I went online tonight to check out the Eagle Report, Kent City Schools' monthly newsletter to the community. What a happy surprise to see two familiar, darling faces smiling at me from my screen! Isn't that fun?! The caption underneath is great, too, and true for our kiddos!
(And yes, I did read much of the newsletter, too. :)
Click here.
P.S. Jasmine is Robyn's "bestest" friend.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Melacholy...
Maybe it's the dreary, gray day...
Maybe it's the rain...
Maybe it's the time of year...
Maybe it's the end of the week...
Maybe it's the "day in and day out" of it all...
but whatever it is, I feel "blah."
Does anyone else ever feel worn out by the time the kids are in bed (when you have time for yourself, but are too tired to do anything)? Does anyone else ever sit down at the dinner table to eat, after preparing the meal, and are so weary they just want to put their head in their hands?
Please don't take this wrong.
1. I am incredibly grateful for the life God has given me. I should dwell more on that!
2. My husband is so giving. He gives and gives some more. I wish he had more time to do what he wanted, not what others needed.
3. Our 4 kids are soooooo precious and such a gift. How fortunate that I can be the one to feed, clothe, hug, love, teach, snuggle, read to, enjoy, and be their one and only Mama!
But sometimes I get So. Weary.
I've told my high school students that being a Mom is the best, most rewarding job I've ever had and will ever have. I follow that up with being a Mom is the most challenging job I've ever had and will ever have. And that's followed by explaining how grateful I am to have a loving, supportive husband....that's the best route to go!
I am not a night person. My energy is in the mornings, or at least during daylight hours. I used to chuckle at my Mom for her 10:00 pm "Cinderella Time," as I called it. I would ask her if she would turn into a pumpkin....and of course, I'm exactly the same. :) I have lofty ambitions for what to do when the kids are in bed. The two hours or so of time seems so long. But, then reality. I usually make it to the couch, read the paper, fiddle around on the computer, etc., and tonight it felt ambitious to write this.
*Sigh.*
Could I force myself to do more? Yes. At times, I do. But other times, I think it's fine to just sit after a busy day - physically and emotionally - and relax/decompress.
Ken just came home - he's been teaching each Thursday evening for a while. Combine that with his Tuesday night meetings and Wed night responsibilities, and by Thursday night, I'm pooped. Aaron is walking up a storm. SO CUTE!!! And so busy! And why is his favorite place the bathrooms? And then the dishwasher? And then, and then, and then....And why does he love to dump everything - except his toys?! And how does he learn without me saying "No" time and time and time again? Ken says, "He is something! He has the gift for finding the worst possible way to make a mess. There's books? Tear them off the shelves. I want ALL of the towels out of the drawer, ALL of the pans out of the cupboard. Unlike a tornado, which is random disaster, he is quite purposeful in his mess-making! And the strange thing is, he doesn't take ALL of his toys out of his toy bin." Good thing he's got such good grins. He's adorable.
Aaron's busyness, in conjunction with our three other darlin's needs, make my rice sock (received from the hospital after having a baby) get warmed often and placed on my shoulders in the evenings. After all the responsibilities of the day, sometimes a cozy blanket, a rice sock, and some down time are just the ticket for a Mom. Would you agree?
Maybe it's the rain...
Maybe it's the time of year...
Maybe it's the end of the week...
Maybe it's the "day in and day out" of it all...
but whatever it is, I feel "blah."
Does anyone else ever feel worn out by the time the kids are in bed (when you have time for yourself, but are too tired to do anything)? Does anyone else ever sit down at the dinner table to eat, after preparing the meal, and are so weary they just want to put their head in their hands?
Please don't take this wrong.
1. I am incredibly grateful for the life God has given me. I should dwell more on that!
2. My husband is so giving. He gives and gives some more. I wish he had more time to do what he wanted, not what others needed.
3. Our 4 kids are soooooo precious and such a gift. How fortunate that I can be the one to feed, clothe, hug, love, teach, snuggle, read to, enjoy, and be their one and only Mama!
But sometimes I get So. Weary.
I've told my high school students that being a Mom is the best, most rewarding job I've ever had and will ever have. I follow that up with being a Mom is the most challenging job I've ever had and will ever have. And that's followed by explaining how grateful I am to have a loving, supportive husband....that's the best route to go!
I am not a night person. My energy is in the mornings, or at least during daylight hours. I used to chuckle at my Mom for her 10:00 pm "Cinderella Time," as I called it. I would ask her if she would turn into a pumpkin....and of course, I'm exactly the same. :) I have lofty ambitions for what to do when the kids are in bed. The two hours or so of time seems so long. But, then reality. I usually make it to the couch, read the paper, fiddle around on the computer, etc., and tonight it felt ambitious to write this.
*Sigh.*
Could I force myself to do more? Yes. At times, I do. But other times, I think it's fine to just sit after a busy day - physically and emotionally - and relax/decompress.
Ken just came home - he's been teaching each Thursday evening for a while. Combine that with his Tuesday night meetings and Wed night responsibilities, and by Thursday night, I'm pooped. Aaron is walking up a storm. SO CUTE!!! And so busy! And why is his favorite place the bathrooms? And then the dishwasher? And then, and then, and then....And why does he love to dump everything - except his toys?! And how does he learn without me saying "No" time and time and time again? Ken says, "He is something! He has the gift for finding the worst possible way to make a mess. There's books? Tear them off the shelves. I want ALL of the towels out of the drawer, ALL of the pans out of the cupboard. Unlike a tornado, which is random disaster, he is quite purposeful in his mess-making! And the strange thing is, he doesn't take ALL of his toys out of his toy bin." Good thing he's got such good grins. He's adorable.
Aaron's busyness, in conjunction with our three other darlin's needs, make my rice sock (received from the hospital after having a baby) get warmed often and placed on my shoulders in the evenings. After all the responsibilities of the day, sometimes a cozy blanket, a rice sock, and some down time are just the ticket for a Mom. Would you agree?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Joy!
Our hearts have been filled with Joy this week, as dear friends Josh & Amy received a good report regarding her cancer. The (non-chemo) hormonal treatment is working, meaning she has two more months of feeling better than she has in a while (and no more scans for two months!) Every so often, we four pastors' wives try to get together for an outing. We usually eat either dinner or dessert, then spend time sharing and praying for each other. It is touching and I am always inspired by Amy, Michelle, and Katie's godly examples. Being busy moms with busy schedules, it usually takes us a month to figure out a date that works for all. :) We managed to figure out this Friday, and are heading to a favorite restaurant of Amy's - Thai Basil Cuisine on Alpine. I will look forward to our time!
Debbie and I enjoyed playing a piano duet for offertory this morning. She assured me that anyone "35 and up" would know the John W. Peterson piece that we played. Pastor Josh was kind enough to put the words on the screen so people could follow along. What a great piece!! I hadn't heard it or thought about it in years, and it was especially neat because I played the "Secondo" part, the same part my mom played on this duet probably 20 years ago. I remember her practicing the song and part that I played. It had new joy and meaning today than it did when I was a child. You may learn some new vocabulary words (proffer, supernal, etc.) as you read! (In fact, sublime was one of my 10th graders vocab words this past week. What a joyful piece and message - I couldn't help but smile! Do you know this song? I leave with you:
Heaven Came Down
Words and music by John W. Peterson, © 1961
Debbie and I enjoyed playing a piano duet for offertory this morning. She assured me that anyone "35 and up" would know the John W. Peterson piece that we played. Pastor Josh was kind enough to put the words on the screen so people could follow along. What a great piece!! I hadn't heard it or thought about it in years, and it was especially neat because I played the "Secondo" part, the same part my mom played on this duet probably 20 years ago. I remember her practicing the song and part that I played. It had new joy and meaning today than it did when I was a child. You may learn some new vocabulary words (proffer, supernal, etc.) as you read! (In fact, sublime was one of my 10th graders vocab words this past week. What a joyful piece and message - I couldn't help but smile! Do you know this song? I leave with you:
Words and music by John W. Peterson, © 1961
O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget;
After I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
(Chorus:) Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Born of the Spirit with life from above, into God's family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart;
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
(Chorus:) Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Born of the Spirit with life from above, into God's family divine,
Justified fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came,
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer, He saved me, O praise His dear name!
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
Now I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;
I have a future in heaven for sure, there in those mansions sublime.
And it's because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed; Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole;
My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
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