Gardening - Asparagus Success!

We planted our asparagus early.  We dug holes in our red, clay soil, mixed in some black soil for good measure and watered faithfully.  After a month of nothing happening we decided that we would rather use that space in our tiny garden for our tomato plants so we transplanted out tomatoes from their starter pots in the house and put them in the section where we had just dug up the dud asparagus and we put the asparagus into the started pots and put them in our front window.

The general plan was to water the asparagus if we thought about it but otherwise to not waste anymore time or thought about the dead asparagus crowns.  We placed a spray bottle next to the plants and let the kids squirt (or sometimes drown) the poor little plants as they wanted to.

What to do with laundry...

This morning I was making my bed and thinking about the dishes I needed to get done and then I noticed the laundry pile in the corner of our room and remembered that I forgot to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer last evening. Ahhh! Ever have a morning like this? I started my day feeling overwhelmed before 8am, that is a little depressing.  Unfortunately, I think I start the majority of my days this way.  Beginning my days in such a stress filled state is just asking for disaster. I am snippy with my husband, impatient with my son, and just frustrated in general. What can I do about this?

Letter Love

Recently, I've been thinking about Christmas card season. I love writing Christmas cards. I love addressing all the envelopes, affixing the stamps and sealing stickers, and writing the personal note most of all. The last few years we have been sending picture cards so that family and friends can see how much our boys have grown. The only problem with this type of card is that it's not very personal (besides the family picture, of course). So I try to send a personal note along with most of the cards. It's so much fun!

I love to receive hand-written notes from people at all times, and I love to send them just as much. I don't know why. I guess it's just a quirky passion God has given me. It's too bad that "snail mail" is a dying practice. It does take more time, especially if I'm trying to write a card with little ones around. For some reason, when Mama is writing someone, they suddenly have an urge to magnetize to me- pulling my arm, reaching for my paper. These two blessings have certainly instigated a decrease in letter-writing output from me. But, that's to be expected. Anyway, I digress. My heart really smiles when I have a completed note (thinking of you, birthday, anniversary, etc) dropped into the mailbox. It's such a small thing, but it is an offering of love to write them, and I imagine it brings the receiver a small amount of joy as well. What could be a sweeter, simpler surprise than a note from a dear one amongst the junk mail and bills? I love to picture the smile they may wear as they open and read the note. I know, I'm a little odd with this passion of mine.

The mission field of Motherhood

I have been thinking about Mothers recently.  My Mother, being a Mother, friends who are Mothers, the Mother down the street I have been wanting to talk to because I see her son running, screaming, and being a little extra mischievous like my own and I think, I want to know her .  How do you start that conversation exactly? "I see your kid is as crazy as mine, let's be friends!" that may not go over super well...

I don't know about you but I like to see Mom's with crazy kids too! "You mean your kid does that too?!" It puts my heart at ease knowing other Mothers are probably making the same dumb decisions I am.  Us gals need each other.  Whether it be a fellow Mom, your own Mom, or an understanding kid less friend.  Motherhood should not be done alone.

Sisters Chat about the Institution of Marriage

Maude: In light of the marriage amendment that just passed in NC, I wanted to talk about the institution of marriage.
Esther: good idea
Maude: Clearly, marriages are falling apart all over the place. Why do you think that is? What is causing that to happen do you think?
Lizzi: I think people don't know what it's supposed to be about. They have faulty perceptions of fairytale love and don't see the necessity of commitment and self-sacrifice.
Esther: I think a lot of it boils down to selfishness. Marriage is work, is sacrifice, but putting the other's needs before your own - that is not easy.
Maude: I think it is selfishness. I think people are increasingly self-centered and don't know how to put others first.
Haha!
We are reading each other's minds, Es!
Esther:  Great minds think alike.
Maude: I read an article recently that said a scientific study had proven that selfish behaviours and attitudes increase before divorces occur. I thought, "You need a scientfic study to show that?!"
Esther: It is really easy to love someone who is loving you. But, when they're mean and not being lovely we want to kick them to the curb. No one is perfect but is much easier to shrug off my own selfishness then to forgive my husband's selfishness.
Lizzi: So true. We only feel content when we are getting what we want and when times get tough and people act human, we want to stand up for our "rights" and give up.

One of those days

I should have written this post days ago.  Now I sit and stare at a blank page.  What to write?  What to say? I think something witty would be good, something sad would be better, and then of course there is my favorite topic: FOOD.  But, I do not have anything witty to say today, perhaps something sad, and as to food? Well, I would love to get a moment to sit down and eat at some point today.  May I be honest with you?  I am overwhelmed.  I was thinking I need to write about "something positive" but I am positively not there.  I do not think it is wrong to acknowledge hardship, it is not wrong to see the mess in life.  The question is: How do you deal with the mess?  I don't know about you, but I am full of mess.  I have been struggling with that question all morning.  I know what I want the answer to be, but I am not sure if that is the real answer of my heart.

But a Breath

While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death

When I rise to worlds unknown, and behold Thee on Thy throne

Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee
(Rock of Ages, Augustus Toplady, Thomas Hastings)

Fleeting breath. How often do I think in those terms? Sure, I know each day is numbered, each moment precious, each breath fleeting, but it is not often foremost in my thoughts, causing my words and actions to line up accordingly. I don't know how long I will be on this earth, and yet I don't always appreciate the here-and-now. I don't consistently live with the urgency that I ought. An urgent, heavenward view should be my focus.

News of an unexpected death has the incomparable ability to shake a person into eternal thinking.

Events Worth Noting

Today is a holiday, even if we don't get out of work or school to celebrate it. Many people don't even observe May Day, simply treating it as any other day of the year. I guess I am really one of those people. However, growing up, we would prepare some kind of gift basket or baked good and then drive around to various friends' houses to leave it on their doorstep, ring the doorbell, and run so that they found the treat, but not us. Some years we would call ahead and drop it by, staying to visit after we surprised our dear one with our goodies. It was a lot of fun and a good lesson for us kids in remembering to treat others with kindness and love. I don't know if you do anything special for May Day, but I also wanted to use this opportunity to bring to light two other events going on this week.

The first is Screen-Free Week, which actually began yesterday and goes until May 6th. Its purpose is to encourage children and families to turn off all electronic screens and spend time together doing other fun activities. If you click on the link above you will see the wide array of organizations participating in Screen-Free Week, and that is because our children (and us, too!) spend a horrendous amount of time watching TV and using other electronic forms of entertainment. (Yes, that does include the computer, and thus, our blog.) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under age two watch NO television (that's right- zip, nada, zero) and that children over age two (no age specification) watch only 1-2 hours per day.

The second event I wanted to highlight is The National Day of Prayer, taking place on Thursday, May 3rd. This is an annual event in which the focus is lifting our nation up in prayer to God Almighty. If you aren't sure how to get involved, here is a list of ways. Most importantly, use this event as a reminder of the importance to regularly pray for our country and its leaders.

Sunshine, Showers, and Flowers

Who doesn't know that "April showers bring May flowers"? However, I'm thankful that it is not just the showers that cause pretty flowers to grow. This past weekend we had beautiful seventy-degree, sunshine-y days and it was exhilarating. My husband biked 50 miles on Saturday and afterward the boys and I met him at an outdoor musical playground to play for awhile. We made lots of noise and sat in the sun. It was nice. Sunday afternoon my husband biked 27 miles and still had energy left over! So, we took the boys for a hilly walk to a nearby park. They both ran around, climbed, slid, and swung. I hopped on the swing, too, and while I loved it, I couldn't believe that as I soared I also got a little nauseated. I am old. We played for a couple hours and made the trek back downhill. It was perfect weather for the weekend.

Soaring to Freedom

I sit and watch the little planes take off and land from the airfield near our house.  My son always yelps an excited "ooh!" as they fly by.  Often I have this feeling well up inside me that I want to soar like that plane, go where the wind takes me.  May I be honest with you? Motherhood is hard. I am a care-free person, I like to be able to just go and do, try new things, go exciting places but that is a little hard when you have a two hour afternoon nap to fit in and an 8pm bedtime.  Where can you go between 4pm and 8pm? Not very far.

Happy Easter!

As I was putting my kids to bed earlier this week, I turned on a CD for them to listen to as they fell asleep.  It happened to be a Christmas CD.  While I prayed with them and rocked them for a few minutes I found myself singing along to The First Noel.

It really hit me, and I tried to explain to them what I was thinking, how that tiny little baby, that sweet innocent babe wrapped in swaddling clothes that we celebrated just a few months ago was beaten and scourge and killed for us.

Anybody have a Theory?

On Sunday, our pastor shared a quote during his sermon that I thought was hilarious. Hilarious, and true. I don't remember it verbatim, and I don't remember the author of it, but the gist went like this, "Before I had kids, I had six theories about raising them. Now, I have six kids and no theories." That sure made me laugh.

I have certainly been guilty of theories. Theories mixed in with the certainty that I was right about every one of them, before I had any experience on which to base those theories! Before I was married, I had lots of theories about marriage and about being a wife. Before I had kids, I had lots of theories about parenting. It's funny how those theories tend to fall away the longer I am within these roles! Every situation is just too unique to place a black-and-white stamp on it.

The Noticer

The Wednesday Night Bible Study for women at my church is currently reading The Noticer by Andy Andrews.

I had not heard a single thing about this book before a friend at church loaned me her copy.  First, I was expecting a study or devotional.  Second, (considering it was a Bible Study) I was expecting a Christian book.  The Noticer is neither.

Growing a Heart that Gives Thanks

I know this isn't the appropriate time to be talking about thankfulness. I mean, Thanksgiving was over three months ago! But we were talking about its importance in my home today and so it led to my pondering it, which led to a blog post. :)

The fact is, if I want to instill the importance of being thankful in my children, I must be thankful myself. All the time. It is more than just teaching them the proper and polite words to say when someone gives them a gift or shares their toy, it is to be a constant attitude of the heart. I don't want my sons to have the thanks squeezed out of them through gritted teeth, I want it to flow naturally from their lips because their hearts are already bubbling with it. But how does it get there? How do I teach the process of being thankful in all things? How do I display that to them?

The Day of Love

As I sat to work on this blog post, I realized that I got the winning number! I got to post on Valentine's Day! That also led to a second realization that maybe no one will read my post since they will be so busy celebrating love, but that's okay. I will just think of this as a diary entry and enjoy the writing even if I am the only reader. :)

I love Valentine's Day. I wonder if part of the reason I am enraptured with it is because as a child I received the nickname of "Lovable Lizzi." No, it was not that I was especially sweet or darling. It was actually the opposite. Seriously. My Mom thought it might be helpful to give me the nickname to encourage me to be more loving to others! Now that is very hopeful, positive parenting! I'm not sure if it worked, or not, but I do love this holiday. Not just the pink and the hearts and the sweet little valentines (although I love those too!) but the emphasis on loving others.

While my husband never fails to bless and spoil me, and I look forward to and appreciate all he does, and I have no doubt in how much he loves me, I also don't think of Valentine's Day as simply a romantic holiday. It is all about love, and love is for everybody! I love making valentines and sending them to loved ones, near and far. I love attempting to make heart-shaped cookies to give to my guys. I love decorating my home with hearts- well, I guess I always love that, even at un-Valentine's Day times.

A heart of generosity

Esther:  I think we will talk about a "heart of generosity". We have been going through a sermon series on generosity.  Generosity of time, talents, resources, and money
Lizzi:  Ok!
Maude:  Sounds good.
Esther:  We have been talking about that a lot in our home and how to live that out.
Esther:  I thought my first question would be when have you really seen that displayed?
Has someone every really blessed you?
with money, time, gifts?
Lizzi:  I have a very great, recent example
A couple weeks ago we had a big storm here and our power went out
The house got pretty cold and we told some friends that we were going to find a hotel to stay in
And they insisted that we stay with them. Not only was that very sweet and generous, but it was even more so because she was a week overdue from delivering their first baby!!
She could've gone into labor anytime, and her parents were already at their house too
Esther:  I have been blessed to see this displayed numerous times. But, one thing that really comes to mind is when we first got married. Numerous family members and friends just gave us furniture, couches, bed, and Andrew's great Aunt gave us a washer and dryer! It was such a blessing we were left with hardly any wants.
That is awesome Liz!
Lizzi:  They were really the hands and feet of Jesus to us.

The Beauty Declares

I think that all of God's creation is amazing and beautiful. There are areas where the beauty is more subtle, and places where the landscape is almost alien-like in its uniqueness. I live in a region where God's creation is absolutely majestic (These were even taken without a fancy camera. It declares its beauty all on its own):

It seems to scream of His power and righteousness. Whenever I glimpse the mountains, I think of Psalm 104, "He established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not totter forever and ever. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters were standing above the mountains. At Your rebuke they fled,
at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away. The mountains rose; the valleys sank down to the place which You established for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass over, so that they will not return to cover the earth....

The Ill-logic of Jehovah's Witnesses

I've had a visitor once a month since moving into our house.  It is a woman who is always dressed in a nice skirt and blouse giving me a tract or brochure of some kind.

I know she does it as a knotch on her "Get Into Heaven" belt so it doesn't annoy me it just makes me sad.  She hardly lets me talk and, of course, always manages to come at the worst time (last time my son didn't have pants on as he had just come out of the bathroom and couldn't button them himself and my daughter had just bumped her head and it was very cold outside!) so we've not had much chance to converse but this last time she gave me a larger book that explains their beliefs to kids (it is written for pre-teens or so).

My husband and I looked through it and found that they don't think Jesus is God but that He is the son of God.  Like an actual son, who isn't as old or wise as his Father.  Instead they think he was the first and best example of what a Jehovah's Witness should be and that in heaven the really exceptional Jehovah's Witnesses (the 144,000 best) will rule with Jesus over the new earth.

They believe that everyone who dies is asleep and at the very end everyone will be raised up to live in paradise on the new earth regardless of how good or bad they have been.  But, remember, only those best Jehovah's Witnesses will actually rule over everyone else.

Here is the mind-numbing irrationality of their faith:

The Bonds of Slavery Not yet Loosed

I have been re-reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriett Beecher Stowe and as I sit here, a white woman in a pleasant time in a safe country, I am reminded of the devastation poured upon black people at that time, devastation that our free government both ignored and defended. God was so good to cause Ms. Stowe to write this work! I believe it played a great role in realigning a race with the status given to them from creation by God.

There were several characters highlighted in Ms. Stowe's book who showed indifference, or at least, inaction toward the slave trade. The most noteworthy of these was Augustine St. Clare. His inner being was in great turmoil over slavery and he was constantly battling within himself about it. But, he did nothing. In fact, he was a slave owner himself, and while his slaves were treated very well as pampered "servants" (a way to ease his conscience and make himself believe they were better off than free), still they were not their own men and women. Their everything was his and their fate rested solely in his hands. How could that be better than being seen as what they truly were- equal men and women? What could be more damaging to a race than be seen as second-rate and unable to stand as the people they are? St. Clare saw the cases of abuse and tyranny, he saw the forced fractures of families as they were torn from each other for the sake of profit; yet he closed an eye and pushed the topic away. It was too complicated, too controversial to speak up.

As I look at his character, I find myself thinking, "Would I be like that?"

What I miss most when I am away

I love traveling and visiting family. I love the time spent with loved ones and the special places you go. I love the food and the change of schedule and scenery. It is uplifting to a mother's heart to witness others enjoying your children almost as much as you do. Vacationing is fun! But, it is also nice to get back home and back to routine.


You know what I think I miss the most when we are away?