Driving Lessons

Today, like so many other days, I took advantage of the coincidence of bad attitudes and a short drive in the car to lecture my children. God did the same thing. Here's how it went down, my thoughts in italics:

I can't believe how unbelievable self-centered these kids are being! I'm so sick of hearing this! "All I keep hearing out of you guys is so selfish! It's all about what you want. 'I want to sit next to them.' 'I want that.' And if you don't get what you want then there's whining and crying. That's not okay. If you don't get to sit next to someone, it's OKAY. The world won't end. In fact, you can be HAPPY for the person who gets to sit next to them. Can we do that? Is it possible to be happy for someone else?"... a couple mumbled yeses come from the back... "What if Jesus only did whatever He wanted to do? What if one day He said, 'I think I'm just going to sit by the lake here, maybe do a little fishing, and just rest today.' And then sick people came to Him and said 'Please heal us!' Would He just say, 'No, not today. I don't want to.'?" Hmm... That's true. He was always serving others. Not just when He felt like it. "And what about when Jesus died on the cross? He had all of God's power. He didn't have to die, but He did. Do you think it felt nice to hang on a cross?"... mumbled noes... "No! Then why did He do it if He didn't feel like it?"... some vague answers are given... Love! Love! One of you say LOVE! Don't you know how much He loves you? And me too. How could I forget how much He loves me? I am living like He loves me a little... But the reality is so different. His love is just so much deeper than I can really even grasp. I should be living according the reality of His deep love for me!... "He died on the cross because He LOVES you. He didn't want to feel the pain and suffering and loneliness that He did, but He loves you that much. I don't know about you, but when I think of what Jesus gave up for me, I don't feel so bad about giving up some little thing I want for someone."... I notice the song on the radio and turn it up... Amazing love, how can it be that you my King would die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor You.... Amazing love! It's my joy to honor You Jesus....

Proof that Sunday School Alone is not Enough

My 5-year-old, who has recently taken to verbalizing every thought, was playing outside and started talking to my husband who was working nearby. This is what I heard: "No one else knows more than me and no one else is more powerful than me. I know more than everyone else and I am the most powerful. Except for God. He knows more than me and He is the most powerful. But I am more powerful than everyone else except God. I know that God is powerful. Psalm 147:5 says "Great is our Lord and mighty in power." Only God is more powerful than me."

We've got our work cut out for us...

New Blog

No, I'm not replacing this one. But I have started a new blog to record my adventures in bean-making. Check it out!

From a 3-year-old's mouth...

In response to my asking what she wanted to do when she grows up: "I want to cook things. I want to change lots of things. I want to fold laundry..."

Why I Have Never Been Popular...

Eating Right

Here's some video of Elijah for his Aunt Cheri (and whoever else wants to see).

Eye of the Tiger

A hilarious cover of one of my favorite songs of all time...



HT: Family Jules

Four-and-a-half months later

Let's see if I still remember how to do this.... This won't be a full catch-up type of post--though I do want to post some recent pics soon. Right now I'm at Pismo Beach hanging out in the hotel room with the sleeping baby while the bigger kiddos are on the beach with Dad and Grandma. I think this is my favorite part of going to the beach--watching the ocean and feeling the cool air while I read or write from the room. While I love the outdoors, I'm not big on the sand or the wind.

For some catch-up... I gave birth to Elijah Stephens Edwards the morning of March 11, as planned. The delivery went well--better for me than any of the other deliveries. I knew what to expect and I knew that people were praying for me. He was and continues to be healthy. At four months old, he is becoming more and more fun everyday: smiling, laughing, "talking", and even playing with toys. He's not sitting up like his two-day-younger cousin yet, but he does like to roll and scoot all over. Big brother and sister love him and (usually) are big helpers.

Like I said, I hope to post some more pics later.