Fireman, Football, and Femininity Friday

Fridays are just a little more laid back, and fun, than the other days of the week. We can let our hair down, or put it up, and just be ourselves.

Trip to San Antonio

Had a little R & R this weekend visiting my sister at an American Association of Petrochemical Geologists conference in San Antonio, TX. It is a nice city, and I found most everyone friendly and eager to share a little about their beloved town. The taxi cab drivers, the kind folks who offered me a drive to the hotel from the airport, the airport employees, and even a few locals I met were fun to talk to. Service at some of the restaurants was on the sloppy side; mostly teenagers who would have prefered to be anywhere but at work, I think. But all in all, there was a welcoming, friendly atmosphere there.

The city has a canal that runs through it below street level, and it reminded me much of Venice, with a very Mexican flair. The "River Walk" along the canal was quaint, though crowded. The taxi driver I had on the way back to the airport said it is only so crowded on weekends. I was there Saturday through Monday, so I really didn't get to enjoy the city without the crowds.

Paige and I visited the botanical garden and that was a wonderful experience. I especially like the fact that it didn't cater to exotics and far-flung species that have nothing to do with Texas. There many exhibits and natural settings that highlighted the native Texan landscape and indiginous plants. If we had more time, there were several more things to see. I enjoyed San Antonio enough that I would like to go back again one day to see more.

How does my garden grow?

"The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" Genesis 2:15

The kids love working in the garden; I think it's a natural thing that children (and many adults) find pleasure in having a hand in the planting and nurture of a garden. We've finally had decent enough weather to put in a few cool-weather veggies. I got the garden tilled this past Friday and Jay was kind enough (with Merrilee's help on the tractor) to haul some composted manure from the neighbor's horses into my garden. Yesterday the kids planted some lettuce, sweet peas, and onion sets. It was a modest start, and of course, we had a light frost last night, but it seems the garden was unharmed. I love taking pictures of the kids at work in the garden, so these are just a few I have to share.

Recent Ruminations on Grace

Thinking about grace has been occupying my thoughts a lot lately. In the 17 years I've been a Christian and have been regularly attending church, grace has not been something that I've been taught or had explained to me. But since we began attending a Reformed Presbyterian PCA church about 5 years ago I've had my eyes opened to the wondrous grace, the "Amazing Grace", that God pours out on us. Recently, this has kindled in me a self-examination of the grace I extend, or more correctly, don't extend to others. A friend and I have discussed this briefly and found that we both come up short in the grace we impart to our children, especially in the role of being home schooling mothers.

In an email I wrote to her, I shared my thoughts on this: "I have just recently been considering my own sinfulness and God’s grace extended to me. Pastor Walt mentioned once again yesterday that a gift is no longer a gift once we try to pay for it. Here I am, always trying to “make up” for my ugliness toward [my son and husband]; not necessarily make it up to them, but to God. I really meditated on this just this morning and was reminded that there’s no making up for it. My absolutely best efforts at covering my own sins are vain. Our best works are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6). And even if I were able to do something to earn that forgiveness and grace, it would no longer be grace (Rom. 11:6) and I would be making myself equal to God in my ability to cover my own sins. On the heels of this thought was the recognition of how much I expect my kids/husband to make it up to me when they’ve wronged me. I want not only contrition and apologies, but renewed behavior and better efforts. When I don’t see this, I continue in my anger or displeasure. What is this? Nothing other than conditional, very conditional, love. And once again I was convicted of my depravity. Thank God He is not like me. His love for me does not expect sinlessness by my own efforts, or any kind of recompense for my error. But I have to admit, even this very thought of how sinful I am in expecting my family to “fix” themselves before I love them made me feel like I have to do something to make up for this. Here I go again in my cycle of thinking God has the same pathetic expectations of me that I have of others. Oh, how I wish I could break this faulty way of thinking. It’s GRACE and nothing but grace that holds me in God’s hands. Nothing I can do will change that. Oh how he loves me! Unconditionally, nonetheless! Oh, how I want to be able to extend that same grace to my kids and Jay."

I share this today, because I know some of the folks reading this are people who have know my "gracelessness". Romans 7 reminds us, through Paul's own testimony, that we who follow Christ desire to do what is right, but we war against the sin that is dwelling in us. What a struggle this is! I hate what it is in me that makes me hurt others, or maybe less obvious, what makes me think less of others than of myself.

I'm a work in progess, and thankfully I'm in the hands of a Master Craftsman. I pray that all of us who place our faith in Jesus will come to know our own helplessness in overcoming sin, and the perfect provision of God to pay our penalty. In no way can I ever repay God, or work off my debt. Thank God for grace.

Partying Hard

Merrilee had her big 5 on Tuesday. We started the morning by waking her up and reminding her it was her birthday and then giving her a blueberry muffin with a candle in it. She thought that was pretty cool. Of course she had to eat her cereal before she got the muffin.

We didn't celebrate big on Tuesday because her Big Birthday Bash was scheduled for Wednesday, but we did let her choose dinner (spinach lasagne with string beans and garlic bread) and then opened family presents afterwards. She said "My dreams have come true!" when she got the guitar she's been asking for since she turned four. She has wanted that thing for a long time (when you're five, a whole year is 20% of your lifetime...that's a lot!). So she was absolutely thrilled to get it. The thing that is downright funny is that three of the four presents we gave her, including the guitar, I bought in January when she was with me. She actually picked them out herself and I bought them but told her she couldn't have them until her birthday. And sure enough, she forgot all about them. Even the Awesome Guitar! Just goes to show you how impulse buys have an effect even on children. They want it, but the want passes soon enough, and they lose interest in the object of their desires. I was quite surprised she didn't even remember that I had already bought that guitar. She wasn't anticipating it in the least.

Anway, after she had opened all her presents and ooohed and aaahed over them, she had to call Grandma and Grandpa to play her music for them. I had tried to tune the guitar earlier, but the pegs are a bit loose so it doesn't hold the tension on the strings well, so I gave up. You can imagine how "good" it sounds. Grandma and Grandpa both got to hear her play and sing, and apparently they didn't loose their sense of hearing. Good sports, they are! From what I gather of the conversation that ensued, Grandma made the comment that Merrilee will be in a Rock-n-Roll band someday. Now Miss Merrilee is going around the house saying "I can't believe I'm going to be in a Rockin' Band someday. Grandma said I'm going to be in a Rockin' Band!" Mom, she's taken that to heart. Hope you're planning on paying for the guitar lessons and audio equipment. And you'd better get your house and garage prepared for her to come live with you while she's practicing....

Well, that was Tuesday, the easy part. Wednesday showed up and I was finally the Birthday Mom. The party was at the Jump Yard, a place with a bunch of those giant, air-filled bouncy things you see at carnivals. We invited eight girls so there were ten kids altogether. There's a reason I delayed letting my kids have a party with friends until they're five. Ten 4/5 years olds is a handful...I cannot imagine trying to do this with any younger age. Those of you who have done it, you are stronger (or loonier) moms than me. And there's also a reason I wouldn't do it at my own house--you can figure that one out. Thank goodness for places like the Jump Yard. We didn't have them when I was a kid, and now I know why I didn't have big birthday parties every year at my house; my mom values her sanity.

The girls had a blast, and other than the loitering in the party room to try to sneak a peek (or a finger) at the cake, there was much jumping and expenditure of energy. I think I had to shoo them out of the party room only twice. Once they were good and sweaty, we enjoyed some pizza, juice, and cake. These cupcake cakes are great. So much less mess because you just detach a cupcake from the mass and there's no cutting. I don't think I'll ever go back to regular cakes for birthdays, since I always buy the kids cakes anyway. I doubt I'd try to make a cupcake cake myself.

I have to add a final note of thanks to Pat, Katie, and Joanne. Thank you so much for all your help with the little details and odd jobs that I needed help with during the party. From my forgetting the candles to needing someone to take pictures while I placed the cake in front of Merrilee, to getting the juice boxes ready, you three were so kind to help me. Thanks! You're the best friends a crazed mom could have. I love you!