living in community and "About a Boy"

I have seen this movie enough that Joe and I use quotes from it as our daily-living-language. I enjoy Nick Hornby's writing, so I thought I would finally check out the book, since nearly 99% of the time the book is better than the movie, right?

It was interesting reading a book of a movie I knew so well. I wasn't sure it would keep my attention, but it did. The parts that weren't in the movie that the book had were interesting, but I can see that the screenplay writers kept the essence of the story and the characters very well in tact, which must be done in an adaptation since it's impossible to deliver all the details of a book in two hour movie limitation.

If you didn't know, the book is about a man, actually. Well, an adult male, named Will, who believes he is able to fully sustain himself without any need for relationships, except at the most shallow level. He basically has lived his adult life worshiping and serving himself. Then, through a egotistical (and comical when delivered on screen by Hugh Grant) plan to pick-up on single moms, he becomes connected to a pre-teen boy. Through this relationship somewhat forced upon him, his life becomes beautifully messy. He tries to fight against the complications of caring for others, but realizes that the clean, put-together life that he had been living was empty. And, to remain in that life with no passion, no hardship, no serving and caring, he was "kind of... blank".

What has drawn me to this story is the undeniable need we have for community and the undeniable desire we have to serve ourselves. As Christians, we are called to our own individual faith, but we cannot fully image God without being in community. Community, here, is defined as the social circles we associate in, where we serve and pour ourselves out for others. To truly live in community, you have to train yourself. I still fight my instincts of saying "no" because I just don't want to figure out how to serve someone, even a friend. However, serving others, sharing your life with them, as Paul writes to the Thessalonians, is how we can image God more fully. Since God in himself is three in one, in constant community with himself, by isolating ourselves because we worship ourselves and our comfort, we deny opportunities to grow in Christ by showing love for others and allowing them to show love to us. Committing to relationships is knowing that your life will get messy, be uncomfortable and probably difficult, but the rewards are greater, the joy is deeper and we grow closer to Christ because we can more easily recognize our need for him. May the Lord bless you with a messy life full of relationships that bring you closer to him.

hairs cut

I found this old post that I never published. I'm pretty sure it's over a year old, but it's fun for me to see how different the boys looked then. Now, when cutting hair, I get my game face on and do all three in a row. The most recent time, Joe helped and buzzed Leo and Tiz's hair. Not my favorite look, but much easier and faster. Oh, and I don't take pictures because it's all about moving fast, cleaning hair, distracting with whatever necessary, cleaning hair, wiping hair out of screaming mouths (looking at you Leo) and on and on... It is the only time I'm jealous of people who just have girls. Since Joe has stated he does not want our boys to have "Home Improvement" (remember that lovely show?) hair-cuts, and I agree, I do this crazy endeavor about every month and a half.

Luca's hair was getting quite long. Don't get me wrong, we think it looks pretty sweet that way, but I guess I've found that I am one of those moms who can't take it when the hair is in the eyes. (Something my mom would laugh at since I remember her wanting me to use a barrette for my bangs that were perpetually growing-out.) If it were constantly swept to the side, I wouldn't mind, but that's not reality, that's TV. Also, Luca's thick hair was getting a bit bushy in the back.

So, one night, I went for it. I didn't want to cut it too short, so I just used our scissors which are a notch above kitchen-drawer-scissors.

It's hard to make these kids look bad, however it is pretty obvious that I am learning.

Tizzy's hair is much more fine (got that from his mommy) and so it takes much less time to cut. However, because it's fine and straight (also from his mommy), you can see every little snip.

But, like I said, his cuteness shines through... even blurry.

 I thought about cutting Leo's, but after getting the older two done, I was done. So, it wasn't until this morning that I decided to trim those bangs of his that hit his lashes and the "side burns" that Joe keeps mentioning he'd be even more cute without.

Before: happy

After: not so sure.

 In my defense, he is eating. My friend suggested giving him something non-sticky to eat to keep his hands occupied while I cut. Brilliant!

I have to say, I love the longer hair, but I figure I should get the practice in before they're going to school. The great thing about hair is, it always grows back... for a while at least.

The Graveyard Book

So, I don't like to write too much about books because, if I recommend them, I hope that you become interested in reading them and I don't want to spoil it for you. Here is a great, quick read that I recommend. I found The Graveyard Book on a friend's goodreads list when I was looking for a book to put in Joe's Christmas stocking. He really liked it and couldn't wait for me to read it to so we could talk about it. I, too, enjoyed it. There's a bit of mystery to it, though each chapter is supposed to be a story in itself. Considering the title, it is not creepy or a thriller, though there are a few eerie parts. I was intrigued and entertained by all the different levels of life and death, comfort and longing, hope and despair that were illustrated in different characters and scenarios. Go get yourself a copy and hang on to it because you're kids will feel like they've discovered a treasure when they get to reading this.

If you're interested in learning more about the author, here is an interview.

hi, five

Back in September, Luca turned 5-years-old; back in November, I started writing this post.

I had been planning this birthday ever since he turned four because he seemed a bit sad he didn't get an actual party for his fourth, but only a super awesome trip on a ferry boat with his family where he got a toy... I mean, I'm not holding it against him or anything. Really, I wanted him to feel loved for his birthday. So, I thought of all of the things he enjoys and decided to try to incorporate them into his birthday fun (within reason).

He seriously loves animals and is like an animal encyclopedia. In fact, I checked out DK's Animal Encyclopedia from the library and he was constantly "reading" it. So, when he woke up on his birthday I had DK's Nature Encyclopedia wrapped up and waiting for him on the table. I didn't want to get him the same one as the one we had been checking out at the library because it kind of seemed like giving him a book he already had, though we don't technically have it. 

 

On the actual day of his birthday, we went to the zoo. Joe ended up having the day off so we could take a little longer than we usually do. We go to the zoo often because we have a family pass, but Luca is always up for it. 

 

The Zoomasium (yes, that is what it's actually called) has a play area for kids of all ages to run around and climb, but they happen to have these cool toys that all the boys liked playing with. I forget the name of them, but they have all these animals pieces so you can either put together a normal zebra or some hideous eagle-cheetah-fish-bug. (If you live in Seattle, they said they sell them at Top Ten Toys in Greenwood, but when I looked for them at Christmas time they were sold out, of course.)

     

Well, here is the star of the show, Bush Baby. If you have never heard of a bush baby, you're not alone. Everyone asks Luca what it is wherever he goes because Bush Baby (yes, he named him Bush Baby) soon became a constant companion. It was such a surprise that he responded like this considering none of our boys have every really been attached to any stuffed animal or blanket or anything. So, here is my five-year-old and his good friend.

Perhaps you know bush babies by their other name, Galagos? No? Well, in case you were wondering they live in central Africa, are primates, live in trees and are known for their big eyes that make them look like babies even after they are in adulthood, hence the name.


We even sewed a stocking for Bush Baby. Not only does Luca love animals, but he loves crafts. After seeing me work on Leo's stocking, the wanted to make one for his little friend. We used animals that I had already cut out years ago for baby quilts that I never made. And, yes, Luca did actually help with the sewing- by machine and by hand. I mean, I certainly helped, but the layout and everything is his design. He pinned them on and we did two different kinds of stitches to put them on.

The loop to hang it has Bush Baby on it, in case you forgot who it belonged to. It was a fun project to do together, though it did make me exercise patience, gentleness and having self-control about wanting to be in control.

 

Bush Baby even made it into one of the pictures I used for our Christmas cards. If you got one, you were probably wondering what that ratty little tail was attached to.  Now you know.

 Luca wanted this photograph in the card because it was a better picture of Bush Baby, but I had to decide: Does this card need more Bush Baby, or more Leo and Tiz?

Five is fun. Luca makes a lot of things fun; he gets that from his dad. He is busy, but he does crazy things like draw for 30 minutes on different pieces of paper then tape them together to make a "book" and tie something around it as a small gift to me. He says insane things like, "Mom, I haven't worked on my letters in a while, maybe we can do that?" Sure sometimes he's kind of stalling so he doesn't have to rest on the couch while the little guys nap, but sometimes he really just wants to work on his letters. I am constantly amazed at the gift that God has given me in Luca. It takes a decent amount of energy to keep up with him, and sometimes I don't do it joyfully, but it really delights me to see the unveiling of who God has made him to be: artistic, creative, gentle, a peacemaker, funny and smart.

To wrap up the birthday event, we did have an actual party for Luca with both sides of our family. I kind of stay away from themes and what not for various reasons, but mainly I thought of what would Luca like most? Family, especially his boy cousins, and cake were the main things came to mind. I made a Lego cake that went horribly wrong, but thankfully, with Joe's help and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I was able to chillax and remember what really matters. It was a very large and lovely time that I didn't document at all because I just enjoyed visiting... oh, and I was kind of feeding 20ish people.

Thank you Jesus for giving me five amazing years with Luca.

morning and evening, today

I have wanted to get Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional for a long time now, but, as these things go, I forget or the timing doesn't work out with remembering and having the resources to get it. No matter, Biblegateway.com has heard my dilemma. I recently been using Biblegateway a lot for my Bible Study Fellowship homework. It has a gzillion translations of the Bible in various languages. Mostly, I use it to look up verses. BSF uses NIV version, so I use that when it refers to verses since the language can differ from the version I now use, ESV. Anyway, last night I was checking out the devotionals that they have before I went to bed and I was so happy when I found that they had Morning and Eveing. What a gift! Please check it out to refresh your time with the Lord.

Here is this morning's devotional:

"So walk ye in him."
Colossians 2:6

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him. Walking implies action. Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, "He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ." Walking signifies progress. "So walk ye in him"; proceed from grace to grace, run forward until you reach the uttermost degree of knowledge that a man can attain concerning our Beloved. Walking implies continuance. There must be a perpetual abiding in Christ. How many Christians think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into the company of Jesus, and may then give their hearts to the world all the day: but this is poor living; we should always be with him, treading in his steps and doing his will. Walking also implies habit. When we speak of a man's walk and conversation, we mean his habits, the constant tenor of his life. Now, if we sometimes enjoy Christ, and then forget him; sometimes call him ours, and anon lose our hold, that is not a habit; we do not walk in him. We must keep to him, cling to him, never let him go, but live and have our being in him. "As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him"; persevere in the same way in which ye have begun, and, as at the first Christ Jesus was the trust of your faith, the source of your life, the principle of your action, and the joy of your spirit, so let him be the same till life's end; the same when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and enter into the joy and the rest which remain for the people of God. O Holy Spirit, enable us to obey this heavenly precept.

Lord, please show me where in my life I am not acting in faith. Help me to remember the habitual and continuing aspects of walking in faith and how progress comes with those. Thank you, Jesus, that we do not walk alone, but that even the power to take one step forward is given to us by you, through your sweet grace. Amen.

My ABC Bible Verses

Here is a little treasure that we have recently been enjoying. I heard about this from one of my sisters-in-law. There is a verse for each letter and with that a small explanation of what it means, followed by a story that illustrates the verse in use. All the stories involve Missy or Bill, a sister and brother, who are learning what it means to follow the Lord with their lives. At the end of the story there is a couple of questions you could ask your kid. Then you are supposed to repeat the verse a few times and there is a suggested prayer topic.

After I read the first one to my older boys, to be honest, I thought they were going to think it was... uninteresting. Thankfully, they are not as cynical as me, who initially viewed it as kind of cheesy, though I didn't hint at this at all, waiting to see how they responded on their own. To my surprise, Luca loved it and asked to read more. I actually had to cut him off. He was even into repeating verses. We have memorized verses on our own, usually around meal time, but I didn't know that they actually liked to do that. Luca said, "This book is awesome." And when we prayed one night after reading it, he thanked God for "more verses". What?! Luca always, always surprises me. I couldn't even make this stuff up because I had no idea that kids would respond in these ways. Luca is exceptional in his love for learning and sensitive heart, though. Though I am not fooled into thinking that he doesn't say things to please me occasionally too.

Now, we have finished it, though, and the excitement has diminished. It went by too fast since I read at least two a day/night, usually more. I have started using these verses to put on our dining room wall for the boys to memorize though. They know A-D solid and seem to enjoy getting praise for it (duh). I know that just memorizing a verse will not transform their heart to repentance and trust in Jesus, but I do hope that by giving them scripture to "hide in their hearts", I am giving them a gift for the future and weapons to use when they engage in spiritual battle. So, whether your kids embrace this with the same enthusiasm or not, this is well worth the purchase; I highly recommend it.

The Scorch Trials

So, I read the first of this series called Maze Runner and, surprisingly liked it. It was packed full of adventure and had a Lord of the Flies-type feel to it. I checked-out the second in the trilogy called The Scorch Trials and have to say, I just was not as interested in it. In fact, I kind of put it to the side and found that I never felt like picking it up again. Then it was due at the library and I didn't care that I had to turn it in unfinished. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was. The story actually was a little disturbing and kept being more complex without developing the characters or relationships. It was kind of like the show Lost, where you think you'll figure it out the more you get into it, but then you actually end up with more questions. However, in Lost (which Joe  and I have yet to finish actually!), characters' story lines were developed. And the questioning was more intriguing than annoying. Not to sound like a complete snoot, but I didn't feel connected to the characters in this series. Plus, I got tired of the gruesome, thriller sci-fi stuff. Sorry, James Dashner, I wouldn't recommend this.