It is a special Memorial Day for us this year as my Dad (a.k.a. Papa Butter)'s birthday is today! The kids and I will be making a road trip to my hometown to visit and celebrate.
The only problem is that all three of my children think the town, Eureka, is theirs alone.
It is funny how some children interpret the town's name. When my sister was little, she greet our town with "My-reka!" every time we returned home. We thought that was unique to her, but we've since heard of other kids calling it the same thing. Landen started it in our family and Nathan and Teresa followed along. It makes sense. We are always telling them it is "YOUR-reka." Of course, that would make it "MY-reka!"
My three spent quite awhile arguing this morning as they were all competing to tell their Grandpa Melius where they were going today.
"It's not YOUR-reka! It's MY-reka!" we heard again and again. Even when I tried to keep the peace and told them, "It's EVERYBODY's-reka," they still insisted that it just couldn't be.
Eventually, breakfast took the place of their heated argument.
For now, there is peace in our home.
Let's pray another riot doesn't break out on the drive to MY-reka!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
"Follow Me That's It"
The boys have been proudly learning their memory verses for VBS this week. Monday's was especially easy for Nathan, since he has been learning it for his entire life. He even caught it twice at mass on Sunday (in the Gospel and homily). And we don't think he pays attention in church!
David's mom gives each of her grandchildren a special Bible verse when they are born. Nathan's is, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
We were quizzing the boys at the breakfast table this morning. Landen's grade's verse was, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Nathan said his was, "Follow me that's it."
David and I thought that about summed it up!
There's a VeggieTales movie I love called "Josh and the Big Wall." It says all the people had to do was follow God's plan. Then it shows a map with an arrow that has gone all over the place before finally reaching its goal.
Lately I feel as though I am in that squiggly part of the map. There have been detours, long red lights, and what I thought were closed roads, but ended up being clear once I got close enough to see.
And so, I will just keep following.
That's all any of us need to do!
David's mom gives each of her grandchildren a special Bible verse when they are born. Nathan's is, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
We were quizzing the boys at the breakfast table this morning. Landen's grade's verse was, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Nathan said his was, "Follow me that's it."
David and I thought that about summed it up!
Lately I feel as though I am in that squiggly part of the map. There have been detours, long red lights, and what I thought were closed roads, but ended up being clear once I got close enough to see.
And so, I will just keep following.
That's all any of us need to do!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lysa Ter Keurst
Life is moving especially quickly this week. The boys started Vacation Bible School on Monday and will have that every morning until Friday. I go in mid-way through the morning each day and hand out cookies. It really is a great gig.
Our afternoons have been or will be filled with piano lessons, t-ball practice, visiting friends, and traveling here and there. Someone asked me Monday morning how our vacation was going. My answer was, "We haven't had one yet!"
Of course, (at the risk of sounding like a grouchy old man), the weather has not helped at all either. I am so tired of being cold! Teresa keeps asking about her flip-flops, swimming pool, and other summer delights. I don't even have to answer anymore, she just says, "To summer?" Yes, summer. Where did you go?
On the bright side, my first born has become a huge help around here this summer. He can't wait to mow the lawn every 5 or so days and has been helping in the house, too. We just have to keep that boy busy, busy, busy!
Since my blog has been a bit sparse, I'd like to share one of my favorites with you. I discovered Lysa Ter Keurst earlier this spring, even though she has been speaking and writing for years. So often her daily thoughts speak just what my heart needs to hear. This latest entry was one of those.
www.lysaterkeurst.com
Have a great day!
Our afternoons have been or will be filled with piano lessons, t-ball practice, visiting friends, and traveling here and there. Someone asked me Monday morning how our vacation was going. My answer was, "We haven't had one yet!"
Of course, (at the risk of sounding like a grouchy old man), the weather has not helped at all either. I am so tired of being cold! Teresa keeps asking about her flip-flops, swimming pool, and other summer delights. I don't even have to answer anymore, she just says, "To summer?" Yes, summer. Where did you go?
On the bright side, my first born has become a huge help around here this summer. He can't wait to mow the lawn every 5 or so days and has been helping in the house, too. We just have to keep that boy busy, busy, busy!
Since my blog has been a bit sparse, I'd like to share one of my favorites with you. I discovered Lysa Ter Keurst earlier this spring, even though she has been speaking and writing for years. So often her daily thoughts speak just what my heart needs to hear. This latest entry was one of those.
www.lysaterkeurst.com
Have a great day!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Forgiveness Small & BIG
Bonus post for today!
This morning Teresa and I were leaving a farewell coffee in town. As I was backing out, I was paying attention to the ladies in the van beside me, thinking about how bad this cold was making me feel, and then I heard and felt it. A sickening crunch followed by an abrupt stop. I looked behind me.
I didn't even see that car.
I got out and checked out the situation. It wasn't too bad--a dent in the other car above the rear tire and some scratches on my bumper. In tears, I went into the church to find the owner. It was our local Methodist pastor.
As I gave her my insurance information and apologized over and over (I know you're not supposed to apologize in an accident situation, but there was no arguing this was totally my fault!), she assured me it was just a car and it was OK.
She asked if it was my first time getting into an accident like that, and when I told her it was, she smiled and said, "Now you have that one out of the way. Don't let this ruin your day."
David had pretty much the same reaction when I came home in tears and relayed the story to him.
I still feel pretty stupid about the whole situation, but I have also spent the rest of the day feeling forgiven. That has made all the difference.
I have been spending this past week reading Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She survived the Rwandan Holocaust in 1994 by crouching and praying with 6 women in a 4 foot x 3 foot bathroom for three months. They were almost discovered and killed several times because of their tribal connection. Even after they were able to leave the bathroom to go to a French camp, their lives were still in danger. By the end of the genocide, only she and her brother, who was studying in Senegal, survived from her immediate family.
What is absolutely amazing to me is that she was given the grace to forgive the killers who took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Rwandans, including those closest to her. She was even given the chance to forgive some of them face to face.
My experience and Immaculee's don't belong in the same blog post. Or even the same blog.
But, forgiveness is a beautiful thing. Small or BIG.
This morning Teresa and I were leaving a farewell coffee in town. As I was backing out, I was paying attention to the ladies in the van beside me, thinking about how bad this cold was making me feel, and then I heard and felt it. A sickening crunch followed by an abrupt stop. I looked behind me.
I didn't even see that car.
I got out and checked out the situation. It wasn't too bad--a dent in the other car above the rear tire and some scratches on my bumper. In tears, I went into the church to find the owner. It was our local Methodist pastor.
As I gave her my insurance information and apologized over and over (I know you're not supposed to apologize in an accident situation, but there was no arguing this was totally my fault!), she assured me it was just a car and it was OK.
She asked if it was my first time getting into an accident like that, and when I told her it was, she smiled and said, "Now you have that one out of the way. Don't let this ruin your day."
David had pretty much the same reaction when I came home in tears and relayed the story to him.
I still feel pretty stupid about the whole situation, but I have also spent the rest of the day feeling forgiven. That has made all the difference.
I have been spending this past week reading Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza. She survived the Rwandan Holocaust in 1994 by crouching and praying with 6 women in a 4 foot x 3 foot bathroom for three months. They were almost discovered and killed several times because of their tribal connection. Even after they were able to leave the bathroom to go to a French camp, their lives were still in danger. By the end of the genocide, only she and her brother, who was studying in Senegal, survived from her immediate family.
What is absolutely amazing to me is that she was given the grace to forgive the killers who took the lives of hundreds of thousands of Rwandans, including those closest to her. She was even given the chance to forgive some of them face to face.
My experience and Immaculee's don't belong in the same blog post. Or even the same blog.
But, forgiveness is a beautiful thing. Small or BIG.
When Mom's Not at 100% . . . .
We usually try to keep a pretty close eye on our kids' screen time. They still get to watch plenty of things on TV and play Wii when it's raining, but if it is nice outside, they can be outside--especially in the summer.
But, then there are days like today. It's cold and drizzly outside. I have a cold that just won't give up. And I really, really want a nap after lunch.
Today is one of those days that I don't care if couch potatoes start to sprout from their ears by the end of it.
My kids love it when I'm down.
It means MarioKart until they can't race anymore and as much Dukes of Hazzard as we have on the DVR.
But, they better enjoy it.
I'll be back . . . and hopefully soon!
But, then there are days like today. It's cold and drizzly outside. I have a cold that just won't give up. And I really, really want a nap after lunch.
Today is one of those days that I don't care if couch potatoes start to sprout from their ears by the end of it.
My kids love it when I'm down.
It means MarioKart until they can't race anymore and as much Dukes of Hazzard as we have on the DVR.
But, they better enjoy it.
I'll be back . . . and hopefully soon!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Child Labor
Landen is excited to learn how to use the riding lawn mower this summer.
However, he informed me of something this morning when I told him he would probably not get paid to mow the lawn.
"That's what I'm not," he said matter of factly, "a volunteer worker."
To his credit, he did help me tons tonight by offering to vacuum our upstairs after he finished his bedroom. It is so nice to sit down to a quiet--and cleaner--house this evening.
He did ask if the vacuum job would come with an allowance.
I told him no, since I don't get paid for vacuuming.
His answer was simple, "That's because you're the mom!"
However, he informed me of something this morning when I told him he would probably not get paid to mow the lawn.
"That's what I'm not," he said matter of factly, "a volunteer worker."
To his credit, he did help me tons tonight by offering to vacuum our upstairs after he finished his bedroom. It is so nice to sit down to a quiet--and cleaner--house this evening.
He did ask if the vacuum job would come with an allowance.
I told him no, since I don't get paid for vacuuming.
His answer was simple, "That's because you're the mom!"
Friday, May 13, 2011
Our Week in Pictures
Yesterday was Nathan's last day of preschool. Here he is with his teacher Miss Judy. Miss Judy also taught David when he was in Kindergarten. She is an amazing teacher and person.
And . . . one left over from last weekend. As we were getting ready to go to our local Mother's Day program, Teresa decided to serenade me with a song with her flashlight/microphone. The theme for the morning was "hats," so of course she wore her favorite crazy hat to the program, too!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Patches of Godlight
My dear friend Kelly recently lent me the book Patches of Godlight by Jan Karon. It is a collection of favorite quotes from character Fr. Tim Kavanaugh. Karon has based the Mitford series of books around this fictional priest.
You all know I love quotes and even though I just started reading this little collection, I already have a few to share:
. . . to reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it--but we must sail, and not drift, nor be at anchor.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.
--Leonard Cohen
The strain is the strength. If there is no strain there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately [if] you face the strain, you will get the strength.
--Oswald Chambers
Can you tell where my heart has been lately? We all know people who face their own difficult strains daily. Some are relatively new and some have been facing them for years. Yours may not be as serious as you perceive another's to be, but we all have them.
So, today, I just want to offer a bit of encouragement. A bit of hope. I lost track of how many times I heard or read "Do not be afraid" from different sources last week.
The longer I am on this earth, the more deeply I believe He is near.
He hears.
He listens.
He answers.
In His time.
You all know I love quotes and even though I just started reading this little collection, I already have a few to share:
. . . to reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it--but we must sail, and not drift, nor be at anchor.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.
--Leonard Cohen
The strain is the strength. If there is no strain there is no strength. Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot, unless you will accept the strain. Immediately [if] you face the strain, you will get the strength.
--Oswald Chambers
Can you tell where my heart has been lately? We all know people who face their own difficult strains daily. Some are relatively new and some have been facing them for years. Yours may not be as serious as you perceive another's to be, but we all have them.
So, today, I just want to offer a bit of encouragement. A bit of hope. I lost track of how many times I heard or read "Do not be afraid" from different sources last week.
The longer I am on this earth, the more deeply I believe He is near.
He hears.
He listens.
He answers.
In His time.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day
Sometimes I barely recognize the young college grad who moved onto this farm almost 10 years ago. After all this time, I have found it to be quite impossible to be ON the farm and not become all ABOUT the farm.
It took awhile to get used to.
Then I realized that those long days of planting, spraying, and harvesting (at sometimes inconvenient times) are what feed the world--and our little family.
And so, that brings me to my wish for this Mother's Day--for David & my father-in-law to be able to be in the field today. As it turned out, the rain held off and they had another productive day of planting.
Planting on time makes everyone happier and our summer go much more smoothly. I'll take my day "off" another day.
Happy Mother's Day to all of the great moms in my life. I hope you got everything you wished for, too!
It took awhile to get used to.
Then I realized that those long days of planting, spraying, and harvesting (at sometimes inconvenient times) are what feed the world--and our little family.
And so, that brings me to my wish for this Mother's Day--for David & my father-in-law to be able to be in the field today. As it turned out, the rain held off and they had another productive day of planting.
Planting on time makes everyone happier and our summer go much more smoothly. I'll take my day "off" another day.
Happy Mother's Day to all of the great moms in my life. I hope you got everything you wished for, too!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Is It Summer Yet?
Today is one of the first really warm days we have had. Nathan wasted no time in appearing upstairs dressed in shorts right away this morning. Teresa was right behind with her denim skirt. The two of them have been waiting for summer for about 6 months now and they are so excited for all it has to offer.
Our day started with Nathan asking, "Can we have a campfire?"
My answer was NO, but I did suggest they walk around the yard and gather sticks for a future fire. (Surprisingly, that kept them busy for awhile. Stuff like that hardly ever works for me.)
He has also asked when his first t-ball game will be, if we can go swimming today, if I had ANYTHING to roast in a campfire (at least 3 different times--as if I have marshmallows magically coming out of my elbows) and I caught him pulling the garden hose out to the sandbox in an attempt to make mud.
This afternoon, they found their long-lost flip flops, played baseball with grandma and had popsicles for a snack.
If they're not careful, they will use up all their summer fun in one day. And it isn't even summer yet!
Our day started with Nathan asking, "Can we have a campfire?"
My answer was NO, but I did suggest they walk around the yard and gather sticks for a future fire. (Surprisingly, that kept them busy for awhile. Stuff like that hardly ever works for me.)
He has also asked when his first t-ball game will be, if we can go swimming today, if I had ANYTHING to roast in a campfire (at least 3 different times--as if I have marshmallows magically coming out of my elbows) and I caught him pulling the garden hose out to the sandbox in an attempt to make mud.
This afternoon, they found their long-lost flip flops, played baseball with grandma and had popsicles for a snack.
If they're not careful, they will use up all their summer fun in one day. And it isn't even summer yet!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Be Not Afraid!
I've never considered myself much of an athlete.
However, if WORRYING ever makes it to the Olympics, I may finally have a shot at a gold medal.
It is a quality I really, really do not like about myself. It's a little bit genetic (I come from some great worried and anxious stock) and a little bit self-inflicted and is something that has followed me for my entire life.
I remember hearing at a retreat once that Jesus repeated "Be Not Afraid" more often than anything else in the New Testament. I remember because I was very newly pregnant with my second child and secretly terrified that I would miscarry. (I had no specific reason to think that and obviously everything ended well.)
Today my mom let me know that she found the number of times Jesus told us to not be afraid--365. So, there you have it. There's not one day left to worry in a whole year. (Except leap year, but who wants to waste Feb. 29 on worry?)
I will have to take up a new sport. The sooner the better.
However, if WORRYING ever makes it to the Olympics, I may finally have a shot at a gold medal.
It is a quality I really, really do not like about myself. It's a little bit genetic (I come from some great worried and anxious stock) and a little bit self-inflicted and is something that has followed me for my entire life.
I remember hearing at a retreat once that Jesus repeated "Be Not Afraid" more often than anything else in the New Testament. I remember because I was very newly pregnant with my second child and secretly terrified that I would miscarry. (I had no specific reason to think that and obviously everything ended well.)
Today my mom let me know that she found the number of times Jesus told us to not be afraid--365. So, there you have it. There's not one day left to worry in a whole year. (Except leap year, but who wants to waste Feb. 29 on worry?)
I will have to take up a new sport. The sooner the better.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Ahhhh!
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