Insults......In German?

I have decided to have a German interpreter with me as well. This I feel would be far more effective for hurling angry comments at those who annoy me.

Look at me, building my own entourage. I might have to consider wardrobe changes.

Bad News........In French

I've decided that I will now be accompanied by a french interpreter at all times. I believe this will be a much more pleasant way of getting bad news. (You never know when it will hit you.) I figure, once I've heard unpleasant information in my native tongue the negativity of the event will be lessened by the repetition of said information in the sweet sound of the soft french language. (I'd even settle for Portuguese if no french interpreter were to be found.) I suppose this is my equivalent of wearing rose colored glasses but far more fun. Yes, I believe this will be a very welcome addition to my life. At the very least, I'll have someone to carry my purse.

Fight Club

As a mother of three boys I knew this day would come. We have now navigated our way through our first fist fight. (For grandmas who are reading this, it was minor and no one was physically hurt. But pride on the other hand...)

Apparently my son (who shall remain unnamed) was mouthing off and got a little verbal argument going. I guess that was enough for him and he threw the first punch only to get it handed to him by the other kid. Our delinquent came home in tears and relayed his version of the story to his dad. Of course my husband listened to the story and did a little detective work on his own. According to one of our other sons, our instigator deserved what he got. My husband followed DEF CON 4 procedure by explaining the reasons we do not start fist fights and sent the twerp to bed.

I am really surprised that I am not more upset about this. First of all, my child likes to talk smack and I think that since he got his pride handed to him in a paper bag, this was a good lesson learned. Second, there is a part of me that wants to kick the other kid's butt myself. He's a punk and I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind. (Of course, there are laws against that and well, I don't want to go to jail.) I guess I can say that now I truly feel like I have been inducted into the "Mother of Boys" club!

Politics Alert!

Tomorrow is the Caucus/Mass meeting day! Check your county website to find out your precinct number and meeting location. We need knowledgeable, aware people to run for delegate positions. This is the grass roots, rubber-meets-the-road part of politics. The folks that get elected tomorrow will shape elections for the next two years. Be active, be involved!

My House

I had the thought today that at my house there are always dishes in the sink and crumbs on the floor. There is always laundry to be done and dust on the piano. And all too often, the toilet doesn't get flushed. At my house there is always noisy wrestling and an ongoing search for clean socks. There is homework and violin practice and soccer game weekends.
At my house there are Bar B Q's, birthday parties and late nights with friends. There are game nights and dinner groups and backyard get-togethers. And sometimes, when I notice the dust on the floor and piano because I haven't had time to clean or sigh with exasperation at having to flush the toilet for someone else I am grateful that my days are filled with the sounds of children, that I have good friends and that I am needed.

A Christ Centered Easter

We have begun celebrating the week of Easter today (technically it started yesterday but we used yesterday's lesson for today's scripture study). I purchased a book called "A Christ Centered Easter" a few years ago and I've used it most years since. For our scripture study today we talked about Palm Sunday and what the significance of that event was. We also started an LOA wall or, Love One Another wall. All week everyone can write reasons we love one another on the poster board and on Easter we will read them. Some of the other things we have planned:

Monday: "The Easter Story in Eggs"
Tuesday: "Parable Charades"
Wednesday: "Parable of the 10 Virgins", make oil lamps
Thursday: discuss the last supper and have our own nice dinner
Friday: "Easter Cookies", these cookies become hollow like the tomb
Saturday: The Easter bunny comes
Sunday: Wake the kids up to "Handel's Messiah", have a "Plan of Salvation Treasure Hunt" on Easter afternoon


I'm really excited for this week and I hope that my children get more out of Easter than just a stomach ache. I don't know that Easter is associated with Christ like Christmas is. After all, Christmas happened so that Easter could. And Easter happened so that we could all have eternal life. I think it's important to teach children that Christmas and Easter were both part of Christ's life and that each was important to our lives here on earth and our lives after. I hope you all have a happy Easter week!





Here is the recipe for Easter Cookies, even my 10 year old likes doing this activity.
You need:
1 C whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 Egg whites
pinch salt
1 C sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape and Bible


Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper bag and let children beat then with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 C sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and "seal" the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter Morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are Hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

A Fantastic Tool

I remembered last night that my faith is another tool of the Lord. Just like I can use my hands to help others, I can use my faith also. And just like any muscle, the more it's used, the stronger it gets. I think we often forget that faith is an actual force or energy. In a world that is so big and yet so connected I often feel inadequate to help those who are far from me. I have often found that when I feel helpless to help others in need I can turn to the Lord to bridge the distance. Some may say "well look at all the bad in the world. There is no way that your prayers are doing anything." I would say, not enough people are praying. Imagine the good that could be done in the world through the force of faith!