My plans for Family Night included candle-lit fondue dinner (a first for the boys) followed by touring the area Christmas light gazing, sipping cocoa from travel mugs, and eating candy canes and while caroling to Christmas music. 'Oohing and aahing' at homes swathed in twinkling color ranks as one of our favorite family traditions.
Our home boasts humble white twinkle lights. Peaceful. Clean. Simple. The boys beg for color lights and I gently explain that my life is full of color thus the peaceful white lights help me keep my sanity. They roll their eyes and continue begging.
This particular evening was to be a surprise. Each element was quietly planned and supplies were ready. Veggies and meat were ready to be sliced. Mugs for hot cocoa were washed. Candy canes and cookies were set out. Unfortunately the rascals decided to misbehave. A lot.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Raising Heroes
This past week has been a muddy rainbow of sorts. It's been gloriously bright and beautiful as our family has cherished so many small yet loving and peaceful Holiday moments together. Yet dark colors muddle and confuse our joy as we grieve and pray for the families of Sandy Hook who lost 26 people, mostly children, in an act of evil violence at the elementary school.
Every mother I know is rocked to her very core. We are hugging our kids tighter, longer, and whispering even more prayers over their precious heads as we send them out the door each morning to the bus that drives them away from our hovering protection and into a scary world.
Cliff and I wanted to be the ones to tell our children about this tragedy before they heard misinformation anywhere else. We wanted to give our slant first by giving the basic information then allowing them to process this in their own time, asking questions then allowing us to answer to the best of our abilities.
Evan, our middle and most introspective son, ponders long, feels deeply and asks the impossible questions that cause me to feel inadequate and nervous. I keep God on prayer speed dial as I desperately seek immediate wisdom, discernment, and the right words for his questions. Answers that are honest. Answers that causes him to think and reason. Answers that always lead to God's amazing love and sovereinty. Answers of resolution, appropriate for an 11 year old on life's challenging and confusing subjects. Pain. Death. Loss. Abuse. Betrayal. Kidnappings. Animal cruelty. Starvation. Sex. Love. Relationships. Eternity. Dreams.
Evan. "Mom, I'm really bothered by the shootings."
Every mother I know is rocked to her very core. We are hugging our kids tighter, longer, and whispering even more prayers over their precious heads as we send them out the door each morning to the bus that drives them away from our hovering protection and into a scary world.
Cliff and I wanted to be the ones to tell our children about this tragedy before they heard misinformation anywhere else. We wanted to give our slant first by giving the basic information then allowing them to process this in their own time, asking questions then allowing us to answer to the best of our abilities.
Evan, our middle and most introspective son, ponders long, feels deeply and asks the impossible questions that cause me to feel inadequate and nervous. I keep God on prayer speed dial as I desperately seek immediate wisdom, discernment, and the right words for his questions. Answers that are honest. Answers that causes him to think and reason. Answers that always lead to God's amazing love and sovereinty. Answers of resolution, appropriate for an 11 year old on life's challenging and confusing subjects. Pain. Death. Loss. Abuse. Betrayal. Kidnappings. Animal cruelty. Starvation. Sex. Love. Relationships. Eternity. Dreams.
Evan. "Mom, I'm really bothered by the shootings."
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Assault and Pepper Spray
[Photos by Dreamstime.com]
Each night I pray for, hug, and kiss each of my boys good night. They won't go to sleep until I do. We discuss heavy topics, pray for special situations and I'll often sing to them while scratching their backs. Riece, my 7th graders, begs for extra hugs and will often crack a few jokes or tell a quick story, making us both dissolve in stifled giggles. I love his rascally quips and brilliantly quick whit.
One particular day had been extremely busy, crowding out our quality conversation time. Despite being home-schooled, there are days we barely connect between his classes on campus, sports, youth group activities, and his social time with buddies.
Each night I pray for, hug, and kiss each of my boys good night. They won't go to sleep until I do. We discuss heavy topics, pray for special situations and I'll often sing to them while scratching their backs. Riece, my 7th graders, begs for extra hugs and will often crack a few jokes or tell a quick story, making us both dissolve in stifled giggles. I love his rascally quips and brilliantly quick whit.
One particular day had been extremely busy, crowding out our quality conversation time. Despite being home-schooled, there are days we barely connect between his classes on campus, sports, youth group activities, and his social time with buddies.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Permission to Show Off
Riece had his first Middle School basketball practice today. We were both nervous and excited.
He hasn't actually set foot in a Middle School before. After elementary school, we chose to home school him for a slew of reasons but still takes a few classes on a school campus that caters to home school families. I picked him up from a class and drove him home to change. I only had 10 minutes to give him a pep talk and wanted every second to count.
I know very little about basketball. However, I do know a lot about being nervous, insecure, and wanting to hide in the shadows. I prayerfully considered what pep talk I would have wanted to hear but more importantly, the pep talk I needed to hear. I dove right in, pretending to be a sports mom....
He hasn't actually set foot in a Middle School before. After elementary school, we chose to home school him for a slew of reasons but still takes a few classes on a school campus that caters to home school families. I picked him up from a class and drove him home to change. I only had 10 minutes to give him a pep talk and wanted every second to count.
I know very little about basketball. However, I do know a lot about being nervous, insecure, and wanting to hide in the shadows. I prayerfully considered what pep talk I would have wanted to hear but more importantly, the pep talk I needed to hear. I dove right in, pretending to be a sports mom....
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