a little bit of color

Trying to fill our lives with a little bit of color this spring...

A little planting, a little sewing, a little learning, a little playing. We are hopeful to get a bit more outside play in April!

louie

In loving memory of a friend we did not get to meet...

more grey

Another grey, snowy day. Missing our vacation...it was so nice in the sun and warmth!! Ahhhh....

But this grey, gloomy weather is rather fitting for this spiritual season of Lent. It not only encourages inward reflection, it is fitting of reflection that focuses on sin, repentance, and the things of this world that are not sunny and nice. I've been engaged in a daily devotional with a group of friends, which focuses on these things, and it's been good to be in this season in the company of others. 

For the kids, I've used the suggestion of the book below, and focused on the story of the Good Shepherd. 

Thankful that He is good indeed. 

a lil' stitching

The days continue to be cold, cold, cold. Somehow this prompted me to take out my sewing machine for the first time in I don't know how long. Here are a couple fun projects I did with the four year old yesterday...

His drawing, my sewing...and the first time I've seen my boys play with "dolls" for an extended period of time.

His drawing, my embroidering...

I'm pretty sure this was way more entertaining for me than for him, though he did sit and watch the stitching happen for a long time. (His two year old brother, on the other hand, could care less.) I've gotta say, this has been one of the most fun and unexpected things I've done with the kids - collaborative art!

lent begins

Today begins Lent. Yesterday, I finished the above book. A very fitting reminder of what Lent is about - embracing our own weaknesses and failures, so that the glory and grace of God may be known through our lives. 

"We know that we need to train them [our children] in rules for obedience; that's obvious. But how can we teach them about something so outside the norm, such as God's joy in being merciful to sinners?" ~p.71

"Our children aren't innately good, and we shouldn't tell them that they are. But they are loved and if they truly believe that, his love will transform them...Our encouragement should always stimulate praise for God's grace rather than for our goodness." ~p.43

I've been reading this book for the last several months, and it's been deeply challenging on many levels - how to respond to my children's sin and failures, how to respond to my own sin and failures (esp in the area of parenting). I love that at the end of the day, this books points to God's grace and glory as the ultimate goal, and not my own parenting performance or childrens' behavior. What a deeply challenging and freeing thought!

I hope this Lenten season our family can really take the time to embrace what an amazing gift God has given us through His son - an amazing gift of grace and freedom.