Memorial Day in My-Reka

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!

"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!

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!

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.

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!