thursday THREE

It is Thursday and I have three things to share...

I.
I'm still thinking about the sermon I heard on Sunday morning entitled Jesus is More than a Caterer.

You see the catering side of this miracle is purely peripheral. The wine is merely a sign that points to the true nature of Jesus. The point and purpose of the water into wine is the proclamation and witness that Jesus is God the Son who has come to save His people from being “Desolate,” to claim them as His bride and call them “Married” and to give the first taste of the heavenly banquet.

I need to download it to my ipod and listen to it over and over. I need to know that I know that I know that God has renamed me "My Delight" so that I can teach the boys that they too can have a "new name."

II.
Thankful for the weather warm-up, we went to Byrd Park on Monday for a picnic lunch, biking riding and fun at the park. Enjoy the pictures...



III.
Then we had a full Tuesday -- McWane with church friends to see Curious George and a real professional haircut in the afternoon. At one, Hudson was scared of Santa Claus and any costumed character. At two, he is fearless. For Thomas, it was just the opposite. How wonderfully different they are!

I have heard that kids cry during haircuts, but neither boy has had any problems in the barber chair. Perhaps that's because Mr. Clay is great with the kids and, of course, a dumdum sucker always helps!

Three for Thursday

Here are three things I'm thinking about on this Thursday...

ONE
I'm a little behind the times having just watched "Facing the Giants" this week. If you know anything about me, it might seem strange that I rarely meet a sports film I don't like. "Rudy" was on this past weekend and practically had me glued to the screen! This is my favorite scene from "Facing the Giants" and if you watch it you will see why...


TWO
My small group at Community Bible Study on Thursday mornings is led by a dear prayerful lady. This grandmother keeps her grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law are working and sees this as a privilege and opportunity to pour into those children love and truth. This morning she said that she is teaching her granddaughter three words each week. She uses them to work on phonics and reading, but what stood out to me was that she was intentionally choosing words that describe how God sees her little granddaughter. One of the words she choose for this week is "beautiful." What little girl (or grown-up girl!) doesn't want to hear that she is beautiful?

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

Our discussions at CBS this morning reminded me of what I want to intentionally pour into the boys. I want so much for them to grow to be men of character...

THREE
A week or so ago Hudson had his well check-up. The doctor asked how much he was talking and if he was putting two or more words together. Of course, I couldn't think of any particular instances that he did that but ever since I've been noticing them. It seems like he's had a language explosion. I'm constantly thinking in amazement, "Did he just say that?" The other day at the library, I was trying to put his jacket on and Hudson in typical two-year-old fashion had his very own ideas about what he wanted to be doing. So very calmly I said to him, "Hudson, I need you to obey." To which I get the reply, "No obey" Not yelling. Just matter of fact, "No obey." It was so unexpected, I laughed. I wonder if he even knows what "obey" means?

Three Thoughts on a Thursday

ONE

We celebrated Epiphany last night with kings and crowns and this little song.

Now time to put away all the Christmas decor...

TWO
I read this meditation in Christianity Today last night and enjoyed it so much. It makes me want to travel to the Holy Land. My favorite quote:

Early Christian apologists, particularly Irenaeus of Lyons,
recognized that the true God had always been present with creation, as the
Scriptures revealed. This God, wrote Irenaeus (to Gnostics' supreme offense),
"mingled with his own creation," willingly inhabiting a human body and having
that body die and rise again so as to "raise up all flesh." Irenaeus recognized
that caro cardo salutis—"the flesh is the hinge of salvation." It was only
through a real earthly ministry and a bodily death and resurrection that
redemption was won.

"The Myth of the Perfect Parent" (for which I couldn't find a link) was a good read in this month's issue, as well.

THREE

I wonder how many times hot chocolate will be requested today? I'm guessing at least eight...

We are waiting for the snow. Our morning activities were cancelled due to the potential "weather event" (I've been reading and watching too much James Spann) so it would be a good idea to use this day at home to put away the aforementioned Christmas decorations. So now that I've blogged, I'll make a to-do list, get the boys dressed in SPIRIT wear (yea! another day to wear their ALABAMA gameday uniforms--I'll update with a picture if I get a chance), and get to work. Stay warm and ROLL TIDE.

A New Year

2008... (Thomas is filling his new big brother shoes and Hudson is not even a month old!)

2009... (clearly I had prop issues and couldn't get a good picture holding the sign)

2010... (FIVE and TWO and lots of fun!)


How fun to see how they've grown! When I was a child, my grandfather, who we called Papa, would take a picture of my sister and me wearing New Years hats and holding a sign he had stenciled with the year. I know someone in the family has these polaroids that we need to preserve(or NOT depending on what year it was--ha!). And now I continue the tradition but I make my sign on the computer and will spare my boys the hats(even though they would probably love them!).

Happy New Year!

May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,
and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
~Anonymous