Keepin' It Real

 

 

 

Let's get real.

 

Like, this kind of real:

 

I don't play games.



 

 

Unless it's Hide n' Seek, or Babies, or Dollhouse.

 

I like those.

 

There's also this other game where Mommy asks if I have something in my mouth. To which I reply,

 

And, sometimes I do and sometimes I don't, you just never know.

 

If I do, and, uh, Mommy sees, and uh, it wasn't "Mommy Approved" well, the game takes a turn for the worse.

 

KILL.JOY.

 

I quickly realize any effort to talk my way out of it only proves more harmful. I have to bite my lip to keep from further incriminating myself.

 

  

And I'm quite shocked to realize my honest attempt to refrain from further degradation still doesn't change Mommy's response.



 

 

I'm hurt.

 

I tend to harbor a bit of hard feelings.



 

But I'm quickly on to the next thing, like seeing how wide I can open my eyes while sticking my tongue out.

Fascinating.

 

You've just been served a dose of "Keepin' It Real" by your's truly,

 

KATE.

 

 

 

 

 

My Grant

I'm over a month late.

 

My boy is six.

 

 

I glance at him and then stop and then stare.

 

Where did my little boy go?

 

His legs have sprouted. Those jeans testify to that.

 

And that face, that face lost that final "baby fat."

 

Glasses now graze the top of your nose. And forget about putting you in Cars themed clothes.(UNCOOL)

 

One year of school now under your belt.

As well as two trophies that now sit on your shelf.

 

 

 

Each year I learn more about you, my sweet son.

 

I know you are my most introverted one.

 

Quiet at times and alone, quite content

yet also there's always that stubborn temperament.

 

Though the tantrums and meltdowns have become very rare, I continue to discover the possibility is still there.

 

So we work together, only by God's grace, to work on your heart to eradicate

the sin that plagues you, as it does me,

as the Lord shapes you into the man He would have you be.

 

Oh my dear son, I overflow with joy, to know the Lord crafted you to be our boy.

 

Imperfect am I as a mother to you

and relying on God's grace to know what to do

to know what to say when I lose it again or when you come to me, struggling with sin.

 

Forget perfect grades, a stellar career, a comfortable life where struggle is not near

My deepest desire for you far exceeds

the empty promises of each one of these

 

Run to the Savior who frees you from sin

Who gives hope to the most hopeless of men.

Dazzle in His glory and rest in His grace

Seek your pleasure in His lovely face.

 

That is my prayer for you my sweet son.

It is most certainly my most persistent one.

 

So onward we go, in laughter and tears,

as we navigate together another gracious year.

 

 

 

 



Persecution and Prayer

For a few years now my mind has turned more frequently to persecution. As Christians, we are promised it. PROMISED it.

"Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:20

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12

Funny how we are slow to cling to this truth. Or how I am.

My mind today has gone to Meriam Ibrahim.,  a Sudanese Christian woman who is being promised lashings and then death for being a Christian. If she recants, she is promised freedom.

And as I drove in my van today and pondered this I wondered how to pray for her.
Take this persecution away? Yet, as believers we're to expect it. What is the goal here?

God's glory.

My mind jumps to our Classical Conversations' timeline card that reads "Persecution spreads the Gospel." Shortly after the Holy Spirit came down in Acts we see how the Lord uses persecution among the believers to spread the Gospel.

We are promised it and it serves a purpose.

So, how to pray for my sister in Christ who is facing a kind of persecution I can only imagine? Might it be the Lord's will to allow this most tragic persecution? He has allowed countless others for a purpose we cannot begin to fathom because the Lord has a greater purpose than our eyes can see.

My response to ANYthing remotely uncomfortable is, "hurry up and make it go away!" Yet I am thinking small and selfishly. Might the Lord's purpose be greater than my temporary comfort?

And so I think of Mrs. Ibrahim. If the Lord has called her to suffer for His Namesake, how can I pray for her? What would I need to walk through such a uncertain and dark time?  I would need boldness and courage. I would need perseverance and unwavering faith. I would need peace and confidence in the One whom I give my unfailing allegiance.

And while I too will pray for her release and freedom,  I need to remember not our will but His be done.

I am encouraged by her. 9 months pregnant and imprisoned with her 20 month year old son, she stands firmly in her faith in her Savior.

She will not recant.

May the Lord fill me with such boldness when persecution, in whatever form it takes, comes to my door. And it will.


Thank you Lord for Mrs. Ibrahim and her faithful witness to You. Continue to strengthen her and supply the grace she needs to endure the trial that is set before her.

Moms' Olympics

 

If moms had their own Olympics, the events might look something like this:

 

Grocery Bag Grab: The winner is the quickest to unload the grocery bags from the back of the car to the kitchen counter. Extra points awarded for the number of bags taken in one trip.

 

Chaos to Clean: The winner is the quickest mom to put a chaotic house in order by the sound of the alarm, the doorbell, that signifies the arrival of unexpected guests.  Extra points awarded for no dust, no crumbs, and clean floors.

 

Shower Showdown: The winner is the mom who takes a complete shower before the alarm (screaming kids) sounds. Extra points awarded for shaved legs.

 

Grocery Store Grab: Moms in this event will need to locate all items off their list, save as much money as possible, while being accompanied by kids. Judges will also be looking at the mom's composure during the trip. Points will also be awarded for time and amount of money saved. Extra points awarded for using coupons, as well as the number of kids accompanying her on the trip.

 

Meal Mania: In this event moms will be required to make a nutritious meal under thirty minutes while being circled by three hungry children. Points awarded for speed, nutrition value of food, taste, and composure. Extra points awarded for kids' approval and clean plates.

 

Bathing Beauties: In this event, moms will be timed at how quickly and thoroughly their kids are bathed. Points will be awarded for time, cleanliness of kids, amount of bath water on the floor, and composure. Extra points will be awarded for children who bathe themselves.

 

Brushing Blues: This event includes only moms of girls. In this event the mom who combs through a tangled head with the least amount of tears shed from her daughter, wins. Cups will be available to catch the tears and measured at the end of the competition. Extra points are awarded for including a specific style, i.e. pony tail, pig tails, braids, etc. after detangling the bedhead.

 

Laundry Languish: The marathon of the Mom Olympics, this event is ongoing and must be done while also competing in the above events. Moms are required to complete 7 loads of laundry. Each load must be washed, dried, folded, and hung/put away in the correct location. Points are awarded for the time it takes to complete all seven loads. Extra points are awarded for ironing, fresh scents, tidiness, and child participation.

 

Out of this House: This event focuses on composure and time. Moms are required to get  kids ready and out the door in the quickest amount of time with the least amount of yelling and frustration. Kids are required to leave the house with shoes on, book bags packed and on backs, and lunches in hand, all under 8 minutes. Extra points are awarded for kids who are smiling, and shoes that are tied vs. Velcro or slip ons, and the number of kids who are involved. Points are deducted  for running over time and yelling.

 

The games will conclude with a closing ceremony recognizing our top three moms.

 

No gold medals needed, the winning mom gets three nights alone in a location of her choice, with the drink of her choice, doing absolutely nothing.

 

Silver medal moms get two nights of the above.

 

Bronze, one night of the above.

 

Let the games begin!

 

 

 

 

 

Run, Kate, Run

I know Mom said she'd be writing the posts now, but, well, I have a few more things to say before I hand over the keyboard.

 

For example, I'm a runner.

 

It began just last night.

 

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

 

Or maybe like a pair of purple running shorts that came home with Mommy and Daddy.

 

As soon as I put them on I felt an overwhelming urge to run.

 

And to have an audience while I did it.

 

Mommy finally agreed to be my audience.

 

And I ran.

 

I ran in circles.

 

I ran down the hill.

 

Then up (with a few breaks to catch my breath).

 

I jumped.

 

I slid (I hear there are running obstacle races these days).

 

And I did all of this OVER and OVER.

 

It was amazing.

 

And I'd like to point out in the following pictures that I believe I have quite the running form.

 

All of this because of a new pair of purple running shorts.

 

I imagine this is how Forrest Gump felt after he put on that new and unexpected pair of white running shoes.

 

Run, Kate, Run.

 

 



A Georgia Snow Day

If you aren't stuck in your car overnight on an icy road, miles away from home...then snow in Georgia CAN be fun!

 

This is what a Georgia Snow Day looks like:

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing says Georgia Snow Day like riding in a "sled" while being pulled by a four wheeler over icy streets.

 

 

Or the opportunity to wear a faux fur hat because well, it's actually that cold.

 

And nothing says Georgia Snow Day like being bundled up for ten inches of snow despite there only being a slight dusting on the ground.

 

And mismatched mittens scream Georgia Snow Day because well, they tend to get lost in the shuffle of the sock drawer from years of loneliness and "dress up" play.

 

Snowballs scraped, scraped, together make it a Georgia Snow Day because, well, you just don't count on much more than a dusting so you take what you can get when you can get it.

 

And nothing says a Georgia Snow Day like two eager kids waiting for the first flake to fall after hearing "snow" come out of the weatherman's mouth.

 

This, my friends, is a Georgia Snow Day.

 

It's how we roll.

You May Need Cesar Milan If:

 

You May Need Cesar Milan If:

 

Your dog still poops in the house.

 

Your dog regularly dines on top of your table when no one is looking.

 

You need a bark collar, a Scat Mat, and an electric fence to contain your dog.

 

You find yourself quite familiar with your neighbors' backyards and landscaping techniques due to the numerous times you play cat and mouse with the dog.

 

You, in utter frustration, charge full force (possibly beating your p.r in your track glory days) toward your dog in hopes to intimidate her enough to stop running away from you.

 

You've reached a pinnacle in your anger while charging full force at your dog.

 

Your kids have an anxiety complex when they try to open the front or back door.

 

You've reverted to growling at the dog in attempts to coerce her back to the house.

 

Your neighbors know your dog.

 

Your dog chews up your favorite necklace, Bible, the kids' underwear, your earrings, sunglasses, pencils, slippers, movie, any toy you can think of, and the list could go on.

 

Your hand's circulation is cut off while trying to "walk" the dog while also keeping up with three kids riding bikes and scooters.

 

Your kids are dragged across the yard while trying to hook the dog up to her leash.

 

The toilet is the drinking trough of choice.

 

So,

 

Who needs Cesar Milan?

 

Uh,

 

We need Cesar Milan.

 

 



An Update and Kate's Potential Careers

 

 

 

Life has changed since I started this blog a little over 7 years ago.

 

My number of posts can testify to that.

 

I would post more than 30 entries a month when Hannah was little.

 

Now, it's good to squeeze one in!

 

But I don't want to shut the project down, it just will look different, just as our life does now. This means not so many posts. And that the "voices" will actually be mine now.

 

The kids are growing up and have their own unique voice with no need for interpretation from myself.

 

But, I won't shy away from humor.

 

Because, well, life with three kids is quite humorous.

 

Take this kid for example.

 

She's the poster child for funny, intentionally and unintentionally.

 

She's bike riding's biggest fan. Just a month after getting her new set of wheels she's already mastering tricks.

 

See here:

 

 

She pedals with more gusto than Lance Armstrong on drugs.

 

And if the Tour de France doesn't work out, well perhaps a singing career will.

 

She told me today, with seriousness in her eyes, she wants to sing when she grows up.

 

Unfortunately, I'm her mom and well, I too had that dream as a child. The key is to actually be able to sing WELL. Perhaps that will work in her favor better than it did in mine.

 

But we also have ballet to fall back on.

 

However, ballerinas don't have the best eating habits.

 

 

 

 

And Kate may need to work on her gracefulness.

 

After her three long years of life my best guess for a potential career would be a comedian. She's very gifted in making people laugh whether it's through her gestures, facial expressions, or crazy talk.

She's definitely the most attention seeking Harman.

 

What's up with the youngest being this way.

 

I guess that's why I write a blog.

 

For attention.

 

As for my sweet Kate, if all these ambitions fail, I know one other thing she'll be great at: being a mommy.

 

 

She does have quite a knack for it.

 

These three always keep me on my toes and it's fun to continue to see their character unravel. My prayer is that I would be able to see how the Lord has wired them for His glory and encourage those strengths in each of them.

 

 

 

 



Homeschool Diaries: What I Like About Homeschooling

 

Homeschooling has been hard. But what aspect of life isn't? If my kids went to public school there would be aspects that were hard. Right now I'm thinking waking up and having everybody fed, dressed, and ready to go by 7:00 would be quite a hard and a colossal task.

 

I know many of you do it. Good job.

 

 

And people ask me, how do you do it(homeschooling)? And, I think the same thing about public school. Not in a judgemental way but in a sincere, "I recognize there's a lot involved," kind of way, from homework, to parent conferences, to fundraisers, to programs, to difficult teachers to difficult classmates, and on and on.

 

And so, no schooling option is easy. It comes with its own set of difficulties.

 

As well as strengths.

 

 

I tend to focus on the difficulties and forget that there are great things about homeschooling.

 

One of which would be, not having to get up at the crack of dawn and make sure all my kids are dressed and ready to be out the door by 7:00.

 

Lately, a strength I've been enjoying are the many conversations I am able to have with my kids throughout the day. They say so many funny things. They ask so many great questions. I am so happy I get to be a part of that.

 

Yesterday we were at the pediatrician for Kate's three year check up. We were waiting on the doctor and Kate was dancing like crazy and making the most insane faces as she sat in her undies. Hannah, Grant, and I laughed so hard. I had tears. It's moments like that that I'm thankful to share with them. It was 10:00 and we were together, making memories.

 

And yes, homeschooling allows me to get doctor's appointments knocked out during the week in the mornings when it's not so busy.

 

Once someone said they heard a mom realize she shouldn't homeschool anymore because she was yelling at her child to say his ABCs while he was hiding under the bed in defiance to that very action. I would have quit homeschooling on the first day if that was my criteria as to whether or not I was fit to homeschool. I lose my temper. My kids cry. They see my ugly sin more than anyone. I had to apologize today because in a fit of frustration I kicked our dog after she stole yet another snack from my children. So, if you homeschool, it is unrealistic to think you aren't going to have some bad days where you do things that may border on insanity. And that can actually be a strength to homeschooling. My kids see my mess. And we *try* to daily walk in repentance and forgiveness. I'm not always good at it. There are times I am too prideful to apologize AGAIN for that same sin I did just moments before. But oh boy, it shows me right away how I need Christ. And that's the best place to be I have found. Sometimes the most worshipful thing I can do in the morning is to realize my very obvious limitations and say, "I need You."

 

 

I think just living life together, real life, is a great strength. My kids see interruptions and how to be flexible with what the Lord sets before you, especially when it wasn't in the "plan" for that day. If a serving opportunity arises, they come along. If a Jehovah's Witness knocks on the door, they listen intently to that conversation. If I am so tired I can't keep my eyes open during our read aloud time, I take a 30 minute "nap" on the couch while they sit with me and watch a show (yes this happens a lot). Life is full of unexpected interruptions. I hope to model handling those interruptions with grace while also being diligent to meet the demands of their education. Because, in the real world when they have a job, those interruptions will be there and they will have to address those while also getting the task at hand accomplished.

 

Homeschooling is a pretty good picture of discipleship. I think of discipleship as life on life. The disciples were with Jesus day in and day out. And while I am clearly not Jesus, His Spirit lives in me. And He uses me, like any Christian parent, to shepherd my children while we eat, while we learn, while we discipline, while we play. There's no getting away from them!

 

I remember as a kid when my mom would pick me up during a school day to go somewhere, maybe a doctor's appointment or to take me home because I was sick. And I often thought about the "freedom" of all the people who were in their cars driving around not at all bound by the school or its day. For some reason I thought that was invigorating and I longed for it. There was school and then there was "the real world." 

 

So I think of homeschooling as an opportunity to merge the real world with their education. They experience the practical aspect of life and its demands while also receiving an education in the midst of it. Day in and day out. Many folks think homeschooling is sheltering our kids from the real world when in fact it's often the opposite. They are smack dab in it. It's like "on the job training." And as a Christian parent, that "on the job" training is preparing them to think rightly and Biblically about the world around them.

 

So homeschooling, while it is most definitely tough and often makes me weary and feel incapable, has a lot of great strengths that I often must remind myself of. And so I write this post, as a reminder, especially on those days when I find myself yelling at my child who is held hostage under the bed because they refuse to say their abc's.

 

 



Growing Joys

Often I lament at the rapid rate my children are growing up. The cliché, "they grow up so fast," is alarmingly true.

 

And there are many days I wish my kids would not grow up. But last night I caught a glimpse of the joy of growing and maturing children.

 

This is the first year they were able to help put up the Christmas tree.

 

It was delightful!

 

One, the tree was put up in about half the time and two, the joy in their eagerness to serve was wonderful.

 

In the past it's been a lonely endeavor, often dreaded. But this year, because my children are older and able to help, it was delightful.

 

And I am thankful for a glimpse of the joy of aging children.

 

Because the world tells us the best is behind us when our kids emerge from the preschool years. I hear this frequently when we're out running errands. I'm sure you do too.

 

It's a lie.

 

Last night was a gift from the Lord as He showed me differently in such an ordinary way.

 

And it gave me a lot to look forward to.

While Mommy's Teaching...

So many of you all have asked Mommy:

 

"What do you do with Kate while you are teaching Hannah and Grant?"

 

I'm guessing you are expecting some helpful answers like these:

 

She's doing a folder game.

 

She's identifying her ABCs.

 

She's stringing beads.

 

She's coloring by number.

 

Or cutting out her shapes and sorting them.

 

I'm afraid Mommy didn't get that kind of kid.

 

And I didn't get that kind of mom.

 

 

And so, I'll give you the honest answer.

 

I cut my hair.

"Butcher" may be more appropriate.

 

I also enjoy rummaging through Hannah's things.

 

Sometimes those "things" may include lotion, pink lotion, and sometimes I may "accidentally" pour that bright pink lotion all over the carpet in our room.

 

I also have a knack for stirring Molly up to where she runs rampant through the downstairs while howling.

It's amazing.

 

And some days, when all of this is just too much for Mommy, I get to watch Dora.

 

So that's the "REAL" answer to your question.

 

Like it or not.

 

On the bright side,

at least I have something to show for all my "activities." And unlike most pieces of work, this one will last for quite some time.

 

 



Uninhibited Joy

 ^"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'"

Cross references:

1. Revelation 21:4 : See ch. 7:17
2. Revelation 21:4 : [ch. 20:14; 1 Cor. 15:26]
3. Revelation 21:4 : Isa. 35:10; 51:11; 65:19

Revelation 21:4,5

 

Watching my children's joy reminded me of the joy the children of God will experience when we are united with our Savior and are no longer weighed down by sin.

 

UNINHIBITED JOY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come, Lord Jesus.