TGIF!

Thank-you God, it's Friday!! I love the weekends - it means I'm not alone anymore in this crazy jungle!!!!

It's been a good week, pretty normal around here. Nathan went to school Tues. & Thurs. and did good. He can recite the Pledge of Allegiance now (I'm not bragging, honest, I'm simply impressed because its not easy to memorize!). I'm going to try to help him learn some Bible verses now that I know that he can learn by the constant repetition. His teacher doesn't break down the pledge into small parts to have them repeat - she just says the whole thing every day to them, and Nathan's remembered it?!? So, time to apply that to the Bible. I've worked with K-2nd graders at OBC and it's always quite challenging to get the kids to memorize verses... so we'll have to see how he does.

I ventured out with the kids on Wednesday to Michaels & Meijer - not the best decision on my part, but we made it through. David's not afraid to scream at the top of his lungs in a store if he doesn't get what he wants. No, I didn't back down but I wanted to hide from all the glares I was getting. A friend told me yesterday that the people weren't probably criticizing me with the looks, they were probably sympathizing with me because they had been there, too. I know I am usually sympathizing with the poor mom in the store with the crabby kids - so I'm trying to cut myself some slack and know that I've still got a lot of work in progress!

Karlie's been quite the fussy fuss this week. I'm chalking it up to another growth spurt and more teeth coming in... if that doesn't explain it, I'm at a loss.

Ok, enough complaining for the week. I've actually tried to blog 2 other time this week, but when I re-read them I see them as too depressing. I don't want to use this blog as just a list of issues or accomplishments for the week - but then again what is a journal for?? I've actually learned a lot this week while thinking about my CHRISTmas card for this year. The word that's been on my mind is focus.... what's the focus of CHRISTmas. The easy answer is CHRIST's birth right?? Well, sometimes I wonder with all the stuff we manage to do and complain about. I was reminded again this week about how blessed we are with healthy, vibrant, growing kids. There are some that aren't so fortunate to have that blessing. I've also seen God show me Himself in the small things (which are sometimes HUGE things). Ok, one simple example... I went to bundle up David & Karlie yesterday after shopping at Target while Nathan was in school. Well, somewhere in the store we had managed to lose David's hat (oh, I just thought of another blessing, Thank-you God it wasn't white bear!!). So, I walked back to the lane where we had checked out a few minutes prior (it was probably more like 10 minutes because we had stopped to get popcorn on the way out). I asked the check-out lady if she had found a blue boys hat after we left. She said no, but the lady checking out at the time said 'Yes, my daughter and I found one, let me ask her where it was'. No way, the timing is not coincidental - God helped us locate the hat quickly and without any panic on my part. Well, what's to panic about a hat anyway - but it was still very cool God moment.

So, I say all this because I'm trying hard to keep seeing & experiencing God in the small things. I know then it will be easier to see His hand in the big things. Bottom line, I'm afraid of getting lost in all the CHRISTmas hussle and bussle and loosing the focus of the holiday. I want to treat it like it was intented... a "HOLY"day to remember Jesus' birth - He had to be born so He could die for our sins.... "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8 (NIV). So, what are you doing for CHRISTmas?? Please take time to focus with me......

Have a great day!!
Love, Nikki