Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Jars of Clay

"A Wife for Isaac" was the title of the children's history lesson a couple of weeks ago. We talked about how Rebecca watered the servants camels. Our hands-on activity for the day was to make clay water pots. Fortunately, the discussion went far beyond Isaac and Rebecca.



As the children diligently worked the clay in their hands, they began asking questions about the clay. They wanted to know why it took so long to make the clay take shape. Why did it mess up sometimes and make them have to start all over? Why did the clay dry up sometimes. Naturally, they were thrilled to see that you just have to add some water. They noticed that the longer they worked building up the sides of the water pots, the stronger the pots were.



I was in tears by this point. We talked about how we are clay in the hands of God. We talked about how his water of life makes us pliable. We talked about how our precious Father doesn't throw the marred and broken clay away. Praise the Lord!



Jeremiah 18: 1-4 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day

I have a beautiful mother. She is all of those things that just make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I love her because she is kind, warm and copassionate. I love her because she is smart. I admire her. She is consistent, solid and unwavering. She is one of those anchoring roots in my life. She is bold, confident and brave. I love the way she smiles when I say, "I think I just want one more baby". I love the way she cries with me when I my chidren are sick or hurting. I love how she understands my lonliness when my husband is gone. I love how she was thrilled when we had to move in with her while our house was being finished (This could have been some mild insanity. There were seven of us in that house!). I even love how she cried when it was time for us to go home. I love how she can't keep any sort of plant alive and how she hates to cook. God knew I would need to feel useful for something :)



I have a beautiful mother.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Walking to Nana's

We are blessed to live just across the field from my mom. It is not unusual, when our school work is done, for the children to ask if they can "run down to Nana's." We always make them call to ask but, that is just a formality. I have never known Nana or Poppy to turn down a visit from the kidos. Last week, Joshua made his first trip across the yard with his brother and sisters. It was one of those priceless moments that you just want to freeze in time. I called my mom so she could be watching and Stacy and I stood on the porch watching them, crying and taking a picture, of course. Stacy asked me if I ever thought that we would be watching four of them walk down to Nana's. I replied that I never knew we would be so abundantly blessed.


Psalm 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: