Invitations....check. Fabric for banners on the battlefield....check. Leather for slings.......check. Appropriate menu for birthday feast..........uh.........well......no idea. Mom was asking me what we were having, and if you know Mimi, you know she could come up with an 8 course menu in her head, have most everything already in her pantry and be growing the flowers she wants to use for centerpieces. Me on the other hand, has been known to sneak out at 5 in the morning to get milk, so I could pretend I remembered it the night before.
I told her we were having a traditional Jewish feast, with the sacramental elements present, unleavened bread, mutton dripping in olive oil. For at least 3 seconds, I think she thought I was serious. It wasn't until I mentioned the wine I had fermenting in the washing machine that it became clear.
I'm at a loss, I can always go with hot dogs. Done. But with everything else being so themey, weenies seem lame. Never thought I would have that sentence in my blog. So I was thinking, what would they eat in the Bible? Well, depending on who in the Bible you are, you'd be eating locusts with sticks in your hair, the heart of a bear, spotless lamb (don't even have one), first born calf (could be burgers?) Eww.
So any suggestions? Had considered chicken and fruit cabobs. Andy likes the idea of roasting hot dogs outside, but since we are in living in the 6th Plague of Drought and Barren land, that seems unlikely. Grrrrrr.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Birthday Week Begins!!!!
And, so it begins......Emerson's Birthday Week!!! And we are sooooo excited! Surpassing last years "Garbage Truck/Trash Man" birthday party is this years.......(drumroll) DAVID and GOLIATH birthday party! I know, I know random, not to mention hard to find matching napkins and invitations. But, this is what Emerson is passionate about, so here goes.
Not that anyone asked, but here is our philosophy on birthdays. First, our kids get three presents at Christmas, that's a whole nother post. Christmas is about Christ's gift to us, not ours to them. So they get three, which is why I don't have any problem at all making birthdays super special and a whole week long! Next, our kids will get big, go somewhere, bring friends birthdays on the 5's (5th, 10th, etc) we'll adjust if we need to. The point is. these first several birthdays don't need to include trips to Vegas for their 20 closest friends from preschool. I have been to amazing 2nd birthday parties, where the partiers were too tired, overwhelmed and blithering. Keep it small, keep it simple.
For 1-3 years it's usually just parents, grandparents, maybe one other couple and kids. I make dinner and cake, we do presents, rah, rah, yeah. A good rule of thumb is 2 kids over the age of your child, Emerson is turning 4, we will invite 6. Trust me, it works. Here is why: have realistic expectations of toddlers. It's their birthday, they have probably gotten less sleep, more sugar, less routine over the few days prior. There is company and other kids, more noise and less attention because mom is being a good hostess. And the game changer....presents! At ages 2 & 3, we are working on sharing, everyday in fact, but it's not even close to being mastered. You will be disappointed if you put your munchkin in this setting, sprinkle all the hoopla and throw in shiny, new amazing presents and then say, "Now Share, please." Probably not, for them or their friends. This doesn't mean don't try or have a party, just be realistic. I should also say, I have been to some very fun toddlers birthdays. Most of which were in their own home, very comfortable and familiar, kids and adults they knew and were comfortable with, and pretty low key and relaxed.
Again, this is just what we do, it is by no means the best or only way. Another reason we do birthday week is that even with young toddlers I am trying to be conscientious of raising ministry kids. Our lifestyle is just different, not better or worse, just different. Since Andy and I began dating, we have almost never been able to do birthdays, anniversaries even Christmas on it's assigned day. The demands of church don't stop when our birthday falls on a Wednesday or church activity. This is a matter of perspective, we don't resent it or get upset about it, we just get really creative with calendaring and scheduling around it. We, however chose this as our life and our families life, the babies did not. More about this on my ministry blog. I am already looking ahead to Berkley's older birthdays which will fall right before Thanksgiving and our Christmas music programs. If we are doing a whole week of fun, unique and special activities then when we have to have our birthday celebrations a day or two before or after, my hope is that it won't be totally heartbreaking. It's not about being indulgent for an entire week just because we can. It's about trying to show the kids that our lives can be flexible and fun, we can still do church and serve, and they are not in anyway less important or less deserving of all our attention and love. So, let Birthday Week begin! More to come........
Not that anyone asked, but here is our philosophy on birthdays. First, our kids get three presents at Christmas, that's a whole nother post. Christmas is about Christ's gift to us, not ours to them. So they get three, which is why I don't have any problem at all making birthdays super special and a whole week long! Next, our kids will get big, go somewhere, bring friends birthdays on the 5's (5th, 10th, etc) we'll adjust if we need to. The point is. these first several birthdays don't need to include trips to Vegas for their 20 closest friends from preschool. I have been to amazing 2nd birthday parties, where the partiers were too tired, overwhelmed and blithering. Keep it small, keep it simple.
For 1-3 years it's usually just parents, grandparents, maybe one other couple and kids. I make dinner and cake, we do presents, rah, rah, yeah. A good rule of thumb is 2 kids over the age of your child, Emerson is turning 4, we will invite 6. Trust me, it works. Here is why: have realistic expectations of toddlers. It's their birthday, they have probably gotten less sleep, more sugar, less routine over the few days prior. There is company and other kids, more noise and less attention because mom is being a good hostess. And the game changer....presents! At ages 2 & 3, we are working on sharing, everyday in fact, but it's not even close to being mastered. You will be disappointed if you put your munchkin in this setting, sprinkle all the hoopla and throw in shiny, new amazing presents and then say, "Now Share, please." Probably not, for them or their friends. This doesn't mean don't try or have a party, just be realistic. I should also say, I have been to some very fun toddlers birthdays. Most of which were in their own home, very comfortable and familiar, kids and adults they knew and were comfortable with, and pretty low key and relaxed.
Again, this is just what we do, it is by no means the best or only way. Another reason we do birthday week is that even with young toddlers I am trying to be conscientious of raising ministry kids. Our lifestyle is just different, not better or worse, just different. Since Andy and I began dating, we have almost never been able to do birthdays, anniversaries even Christmas on it's assigned day. The demands of church don't stop when our birthday falls on a Wednesday or church activity. This is a matter of perspective, we don't resent it or get upset about it, we just get really creative with calendaring and scheduling around it. We, however chose this as our life and our families life, the babies did not. More about this on my ministry blog. I am already looking ahead to Berkley's older birthdays which will fall right before Thanksgiving and our Christmas music programs. If we are doing a whole week of fun, unique and special activities then when we have to have our birthday celebrations a day or two before or after, my hope is that it won't be totally heartbreaking. It's not about being indulgent for an entire week just because we can. It's about trying to show the kids that our lives can be flexible and fun, we can still do church and serve, and they are not in anyway less important or less deserving of all our attention and love. So, let Birthday Week begin! More to come........
Monday, April 25, 2011
Easter at Home 2
As I thought about what my follow up posting would be for this Easter weekend, I found myself at a loss. Everything I imagined about celebrating Christ's resurrection in heaven seemed too simplistic and silly. Not to mention theologically questionable!
So I went to the Father and simply asked.
And the impression I was left with was both underwhelming and overwhelming. As I prayed about what the significance of this holiday should be for me this year, I found myself going back to a still small voice, you know the one. The voice spoke to my heart, "We're very busy." Huh? Of course you're busy, rejoicing, singing, celebrating.........no? I didn't understand. So I waited and listened.
They are busy in heaven alright, but I got the distinct impression that their Easter celebration was more of a pause than a festival. I believe the Lord wanted me to think on this. There is a season for everything under heaven, including celebration. And while the remembrance and celebration of Christ's resurrection is worthy of rejoicing and praise from all of us. In heaven-they're getting back to business.
God Almighty, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, heavenly hosts, angels, the cloud of witnesses....whatever names you want to use or however you want to describe those around the throne, "they" are busy! Time does not age them and age does not time them. Heaven does not bend itself to our clock, so who knows how long they celebrate Easter, maybe a moment or maybe years. If their Easter was like ours- months of preparation, working notes, working songs, pulling it together for 3 services, amazing worship, great music, sore throats, come home tired. Andy and I collapsed on the couch, took a breath and gave each other a knowing look. 8 months until Christmas.......and it's back to work. And so it is, on earth and in heaven. There was a time for their Holy Feast and there was a time for it to end, a time to celebrate, dance and praise the Risen Lord..........and a time to return to their labor. What are "they" working on?
Oh, friends! Heaven is buzzing with activity! They are not resting on the laurels of Christ's victory on the cross, oh no. They are intently watching, planning and making preparations. Haven't you heard? Christ is coming again. Yes, CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN! And this time it's to RULE and REIGN....... ON EARTH!!!! The celebration ended and all of heaven returned to their posts. Some went back to watching the battles that continue on earth, battles of flesh, battles with darkness. Did they go back to standing guard or shielding His children from fiery darts? Maybe some went back to carefully and consistently watering the seeds the Father has planted, caring for a lost child's journey and walk, tending it as a faithful gardener would. A gardener who has lots of time and lots of patience, patience to care for each seed, to bury it deep and watch it grow, waiting for it to bear fruit. Their work is never done, for seeds were scattered just today!
All of heaven labors again, with expectancy and certainty.
Christ IS coming.
So I went to the Father and simply asked.
And the impression I was left with was both underwhelming and overwhelming. As I prayed about what the significance of this holiday should be for me this year, I found myself going back to a still small voice, you know the one. The voice spoke to my heart, "We're very busy." Huh? Of course you're busy, rejoicing, singing, celebrating.........no? I didn't understand. So I waited and listened.
They are busy in heaven alright, but I got the distinct impression that their Easter celebration was more of a pause than a festival. I believe the Lord wanted me to think on this. There is a season for everything under heaven, including celebration. And while the remembrance and celebration of Christ's resurrection is worthy of rejoicing and praise from all of us. In heaven-they're getting back to business.
God Almighty, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, heavenly hosts, angels, the cloud of witnesses....whatever names you want to use or however you want to describe those around the throne, "they" are busy! Time does not age them and age does not time them. Heaven does not bend itself to our clock, so who knows how long they celebrate Easter, maybe a moment or maybe years. If their Easter was like ours- months of preparation, working notes, working songs, pulling it together for 3 services, amazing worship, great music, sore throats, come home tired. Andy and I collapsed on the couch, took a breath and gave each other a knowing look. 8 months until Christmas.......and it's back to work. And so it is, on earth and in heaven. There was a time for their Holy Feast and there was a time for it to end, a time to celebrate, dance and praise the Risen Lord..........and a time to return to their labor. What are "they" working on?
Oh, friends! Heaven is buzzing with activity! They are not resting on the laurels of Christ's victory on the cross, oh no. They are intently watching, planning and making preparations. Haven't you heard? Christ is coming again. Yes, CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN! And this time it's to RULE and REIGN....... ON EARTH!!!! The celebration ended and all of heaven returned to their posts. Some went back to watching the battles that continue on earth, battles of flesh, battles with darkness. Did they go back to standing guard or shielding His children from fiery darts? Maybe some went back to carefully and consistently watering the seeds the Father has planted, caring for a lost child's journey and walk, tending it as a faithful gardener would. A gardener who has lots of time and lots of patience, patience to care for each seed, to bury it deep and watch it grow, waiting for it to bear fruit. Their work is never done, for seeds were scattered just today!
All of heaven labors again, with expectancy and certainty.
Christ IS coming.
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