A Lovely Valentine's Day

The Bug is "making" me smoothies right now.  For Christmas she got a cute retro kitchen and a play blender with pretend fruit and pretend ice cubes.  The blender actually spins.  She loves it.

She's winding down...well, we are all winding down.  I bet if I mustered up the energy to get up and check, I would find the Fly and the Little Man dozing off to Slumberland.  

 What a day.  What a beautifully full day. 

 There was so much love in my house today.  How appropriate, I know.

About a month ago I was thanking God for my neighborhood.  We live on a street filled with kids and parents who love them recklessly.  Recklessly loved kids are the kind of kids that jump off walls together, run around screaming at the top of their lungs, ride their bikes at high speeds and do summersaults in the front yard without fear.  They know that mom and dad are nearby if they are needed.  In the mean time, they are fearless, young and fearless, and their love-tanks are full.

As I was thinking about all those great kiddos and their great parents I thought about how fun it would be to get them together for a celebration.  With the big V-day around the corner it was a perfect opportunity.  Plus, Pinterest basically tempts me to have a party everyday...not exaggerating.

So we planned it.  Some of us split up some of the responsibilities and early this afternoon my house was filled with kids...laughing, running, eating, craft-making, cookie decorating, followed by the cookie eating, of course. 

As the kids ran off their sugar highs the mamas and a couple grandmamas sat around my kitchen table and laughed.  It was so good to laugh.  We learned new things about one another.  Our friendships sunk in a little deeper. 

As nap time neared everyone began to gather their things and trickle out the door.  Smiles, hugs, and thank yous were shared among all of us.

Thank you.  We each said it to each other.  And as they all left and I put the kids to bed for their naps I could still feel the thickness of joy that was left behind.  I walked downstairs to clean up a bit and all I could do was smile.  So thankful.  I was so thankful for each of them.

For the one down the street at the end of the cul-de-sac.  She makes me smile.  She cares about my kids and has been a key friend in my transition from working to staying home.  We've gotten close over the past couple years and that warms my heart. 

For the one right across the street.  She inspires me.  I watch her love her kids and pick and choose her battles with wisdom and I can't help but look up to her.  I treasure our middle-of-the-street conversations as our kids ride each others scooters or ride their bikes up and down together. 

For the one across the other street, perpedicular to the cul-de-sac.  She makes me laugh.  I love her silly songs and the way she teaches her kids to love the Lord.  She reminds me through her actions not to sweat the small stuff and to laugh with my kiddos. 

For the one right next door.  She wasn't here today but her daughter and her mother-in-law, whom I love as well, joined us.  She encourages me.  I love it every time we get a chance to chat.  We swap advice and she reminds me that I'm not alone in this adventure.  I love her generous heart.  

 It was a privilege to have these ladies and two wonderful grandmamas around my kitchen table today. 

It's an honor to laugh with them and do life with them.

The Valentine's Day Monsters the kiddos made at the party:).  That's Proverbs 17:17.

 

Matt 5:1-2

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.  And he opened his mouth and taught them saying:"

Every sermon starts with people who want to hear something.  People who are yearning, craving, words, wisdom.  Most people looking for a sermon are those that want to hear.

Sometimes they want to hear words that will make them feel better.

They want to hear words that prove them right.

They want to hear words that fill the hunger.

Then there are those that didn't really want to hear the sermon but they came because the person who did want to hear it made them.  I was one of those for a very long time.  All the words floated right over my head.  They entered the hearts that were soft and open.  Mine was closed and distant.  Mine was self-absorbed.  Ironic, as the very words I let drift by would have ministered to ME, the person I was so consumed with.

I imagine the crowds, my New King James Version, the one that reminds me of Shakespeare, says multitudes.  It's been a while since I went through this passage with a commentary but I wonder right now, with no intention of using a commentary, just how many people that was.

Was it Disneyland on New Year's Eve or the 4th of July?  That's a lot of people.

As I type, the Bug is watching Veggie Tales and the Little Man is desperately trying to crawl.  So close.

Silly Faces

Outside is a taste of our winter season, a rainy day sandwiched between So Cal's sun and fun days.

The clouds frame the mountains.  The mountains that the Bug enthusiastically discovers every time we go outside.

The view on one of those Fun in the Sun days.

"Mommy!  The mountains!"

"That's right.  Who made those mountains?"

"God.  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1"

(This was one of my proudest moments thus far.)

With tears burning, "That's right! Bug.  That's right!"


I look at those mountains today and imagine Jesus, my Savior, going to the top of the mountain, through the droves, the multitudes, of those coming to hear.  Would I have been there too?  I hope so.


Then he sat down.  What?  Again, trying so hard not to go to a commentary just yet, why did he sit?  Most sermons are given from the standing position.  Were the words so decadent and rich that the standing dynamic didn't even matter?  Were the mountains situated in a way that would cause his voice to carry so they could all hear without him having to breathe with his diaphragm?

His disciples came to him.  His community.  They surrounded him.  They supported him.  They listened.  This is why community is so important.


He opened his mouth and taught them saying...

For the first time in a long time my heart is craving the next verse.

Jesus, teach me.  Tell me through your Word.  I come this time as one who wants to be here.  I am on the mountain.   Listening.  Waiting for the next word.

Beatitudes by Heart

I have always been able to memorize things easily.

Back in my preschool days I had the privilege of playing the Shoemaker's wife in the ever popular, The Elves and the Shoemaker.  I remember vividly driving in the car with my parents one day.  They recited the lines to me and I recited them back.

"Shoemaker, Shoemaker what shall we do?  We have nothing to eat but a breadcrumb or two?  The pantry is empty and so is our purse.  Oh, what shall we do?  Oh what could be worse?!"

Seriously, I still remember.

The Bug seems to have inherited my knack for memorizing.   She knows her right from her left and I really think it is because she memorized which shoe goes where.

We started memorizing a couple scripture verses a number of months ago.  Recently, we added two to her repertoire.

It's amazing.  The practice is filling both of us.  As a child I never memorized verses from the Bible but I think it is a very important discipline.

I have been recently challenging myself to do the same thing.

I came across an opportunity today.  I LOVE this blog. A Holy Experience.  Every time I read it I feel ministered to.

She is challenging people to memorize the Beatitudes.


So this is our goal...Beatitudes by Easter.  (Now that I've put it out for the world to see I feel like I have to do it.)


In a world where we learn a song on the radio after hearing it once and can recite scenes from favorite movies or sitcoms it only seems appropriate to apply these abilities to the one thing that will give life and continue to grow life within us.  But, the honest truth is that it is hard.  It is hard to stay the course.  It is hard to keep to it.  For some reason memorizing scripture can often be frustrating, hard work.  Why?

I think it's because it is so powerful.  God's Word is alive and active...dangerous stuff.  It's not meant for the lazy bones.

So here's to digging in and getting dirty.  Sweating.  Building muscle.

If I can master the Pilates Teaser...I can memorize the Beatitudes.  Who's with me?