Praying for Your Kids Monday
Fruits of the Spirit: Love

Back from vacation and excited to start PYKM up again; I hope the "time away" was good for you as you developed new habits of praying for your kids but I also hope you missed me enough to keep coming back!

Two new things. 1) I've gotten several requests since we started this journey for a copy of certain prayers. Well I don't save them and the blog doesn't archive them since its not an official "post". Sooooo, I'm going to write it as a post and put in the side column so it is there all week for reference but you'll be able to find a favorite but going to the archive list and clicking on "PYKM".

2) For summer I thought I would do a theme for a few weeks and feel God leading towards the fruits of the spirit. I used to have a little tent card on my kitchen window sill to remind me of the fruits and I found it so helpful during the day to be reminded of what I have already been given and is what is expected of me. As we teach our kids about Godly virtues I think it is important we use the language that God uses. Instead of saying, "You need to wait your turn" we can say, "Please have patience and self-control"; we're using the same language that God uses and we're confirming what we've been praying for them quietly and outloud with them.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". Galatians 5:22 & 23

The first fruit is love and I hope to unpack this virtue a little bit in tomorrow's post but for now, let's start praying it for our children!

"And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing". 1 Corinthians 13: 1-4

Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit you have sent to us to teach us your right and good way. Thank you that you haven't left us to muddle along on our own, searching for truth and happiness, but instead have shown us a clear path through your Son and through your Word. I pray for ___________ to be filled with your Spirit's love; may she learn to love unconditionally and faithfully, for you have taught us that love is the most excellent way.

As Sinatra once said, "I Did it My Way"

Hot Jeff's great-aunt Jean died suddenly about 2 years ago. Her husband, Del, recently offered up her sewing machine to anyone in the family who wanted it and sweet Cheryl, knowing I'd been wanting one, told him that I would take it. This was before we went to Montana but thankfully the offer still stood once we got home and Mom and Dad went down to Albany today and picked it up for me. Its a beauty: a 1993 Pfaff Hobbymatic built into a lovely desk with lots of storage for tape, needles, bobbin, thread, material, etc. My heart leaped right in my chest when I saw it; I imagine this is how many women feel when they find out they are pregnant with a 3rd child...

After the midgets went to bed I sat down with the manual to see what she could do... Not too far into it I saw the following picture. Note the bottom, left picture with the high heel on the foot pedal.


Oh Lord please help me...really a high heel on the foot pedal? I think it is safe to assume that our dear friends at Pfaff believe that only women sew and those that do wear heels. Did I mention she's a 93 model? That's Nineteen ninety three, not Eighteen ninety three folks. After I caught my breath I made up a little story of the women in this picture.

She is obviously repressed. Who sews with high heels on? She doesn't work outside of the home and she wakes before anyone else in the house to prepare breakfast and lunches. She greets her husband with a kiss, hot coffee, and the newspaper. After the children leave for school she hurries through her morning chores and then begins her sewing; she mends clothing to make a little extra money. She also raises chickens and sells the eggs for this same reason.

She never takes her starched white apron, nor her heels, off until dinner is finished, kids are bathed and in bed and her husband has had his nightly cigar and brandy.

Ok, now picture me in sweat pants and my kids screaming and running wildly around the bonus room in which I am trying to sew and make sure no one falls out the 2 story window. I awoke that same morning with Samuel standing over me telling me he got Emily out of her crib, made them toaster waffles and wants to know how to get glue out of hair. Hot Jeff has already been gone to work for 3 hours and I grumble something about a long night of blogging the night before.

This is, of course (wink, wink), dramatized but I would, nonetheless, like to email the picture below to Pfaff and give them permission to use it in their 2010 manuals. I think it suits us 21st century seamstresses much better.

Tonight while in the shower I was reading the back of the shower gel can (stall tactic) and, I'm not kidding you, it read, "After lathering generously, shave with a clean razor...". Ok seriously, I know this is the generic brand of Skintimate but what kind of people do they think are buying this stuff: crack-whore-drug-addicts? Who is shaving with a dirty razor?

"Let's see, how do I use this mysterious shave gel? I better read the directions. 'Wet the area'--check. 'Lather generously'-- check, check. 'Clean razor'--clean razor? Dammit! Honey, (she yells from the shower) put that beer down and bring me a clean razor, I think there's one out in the truck. I don't care if COPS is on, I'm all lathered up..."

Bug Will Be So Proud...

Since Bug planted her first garden last year, and since then has become a famous gardening guru, I have wanted to be a copycat and plant one also. I had grand plans of Jeff (or Shannon's husband Drew, more likely) making me some raised beds so I could plant a square foot garden. Well when I actually began thinking about it and realistically wondering where I would put raised beds in my small backyard I realized it wouldn't work. So I gave up the dream. Then today I went out to Wavra's and saw veggie starts for only $1.25! I couldn't resist, I got 4 starts and Cheryl, who was with me, said she had pots I could use! WooHoo!

So here is my lovely garden: 1 zucchini, 1 lemon cucumber, 1 burpless cucumber and 1 basil. I am delighted. I know it isn't much but I am jsut so excited about it. I would really like to do carrots but does anyone know: is it too late to plant carrots and can you do them in pots? I would like some advice on this.

By the way, yes I am back from Montana; just got in yesterday. We had a wonderful time and I'll get some pictures posted soon. Secondly, who came up with the name "burpless" for a cucumber???

You PYKM followers are going to love this. Tonight Samuel and I finished reading his devotion and I peaked at tomorrow's and it is about the Holy Spirit! How cool is that? I've been praying blessing over Samuel and Emily, asking the Spirit to guide, comfort and call them and now Samuel will have this concept reiterated tomorrow when we read. God is so cool. I'm going to type it out for you so feel free to read it to your own kiddos.

My Bible Verse:
The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us everything he promised. Ephesians 1:14

Zoe is happy because she knows she is not alone. When Jesus went to heaven, he told his friends not to be sad. He said he was sending a helper. His helper is the Holy Spirit. Zoe cannot see the Holy Spirit. We can't either, but he lives in us when we believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps us obey. The Holy Spirit comforts us when we are sad. The Holy Spirit helps us understand the words in the Bible. The Holy Spirit helps us know that God loves us.

My Prayer:
May your Holy Spirit guide me. I'm glad he'll always stay inside me.

*The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers
Written by Crystal Bowman
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

When in Montana, Do As the Montanans Do...

Hearing Yourself Back...

Yesterday I announced to my Mom and kids that I was going to save the lunch dishes until I got back from a nap! I said, "I can do that, I'm on vacation."

Last night, I asked Samuel to pick up the toys he had strewn about and he announced, "I think I'll just wait. I'm on bacashion".

Well played Samuel, well played.

Even though I pray in faith, I'm still always surprised when God just lays an answered prayer in my lap. The morning the kids and I flew out of Portland Jeff and I prayed, as we always do before I fly by myself with the midgets, that God would grant us safety and that He would put someone on our flight that would show us kindness and help me with the ridiculous amount of crap that a mother flying with two kids has (stroller, carry on, car seat, 2 kids).

As we walked to our gate Samuel was carrying his own carry on, a Lightning McQueen bag on wheels, and a guy walked by and commented, "Sweet bag. I'm a Mater fan". Samuel smiled shyly and I said thanks. We followed close behind him all the way to our gate where he stopped also. While there he commented on how cute the kids were, asked where we were headed and made small talk. As we began to board he grabbed the car seat and said kindly, "I'll stick with you and help. We parents have to stick together". He was my guardian angel; I knew He had been sent by my loving Father. My husband, who had gotten a guest pass to help us to the gate, left relieved knowing we were in good hands.

Steve, as I found out was his name, moved seats so he could be in the empty one across the aisle from us. He helped me the whole flight to Seattle and we spoke easily and freely; he was going through a painful divorce and had a 5 year old son caught in the middle, his heart was still mending. As our plane touched down in Seattle he promised to stay with us until we got on our final flight to Billings and he did. He watched our stuff while we made a bathroom stop and went to the desk at our gate and requested assistance for me as I boarded in Seattle and arrived in Billings. As the overhead voice announced it was time for us to board I hugged Steve and told him my husband and I had prayed for the kindness of a stranger and that he was the answer to our prayer. He smiled humbly and said he was so glad he could be that person.

I'm humbled by Steve's kindness and selflessness and thankful for God's protection, help and earthly angels.

The Sound of Silence

Isn't that so romantic sounding? So romantic and melancholy. I'm not heading to Montana until Saturday but have 2 very busy days ahead of me so I may not get another chance to post until after I get to Montana and then my posts will probably be few and far between.

If you think of us on Saturday morning we sure would appreciate your prayers; its always an adventure flying with 2 little ones and there's a whole new element of insanity when you're the only adult. Its an early flight and so me getting drunk on the plane won't be an option (I don't think they offer alcoholic beverages that early) and probably frowned upon.

Peace out.

Housekeeping

Tuesdays with Traci is no longer going to be a part of this blog. Bug and I have had a massive, blow out fight and probably will never speak again. No, I'm just kidding. Traci is taking a blogging break, read about it here. Traci is such a fun writer and I'm sure you'll all miss her; drop her a note on the comment section of her blog to let her know what her posts meant to you.

So now you're stuck with me...
unless I can find some other poor sucker to guest blog on here. Any takers?

I am continuously moved by the lessons God teaches me through my children. If I will have a tender heart and allow my mind to quiet, He teaches me great things about Himself in the quiet moments with my little ones. I've journaled about some of those encounters and would love to share some of them with you sometime. The most fresh on my mind is the one that happened tonight.

First, let me take you back almost 2 years ago when Jen Roth, (my sensei) was speaking at one of the first general sessions of Hearts in the 2008 year. She was telling the story of her daughter Abby crying at her feet, longing to be held while Jen was trying to get dinner made for the rest of the family. While continuing with dinner she prayed over Abby that the Holy Spirit would comfort Abby and that Abby would learn to depend on the comfort of the Spirit in her times of need.

Fast forward to this weekend's sermon...youth pastor Brian Condello preached and spoke about using our words to bless others. He mentioned how important it is that we speak blessing over our children (it was a great sermon and I am NOT doing it justice here. Sorry.)

Sooooo....tonight Samuel was having a hard time going to sleep. He really wanted me to lay with him (not gonna happen) and then he wanted me to go to bed so I would be upstairs with him (also not gonna happen). I felt myself being really annoyed with him; I wanted to yell and threaten but I remembered Jen and Brian's words and felt God telling me to speak blessing over Samuel and to pray for him. I sat on his bed and hugged him tightly, I whispered in his ear, "Lord, please pour Your Spirit out on Samuel right now. You are Jehovah Shalom and so I pray Your blessing of peace on Samuel right now. May he feel Your presence in his room and in his heart as he rests tonight. Thank You for loving Samuel. Amen."

He whispered "amen", stuck his thumb in and nestled down in the covers. Jeff and I are now downstairs hanging out and I haven't heard a peep out of him. Thank You Jehovah Shalom, You are faithful.

oh I do love the tulip festival! We've been so lucky to get to go every year since we had Samuel and it is so fun to see the past pictures and how he is growing. This is Emily's second year but she was in the front pack last year. What a great day!

We met another mommy that had a daddy working so we took pictures of each other with our kiddos. I love meeting new people!

"Emily, gentle touches..."

Mmm she's cute!

I LOVE this picture! My sweet, handsome little man!

Only Emily would try and EAT the tulips.