Today was my husband's birthday and since his love language is "acts of service," I did some things around the house that have been on his to-do list. And since they were put on his to-do list by moi, it was a humble act of love (see previous post on how I do with humility) to cross them off the weighty mental list.
So, today I moved a piano from the dining room (yeah, why was it there in the first place?) to the study. Yep. Sure did. Yep. By myself. Well and with the help of these things and a barely three year old. He really did help. Craftily figured out how to protect the wood floor, too. Nary a scratch on anything.
I moved the buffet cabinet from the study to the dining room. And reloaded it with all the artsy school supplies that have been disorganized forever.
Moved the sleeper sofa (without the help of these things), train table and entertainment center around in the family room. Which also meant that I had to move these dadgum things, too. And when there's nine of them filled to the gills with toys and games, they pretty much fall apart. A less short-cut prone person would have taken the junk out first, but, well, I just don't do that. I'm discovering that short cuts are rarely short. Kinda like the self-check line at Wal-Mart.
And I baked a birthday cake - no box involved, but plenty of egg whites and unsweet chocolate. And got the dishes washed and kitchen mostly clean. Threw in a load of laundry. Made a trip to the store for a card for hubby. And still cooked dinner.
I didn't take a shower today.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ugly
Yep. I'm ugly. I've said it before because I thought I was fat, but I'm pretty much over that now. Although, if I had the money and the guts there are a couple of surgeries I think I could justify. Not because God didn't make me right - just to fix what I've broken with gluttony and allergic reactions to exercise. But really, I'm okay with my outside me. I just got a glimpse at my inside part that ain't so pretty.
Several weeks ago we were challenged by Pastor Mike to get raw with our sin...THE sin...the ONE that so easily entangles (Heb. 12:1). So, in the spirit of transparency, here goes my ugliness:
Pride. I know. You were hoping for something scandalous.
It's such a short word. And it can be a good word. I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud of my husband. I'm proud to be a Christian. But really, it's a dangerous, dangerous thing. Every time that word is used, it's just a hairline fracture from a complete break in goodness.
And it's an ugly word. Ugly because it takes the focus from the One who is beyond Beautiful and zeros in on the unholy, fragmented weakness of one who is striving to be viewed as more than she is. Someone once told me that when you look at any God-created thing in a microscope each zoom of the lens reveals a beauty of greater depth. But when you look more closely at a man-made object it gets boxier, clumsier, and...uglier. I'd so much rather look at what God has done instead of what I have done.
Not sure I can even pinpoint what my pride looks like. It's mostly my thoughts turning inward - looking at me and what I'm doing. Even "I want to be an example" or "I want others to look at me and see Jesus" is about me. I suppose some people can say those things and still be completely humble, but I'm not there yet.
So, I want to throw off this dead weight - this sin that has tentacles that grab onto every act I seem to do. Yep, I'm ready to be covered up in His Glory! Here's what I mean (you gotta see the Glorious banner go up!):
"Humble yourself, and He will lift you up." (James 5:10) He will lift you up. And Paul adds a little clarity to when - "in due time." (1 Peter 5:6) It's been said to humble yourselves - or God will do it for you! I don't know how long it will take me to get this humility thing going in the right direction. According to C.S. Lewis, I've taken the first step.
Several weeks ago we were challenged by Pastor Mike to get raw with our sin...THE sin...the ONE that so easily entangles (Heb. 12:1). So, in the spirit of transparency, here goes my ugliness:
Pride. I know. You were hoping for something scandalous.
It's such a short word. And it can be a good word. I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud of my husband. I'm proud to be a Christian. But really, it's a dangerous, dangerous thing. Every time that word is used, it's just a hairline fracture from a complete break in goodness.
And it's an ugly word. Ugly because it takes the focus from the One who is beyond Beautiful and zeros in on the unholy, fragmented weakness of one who is striving to be viewed as more than she is. Someone once told me that when you look at any God-created thing in a microscope each zoom of the lens reveals a beauty of greater depth. But when you look more closely at a man-made object it gets boxier, clumsier, and...uglier. I'd so much rather look at what God has done instead of what I have done.
Not sure I can even pinpoint what my pride looks like. It's mostly my thoughts turning inward - looking at me and what I'm doing. Even "I want to be an example" or "I want others to look at me and see Jesus" is about me. I suppose some people can say those things and still be completely humble, but I'm not there yet.
So, I want to throw off this dead weight - this sin that has tentacles that grab onto every act I seem to do. Yep, I'm ready to be covered up in His Glory! Here's what I mean (you gotta see the Glorious banner go up!):
"Humble yourself, and He will lift you up." (James 5:10) He will lift you up. And Paul adds a little clarity to when - "in due time." (1 Peter 5:6) It's been said to humble yourselves - or God will do it for you! I don't know how long it will take me to get this humility thing going in the right direction. According to C.S. Lewis, I've taken the first step.
The first step [to acquire humility] is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
9.11.08
Dear Diary,
Ate breakfast.
Drove the kids to school. Talked about what happened 7 years ago today. Told them that every time they write the date today to pray for the kiddos who lost their parents.
Dropped Little Man off at Mother's Day Out.
Went to first piano and voice lesson. Nervous as all get out. Then Teacher said, "You're really good. Wow." Felt good to be good.
Just beginning with voice. Breathing exercises. Will be good for my posture and overall health, I betcha. So excited. Feel like I'm making Grandma proud using her money to make this one-of-these-days-I'm-gonna-do-this dream a reality. She loved music.
Saw the fire department's amazing 9/11 memorial with a NYFD suit and dozens of flags waving.
Lunch at Bread Co. Nice treat.
Picked up Matthew and we played Lego Star Wars on the computer for his mommy time. Gettin' pretty good at "using the force," although I've not reached Jedi status yet.
Picked up Jacob. Took the boys to Ashby's for ice cream. Superman Ice Cream uses a gallon of Red Dye #40, Yellow #5 and Blue #2. Obvious side effects remain on face, hands and clothes. But it is awesome (said with pointer fingers and thumbs raised to the sky).
Picked up older kids from school.
Saw flag at half mast.
Homework with kids. Oh, I so could homeschool again.
Leftovers for dinner. Thank goodness for leftovers.
Took Emilee to dance.
Practiced piano. Oh my goodness! I'm actually improvising! I can read chords. It took all of 15 minutes to figure that out. Whoo hooo!
Chris got home from PTA meeting. We must have very different views of what our kids "need" for their education. Park benches and $1,000 projectors for every classroom just don't jive with the fact that there are schools across the river that don't have books. Ticks me off.
Got boys ready for bed and had to run get the video camera to catch Matthew and Jacob singing Mark Roach's awesome Inside Out song. So glad to have caught that.
Picked Emilee up from dance.
She told me she forgot to pray for the kids today. She remembered the first time she wrote the date, and they had a moment of silence at school this morning. But she forgot after that.
So did I. Oh, I had reminders. But I just lived my life today. Not in fear. Not with anxiety. Not with an urgency to love my family. Have I really forgotten that horror? Am I truly grateful for this country and the fact that it has kept me safe these last 7 years?
Oh, let us live boldly. Let us live the life we are meant to live. Let us not waste years, days or moments. Let us never forget.
Ate breakfast.
Drove the kids to school. Talked about what happened 7 years ago today. Told them that every time they write the date today to pray for the kiddos who lost their parents.
Dropped Little Man off at Mother's Day Out.
Went to first piano and voice lesson. Nervous as all get out. Then Teacher said, "You're really good. Wow." Felt good to be good.
Just beginning with voice. Breathing exercises. Will be good for my posture and overall health, I betcha. So excited. Feel like I'm making Grandma proud using her money to make this one-of-these-days-I'm-gonna-do-this dream a reality. She loved music.
Saw the fire department's amazing 9/11 memorial with a NYFD suit and dozens of flags waving.
Lunch at Bread Co. Nice treat.
Picked up Matthew and we played Lego Star Wars on the computer for his mommy time. Gettin' pretty good at "using the force," although I've not reached Jedi status yet.
Picked up Jacob. Took the boys to Ashby's for ice cream. Superman Ice Cream uses a gallon of Red Dye #40, Yellow #5 and Blue #2. Obvious side effects remain on face, hands and clothes. But it is awesome (said with pointer fingers and thumbs raised to the sky).
Picked up older kids from school.
Saw flag at half mast.
Homework with kids. Oh, I so could homeschool again.
Leftovers for dinner. Thank goodness for leftovers.
Took Emilee to dance.
Practiced piano. Oh my goodness! I'm actually improvising! I can read chords. It took all of 15 minutes to figure that out. Whoo hooo!
Chris got home from PTA meeting. We must have very different views of what our kids "need" for their education. Park benches and $1,000 projectors for every classroom just don't jive with the fact that there are schools across the river that don't have books. Ticks me off.
Got boys ready for bed and had to run get the video camera to catch Matthew and Jacob singing Mark Roach's awesome Inside Out song. So glad to have caught that.
Picked Emilee up from dance.
She told me she forgot to pray for the kids today. She remembered the first time she wrote the date, and they had a moment of silence at school this morning. But she forgot after that.
So did I. Oh, I had reminders. But I just lived my life today. Not in fear. Not with anxiety. Not with an urgency to love my family. Have I really forgotten that horror? Am I truly grateful for this country and the fact that it has kept me safe these last 7 years?
Oh, let us live boldly. Let us live the life we are meant to live. Let us not waste years, days or moments. Let us never forget.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
And that's just today...
A few things to note from today:
After ten and a half years of continuous diapers (that's over 10,000 diapers I've changed!), the Longs are officially a diaper-free family! Hallelujah!
Now that Jacob is completely potty-trained, I don't always know when he needs my assistance. Independent child that he his, he takes care of things himself. Apparently a whole roll of toilet paper was perceived as necessary, and low-flush toilets don't handle whole rolls of toilet paper too well. When I discovered the obstruction, water had filled the bathroom area and the sink area about a quarter inch. Oh joy. Thank goodness for big towels and Clorox spray.
In the two year old room at church today, we had one child without underwear, two unique dance performances, one proudly displayed belly tattoo, 2 screamers and one little girl with sequins in her diaper (??????). Never a dull moment.
After adhering a cool tattoo to his well-defined 8-year-old bicep, Grant told me, "I wish there was a tattoo that said Johnny." Okay. Why? "Because when I grow up I'm going to change my name to Johnny." Okay. Why????
Matthew doesn't get too wordy (aww, I know, he takes after me) and rarely voices his opinion (again, just like me). But tonight he sweetly informed me for the first time, "Just to remind you, I don't like orange vitamin C." Note taken. I'll keep that in mind.
It still cracks me up that people think I have such a big family with my four kids. I really don't feel that I'm all that abnormal. Just to prove that I'm not, we invited five of Jacob's little friends for his birthday party tonight. We made it a family deal. That added up to 22 kids!
Disclaimer: Not all of the events happened just today, but they did happen within the last 24 hours. In case I run for public office someday, I wouldn't want anyone to think that I stretched the truth and was dishonest and would stop at nothing to further my blogging agenda. That would be a terrible blow my credibility.
After ten and a half years of continuous diapers (that's over 10,000 diapers I've changed!), the Longs are officially a diaper-free family! Hallelujah!
Now that Jacob is completely potty-trained, I don't always know when he needs my assistance. Independent child that he his, he takes care of things himself. Apparently a whole roll of toilet paper was perceived as necessary, and low-flush toilets don't handle whole rolls of toilet paper too well. When I discovered the obstruction, water had filled the bathroom area and the sink area about a quarter inch. Oh joy. Thank goodness for big towels and Clorox spray.
In the two year old room at church today, we had one child without underwear, two unique dance performances, one proudly displayed belly tattoo, 2 screamers and one little girl with sequins in her diaper (??????). Never a dull moment.
After adhering a cool tattoo to his well-defined 8-year-old bicep, Grant told me, "I wish there was a tattoo that said Johnny." Okay. Why? "Because when I grow up I'm going to change my name to Johnny." Okay. Why????
Matthew doesn't get too wordy (aww, I know, he takes after me) and rarely voices his opinion (again, just like me). But tonight he sweetly informed me for the first time, "Just to remind you, I don't like orange vitamin C." Note taken. I'll keep that in mind.
It still cracks me up that people think I have such a big family with my four kids. I really don't feel that I'm all that abnormal. Just to prove that I'm not, we invited five of Jacob's little friends for his birthday party tonight. We made it a family deal. That added up to 22 kids!
Disclaimer: Not all of the events happened just today, but they did happen within the last 24 hours. In case I run for public office someday, I wouldn't want anyone to think that I stretched the truth and was dishonest and would stop at nothing to further my blogging agenda. That would be a terrible blow my credibility.
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