I Forgot Friday Funny?

I posted today and forgot my ~Friday Funny~.....oops!

Friday Funnies:
When Nathanael was little, he and I were making dinner together. We were 'chatting' about all kinds of things dear to his little heart. Many I don't remember, this one I do remember!

Nathanael: Mommy, I want to marry you when I get big.
Me: Oh sweetie, Mommy is already married to Daddy.
Nathanael: He won't mind...you can be his wife and my wife too!

What little sweet things we remember about our children. What delicious, precious things kids say!
What a 'cutie' to make dinner with!

Random Thought Friday ~

~ Today is Friday! I usually 'clean' on Fridays and today is no different! Put on the music and hit the gas on the vacuum! The girls and I have it down to a science these days. If we all pitch in we can get it done in a couple hours or less! I like to do it every week so we stay on top of it, but we have at times been so busy and running that we didn't get to it for a few weeks. I must say, just so you know, the bathrooms and kitchen always get cleaned.....no matter what!

~ We speak the body language of 'hugs' at our house, we use it often. I've learned when words aren't enough, holding my kids in a hug says volumes. Kids outgrow laps but never hugs. I hug my kids everyday! Even the big ones!

~I have learned to put things near their use. For some reason this took a long time for me to learn this. We hunted and hunted the tape for years. Now I have 3 tape dispensers. One in the school room, one in the kitchen and one in my desk. Same with scissors, string, note paper, comet, dust rags, duct tape, any books and keys (by the door), they all go near their use. With some things I am a slow learner.

~My kids don't need me to be a buddy, sidekick or a maid. They need me to be their mom. Kids need a mom to set limits and set an example. Anyone can be a friend. Only a mom can be a mom. That is the highest calling!

~ I am excited when my kids 'get it'. That happened this week. I didn't need to say anything...one of my kids saw and heard a situation and quickly discerned (AND mentioned to me openly--nice!) the wrong and right of it! Amazing! YES! God is at work!

~ Games we played during the Blizzard of 2010! (I found your list Natascha!)
-- Scrabble
-- Mexican Train
-- Apples to Apples
-- Who Nu
-- ETC
-- Stocks and Bonds
-- Compatibility
-- Scattergories
(Natascha had more on the list, but we didn't complete the list!)

~ Friends are wonderful! They make life sweeter still! I ask myself often "what kind of friend am I ?" My Dad told me long ago "better to be a true friend ~ then you will always have one. Don't look for friends, just be a 'real one' and God will take care of the rest." That being said, I fail much of the time! Jesus is my example and HE really IS the bestest friend of all. Yet, we were made for relationships. It's the old porcupine analogy. Draw close....stick....pull away.....draw close....stick...pull away! We learn what GRACE is. We love because HE first loved us! The earlier my kids learn this HUGE lesson the better equipped they will be to make a difference in their relationships with people. I need huge amounts of grace, I give huge amounts of grace. It is NOT about me.

~ I have come to accept the blessing of SNOW! God has his reasons for it...smile! Being 'snowed in' is rather lovely ~ especially when it is with people you love and enjoy being with!

Delighting in Jesus, Hugs, Lynette

Preaching to myself again!

I preach the GOSPEL to myself everyday of my life. I 'talk' to myself. This is what I say to myself. Why? Because I can't live without it! So how do I preach it to myself everyday? I remind myself what it is! What is the GOSPEL?

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

1. God created us to have fellowship with him every moment of every day.

2. But like Adam and Eve, I am a sinner. Everyone knows this, whether they admit it or not. Even one lie proves it. So then I don't have fellowship with God.

3. Jesus came, lived a perfect sinless life and gave his life for ME, a sinner. The sinless (Jesus) one died on the cross for the sinful (me) one.

4. Jesus righteousness is accounted to my account. When God the Father looks at me, he sees Jesus blood and righteousness covering me.

5. All my sin is forgiven, past, present and future sins are in the deepest sea. I am different, a new creation in Christ.

6. Because I am forgiven, I forgive. My heart is forever aware of the sacrifice given for me. The Holy Spirit lives in me, bearing fruit unto righteousness, and providing fellowship with God who is my loving, heavenly Father.

7. I have JOY! Well, better said, HE is my JOY!

So everyday I preach the gospel to myself. HE loves me. When I am happy, when I am sad, I preach the gospel to myself. When someone 'hurts' me, I preach the gospel to myself. When I mess up, I preach the gospel to myself. When others do wrong, when my kids disobey, I preach the gospel to myself. When I am afraid, I preach the gospel to myself.

I love the GOSPEL because it is my only HOPE! You see~ the GOSPEL really really is the GOOD NEWS! The BEST NEWS ever told, so I tell myself everyday!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

SURPRISE!

I love surprises, don't you? I received a BIG surprise today...well, not today ~ I was told the surprise today!

May 16th Dave and I will be married 40 years! THAT is a long long time...yet it seems like yesterday! How can that be? Well that is the truth---40 years! He told me this morning he is taking me away for a whole week, a whole week...just he and me!!!! HE and ME!!!! YAY.....We get to have time all to ourselves for a whole week! We will be heading to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and the BEACH! It takes real love, time invested and resources spent to make such plans! True love! Love is action...a verb! It is a noun too ~ but mostly a verb!

We have a 'history' of BEACHES. I grew up 30 minutes from Malibu Beach, California. Dave asked me to marry him late one night at Zuma Beach (that is a whole story for another day!). We spent some of our honeymoon at the BEACH. I guess you could say we are 'beach people' ! We enjoy Sunset Beach, NC and Nags Head, NC so much. I am so excited to visit a new beach, neither of us has seen. So come May, Lord willing, we will drive the 10 hours to visit Hilton Head Island. What excitement and anticipation is in the air!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in you presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16: 5-11 (ESV)

My lines have fallen in pleasant places. The LORD is so good. He is faithful and true. My heart rejoices in His grace given abundantly to us. He has done it, and to HIM we are so grateful!

Our lives are full. Has it always been 'easy'? No it hasn't, lots of tears shed, yet HE is with us always, calling our name. HE really is what life is all about. Happy, sad, frustrated, fulfilled, challenged, easy, mad, glad, disappointed, grieving, rejoicing, hurt, encouraged, helped, alone, together, crushed, built up, poor, rich, naked, full, hungry, searching, seeking, praying, listless, hoping, sick, healthy, loved, hated, gossiped about, full of sin, misunderstood, homesick, lonely, secure, lifted up, surprised, supported, relaxed, quiet, noisy, accused, defended, thought ill of, forgiven, loved, never receiving what we truly deserve which is death! HE has meant it all ....ALL for our good and HIS GLORY! GLORY to JESUS!

40 years! Seems like yesterday we were just starting out as newlyweds. How fast life speeds by. How like a 'vapor' 40 years is. Yes, we are old by some measures! Yet it only gets better and better! I love my honey MORE today than I ever knew I could on our wedding day! Isn't that the way the LORD works?! With HIM it only gets better and better and better! Until one day one of us will lay the other into the arms of Jesus! How GOOD HE TRULY IS!

Surprises are nice! Many are precious here on earth with my lovey Dave! YET the best is yet to come in heaven with THE LOVE of my LIFE Jesus! ---sitting at HIS feet! HE provided the way! Won't that be the BEST of all!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Another Good Book !

My hubby gave me a book recently titled "Prayers of an Excellent Wife" by Andrew Case. It is a different kind of book though. Not one to sit and just read through. It is a book to be prayed by me for him. I like it. I am using it during my quiet time in the mornings and then again before bed. Andrew Case has taken scriptures and woven them into prayers to be prayed out loud or in secret. I personally like to 'whisper' them in the mornings as I am alone and then secretly at night.

Here is the one I prayed this morning for the love of my life here on earth---my Davey Baby!

"Changeless God,
May Dave, my husband never forget all Your benefits. Help me to remind Dave relentlessly of the ONE who forgives all his iniquity, who heals all his diseases, who redeems his life from the pit, who crowns him with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies him with good so that his youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Please work righteousness and justice for Dave when Dave is oppressed. Make known Your ways to Dave, your acts to Your precious son Dave.

O beloved, hear again of our marvelous God! The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. He does not deal with you lovey according to your sins, nor repay you according to your iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove your transgressions from you.

O LORD, as a father shows compassion to his children, please show compassion to Dave. For You know Dave's frame; You remember that Dave is dust.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen, we long and wait for You" (Psalm 103)

What a privilege to pray for my husband. We have a GOD who cares and he not only 'hears' our prayers, HE answers as we pray. Our prayers are God's means of grace ! This world cannot comprehend the power of the prayers of a faithful christian. I know I don't pray enough. But I want too!

Brother Lawrence was a 'washer of pots' as he called himself. He was a monk who worked in the kitchen long ago. As he worked and washed pots all day long he would pray. I like this quote of his.

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God." ~ Brother Lawrence

That is the kind of life I want! To pray continually. Confidently. Biblical. Deeply!

I'm off to put the next load in the drier and the whites in the washer! Monday is MY day for wash! Lots to pray about as I am a 'washer of clothes and sheets'....smile!

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette

Random Thought Friday ~

Today is Saturday. Yesterday was Friday and I didn't do Random Thought Friday....so today we will back up (can you do that?) and do Random Thought Friday! Sorry for the mix-up, it has been one long mix-up week for me ~ have you ever had one of those?

- We survived 2 blizzards here in Maryland! It was lots of fun being 'stuck' inside for a week. We had Game Marathon Day (Natascha made a list and we did play MOST of them!) We baked lots of yummy things, like Cinnamon Choc. Chip Cake, Cookies, Potato Skins, and lots of biscuits. My hubby and Caleb love homemade biscuits with honey. Did I mention Caleb was at Shawn and Andi's place taking care of Libby and their place ~ it was his pleasure to do it! He enjoyed the 'quiet' too.

- I like to braid my girls long hair. Rebekah often asks me to 'french braid' her hair and I love doing it. Looks so pretty and she has such nice thick hair, fun to brush and braid. After having four boys, playing with long hair is fun and relaxing to do. I miss the days of trying all the fancy braiding (in and out, round biscuit braids, ponies flip in and out etc.) and cute hair styles. I admit I don't miss the tangles and 'ouchies' that go with it all....smile girls!

- This past week had Valentine's Day in it. The 2nd year we lived here my honey took me out to dinner on Valentine's Day and the food was cold, the place was crowded and the service left us disappointed. He said "never again" on Valentine's......so we have always done the week after, or shortly following. This year we had Matthew Scott, Natascha and Joschua here so we had a lovely Valentine Dinner Sunday night. Red and white table cloth, nice napkins, candles, low lights ~ the whole nine yards. We had baked ziti, garlic bread, big green salad and delicious dessert. Sweet music in the background and after dinner we played a game called "COMPATIBILITY", while Caleb took Joschua and ran around playing 'tickle bug' which Joschua loves. It was a nice ending to a lovely Sabbath Day!

- I am challenged by the Sunday School Class I am in right now. It is so good. It is so biblical. It is so delighting yet so challenging. It is so much to think about. It has consumed much of my thought the last 3 weeks. I work, I do things, I go places, and I keep coming back to thinking about this class. So much so, I stopped 'blogging' for a bit! Swirling thoughts! Good for me!

- More snow? I hope not. Someone told me this week that the Farmers Almanac says we have 2 big snows coming this way still. I am glad the Farmers Almanac is not in charge....GOD IS!!! We will see. I trust the Lord to do HIS pleasure!

Friday Funnies:
When we lived in Woodstock, New York our back yard was all woods. So much so you couldn't see the houses around us very clearly. We had 2 and a half acres and the boys loved being outside, that was their favorite place to play. They knew every tree, rock and hole. It seemed a long way to go inside (run to the house, climb 2 sets stairs, into the screened in porch, into the kitchen, down the hall and turn into the bathroom) to use the facilities. So my manly husband told them they were allowed to 'pee' on any tree (as long as no girls around, and backs to the house). All was fine. Until we were at the Sunday School picnic at a wooded park. Can you guess? Yes, our youngest proceeded to 'pee' on a tree----YIKES!!!! I don't think everyone thought it was as embarrassing as I did. A lesson learned by all!!!!

~My Three Sons Club~

We have not always lived here. We have lived in a number of interesting places. We spent 5 years in upstate New York, the city of Utica. BTW---Home of Utica Cutlery---one interesting fact!

When we lived in Utica, New York we were in the 'My Three Sons Club' ! Well really, it wasn't a true 'Club'....it was more like a friends loving friends group! We had 3 sons, Robert, Nathanael and Matthew Scott. All three were very active and busy as beaver little boys. We had friends in our Church with 3 sons also. Actually there were 5 families with 3 sons each. We understood each other. We knew the looks. We understood the need for sleep. We knew what life was like for each other. Trucks everywhere. Dirty faces and hands. Running in the house. Never having enough clean shirts for today. Patches on the knees. Running out of fruit. Messy hair. Dripping strawberry jam all over the 'church' shirt just as we are leaving for church. Missing shoes, one from one pair and one from the 'other' pair. We just knew....no need for words! We laughed A LOT!

I loved those years. I am grateful I had them. I always knew I would be a Mom of boys. I love little boys and big boys too. I think I was made to be the Mom of boys! Boys are fun. Boys forgive easily and sometimes wonder what you are asking forgiveness for. They are very affectionate to Mommy. They help well. They learn well. They are active and noismakers.....brrrrr....
mmmmm.....shr....... all the noises as they play with their cars and trucks, guns and yo-yo. Most aren't quiet like little girls are. They are messy and don't notice dirt. They don't care if YOUR hair is messy. They like adventure! They soon learn they have muscles and want to always carry the 'heavy' stuff for their Mom. My Three Sons Club members all know all these things. We had such fun laughing and laughing together about having boys! Oh the JOY and the fun we had when our group spent time together!

I was just recently thinking about all this. Maybe because we had Joschua here for a week during our blizzard. Oh the delicious noises he makes. Mmmmmmmm...... I love it!!!! Yet, I stop and wonder what delight the Lord takes in HIS children! How HE loves US! How GOOD HE is to us. How HE lavishes HIS LOVE on us. HE is the perfect FATHER! HE gives, and gives, and gives. Do I notice? Do I thank HIM? Do I ENJOY HIM? Yes...I do. Yet not as much as I should or could or might!

"Bless the LORD oh my soul and all that is in me, bless the LORD."

Lord ~ in YOU my soul rejoices! YOU are GOOD, so good...how can I know it!!! The sum is beyond me!

Delighting in Jesus today, hugs, Lynette

PS. More about the joys of girls later...smile!