proceeded to sing louder and motion larger than any of the animals and vegetables on stage. As the children recited their lines, Onion #1’s mom points out that my Onion #2 is saying both sets of lines. After the play, I asked just what was whispered between the 2 onions and teacher in those crucial moments when the lights when down. Onion #2 had simply agreed to take his lines and reassured him with “That’s ok, I get scared too sometimes” . Onion #2 understood the burden of anxiety. His own life experience had taken him to a place where he could relate. He loved this friend and reacted accordingly. DSC_0519

There are times as adults when we are overcome with the pressures of a situation. We need a little relief to be able to see the hope that lay ahead. We need room to recover. How thankful I am for the friends in my life who have taken just a little bit off of my plate, so that I could sing louder and motion larger in the rest of my play. May our hearts be sensitive enough to see when we can offer up that same hope to those in our garden patch.

The Wrap Party

I had to post a picture of this adorable Peter Rabbit cake. Each of the children’s names is written on the side of the cake. I will find out the name of the woman who made it as I know she makes cakes for all occasions.

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My kids love any excuse to make cake pops. We made a batch by combining Key Lime cake with vanilla icing dipped in Orange colored chocolate. Peter Rabbit’s Carrot garden was complete. Here’s a picture I took at the last-minuteIMG_2727.DSC_0557

To show our support of those cast as veggies in the play, we made “I love Onion” necklaces to wear during the performance!

Great Gatsby/ Roaring 20’s Party
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Great Gatsby/ Roaring 20’s Party

Great Gatsby Roaring 20's party costumeMarch 10, 2013

What is it about dressing up in ridiculous costumes that puts us in a good mood? Last night we had the privilege of attending The Geneva School’s Roaring 20’s gala. They were celebrating their 20 year anniversary and did so in style.

When I first learned that we were to “dress the part”, I immediately thought Flapper. After sifting through my closet, I changed my tune. I came across a dress my aunt wore to her son’s wedding that screamed the Great Gatsby. I googled Great Gatsby/20’s and pieced together a list of 5 defining elements to dressing the part.

5 Musts for a Roaring 20’s/Great Gatsby look:

1. jewelry – a long strand of pearls or vintage silver sparkles are a must!

2. Gloves – white, cream or black long gloves add polish to the look.

3. Feathers – feathers are a great accessory. Grab a boa, feathery jacket, or even stick an individual feather on your clutch or in your hair.

4. Headpiece- feathers or an oversized flower can be stuck into hair with a barrette or bobby pin. A chignon or waved bob were also popular. A rhinestone necklace can be used as a headband. Also a cloche hat is perfect. Party City sells one for under $20.

5. Dress- A black or cream sheath is the perfect backdrop to accessorize upon. For a flapper look you can go mid-calf or even shorter. For a Great Gatsby look, think long and flowy. Lace, beads and sheer fabrics enhance the look but aren’t  necessary. A man can wear a cream morning suit, suspenders, vest, hat, or slick hair. For a more gangster look, he could wear a pin stripes suit, gangsters style hat, and a whole lot of attitude.
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So I pieced together a boa, long strand of pearls, and some white gloves I wore in my own wedding. I went to Clarie’s and bought a headband to which I attached a flower pin I already owned. After texting my mom and sister pictures of different hairstyles, they decided for me. I would still like to try a wavy bob but just don’t have those hair styling skills.

My husband is always game when it comes to dressing up. I bought a gangster hat and sequins suspenders at the Party City for his look. He added a pinstriped suit and we were ready to go!Roaring 20's Great Gatsby dress style costume