Adam and Eve and Joseph

Sometimes the child you feel is your most "difficult" or are having the most friction with also provides the best opportunities for becoming closer. At various times each one is my "most difficult," but lately we have been struggling with certain issues with Joseph: disobedience and then lying about it to cover it up. We have really tried to crack down on the lying because that's a very serious wrongdoing that we don't want to become a habit!

But God has also used this issue in Joseph life to provide some really good opportunities for discussion of spiritual things. Today we were reading through Joseph's Bible (which took an initial struggle to even get started!), and he kept connecting all the stories back to the story of Adam and Eve eating the fruit and getting expelled from the garden, which is his favorite (we've read it so many times he has the exact words memorized!). He realized that just like other characters were trying to hide from God or run away from Him - Balaam, Jonah - that Adam and Eve tried to hide from God but He still found them. And then we talked about how when Joseph gets into things he's not supposed to, and then tries to hide from Mom and Dad, we always find him too. And then we discussed how he tries to lie about it and put the blame on his brother or sister, just like Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame onto each other and the serpent, but that didn't work with God.

It was really amazing to see the "lightbulb" going off in his head while we talked about this, and I think it made an impact on him to realize that his behavior is just like Adam and Eve's in the Bible. It has been his favorite story ever since we first started reading Bible stories to him and he was old enough to show a preference, and I've often wondered what he finds so fascinating about it. But somehow God knew that story would resonate the most in his life.

I am just praying that the lessons he learns from this story stick with him and remind him how to act the next time temptation arises. Excited by the possibility of change, while trying to remember that he's still young and its a process. (Goodness knows I still do plenty of things the Bible clearly teaches me not to!) But so thankful for the signs that God is working in his heart!

"I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

31 weeks

On the downside, I can no longer see my feet.

On the upside, I should be losing a bunch of weight really soon! ;-)

The proof is in the chocolate pudding...

I love how early little kids learn the concept "deny everything no matter what the evidence says." (maybe they have been watching too many of those crime tv dramas?) Almost as soon as they can talk, they try to convince you that they did NOT get into something even when the evidence is staring them right in the face...or rather, when the evidence is all over their face!

I have had this conversation many, many times:

Mama: "Joseph (or James, or Gabriella), did you get in the cherries/chocolate/fill in the blank?

Joseph (looking you straight in the eye): No.

Mama: Then why do you have cherry juice/chocolate pudding/etc on your face?

At this point, the child takes refuge in one of 2 denial situations:

A) the ignorance option

He puts on an innocent face, responds "I don't know," and frantically starts trying to lick the damning substance off his mouth.

B) the "pass the buck" option

He puts on an injured expression and tries to place the blame on one of his siblings. "Well JAMERS got into the cherries..."

"and then he what, stuffed them into your mouth? against your will?"

Sideways glance. "um...yes."

Remember, when all else fails, continue to deny everything!

Seriously, one of these days I swear my kids are going to demand a lawyer before they'll answer any questions.

Move over, Mr. Darcy

I have been reading a fictionalized account of Jane Austen's life, and it's made me think about all the heroes she's created. The book kind of obsesses over Mr. Darcy, and how Jane has to invent the "perfect man" because she never finds him in real life. I can't help but wonder why everyone fixates on Mr. Darcy as "Mr. Right." Fanfiction about Jane Austen and P&P is very "in" right now (and most of it is TERRIBLE, I might add) and I just don't understand why it only covers Mr. D. Not that I am trying to disparage him. I just think her other heroes deserve some credit.

Sure, Mr. Darcy is tall, dark, and handsome...and incredibly broody. I don't know if that's actually a word, but it's the only one that accurately describes him. In the BBC version (which really is the only version worth watching) he spends the entire movie staring out the window. Even after we - and Lizzy - decide we like him, he is still so serious and melancholy. He doesn't even smile until the very end of the movie. And while this makes for an oh-so-romantic movie, I can't imagine it would be very fun to live with in real life!

Mr. Darcy in his favorite pose - staring out the window

Now, this could be a personal prejudice. He is an extremely honorable, estimable man, quite generous, with an impeccable character...but I think life with him would be downright boring! Does the man have a sense of humor? There is no evidence to support that idea! And while it would be nice to be mistress of a gorgeous house like Pemberly, with packs of servants at your beck and call, with nothing to do but dress up in gorgeous gowns and attend balls every day, I think it would get old. It's nothing like real life. I can't helping feeling there is something lacking in a man who doesn't do anything! Can you picture Mr. Darcy saddling his own horse? Helping his wife in the garden? Or playing with his children? He seems too dignified for that!

Robert doing his best "broody" face

I am thankful that my own husband does not resemble Mr. Darcy, at least in personality. He is tall, dark, and handsome, and he has an impeccable character, but there the resemblance ends. "Broody" is the last word anyone would use to describe him. In fact, one of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place is that he was always smiling. He loves to tease and crack jokes, and our house is always filled with laughter thanks to him. He works very hard to take care of his family. And while, sadly, we do not live on an estate like Pemberly or have oodles of servants at our beck and call, my husband isn't too "dignified" to help his wife with the dishes. Or to play silly games with his children that make them giggle. My husband is unfailingly cheerful even when things are tough. He refuses to brood or worry over things out of his control. And all of these things are what make him perfect for me.

So I say, move over, Mr. Darcy. I'd rather have a cheerful hero than a brooding one any day!

Plus, there is only room for one brooder in our family...and I've got that covered. ;-)

Chicken Soup

With 5 people in the house (and one more to arrive soon), it seems like somebody is always sick, particularly in the winter months. When I'm sick, the only thing I ever want to eat is chicken soup. I admit that when I'm the one feeling bad, usually we end up eating a lot of a canned soup. But when I'm feeling well enough, I like to make good homemade chicken soup from scratch. It's kind of an involved process, but it is definitely worth it in the end - nutritious and delicious! Plus you can break it up into stages to make it less of a production.

Chicken thighs or any pieces with the bone in works best, because you need the skin and the marrow from the bones to make the really good rich chicken broth that tastes best. (I've tried it with breasts and you basically end up with "chicken water" which isn't that tasty...) I just put the frozen pieces directly into a large stock pot full of water and boil them for a long time. Even }better is an entire chicken...but I usually don't buy it that way since it is so much work.

An easy shortcut, however, is to buy a whole rotisserie chicken (you can get one for $4.99 at Sams Club) and use that carcass. This saves a lot of work and time because the chicken is already cooked, plus you end up with several meals out of it. One of our favorite meals is to buy a rotisserie chicken, tear off all the nicest bits of meat like the breast and legs, and eat the meat with slices of cheese and fresh fruit (apples and grapes are yummy!). We sort of make up a tray and everybody just eats off it until they are full. It is very fast, simple, and delicious! Then I take the chicken carcass and boil it whole for several hours. Once it's cooled off, strain the broth out and then pick out all the meat from the carcass (yes, this is the gross part. I hate it too...but I just grit my teeth and remind myself I'm doing this for the health of my children!) One you've got all the meat, throw that icky carcass away and put the meat and broth back in your stock pot. Add some vegetables. For a fast version, you can just add a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. I like to use that plus some chopped onion, carrot, and potato (or noodles, if you want chicken noodle soup.) Cook until vegetables are tender. Don't forget to add salt! And other spices, if you want them.

The great thing about this soup is that you can freeze it at about any stage, which makes for less work later. You can freeze the broth, and use the chicken for another meal, or you can freeze the chicken and the broth together, so all you have to do for a quick soup is pour the frozen mixture in a pot and add vegetables; or finally, you can freeze half your recipe so you have the next time someone gets sick. *If you do this, make sure to freeze it before you add the potatoes or noodles, cause those will come out really mushy once thawed.

Now I am going to go and eat a hot bowl of delicious chicken soup! Take that, winter cold season!

Mary vs. Martha?

I was reading in Luke 10 today, and the chapter finishes up with the story of Mary and Martha. Now, while I understand the message of the story, I have to say I have always kind of sympathized with Martha. It is very nice to get to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to Him...but somebody's got to make dinner, right? I mean, Jesus and his disciples had to eat, and there was a lot of work to be done - it seems a little unfair that Martha does all the work, doesn't get any help from her sister, and then gets chastised for saying something about it!

As a mom, especially of little kids, life feels a lot more "Martha" than "Mary" most of the time. There are so many mundane but urgent chores that just have to get done. Your kids have to eat - and it seems like they are always hungry (I just got asked for "second breakfast" even as I type this...). Laundry has to be done - lots of it! Babies have to be nursed and changed and sometimes carried everywhere you go. While I would love to have those hours to devote to Bible study and prayer, most days that just doesn't happen. Bible study is reading a few verses out loud to the kids, which takes an hour because I spend most of the time making them sit down and be quiet and stop fighting, and prayer is usually a quick "Lord, please help me to survive until bedtime!" It doesn't exactly feel like sitting at Jesus' feet.

What I started thinking about today is that Jesus didn't rebuke Martha for what she was doing - the cooking, the cleaning, the preparation. I mean, she was serving Him. It was the way she was doing it. He said "you are worried and concerned about many things." Now, this is not intended to be a theological statement, but what I took away from this is that Martha was kind of perfectionist. Everything had to be "exactly right" for Jesus - and I totally understand that. If He was coming over to my house for dinner, I would go crazy cooking and cleaning and drilling the kids exactly what to say - and what not to say! I would want to make a good impression! And she was so worried about this that she lost sight of the important part: that Jesus was there!

In a way, it's very freeing. Everything doesn't have to be perfect. I can sit down to do Bible with the kids before the dishes are all done (which I did today...;-) I can spend time playing with my children even if my living room is messy or there are still 5 loads of laundry waiting to be done. Meals can be simple and unfussy as long as they are nutritious. Because I realized that all of these chores, all of this work, these everyday things that have to be done, don't stay done. They are not eternal. In fact, they usually don't last the day! But the time I took yesterday to sit down and make Valentines with Joseph, or to cuddle my exhausted little girl back to sleep, or to struggle and fight with the kids in order to make sure we got their Bible stories read today - those are the kind of things which are going to last. Jesus said whatever we do unto the "least of these," we're doing for Him.