Sometimes I do not feel capable to raise my childeren

First of all, this is Luke writing---which should explain the poor grammar---I just had to share an interesting experience.

So I finished up reading Jack his bedtime story and told him that tomorrow we would be reading "Jesus feeds 5,000." Jack, being is typical inquisitive self, asked 5,000. I proceeded to explain that it meant 5,000 men and that if our family had been there only I would have been counted--even though Jesus would have also fed Mommy, Sam and him. Jack then added "and Ginger (our dog), too".

I paused and said "I dunno...I guess he would have fed Ginger."

To which Jack responded, "DAADDD, 'even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table'."

That is right my 4 year old son, just corrected me---citing scripture (Mathew 4:27).

Toilets, tushies, and timing

**** WARNING!!! THIS POST TALKS ABOUT POOP. DON'T WANNA READ ABOUT POOP? SKIP THIS POST!!****




(I love how I mention "poop" twice in the warning...hope you weren't trying to actually avoid it!) Tonight I've cleaned urine and poop (two different times) leading me to wonder if in this circumstance people would still think it's abuse to staple my son's diaper to his boo-heiney. (disclaimer -- not actually considering this, crazy fools...) Here is where we stand. I do NOT want to potty-train Sam, at least not yet. He is young by any standard and especially young for a boy at only 21 months. Sam however HAS decided that diapers are yesterday's garbage (pun totally intended). This morning he quietly ducked into the downstairs bathroom, removed his poopie diaper, wiped himself spotlessly clean (amazingly clean actually), pulled his pajama bottoms up and continued on about his morning. Only when I gave him a hug while preparing breakfast did I realize he was sans-diaper. After a fretful search of the house I discovered he had delicately placed the diaper, wrapped up, in the trash can. WHAT??!!!??? Who does that? Having kept the training potty out I pulled out the potty book today thinking if Sam understands enough of the act to accomplish this morning's stunt perhaps a reading or two while on the new seat would encourage more. Throughout the day Sam would pull off his diaper, run to the bathroom and...do absolutely nothing. Not disappointed I let the act continue hoping to preempt the next attempt or at least catch him in the act. NOPE. After dinner today, he let 'er rip...quite literally, leaving me to clean the carpet not once, not twice but thrice (love using thrice...). Add to this his latest fad of stripping his diaper from his bum, running around au naturale only to bring me a diaper when it's "time". I'm stumped. I can't keep a diaper on the kid; he can pull his own pants down, remove his diaper and clean himself. I obviously can't let him run around the house bare-booty leaving Sammy-piles in his wake. I also can't imagine it's a good idea to continue the habit of bringing mom a diaper when the mood strikes, so to speak -- that can't instill good habits. I have no idea what to do. Ideas? Suggestions? Funny stories to make me feel better???

Some words to make a picture

This past Sunday our pastor and a small group of his colleagues engaged in a round-table type discussion on the modern day slave trade/sex trafficking. For those not familiar with Alex or who might like to hear the discussion I am sure you can catch a podcast of Sunday's talk on Kingsland's website. Discussions on world issues often leave me feeling a bit like I'm drowning; faced with problems of such enormous scale I struggle to wrap my very finite brain around them much less am able to work toward any sort of viable action on my part. In particular Alex and his cohorts did an excellent job of identifying the problem and then very specifically outlining potential action steps for us "regular" folk (my words, certainly not theirs). It is, however, far too easy for me when faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of even understanding world tragedies such as slave trade to dismiss them after a few days time -- often because it's too much for me to grasp.

If pictures are worth thousands of words how do we communicate dire needs if no pictures exist? This conundrum sprang to life on Sunday -- how do you adequately describe the idea of a modern day slave trade to an audience full of suburbanites?? There simply aren't pictures to show -- not really -- especially none that the average church-goer would deem "appropriate" for Sunday morning. The only option is then to provide words, thousands upon thousands of them. That's where this post comes in...

Two years ago (almost three now...) a bright student named Katherine laid a book on my desk; it was a gift, something she thought I might enjoy. The book is entitled Escape from Slavery by Francis Bok. Like any overworked, underpaid English teacher with stacks upon stacks of essays to read/grade, I set the book aside with no real intention of ever picking it up again except to move it into my storage cabinet at the end of the year. Oddly enough not long after receiving the book I actually found myseld with time to spare (only at work...) and nothing to do; I decided to pick up the book. I was mesmerized and horrified by what I read -- by the pictures created in my mind's eye. Escape from Slavery is a memoir so to speak, of Francis Bok's 10 years in captivity as a modern day slave and then his overly difficult struggle to make his way to America -- and to freedom.

Rather than struggle with the concept of modern day slavery I felt as if I had witnessed it all and began to struggle with the necessary actions. I have spent the past two years finding myself never able to "let this one go" -- and was therefore thrilled to see some suggested steps laid before me on Sunday. But I have to say I'm not certain if I would have been so keen on action if I hadn't first read the book -- I don't know if I would have been able to take quite as seriously the situation (despite learning that I10 is THE corridor for human trafficking in the US -- and it's only a short 2 miles -- maybe -- from my front door) if I hadn't seen the situation through a freed man's words.

I know we're busy; it is so easy to get wrapped up in pre-school and doctor's appointments, in church functions and family gatherings, to get lost in the immediacy and the NOW of our daily lives. BUT...pick up the book -- you may have to dig for a copy, if you can't find one let me know and I'll loan you mine -- read the struggle and let Bok's words create a picture for you -- a real, honest, gruesome picture of what the modern day slave trade looks like. And then decide to do something, anything for the millions, literally, of people trapped in a world that is more horrific than anything we could ever imagine.

I like what Alex said as he ended his talk...(paraphrased) surely the body of Christ isn't too busy to devote a passionate and earnest prayer for these...they deserve this at least

Posts in Progress

Is it obvious from my lack of posts that this third pregnancy is pushing my brain to its limits?? Actually between running after two very active little boys, growing one little girl and trying to remember to occasionally take a shower I've been terrible about even remembering this blog-thing exists. BUT...I forced myself to sit down today and began working on two different posts -- one with a book recommendation after Sunday's sermon on the modern day slave trade/sex trafficking and one on thorns. Neither is complete but at least you know there is more coming. And if I don't make a decision soon I may have to ask for opinions on baby bedding...