Improvising

After visiting her friend, Lily, who is taking violin lessons, Abbey decided that she would play her "violin"!

It's all His

Yep, it happened to us this weekend. The thing that makes your skin crawl, to think of a stranger with ill intent rummaging through your stuff.  The thing that makes you every so vigilant about locking doors and checking them twice. The thing that brings about uncomfortable conversations with your young kids about the fact that not everyone in the world is nice, as you try to paint a view that is accurate, but not one that instills intense fear in their little hearts. That thing is being a victim of a robbery!

Sunday morning as I got into my car, I vaguely noticed Elijah and Abbey yelling  about something. I mean they often yell, and most often, it's about something inconsequential. As I was yelling back for them to just get into their seats, so we could get to church on time, I noticed the envelope where I kept my tithe money was on the seat, and it was empty! Immediately, I knew that they were yelling because their brand new, Christmas present, DVD players, were gone from the car.  I knew that someone had gotten into our car and taken their DVD players and my tithe money. I began to look around and noticed the mess. They had taken everything out of the center pocket, taken the money and left the rest on the floor.  They had even taken some of my mints that I keep in the car. Abbey yelled, "They took my Little Mermaid towel!" What??? But they hadn't taken the towel, they had just gone through her backpack and thrown everything on the floor. Her towel was on the floor, safe and sound. I wondered what in the world they expected to find in a pink, little girl's butterfly covered backpack? Who knows?

We called the police on the way to church.  To say that John and I were angry is to put it mildly. How dare someone take what we had bought with our own money? It was ours, and they had no right! Going into church, I knew that they sermon was going to be on one of the "Fruits of the Spirit". I thought, yeah, probably on love, being that that is the first of the list. I sarcastically thought, "Now they are going to tell me that I've got to love the folks who steal little kids' toys?" To say I didn't have a great spiritual attitude, is to put it mildly.The music began and I begin to silently have a dialogue with God.

Me: I can't believe that they took my kids' DVD players. I was so looking forward to peaceful car rides, where we don't have to answer, "Are we there yet?", or "How much longer?" fifty million times.
God: Do they really need them?
Me: No, of course they don't. But, Lord they took your money. It was plainly marked, "Tithe". They took it, and it belonged to you. What kind of low-life would steal from God? Doesn't that make you mad? They stole from you. It was yours!
God: Everything is mine. Everything you have, everything you see, it's all mine. I choose to share with you, because I love you. I love them too!
Me: Hmm, well ok. Since you put it like that...

As I've chewed on God's message to me over the past couple of days, I can honestly say that my eyes have been opened a little bit. If it's all His and on loan to me, then I have an obligation to use it wisely, in a way that will bring Him glory. If I don't, I'm just as guilty of stealing from God as the folks that took my tithe.

For instance, the most valuable things in my life, my husband and children. I have been given the trust to make sure they have every opportunity to know and live for God. I need to make sure that my words and actions point them to God.  Do I reflect the heart of my Lord regarding his love for all people? Do I encourage His highest will for my family, even if it means they aren't with me, or are in dangerous situations?

What about my material possessions? Do I use the resources that God has entrusted me with to show His love, or do I hold back in fear that some of my needs might not be met? 

What about my time? Do I fret over not having time for myself, and look for ways to achieve it? Do I take the time to pray and study His word, or do I rush through so I can get on with my list of chores?

I could go on and on. Sometimes I feel that, yes, I can say that I'm using God's resources wisely. Then other times, I know He's shaking His head, saying, "Come on girl, you can do better than that!" But, you know what? He still keeps right on giving! Praise be to God! Whether I use it properly or not, He keeps right on giving, right on loving me.

So the thief in me has been shown her error by a theft. Just another example of God taking something bad, and working it for His (and my) good!

From the mountain top to the valley...

Daniel is an avid swimmer.  During the school year he spends more time in the pool and lifting weights than someone who works a 20 hour part time job. He is totally devoted to the sport and desires to continue swimming in college. Participation in the sport has taught him many valuable life and spiritual lessons. His favorite verse, Phillipians 4:13, became his favorite verse during his first Championship meet when he was 10 years old. Today he learned another thing about life. Things don't always go the way you want them to, and during the down times, you just have to trust in the Lord and just keep on plugging.

Last week he was on cloud nine. He swam at High School Conference Championship Meet and finished 2nd in 200 IM and 100 Breast. His time in Breast, which is his specialized stroke, was a great time of 58.71. This broke the school record he had set earlier in the season.  He was particularly glad that a certain "friend" had not beaten him, because this "friend" has been bragging about how he was going to beat Daniel. The "friend" got 3rd. All was bright and rosey.

It was the last meet for Seniors, so Daniel and all of the other seniors were recognized before the meet.

With his "Senior Flower", which he gave to me.

Before this meet, Daniel had not had to go to school for several days because he was exempt from exams. He had plenty of time to rest.

Then he began the new semester. He has a grueling schedule this semester and has spent many hours doing homework. His year round swim team has also increased his weight training from 2 days per week to 3. So going into the regionals championship today, he was less than refreshed, and that translated in his swims.

When the waves settled and the hands touched the timing pads, Daniel had placed 3rd. Third behind, as you might guess, the not-so-good friend. His look on the podium spoke volumes.

He was not a happy camper. On the positive side, he did qualify to swim both events at State Champs next week. The top 8 finishers in regionals go to states. He has another shot at it. But, it still stings.

What a great lesson to learn! When things don't go the way you want, you have to look for ways to change in order to achieve your goals and keep on plugging. What next week holds, only the Lord knows, but I know that Daniel will do everything in his power to have a different outcome next week!

Win, lose or draw, I'm proud of my boy. He will learn from this little set back and be a better person because of it.

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!! Part 2

On Saturday John, Abbey, Elijah and Abbey attended The Chinese American Society sponsored a Chinese New Year celebration.

In their traditional suits, ready to go!

When we got there, we immediately met up with our "Gang".

Elijah, Corrie, Darcy, Abbey, Daniel, Caleb, Kylie and Lottie

Elijah and Corrie watching the dragon dance

There was constant stream of performances on the main stage.

The Fan Dance

Our kids loved the dragon dance.

With the non-dancing Dragon

They worked on their chopstick skills.

They got to keep the candy they picked up...motivation!

They played Chinese games.

I'm not sure what this is called, but it looked like a type of yo-yo.

After the festival, we went out to eat Chinese with the M family! A great ending to a great day!


Apparently, Elijah had a big day!

He crashed before we could get him bathed and in bed.

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!!

Happy New Year!!

To the Chinese, ushering their new year is the highlight of their year. It's even bigger to them than Christmas is to us. It is a week long celebration. This year we participated in a few activities to give our kids a taste of their cultural heritage.

We started by going to Jody, Lily and Cali's house to have a party for OAKS.

Abbey and her good friend, Lily.

An interesting fact about Lily and Abbey is that they are from the same orphanage in China. When I joined the Yahoo group for Abbey's orphanage, I was amazed to discover that there was a little girl from Abbey's orphanage living so close to us. Even more amazing is those two little personalities are so alike. They discovered how much they enjoyed each other long before they understood they were from the same place in China. Another interesting fact is that Lily has four considerably older siblings, not adopted from China. They also have another younger daughter from China, and are waiting to bring home a precious little 2 yr old girl.  Her mom, Jody, and I have so much in common with our families. I always enjoy getting a chance to spend time with her.  I really believe that instances like this are arranged by God to help us as we walk this journey.

At the party the kids made and decorated lanterns.

After sharing lunch, the kids played and the moms got a chance to visit with each other. Great fun for us all!

They took a red tarp and played like it was a Chinese dragon.

Later that evening, the M family invited us over to make homemade dumplings, Jiǎozi in Chinese. These are often part of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

Even Dad made some dumplings

We shared a wonderful meal and had a fantastic time with the Kristi, Ian, Kylie, Caleb, Darcy and Daniel.

The next day we went to the large Chinese New Year's celebration, sponsored by our local Chinese American society.  Tomorrow I'll post all about that adventure.

Yes, he has!

I recently treated myself to a t shirt with this on the front:

For playgroup last Friday, we went to Marbles, and I wore my new shirt. While the kids were playing and I was chatting with a friend, another mom came up to me and said, "Is your shirt true?" I was a little bit taken aback, but quickly said, "Yes, it sure is!" She then looked at me as if I had 5 heads and said, "Well, God bless you!" To which I replied, "He already has, six times!"

She walked away with a look of bewilderment, she was smiling, but still looked flabbergasted.

I could reply so quickly because I do love being the Mom of 6 wonderful kids! God has truly blessed me!

The Territorial Princess

Abbey's new room has been finished for a couple of months, now. She's just tickled pink about her new room, it is a very girly room.

Her name over her closet

Back at Christmas time, I informed Abbey that when Beth and Greg came home they would sleep in her room and she would move in with Elijah for the few days that they visited. She very emphatically told me, "That. Will. Not. Happen." To which I replied, "Oh, yes it will!" So, giving just a little she said, "Ok, well, they can sleep on the floor." As I was shaking my head negatively, she said, "Look....", and she pointed to this sign on her wall:

"it says Princess Abbey sleeps here, only!"

Time for a lesson on hospitality, and making others feel comfortable when they visit,  after which she nodded and then said, "Well, I'm a guest in Elijah's room, so he has to let me sleep where I want, right??"

In the end, she wanted to sleep on the air mattress in Elijah's room, so we didn't have to make a decision about whether she would sleep in his bed or not.

She's quite a piece of work, that little girl of mine!