Reflections

Yesterday (I can say yesterday because it's now 1:45 am and I can't SLEEP) was a big day for a little birthday boy. And I do want to blog about that, but not right now. I have something else on my mind right now.

As I was laying in bed, NOT sleeping, it hit me that these are most likely the "last days". Meaning, I truly believe Jesus will come soon for his church. And if I believe that, then what should my priorities be? Should it be more important to me for Jackson to potty train quickly, or for him to see a loving mommy who loves him no matter what? And should it be more important for him to finally learn to stay in his bed ALL night, or for him to know that I am here for him always, so he can eventually understand that there is a loving Jesus who is also here for him always, so much more than Mommy could ever be? I don't know why he has been so needy at night. It is the way he came out, from Day One. But he is. He is getting so much better, but still he needs to know that I am there sometimes.

And what about my slower reader? Should it be more important for her to learn to read fluently as soon as possible, or for her to have a patient mommy who loves her unconditionally and encourages her to keep trying?

And my sensitive daydreamer? What are his needs? To have me demanding he get back to work with yet another sigh, or for me to lovingly guide him back to his Math?

And what about academics in general? What is my goal? Is it more important to me to have "smart" kids, or kids who love the Lord with all their hearts and are ready for whatever this world may bring? Kids who will grow into adults who will say "Yes, Lord." to whatever he asks of them?

If I know the answers to these questions, and I do, then what should my focus be? Jesus didn't say to stop living our everyday lives, but he did say to be ready and watchful. Am I ready? Is my family ready? Am I doing everything in my power to help my family be ready? If we have memories in heaven, what will my family's memories be like? Will they remember a loving mother/wife? Oh, please, God.

What about the lost souls I come into contact with in my daily life? If Jesus is coming back soon, then they need to know, don't they? Yes, they need to hear that, even if they don't want to.

These are just some things I had on my mind.

First Day of School

Today was our first official day "Back to School". I believe we are always learning something, whether we are "doing school" or not, but this was the first day back to the books. I will not bore anyone who happens to read this with the whole rundown of the day, but I will just note that the highlights of the day for the kids were the homemade pizza for lunch and the trip to the pool after lunch for PE. The hard part of the day was dragging them out of bed at 6:30 am. Harder still was dragging myself out of bed at 5:30 am.

Here they are:

Last Wednesday, as the rest of us were all packing and loading the trailer and madly getting ready to go on a camping trip, Jackson was busy doing this with Cara's lipstick: But finally, after an extra bath for Jack, we got out of here and went up to Donner Lake Memorial State Park. It's a really nice place.

We went to the museum.

We got to play in the lake.

And we got to celebrate Danny's 19th birthday. I can hardly believe he is nineteen; that means Ralph and I are getting OLD. :-)

In this last picture, Joey has been frantically trying to rush Danny through his presents the whole time so we can get to the cake. Finally I have given Danny his cake and have informed Joey he is last because he was so impatient. I just love the look on Joey's face as Danny takes his first bite.

Monday is back to school for us, and then the next Monday is back to school for Danny. Summer went by soooooo fast. But we are hoping for a trip to the ocean in late September or early October, so we have something to look forward to. (Except for poor Danny, who will be slaving away on things like Biology and Advanced Composition, and things like that, AND working at the hardware store, where he was just promoted to Warehouse Manager.

We will miss him.........but not enough to stay home).

Today is church and so I better get going and get us ready.

A Proud Mama

Sunday morning we sang Cara's song again in church. Just before we sang the song, our beloved music director, Walt, called Cara to him and announced that he had sent her song to the man who is I think like a music director over all our churches in the state or something like that; I'm sorry I don't really know his title, but anyway he liked the song and wanted Cara's permission to sing it in churches all over the state! (Of course Cara gave her permission). Then it was time to sing the song and naturally I was all emotional and teary eyed and could hardly sing.

Then, Sunday evening we were treated to a beautiful rendition of Canon in D with Cara at the piano, Danny at keyboard, Nathaniel on guitar, and Colette on violin. I really wanted to post the video but it is 119 MG and I can only post up to 100 MG here, soooooo I can't put up the video. The kids dedicated it to our sweet, sweet brother in the Lord, Al Hendricks, who is going to be with his Savior soon. He was unable to be there, so the kids went to his house last Friday and gave him a private concert. I will have to settle for posting a picture of the kids:

I'm very proud. That is all. :-)

Murder Mystery Party and other stuff

Tonight Danny, Cara, and Nick went to a murder mystery party with their 3 best buddies from church. Danny was the tall, dark and handsome journalist, Cara was an actress, and Nick was a little Frenchman. They are still there so I don't know yet how it went, but I bet they had alot of fun. They had premade scripts and one of them will end up the murderer and I guess the rest have to figure out who it is. See pictures below. (In the first picture Nick is scowling on purpose because he figures that is what Frenchmen do. :-)
In other news, Ralph had to take a driving test today at the DMV. (Because of the vertigo he had a while ago, they made him retest, even though the doctor already filled out pages of release for him). Anyway, he said he was so nervous, even though he knows he knows how to drive. I guess the fear of losing his license was a pretty powerful thing. But he passed, as I knew he would, and the lady said this should finally be the end of it. I hope so!

I also found out that my dear brother started a new job today, so I'm praising the Lord for that. I hope it went well for him. In case you read this, we love you, Scott!!! Jackson has been praying so hard for Uncle Scott to get a job, that it will now be hard to get him to stop. In fact, tonight, he not only prayed for Uncle Scott to get a job, but also for Aunt Lynn, Grandma, Grandpa, and I don't know who all else to also get jobs.
And they didn't even know they wanted jobs......... :-)

That's enough ramblin' for now.