So, I deleted facebook.
It is something I have been convicted about for the last two years. But even more so the last week.
Every morning Roger and I do this devotion by the upper room called A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God. Every single reading for last week said to me "delete facebook....delete facebook." You know when you read something and hear God speaking directly to you through the text? Yep, that's what went on all last week.
Saturday night was spent taking pictures, videos, and notes I had written while on bed-rest with Anna, off of my profile. Once the task of preserving our memories was complete I sat thinking the whole thing through. Then, at 11:59pm, I deleted my facebook profile. I wanted to start Sunday fresh!
It feels a little strange. I kinda feel like I have committed facebook suicide. I no longer exist to many people. I am gone. Those people don't exist to me.
Doesn't that say something about how wrapped up we are in the community of faces?
God made us to live in community with one another and yet we are all too concerned about individuality. We want only to commune with people on our terms. We would rather spy on someone from a distance than actually speak to them face-to-face in order to get to know them.
If I consider myself someone who values community then it doesn't make since for me to be on facebook. I would rather talk to you on the phone, have dinner with you or go for a walk in the park. I don't want you to get to know me and judge me through a simple profile and I don't want to get to know you or judge you through a simple profile.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Mother-Daughter Day
Anna Cathrine and I have had a wonderful morning!
Last night we both decided that today would be a mother/daughter day. So, this morning we sent the boys off to church in Etwon and we stayed home to sip tea, chit chat, clean the house, do the laundry and sort through all of the lovely little ladies clothes.
For those of you who have not met Anna in person, she LOVES to chit chat. The child talks nonstop about everything. She doesn't just talk to herself. She wants you to listen carefully and respond appropriately. It is kinda exhausting sometimes and hilarious the other times.
First thing this morning she told me she wanted to be a preacher. Then she preached to me while she stood in the pray stance and I had to say "AMEN" when she was finished. When she got finished with her sermon she decided she wanted her hair "fixed all pretty!" I put it up in pig tails!
Around 10am while we were dancing around the house putting the laundry away, listening to Switchfoot, she explained to me that she needed a nipple holder. I asked "what?" Then she went on to explain that a bra is a nipple holder and that she needs one for her nipples. she held out her chest, pulled her shirt up and said in a sing-song "here are my nipples!"
Between 11 and 11:30am we sorted through her clothes. Beth had given us Jill's old clothes and we were finally getting around to looking through them. Anna kept grabbing shirts/pants/dresses and declaring her love for them, "oh this is bootyful. I wuv it. It is my favowit shirt ever. It is so cowl!" Then we had a fashion show!
For lunch we both enjoyed some left over Moroccan Stew. She grabbed every little piece and declared "WHAT IS THIS?" before she would but it in her mouth.
This afternoon, while playing baby dolls on the front porch she ran up to me and said "look, look, LOOK this baby has no penis! It only has a butt, a butt, A HUGE BUTT!"
Now she is currently running around the house singing songs she has made up.
I have no clue how she has so much energy. She constantly goes and goes and goes. If she is awake she is running through a room somewhere, talking about something.
No wonder why she sleeps so well during nap time and bed time. The child wears herself out.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Open Space
I just absolutely LOVE this song! (posted below) It gives me that fresh youthful feeling that reminds me of those long summer days spent on the family farm.
Just about every day was spent roaming around through the woods with all my cousins, in search of the best wood to make a fort. Pretty much our whole childhood was spent building forts or bridges. We never really played in them once they were built but boy oh boy did we build a lot of forts. And we were REALLY serious about building them!
During the winter, when it was really too cold to build forts outside we would climb in the hay loft and build MASSIVE forts in the hay. We would put our coveralls on, grab all the flash lights in mawmal's house and take off on our golf carts, go carts and motorcycles to the barn. I'm surprised non of us have grown up to be builders.
I miss climbing the massive tree in mawmal's front yard and sitting there for hours reading.
I miss riding the motorcycle through the farm chasing the cows. Those poor poor cows. I believe there were whole days I would spend riding the motorcycle around.
I miss sitting in the woods for hours and hours just sitting. Not having a care in the world.
I miss hiking for hours and still being on our property.
Mostly I miss being in the middle of nowhere. I miss the noise of nothingness. I want to own my own farm one day. I want to own so much land that I can get lost on it. I want to get up in the morning, walk out my back door and go on a hike through open fields. I want to come home from a long day and pop a squat in the middle of some tall grass and watch the clouds move across the sky
I dream too much about stuff.I know. I romanticize too much. I know. My head is always somewhere else. I know. I need to work on that. I know. But I am determined to one day have a little farm. I don't need a massive one. Just a little one. Just some open space. I enjoy open space.
Just about every day was spent roaming around through the woods with all my cousins, in search of the best wood to make a fort. Pretty much our whole childhood was spent building forts or bridges. We never really played in them once they were built but boy oh boy did we build a lot of forts. And we were REALLY serious about building them!
During the winter, when it was really too cold to build forts outside we would climb in the hay loft and build MASSIVE forts in the hay. We would put our coveralls on, grab all the flash lights in mawmal's house and take off on our golf carts, go carts and motorcycles to the barn. I'm surprised non of us have grown up to be builders.
I miss climbing the massive tree in mawmal's front yard and sitting there for hours reading.
I miss riding the motorcycle through the farm chasing the cows. Those poor poor cows. I believe there were whole days I would spend riding the motorcycle around.
I miss sitting in the woods for hours and hours just sitting. Not having a care in the world.
I miss hiking for hours and still being on our property.
Mostly I miss being in the middle of nowhere. I miss the noise of nothingness. I want to own my own farm one day. I want to own so much land that I can get lost on it. I want to get up in the morning, walk out my back door and go on a hike through open fields. I want to come home from a long day and pop a squat in the middle of some tall grass and watch the clouds move across the sky
I dream too much about stuff.I know. I romanticize too much. I know. My head is always somewhere else. I know. I need to work on that. I know. But I am determined to one day have a little farm. I don't need a massive one. Just a little one. Just some open space. I enjoy open space.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Worship in the Park
Boy oh boy do I have a story for you all!
Tuesday I walked the kids up to College Park to play. Paul wanted to practice his baseball skills and Anna wanted to swing. When we arrived we noticed a little boy and his grandmother playing near the toddler play set. All three of the kids started playing together nicely so the grandmother and I started to chit chat! I love those little chit chats at the park! This one turned out to be GOD SENT!!
The Grandmother, Mrs Susan, turned out to be a denominational worker who's job is to go into small churches as a children's ministry consultant. I mentioned that our small church was looking to incorporate a children's worship and that we were interested in a program called Godly Play. She new exactly what I was talking about because that is what she does! Then we discussed the cost of Godly Play, the amount of space it requires and the difficulties that a small church would face in trying to start up such a large program. Then she explained a program that she had formed out of the Godly Play curriculum in order to allow smaller churches to begin the process of a children's worship without all of the material that Godly Play requires. It costs a LOT of money and requires a LOT of time to start up Godly Play.
We agreed to meet back at the park this morning, Friday, at 9:30am to discuss the curriculum more in depth. So, I convinced Roger, my minister, to join me.
When we arrived Mrs.Susan set up the children's worship spot right there at the park beside the basketball court. Then we all sat around and had a worship service in the park. It was wonderful!!! She made copies of all the material for us and wrote down all the book titles that she used and recommends to use. Paul, Anna and Caleb thoroughly enjoyed having worship in the park! Roger and I enjoyed learning!
That's God for ya!
Roger and I have both been praying about what to do in regards to the children's service and here is this woman playing with her grandson in the park!
It was one of those moments where you don't have to ask yourself whether or not it was from God. It is pretty obvious God put all of us there at that specific park, at that specific time, to have Mrs. Susan bring the answer to our prayers.
here are pictures of the worship service in the park!
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Tuesday I walked the kids up to College Park to play. Paul wanted to practice his baseball skills and Anna wanted to swing. When we arrived we noticed a little boy and his grandmother playing near the toddler play set. All three of the kids started playing together nicely so the grandmother and I started to chit chat! I love those little chit chats at the park! This one turned out to be GOD SENT!!
The Grandmother, Mrs Susan, turned out to be a denominational worker who's job is to go into small churches as a children's ministry consultant. I mentioned that our small church was looking to incorporate a children's worship and that we were interested in a program called Godly Play. She new exactly what I was talking about because that is what she does! Then we discussed the cost of Godly Play, the amount of space it requires and the difficulties that a small church would face in trying to start up such a large program. Then she explained a program that she had formed out of the Godly Play curriculum in order to allow smaller churches to begin the process of a children's worship without all of the material that Godly Play requires. It costs a LOT of money and requires a LOT of time to start up Godly Play.
We agreed to meet back at the park this morning, Friday, at 9:30am to discuss the curriculum more in depth. So, I convinced Roger, my minister, to join me.
When we arrived Mrs.Susan set up the children's worship spot right there at the park beside the basketball court. Then we all sat around and had a worship service in the park. It was wonderful!!! She made copies of all the material for us and wrote down all the book titles that she used and recommends to use. Paul, Anna and Caleb thoroughly enjoyed having worship in the park! Roger and I enjoyed learning!
That's God for ya!
Roger and I have both been praying about what to do in regards to the children's service and here is this woman playing with her grandson in the park!
It was one of those moments where you don't have to ask yourself whether or not it was from God. It is pretty obvious God put all of us there at that specific park, at that specific time, to have Mrs. Susan bring the answer to our prayers.
here are pictures of the worship service in the park!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Steve Martin's Parenthood
I have been thinking about the Steve Martin movie, Parenthood, for several days. I NEED to sit down with a glass of white wine and enjoy the movie with Roger. Anna and Paul are DRIVING US NUTS. Anna has taken up the job of a mountain explorer and Paul has taken up the job of a scientist. Anna climbs on, grabs, and rips any thing that passes within her vision. She also enjoys seeing just how far and fast she can run from you. I'm beginning to think she LOVES the time out rug. Paul asks "but why" or "how" all day long.
I know this is normal for his age, as is Anna's behavior but when he asks "why did you make coffee? how do you make coffee? can I make coffee? how long does it take you to drink that coffee? what does the coffee taste like? Can I drink the coffee? why can't I drink the coffee? if the coffee tastes disgusting then why do you drink it? why is coffee black?" all while I am trying to enjoy some coffee and keep Anna from climbing on the kitchen counter to get to her "gummie snacks in that door," I feel as if I could just crumble into the floor.
There is a good reason why they separate the 5 year old class and the 2 year old class at a preschool/ daycare. It is nearly impossible to watch them at the same time. They are just simply at different developmental stages.
I feel as if from 7:20am this morning, to 2pm this afternoon, was a complete blur. I was in a constant state of redirecting or directing. I told Roger and I should call myself a Life Couch instead of a Stay-At-Home mom.
Combining these two glorious stages (preschooler and toddler) reminds me of bringing a infant home for the first time. A LOT OF WORK and a lot of WHAT DO I DO NOW. I guess we just learn as we go and pray that we don't screw them up too awfully bad. The problem is that each time I think I have figured a developmental stage out and how to handle that specific child, the child jumps into a different stage and I have to start ALL OVER AGAIN.
So, enjoy the clip! I am going to put the kids to bed early and enjoy the WHOLE MOVIE!
I know this is normal for his age, as is Anna's behavior but when he asks "why did you make coffee? how do you make coffee? can I make coffee? how long does it take you to drink that coffee? what does the coffee taste like? Can I drink the coffee? why can't I drink the coffee? if the coffee tastes disgusting then why do you drink it? why is coffee black?" all while I am trying to enjoy some coffee and keep Anna from climbing on the kitchen counter to get to her "gummie snacks in that door," I feel as if I could just crumble into the floor.
There is a good reason why they separate the 5 year old class and the 2 year old class at a preschool/ daycare. It is nearly impossible to watch them at the same time. They are just simply at different developmental stages.
I feel as if from 7:20am this morning, to 2pm this afternoon, was a complete blur. I was in a constant state of redirecting or directing. I told Roger and I should call myself a Life Couch instead of a Stay-At-Home mom.
Combining these two glorious stages (preschooler and toddler) reminds me of bringing a infant home for the first time. A LOT OF WORK and a lot of WHAT DO I DO NOW. I guess we just learn as we go and pray that we don't screw them up too awfully bad. The problem is that each time I think I have figured a developmental stage out and how to handle that specific child, the child jumps into a different stage and I have to start ALL OVER AGAIN.
So, enjoy the clip! I am going to put the kids to bed early and enjoy the WHOLE MOVIE!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
House Update
Just to keep you all updated about our housing situation. Our home that is for sale in Winchester is still for sale. But the house in Elizabethtown is nearing the completion. It will still be a while before they are finished remodeling but they are no longer tearing down things!! They have now started the rebuild!
Sunday after church we went for a walk through to see the new walls and pick out paint. Roger kept the kids outside playing in the back yard while I walked from room to room holding up paint cards. Curtis gave me a massive bundle...MASSIVE BUNDLE....to look through. Later Roger walked through the house with the cards and we did a team huddle to decide which colors for which rooms.
We also talked about what color the front door will be, the color of the shutters, the type and color of the door knobs. We aren't picky people and we have no clue what we are doing so the decision process was very easy. Later we will be talking about carpet. I imagine that will be pretty easy as well.
Paul would like to request that a tree house be built in the back yard. He is currently saving pennies to pay for the wood! :)
We also discovered AWESOMENESS in the back yard. TWO CHERRY TREES and a GRAPE VINE!!! It's like my childhood all over again. I would spend hours just sitting in mawmal and pawpal's cherry tree eating cherries until I got sick. I did the same thing with their grape vine. YUM!! I'll have to learn to can from mawmal and make cherry jam.
We are terribly excited about moving! It has been so cool to watch this house being reborn. I sure hope the colors we picked out aren't too weird....Alabaster (all down stairs), Rain Drop (all upstairs), Champagne (all three bathrooms), and Soft Suede (master suite). Anna and Paul picked their colors. A very light pink for anna and green for paul.
Sunday after church we went for a walk through to see the new walls and pick out paint. Roger kept the kids outside playing in the back yard while I walked from room to room holding up paint cards. Curtis gave me a massive bundle...MASSIVE BUNDLE....to look through. Later Roger walked through the house with the cards and we did a team huddle to decide which colors for which rooms.
We also talked about what color the front door will be, the color of the shutters, the type and color of the door knobs. We aren't picky people and we have no clue what we are doing so the decision process was very easy. Later we will be talking about carpet. I imagine that will be pretty easy as well.
Paul would like to request that a tree house be built in the back yard. He is currently saving pennies to pay for the wood! :)
We also discovered AWESOMENESS in the back yard. TWO CHERRY TREES and a GRAPE VINE!!! It's like my childhood all over again. I would spend hours just sitting in mawmal and pawpal's cherry tree eating cherries until I got sick. I did the same thing with their grape vine. YUM!! I'll have to learn to can from mawmal and make cherry jam.
We are terribly excited about moving! It has been so cool to watch this house being reborn. I sure hope the colors we picked out aren't too weird....Alabaster (all down stairs), Rain Drop (all upstairs), Champagne (all three bathrooms), and Soft Suede (master suite). Anna and Paul picked their colors. A very light pink for anna and green for paul.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Roger's sermon
Here is a sermon from Roger that was filmed this winter during The Academy of Preacher's Festival of Young Preachers. A time in which young ministers(male and female) get together to learn from one another, encourage one another and inspire one another. I personally think this festival is amazing because being a minister or a minister's spouse comes with its share of hardships and criticisms. It is nice to gather amongst those who see their call to ministry within the church. Sharing stories of failure, hardship and also bliss and success is often times the only thing that gets you through the mud that tends to appear during times of transition, conflict and stress. I mean, who couldn't use a little pat on the back from someone who has been in your exact situation? I know I always welcome it!
Roger is now, at the age of 26, a senior minister of a growing Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Church. He will receive his Master of Divinity (a 90 hr program) with in the next year and a half.
One of the most awesome things about our new church is that it is full of members that are former ministers, chaplains, missionaries and people who are so incredibly understanding when it comes to the life of a minister's family. We really feel like we have a whole community of support!
I put this up here for family and friends who have not been able to join us at church. So, here ya go.......
Roger is now, at the age of 26, a senior minister of a growing Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Church. He will receive his Master of Divinity (a 90 hr program) with in the next year and a half.
One of the most awesome things about our new church is that it is full of members that are former ministers, chaplains, missionaries and people who are so incredibly understanding when it comes to the life of a minister's family. We really feel like we have a whole community of support!
I put this up here for family and friends who have not been able to join us at church. So, here ya go.......
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