A bunch of little bits

What follows will be a smattering of little bits of things that have crossed my mind in the past few weeks relative to writing here on the blog.

First, I've been reading in rapid fashion a Young Adult fiction series entitled the Ranger's Apprentice, by John Flanagan.  My favorite quote from the series comes from volume 7: "Now I know that if you wait till you think you are ready, you'll wait all your life." Spoken by Will to Horace, p. 373.  This is so true.  I think this holds true for all the major events of my life: college, mission, marriage, parenthood, etc.

Second, school has ended for the year.  L (far right) received a varsity letter for swimming, an award for "maintaining a 4.0 GPA for the 2011-2012 school year," and she was selected for "outstanding performance in the area of web page design."

J had a guitar concert. I thought the concert was one of the best I had ever attended but I think it was probably a regular concert seen through the filter of nostalgia, since this is my last concert at this school after eight years. J lettered in Seminary for the Old Testament, made the honor roll and received an award: "President's Award for Educational Excellence" for outstanding academic excellence. I am proud of J & L for their hard work this past school year.

Third, you know I cannot talk about two children and leave out the third.  T is my multi-tasker (at the time of this picture, he was probably computing while watching television and monitoring X-Box360-- simultaneously). Here he has his animal friends, left and right, to keep him company.

Fourth, back in 2009, I wrote about us being cat farmers, thanks to my mother's request that we look after her three cats.  Cat farmers. About a week ago, Mom's white cat died.  It was old and in poor shape but I can't help but feel someone helped it along.  We found her under a series of three trees where we'd previously found dead our cat Bandit and a guinea hen (not all lately and not all at once) so it did hint to me of foul play. That spot can't attract that many "I'm ready to die" animals.  Anyway, Snowflake (what a kind sounding name for a mean cat) is no more and I kept thinking of her and my mother this Memorial Day.

Fifth, there has been a transformation.  This photo (above) is from several years ago showing the front yard of what we call "Tom's house."  This past week, four of us, along with renters, neighbors and friends, laid sod for four hours.

Here is the photo of the transformed front yard!  What a difference a day makes!

Sixth, there have been a lot of fires already this year.  This is a photo of a fire that burned here in the Tri-cities.  B is off working on a fire even as I type. We're glad for the work and B enjoys it.  He's not directly fighting the fire.  He's support staff.

Seventh, our niece M and our nephew D graduated from high school this year.  We're proud of their accomplishments and wish them well.

Finally, the thoughts of the Primary song keep going through my mind: 

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?

Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?

* * *

Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high?

* * *

Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky?

Is that what you do? So do I!

Happy Mother's Day

Excerpt from Rachel Jankovic's blog post @ http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank:

A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”

She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”

Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen.

A Rock-Bottom Job?

The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of important things.

* * *

Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you should ever spend your time doing.

If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?

It's Not a Hobby

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

* * *

Hands Full of Good Things

When my little girl told me, “Your hands are full!” I was so thankful that she already knew what my answer would be. It was the same one that I always gave: “Yes they are—full of good things!”

Big week. . .end

Here is a cute bag I made at a RS activity on Thursday night.

Here are my tree roses in full bloom along my front walk.  These were my Mother's Day present last year and look how nice they are this Mother's Day time!

This weekend, this young man graduated with his master's degree in accountancy.  Cute little family.  We wish them all the best at this "commencement" of their life ahead.

This young man graduated with his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (with a minor in Portuguese, I think). Look at that little guy sleeping through all the excitement. Best wishes to this little family for a bright future.

Here are two globe trotters.  This is the first time in twenty-one years (other than one up-and-back trip where we were away one night) that we've been AWOK--"away without kids."