Ever since ordering the bunk beds I have wondered if I should really pursue a full fledged decorating extravaganza for the nursery. Then yesterday, through a conversation I walked into between Kris and another young mother, it really hit me that I could spend a lot of time on something that really isn’t a lasting value for the kids or the house. Considering the third bunk we purchased which will allow the boys to share a room and boy number three to enter the big boy’s room sometime after 18 months, I think the nursery will be a short-lived adventure for us. Is it really a good investment of my time or our money to paint and light and arrange a room that may only be used for less than 2 years? Probably not. I have begun rethinking the project and have sort of settled on a few cheap and fun ideas to keep the room bright and fun, but not as detailed as previously planned.
I already have the rocker ordered, which I would probably want for future use anyway, the colorful striped fabric for curtains and of course we have the baby furniture. I will still get new bedding for the crib as the constant use it has had is showing a lot of wear by now. Then I’ll use some of my mounds of fabric to do some art projects for the walls. Lighting may be an issue but we’ll wait and see what things look like with the afore mentioned changes and take it from there. I think that will still make a very nice room for the new little guy and allow me to spend more time preparing the rest of the house (in other words, keeping it clean) and more money on the bedroom that the two older boys are already using.
In other news, we watched Mary Poppins the other night, Owen loved it. We went to the zoo with Kris’ cousin Michelle and her family on Saturday. Hot, but still enjoyable. We hadn’t seen them in a long time and her little boy Gabe and Owen got along very well. They were running and laughing and trying to get each other to cooperate with their individual plans. We all had lunch together and then each headed our separate ways. Them to Clarksville, the boys and I home and Kris to Flugtag. He had a good time, but was ready for some rest when he got home. We all were. The sun was bright and brutal and wore us all down a little. After resting a bit, I made a quick grocery run for some mint chocolate chip ice-cream (Kris’ favorite) to help him handle the heat. I had a little too of course. We went to bed early as to prepare for church the next day.
We had a great service yesterday. It was entitled “I Get To”. Not long ago Pastor Davis said those words during a sermon talking about the “have to” mentality we have as Christians, or as church attenders. We don’t have to go to church, we are privileged to go to church. One of our musicians, a country writer, took the phrase to heart and wrote a beautiful song that he and his wife shared yesterday. Yes, it was country, (insert sarcastic tone here)another of Kris’ favorites, but the message was on target and very well written and performed. Pastor had received the song a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so much he decided to convert his previously offhand comment into an entire sermon. It was very, very good. It even convicted me, and I’m hard to convict, having such a hard insensitive heart and all. (Again with the sarcasm).
This week will mainly be preparation to leave. We have another trip to Florida this weekend, complete with more tuxes and another wedding ceremony. This trip however, we will not be driving, we will be taking wing to and from the sunshine state. Yippy for us!
Ah, yes, “get to” is an important point that so many miss. What’s the point if its “have to”? The Lord wants the giving of our heart, the giving of our time, and the giving of our love. There is no obligation in a true gift- it is a sacrifice gladly made! And, should any obligation be in that gift, the purity and genuineness of the gift is tainted and it holds less value. Obligation usually enters when we are trying to please men, not God. Galatians 1:10 says: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Tisra – He really talked a lot about our attitude in obedience, service and spiritual disciplines, something I was really feeling good about through the whole sermon. I had had such a fun and wonderful morning, with Kris and I talking to Owen about thankfulness and blessings and why we worship God, all the way to church. Then Pastor’s sermon hit me with the example of David fighting Goliath and how he volunteered to take on the Giant. I don’t often face my giants voluntarily and in fact usually avoid them, but realized some of my negative, even judgmental thoughts toward certain circumstances and situations have led me to run from giants instead of face them because they have little do with me personally. Not that I am the answer to all “giant problems” in the lives of others, but I know who is, and I shouldn’t run from them simply because they are “ugly”. Still trying to please men? Probably. It was good for me.
We did Flugtag Saturday and the sun was indeed BRUTAL. The incredible crowd didn’t help any either. Hot, sweaty bodies piled in shoulder to shoulder with no room to breathe or move about. Aside from those harsh conditions, the event itself was entertaining. I hope Kris enjoyed it.
Nurseries are fun, but your thought process sounds so much more practical. The little sucker will be here before you know it. Let me know if you want any help with preparing his room.
I like the nursery idea. It’s always nice to have things that are fun and useful. And the baby stage is gone in a flash so practical is a good way to go.
We met Travis’ cousin Sunday for brunch and they’d been to Flugtag and had a great time. 80,000 people crammed into downtown though- yikes!
I like the nursery idea as well. Less stress on you. The girls and I talked about chores in a different way today. We are calling them blessings because we are blessed to have all of the things we have to clean and take care of. When they weren’t impressed with that I took them to a web site that showed some African kids and the meager things they had to live with. No beds as we call them, etc. I told them that they “get to” go make their beds. They were impressed and wanted to send all of their toys to them. LOL But that is similar to what Pastor Davis was talking about.
This is fun! I’m Mary’s cousin. I don’t know any of you, but I’m enjoying reading what you have to say. I put a passage from 1 Peter 4 at the bottom fo this comment. I’m in Liberia, Africa right now working and living on a hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, operated by an organization called Mercy Ships. A friend of mine shared the passage with me, and it goes well with what you girls are writing about. Traci, I found it interesting to see what you said about kids in Africa. People from home seem to be impressed right now that I’m “roughing it” living on a ship with all sorts of inconveniences, 2 minute showers, very little storage space, limited amounts of cafeteria style food, extremely hot weather. Yet in comparison to the Liberians living just off the dock, I’m living in the absolute lap of luxury. Most of the people that we encounter have never slept in a bed. We had a patient the other day who had never left her village, never slept in a bed, never ridden in a car, couldn’t believe that something like a floating building actually existed, was terrified of walking up stairs because she had never seen them before, and had never received any sort of medical care. She had absolutely no idea what to do with a shower or a toilet. We actually have signs in the hospital bathrooms showing how to properly use the toilet. It’s not a clean bowl of water for laundry. We have no idea how good we have it at home!
10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.