Don't Feed the Fish

We had company over for dinner last night. It was a couple that we recently found out lived in the same city as us - and we were so excited to get to visit with them! The lady had been in the youth group where Chris was youth pastor when we first were married. And we got the pleasure to meet her excellent choice of a husband! Of course, before the honored guests arrived, I went through the list of good behavior and manners with Jacob, Savannah, and Elijah. Apparently, I will have to add another rule to the list. We were sitting down at the table eating plates of spaghetti. Chris asked them how they met. Her husband got very smiley and began sharing the precious details of their first moments. Suddenly, the lady started to giggle and point behind my shoulder. I turned around to see, at the "kids" table, Savannah standing on the bench throwing bits of bread to the Elijah "fish" flopping on the floor. He was gobbling the bread along with bits of fuzz from the carpet with just his mouth! I've always said that I was going to make a list of things that I never thought I would have to tell my children, and I think I will start today... No feeding the fish!
"Let brotherly love continue. Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it (Hebrews 13:1-2)."

Drowning Of Thirst

Somehow, in this drought-parched yard, our rose bush bloomed. Chris took Savannah outside this afternoon and picked the rose for her. She was thrilled, and we ceremoniously put it in a vase on the dining room table. About 30 minutes later, as I was cooking supper, I looked over to see her taking the rose out of the vase. She turned the rose upside down and started to cram it back into the vase. "Savannah, what are you doing?" I screeched. "My flower wants a drink," she calmly explained. "Savannah, roses and flowers drink from their stems." A brief pause. "Oh," she smiled sheepishly, and turned the rose right side up. Do you ever feel like that rose? Like you're thirsty for life-giving water, but you're not turned the right way to drink? Jesus says that if you drink from the water that He gives you, you will never get thirsty again. "In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life (John 4:7-15)." So turn to Jesus; He can change the drought in your heart into a well of life-giving water.

My Heart Is Full of My Family

I went to a retreat for "new" ministers' wives this weekend. It was a beautiful setting, wonderful weather, and excellent retreat. It was so encouraging to meet others of "me" from my same state that have similar situations and experiences. And the retreat content was very helpful, as well. I made some friendships that hopefully will continue long after this retreat is a distant memory.
Obviously if I was at a retreat, then Chris was home with the kids! When I walked back in the house after being gone for 26 hours, Chris was cramming dishes in the dishwasher at a reckless speed. "You came home too early! I didn't get this finished yet," he greeted me. Ha! "You've had 24 hours to load that dishwasher. Give me a hug!" Seth (age 1) was especially glad to see me. He had been looking for me all over the house the whole time I was gone.
I love my family. Even though it was nice to get away, it was even better to come home. Chris and I are such good friends that if he's not there with me, I really miss him. I mean, who else can I just look at when something funny happens and he will know exactly what I'm thinking? Even if it's not funny, but it strikes me funny, and he knows I think it's funny, even though it's not, he enjoys it with me (or maybe he thinks I'm funny when I think something's funny when it's not funny...). Hmm, I'll have to ask him.
One more story - Savannah's 13 yr. old cousin drew her a picture of a race car with chalk on our driveway. As soon as he finished the car, Savannah (age 4) picked up some chalk and added the window netting to his race car! You know you're a redneck if...your little daughter knows the finer details of a working race car.
"The older women are to ... teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:3-4)". I DO love my husband and children; and it is refreshing to sit under older ladies' teaching and have their encouragement in this.

Know-It-All

Chris and Jacob were having a discussion about something. Jacob was asking about something and finally Chris said, "Go ask Mommy; she knows everything." Jacob replied, "No, she doesn't know everything. She knows just enough to be a Mommy."
If you ask me, Jake's got a lot to learn!

Laughing Last, Laughing Best

I just have to say "Go Cowboys!!" Even with 5 interceptions and 1 fumble, the Dallas Cowboys still pulled out a win against the Buffalo Bills last night! Our rookie kicker, Nick Folk, (did you hear me say rookie?), kicked a 52 yard field goal with 2 seconds left in the game - and he made it (twice) - and we won!!! This is the first time since 1983 that the Cowboys have started off their season 5-0. It's a great day to be a Cowboy fan! Yeehaw!

Hair Slick

I will probably have to refill the prescription eczema ointment for Elijah this week. It comes in a large tub; this morning, there was still about an inch-worth left in the tub. Now the tub is empty. But, don't worry, if Seth had eczema on his head, it would be well treated.
That's because Elijah (who else) had an eczema ointment spree in his room this afternoon. (If you don't know what eczema ointment is, think medicated vaseline.) When I caught him, Eli had already spread a nice thick layer all over Seth's hair, the big stuffed horse, his bed and several toys. We had to be at church in 15 minutes, so I quickly gave both boys a bath - washing Eli's hair once and Seth's hair 4 times. Then I gave up and went to church. Later on this evening, we had to wash Seth's hair with dishwashing detergent - cuts the grease! It worked. I asked Eli why he put the cream on Seth's hair. Elijah replied, "Beduz I want him wook wike a man." So if you see any men with vaseline coated hair, could you please tell them they are a bad example for my son? "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head,... (1 Samuel 10:1)"

I Saw A Crime

Within the span of 36 hours, I managed to ride in a car for 12 hours, leave all 4 kids for the first time overnight, participate in a conference, witness a crime in action, make 3 phone calls to 9-1-1, and step on my blueberry bagel with raspberry cream cheese.
Chris invited me to go with him to an evangelism conference; the plan was to drop the kids off at the grandparents' house which was on the way. We were driving late Sunday night (because we had to leave after church and the conference started at lunchtime on Monday). We had maybe half an hour left out of a 4 hour trip; it was around 11:30 pm or so. The kids were asleep in the van, and Chris and I were talking as we traveled down the highway. All of a sudden, we saw by the side of the road and into one lane, a person laying on the ground with a person standing over him. "Did you see that?" Chris quickly pulled over on the shoulder, and we saw a car with the door open. I got the cell phone and called 911. After I report what we saw, Chris saw one person walk across the road and get in the car. As the man drove off, Chris followed and got close enough to get the license plate and description of the car. I called 911 again and gave them the information in case they needed it. On the other side of the highway, 3 police cars flew screaming past. Chris followed the car (since we were heading that direction anyway). But whoever was in the car knew that we were onto him; he started driving erratically. First he sped up to try to lose us, then he slowed waaay down. After a few times of this, I called 911 again to report the erratic driver. We got to our exit, and Chris made sure we weren't being followed. We turned the police scanner on to see what was going on as soon as we got in the house. The dispatcher said that they had to ask the victim about what kind of weapon was used. And she said that the last contact about the suspect was at the exit I made the last phone call. She gave the same license number; then we knew that if we had not been there, the victim could have still been lying on the side of the road. I don't know if they caught the suspect or not; I hope so. This experience has strengthened my faith in God's sovereignty. God knew that we would be driving past that stretch of highway at that exact moment. Maybe the suspect and victim knew each other, maybe it was completely random, but whatever the situation, I hope they both realize God was at that crime scene. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3)."