Picture It!

My daughter came to me, with something I can only describe as gleeful guilt.  She said that last night she wanted to draw the picture.  She thought she should wait until morning but was afraid she might forget.  So she took the flashlight in her room, her notebook and colored pencils and drew a picture.  I think this was part confession, part bragging. 

She says she drew it in love.  I let that one be, but it makes me curious about what she meant by it.

Once I came to the computer, I called her over to tell me again about the picture.  I am taking a bit of dictation below.

"I wanted to see what it would be like if it was just me and God and no houses.  So I drew a tepee.  There is green grass and inside the tepee is a small little fire.  There is a bush and a small pool of water.  There is a  tree wtih a long branch with Jesus and me sitting down on it.  There are great big mountains that I think I made a little too big.   I added a gorgeous sunset.  OH, I almost forgot!  I added crowns, too.  A small one for me and a big one for Jesus." 

The photo just isn't good enough.  Wish my scanner would behave to give a clearer shot of her creation.  I have to say I wouldn't mind sitting in a tree at sunset by a pool of water with Jesus. 

Psalm 55:22

My sweet son came to me this morning and said that he hadn't been feeling well last night. He said he wasn't sick, but sort of had the uneasiness that comes with being sick and couldn't describe it more than that.

So he got up, turned on the light, woke up the puppy for company and grabbed his Bible. He said he cried with it in his lap and prayed, 'Jesus, when I open this Bible, please let it be on the exact spot where I need it.'

He found Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

He said the he cried. He was so happy that God had answered his prayer and he understood.

I have never endorsed just opening the Bible to find a personal message. I appreciate that he asked first. I am not really comfortable with the idea that my son was alone crying in his room. I want to say that I want him to come to me when he needs comfort. But...I am so thankful that he decided to go to the One who will always be there for him.

Feeling Sick Today

I am feeling just a little under the weather, but I stayed in bed until the kids woke up this morning.  They both joined me and we chatted.  I let them know I wasn't feeling so great and that eveon thought today is only our second day at the retirement home and if I have something contagious, I feel obligated to cancel.

My girl asked, 'what about us?'  What other response to that question is there than, "What about you?"? 

She asked what would happen to them if Daddy worked overtime.  I let her know that if I didn't go to the retirement home, even if Daddy comes home in time, no one would go. 

That isn't what she meant.  She wanted to know what would happen to them, herself and her brother, with me as the only adult in the house, but sick in bed.  :)

Ah!  I let her know that everything would be OK.  I am a mommy, and mommies know how to be sick and mommies at the same time.  I added as only a half joke that we just hold the baby while we throw up. 

She was quiet for a while and I thought the issue was dropped.  Then, so quietly, she asked:
"Will you teach me?  I don't know how to do that.  When I am sick, I just want to be in bed."

So sweet!

Meditation

I am feeling so thankful that I picked up this new-to-me Bible study book by Lisa Welchel.  She demonstrates twenty different methods to studying the Bible, a new one each day.  Next we do all twenty methods on our own with new Bible passages.  Finally, she assigns Bible passages with three choices in methodology.   My plan is to use all three, stretching this to a 100 day program. 

I am only on day 6 and I am enjoying the discipline, affirmation and exposure I have already received.  Today we talked about meditation and she used Psalm 1:2-3 for her example.  I loved the cyclical aspect to today's study.  We were studying how to meditate on the Word.  The portion of the Word that she chose was a study on meditation!  :) 

To meditate on His law day and night is a delight.  We can be like trees planted by a running stream--living water.  Producing fruit in season, not withering and prospering in all we do. 

Lately I have felt very withered.  I am encouraged to know that I can sink my roots a little deeper and (I pray) realize (rather than just hope) that maybe I am not withering.  Maybe it just isn't my season to produce so much fruit.

What a day!

I know it is a bad idea to start our school day much after 8 am.  I know this.  So I started a little after 8.  I got distracted by the printer not printing, but tried to stay on track.  Then I remembered my nephew's birthday, so we had to call to sing to him.  But, I was good and got us back to schooling. 

But then my older sister called.  So I sent the kids to do their independent work while I talked to her.  I thought that was OK, you know, since they were still technically doing school.  I made lunch and let them eat.  Then we got right back to school.

I read Caddie Woodlawn--love it!  Next came Science and Recorder.  No problem, sort of.  Finally it was time to finish the independent work they hadn't gotten to this morning.  *sigh*  We all reached our breaking point.  One hour for 6 math problems, crying through an article on the Titanic (I mean, attitudinal tears, not sympathetic ones!), resisting the new song on piano...ARG!!

It is 5:00 pm!!  The sweet homeschool mom with an abundance of patience and creative ways to keep kids happily on track is lost.  Gone.  No one even noticed when she left, but everyone sure sat up and took notice when the crazy woman who replaced her walked in!

I need to make dinner, but I know lunch hasn't even been put away.  Where did this day go??

So we stop.  It's not like anyone is going to learn anything but possibly new words not worth learning. 

Lord, please stand in my gaps.  Cover us all in your mercy.  Help me to apologize and please wipe this yucky day from their memories over time.  Why do I let ashen things upset me so?  Tomorrow is a new day, but I don't want to throw this one away just yet.  Salvage it, Lord.  Let the memory be of love and renewal, rather than poor time management and bad attitudes all around.  Thanks and Amen!

Morning Dance Class

We have the best dance teacher for my daughter! She is kind and patient. She listens to the girls while encouraging them to be the best they can be.

Yesterday morning the girls got some more formal ballet training than they've ever received. They used the wooden storage structure as a barre. I bet all the girls were sore today!

Even so, there is something so picturesque about a row of little ballerinas. It seems to invoke a sense of well being for me, like it is a piece of the American Dream.

I suspect the reason is partly because ballet is a luxury--one never afforded me, which I am sure plays no small part in my romanticizing of it. When things are tough, ballet classes are often at the top of the list of things to go, and last on the list of things to resume. So seeing a whole row of girls working on plies gives me a sense that all is well--we can afford this both in time and money.

Another reason the vision is so wonderful might have something to do with the wonder and potential of childhood itself. There is a time when all the frills will be set aside for a combination of new frivolities and a sense of practicality. Tutus are replaced by posters of the hottest new singers, and ballet slippers make way for lipstick. The practicality comes into play when someone gets serious minded and decides that since a career is unlikely, there is no point in continuing.

And there is just something simple, pure and sweet about little girls in fluffy pink!

Naughty Puppy!

So, should you punish a dog, even if you don't know what she did wrong?  This isn't a question I've ever pondered before last night.

But I felt compelled to give it some thought when, entering my bedroom, my darling Beagle tattled on herself with her unmistakable, 'I'm-so-sorry-please-love-me-anyway' pose.

Naturally, I grew instantly suspicious.  She may know how to look guilty, but my dog doesn't play Hot and Cold very well, though I did give it a try.  After moving around the room and watching for her reactions, then a quick perusal of the regular 'hot spots,' (bathroom trash, window sill, MY pillow), I called in the Big Guns.

But not even my darling husband could find evidence to prosecute, searching while puppy wallowed on her back, serving as her own damning witness.

So I ask again: should you punish a dog even if you don't know what she did wrong?