The Greatest Family Eva'

As you know,  we went to a wedding this weekend.  What you don't know, YET, is that I didn't sleep for 2 straight nights.  We have ..um...sinus issues in our home.   It begins at the top and affects even the littlest ones.  This weekend I purposely reserved a suite so we could separate the ..  um.. noisy ones from the light sleepers.  It usually works better for all for me to sleep.  Due to many surprise circumstances,  I was unable to be separated from the noise makers,  and therefore by Sunday night I was EXTREMELY grouchy tired.  I begged my husband to let us go straight home, but he STRONGLY felt we should head  straight to church.  Being the submissive wife I am,  I cheerfully went along with this notion.  

I was given a good dose of Over-the-hill isms,  from birthday songs to hymns with anything related to OLD in them.  "Up over the hilltop",  "As With Gladness Men of Old", and some others.  After church it was announced we would have a slide show, and I was so glad our African missionary was finally showing her pics.  Low and behold,  the slide show was pics of ME.   Fun and a little embarrassing.  Then,  I got a good roasting, although everyone was TOO nice and I was a little overwhelmed.  Very observant people these are!  And last,  we had food and cake. 

The party was wonderful and I was VERY surprised.  But the most wonderful part was how people took the time to put it together,  write cards,  plans songs,  make a slide show,  cook,  and generally love ME.  It may sound strange,  I don't think of myself as (worthy) and deserving of any of this.....LOVE.    I really don't see myself as these people do,  and in a way that's good.  But it is difficult to accept this demonstration...   I bet many of you feel this way also.  This feeling extends to my relationship with Christ,  and although I know I cant' deserve His love it is sometimes difficult to accept.  Along with the GRACE,  I am learning to just LOVE being LOVED by Jesus.  I don't think I have explained very well,  but maybe it will come out better as I dwell on it more.  Anyways...I have the GREATEST FAMILY (BLOOD AND CHURCH) EVA',

The woman in the background is the leader of the shenanigans, my amazing momma.  A table full of food.  Our church has few get togethers without food. 



One of the Roasters.   She was VERY KIND.



Ok,  I have just realized I take terrible pictures.  I have been strongly resisting reading Pioneer Womans tutorials on taking photos,  but for ALL our sakes,  I think I need to begin.  Just need to say SORRY!!

 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Hanging of the Greens.

Just had to mention this.  We have a wonderful,  funny, servant friend  who has 4 girls.  She told them she was going to the church last Sat.  for the hanging of the greens.  They asked her what that was and her husband put his finger to throat and made a cutting sign across his neck.  His girls were nervous all week about their mother going to this hanging.

And they had  good reason to be nervous.  There were plenty of hangings going on, and the greens were not happy about it.  But the executioners were,  and it all turned out very pretty. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Back to Grace

I have not had much quiet since last week.  The wedding, which, as you know if you have four children and a husband, is not just picking out a pretty dress that doesn't class with the  bride's color scheme.  Oh No,  now we must sure ALL  of us don't clash with the color scheme or each other.  Then there is the stuff that goes along with this, the books everyone must pack, games, ipods,  downloading of new books on ipods,  etc. etc. etc.  (think the The King and I,  Yule Brenner)  Then back to life here with dental appts, music lessons,  etc. etc. etc.  You get the pictures.

Today I thought,  "I must get back to GRACE."   And I am so thankful God is using this book and His Word to work wonders in my heart this Christmas season.  I even got the compliment last night of what I am  doing (WORKS AGAIN!!  UGGH!)  to be so calm and cheerful.  (That's Grace, Ya'll!).   It's not me I am telling you.  God's Grace is working.  And if you don't believe it,  ask my mother.    On picking up the next chapter in The Disciplines of Grace by Jerry Bridges,  I am  learning the difference between regeneration and sanctification.  Yes,  we need to understand these two words, they are not just for pastors.  (Speaking of pastors, my youngest keeps asking for prayer for my 80 year old uncle at church.  Our pastor keeps asking God for his salvation.  I need to tell MY pastor my 80 yrold uncle is a RETIRED pastor and really needs prayers for health.)

Sanctification is the process by which we are made holy,  this being on a daily or secondly basis for some,  hmm.  Regeneration is the beginning act of this process,  when we realized our dire need for a savior.  When the word conformed or transformed is used in the Bible,  this is the process of sanctification.  This is actually encouraging.  I have been a Christian for  a long time,  and so many times because of my sinful natures desire to get out and party,  I begin to think, maybe I am not saved.  But it is a process,  a daily one that transforms my thoughts, my attitude, my actions, my motives into more Christlike ones.  I should be more like Christ now, than 2 years ago, or even two weeks ago.  The last part I read made me think,  hard.  What is my aim?   Am I desiring that all I do please the Father, which was Christ's aim,  or make myself more comfortable.  OUCH!  I love comfort.  Warm bed,  hot cappuccino,  slippers,  books all around me,  a vacuum cleaner (hey, clean floors make ME happy,  and I really think God also).  But how am I stepping out of my comfortableness  pleasing God?  Makes ya think,  huh?

  On another quick note,  we read the best Christmas book,  An Orange for Frankie Patricia Polocco.    It WILL make you cry so be prepared for tissue.  But we all loved it.  I will try and post more books we love for Christmas. 

thanks for reading,

Reb

Love, twue love, ah, mawwage!!

When my husband and I first got married,  we didn't have a t.v.  I HIGHLY recommend it as we had to talk, play games,  clean house,  and get to know one another.  Then we traded some scuba equipment never used for a t.v. and vcr.  One of the first movies we bought was The Princess Bride.  Oh how we laughed that first night watching it.   The second viewing was even funnier cause I knew some of the lines,  and by the  third viewing I just cracked up,  and then the fourth something happened.  I didn't laugh so hard, or so often.  By the tenth viewing I would walk in the room, see the screen and walk out.  I just couldn't do it.  The movie was ruined.  A few years ago my honey thought the kids could handle the movie now.  And they reacted very much like me.  The first viewing cracked them up.  Or so my honey says.  I honestly couldn't watch it.  I think I had a...meeting, yah, that's it. 

Ok, long intro but you needed back ground for the Mawwage title.  And if you still don't understand,  go rent the movie, pop some popcorn, and have a family movie night.  But only once,  send it back, and DON'T EVER, EVER rent it again.  I'm just sayin'.  

Ok,  we went to a wedding this weekend of my niece.  She is a very talented decorator and chose the colors and do dads herself.  Here are a few pics of the occasion. 

It's really all about the cake...I mean for the kids.  Isn't the table beautiful?

Great looking party.





The cake, again,  cause I am looking through the pics and realized,  my son took most of the pics, and they were of the cake.  I guess he was hungry.  Note to self,  grab the camera and take pics of what I really want to remember.  Cause now I am hankerin' for wedding cake.  HMMM.  I have an anniversary coming up.  Cake anyone?

thanks for reading,

Reb

The New Excuse

It's my 40th Birthday today.  I am loving it!!  I tend to be a little...rebellious.  But usually only in the it- doesn't-really-matter-any- way, way.  So instead of having a melt down,  a pity party, or a mid-life crisis,  I am thrilled.  As my dad says, the alternative is worse!! 

When I was in my 20's,  I was super woman.  I could do it all, and don't tell me I couldn't!!  Then I birthed 4 chillins and people started telling me when things were a little.. um.. hectic just to say I homeschooled and/or had 4 wee ones.



Three kiddos with a wee one on the way!



  I rebelled at first, then found it quite convenient true.  But now, in my 40's,  with at least 2 pretty responsible people at the house,  that excuse isn't working.

 So as I talked with my husband over a quiet lunch today,  he said I could just say,  "oh,  it must be that 40's thing!"  and people would understand.  So if you read something and thing  "HEY"  or see something not quite well executed here on this blog,  just remember, 

I HAVE 9 MORE BIRTHDAYS TO GO with this excuse,  AND HEY  I am 40 TODAY!!

thanks for reading,

Rebekah