Maybe we should get out more...

While we were putting on our shoes, preparing to take my oldest son to school today, he asks..."So, what are you and N going to do today while I'm at school?" I tell him we're headed to the Laundromat to wash our king-sized comforter (it doesn't fit in our washing machine).

He stomps his foot, puts his hands on his hip and whines..."No fair! N gets to have all the fun whenever I'm at school!"

I'm thinking it's time to start planning more interesting outings during the day!

Bella

This weekend, I was able to see a movie with my dear friend, Lori. She first told me about Bella a couple of weeks ago. It's about a woman who gets pregnant and is set on having an abortion. A friend of hers walks through the decision she ultimately makes with her, all the while coming to terms with a tragedy that occured in his own life.

All through the film, you see her struggling with her choice. It's common in our culture. Life is disposable. We view it as an inconvenience when it doesn't fit into our plans. Many women don't know when life begins and how precious it is because the life of an unborn child has been turned into a political issue. The word Pro-Life can be a turn off. I know for many people it conjures up images of protestors holding ulgy signs, screaming horrible things at women who are in pain, heading into a building to have a procedure that will change their lives forever...and those women will exit quietly, discreetly through the back door when it's all over, broken in a way they had never imagined they could be. And who will wait for them at the back door? Nobody. Because many people see the women as a lost cause now...the procedure has already been done. Many people don't realize that these women need to be loved more than they ever did, because they leave consumed with an emptiness that goes so deep they'll do anything to fill it up.

I loved the film. Instead of focusing on death, it focuses on life. It forces the audience to see the people, not the issues. It's not easy to watch at times, but I think that's the point. Christ called us to love one another. But that can be one of the most difficult things to do at times. Dealing with pain and brokenness is never easy. Looking past a person's wounds and faults can almost be unbearable. But, if we do, it can be one of the most worthwhile things we'll ever find ourselves a part of.

Parenting advice from my five-year-old

So...it's been hectic in our household this week (as I'm sure it's been for many of you). My youngest is pretty physical and likes to have time to run and play...something we didn't get much of today because we were helping out in classrooms and having meetings. When we finally got home, the younger one decided he needed to burn off some energy by jumping off of the back of our couch (that's right...I said the back-the highest part). I told him that he needed to take a break in his room for a while and he told me no. My oldest than tells me..."Mom, maybe he should go upstairs and think about God's word for a while". Where does he come up with this stuff?

Conversations at the breakfast table...

As we were eating breakfast this morning, my older son asks me..."Mommy, when can we buy a monkey?"

I ask him why he wants one and he says, "Because. Well, um, they're cool. And you and dad said we can't have a dog for 2 more years."

You gotta applaud his logic.

Random question time!

Okay...time to get away from the drama that has been swirling around and back to some fun!

If you could be on any reality television show, which would you choose and why?

He started it!!!

I hear that a lot. My two boys really do love each other, but boy can they duke it out when they get going. When that happens and I asked how it all started, they both usually say (in unison)..."He started it!"

I think I know where they got that from. The pastor at my church has his own blog. I always look forward to his posts, but usually not the comments. There are two men who visit his blog and leave comments that come across as insulting and devisive. They're both Christians and I'm not really sure why they do that (okay, I have some ideas, but like my mom always said...if you don't have anything nice to say....). Anyway, their "God-inspired" input often comes across as a personal attack on our pastor and congregation. I know that none of us is perfect, but why do people have to be so mean sometimes? Especially fellow believers?

The comments usually reach double digit numbers because people engage in conversation with them. Trying to defend what our pastor has said and who he is...and ultimately who we are as a community/congregation. I usually read what they say, think up this snarky comment and then decide not to publish it...until last week. I just couldn't help myself. I made a comment that reflected the same attitude that I find so irritating coming from them.

Then this morning, as my kids were fighting over who got to use the yellow crayon first (resulting in a crayon being thrown smack into my 5-year-old's forehead...and the classic "He started it" answer), I realized I was acting like a 3-year-old too. What if a non-Christian stumbled onto our Pastor's blog...what would they think about our community? What if someone who was thinking about trying out my church decided to check out his blog...would they really see the place we hope to be? I don't like the answers to those questions. But, before I move forward as an adult, I do need to just get this one thing out...THEY started it!!!

Okay, I feel much better now. Time to focus on how Jesus wants me to live, being thankful for the blessings in my life, striving to become more like Him and hopefully, being a positive example of who He is!