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Brotherly Love
My Wednesday Walk for 2/18/09
He picks on his big brother who although is six years older, does not fight back against him. His brother instead tells him “I love you Brother..”
My youngest does not understand. He expects his older brother to fight back… after a while he leaves the room puzzled by his brother’s kindness despite the way he has treated him…then he returns and tells his brother “I’m sorry.. I love you too.”
It reminds me of the old saying, “You’ll attract more bees with honey than with vinegar…” Kindness brings out the best in others and Anger only brings out the worst…
My oldest son has Autism and who would expect him not to get upset over his little brother taking his books, his toys, etc. For some reason (I call it a miracle from the Lord) my oldest son learned that by showing love to his little brother.. he receives Love in return…
How simple a concept… it is better to give than is to receive.
Romans 12:10 (NIV)
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
How many of us can say as adults that we can love the very person who has hurt us? When we are hurt, it seems it is easier to hurt the other person with words or actions because we want them to know how it feels to be hurt. I am guilty of this when my husband has said hurtful words.
My lesson on forgiveness and love this week came my nine year old Autistic son who instead of hurting back the one who hurt him (his little brother) gave him love and in return received love…
The Lord says from the Bible, Acts 20:35 (NIV)
Luke 6:37 (NIV)
God Bless,
our Teddy Bear and Heart Cookies made with Love
Sunday Snippets for February 15, 2009
a week in review for Feb. 8 th to 15th
Slow and Steady wins the race. My knee recovery is going at a snail’s pace but the good news I recieved is that I do not need knee surgery. Praise God. This journey of healing has been difficult for me because I miss taking my sons for long walks and walking to the nearby stores for our outings. I know that I need more patience and understanding. I must continue to place my trust in the Lord.
A mom’s day of rest was throughly enjoyed. My husband played Mr. Mom while I had some time at home for myself. The boys read books with their dad and played games. I read books, watched a favorite movie and took a long nap. I awoke to the sounds of my family preparing dinner. My hubby and sons made a wonderful dinner of chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes and pasta. It made have been ready made to re-heat but the effort on their part was priceless….
Mr. Mom took his act on the road when I had to see my doctor for a follow up Thursday. After dropping me off, he and the boys drove to the nearby mall, went for a walk inside and enjoyed a late lunch while I sat at the doctor’s for 4 hours. I felt I should have gone with them! When they picked me up, my youngest was fast asleep in his car seat and my DH had a meal to go for me. What a guy!
Paper, Paint and Paste were used throughout the day as my boys worked on their Valentine cards and crafts. We made foam hearts. I drew a Winnie the Pooh on cardstock for the boys to cut out and construct their cards. They were so proud of their cards and I was too.
A day of Love should be celebrated everyday and not because a calendar says so. On Saturday. the boys and I spent the day at home. We read books, made some cocoa and baked teddy bear and heart cookies. My youngest helped me cut out the cookie shapes and after the cookies cooled, we made homemade icing to decorate our cookies. My older son enjoyed eating the cookies that I set aside for him since he does not like icing. I decorated a few for hubby and my little one decorated some for him as well. Even though we made no special plans, my husband returned home after work with a large bouquet of pink perfect roses. It reminded me of the years he’d pick wild flowers on his walks from work when we had no car and put them in a glass for me…
Here’s hoping that you feel the love of your family everyday as I feel the love of mine…
God Bless.
The Glass Bottle, My Wednesday walk for 2/11/09
I can remember as a young child on Saturday mornings my brothers and I would ride our bikes and look on the side of the road searching for empty soda bottles that people had discarded. Back then “soda pop” or “soda water” as we call it here in the South came in glass bottles. People would take the empty bottles to the store and collect two cents. Some people did not care for the getting two pennies for a bottle. much less sift through trash on the side of the road looking for one. We did.
After finding some empty bottles, we’d take them home and wash them by the side of the house with a garden hose and then let them dry. Sometimes when the light hit the glass bottles, you could see the beauty of the glass shown… and the different colors of light through the glass.
Just as a bottle thrown on the side of the road, sometimes we as Christians feel we too are toss aside like trash. We feel unloved and unhappy…. maybe we are in a a bad relationship, lost a job or feel overwhelmed… finding there is no one to talk to…
We feel like that soda bottle empty inside and discarded.. that no one could possible care to pick us up from the “side of the road” and see the beauty in us. Do you know what? Jesus does..
God wants to pick us from the side of the road and wash away the pain and sorrow in our lives. He wants us to shine like new and and fill our hearts with peace, love and hope. He sees the beauty in us that others may not…
(Isaiah 60:1) “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”
By God’s grace we can be new…
(Ecclesiastes 12:6) “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.”
(1 Corinthians 13:12) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
In my youth and as a young adult, I felt like that glass Soda bottle thrown on the side of the road.. laying in the darkness… thinking no one loved me.
I never knew Christ as a child. I was never taken to church… never taught God’s word.. until one day God picked me up, washed away my pain, my past, my sins… He showed me His Grace and Love through His word … that was 22 years ago.
I am 43 years old I feel blessed that He is a light into me and I hope to be a like a shining glass bottle… a reflection of His light and Love…until the day I meet my Savior in heaven…
(Micah 7:8) Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
Here’s hoping that the Lord will be a light unto you…
God bless.
Our winters are mild here and there are no “Snow days.” Ask any San Antonio native and they’ll tell you it snows about every 15-20 years around here. It’s true! I’m 43 and I have only seen and played in the snow twice in my lifetime. I hope one day my sons will experience the beauty of snow.
Aside from the mild winters, we do get the winter blues staying indoors on account of freezing rain or cold temperatures that we are not accustomed to. We have been indoors recently due to my knee injury (torn cartilage). I am under doctor’s orders not to walk except in the home or to and from my car. I have had to come up with some creative ways to beat the boredom from settling in on the me and the kids…
I’ve gone back to what I love…drawing and painting. In the morning I sit by my patio window and draw the landscape of trees, animal life and the winter sky above me. Sometimes I sketch the kids if they are still (which does not happen much).
Aside from reading with the boys, we started a family night each week playing board games. Sometimes we make up our own with cards, toys, etc. My three year old enjoys playing with us his own version of “freeze tag.” He walks around the home and when he says “freeze” everyone stops what they are doing (no moving or talking). The only thing is sometimes he forgets to say “unfreeze” and everyone is anxiously waiting to move!
One evening the electricity went out due to a surge. We spent the night by candlelight making shadows and drawing our silhouettes on paper taped to the walls. When the electricity came back on, my oldest son (age 9) asked if we could turn off the lights and continue playing by candlelight. It was a pleasant surprise coming from a child with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of Autism).
Months earlier my sons would not have sat still in the dark much function without television but since we started our family nights, no one complains about the television off.
We enjoy our family nights to beat the winter blues and cabin fever so much that we added a night just for family crafts. We love working on projects together. Our time together has not only beaten the winter blues but brought us closer as a family…
Monarch Butterfly 3D model
for February 1, 2009
a week in review for Jan. 26 -31, 2009
Celebration was the theme of the day at home. Monday marked Chinese New Year, the year of the ox. Although we are not of Chinese descent, we wanted to learn more about it and the Chinese culture. We read books, made crafts, and found out some interesting information about this holiday that is also called the Spring festival. At the end of our day, we dined on a Chinese meal and for dessert we ate mooncakes.
Insects made their way into the family on Tuesday evening and not the real ones! We dined at Chick-fil-a during their Family activity night. They had a face painter and games. The boys ate for free and each received a 3d Monarch Butterfly model. It took time to put it together but the result was beautiful. I was pleased since we could use them for our studies on Migration and later in the Spring when we study Bugs and Insects. The boys were just happy pretending the butterflies were Mothras preparing to fight Godzilla… either way everyone was happy with the find…
Recovery does not come quickly enough for some or should I say me… I received the news that I am healing from my knee injury (torn Cartilage) but that the complete recovery could take a year. No walking allowed except for walking in the home and to the car. How I miss taking the boys for our nature walks… so I am trying to find ways to beat “cabin fever.”
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. We joined a monthly reading book challenge at Bookworm’s booklist for parents and their children. For January’s children’s chapter book challenge, we read “The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Kitchen Table” by Jon Scieszka. It was made for boys in mind and as a mother to two active boys I could related to the humor, the antics and the audience. To read our book review and other’s visit the Bookworm’s Booklist.
Crafting night was a success again. The boys and I started working on some Valentine crafts Friday evening. We made decorations for the home and I am working on a Heart shaped wreath made from paper twist.
Here’s hoping your week was fun and filled with the love of family.. mine was
I was listening to KLOVE on the radio and heard a beautiful sung by Chris Rice called “Come to Jesus.” Tears flowed from my eyes and I broke down. I pulled the car over to the side of road. I wanted to cry out…I wanted you with all my heart and I did not want to lose another child… In that moment I felt God’s love and His arms around me. The words from the song comforted me that I was able to continue to make it home.
In the days that followed, it was the song. “Walk by Faith” by Jeremy Camp that spoke to me.
I had my spirit renewed and my faith tested… I held on to God during our storm. God called you home in July of 2008.. and I kept hope that one day we’d be reunited in Christ.. I still believe…
Months have past since then and my heart thinks of you both in heaven often. This week especially since it would have been my due date. I surrounded myself with work in hopes of moving forward but it wasn’t helping… what helped was music.
Music has been a large part of my life for so long. For the Lord to speak to my heart through music is a wonderful gift. It was not surprisingly when today as I sat feeling sad thinking about tomorrow’s due date that I heard music speaking to again…It was Jeremy Camp’s “There will be a day.”
It reminded me of God’s word…
Revelation 21:4 (New International Version)
(4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Romans 8:18-25
(18 ) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (19)The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. (20) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope (21) that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (22) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (23) Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (24) For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? (25) But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
I am waiting for what God has prepared for us. I hold on to the hope that when I enter the gates of heaven I will see my children and my loved ones…
Thank you God for drawing me to your light and love… for bringing me your love and word once again to my heart for it is my lifesong that I will sing to you….
I will always love you my baby… God’s word promises There will be a day…
A night of darkness Dec. 29, 2008
Sunday Snippets January 4th
a week in review for Dec. 28 – Jan. 3South Texas and for once, I was able to get out sweaters and jackets instead of shorts and t-shirts out of the closet. Staying indoors puts a strain on the boys because they get ‘cabin fever’ just after a few days. I get it too when I can’t go outdoors. For now I have been thinking of creative projects that we can do indoors. We painted with tempera paint and made quite a mess but soon the boys are in search of the next fun activity to do. You can’t say they “keep me on my toes.”
Our week started with everyone being under the weather. The boys and I had caught the flu from my husband. He had caught it from work where he encounters many customers who at times can be sick from the winter weather. As a mom, the theory is ‘Moms don’t get sick, or should I say can’t get sick.” We have to take care of everyone else in the house and we don’t get much time to care for ourselves. I had hot tea with lemon, cough drops and the vaporizer set up for all three.
Darkness came early on Monday for us. An electrical transformer that operates our building and the building next to us shorted out. The building next to us had a fire in April/May and everything was totaled except for the frame of the building. The boys were upset at first but after taking out the Coleman lanterns we entertained ourselves playing shadow puppet theatre and telling stories. We read books and played games. Somehow time flew by that we did not notice that several hours later the electricity was back on. My oldest son asked if we could play board without the lights and just the lanterns so we did.
It seems like Winter these days. For us, January is the coldest month of the year in
New Year’s eve came slowly for us. We stayed home and opted for making a dinner of leftover tamales from Christmas and having nachos with them. Tim came home from work with his paycheck (one day early) and bought a brisket we cooked in the oven. It made for some leftovers that could last for a dew days and then some. The boys watched some children’s movies and I listened to sermons about Christ.
New Year’s Day was easy for me because there was nothing to cook. The boys and my husband basically fed themselves without me lifting a finger. It was a change from last week’s being a nurse, doctor, mother, teacher, cook, maid, etc for the family. I for one was glad that I had an easy day for once.
With a new start I hope that this year brings a fresh beginning to us and many of our friends. I feel it will if we try our best and go forward with renewed hope and spirit…
My Wednesday Walk with Christ for December 31, 2008
At first I thought of posting this for Christmas Day but it spoke to me as something we need to remember always. As many of you celebrate and look forward to the New Year, some of us will be looking at 2008 in reflection for our trials and tribulations, for the loved ones we were not ready to say goodbye to, some of us look back at this year as a moment in our lives when we saw how strong we had become in the midst of our turmoil… in the middle of our storms…
While I am looking ahead, I can’t help but think of the past to what was… I cannot help but feel at a loss for our baby, for the friends I had and for my friends who have lost a child this year…
As the Calendar draws closer to January 1st, I think of them. I know in my heart we should look forward and let go of the past with forgiveness. While we let go of the anger and regret I know that we never let go of those precious memories….
This year may have been a difficult one for some families like ours. Separated by distance, or by circumstances we can’t control. Some of us found strength we didn’t know we had in the longest of nights. We found strength and love with friends, family and God. Many of us were reminded of our love for one another… and why we fell in love…
Families grew closer in spite of what they we were going through.
I say to those who are still struggling with their loss, their trials, their lives… Hold on to each precious moment and be grateful for those gifts you have… grateful they touched your life and graced it with love….
Dedicated to:
my little one in heaven (due Jan. 26, 2009)
Sumi’s little 3 year old Jenna who dances with the Lord (Feb. 17, 2008)
Bobbie’s 8 month old Johnathan Thomas who left us a testimony of God’s love (May 17, 2007)
“Each year, God asks us to shed one more coat of awareness, one more dream state and come alive to the vision of God’s plan for each of us and the world-at-large.
“The older we get, the harder this is to do. As children we had a sense of wonder. Our eyes were wide open and drinking in the fascinating gifts we beheld…Our thirsty souls could not have
enough of the wonders of creation.
“Then, somehow, we grew too old to dream. We tired of the abundance of the world, or at least grew weary of keeping up with the feast of life, and stepped away from the banquet of life.
“The natural gift of wonder God gave us as children was meant to be kept alive.…Instead we let wonder go to sleep. We
entered the typical dream state of most humans.
“Why else does Jesus tell us today, ‘Stay awake!’…Advent says, ‘Wake up and realize the gifts of love you have received.’
by Rev.
Alfred McBride, O. Praem.,THE PRIEST, Oct. ‘87, p.26
Sunday Snippets for December 28
a week in review for Dec. 22-27, 2008
Christmas has come and gone but the memories from it remain. This holiday carried a special meaning to our family… we were together. The long months of waiting and praying and holding on to faith have indeed brought us closer. We are grateful to God for a blessed week.
Christmas Eve, we took the boys to visit my parents (Grandma and Grandpa). They recently adopted a basset hound dog whom they call Lucky. He is about over a year old and he reminds the boys of the hound dog from “Lady and the Tramp.” It is one of my toddler’s favorite movies. His second favorite is “Oliver and Company.” The visit was nice and I enjoyed seeing my Mom and Dad.
As we stayed for our long visit, my mom showed us the new ornaments that the youngest grandchildren made this year. She hung the boys’ foam wreath ornaments that they made for her and you could see in Matthew’s face how proud he was. I loved looking at my Mom’s tree especially the handmade ornaments that all of my siblings and I made as youth and later as adults. As always, it brings back childhood memories of Christmases past. Do you have a favorite childhood Christmas?
I do. I remember asking Santa Claus for a doll house when I was eight years old. We did not have much money and I don’t how my Dad got word to the Jolly man but that Christmas morning I awoke to a metal doll house. I think my father may have put it together because his hand wrapped in gauge. Santa could not get me any dolls for it but Dad thought of the Snow White and seven dwarfs from my birthday cake last spring. We have saved the decorations from my 8th birthday cake. It may not have been a Barbie dream house but it was the answer to my dreams… I loved my father for his love and devotion to a little girl who did not ask but for one gift that year….
Later that night, as the children were being tucked in bed, my youngest said to me, “I love Grandma and Grandpa. Can we see them again? I told my son. “Yes.” We talked about my parents and what they love about Grandma and Grandpa how much they’d love another visit next week on New Year’s day. Soon both my sons were fast asleep. Tim and I did not have much time for ourselves on our 10th anniversary…it was late and we devoted the rest if the night assembling their gifts. Matthew was to get an art easel with paints, brushes, markers, crayons and plenty of paper to make his creative creations. Michael was getting assorted Godzilla toys to add to his growing collection. We knew there would be other moments that we could be together… we were both happy just being together on Christmas Eve… as a couple and as a family.
Christmas morning, the boys slept late. I took advantage of it and started preparing the Christmas dinner. I was baking a boneless ham and then roasting a small turkey that we got as a prize from Tim winning a contest at work. The aroma of cinnamon, apples and brown sugar filled my kitchen as I began making my ham glaze. It was Tim’s Irish grandmother’s recipe that he remembered as a youth. I wrapped the ham in bacon just as his grandmother did those many years ago. With my ham in the oven, I thought I could rest but just then the boys awoke excited about what gifts they were getting. My husband and I sat down and watched with delight as the boys opened each gift. Their eyes opened wide and they had smiles to match. Even though there weren’t many gifts for them, they did not complain… my sons were happy and content that Christmas came. Tim and I did not have money to buy each other a gift… but I already had my gift… I had my husband back in our lives and he is a changed man… Praise God!
Family has been on our thoughts throughout the month and especially this week. Two families have been divided this Christmas: one by the courts and the other by separation. My heart has been heavy thinking of them but there is hope. God brought me and my family through a difficult year during the holidays in 2007 and going into 2008. I felt alone and miserable at times but God lifted my sprits and my soul. HE spoke to me through His word that He would be there for us through “our trials.” As I sat and listened to the pastor on Potter’s House my heart ached for our family to be together but I knew that God needed to work with my husband alone…. When the pastor spoke of “a long night” that was in store for some of us out there… I knew that those words were for me… So I pray with all my heart for my extended family members and their children. May God carry them as He carried me. May He comfort them and give them faith as He did to me and my children.
I hope that this New Year brings to you and your loved ones renewed love, hope and faith…
For those families separated during this season, may God remind you of your love for one another…
God bless…
