Conversations with Little People

Today I began reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm to the kids. I was interrupted by the littles no less than four times before I'd even read to the bottom of the first page of the first chapter. One of these interruptions went like this:
"Mommy! Mommy! There's a pider (spider)!" Mommy keeps reading.
"Mommy! Mommy! There's a pider in the living room!" Mommy keeps reading--just louder.
"Mommy, there's a pider in the living room!"
"It's o.k., Lydia, I'll get it later."
"It's o.k., Mommy, I already killed it with Paul's gun."

Easter Weekend

We celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord with family this past weekend. We ate dinner with Matt's side of the family on Saturday night. Altogether, there were 28 in attendance. We even got a picture of the 15 grandkids. I sat at the "kids" table and had a nice conversation with my brother-in-law's oldest daughter. It's hard to believe our Ethiopian cousins have been here 2 years.
On Sunday morning, we ate a nice breakfast then headed to church--everyone in their Easter finery. I'm glad I've decided to fuss with hair ribbons and such only a couple of times a year. We have a hard enough time getting to church on time as it is. The picture below is one Matt took of the kids before church. Weren't we organized? Both Matt and I thought Pastor did a particularly good job of pointing people to the Risen Christ. He definitely has a heart for evangelism and it showed on Sunday.
We headed north to my uncle's farm after church for another Easter dinner with my side of the family. I spent the afternoon keeping Joel out of the Wii and big screen t.v. remotes (he knows all about electronics) and the guys had a ball at the annual "Easter Shoot." Paul shot the 410 and practiced skeet with his bolt-action rifle. As for Daddy, he said he wasn't able to hit the side of a barn, but that's o.k., because if one of the clay pigeons ended up getting away, Paul would say, "I got that one.":) A good time was had by all. Ten guys (and a gal), 10 guns and an automatic clay pigeon thrower--what's not to like?

Good Friday

Tonight we will go to church for Good Friday service. The altar will be stripped bear, the cross will be covered in black and the sanctuary will be darkened to remind us of the sin that Jesus became in order to free us from our bondage. I used to dread Good Friday services. Who wants to be reminded of what their sin cost? Now, I can't imagine being able to enjoy Resurrection Sunday without have attended this service.
I read the story of Jesus' death and suffering to the kids today. I especially like Catherine Vos' Child's Story Bible for reading to the kids. It has realistic illustrations (instead of cartoons) and follows the scripture very closely, without watering it down. Unlike usual, we will put the little ones in the nursery tonight as the service will be a quiet and somber one. Although Matt and I have been training the kids to sit still and be quiet during worship, we still have room for improvement. Joel, especially, has a knack of blabbering on about something or other during Pastor's prayers and sermons. I think we'll spare ourselves the trouble tonight. We'll let little Joel shout praises of joy on Sunday morning instead.

Maundy Thursday

The past five years, we have included a Passover Seder in our Holy Week schedule. Each year we pray about who to invite. Last night we celebrated our freedom from the slavery of sin with the family of my good friend and spiritual mentor. She went Home to be with Yeshua last summer. Jenny taught me to love the Jewish feasts. She used to organize the Seder at our church. The first year I decided to host a Seder, she came to my house and taught me everything I needed to know. Jenny said, "I feel like I'm passing the mantle on to you, Melissa." Neither one of us knew how prophetic those words would be--she was diagnosed with cancer a year later. I was able to host a Seder that year for her and her family. We definitely missed Jenny's presence last night, but it was still a lovely evening and I was honored to host her family again. This was truly a gift from the Lord. I was pretty discouraged Wednesday and wondered how we could pull it all off. Well, despite having a clog in the pipe from the kitchen to the septic tank and Matt's emergency church meeting that night, the Lord enabled all the roadblocks to disappear. Grace and I worked all day yesterday on the food (no leavening allowed--leaven represents sin). I was even able to lay down for a bit in the afternoon.
We've been studying the book of Matthew this year as a family. One of the things that the Lord has shown me is that He was never in too much of a hurry to not take every teaching opportunity that came along. He always took the time to ask questions ("Who do you say that I am?") and explain ("Let me tell you what the Parable of the Sower means.") If I'm to become more and more like Christ, I need to incorporate His way of discipling into my life, specifically with my children. This is why Matt and I have chosen to home school, so that we can fulfill the Biblical command of parents discipling their own children. We have found the Jewish feasts to be an excellent teaching tool. Just as the feasts pointed the Israelites to Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross, the feasts point us back to Jesus. The feasts engage all the senses, helping the truths that are presented be retained by the kids more readily. (God is so smart.)
Last night, as we read through the Haggadah (the order of service), I was struck once again by Jesus' words to his disciples, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:14) There Jesus was, eating with one who was to betray Him within the next few hours, and He took the time to serve (washing the disciples' feet) and teach his followers. He didn't let the pressure of what was to come keep Him from doing well the work the Father had set before Him to do at that moment. How many times can I say I fall so far short of this standard? Far too many. I praise God for His Grace and the sanctification He provides through His Holy Spirit. Despite all the failures, I am becoming more and more like Christ every day.
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:24,25).

Paul and Lydia during a break in the action
Paul finding the Afikommen (A piece of matzoh
wrapped in a linen cloth representing Jesus.)
The Afikommen was ransomed back from Paul
by the Papa (Matt) with some chocolate coins.

P.S.--At the end of the evening, everyone says, "Next year, in Jerusalem!" Elizabeth, in
her usual matter-of-fact style said, "It won't be in Jerusalem, it'll be in Washington state."

The Big Rig

Here's our new car,ummm, bus. It's a 12-passenger van. Matt jokes that I'll need to get my CDL to drive it. Four car seats won't fit in the Suburban without major hassles. We'll be needing four car seats at the end of August as the sixth little Macduff is due to arrive about then. The Lord got us a good deal on this rig and we are thankful for His provision. I do have to admit I'm a bit sad about having to sell the Suburban. Actually, grief would better describe the way I've been feeling (yes, I know--it's called idolytry). It's the neatest car I've ever driven (with the exception of a 60's Malibu electric blue super sport, which is only in my dreams--doesn't accommodate six kids). Alas, Matt said the Suburban must go, but as a very wise man (himself a father of 8) who came to test drive it said, "A child is more of a blessing than a car." How right he is.

One Long Night

After an exhausting day of traveling to Odessa, loading up a U-Haul trailer, sharing Sunday dinner with family, then driving home, Matt and I were looking forward to a good night's sleep. It was not to be. At 2 a.m. Paul came in to our room to tell us he had thrown up in his bed. So we stripped the bed, got the washer going and put Paul in our room on the floor so we could monitor him. Suffice it to say, none of us slept much the rest of the night. Joel joined us at 6 a.m. and then Lydia not long after. We decided we'd just better get up and get the U-Haul unloaded. Before we got started, Paul said to Matt, "Daddy, I think I know why I'm sick. I think I caught that fly that's going around." (Paul had overheard me say that there's a bug going around.)