Today

I am having a 10 minute break right now while the bread is sponging, so I thought I would hop on the computer and write a quick update. I've got some warm bread by my side, slathered with homemade honey-butter, and some warm coffee as well :-)

Breadmaking day used to be a drag because I didn't look forward to all of the washing up afterwards, but for some reason this has become unimportant lately. To save time, I've begun baking two batches (8 loaves) at one time, and it feels good to wash up, knowing that I won't have to do it again for a week and ahalf. Of course, we don't get to enjoy the warm bread fresh from the oven as often, but sometimes during busy seasons it is worth it. This morning Deborah helped me mix up the bread-dough, but I have currently lost my children's interest to Dora the Explorer ;-).

I must admit, I'm a little jealous. Yet I am grateful for the occasional opportunity to go full-speed ahead with my activities :-).

Well, I've also got tomatoes all over my veranda still, so today is also freeze the tomatoes day. I am cutting them up and freezing them in bags of 4 cups (maybe I should be freezing them whole??). Still being ignorant of the canning process, I've decided to do it the quick and easy way. Today I will also work on cleaning up the storage area.

Grandma Tippy will arrive on Monday. We are very much looking forward to her presence :-). She is an amazing person who adds laughter and loving service wherever she goes. She and Benjamin (Nate's little brother) will live with us until their house sells in Washington and they have a new location here.

Well, I'd better get moving before my energy slips away and I need a nap ;-) (Lately the pregnancy has been calling for one several times a week.)

"Fixing" Debbie

Yesterday my 2 year-old son Joshua pushed my 5 year-old daughter Deborah off of the big green chair. How this happened is beyond me ;-), but apparently her head thunked pretty hard on the floor, and she began to cry quite vehemently, while holding her injured head. At the time, I was tending another child and only vaguely aware of what was happening, but it captured my full attention when Joshua became immediately contrite and sought me out.

(His words seem to be the subject of a lot of blog entries lately ;-). Perhaps I should rename my blog to reflect this :-).)

Anyway, Joshua was quite beside himself with grief, and he sobbed to me, "Mama, you have to fix Debbie!"

When I understood him, it became difficult for me to keep a straight face, but I tried very hard as I gathered my big girl in to my arms and felt her head for a goose egg. I assured Josh that Deborah was going to be just fine; that she didn't even have a goose egg, and he finally began to quiet down.

As I reflected on this, it became apparent that our children really believe that parents can make it all better. Parents fix the bleeding owie, quell the fear, soothe the fever and protect children from harm (mostly).

But some day our kids will be in a situation where mom or dad will not be able to "fix" things. And that is why it is so paramount that we direct them consistently to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our kids will one day be separated from our love, but praise be to the Almighty God, who wrought his great power in the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ, that nothing in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of Christ.

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Later on the same day, Joshua came to Deborah and said to her, smiling "did Mama fix you Debbie?" :-)