give me the good stuff

When Mike walked in the door this evening, I had our dinner already in the oven. "Are you cooking bacon?" he asked. I told him that while it indeed was part of a pig, it was tenderloin, and not bacon. He said, "No, I think mommy's cooking bacon." Caleb, standing still while I put a band-aid on his finger said, "No, but I wish she would." Which brings me to a question I have long since pondered: what is it with men and bacon?

Growing up, my mom could never make enough bacon. Even if she cooked 2 lbs, the scene at the breakfast table would inevitably end up the same way. The bacon plate would start out piled high, and by the middle of the meal my mom was quickly scooping up the last remaining pieces of bacon for my dad (she always made sure that he got the last pieces).

Today in our house bacon is just as revered. I feel like I can never make enough. So what is this phenomenon? Are men born with an innate love of crispy swine? Or is this behaviour learned? Do fathers pass on to their sons the manliness of loving bacon? I don't know why men are such fanatics about bacon, but I do know that I will continue to make bacon for the men in my life... and plenty of it.

family phrases

I've noticed lately that there are certain words and phrases that are unique to our family dictionary. Words that you would not find in Webster's dictionary. For example, the word ninky-pumper. This is a noun and it means a person who is acting in a very silly manner. Caleb is a ninky-pumper when he forgets to put underwear on under his clothes. Jonah is a ninky-pumper when he runs around yelling "like a girl." Parents are not often, if ever ninky-pumpers.
We also have a couple of phrases we like. Chill your monkey means calm down, relax, be patient. And the phrase cork your noodle means to be quiet, to stop speaking, to hush.

I'm not exactly sure how theses phrases came into existence, but I think they were initially used as alternatives to words and phrases we did not what to use around the kids. Words like stupid and shut-up. How they came into existence doesn't matter. I'm just glad that they did because I really enjoy using them. And they are catchy. My nephews have incorporated them into their own vocabularies. Who knows... you might use them one day yourself.

There are more phrases which I will share at a later time. Feel free to share your own!

little works of art

As I sit poised to type, Gid is playing with toys while Jonah is trying his best to not get frustrated at his younger brother for not playing the way he wants to play. Jonah sets all the toys up in a line, and they each have a purpose in his game, in his mind. Gid likes to pick up one toy at a time, make a noise with it and then dispose of it and move on to the next toy. It is interesting and wonderful to watch them play and I think about what implications their playing today has on their future.

I see Jonah's neat & orderly personality in the way he plays. And even though Gid is still very young, I see his personality coming out too. As they play with their toys, each learning to tolerate the other, what sort of foundation are they laying? Jonah is coming to realize that not everything can be his way, and that caring for his brother means that he has to sometimes defer. At the same time Gid is learning that playing together means you can't "steal" your brothers toys, and that when someone is upset with you they might show it by raising their voice.

As I watch them play, I realize that our little family is a reflection of life. Everything we do here in our home has an implication for them later in life. Chores teach them responsibility, punishments teach them consequences, doing activities as a family teach them the importance of enjoying life. Everything, everything, everything we do here has an impact on their future; on the men they become, on the type of students, athletes, friends, employees, husbands, and fathers they become.

This is an awesome responsibility that we as parents have been given. We are given these precious children as a bit of clay and God asks us to mold them into something wonderful for him. It is our job to create out of our children works of art. This task seems impossible and in fact I know that without the help and grace of God it is impossible. As I look at my children today, I will ask God for grace. The grace for Mike and I to mold them into the wonderful and beautiful works of art that they can be. For eyes to see the strengths not only the flaws, ears to listen without judgement, hands to help not to hurt, and words to encourage and not condemn.

And God will answer. His grace is always sufficent.

in laws

We all have them... we all love them..... most of the time.  Yes, I'm talking about my in-laws. My brother in law Joe, has been faithfully reading my blog, and giving me lots of guff about never mentioning him in any of my post.  So here is my shout out to him. 

Joe, I love you, but you can be a little bit annoying.  You are extremely persistent, which is a blessing...most of the time. Thank you for being so generous all of the time.  And for being really fun to hang out with, when you aren't too busy going to bed early, messing on the computer, or just doing whatever you want to do.  

This blog is for you. Enjoy it because it will probably be your last.

every new day

Every New Day
"When I was young, the smallest trick of light,

Could catch my eye,

Then life was new and every new day,I thought that I could fly.

I believed in what I hoped for,

And I hoped for things unseen,

I had wings and dreams could soar,

I just don't feel like flying anymore.

When the stars threw down their spears,

Watered Heaven with their tears,

Before words were spoken,

Before eternity.

Dear Father, I need you,

Your strength my heart to mend.

I want to fly higher,

Every new day again.

When I was small,

the furthest I could reach,

Was not so high,

Then I thought the world was so much smaller,

Feeling that I could fly.

Through distant deeps and skies,

Behind infinity,

Below the face of Heaven,

He stoops to create me.

Dear Father, I need you,

Your strength my heart to mend.

I want to fly higher,

Every new day again.

Man versus himself.

Man versus machine.

Man versus the world.

Mankind versus me.

The struggles go on,

The wisdom I lack,

The burdens keep pilling

Up on my back.

So hard to breathe,

To take the next step.

The mountain is high,

I wait in the depths.

Yearning for grace,

And hoping for peace.

Dear God...Increase.

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.

Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever.

Freedom means love without condition,without a beginning or an end.

Here's my heart, let it be forever Your's,

Only You can make every new day seem so new."

This is a song by Five Iron Frenzy, that I have listend to many, many times. As I heard it again today I realized once again how powerful each line, each word is. Read it again. It gives me so much hope. I have countless memories of singing the last two lines as loud as I could with all of my heart, "Here's my heart, let it be FOREVER your's, only YOU can make every new day seem so new!" (Click here to hear the song.)

a good brother

I asked Jonah to take Gid out on the deck while I got dinner going (Mike & Caleb had gone to the driving range). At first I heard laughter and balls being thrown against the house and a truck being pushed around. But then, silence. Oh no! I went to investigate, and this is how I found them. Gid pointing things out to Jonah. And Jonah being the sweet boy that he can sometimes be playing along with jibber jabber talk. What a good brother.

my husband

I love my husband. For me, he is perfect. And there are times when we are going through the day to day stuff of life when I stop and realize what a wonderful man he is.

This past weekend we attended an event at which he was honored for his outstanding performance over the past year. I was so proud of him. Not only for his accomplishments at work, but for the way he carried himself around his peers, how he was genuinely respected by his employees, and how much he makes me laugh.

Maybe the best quality about him though is how comfortable he is in his own skin. The same man that was poised and polished can also mow the grass and grill out burgers for his family. He is such a good dad too. I love how he patiently teaches the boys to play tennis, how he wrestles with them right before bed time, how he can turn any job into a game, and how he's never too busy to kiss and cuddle them.

I am so blessed when God gives me little glimpses into how perfect this man is for me and for our children. I thank God for allowing us to find each other so early in life, so that the rest of our lives can be so full. I love my husband!