Girl Talk

An email went out from Mama Bzz asking for women to review the book, Girl Talk. I immediately said, "Yes." I thought I was going to review Carolyn Mahaney's book. I'll let all of you who know me well take a moment to imagine what my face looked like when I took this book out of the package:


Are you giggling?

Girl Talk (published by Five Star Publications) is written by Gigi Garner. Her dad is James Garner.

The back cover says:

"Something special happens when women get together and talk-confidences are shared, help and support given, all in the name of sisterhood and friendship - and with Girl Talk in your hand, you're never far from a trusted friend. Girl Talk brings well over 100 caring women into your life in including famous personalities like Sally Struthers, Lucie Arnaz, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Shari Belafonte, Jamie Lee Curstus and Naomi Judd. With Girl Talk, the wisdom of female attorneys, heads of corporations, teachers, actors, journalists, bankers, artists, doctors and more is at your fingertips."

The book is filled with short tidbits of "wisdom" from women like the ones described above.

Some of the advice was helpful. I liked the cleaning tips and general "girlfriend" beauty suggestions, solutions on the go, etc.

I enjoyed this one story the most:

"Right after my husband and I were married we seemed to really be struggling financially. Everything seemed so hard and expensive! We had an awful time trying to make ends meet month to month. We were both so stressed out and this was not helpful in a new marriage. One day, I went down to the bottom of the hill to pay our landlord. Our landlord is a sweet little eighty-five year old lady. I think she recognized the look of stress on my face as I handed her our last dime. She was kind enough to offer some grandmotherly advice that I will never forget: "Dear, whenever you get upset about money, remember that when you get to be my age, none of this will matter anymore. I think of the times when my husband and I struggled when we were young and looking back, it was a waste of time to worry. Everything always has a way of turning out all right. Think about the future and don't worry your present strife."

As a lover of mentoring, I was blessed by the words of that older woman. What treasure.

Honestly, the rest of Girl Talk did not hold my attention. The book retails for $15.95. I think that's very expensive for this soft-cover book.

I appreciate the author's heart. I agree that wonderful things happen when women share their lives with one another. Since this book was not from a Christian perspective, as a believer I kept reminding myself that things like cleaning tips are fun, but this book was labeling the worldly messages it contained about life and how to live it as "wisdom."

I could not relate to this book hardly at all. Notice that nowhere in the list of accomplishments of women from the back cover does it mention "wife" or "mother."

As a wife and mother, the things that most of these career women had to say about life and values were not things that spoke to me or encouraged me. We simply don't value the same things (or maybe we do, but those things were not included in the book).

I didn't want to be a jerk going into reading the book, but there is this part of me that is ever skeptical of things that claim to be "wise" and full of "wisdom."

James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I appreciated what the women in this book had to say, but bottom line...I don't know them. God says that there is a way to know if people are wise. You tell by the way they live their lives. Are their lives filled with purity, mercy and good fruit? Are they considerate and submissive? Are they peacemakers?

I don't know the condition of these women's homes or their marriages. I have no idea if their children have been loved or neglected. I have no idea if these women will be 85 years old like that lady in the story above and look back on their life and see a beautiful legacy of love and life being passed on to the next generation or if they will look back and see nothing but huge piles of regret.

Did they build or destroy? I have no way of knowing that from this book, so it was hard to let their words truly speak to me or take those words and label them "wisdom."

One time I was at a conference and heard a speaker say, "As believers, the greatest influences in our lives better be Godly ones."

I sat there and thought of who was influencing me as a woman. Lots of the people I could think of at the time were celebrities, or women I only knew from far off. I had no idea what their lives looked like or if they loved God. I knew some of them didn't. And yet I was letting their thoughts...what they thought was important shape my life and decisions I was making.

I was a fool.

Our time is limited as women, wives and mothers. God tells us to live purposefully, to take advantage of every opportunity. He clearly teaches in Titus 2 that mentoring is important, that we learn great things from older, wiser women.

I am thankful for the opportunity to review this book, but I pray over all of the women reading this post that we would be striving to be the women God has created us to be. I pray we are choosing to build...growing in wisdom...in grace...in good fruit...in mercy...in peace making.

I pray that God's Word is where we look for wisdom, that we value mentoring and that we have women in our lives teaching us the things found in Titus 2.

I pray that the people we are allowing to influence us are Godly. It's always fun to listen to women when they get together and talk. I love that. I enjoyed reading some of the stories in this book. However, I hope that we never take what someone says...their advice...or "wisdom" without making sure that person truly is wise according to God's Word.

With that said, I think if you are a woman looking for a book to speak truth and encouragement over your life, there are lots of other great books out there that are filled with rich wisdom from older, wiser, women whose lives have been tested (Elizabeth Elliot, Carolyn Mahaney, Martha Peace).

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Five Star Publications for this review.

Look What Kirby Did!

Kirby's cute son

I'm constantly impressed with Kirby. Really. I always laugh when people ask if I'm Kirby's mentor. I say..."Yes. Sort of...I guess. Technically...on paper."

Are you kidding? She teaches me so much.

I had heard her talk several times about doing a big baking day and freezing her meals.

As with most things Kirby talks about, I think it's a great idea but wait for her to do all the hard work and then just jump in and copy her later.

Kirby has inspired me to do a large baking/freezing day. However, I'm waiting for Aaron to feel inspired to buy me a huge deep freeze. Feeling it, honey?

Go check out what she did and how she did it.

I will testify to the muffin idea. I now bake bread and muffins every Monday. You can make healthy muffins free of any weird chemicals or unpronounceable ingredients. It's nice to have these on hand for snacks or quick breakfasts. After the muffins have cooked, just stick them in big freezer bags (I fill up the big ones with the muffins). Put them in your freezer.

Around here this is how snack time works for the older boys:

The first snack of the day has to be a fruit.

After that when the boys need a snack, they know they can grab a muffin, stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds and out comes a healthy, YUMMY snack.

I use Kirby's recipes but have also been freezing pumpkin muffins this fall. That recipe is here.

Coupon ladies, this is a great way to use all those ingredients you're getting for so much less these days.

Kirby has been able to cook ahead, freeze and pull out ready-made meals as needed.

She also mentioned our Sunday potluck at New Life in her post.

I too love the meal but I'm home by myself on Sunday afternoons. Aaron goes to church pretty early on Sundays.

The first week Aaron was leading worship at New Life and our family participated in the meal I got to church and was so stressed out I could not even think straight. Getting myself ready for church plus four kids ready by myself on top of cooking a major meal and transporting that meal to the building left me in tears. I was a jerk to the kids. I was impatient. I should have walked right in the door, dropped everything in the foyer and headed to the altar to weep and repent.

I needed a wheel barrow to take all the food, kids and their items they need for church (plus Truth and Grace) into the building.

Plus, I have crap-o-la dishes that don't have lids or cute carrying cases. Every time I see a newlywed walk in the door of the church with some cool food transportation system I want to grab their goods and take off running with them.

There are some great things about being married for 12 years. But...after 12 years your dishes are in sad shape. I look in the cabinets some days and think, "Wow girls...you have really let yourselves go."

I need to do what Kirby is doing and freeze meals earlier in the week or once a month for Sunday night. So please...if you have meals that freeze well, will you please, please go leave the recipes under Kirby's post so we can use them?

I want to steal your ideas!

I will also be recruiting some cute college girl to help to make this freezing dream a reality!

The potluck meal after the service at New Life is one of my favorite things about our church. It's so fun to sit and talk to people. It's intimate. It's like a big family reunion every week...well...it's like a big family reunion you see on TV. The ones in real life can be scary.

I do need to make the afternoon before church a little less "make everyone in our house hate me" because I'm running around like a crazy lady.

Go on...

Go see the Kirby girl.

And please...

Share your freezer love.

Tallest of Smalls

Precious

This book is by Max Lucado.

Should we expect anything less?

I know the old saying goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Well...I do all the time. I bet you do too.

As soon as I opened up the package that contained Tallest of Smalls I was taken by the cover.

The pictures are beautiful. The colors pop. I wanted to pull a Mary Poppins and jump inside.

The message is perfect.

Recommended ages are 4-7, but our whole family liked it.

From the introduction...

"What do you do when your child feels small and insignificant? What do you say to smooth the hurt feelings? What does your child need from you?

Here's a hint: Think about what you need from your heavenly Father when you feel small and insignificant. You need a reminder.

A reminder that you're loved.

A reminder that you're special.

A reminder that what your heavenly Father thinks of you trumps what the world might say...."

After reading the introduction I thought, "I know I'm a grown up, but shucks...I needed that reminder today too."

Do we ever outgrow the need to be reminded of God's love and that it's His approval (not man's) that we should desire and seek?

The boys and I assumed the "reading position" in our house...

We got in a huge pile on the couch...blankets and all. We have to have blankets when we read no matter how hot it is in the house. It's a rule.

The story rhymes...it's a poem. The boys loved the rhythm.

As we read through the story of Ollie, the child who feels left out...who wants to impress the "in" crowd there were so many times we stopped and talked about those desires we have and what scripture says about our fleshly cravings for acceptance and self-glorification.

Reading this book with your child, you could talk about so many verses from the Bible.

We're fearfully and wonderfully made.

Jesus came to serve. (and all of Phil 2 is great)

The first will be last and the last will be first.

Pleasing God vs. pleasing man

Favoritism

So many more...

As a grown up I was reminded once again about the danger of thinking we're "all that"...isolating ourselves from true community, authentic relationships and accountability. It's sad to see this in church leadership a lot of times where leaders become "untouchable" up on stilts like the people in this book...no longer normal people, connected to the body. We always need to be reminded that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. What a great verse to use while praying for church leaders.

At the end of the story, Jesus appears on the scene and speaks such sweet words to Ollie.

I literally choked up. I don't think I've ever teared up reading a picture book to my kids. Well...I'd probably cry if I read "Love You Forever" but when the boys bring it to me and ask me to read it to them I say, "No. I can't."

Reading Tallest of Smalls I was caught off guard. I wasn't expecting to get teary eyed.

I thought for a second..."Crud. Is this story precious or am I pregnant?"

I'm not pregnant, so the story must be precious.


The book is $16.99.

You can buy it here.

My favorite line from the book...Jesus says to Ollie:

"I made you, remember, You're mine after all."

Max Lucado's website: http://www.maxlucado.com/

I would definitely buy this book for a gift! What a great gift to buy a church preschool.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided free of charge by Thomas Nelson for this review.

Seen This?

How incredible...and right here in our town!

Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart

If you want to, you can post a comment under that story encouraging Abby Johnson.

You can also send her an email at:

standandpray@coalitionforlife.com

I'm guessing that the Coalition for Life is sending Abby the emails.

No matter where you live...praise God for truth today...that prayer works.

Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

Upturn

This will be a week filled with reviews.
I didn't realize all of these would fall on the same week.

Upturn (put out by Timberdoodle)

Math Game

Seems like an oxymoron for someone who hates math.

I was skeptical of this one right from the start.

When we got Upturn in the mail I told Aaron, "Just looking at the box makes me think it's like Around the World."

Around the World.

That awful game you play in elementary school once you learn your multiplication tables (or not learn them, in my case...thus the stomach ulcers when the teacher would announce it was Around the World Day.)

Around the World

You either love it or hate it. If you were "Mr. Know All Your Math Facts and Can Say them in a Freaky Fast Fashion" (cough, cough Aaron) then you loved it. If you were like the rest of us who need time...time for heavens sake to think about the numbers...then you hated the game and started praying for the flu or for a stomach virus or that you'd have a nose bleed when the teacher announced it was time to play.

To add to my Around the World weirdness, I just want to note that something about the eye doctor makes me flashback to the flashcards. I practically yell out "ONE" or "TWO" in panicked fashion. I've had doctors say, "Slow down. You can take your time." I don't know why these things are linked in my mind.

One night the Upturn box was on our floor. I got in the bed. Later I got out of the bed and took the box into the living room. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to sleep with all those numbers in the room with me. There are a lot of numbers on the box and they make me nervous. Who can sleep in that condition?

I need counseling. I know that. But that's not what this post is about.

The boys were thrilled to get this package. They love mail and math, so this was their lucky day.

Upturn is nothing like Around the World.

Here's our honest take:

The description on the game said, "For ages 7+ (or as soon as they know double digit numbers) and 2-4 players."

I thought this meant when they knew how to add double digits.

It doesn't.

This is good and bad.

First the good...

Everyone in the house can play it except for Hudson.

If your kids know how to count from 1-100 and recognize those numbers pretty well, then they can play this game.

No adding is required.

That was the bad part for me.

I was hoping for a game that would help the boys "do math." Help them improve their adding or multiplication skills.

Although Upturn wasn't going to reinforce the math skills I had in mind, it is a great game for reinforcing math concepts like greater-than or less-than, sequencing and number recognition.

So...do the boys like it and play it? That is the most important part, right? I put all that stuff about my hatred of math in the top part of this post for a reason. It would be completely unnatural for me to push a math game on my kids. When we weren't playing Upturn I put it away...out of sight. We had played it several times, and I felt confident I could write a review. So why leave it out? I should not admit this in a review for a product that a company was nice enough to send me for free. I'll probably never get to review again.

I think it's important to note that even in the midst of me not pushing the game on them, or suggesting they play it, the boys never forgot it was here...in the house...somewhere.

We're always on the look out for non TV related games to play. So was this a hit with the boys?

Yes.

Absolutely.

They have asked to play it every day.

As a grown up...and probably because I hate math, their affection for the game shocked me. But, it's true. The boys like the game. They like it a lot.

When they say, "Can we play Upturn?" I say, "Really?" But they keep saying it...and so this game gets a lot of stars from the parents Hendrick.

Although the recommended age for the game is 7+, I would think that if your child is pretty good at number recognition in Kinder, this would be a great game to play instead of doing typical "math" for school on days when you want to mix it up. Ashton and Hayden both have enjoyed playing with all the numbered tiles and sorting them.

I will say...the directions were hard to understand. It could be me. That's always a huge, resounding possibility...but they were difficult.

(No...wait...this just in...Aaron said the directions were difficult. He's a gen-u-wine genius...so I guess the instructions could have been more clear.)

I made the mistake of letting the boys sit with me, waiting to play while I figured out the directions. Bad. Very bad. How many kids does a girl have to have before she gets that this is a dumb idea?

They were all like..."Mom...what do we do? Can I do this? What about this? Can we play? Are you done? Come on. Hayden is putting the numbers in his pants."

(they took turns sighing...very loudly...and very drawn out)

And I was all like..."Stop it. Everyone be quiet. I can't think and read and understand with all your talking and these numbers sitting all over the place. You boys and these numbers staring at me...mocking me... and these beat-my-head-on-the-table directions are freaking me out."

We got it together and wah-lah. Fun.

Aaron and the boys enjoy the game and the strategy behind it.

As a non-math lover, I play the game because the boys like it, and still have no idea what they are talking about when they say "strategy." That's probably why I lose.

Upturn. It's $25. You can check it out here.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Timberdoodle for this review.

Halloween in Pictures

We had our third annual Hee-honking Halloween Party last night.

Thank goodness we got an extra hour of sleep this morning. We needed it after last night's party.

Beholding such creativity...all that laughing...and candy eating can wear a person right out.

I think the kids went into a sugar coma at around 11 p.m.

Hudson M.D.

How cute is little bit?

Indian Ashton

Hayden was Jeff Corwin.

Dread Pirate Anson

Say, "Candy!"

We were American Gothic.
Aaron is wearing women's overalls.
Just wanted to point that out.
You just gotta love Halloween.

What a fun day!

Sweet Life Group girls

Punky Brewster and Dennis the Menace

How cute are these people?

And these people?

I know...adorable!

The Hippies.

Hudson ready to fill up his bucket.

In this picture Ashley is saying, "I know. I owe you bacon wienies."

Rachel was the swine flu. Funny!

Sawyer...the littlest Bedrock baby at the party and her sweet grandma.

Mr. and Mrs. Cat brought all their Things...

Jenn was a "real" doctor's wife.
You know...the ones that wear suits and high heels to Halloween Parties.

Two sets of black eyed peas.

Megan turned 23.
Remember when you only had to buy one box of candles for your cake?
Those were the days.
We love you Megan girl.

Thanks for making our Halloween such a treat.

Kirby posted pics here.

Megan posted pics here.

Got pictures of the party?
Let me know and I'll post a link.

Ren Fest

Tuesday we loaded up the car and drove to the Texas Renaissance Festival with our funny friends, the Feldmans . We Hendricks go every year. Yesterday the boys could be heard saying, "Next year at the Renaissance Festival, I'm going to (fill in the blank). They are already looking forward to next October's adventure.

There is something magical about the medieval ages, isn't there? Spending the day surrounded by princesses, kings, queens and knights makes strange things happen in your heart.

Eating turkey legs and funnel cakes all day also causes wonderful things to happen in your heart.

Sir Ashton guarding Lady Emma

Of course Ashton calls the Renaissance Festival the "Ren-uh-zonz-is Vegetable."

We have threatened to sell our older two sons to the gypsies if they ever correct Ashton. It's just too cute to hear him say it. Thanks to the Ren. Festival, our older boys really think gypsies exist, and they don't want to live with them.

We go during the week for "School Days." This means the festival is rated PG...the kids get to enjoy all the coolness from the Medieval Ages minus the debauchery.

If you've ever wondered if this world needs a Savior, just go to the Renaissance Festival on the weekends. There will be no doubt...we're all doomed without the cross.



This was Hudson's first year to enjoy the festival. I loved seeing his face. Babies get the rare privilege of letting what they are thinking on the inside come out through their facial expressions.

Hudson sat in that stroller most of the day looking at the "odd" people. His face said, "You are a grown man. Why are you dressed like a Centaur?"

mining for "jewels"

While we were there this year, we all kept wondering...

"What do these people do when they aren't working at the Renaissance Festival?"

Are they always pirates?

Do they wear eye liner every day?

Do they always talk with an English Accent?



Does the Jousting Knight from Spain sell Kirby vacuums?

Do the Jugglers teach elementary education classes at a University?

Is the beggar a youth pastor?

And what do the boys with vampire teeth do during the rest of the year?

Sack groceries at HEB?

If so, I hope they never smile. Those teeth are scary. You can actually get a dentist to put vampire teeth tips in your mouth. weird.

I hope dentists are kind enough to say to would-be vampires, "Look...are you sure you want to do this? I mean...some things are really cool at the Renaissance Festival, but not so cool on the cereal aisle of the grocery store."

I wish someone would do a documentary on the "workers" at the Ren. Festival to see what they "do" when they aren't Renaissance-ing it up. Now that's a show I'd watch.

Halloween Math and Thoughts

4 kids + 2 Adults = 6 Halloween Costumes

6 Halloween costumes = lots of work

Note to self: Start on this stuff earlier, Heather.

Another note to self: All the work is worth it when your child, wearing his homemade Indian suit looks at himself in the mirror and says, "I'm a real Indian. I love Halloween. Can I wear this every day?"

______________________________

In the spirit of reduce, reuse, recycle I went to Goodwill for maybe the first time in my life to find costume components. I know. I'm a brat. I think that's been well established.

Right in the middle of the store I decided I hate that place.

I can't believe how expensive it is to buy an ugly vest that went out of style 15 years ago.

No one should have to spend $5 to look like you're trapped in the 80's.

Right in the middle of the women's department I stopped and thought...

"Wow. I think this is holy anger rising up in my heart."

Goodwill takes the free clothes I give them and then makes people in need pay almost as much for those clothes as new clothes cost at Wal-Mart. Most of that stuff was more expensive than the clothing on clearance right now at Old Navy.

It made me mad.

I'm not giving Goodwill any more of my clothes to mark up ridiculously and sell to people who need them.

Yet another note to self: Figure out what to do with our clothes so they go straight to people in need, cutting out the middle man.

One more note to self for the road: Maybe we don't know enough people in need. Maybe that's why Goodwill has to exist. Maybe that's sad and says a whole lot of things I don't want to think about today.

Happy Halloween.

Hope your costumes are coming along.

Hoping for lots of sweet moments in front of the mirror with your little ones as they take a look at themselves as a fire man, a super hero, a ballerina, a princess.

What an indescribable blessing to watch that moment...that precious moment when a child's creativity and imagination is brought to life*.

What an honor to play a part of that in some small way.

Most of the time my job consists of filling up grocery baskets full of food, or filling up sippy cups with juice, or filling up a dryer with wet, clean clothes.

Today I filled Ashton's heart up with joy and wonder.

What a wonderful job I have.

Aren't kids fantastic?

_________________________________

*sometimes that moment is filled with sweet wonder. But one year I made a Super Man costume for Anson. I had it all ready. Dressed him up. Took him to the mirror for the big "reveal." He stood there for a minute or so, staring at himself. He said nothing. I wondered if he liked his costume. I was getting worried. Then, my normally low key, gentle child punched the mirror. That's right. Punched the mirror. He unleashed hot, super man fury on the mirror...he was so taken away by his costume.

Sometimes those first moments in front of the mirror are magical. Sometimes it causes you to say, "Whoa there...settle down Super Man."

None-the-less...magic was made.

Christian or American?

Welcome to a little game that goes on in my mind ever so often...

(cue lights and cheesy game show music)

It's The....(drum roll)

Christian or American Show!!

ding! ding! ding!

While eating lunch I read this article in the Houston Chronicle.

I know...me, reading the newspaper...super weird.

But it was right there in front of my face, and I just so happened to sit down to eat my lunch while wearing my glasses. I guess this is my day to be informed.

The article I read was on the front page. I started reading...I was intrigued.
As soon as I was intrigued I remembered one of the reasons why I hate the newspaper...

"continued on A8."

Ugh. In practically every way "being in the know" is taxing.

Remember this post? We have friends...two married couples...they lived together while one of those couples saved up money and paid off $58,000 of their debt in 18 months.

These days it seems like almost everyone is in debt and trying to get out of it.

For Christians the Bible is clear that debt is a big deal. How can we nonchalantly sit in a big pile of smelly debt with verses like these in the Bible?

Romans 13:8
Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

When we were in debt, we had to agree with God. It can be annoying (and comforting) how God is always right. Debt enslaves you to the lender. We weren't free to live for God, to obey Him, to follow Him. Mastercard, instead of Jesus was calling the shots in our lives, determining what job we had to have and where we lived.

Hey Mastercard...can we send money to Compassion or sponsor a missionary? Hey Mastercard...can I adopt a baby this year instead of pay you? Hey Mastercard...my family is going to crap. Can I quit my job? Can my husband change jobs so he's home more? Uh...let me ask Mastercard. Nope. They said no. Mastercard will always say no.

See...enslaved. When we were in debt we could literally feel the chains. Can I get an "amen?" Just another example of how God is always right. He says you can't serve Him and serve money too.

The story in The Chronicle was interesting to me. I thought the only people who lived with their extended family were "poor" people...you know...people living in the projects or in Mexico or something. Yes, I really said that. I'm being honest. Should I have said "the financially challenged?" It's hard to tell these days.

So here's what went through my mind while I was reading this article:

Why don't more people do this?

Are Americans the only people in the world who can't wait for the day to leave home...to have their own separate lives away from their family? Do we insist on this "right" no matter what it costs us (debt?).

Would we say the people in this article are immature...that they need to grow up because they are living with their family?

Is it okay to love your family and stay near them?

Would it be okay for people who are not related to live together...share a home and all the expenses of life for awhile so they could get out of debt?

Oh but wait...

What about this "leave and cleave" stuff that gets thrown around in the church?

Does it mean what we tell people it means? Does "leave and cleave" mean move out, live alone far from your family? Is that Christian or American? I'm seriously asking...I don't know.

What did people back in the day do...what about people who can't afford their own homes...their own food...are they failing to "leave and cleave?"

Or would it be okay for a married couple to live with extended family? Would it be okay for a married couple to live with another unrelated married couple?

What if no debt was involved? What if two families...or a family and an extended family simply wanted to save a big fat wad of cash every month by sharing expenses? Could they do a lot of cool kingdom stuff with all that surplus money?

Imagine the money and resources that could be saved...not to mention the time spent keeping a household afloat.

One lawnmower instead of two. Built in babysitters. More people to share the load of life and loving and caring for children.

I enjoyed hearing how this family living together in the article splits up the work it takes to keep a household going and growing.

Makes me think of a conversation I had with a woman named Evelyn whose son was on Anson's soccer team.

She and her husband are from Malawi.

She asked me one day if we were going to have any more kids. I told her I didn't know, but that I always wanted a large family.

I knew Evelyn had many siblings. Sitting on the sidelines on countless Saturdays she had already shared with me several stories about her big family...stories about her growing up in Malawi.

I thought she would agree...big families are great.

What she said shocked me.

"I liked having a big family, but now that we live here, I could never do it."

I didn't understand what she meant. Was she talking about the money...how expensive it must be to live in the US instead of in Malwai? No. She wasn't.

She said, "I don't know how you do it. In my country everyone has a big family, but we all live together and help each other. In America having two kids is hard enough for me...since we're doing it alone."

I loved what she said. It made me admit something to her and to myself...

Having a lot of kids is hard.

There are days when I think I will never get finished everything that needs doing. There are days I wonder if I'm going to make it...meet all the demands...all the needs.

I'm tempted on those days to feel like a failure...

"Why can't I get it all done? Why? What is wrong with me?"

Listening to Evelyn I thought something I've never thought before...

Maybe there's nothing wrong with me (I mean besides the usual stuff that's always wrong with me). Maybe this is just hard...worth it...but hard.

Maybe it's hard...too hard some days because I was never intended to do this on my own.

Maybe.

Oooh...now it's your turn.

What thoughts go racing through your brain as you read that article?

Got any questions of your own to throw in the pile?

Christian or American? What's your wager?

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Brandi sent this link to a great article that I agree goes well with this collage of thoughts.

Why Modern Motherhood is So Much Harder Than it Ought to be

(I want to agree with Brandi...neither of us know this blogger. These are great thoughts, but I haven't read this lady's blog before so I'm only vouching for this post.)

Another great link sent by Jessica:

20 Something Reasons to Live at Home

(I want to also say, in no way do I think the 25 year old male, living at home, playing x box all day is okay, but I enjoyed the wisdom in this article.)

For Grandma

Heart and Soul

Should any childhood be without it?

Ever since I've known her, I've heard Aaron's mother say things like this to her son:

"Don't ever try to take credit for the music that is in you. It's been there all your life. God put it there."

I've found myself walking by my son...constantly engrossed in making music on the piano and whispering those same words into his ear.

The music has always been inside Hayden. Threads of melody, harmony and rhythm knit together by the Father.

At the tiny age of two Hayden had the privilege of "opening" on the drums for Matt Graham's band at a local coffee shop.

Music has always been there wrapped up inside this child.

If our words could be measured and counted, I'm sure the phrase that has been said most to Hayden in our home is, "Hayden, please stop drumming."

He drums on everything all the time. Not exaggerating.

If prayers could be measured and counted, I'm sure one of the phrases God has heard the most from this mother is, "God please help me to be patient with all that drumming."

Hayden recently took interest in the piano. I think he felt like he was cheating on the drums at first, but now he seems more comfortable branching out and trying other instruments. He will remind you quickly that he wants to be a drummer though...got it?

I took piano lessons forever and yet trying to play both hands of heart and soul was something that took me well into my junior high years to master. It can hurt your brain.

Hayden learned both sides and then decided to put the two together all in one month.

This might not be impressive to some people, but it has astounded me.

So thankful for music today...for sons...for gifts...for talent...for childhood...for time...lots of precious time for banging away on the piano (and lots of other things)...for tent making and art creating.

Thankful today for the God who shares those sweet gifts with us and teaches us their value.