some gristle to gnaw on...

from The Immitation of Christ
by Thomas a Kempis
"Jesus today has many who love his heavenly kingdom, but few who carry his cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress. Plenty of people he finds to share his banquet, few to share his fast. Every one desires to take part in his rejoicing, but few are willing to suffer anything for his sake. There are many that follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, few as far as drinking the cup of suffering; many that revere his miracles, few that follow him in the indignity of his cross,; many that love Jesus as long as nothing runs counter to them; many that praise and bless him, as long as they receive some comfort from him; but should Jesus hide from them and leave them for a while, they fall to complaining or become deeply depressed."

no sermon from me here...I am to busy picking up my jaw....I don't remember seeing Thomas a Kempis in my house...and yet....hmmm... he seems to have been looking in my window...creapy saint...lol...and yet ...trying Lord, thank you for the word....

here we go again....

So it's probably going to hurt...but I have been thinking...
there was something broken in me and once again God used the people around me to put some of the pieces back together...
So, probably the next step...because this is kinda the way that HE works...is ....growth...
I just know that God is gong to ask me to grow...sigh...I''m not good at it...really I would rather just mumble away in my ignorance...but I would be remiss if I didn't notice some obvious clues....
Christ woke me up at 6:30 this morning with a song in my heart and an amazing sunrise...
He gave me time to pee (by myself!!!)
The baby stayed asleep and I picked up a bible study that I just got on a whim and read the intro...an with this sentence, it hit me...
"If a man tells you that he is fond of The Immitation, view him with sudden suspicion; he is either a dabbler or a saint." (Monsignor Knox on the work of Thomas a Kempis called The Immitation of Christ)
and it struck me....I am perfectly happy...was, I should say, being a dabbler... right now it is easier to just live as a Christian and not grow...and that is why I had to go through that dark place, because I have just been happy with my whining Christian self...
I have been called by Christ to be a saint....and to grow in HIM...and I just ignore HIM...I know what I need to do...and act, instead...in fear...so, crud...that's where I am
I have to do this Bible study now...and then....I guess that I am going to have to read this book....
So...here we go again...help me LORD...without you I can do nothing

wonderful summer part deux

Alrighty, two wonderful thing are not much you say...but WAIT ! There's MORE!!!

Act right now and you will see the amazing way thet GOD has just poured out HIS blessings!!!!*

We got to participate in our home school groups anual 40 ft sundae...
If you have never seen 40 ft of ice cream, toppings, kids happier than they have ever been,and adults trying NOT to look like thier kids, you should really try it!!!

One COMPLETELY unexpected treat was to spend a glorious Mother's Day weekend with all of my Mom's ! That is right, I got to see my Mom in TN, my Mom from FL, and ROAD TRIP with my Grandma Schmitz!
(complete with police escort, for a time. In fact, that was another blessing! The nice southern officer let me and my Nana off with a "you aren't from around here..." and a "The road's gunna make a dor-leg, then you'll go past the big blue bridge.." Thank you Lord for a gentleman and an officer...)

In conjunction with the Mom's R Us tour was my baby sister's graduation. By some amazing and fancy footwork I not only got to be there for my sister...which is sad to say, a rare thing,,,but I was together with my whole Bacheldor family!!! AWESOME!!! ...see Dad, I still remember that I can only use that word to describe a work of GOD !

*Let me remind you that I am not invoking some pie in the sky uninterested "being"... I am talking about a LIVING, WORKING, POWERFUL, CREATOR who's plan for my family is PERFECT and timed just right!

It has been an amazing SUMMER !!

So, I'm not going to fool anyone by saying that this has been the best time in my life. You would all know that I am lying through my teeth! HOWEVER, I do need to say that some wonderful things have happened. Not just in a fakey way. God has lived an breathed here in our lives this summer.Since I need to spend a little more time on my blessings...you guys are coming with!

1. We had an amazing time at my Mom's place in TN we were treated to the Renaissance festival complete with a ride in a Limo-corn and a tour of a castle. I am not sure if the kids really got how cool those things were..but, I have never ridden in a Limo-corn...soooo....

2. Jeff graduated!!!! YEAHHH! He not only graduated, but, he graduated Cum Laude!!! I can not even begin to tell you how proud I am!He is an amazing hubby and father, well, that we already knew...but wowee...he's bursting with brains too! He has sacrificed and done without and he has earned his degree! AWESOME LOML!! I really was amazingly pleased at the Dean's breakfast...I think that I was glowing that day more than he was...

I'm a copy cat.....

A good friend of mine runs a MUCH better blog.....
soooo...
I'm going to copy her, just because no one reads this and I want to, so there..

2010 Kids say the darndest things...

1. What is something mom always says to you?

James: That you love us.
Paul: Stop doing that,Paul
Stephen: Obey the rules.
Liza: I love you.
Simon: I love you because I always ask for glasses.

2. What makes mom happy?

James: Helping with a good attitude.
Paul: When I make great things to show you.
Stephen: Cuddles.
Liza: When you do the right thing.
Simon: Cleaning

3. What makes mom sad?

James: When I disobey.
Paul: When I disobey her.
Stephen: calling her mean names.
Liza: When you umm...don't do what our parents tell you to do.
Simon: Doing stuff that are wrong.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

James: By tickling us.
Paul: How your voice can change some times.
Stephen: Monster atack, tickling me.
Liza: By tickling you.
Simon: Tickling.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

James: You were happy and the oldest.
Paul: I don't know.
Stephen: ummm...nice and careing
Liza: Great child.
Simon: Doing good things.

6. How old is your mom?

James: 32
Paul: 33
Stephen: 32
Liza: 24
Simon: uh...32

7. How tall is your mom?

James: about 6 rulers
Paul: I don't know that!!!!
Stephen: about 6 ft.
Liza: big
Simon: as big as Dad

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

James: Play!
Paul: Watch us play nicely.
Stephen: Play with us.
Liza: help me.
Simon: Chasing people.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

James: She misesus.
Paul: Play city of wonder?
Stephen: Think of you. (as in him)
Liza: She calls somebody to watch us.
Simon: Look for them.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

James: It will be giving up for God.
Paul: Me.
Stephen: Loving.
Liza: Work at a movie theater??
Simon: Having dimmer.

11. What is your mom really good at?

James: Making costumes.
Paul: Making me laugh.
Stephen: Crafts and taking care of us.
Liza: Typing.
Simon: Chasing people alots and lots and lots.

Well, I guess that I am not doingso bad after all....

in bed...

So...ahem, a lot happens in our bed...kidwise...watch it, this is a family blog...

ANY WAY! Our kids have a tendency to pile into our bed most mornings in a random assortment...at differing times and funny things happen, some of my favorite conversations take place there...that is for sure...this morning was no exception.

The scene:
Jeff and I are in bed with Littlest Man and Princess...there is tickling and laughter...and at one point Princess is trapped...the comedy begins...

Daddy: "HaHA! I have you trapped!"
Princess: "That's not a trap!"

Enter Davey Crockett...with perfect timing...

Davey: "That's right...some traps hang you..."

Davey pops onto the bed

"...or trap you underground...or..." (the litany continues with much imagination...apparently he has thought about this a lot!)

What a great way to start the morning!

Our family has SPRUNG!

It has been a while, so, here we go...
The year has a new season, as has our life, with our newest son entering the family. I think that I am starting to get a hold on this mother of seven bit, but I'm sure that I am just getting cocky, and soon the baby will not be sleeping all day like he is now, and then I'll really know what the story is...LOL!
We have started a family unit study/garden project and are spending as much time as we can outside learning away and preparing beds with a good bit of dirt hauling thrown in for good measure.I have avoided telling the boys that it is good for their character, but I'm sure the next one to whine will get that line thrown at them, it has been a near miss up until now...LOL! Hopefully, I will get some pictures up of the garden and will be letting you all in on our experiment with square foot gardening this year. I hope that it is all it is cracked up to be, if it is we will be very happy campers.
We are very excited that next weekend we get to have our son enter into the family of God through Baptism. It is the most amazing service at our church, I am looking forward to the fun an fellowship afterwards, but I am really looking forward to something that our church does that is pretty special. We all have things that we love about our churches...and this is one of mine. There is a part of the Mass where we all say the 'Our Father' and during that time our priest takes the child who has just been baptised and lifts them up to the Lord as an offering, as Simeon did with Jesus as a baby in the temple. It is beautiful, I cry...no big suprise,,,when it is other peoples children, and when it is my child I nearly weep. It is a powerful moment where I truely feel that I am giving up my child to God...after all they are a gift to be given back...I'm sure that you will hear more about it in the near future.
AND to top it all off we get to celebrate Easter for another 4 weeks in the church. So much to celebrate! God is so Good!