Flower of the Family

Note: the following has been rolling around in my head for a few days. I finally just typed it out. If I don't write these things down I'm afraid I'll forget them.

In the summer of 2006 my mom gave me this African Violet. It had almost constant blooms on it for a year and a half. Then we went to Rosedale for 6 weeks and when we came back it was no longer blooming and refused to bloom again. It was suggested to me that I should replant it in a bigger pot, but I didn't feel like bothering with it so I just kept it on the window sill above my sink and kept watering it.


This spring I bought a bag of potting soil so I could plant flowers in hanging baskets for outside. I had plenty of soil left over so I dug out a large pot from the basement and replanted the violet that wouldn't die, but wouldn't bloom. I had little hope for blooms, but figured it was worth a try.


I kept watering and what do you know, it started to bloom! Not just one here or there, but lots of beautiful flowers. This picture was taken soon after it started blooming. There are so many more blooms now.


I guess I'm a PK or something because I see teaching moments in things like this. As I was washing dishes one day and marveling at the beautiful violets I was struck with the realization that I am sometimes like this violet.


I may not be dead, but I'm not bearing much fruit. For whatever reason God will let me sit like this for a season. I'm sure he doesn't want me there, but he lets me choose to be there. Then a time comes when He seems to say that's enough sitting around girl and He starts to replant me.


I feel like I am in a season of replanting right now. I feel like my roots have been tugged out of their comfort zone. My comfortable pot has been replaced with too much room to wonder where I am and where the comfortable walls are that I love so much.


There's new dirt around me that I don't know and I don't like. I'm sure it's good for me, but I'm not used to it.


Slowly I'm recognizing that all this is good for me. I've often prayed for humility, God is giving it to me, in abundance. I hate being repotted and pruned, but it is allowing me to experience God in a depth I haven't known before.


Jeremy and I were blessed to attend the Conservative Mennonite Conference this past weekend in Ohio. I missed some of the worship times because I was often getting Callie settled in childcare, but the times I was able to attend were so good. Sure the musicians and worship leaders were very gifted, and I enjoyed listening to them. They were doing their part. However, it was the sweet attendance of the Holy Spirit that caught my attention. Each time I stood to worship I found myself weeping.


I have wept before from fear, from disappointment, from deep conviction, from frustration, but to weep while in worship of a Holy God that is so close and so real to me is indescribable. Even as I write this I wonder why I'm trying to tell you about it. I hope you have experienced this so you can understand the sweet moments I experienced. So safe, so precious. I take no pride at being able to say I was moved during these times. This is not something that I can create or work hard enough to obtain. It is only birthed out of a loving God uprooting and rearranging my heart to realize once again that I am nothing, can do nothing, nor can I ever produce fruit aside from His working.


Other's must have wondered what my problem was. Have you heard the joke about the girl that was the flower of the family? She was the blooming idiot. Maybe I'm a blooming idiot. If that means all this replanting is someday going to produce some kind of fruit, then bring it on!

Callie Laughing

Style and Class

Some would say we're rednecks. We like to call it class. We have a rule at our house that gets followed sometimes. It's this: if we're staying home you can decide what to wear, if we're going away Mommy decides what you wear. Sadly this does not include our backyard. Poor neighbors.It's been so hot around here that I finally let the boys play in the rain one morning. I guess you can't really tell it's raining, but it was.
I have no idea

Robinwood and Little John (little John's bow broke just before I took this picture)

I told them to empty the pool. I gave Nate a bucket and told him to poor the water on my flowers. The rest is history. He had shorts on when he went out. I haven't found them yet.

Wal-Mart

I have a love/hate relationship with Wal-Mart. We only live about 5 minutes from it and sometimes I wish we didn't live so close. When I think of taking 3 children grocery shopping I automatically try to think of the quickest most pain free way to do it. Wal-Mart generally seems to be my best option.

Sadly, there is no quick way to run in and out at Wal-Mart. Milk and diapers on on the back wall. To get one gallon of milk and one package of size 2 diapers you must walk by:

• ice cream


• Pringles


• candy


• clothes

Of if you come in the opposite end of the store you walk by all the cool housewares stuff, electronics (Ok Jeremy, I'll meet you back here in 10 minutes) shoes. You get the idea.

However, where else can you go and buy feta cheese and windshield fluid in the same stop. I tell you Sam knew what he was doing.

Actually, I think Sam wouldn't be all that proud of what Wal-Mart is today. Just my thoughts. I have to admit I have been pretty loyal to Wal-Mart for a long time because I used to work there. But let me tell you, the Wal-Mart I worked at and the Wal-Mart I shop at are worlds apart. I remember little signs hung at each register that said "If there are more than 3 people in this line we are required to open a new register for you". The Wal-Mart I shop at now has
TV's to help keep you entertained while you wait in line.

I really shouldn't be so negative about a place I'm at all the time. My kids know it by name and dread it. They'd rather go "where the big red balls are". I am very grateful to have access to a place like Wal-Mart. I realize I am blessed (?!!). Wal-Mart blesses me?? I HAD NO INTENTION OF WRITING THAT WHEN I STARTED THIS POST. Wow, now I feel all warm and fuzzy. You know, our Wal-mart is open 24/7... Maybe I should just make a quick run to Wal-Mart yet tonight.

Paying Cash for a House

I know some of you already follow www.savingmom.com. Did you read this article? How awesome would it be to pay cash for a house? Is it worth the sacrifice? Paying off our house is definitely in our long range goals and we often talk about how great it would feel to pay it off. I have alot of different thoughts rolling around in my head since reading this post. Hmmm. I keep typing stuff then deleting it because I'm not sure what else to say on the matter, or how much to share on what I think, because I'm not sure what I think. Now I'm totally confused. There are definitely people out there who make enough money to be able to save cash for a house in a reasonable amount of time. If you are not in that kind of work should you never go into debt for a house? As you can tell I'm just blabbing now as my mind thinks. I'd be curious to hear what you think, or what your first response was to this idea.

Art

I have a great appreciation for God's beautiful creations...

(the photogragh)
(the photograhper)

Summer

Here are some random pictures from the last days. On Thursday Jeremy unexpectedly had a 1/2 day of work. It was a beautiful day outside so we quickly packed a lunch and headed to the park. They boys (and Callie) loved it.

We carried this bike a lot of the time...

Isaiah loves his "new" bike.

Look, Mom, no hands

This should be with the park pictures. Callie's first swing ride.

Sorry for the rather boring post. :)