Joy and Meaning in the Mundane

After all the fun we've been having the last couple of weeks, it was time to come down to earth and reality for a moment. Our house was in need of a good scrub down. We spent the morning shopping for groceries and I had to get some of the Method Cucumber cleaner my friend Lisa was going on about. (she was totally right, it does smell good and works great!).

After lunch, the kids and I got busy. We did all those things you do when you clean: changed sheets, scrubbed toilets and baths, dusted, vacuumed. I even bought some new pans to go under my burners. All the while I had my iPod going. Listening to a random shuffle of music.

As I was cleaning, I kept thinking about what a boring day this had been. Productive ~ definetely, but not FUN! I am all about the Fun and love going and doing with my kids. I guess being a teacher, I am fully blessed to have the summers off with them. But as each day passes it is bitter-sweet because it is one day less before we head back to school. And I certainly don't want to waste a day making my house clean.

As I was finishing up my cleaning, I actually took a moment to pray (should have done that from the beginning...) and I asked the Lord what do you want to show me today while I clean. (I didn't leave him much time as all I had left to do was dust a few stray cobwebs and vacuum). But He doesn't need much time. Remember that iPod I had going, a song came on that I like, but bothers me to some degree. It was Matt Redman's - Blessed Be Your Name. I like the song, but it is hard for me to listen to. I struggle with consistently opening my hands to the Lord and letting Him do whatever He feels is necessary. I am a control freak and want everything to go the way I want it to go. So it is hard for me to say Blessed be Your Name when things are difficult and scary.

While that song played, I was reminded that we are to bless HIS name when it abundant (or fun), but also when it is hard (or just mundane). That He is a God who is always good, even when we don't understand. This week I've heard of two mothers losing their children. One a seven-year old daughter who died suddenly from an enlarged heart and another one who lost her 17 year old son while he tried to see who could hold his breath the longest while under water. Such tragedy. And I wonder how in the midst of those times do you say, "Blessed be Your Name". I think in those times the Lord must give you the strength and the peace to say that. I hope and most earnestly pray that I never have to experience that kind of pain and suffering.

So for me as I was reminded of that, I found great JOY in cleaning with my kids. To have the time to do it during the week, so our weekend with James will be free. To have healthy kids that I get to clean with (I was imagining how those mothers would love to have a day to clean with their child who had passed away). To even have a house to clean. To have a house where each of our kids can have their own rooms to keep picked up. That we have clothes and sheets that need to be washed and a refrigerator full of good, healthy food. To have a house that smells good from that great cucumber cleaner (and a pot roast in the oven!). That today, my kids have NOT argued at all. They have helped each other with their rooms. When finished they came and asked me what they could do next to help me. Such pleasant attitudes today.

Thank you, Lord for reminding me that you are truly a good Daddy who loves me and when I take a moment to reflect on you, I see great joy in my clean home.

Serving Others - Backyard Bible Club

This week we had the awesome pleasure and honor of hosting Backyard Bible Club at the park across the street from our house. We had 30 children come each morning for three days to learn about Jesus, how to serve, show kindness and love to their families, friends and neighbors. I was also reminded that serving others is something that I should strive to do each day. It doesn't have to be anything huge or major. Just things that can help and bless others. I really want to make it a priority in my own life as that is where others will truly see Jesus. I want to be a model of servanthood for my own children, so it is also something they strive to do for others. Along with this reflection of my own life, we had a BLAST too. The weather couldn't have been more perfect and I had the most outstanding group of parents helping me with everything. I was so blessed by it all.

Some of the youth from our church came each day to tell the Bible story for the day, complete with costumes and engaging story-telling.

Each day we did a really neat craft based on the story we had learned that day.

Jack and his friend, Perry, making candles to remind us to be a "light" in the world.

Caroline and Ethan making frames to remind them of their time and what they learned at Backyard Bible Club.

Robin did an awesome job leading the kids in fun games each day!

Lisa and her great singing voice led our songs for the week and my kids LOVED them. They are still singing them.

We also completed some service projects. The children made bookmarks that will be delivered to a local nursing home and they made frisbees, some of which will be sent to some orphanages in El Salvador.

We had an awesome time and the park was such an ideal location. I can't wait to do it again next summer!

Baptism

This past week I had the honor and great pleasure to watch my dad baptise by immersion both James and Caroline in my parent's pool. Both James and Caroline had already been baptised before by sprinkling, but Caroline really wanted to be baptised by immersion, so she asked her daddy to do it with her. It was a really special time for the two of them to share. While standing under my parents' vine-covered back deck, it was a special time as my dad read about John the Baptist baptising Jesus in the Jordan River and how we were to follow His example. James then read Caroline's life verse we picked out for her 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it".

My Dad baptised James and then James and my dad baptised Caroline. I was so proud of them all. What an awesome thing to be a part of.