It's a lovely spring-like day outside. There's a refreshing breeze blowing through the windows, and the birds' singing was a welcome "good morning!" earlier.
Mountain Man and Reaches Up continued their book study at the East Mountain Grill, enjoying breakfast, too. They discussed their next chapter in Boyhood and Beyond (oh, I love this book!), and here's one of Reaches Up's favorite quotes from the chapter:
"Inside every man is the desire to accomplish great works. Inside every man is the desire to lie around doing nothing. Every day both of these desires will draw you. The desire you follow will determine the man you become."
Are any of us too old to not remember this?
Mountain Man saw the ENT doctor yesterday, and his infection hasn't improved much. The doctor thinks it could take as long as a month, so we covet your prayers for fast healing. Flying with an inner ear infection is miserable!
The children have had a fun time with the balloons this week, even forcing Cap'n to delight in their passion for color coordination.
For the girls, it was quite the hair-raising experience. Aren't those smiles delightful?
Little Bit had her first fight this week. Her opponent was our BIG BAD BUFFET HUTCH. There were no announcements made or tickets issued. It was a surprise match. We're sad to say that the buffet hutch won, and Little Bit walked away with her first (and only ever, I hope!) black eye. This morning she walked up to me, a sullen expression in tow, and said, "Me have a black eye."
OUCH!
Cap'n was a bit indignant earlier in the week when the pediatrician called him lazy. You see, he's still not sitting up on his own, and it's evidently not that he can't, he's just not wanting to make the effort. Still, being called LAZY is offensive to most of us but especially to one whose name is JEDEDIAH. So, he decided he'd show us a thing or two to
prove this declaration of slothfulness to be an error.
Then he decided he'd get fancy and show that he could sit up AND chew on a calculator, too. Humph, take that Doctor!
I guess we'll need to refer Cap'n to the quote above, reminding him that sitting up might be more profitable than the desire to lie around on his back or scale mountains of toys.
Clairesy's favorite expression is "No" these days, but she's a bit in denial. Here's the conversation she had earlier today with Scribe.
Scribe: "Claire, is your favorite word "no"?
Claire: "Nooooooooo."
The children finished memorizing Romans 5, and now we're going to tackle the BOOK of Philippians as a family. We're giving ourselves the rest of the year, not because we're wanting to lie down instead of accomplish something, but instead because this Mama has gotten a bit wise. My Scripture memory schedules rarely go as planned. Are you memorizing something from the Bible, being intentional about hiding His Word in your hearts?
Lastly, we've been enjoying, as usual of course, deep conversations in our home. In light of recent events in the blogosphere, Little Big Man discusses with the REALLY little ones whether or not hell is real, if Mother Teresa was a Christian, Huggies or Pampers, and the implications of the rising gas prices. They really wanted to know about the wisdom of buying stock in pacifier manufacturing companies, but Little Big Man said he'd have to research it and get back to them.
Never think your Littles are too Little to discuss the deeper things!
Have a beautiful weekend and a wonderful Lord's Day!
Much love,
P.S. On a much more serious note, here's John Piper's prayer for Japan.
Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.
O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.
And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.
Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.
Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.
May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.
In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.
Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.
And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.
O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.
In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.
You can see a video and the entire post here. 
