On bathroom reading and kitchen worship

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this world is a fallen place.

It's so terribly easy to get lost in our world, overwhelmed in our homes, and blah or ARGH! in our hearts.

For a woman like me who is home ALL the time, with so many little mundane tasks that tower over her like a terrible monstrous beast, it can be so easy to lose sight of, well, pretty much everything.
Some days all I can see is the immediate tasks in front of me, my unwelcome friends fatigue and frustration just don't leave, and the never-ending whining to accompany the daily humdrum (by my children or myself) can really make for a life that no one would envy.

So in an effort to help raise my eyes towards the hills from whence cometh my help, I've tried several things this past/current year...but some of them have been fails. I did try going to a Moms in Prayer group. Like one time (yeah, one year olds and quiet prayer don't really mix!). I also tried keeping up with an online Bible study. Also didn't go very well... Apparently I can't read at night for more than seven minutes without falling asleep. And then there's going to church. Having children take turns getting sick for three months in a row really puts a hamper on one's attendance.

Ok so all that said I've realized setting aside a whole hour or morning or trying to read anything before bed is really not working this season of life. So in an effort to lower my expectations, and yet still get my daily Bread throughout the day, this year I'm going to focus on getting God snacks wherever the opportunity arises.

These opportunities, I believe, have to come during the times to myself that I DO get, not on times to myself that I WISH I got. So let me think:

Ah yes, showering. So there's two or three times a week (you smile, but tis true!) that I get to sing some hymns whilst the little ones are taught to share from Daniel Tiger.

Driving: whether it be taking the kids to school, or driving half hour to my parents, my cd player is full of Seeds Family Worship (Faith and Encouragement are my favorites right now), Shane and Shane, and Mozart piano concertos.

And kitchen duties must be done everyday, so there's a daily amount of time that could be transformed into a prayer time (if kids are napping), and if the kids are all invading my personal space I can at least listen to some worship music and sing along (in between teaching, rebuking, correcting, and the like!). Beats the way I often do dishes, that's for sure. And while I'm in the kitchen paragraph, I'd like to add this quote I just heard in church this Sunday...and from a man born 400 years ago who worked in the kitchen at his monastery for most of his life! I just cannot stop thinking about these words:

"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament."  Brother Lawrence

I'm thinking I need to read some more of this man (The Practice of the Presence of God, here I come)! And speaking of books, I've been discovering that bathroom reading can be a gold mine...that's several times EVERY day that I can devote to upward thinking. In those few moments a day I get (generally) to myself, I often grab something to read for 27 seconds that will inspire and uplift in a jiffy. I used to have cooking magazines in there, but even those stressed me out because nothing in cooking magazines these days are TRULY quick and easy (I just don't think any of those Food Network chefs have four kids and no Whole Foods)...so now I have a few devotionals and such, and among them is a home made collection of quotes that my dear mother has gathered over the years, and though I've read through that book off and on for years, this particular quote from Joy and Strength hit me as brand new two weeks ago when I read it. I keep rereading it, trying to let its truth shine light over my day, or at least the next hour.
Read it slowly. It packs a punch...

"There is no other way in which one's life will be so surely, so quickly transfigured, as in the faithful, happy, cheerful doing of everyday tasks. We need to remember that this world is not so much a place for doing things as for making character. Right in the midst of what some people call drudgery is the very place to get the transformed, transfigured life. The doing of common tasks patiently, promptly, faithfully, cheerfully, makes the character beautiful and bright. But we must take heed always that we do our tasks, whatever they are, with love in our heart. Doing any kind of work unwillingly, with complaint and murmuring, hurts the life." J.R. Miller

It's like that verse in Colossians 3, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." When I was younger, I took that verse to mean doing your best at piano, swimming, school work, etc. Big things, fun things, things I enjoyed. But now, man oh man! These words are so convicting!! In my heart of hearts I want to live an EXCITING life, I want to DO exciting things, like perhaps being a famous musician, a celebrity chef,  travel to far off lands, or be a heroine who rides a beautiful horse with flowing non-oily hair.

But I wipe butts. And snotty faces. And try to clean a house that is 100% determined to create and multiply dirt as fast as it can. And my back hurts from bending over and picking up, picking up, picking up.
And with no degree in such things, I'm in charge of training complaining, impatient, selfish small human beings to grow up to be grateful, kind, generous older human beings. And while I do see, occasionally, bits of progress that give me specks of hope, life is decidedly not very glamorous. And it is so very, well, daily. Common.


A few Sundays ago, being in quite a stew (which happens a lot on Sundays because I still think in my fairytale brain that I should have a weekend or a day of rest, perhaps you can relate?), I was getting in the van to go pick up food for dinner when what do I see but a HUGE full rainbow. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to stay in a stew when you see a full rainbow?! God loves reminding us that HE is there. At that moment I thought of Noah, as he lived in a world literally drowning in sin, when all around him was dark, and no one cared two jots about righteousness, he remained determined that as for him and his household, he would serve the Lord. For another 100 years! Talk about daily life feeling like it never ends! And God saved him. And not only did He save him and his family, he gave him a beautiful sign when the whole ordeal was over...a breathtaking reminder that He is still holding the whole world in his hands.

And if he can hold the whole world in his hands, he can certainly take care of my home. And he can keep my heart in perfect peace.

Be very careful, then, how you live,

Not as unwise but as wise,

making the most of every opportunity,

because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16.


Set you mind of things above, not on earthly things. 
Col. 3:2

These commandments I give to you are to be upon your hearts. 

Write them on the doorframe of your home.

Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the way,

when you lie down, and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7


Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
Col. 3:17

Peace be the journey!

P.S. yes I confess that's from Cool Runnings ; )

Language Arts

My college experience was excellent in many ways, but, like most higher level institutions I assume, did not prepare me very well for this 'get thrown in the water and try not to drown' season of life called Parenting Young Children.

It's ok. You can laugh. Or cry. Or just send me your 19 year old daughter to have for the next few years. THAT would be awesome!

So as I was saying, oh yeah, college. I had a great experience, and learned many things. I was very well trained in piano. I know how to play that big hunk of wooden hammers and steel strings. And I know how to sight-sing in solfege. And I know how to analyze contrapuntal music (well, that might be a little rusty). I could conduct a choir if I had to. And as far as the Liberal Arts went, I loved those classes too (except World History, but we're not going there). I particularly loved my French class. Not only did I take two semesters of that, I had the privilege of having a German friend, Japanese friend, and Mandarin speaking friend who taught me a few words here and there. I also went on a missions trip to Romania after my freshman year, and still remember how to say "how much does it cost" and "thank you" and "good day." Recently, thanks to Highlights magazines, I now know about 27 words in Spanish. I love learning about other cultures and languages. Always have.

But nothing, and I mean NOTHING, has prepared me for the lovely year of learning Toddlerian. (or Toddlish/ Toddlegian/Toddlen? Take your pick!)

It. Is. Hard. 

I've had this course two times already, and I don't remember much about them to be honest. But this third course, Kelly 202, is um, well, let's just say I'm getting by with a C. But hey, as my husband has taught me, "C is for cookie!"

She might look like a little American girl, but she does not sound like one. At least not yet. So on top of all the other things there are to do, being interrupted about 85 times a day by a dialect so foreign to my ears does not go over well. Sometimes I just laugh. Sometimes I very firmly say "I have NO IDEA what you're saying." Neither helps of course. My little girl MUST be understood, and if she is not, will repeat over and over and over and over again her grunts and alien sounding syllables until she is affirmed (meaning I have to figure out what the heck she's saying, say it, and wait for her very German sounding "Yah!"). If I fail to say what she means, tears and crying and the like follow...or what's really funny is when she repeats herself slowly and loudly!

~Mommy, babee oh ah-ah = baby rolled over

~Mih-mow hah puhpuh deh ah = Minnie mouse have purple dress on

~Eh-eh puh mee... Crying and Evan saying he did not push her helped me decipher that one, plus I know Evan is 'eh-eh'

~Pih-eh hoe oh-uh! = princess show is over! (amidst tears...that one was really hard the first couple times)

~Mee hake bah too = me take a bath too!

~May pee-hah pee-buh booh = May I please have peanut butter spoon (which she requests about 10 times a day on average)


There are some times I feel like I'm in a foreign country, having to take into account context and surroundings, and hand signals and body language to figure it out. 

Have you ever been in a choir and the conductor asked you to sing just on the vowels? That's what she reminds me of. Except she unfortunately does not use any familiar melodies. But when she does, it's pretty cute I must say: "Jesus loves me this I know" sounds like "E-uh uh me ih I no."

It's not always difficult to figure out what she's saying, thank goodness:

~Daddy ho! (when he walks in the door)
~Nee huh ah kih (hug and kiss before bedtime, with gestures to aid me =; )
~Hat-ee hat-ee ho (what does the fox say?)
~Baby happy! (anytime Eric is smiling, which is a lot)
~Me ee pih-eh book! (She is a true girly girl and loves all princess stories)
~Pee hah mo milk! (Yes you may)



Sweet little story to wrap this up: the other night I was sitting at the piano playing a worship song, where the chorus goes "Jesus, his name is Jesus, etc." and she sits next to me on the bench and starts singing "Ee-suh, ee-suh," in the same rhythm. That time I knew for sure what she was saying, and it Warmed. My. Heart!

"Out of the mouth of babies and children you have established strength." Psalm 8:2

Even if I don't know what she's saying all the time, it's nice to know Someone does. And He has a purpose for her life and is keeping her heart beating and her brain growing every day for His good pleasure.

I love you Kelly Grace. "I uh yoo, mommy!"