Things that make you go mmmm....

....Or things that make you go eeeewww. This is an eye opening look at "10 foods you should never eat!"

http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

While I'm certainly no health food guru (nor do I aspire to be!) this list has pushed me a little bit closer to the more nutritious side of living. I do try to be semi-conscience of the things that I put into my body, but one some of my weaknesses are definitely of the fast food nature. Add to that, the fact that one of my favorites (Burger King french fries) made the list! I am guilty.

One thing that should motivate me to stay on track with my eating habits is to remember that my body is a temple. Am I taking care of it in a way that brings glory to God (ouch!)? Am I being a good steward of my body and of the food that has been provided for me, or am I wasting these resources that I have been given. And on a deeper level, what is the testimony that I give to others if I seem to lack self-control in one area? Does it spill over to the other areas of my life as well (my words, thoughts, Bible study, diligence, etc, etc.- I could go on and on with this!)?

I like food. I like it a lot. So much so, that I'm tempted to make it an idol (I'm willing to sin if I don't get it.) I get grumpy when I'm hungry, I complain (in my heart) if it's not quite what I wanted that day, I spend money that I shouldn't on food that I don't need. These are just a few examples of my sinfulness concerning food. How silly is that in light of serving a Holy God?!! But Christ knows our hearts so well that He addresses even this issue in scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Of course he wasn't speaking of gluttony in this passage, but the fact that he acknowledges simple food and drink as a possible stumbling block for our Christian walk speaks volumes. Do even the things that we put into our mouth bring glory to God? Just some food for thought:)

Taking a stand

My poor son, with three sisters, he had to draw the line somewhere:

Interpretation of this sign: No Strawberry Shortcake!!
(I must concur with him on that! I might improve on it a bit by adding Barbie to the picture!)

A few pics

Okay, maybe a lot of pics.

Here's the kids playing in the mud. The cleanup was abominable, but the fun had was worth it.









I could qualify for a Tide commercial after this.

This is the amount of damage one 19 month old can do in the time that it takes to nurse a baby. Coffee anyone??







The poor girl had pneumonia last week!! So, to take her mind off things (i.e. herself) I took her outside to swing. She really was sick, she fell asleep in the swing! And me, being the caring and compassionate mother that I am, was kind enough to take pictures and video. I know she'll thank me later.






A girl needs her beauty sleep.









Like I said, a girl needs her beauty sleep.

In due season

This blog will attempt to record stories and lessons learned in the season of life that I am in, which right now, is being a wife to one great husband and a mother to four small children. And this verse sums that up well for me:

And let us not grow weary from doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I guess you could say that this is my "life verse." I did not set out on a quest to find my favorite verse in the Bible, but I constantly find that this verse is going through my head. It is espesially resonating when there is a tune to go with it! My kids have Steve Green's Hide'em in your heart Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 CDs (which I highly recommend) and Galatians 6:9 is one of the songs. These CDs are especially helpful when you want to correct your children with a Bible verse. I can now sing it to them instead of the lecture voice that I usually have to take on :) "Do-oo everything without complaining, do-oo everthing without arguing..." Sing with me kids!! For some reason they don't join in too eagerly on that one. But I digress.

"In due season" seems to accurately describe the last eight years for me. They have been pretty much consumed with child-rearing. But more than that, this verse is such an encouragement for me. With four children eight and under- I AM WEARY!! BUT... I have been greatly blessed with a godly husband and four wonderful kids. The Lord has chosen me for this man and for these children and for Himself to do His work here in my home. My mission field is wide open with these four little souls, but some days it seems as though my words and actions are falling on deaf ears- that's when I am tempted to grow weary. So, this verse serves as a gentle reminder to me-do not loose heart, if you are doing good, in due season you will reap. There are days when I see tiny glimpses of the harvest. Whether it's in a baby's first smile or hearing your child say a prayer. Then I remember why I do what I do. Yes, there are dirty dishes in the sink, three baskets of unfolded laundry, and it took me ALL day just to write this post, (which I'm now typing with one hand while feeding a baby in the other), but that's ok- in due season we shall reap. Sing with me now!!

Out of the mouths of babes...

Children have a funny way of dashing your last bit of self-etsteem don't they. That is, what little is left after pregnancy and nursing.

But they do it so sweetly.

DS said to me the other day, as I was about to walk out the door "are you going to fix your hair?" My hair was fixed, really fixed, but he likes the "mommy pony-tail look" that I usually sport.

He also told me "Mom, you're a great mommy"

I pressed on: "why do you think I'm a great mommy?"

His reply: "well, because you're nice, but sometimes you're not."

Me: fake smiling. I should have stopped while I was ahead.

And...

I was prayed for the other day by the three year old. It was bitter-sweet in that she used what I guess is her new term of endearment for me. "And dear Lord," she said as she was finishing up her prayer, "thank you for my great big mommy."

Aren't they sweet?

Children and the things they say are sometimes like a great paradox. And my mind play tricks on me with it. You could easily say "oh they're children, they don't mean what they say" or you could also say "oh they're children, they say what they mean." Maybe you could sum it all up by saying this: children mean what they say, but do not know what they said really meant.

I feel better already.