What are you Giving Up for Lent?

I just had a discussion today with Andrea about giving up something for Lent, and then tonight i ran across this blog post from a dear friend from our "first church" in Duluth. Kerri and Jeff were both associate pastors at the Presbyterian church we attended after Jeff and I first got married, up until the time Molly joined our family and really, getting out the door on Sunday morning in time to drive 45 minutes to get to church on time . . . HA, who were we kidding?! Anyhow - Kerri and Jeff have moved on to Ohio now and are co-pastoring a church there (oh, how we wish we could live in Ohio); I check on them periodically through the blogs they keep. I wanted to share Kerri's ideas- what i found on her website tonight . . . they really hit home with me. . . . From Kerri Peterson-Davis. . . .

Whatcha Giving up for Lent?”

February 23, 2009 by Kerri

devotion

I’m afraid we might be missing the point. Ash Wednesday is approaching and the conversations have begun again. Too often they begin with this question: whatcha giving up for Lent? This might be just me but I tire of the underlying, none-to-subtle “competition” that comes with the question. It very well could be that I’m simply feeling guilty about the reality that I’m notoriously bad at “giving something up.” I understand the connection to Jesus’ wandering in the wilderness for 40 days and the temptations he faced but let’s face it, we aren’t Jesus! One of my favorite responses to the question of what you are giving up for Lent? Lent.

Over the years, I’ve encouraged folks to take something on - some practice that will draw them towards God. Regina Brett, a columnist in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wrote a wonderful essay yesterday about the practice of giving something up or taking something on for Lent. Some folks on Facebook are giving up Facebook for Lent.

I think the question that needs to be asked is how is this act, whether it be giving up or taking on, drawing you closer to God? Giving up chocolate and then whining about it with every person you meet is not drawing you closer to God! Taking on exercise so you can lose 10 lbs. is not drawing you closer to God. If, if, giving up chocolate causes you to reflect on who you are and how God is shaping you as a disciple then do it. If, as you go for your walk, you ponder the Mystery that is, then do it. If steering clear of Facebook leads you instead to sit quietly in the Presence, do it.

It’s about devotion, I think. No, not the “I’m going to do my devotions now.” Rather, how will you devote yourself to the One who has created you and called you and sends you into this crazy, messed up world we live in? Maybe simply pondering and praying over that question would be enough to take on this Lent.

What a Week!

Is it really only Wednesday night? This week is baseball uniform week and although it's GREAT because we have lots of business, it's also a tiring one. On top of that, preschool work yesterday, and i'm going to go in again tomorrow since my "partner in crime" i.e. job-share buddy, has a sick child! BUT, uniforms are almost done. I have several things to embroider for friends. Just put together some estimates on t-shirts, have also finalized the spreadsheet of items for the swimteam we do spiritwear for, AND spent an ENTIRE day on Monday (minus a few minutes here and there to entertain Camden) washing and folding laundry.

This week is also the "silent teacher auction" at the kids' school. I will be there tomorrow after i work to tally bids and select the winners. All easy work, just takes time! Thankfully, no plans for Friday, except to have the kids' pictures taken at 4:30. OH WAIT . . . That means i have to find outfits for everyone to wear! That will be my project tomorrow night!

No pictures to update here. I'll try to find something good to photograph. I've had a couple people ask for an update on Duncan! He's HUGE! There's my update! I can't believe how big he is getting. He has been going (WE have been going) to training classes every Wednesday night for 3 weeks. Tonight, no class, the instructor is taking a cruise, so we resume and hopefully "graduate" next week. The kids have to be able to make Duncan "twirl, spin, sit, down, and roll over" in order for us to actually graduate. Twirl - means spin to the right; Spin - to the left; sit - well, if you can't figure that out, i'm not even talking to you; Down - lay down, and ROLL OVER!! Yes, he really can do all these things!! It's quite fun. NOW, our biggest challenge that we need help overcoming is how to teach Duncan not to jump up on the high chair and STEAL food from Camden???? Any suggestions? Poor kid is tiny enough, he doesn't need any dog to help him eat his food.

Hope everyone out there in cyber world is doing great! Photos of something exciting i hope to come soon! Griffin starts baseball next week, Molly starts soccer a week from Saturday - there's bound to be some good video footage coming too!

Molly's First Soccer Practice, EVER!!

Last night was Molly's first soccer practice!! There's a long story here. . . . She's always been a gymnastics girl, and we tried CHEERnastics in the fall. Well, it bombed. She hated it. We switched to tumbling, and still. . . she hated it. So, me being the good mom that i am, told her she HAD to finish out the session and then we could register next session for regular gym again. I told her if she didn't finish out the tumbling session, there would be no more gymnastics this year! Well, bite my butt . . . of course, the hard-headed child she is, she chose to skip the last two classes and forego ALL gymnastics for the rest of this year! Please remind me next time, to not threaten to take away something i think is really beneficial to her!

Well, this is how we resolved to play soccer. Molly needs to have an afterschool activity to participate in. She really wasn't keen on the idea of softball (probably because that would have been too easy to have all been at the SAME ball park all day on Saturdays instead of running around all of Gwinnett County trying to get from game to game). So, instead of following in Griffin's footsteps and playing teeball, she agreed to soccer.

Last night we headed to Rabbit Hill park in Dacula and although a little timid at the onset, within minutes, she was all smiles running around on the field. I really think she liked it! Much to our surprise!! And, keeping to my new year's resolution . . . i actually took my camera and snapped some pictures so we will be able to remember this day! Here she is . . .

GO MOLLY!!!! SHOOTING HER FIRST GOAL EVER!! (but you should know that in this league, the U5 group plays 3 on the field each half, no goalie, no referees!) ALL FUN!!

POSTERS FOR SALE!

Molly came home from school today with the idea that she needed to sell something. She wanted to sell lemonade . . . none in the house, since it's February. She wanted to sell hot chocolate. . . nothing to keep it warm. So, she decided to sell posters. She handmade 3 posters and DEMANDED that someone take her outside and "set up shop" for her. So, Jeff was kind enough to oblige!

3 posters in hand and off she went. The lovely lady across the street was her first customer and truly made her day! And would you believe that Molly was selling posters for $1 each!?!? Well, as soon as Griffin heard that they were selling, he was her first employee!! Off he went to the sidewalk to join the sale! Along came the husband from across the street and he was customer #2! Another dollar added to the stack of money. Drive-home customer #3 . . . Ms. Mary stopped and bought poster #3. They had to make MORE posters!!!! Who would have thought?

Well, it was nearing 6 o'clock, and Molly was not a happy camper, to say the least, when we told her she had to come in. After a good 5 minutes of screaming in her room, she came down to hear the reasoning behind the day's sales coming to a close. It's getting cold, it's 6pm, and it's time for dinner and a quick clean-up. But, she understands now and knows she can have a sale another day. Do you think we can possibly talk MORE people into buying posters?

Here they are. . . hard a work. . . notice that Molly is the "shop owner" and Griffin is the employee, hard at work creating more items to sell.

New Totebag!

If you're looking for a cute summer tote bag . . .here's one for you. I just did these for a bride to give as her gifts to her bridesmaids! They are perfect for summer. . . a cute tote to carry, precious for your beach towel and water bottle, great for a weekend trip!
I can even do a pair of flip-flops to match!