A Lesson from the Birds

With it being National Poetry Month, I once again, have gotten excited about poetry. My friend who always inspires me to read more, is doing a fun thing over at her blog at the end of this month, which I definitely plan to participate in. However, throughout this month, I hope to bring some cheer with poems or songs that have stuck out to me.

Last night we went to our library to hear Mother Goose (who was completely awesome) read several of her rhymes, and do some crafts, and have a little party. I love that my kids as young as they are, are learning to read and understand poetry. I've pulled out my Mother Goose and A Child's Garden of Verses, and I'm sure, I'll be learning quite a lot this month myself. This lesson is from the birds.

"Nest Eggs" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Birds all the sunny day

Flutter and quarrel

Here in the arbour-like

Tent of the laurel.

Here in the fork

The brown nest is seated;

Four little blue eggs

The mother keeps heated.

While we stand watching her,

Staring like gabies,

Safe in each egg are the

Bird's little babies.

Soon the frail eggs they shall

Chip, and upspringing,

Make all the April woods

Merry with singing.

Younger than we are,

O children, and frailer,

Soon in blue air they'll be,

Singer and sailor.

We, so much older,

Taller and stronger,

We shall look down on the

Birdies no longer.

They shall go flying

With musical speeches

High overhead in the

Tops of the beeches.

In spite of our wisdom

And sensible talking,

We on our feet must go

Plodding and walking.

He is Risen Indeed

It was a beautiful day, in so many ways. Easter has always been my favorite holiday. When asked as a child which holiday was my favorite, I always said, "EASTER!" while other kids looked at me like I was crazy for not saying Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but there's always been something more for me at Easter.

I think part of it started when my mom always held to celebrating it in a simple, yet pure of heart way...she would find a Sunrise service, anywhere she could, and we would wake up as early as possible, quickly get dressed with one eye open, and then quietly and reverently celebrate our risen Lord. Then, usually we would come home, and search furiously for our Easter baskets, which were hidden in trickier spots each year. Then with our goodies in our bellies, and our hearts feeling full, we would enjoy a peaceful day together.

There weren't many days like that throughout my early years, where I knew what to expect. But I always knew what to expect with Easter. I could expect celebration and love. Rejoicing and sometimes even a few tears.

Today was a day like that. We didn't make it to a sunrise service, but we did sit on our bed as the sun rose, and read the Easter story. Then, we came in for a simple breakfast of fruit and banana bread before hurrying to find baskets filled with fun goodies and surprises. We played for a few minutes with our new things before getting in our spring time attire for the special day ahead of us. As we worshipped our risen Lord together, I remembered how beautiful a season we are in, where the old can become new, the lost can be found, and the blind, can now see. How amazing this grace is that the Father has lavished on us.

Shoo Fly!

This past month, the kids and I have talked a lot about bugs. All different types, but I have kind of been partial to my favorites...caterpillars and ladybugs. Caterpillars, mainly because they turn into butterflies. And who doesn't like butterflies. And if you don't....what's wrong with you??? They don't hurt anyone, they don't bother you, they just fly around and look pretty. Same with ladybugs. Not to mention they're red and get to have polka dots. Definitely fun to see. Anyway, even though I've acted excited about finding bugs with the preschoolers, I am not a huge fan myself. But of course, I don't want my kids to be all scared about bugs, so I've been trying to keep my cool. I've checked out fun books like this one, to show how neat bugs are. We have bug catchers and songs, and so on and so forth. Well, I think the bugs are ganging up against me to show them my true colors.

The other day, my least favorite...a slug was on our morning paper. Keeping me from being able to even take it out of the bag and read it. And then, these weird pincher crawly bugs are in random places around our house. WHY???? I mean, I've never seen them before, and now, this spring they're like the mascot of our home. Then today, I was pulling down the driveway, and all of a sudden this wasp flew right in the front seat of our van. So, I'm all trying to quickly put it in park and jump out before I get stung, without wrecking in my own driveway, for fear of the wasp above my head. Not to mention that I've been blessed with my first mosquito bites of the season! I'm in bad shape if summer's not even begun, and I'm already dreading the bugs!!

Bittersweet Celebration

As I sit here and type, I know that I'm taking a risk. I'm risking that I may not be able to take a shower in a minute, if the little ones wake up early. This is really my one break in the day, and I should be spending it taking care of myself, right? Well, right now, taking care of myself, is sitting down and typing for a bit.

On Sunday, I had a fabulous Mother's Day. I was able to unwrap (literally) gifts of blessings in my life. I was surprised by flowers picked by my beautiful daughter, hugs and kisses galore by my sweet son, a latte made and brought to me in bed by my handsome husband, and then...my actual gift. My brand new red Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Y'all...I cannot tell you how long I've wanted one. But I can tell you how long I used that stupid piece of crap hand mixer - 10 years!!! I guess it wasn't that big of a piece of crap if I used it for that long, but you know what I mean. It was $10, and it started smelling like the motor about 3 seconds after I had it on. So, anyway, you can imagine how excited I was about my gift.

The day went on, and I realized how much I love sharing life. Sharing life with my family. Sharing life with my friends. Sharing life with the Body of Christ. And then, I started to miss her. You know, the one who the day was really all about to begin with. I started to remember how much I loved sharing life with my mama. And how much she would love seeing me as a Mama. Giving her kisses. Using her petnames and phrases. Laughing her laugh. Making her recipes for my children, the same way she did for me. Even using a Kitchen Aid mixer, just like she did. And I just wish that I could pick up the phone and call her. Or see her smile one more time.

It's a bittersweet time for another reason, too. My sister's late husband would have turned 36 yesterday. THIRTY-SIX!!! At his funeral three years ago, one of the songs we sang was "Give Me Jesus". If you know the song, you know the chorus says, "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus." I have to tell you, there have been times that I have wondered if I truly believe that statement. It's easy to sing it when you have everything that you want and need. But, standing in the little white church, with tears rolling down her face, and three small boys all around her, I remember her singing, "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus." I also know that there have been times since that my sister has said, "No, you know, Lord, honestly, I'd rather have my husband. This is just too hard."

In our feeble understanding, we cannot fathom how great the next page of life is. We cannot begin to see how full of a life our loved ones who have gone on before us are truly living. I know in my head how wonderful heaven must be, but what is here is so much easier to be attached to.

So today, in honor of my brother in law, we will go pick strawberries. My sister always made him strawberry shortcake for his birthday, so it's become a tradition for us to go together now. To think of him, and to enjoy strawberry shortcake for him, even though I know the food he and our mom enjoys now is far superior to anything here. We will pick, and we will smile. We will eat, and we will cry. Because that's what this life is about. Being able to still enjoy the celebration, even when it's a bittersweet celebration.

SPRING BREAK, 09!

Before I ever had my children, I already had fallen head over heels in love with these three beautiful boys.   I know they would hate me even saying that, but AREN'T they gorgeous?

They are such a blessing to our family, and we love being with them.   My kids call them "brother cousins" and cute things like that.   And I get to be the fun aunt, otherwise known as, "Aunt Mama".   Even though we live in the same city, we don't get time together like I wish we had.    Since my sis is in the midst of clinicals and rotations and other nursing school things that I can't comprehend, we had asked if we could steal them away for their spring break to join us down at the beach.    So, thus, the Spring Break, 09.

We decided that we would leave last night after we all had Easter dinner together.    So, last night on the way down, we walked into McDonald's at 10pm for a snack and bathroom break.  We all went in.   It was really fun to pretend for a few minutes like I was this cool fun mom of 5 beautiful sandy blonde's and was all cute in my sundress from Easter, and had my cute husband smiling at me, and wasn't even concerned about the hour.    Everyone had those looks like...well, how you would look if you saw somebody walk into a place with 5 kids under the age of 10.    It was great.

We got back in the car, and after fighting severely with the stupid seat belts of the too crammed car seats, I shouted out, "We're not getting out until we get to the beach!"   Not even 5 minutes later, my daughter says, "Mommy, I have to go again....REALLY BAD!"     She had been so excited about her new water bottle with cold water, she had drunk all of it.    In less than an hour.    Me, not being quite so cool anymore, looked over at my hubby, who was just smiling. 

One day, when I was a little girl, probably 9, and was driving my mom crazy on a cross country trip, she turned around, and shouted..."MELISSA, I HOPE YOU HAVE 5 KIDS!!!"    I, being the super sensitive and over dramatic child I was, burst into tears.    My sister all the while quietly chuckling at my expense.   

So we're enjoying our beach time, and loving every minute of having 5 kids...for a week.

A Mother's Lot

Yesterday, Asher and I were enjoying a little bit of one on one time.   He asked to play ball together, which we don't do as often as we should.   Coming off such a great Tarheel victory, I couldn't wait to encourage his ball ability.   We pulled the goal out and as I did, he asked me to make the goal higher.   It had already been raised a little the other day, and so I asked if he was sure.   He was.

We started shooting, him with the hard, small size appropriate basketball.   Not the Nerf kind.  Not the squishy, soft kind.   That's the kind he gave me.   After shooting several times and missing, me being the supportive mother, asked if he wanted me to lower the goal.   He said no.   I asked him if he wanted me to lift him up to make it in.   He said no again.   Or, "uhhh-ohh", which means no.

He continued throwing the ball up, determined to make one in.    But one after the other, they missed.    He started throwing harder, and bending down lower trying to get more leverage.    Nothing.   Finally, he shot one that hit the rim, but was thrown so hard it shot right back down at him, and slammed into his face.    Hard.    

He cried for a few minutes, and as I saw the big red mark on his face, I kissed it and asked if he wanted to stop playing.    He said no.   And then proceeded to get in position again.    Bending low, and having the ball held as rightly as he knew how, he shot it up as hard as he could.  I held my breath, just hoping that this time it would make it in....

It went in.

I marveled at his persistence while wondering if this is what mothers go through.  Do they stand aside, and without helping, allow their children to try their hardest and fail.   Time and time again.   Do they encourage after every attempt, even when the outcome is not success as we would call success.    Do they love on them when they lose, and when they win?    Do they see them get hurt and struggle, only to feel let down one more time?    The answer?   Yes.   Yes, we do.   Because without the struggle there would be no victory.    And without the disappointment, there would be no character built.   Without the pain, there would be no triumph.

I can't help but think of Mary this week.    How she was able to see her sweet Son, who had grown into an amazing man, have to face a trial none of us can imagine.   To be betrayed by the closest of friends.   To be accused unjustly.   To be beaten almost to the point of death, only to have to endure more torture.    To be made sin, when He knew no sin.    To suffer like no one ever has nor ever will.   To feel the grip of death, and to even be given over to it.    To be forsaken by everyone, even His Father.   

The pain that she must have known in those moments is a pain that I do not wish to share.   It is a suffering that I would never ask to have.    But then, I think about how she got to be Jesus' mother.   How she got to see Him live a Holy life.   She was able to help shape Him into a man.    She saw Him do miracles and display God's glory day after day after day.   She saw Him defeat death.    Defeat sin.   Defeat all His enemies, once and for all.    Destroy any grip that death would ever hold on any of us ever again.   And as painful as it must have been, I can't begin to understand the pride she must have had when He rose up from the grave.   That after every bit of pain and suffering, He had relief.   He had healing.    He had victory.

"Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."   Heb. 12:1-3

Happy Green Day!

Ok, so instead of cleaning my house and taking care of things here, I'd much rather find green things to talk about.   After all, it is St. Patrick's Day!

When I was a pre-teen and teenager, my favorite color was green.  Kelly green.   You could have had a piece of balled up green paper, and I would have been like, "Can I keep it??"   I even had a green shelf in my room that held all of my green treasures.   True story.

So, to celebrate a little today, here are some of my favorite green things around here.

this made my morning trip to Harris Teeter with the toddlers a little more enjoyable (especially because today it was free!   i had to wait while they made a new pot, so it was on the house! happy st. patty's day to me!)

little lady leprachans

i can't wait to plant these!

my handsome adventurer

my "welcome home" bouquet that my sweet family surprised me with on sunday

springtime mantle (not too different from Christmas)

Here's wishing you happy green thoughts for the day!   How green was your day today?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Spring is in the air.    And I love it.   I know we'll get a couple more cold days, but I know that it's almost here.   I love being able to be outside and enjoy the sun shining down on me.   I find new ways to enjoy the outdoors, whether it's going to different parks, or sitting outside when I eat, or just working in the yard.    I was so excited the other day when I saw the first blossoms on the Bradford Pear trees lining the road that we travel daily.    It's always a sign that the seasons are changing.

All winter long, I wait patiently for the Spring.   It's like how I used to wait for Christmas once it was Fall.   (Or really, how I still do.)     I try to convince myself that other seasons are my favorite, but there is something different about the Spring.    I even found myself singing "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" the other day.   But skipping over the Christmas lyrics, and just keeping to that phrase.   I could say that it's the warm weather, or the budding flowers, or the birds singing more freely.   But what I truly believe it is, is the new life that it brings.    Or should I say, that He brings.

I walked by our dogwood tree the other day, and for many seasons, I have thought that it was about to die.   I love dogwoods, and we only have this little one in our yard.    And, it seriously is pretty skimpy, and I always think, this is it's last leg.   But somehow, it comes back to life every spring.   Even though it seems to have almost no life left in it, there are the tiniest of buds beginning to show forth.   It reminds me that I , too, have an entirely new life.   

Therefore, through baptism we were buried with him into his death so that, just as the Messiah was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too may live an entirely new life. (Rom. 6:4)

That because I was buried with him, when he chose to die for me, that I, too, have been given the same new life that Christ received.   He was raised by the Father's glory, and that is no small thing.   I am so thankful that the Lord not only teaches us with stories and parables that we can understand from daily life, but that He displays His glory throughout everything that we see.

I am anticipating Easter, with the hope of this new life.   And my prayer is that no matter how long I am a believer, that this new life that He offers me, would never become old to me.   That I would see His mercies new for me every morning, and know that I need His new life just as much this season, as I did the last.

Secrets...Think Daffodils...

From all that I'm seeing and hearing, bright yellow is the hot color for this spring. Pantone(a company that widely influences the fashion industry when it comes to colors and shades) recently named "mimosa" the color of 2009. It's bright, but also has some warm hues to it, so it's not too overwhelming.

Other "in" colors are ones that remind you of citrusy things. Mango, papaya, limes, get it? Now, you don't have to feel like you have to run out and get a wardrobe full of fruit, but if you see a cute new bag or top, instead of going for your usual black, brown or gray, grab the brightly colored one! Next on the list for top colors are the bright pinks and blues, so if the yellow family feels a little too ambitious, go with one of the others that you feel more confident in.

When wearing these fun pops of color, make sure you freshen it up by pairing them with denim or white. Pairing with black is a little too 80s.

You'll look adorable sporting these splashes of color this spring and summer!