Compassion

I had a really great day with my girls yesterday...we played with bubbles and sidewalk chalk, did the Cha Cha Slide in the front yard, and just generally had fun. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and the kids got out of school early, so I was able to spend more time with them than usual-my favorite kind of day. For dinner, we had a freshly made chef salad piled high with tons of veggies, diced ham, sliced hard boiled egg, cheese and dressing and we all sat at my grandmother's very old dining table laughing and joking together as we ate. It was great!

Unfortunately, as evening came on I developed a terrible headache. By 7, I had the littles all sprawled around the living room watching Anne of Green Gables on PBS as I rested on the couch. As soon as it was 8 o'clock, I told the girls it was time for them to go to bed-and I wearily plodded upstairs to my own bed. My head was hurting so badly. I walked into my hot, dark room, plopped down on my bed, and lay there hoping my headache would subside.

All of a sudden the silence was broken. "Echoooooooooooooooooooooo! I'm a BEAST!" My 15 year old son, Christian, was home from visiting with his girlfriend. (He knows how to make a grand entrance.) I could hear him and Echo talking downstairs-Christian noticed that I wasn't downstairs, and it was fairly early in the evening-this is unusual for me.
Christian: Where's mom?
Echo: She's upstairs in bed.
Christian: She is?? Is she ok?
Echo: She has a headache.

I hear someone walking upstairs. My son cracks my bedroom door open.
Christian: Mom? Are you ok?
Me: I just have a bad migraine, son.
Christian: Man, mom, it's hot in here! Let me open your bedroom window. Here, i'll put the fan on for you. Do you need anything else? I'll shut the door so the hallway light doesn't bother your eyes. I hope you feel better! I love you, mom.
(Opens window, fussily points the fan in my direction to cool me off, closes door and leaves me to be miserable lol)

A few minutes later, the door cracks open just slightly, and I hear a tiny, squeaky voice talking to me...
Autumn (age 6): I laid out my clothes for tomorrow, mommy.
Me: You did? (Surprised, because usually she likes me to pick out her outfit for her.)
Autumn: Yeah. I heard you had a headache, and I didn't want to disturb you.
(When did she learn the word disturb? She said it so adorably...distowb. She still has trouble with her r's.)
Me: Well, thank you so much! I'm very proud of you for being kind and considerate. Come give mommy a kiss.
Autumn: Are you still gonna tuck us in??
Me: Of course, i'll be in in a few minutes.
(Autumn hugs and kisses me to pieces, shuts my bedroom door behind her, and goes to bed with her sissies.)

As I lay there in the dark, I felt so overwhelmed with emotion that my children would be so sweet and compassionate, so tender. They are so good to me. I mean, we do have our moments of chaos and misbehavior, but my children really treat me well. They make me feel so special. I find little notes and drawings all over the house from the littles ("I love mom", "mom, come to my party" "picture of me and mom playing", etc.) They bring me little trinkets like flowers and pretty rocks as tokens of their affection. Even my older two tell me they love me often, encourage me when I take on something new, and sometimes even leave little love notes for me on the computer. They hug and kiss me all the time, even my adolescent son! It makes me so happy that my kids embrace me and don't push me away. (For the most part they don't push me away-the teens do have their moments haha.)

My children are not just good to me, though. They are kind and caring to others. It really affects them to see another person having a hard time or suffering. This is one thing I truly love about my kids. In this day and age, so many children are becoming desensitized to the needs and feelings of others, and I think it is important to try to teach them the Fruits of the Spirit.

Colossians 3:12 says:
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I think this is probably a verse we all could benefit from learning.

Monday Means...

Preparing for the week ahead by making breads, tortillas, and granola bars for my family.

On this most recent Monday, (last Monday) it meant making 38 flour tortillas, 18 sandwich rolls, 16 almond dark chocolate chunk granola bars, and 1 loaf of whole wheat flax seed bread.

I feel so grateful when I look in my fridge and pantry and see freshly made tortillas and breads that will last my family a good portion of the week. The granola bars, well, they are usually gone the same day. :0)

Our Family Portrait by Mahan Media!

They are making a new church directory at Valley, and we were told that we should bring the family and have our picture taken for it. When we got there, I was surprised to find our worship leader, Jessica Mahan, behind the camera lens. This woman is talented! She not only beautifully leads worship at our church, and gives voice and piano lessons, but also, apparently, takes stunning, professional portraits as well! This is our family portrait for the church directory. It's the first picture we have had taken all together since the wedding and I just love how it came out!

For more examples of Jess's handiwork, you can visit her website here.

Communion

The worship band sings "Oh Glorious Day" up on stage. It's one of my favorite songs. My husband sits next to me. He takes his huge, strong arm and puts it around my shoulder, pulls me close to him. I rest my head against his chest...and he starts to pray. "Dear Lord, we thank you for all these blessings You have put upon our lives, Father. We ask that you would watch over the children, Lord...help us to teach them to do Your will. We thank you for all things, Father..." My eyes well up with tears as I listen to him quietly speaking the prayers of his heart.


Every week we take communion at church, and every single week, my precious husband thanks the Lord for his "beautiful/precious/loving wife"-the words that describe me change from week to week, but he always gives thanks for me very early on in his weekly communion prayer. It makes me feel so grateful to have a wonderful, loving husband. Taking communion with William is such a privilege. It refreshes our hearts for the week to come, unites us in worship, strengthens our marital bond, and helps us to set a good example of a God-centered marriage for the children. The first thing we did after taking our wedding vows was to take our first communion together-before anything else, even before our first kiss. We wanted to make our covenant with the Lord above all else, followed by our vows to each other. How fitting that we get to take communion at church together on a weekly basis, to keep fresh in our minds and hearts the promises we have made.

Thank you, Father, for sending a strong, God-fearing head of household for our family. I'm so glad I don't have to do it alone anymore.

Praise...

Lord, thank You so much for the awesome message I received at church this morning and the cleansing time I got to spend with You in communion. Thank You, also, for making me feel refreshed as a mother and wife this weekend. Please help me to do my job with a joyful heart, and know that I am beyond blessed with the wonderful husband and precious children You sent here for me to love and nurture. In Jesus' name, Amen

I was feeling so tired and discouraged, and He picked me up, and made me feel so refreshed and grateful.

Psalm 62:6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

This was cross-posted from my Facebook.