Sending Our Friends Some Fluff

When it began snowing today, our boys wished so much they could send a snowball to Tony and Derek in Honduras. We thought maybe some pictures of the lovely stuff would convey our sympathy to those who have no snow of their own!

The Land of Uz

We got our boys some audio Bible stories on CD from Your Story Hour. They kind of give you sticker shock when you see the price at the bookstore, but they are well worth the money.

Recently the boys and I listened to the story of Job. I was amazed again at the faith of this hero of old, who had no idea why the bottom fell out of his world one day. Only the bottom did not fall out, much to the Devil's consternation. My boys seemed to grasp for the first time just how dastardly wicked the Devil is. Alex was deep in thought after the story ended, then: "Mama, you know what? If I would be allowed to say it, I would call the Devil a poop." (I know what you mean, Son. I really do.)

I was glad for two things.

1. It was a great teachable moment to explain to them that the victory is already won over that enemy of all that is true and good.
2. That was the worst word he knew.
   

A Strong Assurance

We missed the Messiah concert in Bedford for the first time in seven years last weekend. Instead, we stood at the grave of a dear friend and heard those same beautiful words being read as her body was committed to the earth. "The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed... For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  I stood there in the bitter cold while five little children and their daddy helped to bury the body of their loved one, and I heard the music in my heart and was comforted. 

When I first got the news that my cousin Richard's wife was on life support just two days after giving birth to her sixth child, my mind absolutely refused to accept it. I wandered around the house, trying to work, crying out for mercy, for a miracle, for anything but death. "Lord, You can't let her die. You know how much her family needs her. She prayed and longed for this baby for years. Please let her live. Please..." And then the call that they were taking the life support off, and Wilma was gone. Our anguished "whys" drifted out into the inscrutable blackness of the night. There were no answers, and the gap between Who God is and my human questions in the face of this tragedy seemed too much to bear. I remembered that the faithfulness of God has nothing to do with my reasoning and feeling, and I was comforted.

It was characteristic of Wilma that she did not want a morbid weeping around her casket, that she wished for people to focus instead on the glory of that which is incorruptible. We sang "Blessed Assurance" and "Praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer" and I have never heard such singing at a funeral. It was glorious! 

Wilma was the most joyful person I ever knew, and I said that long before she died. She loved Jesus with all her heart, and we all knew it. She totally poured out her life for others. She was infectiously happy and alive. And yet now she is even more alive. It stretches my little human brain to think of her having reached the very Best, the presence of Jesus Himself. And yet my heart breaks for those who will miss her sorely, for her family who will have to try to figure out how to go on without her, for the tiny baby girl they named Evangeline, who only had a few hours with her mama. I remember what Richard said, "My wife was simply a channel for God's love to pour out on us. All that love came from Him, and He is able to pour His love onto us from other channels." I was challenged by his faith, and I was comforted.

"But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now We Are Six

We celebrated Alex's birthday early, on Thanksgiving evening. Our little tradition of picking out cake designs online had me a bit worried this year, as he kept taking a shine to the most impossibly intricate cakes. I managed to steer him to one that was doable, and here it is... The Fishbowl Cake. Thanks to Aunt Rachel for pressing in the hundreds of nerds at the bottom when the icing was already dry!

Six years ago it was hard to imagine my baby being able to clean up his own messes, wash dishes, fold laundry, entertain siblings, mop the kitchen floor and so much more useful stuff! I wouldn't have believed the day would come so soon when he would be reading, writing, making amazing Lego creations and coming up with original jokes for my entertainment. Wow, here we are, just six short years later!

I don't know how many people told me, "They grow up so fast." Like so many other cliches, it didn't sink in until it happened to me! Growing up is a good thing, though! For example, it is much easier for me to take them all along and run errands in town now that two of them can buckle their own seat belts, hold hands across the parking lot, and have learned (sort of ) not to touch the stuff on the shelves. This morning we had no less than six stops to make on our round through Bedford. We were done in 3 hours, and I did not come home with a headache, as in the old days of lugging infant seats. So to repeat another truth that I didn't really believe for the first few years of littles in the house, "It gets easier!" Thank God, it gets easier!