boys, boys, boys!

in the past few weeks, i have mixed up three boys' names.
not my own sons, of course, but the ones circling around my
girls.  i can no longer even remember which boy is 'friends'
with which of my girls.

"mom!  that's bobby, not billy!  he's here to take hailey out
to dinner, not me!!   sick!!!"

the trouble is, they seem to think that i can keep track of
'friends' from two and three years ago.  that is simply not
possible for my small mind.

"mom!  that's billy, not bobby!  he used to like sunday, not
me!!  ew!!!

(billy?  bobby??)

so, from now on, when a new boy walks in the door, i will
give them a test like, "hey bud, would you please bring the
groceries in from my car?" (the ones YOU will be eating.)

if he does, i will try very hard to learn his name, but if he
can't pass my daughter's test, i won't try very hard to
remember it.  :)

love,
lea

"rejoice, o young man, in your youth, and let your heart
cheer you . . . "  ecclestiastes 11:9

snakes on a plane!

dear emily,

this is a "sabbath" repost for the weekend.

remember the commercials for the movie, "snakes on a plane?" i don't
know anyone who actually watched it, but i have lived it.  most anyone
who has flown with a baby understands just what i mean.

the fear rises as you stumble down the entry ramp toward the cabin
door.  you smile nervously (with your ticket between your teeth) at the
skinny young flight attendant who is not happy to see you carrying your
15 pound baby, his 25 pound diaper bag, dangling his pacifier from your
pinky.

you are praying that your seatmate is an understanding and helpful mom,
maybe even your own mommy. . .

6 ABC
7 ABC
8 ABC

 . . . but, instead it is a pair of bifocals, glaring at you.  the expensive
pinstripe suit and snakeskin shoes defy you to disturb the very important
work being done on their laptop.

your sweet baby is picking up on your increasing stress and is already
getting a little fussy and hungry.  the thought of nursing him with an
uptight executive sitting next to you, makes you want to wean him.

then, horror of horrors, your precious baby throws up all over mr.
reptile shoes, who hisses with displeasure.

your baby, however, is now content and sleepy, and you no longer
care about any snakes on the plane.

love,
lea

"can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion
on the child she has borne?  though she may forget, I will not forget
you!"  isaiah 49:15

they're heeeere!

dear emily,

this is to make you feel better about your little ones' clutter.
unfortunately, it just gets bigger! :)

entry hall:

mud room:

living room:

kitchen table:

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have
made my lot secure.  the boundary lines have fallen for me in
pleasant places; surely i have a delightful inheritance!"
psalm 16:5,6

love,
lea

to do or not to do!

i just read a sweet encouragement from debbie at heart choices.
like many of the amazing blogs i read, this one sparked a thought.
some of you have explosions of incredible insight, but i am  just
thrilled with a tiny sputter.

there is a story about a young boy, robbed of speech and thrown
into the fire and water by a demon.  the disciples were unable to
deliver him from this terrible torment because of their unbelief.

Jesus displayed His sympathy and love by asking the father about
the history and condition of the boy.  the father said "if you can do
anything, take pity on us and help us."

"'if you can'?" said Jesus, "everything is possible for him who
believes."  immediately, the father exclaimed, "i do believe; help
me overcome my unbelief!"  matthew 9:14-29

jesus took the boy by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he
stood up.

i need help with my faith, too.  but my constant cry is, "Lord, i am
willing.  help, me to overcome my unwillingness!"

to do what i should do . . .  but don't want to do.   to NOT do  what
i shouldn't want to do . . . but still want to do:  that is my question!
i will leave the "be-ing" of shakespeare to the more mature.

i am obviously still a baby,
lea

dear emily,

i am so ashamed of myself.  sweet trish at notes of sincerity sent
me the loveliest gift for which i have not properly thanked her.

let me go to the mountains and i lose my head.

here are some photos of the darling bracelet and note she sent
me.  please go visit her adorably creative and sincerely amazing
blog.

i have the sweetest angel to wear such a pretty bracelet.   she

just went to the mission field with her parents and will love the 

surprise!

thank you, trish!!!

love,

lea

"to whom much is given, much is required."  luke 12:48

be good? or be a blessing!

dear emily,

this is a 'sabbath rest' repost from november.

my children were ornery little widgets, but they never heard me say,
"be good."  'good' seemed like such a nebulous, lack luster term for
what i wanted from them.

instead, i always urged them to 'be a blessing,' which required
more action and thought.  they understood this included kindness,
cheerfulness, obedience, and helpfulness, all actions we practiced
daily at home.

this required me to conform to the same standard, and i assure you,
they would let me know when i was grumpy or impatient.  all of us
continuously fell below the benchmark, but we asked forgiveness
and then tried harder to be a blessing to one another.

because i expected this kind of behavior at home, it was natural
for them to act the same way when we ventured out.  many tired
mommies slacken standards at home but then have unrealistic
expectations of their children when in public.

consistency is a vital key to training up children in the way they
should go.  it's difficult and tiresome, but the reward is happy,
respectful children who are allowed to go many exciting places
with mom and dad.

now that my urchins are mostly grown up, i hear this a lot,
"mom!  you can't say that in public!"

love,
lea

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
galatians 5:24

emerald lake

thank you for visiting my trail in the joyce's pretty friday's hike.  if you
meander over there, you will see many more exquisite sights.

hailey and i took a gorgeous drive with my parents to emerald lake.
i'm disappointed that my photos don't quite reveal the deep green hue
of this lovely spot.

just on the other side of emerald lake, our front tire took an ugly
puncture from a sharp piece of slate, no doubt the wicked witch of
the west's maniacal scheme.

so, dorothy and company hiked on to the emerald city for a ride back
with the wizard . . .

. . .the end.

"the foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of
precious stone. . . the fourth was emerald."  revelation 21:19