Reflections

This morning I read Psalm 51 in my quiet time.  It reminded me of something I had written in college after a long, tiring and frustrating day, when I had gone to pray and observed a beautiful sunset.  i was inspired to write what I prayed...though this doesn't really do justice to my prayer that evening.

My Painting

You're painting a picture LORD, and I'm in it.  You change it everyday and I know you'll only make it your way.

     Your painting a picture LORd, in which you've place your hand over my head, but that dark cloud of temptation hovers in front of my face.  LORD you're painting my life, but when I look at it I don't see what I want to see.  I am horrified because I know you're painting it true, and I know you will not lie. 

     You change this painting everyday and make it new to show me who I really am.  Sometimes the cloud of temptation is very near to my nose, but most of the time its shadow is on my face.  when I sin by giving in to temptation the picture you're painting is changed again.  My face is shadowed with such a deep black that even though I cannot make out any features I know it is me.  I have no desire to see this painting, but yet I do.  Your painting shows me areas in my life that I need to better to be more like my Savior.  I want to see a wonderful, gloriously, bright painting that does not show the bad.

     You always paint you hand over my head, and I know you are protecting me.  I like the days when your painting shows temptation spiraling down towards my feet and that cloud becomes gray and hard to see.  I know I've lived for you when that cloud of temptation shrinks under my feet and my face shines bright from a reflection of your glory.

     I desire your daily picture of me to be perfect in every way, yet there is always a flaw somewhere in my life.  When I look back over each day I cringe inside when I see what you've painted about me.  It is bad with little good shown, always gray, dark, and light; although, sometimes the picture is bright and colorful revealing my love for you, because you helped me to send temptation away.

     Oh LORD, how I look forward to the day when your painting of me will be perfect in every way.

     Thank you LORD for showing me in your word how to be a better person.  Guide me each day and help me to choose to walk in your way.  Thanks for your promises of always being here for me and caring for me in your special way.  Please help me to know and understand your Word and apply it to my life.  You've loved me and I've put you on "hold" while I went my own way.  I'm sorry, I really want to serve you and there is no excuse of my neglect of you.  Help me to keep my attitude one of serving you and bringing you the glory and honor that you deserve.  Help me to be like Jesus as Paul describes in Philippians 2:1-11.  Thank you for the encouragement you give me in the Bible.  Help me make my life pleasing to you.  Your everlasting mercy and grace are more than I am worthy of, but yet you continue to pour them into my life.  I love you and thank you for all you give to me.

Suanna Peterson, March 1999

Poetry

Kent entered a poetry contest through our local library, back in March.  Today Katy was looking through one of the books I had had on hold and checked out on Monday, when she asked me what this card is for.  I took it and looked at it and It said: For Kent Sears, 1st Place Primary - From ...Public Library Poetry Contest.  I guess the Librarian stuck it in the book we had on hold and forgot to tell us about it.
Here is his poem.
Bears
Bears eat, roar and growl.
Bears eat honey.
Bears growl and roar loudly.
Bears lumber through the woods,
looking for food.
Bears are brown or black, too.

School Books

I ordered the rest of the school books I will be needing for Kent and Katy next fall.  The only thing I don't have yet is Katy's handwriting workbook, which I plan to get from Mardel's.  It's hard to believe that I will have one in First Grade and one in Kindergarten come August.  The curriculum I've been using is from HeartofDakota.   I really like the way it is set up.  I find it not only homeschooler friendly, but also fun to teach from.

Camping

Jeff and Kent are camping this weekend with Christian Service Brigade.  Kent was so excited.  They went last fall, so Kent knows a little bit what to expect.  They are camping close to the Red River just over the border into Oklahoma, its about an hour away.  He got a foam camoflage rifle for his birthday and he took that with him.  I have a feeling he'll be hunting bears, like Teddy Roosevelt.  Jeff seemed pretty excited, too.  I hope they both have fun.

Kent's Birthday

Yesterday was Kent's birthday.  It's hard to believe he is 6 already.  We had a busy, fun-filled day for him.  Jeff took the day off of work.  We went to story-time  at the library in the morning, then Kent wanted to go to chick-fil-a for lunch and play Legos.  We took Kent to a large mall not to far away and got lunch in the Food Court (Chick-fil-a for Kent and I, sonic for everyone else) then we took him to the Lego Store.  He had fun looking at all the different Lego sets and of course he got to pick some out.  He and the girls each got to design their own Lego figure to take home.  Then Kent got to pick out Legos that he liked.  He chose a dump truck and a steam roller.  Since the steam roller was on sale we were able to take them both home for his birthday.  Then we walked around the mall a little more and then went to visit Ian, Micah, Ethan and Joshua (Kent's cousins).  They had a lot of fun running around and playing.  After we returned home we had the rest of Kent's birthday celebration opening presents.  He loves the combat mission set that Dad-Dad and Grammy gave him.  He also wanted a trash can and a watch for his birthday.  So we gave him a small trash can with one of those step things that open the lid.  It was packed with "trash" --  clothes, an army guy set and a watch.  He was excited to get the two things he was wanting.  Then we sent all the kids to bed.

Making Butter

Kent's been learning about the history of our nation.  We've been having an extended focus on pioneers.  We made butter yesterday.  It was cool to be able to understand what was happening to the fat globules.  The butter tasted great, too.  The book we've been reading is "A Pioneer Sampler".  It is a great resource.  We've borrowed this copy from the Library, but I'm going to have to buy a copy to add to our home library as I'm sure we will be using it multiple time over the next several years.

Planting

We've started planting our garden.  Since Kent was learning about pioneers in school and how they planted their gardens, we thought we would try it.  On Saturday, we planted corn, beans, and pumpkins or squash all in the same hill like early settlers would have done (we didn't put a fish in our hills).  We have 4 hills like this.  I still have about 2/3 of my garden to plant, but need to till more to plant more.

Easter

We had a fun Easter.  Christ is Risen!!  Went to Church and Sunday School, then we spent the afternoon with Jeff's family.

Of course we had our Easter Egg hunt for the kids (mine would have missed it, if we hadn't done it.  They were talking about the Easter Egg hunt at Grammy's all week.).  We also used confetti eggs and had fun smashing them in the games that Mark planned.

Beautiful Floor

We finished our flooring project on Saturday.  We still have some trim work to do.  The floor looks great.  It is a dark walnut laminate.  I hope to post some photos of it, but I'll have to figure out how to do that first.  A big thank you to Kevin, Micah, Joe, John, and Andrew for spending time helping us.

Sleep

The last two nights Felicity has slept well.  One night was 8 1/2 hours and the other was 9 hours.  I don't really expect it to last as she is only 6 1/2 weeks old, but it was nice to wake up just before the alarm and not in the middle of the night.  She likes to sleep and has been making it quite clear that she wants to go to bed around 8:30 at night, but I've been making her stay up until at least 9:30 pm and then she goes down til she gets hungry again.  She seems to have grown since Monday, too.  I think she is longer.