How to Pack a Lunch

On an ordinary day, almost 2000 years ago, a mother packed a lunch for her son.

There was a new teacher in town, and her son was anxious to listen to him speak, to learn and observe, and gain wisdom from this man. So she packed his lunch--an ordinary task, on an ordinary day.

And on that day, God made a miracle out of the mundane.

When she wrapped up 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and sent him on his way she had no idea that the ordinary would soon be made extraordinary.

She had no idea that the lunch packed to feed her son would nourish the hearts and souls of thousands.

She had no idea that by preparing to meet his physical needs she was equipping his heart to serve and meet the needs of others.

No idea that the meal she made for her own son would be used to manifest the glory of the Son of God.

No idea . . .
She just packed a lunch for her son---because that’s what a mommy does.

On days that seem so ordinary, and the monotony of laundry and lunch boxes and homework seem a little underwhelming. . .remember that God most often uses the mundane to perform the miraculous. May your school year be blessed as you pack so much more than just a lunch!

Good Mom/Bad Mom

Sometimes I'm a really good mom.

Exhibit A

The ice cream man cometh.....the good mom giveth.......

"Good Mom, can we please have the extra expensive super hero ice cream."

"Absolutely!"

"Good Mom, thank you for your loving kindness....your generosity....your zeal for life and all things yummy."

"Of course."

"Good Mom, you are so fun and impulsive. You channel your inner child and delight in the experience of the ice cream truck."

"Yes, yes i do...."

"Good Mom, I didn't get any ice cream....but you sacrifice your own body and breastfeed me every three hours so how could I complain."

"My pleasure."

"Good Mom, you color coordinated my ice cream to my clothing....and speaking of my clothing, you even purchased a "character shirt" for me and let me wear it in public. I know you detest character clothing, yet because of the joy it brings me....you once again have laid down your desire for mine."

"That's just the way I am....."

But before you call me for parenting lessons, may I present....

Exhibit B

The Bad Mom

"Bad mom, why, oh why did you tear up my writing assignment......"

"Because I told you over and over to use your best handwriting, to write your first AND last name, to use accurate spacing, to stop scribbiling all over the page, to stop lollygagging....NO WIRE HANGERS NO WIRE HANGERS NO WIRE HANGERS..........

I didn't really say that.

I mean who really says "lollygagging"......

Please don't feel the need to contact the authorities.....I took this 1 second later.....

It obviously didn't phase him too much....perhaps he has grown accustomed to female irrational, emotional outbursts....which will actually make him an excellent husband someday....so, nevermind...forget that bad mom stuff....I am a good mom :)

Additional Comments

A few days ago I had to fill out a form for Sawyer’s new 1st grade teacher to provide some insight for her as to who my son is---5 character traits that describe him, a brief sentence or two about what motivates and upsets him, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and then an "additional comments" section for anything else she may need to know.

I left that section blank, mainly because we were going to be late for the first day if I spent too much time in deep reflection, and secondly because she is a mother of four and most of the things I would write are already understood due to the universal bond of motherhood. But just in case, here goes my “anything else” you would need to know about my son:

Sawyer is my first born child, my wakeup call to the fact that life can be so much richer, fuller, and abundant than I ever could have imagined. He is my daily evidence that we serve a God who lavishes us with His love and joy. He is my constant reminder that being called “mom” will forever be one of the sweetest sounds I will ever hear. He is a reflection of the best and worst parts of Ben and I (we both happen to claim credit for the good, and blame the other for the bad).

He is a leader. He is funny. He seeks approval and relishes words of affirmation. He has a need to be heard and likes to explain (and it’s NOT arguing, it’s explaining . . . .wonder who he gets this from?) He likes to build things (Ben) and wants to tell you about every detail of it (Stacy). He has a sweet heart and he is wise, which seems like a strange thing to say about a 7 year old, but there has always been a depth of knowledge with this boy that surprises me (although he still switches his “b”s and “d”s around when he writes). He is responsible and seeks justice and hates when things seem unfair (and on a sidenote he also loves StarWars and Indiana Jones and legos and building forts).

I could go on and on (of course I could. . .) but I guess the only thing left for me to tell you, Mrs. Poole, is that my deepest desire is that this boy turns into a man after God’s own heart. I want him to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. I want him to love to learn and to seek knowledge, but more importantly I want him to fall head over heels-unashamedly-crazy in Love with His Savior. I want him to long to know the One who created him and spoke his name before time began.

Mrs. Poole, I know you are “just” his 1st grade teacher, but I also know that God has selected you to play a part in my son’s life. He has chosen you as a vessel to reveal Himself to my son. I commit to praying for you daily and can’t wait to see what this year has in store!

(oh, and also, we will probably be tardy a lot, and sometimes Sawyer may sneak contraband into his backpack that I am unaware of----spaceships, legos, sticks and rocks, etc.)

Pocketful of Sunshine

See this cute girl?


Her name is Sunny Brooke, and there is absolutely no other name on this planet that could ever fit so perfectly (unless we named her Miss Sassy Wonderfulness, and that's really too long to embroider on anything, and besides you never know how many other Miss Sassy's there might be in her kindergarten class. . .)

Anyway, here is a quick update on what Sunny has been up to lately (you know, the things you would normally write down in a baby book. . . and by "you" I mean all the "good moms" out there who make scrapbooks for their children.)

1. She puts her hands on her hips all the time! (exhibit A)

exhibit B

I have no idea where she gets this from. I know that I do not do that (or flip my hair or constantly talk on my cell phone while laughing and saying "yeah, yeah, yeah, um, yeah." )

2. She is trying to potty train herself. (Yes, I know this is technically my job, but I'm not really feeling up to it right now.) At least 5 times a day I have to ask "Sunny, do you have a diaper on?" "Did you just pee pee somewhere?" "Was it in the potty?"---cringe, fingers crossed. This is a picture from this morning when she came downstairs carrying her frog potty and put it in the middle of the living room (Hey, we're classy like that! Did I mention that we are in a rental house?)

3. She adds the middle name "Sue" when she is calling for someone. . . most of the time it is for "Walker Sue" and "Sawyer Sue" in a sweet sing song voice, followed by "comere wightnow! woooooooooon, twoooooooooooo, treeeeeeeeeee" in a mean mommy voice that I'm not really sure where she picked up.

4. She has a certain phrase she likes to yell over banisters and out of car windows, "Hey Pee Pee head!" Sometimes she even mixes it up with a "Hey Poopy head!" It's horrible and awful and terrible and bad parenting and it's also the funniest thing that I've ever not been allowed to laugh at!

(I think she was thinking about yelling it right here. . .)

5. She says "Who?" instead of "What?" ALL the time. For example, I just laughed when I typed #4 and she came running in the room saying "Who? Who you lapping bout?" (Don't worry, I didn't tell her I was lapping bout pee pee head!)

6. She is her "daddy's pumpkin" and has him officially wrapped around her finger. (He is convinced that she IS NOT saying pee pee head. . .and doesn't need a spanking, and besides, "she's too little to spank")

7. She is everything wonderful about having a little girl! She is precious and dramatic and emotional and funny. She is the constant imagery that I need to remind myself that I too am Someone's little girl and that He rejoices over me with singing! (even when I want to yell Pee Pee Head!)

My FAVORITE NEPHEW......

I have 10 amazing nephews and nieces, and I love them all very much.

However, I do now officially declare George as my favorite nephew, from now until eternity and happily ever after until death do us part forever and ever amen. Here's why...

The other night while watching the 2009 Miss America Pageant (I mean scholarship competition)George came in the room while Miss Iowa was competing in the Swimsuit (I mean "Fitness") Category and said "Oh, is that Aunt Stacy on TV?"






Yes, George, it was. And George, I love you and will give you candy anytime you ask. Oh, and also George, you may need to get glasses.

Happy Halloween!

Just a few pics of our Patriotic Halloween!
The boys were soldiers and Sunny was an elephant (a republican elephant---notice the McCain/Palin pin!). Ben and I were supposed to be John and Cindy. But John went pheasant hunting instead. Doesn't he know we have an election to win!

Unicorns and Hearts and Smiley Faces

Well, if my last post made you need a Prozac or Zoloft or just a big piece of chocolate cake, I apologize. I'm better now. : )

I forgot something about "the Potter." He doesn't leave His work. He doesn't leave the wheel spinning and let the clay try to do something on it's own. His hands are always at work, always shaping and molding. So instead of me saying "hey, what about this spot over here?" or "wow, this area is NOT looking good," I'm just going to sit back and let Him do his work and enjoy the ride.

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
Philippians 1:6