Dinner Hour: The Score

Number of DHA supplements eaten by Lee: 1

Number of Vitamin C supplements eaten by Lee: 1

Number of Vitamin C supplements thrown up by Lee: 1

Number of prenatal vitamins taken today by mom: 0

Number of full pitchers of water spilled on bedroom carpet: 1/2

Number of sides of lentil burgers burnt: 1

Number of bites eaten before burn detected and rejected by Lee: 1

Number of carrots eaten by Lee: 0

Number of times mom raised her voice: not sure

Who would you say won this round?

See More Fish

Last Friday, my dear friend and old roommate, Mary Jayne, took Lee and me to the GA Aquarium. Every time I mention something about that day, he says, "Quarum, Mary Dayne" or "Mary Dayne comin'."

Lee had a great time, though at times, pushing the stroller was the highlight for him, not the fish! He would stop the stroller in front of a tank, take a quick look, then say, "See more fish" and grab the handles to start pushing again. Even the huge tanks didn't stop him for long! This is why his ticket is still free, I suppose.

Only interested in putting his hands in the cold water - absolutely NO interest inthe sea animals he could touch!

The ride on the moving sidewalk was the main attraction in the Deep Ocean exhibit. Here, Lee takes a quick look at the sharks, then wonders whey the sidewalk stopped moving.

I thought I was being a great mom manning the entrance to this tunnel, until MJ told me there was another exit! Thank goodness we were both there, and Lee did not make a break for it!

Pursuits

"Challenges undertaken for the greater good bind us to people.

The pursuit of comfort, however, leads to isolation."

-- John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be

Anyone reading this blog who has walked with the Lord for any length of time knows that He often sends a similar message from several different places at the same time. As we draw nearer to the time when we will add Katie Wilkes to our family, I find myself questioning everything about my daily life - Is continuing to work part-time most honoring to God? What the heck will it be like to spend all day alone with a newborn and a toddler? What if I homeschool, and never have one moment to think about myself for the next eighteen years? What if I homeschool and I am horrible at it? What if I give up my to-do list to pursue community? What if the people I want to spend time with don't find me at all interesting?

A couple of months ago, dear friends challenged Bryan and me to step outside of our task-oriented life and put more time into our friendships. It wasn't easy for us to hear, because we already knew we need to do it. We often talk about developing friendships with other couples that will travel - to the beach, to the backyard cookouts, and through the end of life. But we get so wrapped up in the things we want to get done around the house, trying to build family memories, obligations and commitments, and other "good" things, we have never fully acted on this desire.

Then I heard a sermon three weeks ago about Peter's address to the rulers and elders of the high priest's family in Acts 4. The Bible tells us he was "filled with the Holy Spirit, " and when he finished speaking, they could see that Peter and John were "unschooled, ordinary men" and they were "astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus." I was reminded that my own fears - of being rejected, of under-achieving, or never "getting ahead" in life - could very well paralyze me from what I know I should do. I will never learn or grow without just diving in and doing it. And, if I don't spend time with Jesus, I will most certainly look like me, instead of like Him, as I try to accomplish anything - in any realm!

Then the above quote, read the very same week.

I am not yet clear on how exactly these fit together, or how to act on them, but I am certainly about to enter a time of challenge in my life. Lots of changes, lots of decisions. How will it all shake out?

"Listen to me, house of Jacob... Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

-- Isaiah 46:3-4