A Lesson from Water Colors

"and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Ephesians 5:2

A few days ago, Austin and I had a few moments between the end of his nap and daddy's arrival home for dinner. A perfect amount of time for a water color lesson, I thought to myself, so Austin and I quickly went upstairs to do some painting. For the first several moments, Austin loved the idea of water colors, but then he quickly realized that he would have more fun playing and splashing the water in the bowl.

Since Austin was busy with other matters, I picked up another paintbrush (if you can call the $.99 kit of water colors and tiny stick a paintbrush) and began painting a wonderful rendition of a Clearwater sunset. (I thought that it was beautiful). As soon as Austin realized what I was doing, he let out a terrifying scream...

"NO, MAMA!"

"MINE!"

Yes, we have entered new territory at our house - my, mine, somehow always meaning Austin's...

"Lord, please teach Austin the value of sharing and sacrifice at a very early age. Enable James and I to teach him what it means to give sacrificially of ourselves to others that they might see Jesus in us. I ask that Austin would come to know your great sacrifice for him at a very young age, learning that this is all about you!"

You have never really lived until you've done something for someone who can never repay you.

A Day at the Lake...

"I have come that they might have LIFE and have it to the full." John 10:10

On Saturday, we went to Grapevine Lake for a day of boating with the high school seniors from our church. On the way there, we passed a huge boat showroom.

Austin started yelling, "BOATS, MAMA, BOATS!"

"Yes, Austin," I replied, "Those are boats. We are going to the lake today where we are going to see boats. In fact, you might get a chance to ride on a boat."

Austin's eyes got huge as he realized what I had just said. He threw his hands up in the air with a huge yell and then started clapping. Wow! I just made this little boy's day with the thought of not only seeing a boat up close, but getting to ride on one.

I have so much to learn. I take so much for granted, and I had no idea that the thought of riding a boat would thrill my son's soul. In fact, it was only with a lot of convincing that I had even made this trip. The excuses were numerous the night before.

• It is going to be so hot, tomorrow.
• I have so much work to do around the house
• I have papers to write
• I just need a day at home with nothing to do.
  

As I saw Austin's reaction to the thought of a boating trip, I realized that I had almost missed a precious moment in my son's life - his first boat ride. I love how Austin loves life and I love how he throws his hands up in the air at the thought of a fun, new day. Austin not only enjoyed seeing the boats up close, but he also loved his boat ride.

I was reminded of John Piper's book, Desiring God today during a discussion with one of the high school seniors. In this book, Piper proposes the theology of Christian hedonism: God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him. Am I satisfied in God today? Do I take pleasure in God? Do I throw my hands up in the air and say "YEAH!" and then sit in pure contentment at the thought of my relationship with God?

"Lord, please allow Austin to continue to love life! Enable him to find great satisfaction in the things that you have surrounded him with, but more than anything in the world, I ask that he would LOVE loving YOU!"

Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated. Confucius

An Italian Dinner

"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love..."
Hosea 11:4

I wonder if people know how much a simple act of kindness can mean? Just as God led the Israelites with "cords of human kindness," we are exhibiting the very nature of God when we show kindness to one another. This weekend, our family was blessed with an act of kindness from some of our college students, Kelsey and Jillian.

The girls invited us over for a home-cooked meal and swimming at their
awesome neighborhood pool.

James and Kelsey cooking in the kitchen.

Kelsey eating on the dining room floor - no table yet...

Jillian eating

Austin enjoying two of his favorite things, grapes and spaghetti!

A simple act of hospitality equals a lesson to a family in the simple pleasures of an italian dinner, good friends, and a swimming pool. We were so blessed by our time together.

"Lord, please give Austin a heart of kindness. Enable him to experience empathy towards others and love them more than he even loves himself. Your word tells us to "do unto others," but I ask that you would give Austin a true love for others that would display itself through acts of kindness."

I did it! I did it!

A few days ago I heard an unforgettable sound in the kitchen - the sound of something spilling and then the unmistakable "uh oh" coming from my two-year-old's lips.

"Uh, oh, mama!" "Uh oh!"

I walked slowly into the kitchen with both fear and trepidation for what I would find. "Oh, good," I told myself, "just pasta." As a parent of a two-year-old you quickly learn to realize what spills are easy to clean up (i.e. pasta) versus those that are more difficult (i.e. yogurt, orange juice, ground coffee, etc.) Yes, I have cleaned up each of these spills with Austin!

With Austin's advancing age comes new desires to do everything himself. "I do it!" is one of Austin's favorite new phrases. "I do it, mama!"

So, on this particular morning, Austin had decided that he was going to be in charge of fixing his own breakfast. The cereal and pasta are on the same shelf in my kitchen pantry, hence, the pasta explosion that commenced.

Later that morning we were having brunch for one of our precious college students, Yandi, before she left as a summer missionary to Nicaragua. Austin helped me create a beautiful fruit tray, but broke into tears when I told him I was going to take it to the table.

"I do it, mama!" he screamed.
"No, Austin, this is a mommy job," I replied as I carried the tray to the table.
A complete meltdown ensued as Austin went to the couch and cried, "I do it! I do it!"

I am so much like my two-year-old when it comes to getting things done. I will do it! I tell myself as I attempt to be an ideal wife, mom, teacher, or student. I will do it. So often, God brings me to my knees as he says, "no, this is a God job." and I cry out, "I do it! I do it!"

I learn so much daily about myself as I watch life through Austin's eyes. We have learned that there are many jobs that are just right for Austin. Pulling his "doggy" backpack, getting his toys ready for bath time, and even figuring out the dvd player!

This morning I asked him to put away his dishes from breakfast. He took them to the kitchen, put them on the counter and ran back to tell me with pure joy, "I did it, mama!" "I did it!"

"Dear God, in our eagerness for independence, we often attempt jobs that are not only mommy-sized, but God sized. Please enable Austin to understand that you will teach him and guide him throughout his life to show him that "with God all things are possible." It will only be through your strength and your plan that Austin will finish his life and say, "I did it! I did it!"









Austin pulling his doggy backpack!

The Best Kind of Friends

As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

Austin and MacKensie (age 6) playing with swings

I have been blessed with rare friendships throughout my life. I am thankful for the kind of friends who inspire you to live a better life and support you through every step along the way. One of the most difficult parts of moving to a new place is the fear of not having one or two of these special kinds of friends.

God gave me new friends this year through my teaching job at FBC Denton. From the other women at work, I have received encouragement and inspiration to live my life as a Godly woman. I am so thankful for their advice about pacifiers, asthma, and potty training. More than anything else, I am thankful for their presence - the knowledge that someone is there to give a hug, a kind word, and especially their prayers.

My co-teacher, Ms. Carrie has been one of those rare kindred spirits you meet in your life. We laugh at the same things, roll our eyes at the same things, and both love Route 44 drinks from Sonic. What a blessing! We recently went over to Ms. Carrie's house for dinner where I got to watch her children care and play with little Austin.

I want Austin to find the richest of friends (no, not monetarily). I want his friends to be wise, to be fun, to make him laugh, and to encourage him to be a man of God.

"Lord, please surround Austin with iron sharpening type of friends. From his earliest moments in preschool through his college years, allow him to find friends easily to escape the depression that so easily comes from loneliness. Help him to inspire his friends to know Christ as they all encourage each other to live a life for you."

A Love for Shoes

Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

My son loves shoes! He wants shoes on his feet at all times and cries when I take them off at nap time. Shoes was one of the first words he could clearly say. He is not exclusive, he loves all shoes - flip flops, crocs, sandals, tennis shoes, mom's shoes, dad's shoes...

This morning, Austin woke up saying, "Boots!"
James and I have never heard him say this word before, but from the moment he woke up, he was a man on a mission. He ran to our bedroom closet and had fun trying on all the boots he could find. Here are just a few pictures.

Austin in his daddy's shoes!

Austin wearing mommy's shoes. (Yes, this will end up in a wedding slide show someday.)

Austin finally showing me his shoes!

I love listening for the "clank, clank, clank" of my shoes walking in our house or the "thump, thump, thump" when Austin has found his daddy's shoes. The other day we were all the way to Target before Kelsey (our good friend and Austin's favorite babysitter, "Sey Sey") noticed that Austin must have put his shoes on that day. His long feet were pointed outward like a strange duck as we noticed his shoes were on the wrong feet.

While it is easy for Austin to find shoes in our house, I wonder if James and I are leaving as clear a path for him to walk down. Are we leaving a trail for our son to follow in Christ's footprints?

"Lord, I ask that you would show James and I how to make right steps so we can lead our little boy. Show us the path that you have laid out for us and for Austin that we may clearly follow you."

My Sweet Boy

We have started a new week of school and Austin has been doing very well adjusting back to life at school. He is so cautious about trying new things. He will often look at me with big eyes before he will try any new thing. I often have to tell him, "It's okay, Austin, you can eat that muffin." or "you can do it, Austin, say that new word." His teachers told me today that in order to get him to leave the room for "specials" they have to tell him, "It's okay, Austin, your mom says that you are allowed to leave the room."

I cannot help but wonder if Austin has inherited his caution from his mom. I have lived my life with such a degree of safety and rule following and I cannot help but wonder if his uncertainty is genetic. I want to raise my son to live life to the full and yet I am grateful that he is patient and cautious, wanting to always please his parents and his teachers.

"Lord, I thank you that Austin is patient and cautious in his decision making. Please use his caution to build wisdom in his little heart and mind. Help him to always take the time to think before acting, to weigh the consequences before making decisions. Do not allow him to live in fear of life and help him to boldly approach not only your throne with confidence, but also the life that you have laid out for him."