The Best Rainbow I've Ever Seen

I took this picture last night, apparently at just the right time! :)

Gen. 9: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

Monday [okay, Tuesday] Product Endorsement 8/28

1. Canadian Stranger - James Kitson, open journal -- This is a blog I stumbled across several months ago. He's a pastor in Canada (Midland, Ontario). I appreciate his thoughts from his personal Bible study each week. Often his comments are freshly insightful and give you reason to think after you've walked away from the computer. I particularly enjoyed his notes from Exodus earlier this year.

2. Lunar Eclipse - I realize many of you are unaware things happen before 5:30 am (or even 8:00 am) each day but guess what? Life is already going on! I awoke this morning quite early -- in plenty of time to see the lunar eclipse which made the moon a hazy shade of red. Don't you just love how the Father mixes things up a bit from time to time? Just another fabulous display of his ultimate control. If you missed it, don't worry, I think you can see it again in February 2008.

"Like Legos"

Yesterday in the car the boys and I were talking about how God moves us in and out of people's lives and situations -- all for the purpose of bringing glory to Him through our lives. Nick sat quiet for a while and then responded, "We're like God's lego set, aren't we? He just moves us around and kind of plays with us the way he wants."

Adults could say the same thing but we would say it with a smirk to imply God is simply toying with us to keep our lives difficult. Kids see it differently. His smile said it was a comfort to know God is in control and enjoying the "play" with his little people.

He's right. We are like God's lego set. A piece on its own isn't too exciting or useful, but when we fit together as the body of Christ, we can produce something really cool!

Monday Product Endorsements 8/20

1. The first day of school - Some moms love it while others dread it. I happen to fall somewhere in between. I love the "fresh routine" of a new school year but I also don't like knowing my boys "have" to go to school each day. (What if I just wanted them to hang out at home and have fun together?) Anyway, these are some of my favorite things about the first day of school: new pencils that have NEVER been used, crisp spirals, a new box of crayons with NONE of them missing!, new shoes, name tags, and the "first day of school breakfast" (you know the one where the mother actually plans what to make and serves it up with such a happy little smile...) Today was the first day of school - can't wait to hear how it went. ***

2. Movie: Arctic Tale - We saw this movie on Sunday. It was a documentary of sorts - but appropriately rated G (Yes, they still make G movies on occasion.) It was about the animals in the arctic and how they survive. All of us really enjoyed it and not just because we were the ONLY ones in the theater, it was educational and entertaining. You do have to listen past the subliminal messages about global warming and you almost expect Al Gore to show up in the theater and pass a donation bucket at the end. However, it's a good, wholesome film that highlights some of the amazing animals God created. (Who, by the way, is also very capable of working the thermostat on his earth.)

That Weird Bite In Chicken

It happens to everyone (I assume). You are eating a nice piece of chicken when all of a sudden you bite into the one weird piece that is either too fatty, too much grissle or just has an off taste. You struggle to finish the bite by chewing faster or just swallowing what you can to put an end to the episode as quickly as possible. It can certainly taint the entire meal for me -- or at the very least, I begin eating with more caution and skeptism with each bite. Experience that bite too early in the meal and it can be difficult to mindlessly finish the rest of dinner. Wrestle the grissle on the last bite and you'll think twice before ordering chicken for a while. I love Chick-Fil-A but they are notorious for the weird bite on their regular chicken sandwich. (Note: just look under the bun and avoid the "bumpy" part of the sandwich.) Tonight I began enjoying a Lean Cuisine chicken pizza and found my face twisted on about the 4th bite. I'll pass on the rest.

Just be warned, that weird bite of chicken is out there waiting for you. Let me just conclude by saying chocolate NEVER treats me that way. Eat a Reese's peanut butter cup from ANY side and you'll find nothing but a little piece of heaven. I've yet to dispose of a chocolate "anything" because of a yucky bite. Chicken bad. Chocolate good. (Baby just kicked in agreement.)

Monday Product Endorsement 8/13/07

I've decided once a week to share with you my current product endorsements. You may be surprised to find I'm endorsing these items without being paid a promotional fee. That's just how nice I am... :)

RATING SYSTEM
* = recommended if it is on sale
** = recommended for special occassions or a "once in a while" treat
*** = recommended whether it's on sale or not -- I'M HOOKED!

1. Swiffer Wet Cloths - I purchased these on sale for $2.99 (12 in a box) - GREAT for a quick "mop" of a floor. Kids can use them to clean their bathroom floor without getting Mop N Glow all over the baseboards or simply moving too much water around with a mop. They have some kind of cleaner on them and really work to pick up the dirt on a floor. If you already have a Swiffer Duster, they fit right on the end like the dry cloths, plus it has a "scrubber" strip on each wet cloth. ***

2. Eileen's Colossal Cookies - This is a little cookie store on Danforth and Santa Fe. They make TERRIFIC cookies! If you go early enough in the day, you can purchase day old cookies (which actually taste exactly like the fresh ones!) for deep discount. Also, they make fantastic cookie cakes for special occasions in 3 different sizes for a reasonable price. I've ordered a cookie with a dirt bike on it and another one that looked like a pizza for the boys' birthdays. **

Do You Hear What I Hear?

The boys just returned from a great trip to Florida to visit their dad. I know they had a nice time because they were exhausted when they got home but couldn't stop talking about their adventures. During their trip they got some birthday money and promptly spent it on a couple of games each.

Nick apparently chose 2 computer games, appropriately rated for his age. Tate chose 2 games I wouldn't have quickly endorsed. One in particular raised an eyebrow for me. I didn't sleep well last night thinking about how to handle this delicate situation. No mom wants to rain on a kid's parade the first hour he gets home from a 2-week absence!! (And no one really wants to upset Tate...) And for a short time, the enemy had me convinced we were headed for long, hard "growing up years" with the youngest one. (How quickly we can walk into that mind trap, huh?)

This morning over pancakes we ended up in a conversation about being a follower of Christ. The Father lovingly opened the door to talk about the game. I didn't mention it specifically but I did talk about how we have the Holy Spirit to help us make hard decisions -- especially when our human feelings tell us something different. We talked about choices we have to make, what we fill our time and mind with, etc.

Nick expressed he knew the computer games he bought were okay and that he doesn't even want the other stuff any longer. Tate thought for a moment and then responded, "That must have been what it was...As soon as I bought that game I felt like it was the wrong decision." I nearly burst out into tears with joy and love for our King! How amazing that He would hear my burdened heart and just simply offer opportunities to address tough situations, all the while having already started a work in that tiny believing heart. Oh, He is so faithful when we listen to his voice!

Tate agreed we would put the game on the "shelf" for a while and choose other things right now. He is learning to "hear" with his spiritual ears when the Holy Spirit speaks to him. I just can't wait to see what God does with these two guys!!!!!

I'm Looking For a Few Good Things...

1. A good internet filter. -- I need something that won't let ANYTHING through -- one of those iron-clad, cinderblock, "won't even find swimsuits" kind of things. The boys are using the internet more and more and right now I don't think they would purposely surf for things questionnable but I also know it's only a matter of time before stuff begins "appearing" and looking for them. Any suggestions?

2. Something for acid reflux. -- (Besides not being pregnant.) Simply put, I've got problems! If I eat anything after 6pm I end up on the sofa so I can sleep sitting somewhat upright. Generally before bed I have a nice warm cocktail of apple cider vinegar, honey and lemon but that's not really my drink of choice as a bed time snack. Any suggestions?

3. A good "every now and then" housekeeper -- Chad gave me the green light to get someone to help clean the detail stuff before the baby -- one really good go-round on the bathrooms, baseboards, stuff like that. We're good on the weekly stuff but I'm not against having someone help out a little before the big day. Any suggestions?

4. Wall decorations -- stretched canvas of a cute lamb -- The nursery is coming along well. I want a (pretty big) picture for the wall like a cute juvenile painting of a lamb on stretched canvass. Any suggestions?

5. Low calorie substitute for hot buttery biscuits and sausage gravy. And don't try to sell me fruit or granola bars. Any suggestions?

Tate Gets Baptized

For at least a year Tate has asked to be baptized. He even once told me that every time the Pastor at church asks who wants to become a follower of Christ and accept Jesus that he raises his hand. "Do I just keep doing that?" he would ask. That was the time we began really talking about what it means to accept Christ and follow him in baptism. He gets it -- maybe not exactly like you and I, but in his seven [almost eight] year old mind he knows he wants Jesus to be the one in control of him.

After putting him off for about a year, waiting to see if he would repeatedly bring it up [and waiting for him to mature just a little more], he continued to question us -- and progressively more frustrated. "What does it mean to follow Jesus, Tate?" we began. He interrupted, "It means you are a whole new person and you get this whole new life! Gosh, why won't you guys let me have THAT?"

So, on July 20, 2007 Tate was baptized to show the world to whom he belongs. Chad has now baptized both of the boys -- just a small part in the big picture of his role in their lives. Nick and I watched from the side of the lake and celebrated with his little brother afterward.

It was one of the happy parenting moments. :)