Subtleties

I've been processing something for the last month and decided to ramble about it here for a moment.  It really made me stop in my tracks and consider a lot.  It came from me from two different sources at the same time.  I must admit that before I go further, I may hurt the feelings of a few of my friends, but I feel like I need to say this and not be intimidated by what you think.  If you're reading this, you're a valuable friend to me and please just consider what I write.

It all began around the end of January.  I always love a good book and since it's winter, I have a bit more time to cuddle up with a favorite.  This time around, I read a book that gave a lot of focus to the early years of the Mormon church and how they got started.  As I read, I saw how people got caught up in the religion.  Some even left Bible believing churches for the Mormon church going from  the faith/grace/mercy/love of God to a works-based, man-made faith.  Why would people do that?  I think the answer is subtleness.  Little by little they were curious, then they checked it out and before they knew it, they felt like they had to stay because if they left, they thought they would not receive eternal glory.  Some of them even had quite a few questions and found themselves questioning the actions of Joseph Smith, but they remained faithful to him and his man-made faith.  As I stood on the periphery of the story looking in, it was easy to see.  However, I think it may be more difficult if you were actually part of the story.  Nevertheless, it's our responsibility to see those things that are not truly of God and get as far as we can from it.  In other words, it's important to be in our Bible and know what is truly of God.

Fast forward to present day....we had gotten comfortable one evening for the Super Bowl.  We didn't have a favorite team.  We were just enjoying the good game it was.  I even watched the half-time show and I must admit found it rather entertaining...in the moment.  I'm not up on my pop culture, but I did know the name of the person singing and a few of the songs sounded familiar - not because I listen to mainstream music, but most likely, because I'd heard it as a I walked through a store or something.  Anyway, I found it entertaining.  The next day, I get an article from my mother-in-law that stopped me in my tracks (she does a far better job of knowing these type of things than I do).  It was about how Katy Perry had renounced her Christian faith (google it, several various sources report this) and the little things during the program that are really of satan. For starters, she came in riding a golden monster with glowing red eyes and some of the lyrics to her Dark Horse song she was singing were

So you wanna play with magic
Boy, you should know what you’re falling for
Baby do you dare to do this?
Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm
Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back

Two of her other songs, Fireworks and I Kissed a Girl, had references to the LBGT lifestyle.   I had just watched it and thought it was entertaining.  That really, really, REALLY bothered me.  I didn't understand all the words or know all the lingo and had completely missed all of these references.

So, as I combined those two instances in my  head, I realized that I myself had missed the subtleties that this life is jam-packed full of on a daily basis that is trying to entice me away from my wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus.  I can only pray that I will have more of a discerning heart as I go through my days and especially as I raise my kids in this dark world.  I'll leave you with this, "....even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14b

Much Anticipated!

We've had a pretty mild winter in these parts.  When we moved here, I told the kids we'd get a lot more snow than we had received in Oklahoma.  However, we had just been discussing days before how we had more snow in southwest Oklahoma than we'd had here.  However, we finally got a bit of snow - at least enough to play in.  We got a few inches shortly before Thanksgiving, but that's about all we had.  The kids were anxious to put all their snow gear and toys to use.  So, it was with much anticipation that they woke up to 3-4 inches of snow Monday - a day off from school.  They ended up spending a few hours out there and they finally got cold.  Seeing them have so much fun outside makes the snow and cold a bit more bearable.  Plus, they didn't miss any school and that makes this Momma happy (I don't like having to go later in the summer....)

  Luke has taken it upon himself to be our snow shoveler.  I must admit that I kind of like it.   I'm going to brag on him for a moment...we got another inch or so of snow last night.  I asked him if he would go shovel it because it was to get cold and I didn't want it to turn to ice.  He donned all his winter stuff and out the door he went without one word of complaining and this was before breakfast and before he'd gotten to do anything he deemed fun.  (remember, this doesn't always happen, but I will take what I get!)

 Not to be outdone by his older brother, Andrew went and helped one of our neighbors.

 Then, Luke went and helped the next neighbor down the road while the rest of the kids played.

 Hannah wasn't really into the shoveling.  She was interested in building a fort and being prepared for when her brothers wanted a snowball fight (notice all the snowballs lined up on the ground)

 I'm not sure how fair this was, but Hannah didn't seem to mind and they all had fun!

Weekend Getaway

Last weekend, my kids had another four day weekend.  We had planned long ago to get out of town that weekend and most likely head to Chicago, but at the last minute the forecast turned COLD and we changed our destination to Cincinnati - technically, we weren't in Cincinnati, but in Kentucky instead.

The first day, I didn't figure the time right between eastern and central time and we got on the road an hour early.  We spent it just driving along the Ohio River and enjoying the Cincinnati skyline.  Of course, the highlight of the drive for the boys was seeing where the Bengals and Reds played.  I enjoyed the old bridges. 

Then, we headed to the Creation Museum.  I had wanted to go there for quite some time (since it opened!)  We finally live close enough to make this a possibility.  I really enjoyed it and learned some things.  I've always had pieces in my head, but it was nice to have it all laid out.  Much of it, I wish I'd known years ago.  The kids did pretty well and I think they absorbed more than I think they may have.  We did end up listening to a speaker on the big bang theory.  I was explaining this to Andrew.  I think he was a bit confused because he looked at me and said God created it and then asked whether the speaker knew that.  Faith of a child - love!  We also made sure we walked the gardens and petting zoo.  Yes, it was cold, but it was good to get out and get some fresh air.  I'm sure the gardens are beautiful in the spring and summer!

The next day we headed to the Newport Aquarium.  It was a bit busy, but we had a good time watching the animals and getting to touch several.  Watching the sea turtle swim with the sharks was a favorite for many of us.  Plus, they had two albino alligators that I  just found intriguing.

While we weren't perusing the museums, we spent time in the hotel pool improving swim strokes and just having fun.  It was a good little getaway!

Cincinnati Skyline

Ready to take on the Creation Museum

Andrew listening to "Noah" give answers to some prewritten questions.  The kids really liked the Ark exhibit.

Checking out the grounds of the Creation Museum

Pool time

Some fish

Touch tank of sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sea anemones and starfish.  The boys liked this and Hannah eventually touched a few items.

Andrew the turtle

Interesting creatures - shark rays

Not quite as big as their alligator

Albino alligator

In case you're wondering...these turtles are not real....

Luke

Shark

Petting sharks

Hannah lost another tooth while we were gone and she wanted the occasion recorded with a picture taken!

Lego City

It's been awhile since my trio got out the Legos and set up their version of a city.  Here we have a Lone Ranger/Mine building (Andrew), Bakery (Hannah) and a self-invented building (Luke) with his X-Wing Star Fighter nearby (his favorite at the moment).  Somehow or another in their imaginations, they make all these work together and they have a great time together.  I'm pretty sure my adult brain does not work like that anymore.  Anyway, this is a small version.  They used to have Lego cities that would take over the entire floor space of their bedroom.  They also have very little time to play these days between school, homework, chores (which I don't give them a ton of, but they still need some) and sports.  So, it is a delight when I see them pull this stuff out and play and let their imaginations flow!

Sneak Peak at Spring

We are blessed with an elderly that enjoys loving on our trio.  At Christmas, she gave them each a flower to plant and watch grow.  Luke and Hannah each have an amaryllis and Andrew ended up with paper whites.  We planted them shortly after all the Christmas craziness and it's been so much fun to watch.  Luke's has grown quickly and is nearly 18 inches tall, but no bloom yet.  Hannah ended up with a late bloomer, but Chris and I both agreed that it looks like we've turned a corner and it's grown a bit over the last few days.  Andrew's has been the most fun to watch.  It literally almost seemed like we could have watched it grow.  Last week, it seemed like it would grow about an inch a day.  It was so drastic to me that I got a ruler out and measured it each time.  Amazing!  It finally did bloom and we've been enjoying this glimpse of spring.  It still has a few more blooms to produce, but for now, we're thrilled with what we have.  Just as a side note, I was working on dishes one evening and got a whiff of this strong smell and it ended up being this flower.  I must admit that it's not my favorite smell, but Andrew seems to enjoy it!

The Beginning....

Luke was so very excited to start something new last week....music lessons on his new recorder!  I can't tell you how excited he was.  They do them in music class here.  I thought it was a year early so I don't know how long he'll be playing this until he begins a new instrument, but he was excited to get started.  He brought it home and played a few notes and Chris quizzed him on the two notes he'd learned that day and he did great. 

It's so very interesting to me how teachers get kids to do things.  Do you see that small white string tied to the end of the recorder?  There are certain songs they need to play and once they play those, they get a different colored string - very similar to karate belts.  Let's just say, their music classes - both here and in Oklahoma - are a far cry in the better direction of what I grew up with. 

One last tidbit - you shouldn't be surprised that Luke picked an orange recorder.  If he gets a choice in color for anything, it's always orange.  Chris and I both laughed because we never got a choice of colors growing up.  I had a black one and Chris's was tan.  Times have changed!

Now, here's to the new musician in the family and hoping it will be soon when he stops using it as a whistle!  (ok, he doesn't do it much, but it has happened and I'm sure it will again.)

Super Bowl Opinion

So, we as many Americans, watched the Super Bowl from the comfort of our own couch.  We weren't super fans of either team (nor any team for that matter...).  However, over the years we've grown fond of our Indianapolis Colts and a bit for the Denver Broncos.  So....the Patriots weren't my favorites to win.  All of that to say, we still sat down and watched the game.  Here are some of my thoughts...

1.  Thankful it was a ball GAME!  It was close and that kept me watching.  It seems so often these games between two "great" teams turn out to be a blowout one way or the other.  I watched until the very end (that doesn't often happen!)

2.  I thought the crowd quite rude during the National Anthem.  After being a military family now for several years and attending official functions, there is not one sound from the first note until the very last note.  I find all the yelling, booing, cheering, etc so very disrespectful on a variety of levels and the Super Bowl's last night was quite rude.

3.  The US Air Force Thunderbirds always give me goose bumps when they do a flyover.  They're so fun to watch.

4.  I found the commercials to be lacking...  I loved it when Luke said the Kardashian commercial was weird.  Yes, son, it was! (and a few others....)