It Has Been TOO Long!

It has been too long since I have posted. I have been busy and I guess when I do have time to write, I usually give only small sound bites on my facebook status. Anyway it has been tooooooo long.

I could bore you with all the details or I can just move forward from today. I think I'll choose to start with today. Ephraim and I are home getting ready to go to Munster to see my niece (and goddaughter) Lisa in her school play. We will pick Carson up after school and head that way. Though it is a three hour trip, I am more than happy to go! I know that it is what my mother would have done were she still here. I've missed her a lot lately.

It is not only the big things like Lisa's play that make me notice her absence, but it is also the little things like turnips. Yes, I said turnips. A friend shared her turnips with me at Bible Study on Wednesday and I was instantly transported to a simpler time when my mom made sure I had my fruits and vegetables. When I was exposed to so many things from the lowly turnip to the grand kohlrabi. Okay, so I don't recall ever eating kohlrabi. I do certainly remember studying about it and all the many other plants for the 4H horticulture test.

My mother was one for adventure. She wouldn't let us stay stuck in a rut. Always trying new things and exposing us to the arts and culture. She did this by providing dance and music lessons (much to my chagrin). By taking us on trips often with the financial backing of my grandmother and uncle. But she didn't need money to expose us to the greatest thing that shaped us. No the greatest thing was faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I won't tell you that I knew Jesus as my personal Savior at a young age or that I was steadfast in my relationship with Him in my teen and young adult years. No, that came later. The Holy Spirit did His work in my heart on His timeline, but my mother did her part. Making sure I was at church each Sunday. That I went to Sunday School and that I had the privilege of being in a Christian School. She didn't rely on our pastor, or our Sunday School teacher or our teacher at the school to be our only exposure to Jesus. No she did it at home too. Devotions each night usually from the Portals of Prayer, Nightly readings from The Bible until we had read it cover to cover and of course our Bedtime prayers.

She also taught us by example, though we may not have realized it at the time. Her generous spirit in making sure a neighbor had what they needed. Her faithful way of taking not only us but as many kids as we could fit in her big brown Mecury car to free swim at Donner. (I don't like to take my own kids to the pool let alone a whole passel of kids). For all her good points she had her faults. But the great thing is that she knew Jesus as her Savior, so He covered it all with His blood.

It doesn't take much for me to remember my mother or to miss her. My mother loved as much as she was able, gave as much as she had, and provided a lot of opportunities along the way. It has been too long since I last was with her, but I long for the day when I will be with her again in heaven.

Documented Super Food Supper & Jesus Talk

Tonight, while waiting for Troy to return from working on my Uncle's cabin, I began to prepare supper. The boys wanted some mini frozen pancakes so we decided to have breakfast for supper. I put the bacon in the oven and as waited, I began to think of the spinach and blue cheese crumbles I had purchased earlier in the week at the Aldi. Oooohhh. Idea! I won't have breakfast for myself, I will have a salad.

I pulled the bag from the fridge, and began assembling my salad when the bacon was out of the oven. The bag of fresh spinach touted it as a "documented super food". Most people know that I am not a "super food" eater as a rule unless it is "super size". Ha Ha. (Actually I don't super size my meals at Mc D's). Super Food can you believe it? I ate a salad for supper and was excited about it.

I know I have been talking a lot about how my Wii Fit has been a stimulus for my desire for weight loss, but I want to be sure that I give the LORD His glory. I have been praying for the LORD to give me a desire to eat better and to lessen my desire for "junk food". I also asked Him to help me to "walk with Him". I do that in my Quiet Time in the WORD and prayer time. But I also want to "walk" in a physical way. After all our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God has been faithful to answer this prayer.

Back to supper time "Jesus Talk", you may think that I have already talked enough about Jesus, but I have one more story to relay. Today, the boys were watching a Christian TV channel called Smile of a Child Network. When I passed through the room, they were showing an ad for the Holy Land Experience in Florida. This included a scene where Jesus was bloodied on the cross. It was not something I think the boys had ever seen and almost seemed too much for them. We spent some time discussing the reason why Jesus had to be nailed to the cross and how He had a bloody head, side, hands and feet. Not in graphic detail by any means however, Ephraim was very affected.

When Troy arrived home and they were eating, Ephraim said "Poor Jesus, I don't want Him to be hurt, Why did He have to die?". Troy not knowing the previous conversations gave Ephraim the answer in the same why I had done before. More discussion was had and he wanted to know if Jesus was still dead. Carson began to sing "Jesus is living in Heaven today, How do I know, How do I know, Jesus is living in Heaven today, the Bible tells me so". This seemed to be a good enough answer for Ephraim.

We may not always have our share of Super Foods (though we are working on that), but we do make an effort to feast on the WORD and to take in the things of eternal value in our home. For God's grace and His Love, We are thankful. A love so strong, He allowed His one and only Son to be brutally nailed to a cross so that we could be saved from the punishment of our sins. And that is "documented" in His WORD!

Cooking, Cleaning, Company Came!

Long time, no blog. Once again I find myself apologizing (mostly to my sister who checks my blog several times a day) for not writing sooner. But, you can ask my sister, I have a good reason for not blogging.

I've actually been cooking, cleaning and entertaining house guests during my time away from the blog. My house guests were my sister, two of her daughters and my sister's friend and three of her children. Preparing for our guests was actually a lot of fun. Who knew keeping house could be so fulfilling. Troy saw me washing dishes at 10pm on Wednesday before my sister arrived and noted that perhaps we should have house guests more often. Or at least pretend to have guests so I would be inspired.

It got me to thinking (this is dangerous). When I was concerned about the state of my home, I prepared for my guests. I wanted to make it "presentable". I wanted it to be "comfortable". I wanted it to be 'welcoming". I had taken pains to make sure I had food in my home, to make sure I left special amenities for them.

What kind of preparations do I make for Jesus? Every day at every meal, my family and I pray "Come Lord Jesus be our guest, and let Thy gifts to us be blessed. " Jesus is not only a guest at my kitchen or dining room table, but a resident of my heart. How am I making Him feel welcome, comfortable, making my heart presentable? Of course, His presence in my heart makes me presentable to God, but what about the things I have welcomed into my home or heart? Do they leave room for Jesus? Do they push Him to the side? His place is to be first.

I need to evaluate what I give priority. Am I filling my heart with His Word? Am I inviting Him into my day through prayer? Am I turning over my cares? Am I casting my anxieties on Him for He cares for me?

Preparing for guests is an important and exciting challenge. I must not neglect the most important guest I invite every day to join me at my table: Jesus.

P.S. Sad note, my sink does have some dishes in it, but have started work on the towels and sheets used by my guests. Most of the dishes are from this weekend not from my guests. Carson has today and tomorrow off from school, so we have taken the day easy.