That's Some Pig!

WORDS
"Some Pig"  "Terrific"

Charlotte painstakingly made an effort to change how people saw Wilbur.

I have been reading Charlotte's Webb to Isaac and Christian for the past few days.  I've read it many times to our children, but this time, it struck me on a different level.  Could a children's book really have that deep an impact on me?  Yes.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with this classic book.  A pig is born, it is a runt.  Fern (daughter of farmer) can't believe daddy is going to kill the pig for being a runt, asks to take care of it.  Father obliges.  After a month, the pig must be sold, they agree that the pig will be sold to a relative down the street where Fern can visit.  Wilbur (pig) doesn't like the barn at first, but eventually settles in.  The other animals tell him he will be killed, he obviously doesn't want this..(yes, the animals can talk)  He makes a friend, a spider named Charlotte who has a large vocabulary.  He confides in Charlotte that he doesn't want to die.  She promises Wilbur he WILL NOT DIE!  Nobody knows how she will accomplish this promise.

One morning a farm hand walks into the barn with slops for the pig.  He notices something odd in the web of the spider...he realizes words are written in that web.  And they say

Some Pig

He is shocked.  Ultimately Wilbur goes from being just a regular spring pig, to a pig who is beyond "pigness"  He is somehow special, set apart from other pigs.  He is referred to as a "unique, unusual, miraculous, solid, quite a pig, extra good..."   In the end, his life is spared, and all of this because one tiny spider decided to bless a pig.  Obviously this is fantasy, but it resonated in my heart. 

Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

There are so many more verses...so little time.  (dinner time is nigh)  

Why do I fall so short?  Why can I not GET THIS IN MY HEAD.

Why do I judge (mainly my poor kids & husband...) Why do I fly off the handle and knit pick them?  Why can't pleasant words fall from my mouth?  Why is is just SO HARD?  

My words can bring death- perhaps not physical, not like the pig- but in so many other ways that I can't even (or don't want to) wrap my mind around. 

But- My words can bring life.  Isn't that nice?  A nice thought, I suppose- but I fear that my words very often do not bring about life.  

I am not a failure, I am a sinner.  And I do have grace, yes- but this grace is not my free ticket to sinful patterns.  I Want to be a person whose words will bring sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones.  Perhaps I am that person sometimes, but I want to be that person more often.  

Charlotte convicted me, and I don't even care for spiders.  

Fall Party's and a A new van!

It's been a busy week.  I think I start all of my posts out that way- if not, I should.  I'm sure a vast majority of my posts have the word "busy" in them...such is life...

This week my kitchen and laundry room flooded...laundry and dishes piled up...roto rooter was late- very very late, we bought a van, I was the craft lady for a bunch of kindergartners, and Abigail had a friend stay the night.  Plus all of the other 'normal' daily things...I won't go into the details.  It's just life.  It's busy, it's stressful, sometimes not so fun, other times wonderful- it's my life, and I am blessed.  I enjoy being SO BUSY.  I don't know what I'll do when it slows down...will it?

So my kitchen sink started having issues on Monday night.  I didn't know there was a serious problem.  It was getting backed up, so I did what any normal person would do and got out the plunger.  I plunged and plunged.  Eventually, the clog drained & all seemed fine.  Not so.  Tuesday morning (on the way to Bible study) I got a text from Josh that said "Your mom said there is a problem with the drain, you better get home to check it out"  So, I called him to find out the issue.  He said my mom was basically incoherent and couldn't describe to him what was going on. *surprise surprise*  and he really couldn't tell if the issues was serious or not by talking to her.  So I called her.  She said everything 'appeared' normal.  Okay, good.  I'll go to Bible study and try to fix it when I get home...

Well-  I went to bible study, then went to the car dealership, then the store, and then got the kids from school.

I was trying to peacefully drive home. but...

By this time Jeremiah was screaming that his tummy hurt. The kids were nearly clawing each others eyes out for 'who knows what'   I knew Elijah had to be picked up from school at 5:30, with a screaming, sick 2 year old & a husband who had to work late- I knew this was a bad combo.  I had no dinner plans, and all of my meat was frozen. So I called my dad & Julie and asked them to pick Elijah up for me.  Thank goodness they were able, because when I got home I walked into a MESS.  I didn't take a picture, I couldn't.  I just threw everything down and started mopping.  Screaming baby included. (no I didn't mop Jeremiah- I just threw him down.)

After hours of mopping, dinner making, baby changing, bath giving, teeth brushing, story reading...Josh came home.  He realized the problem was greater than his ability to fix.  (although he is very good at solving all of our home problems)  He called various plumbing places, but roto rooter was the only one who could be here "first thing in the morning"

good-problem solved

Because I had to go to the store and buy crafts for Christians KG Fall party Wednesday, and I didn't have time to wait around all day for the plumber.

Got the kids up Wed. morning and took them to school.  Back home by 8:20.  Waiting.
9am.
waiting
10am
waiting
10:30
calling
10:31
waiting
11:00
waiting
12:00
waiting...
12:05
calling...
waiting...
1:00......
it goes on...

They finally arrived, I don't even know what time it was, but I was not happy.  No shopping for me.  Had to go to school to get the kids, then get Abigail to practice for church program., get Elijah...buy our van...oh man, there just aren't enough hours in the day.  If you say you are going to be somewhere at 9am, do me a favor, and be there!  
"By My Country, I Will Never Use Roto Rooter Again!" 
(i was not endorsed or paid by anyone to say that)

Anyway...

The party was great.  I have a knack for painting with people between the ages of 2-6. (odd, I know)  Jeremiah 'helped' me at the party.  We had a great time.  The original idea was to trace each child's arm and hand with brown construction paper to make the trunk, cut it out, then glue it to light blue paper.  Then make leaves using sponges & paint to decorate.  I'm not afraid of 5 year olds and paint.  They had fun, and I really enjoyed being in the class room.  I will never regret the decision to send the kids to Kingsway- they have THE BEST teachers, and they LOVE parental involvement, even if you have to bring a tag a long younger sibling with you.  I'm sure most schools are like this, but I am so pleased with our choice.  



Since it's Fall break, Abigail wanted to have a friend spend the night.  It's hard for us to get together with friends sometimes because we are not close to school.  I thought the kids would have fun making sugar cookies.  They had fun rolling, cutting, and decorating...but did they want to help clean up?  say what?




Oh yes, and here is my new van.  I LOVE it.  It is an 8 passenger.  We only need 7 (usually) but I can't decide whether to keep the 8th seat in permanently or not.  We didn't need a new van, because ours is still running-( with it's own issues, but thanks to my very competent husband, he is always able to fix it- he really is something...) but we wanted to be proactive.  Josh is using the old van for work, and we're going to save our car (Toyota corolla) for Elijah.  He is only13, but....time goes by quickly...and we want to be prepared.  The inside of this van is very luxurious (in my opinion) NO leather seats, but I figured the kids would pop holes in them anyway, so why bother?



Abigail, Aubrey, Isaac, Christian, and Jeremiah "gardening"



The fall party...yes, my pics are out of order- sorry.

hair cut

Life is going by so fast- I can't believe it's already October!  So much to say...I just don't have a whole lot of time to blog about my fascinating life anymore.  (like I ever really had time)  Truth is, I'm rarely on the  computer since I got my fancy phone and ipad.  (thanks Josh- I really do love them...)  I just haven't quite figured out the art of blogging from either.  I'm sure there are ipad blogging geniuses out there- but I'm not one of them.  Anyhow...

My pictures are out of order- but oh well.   Jeremiah decided to cut his hair.  It's not so bad.  I was giving the other boys hair cuts- he kept climbing up in the chair begging me to cut his hair.  I just wasn't ready to cut off those lovely blonde locks.  I gently said  "no Jeremiah, mommy will cut your hair soon, just not today" That was not the answer he wanted.  I finished cutting Christians hair, unplugged the clippers and proceeded to give him a bath.  Next thing I knew I heard Abigail yell "MOM!!!"  Jeremiah had plugged the clippers in and decided to give himself a haircut.  I was able to fix it- thankfully the guard was still on and he didn't end up with a bald spot!



He still looks cute though- just look at him.  He is nearly a twin of Elijah at this age.  I need to get a picture out so I can compare them.  So cute!



I have been able to enjoy a lot of time with the kids.  Even though they are in school all day, I spend a lot of time at the school- participating in things, going on field trips, etc... I really enjoy it.  Sending the kids to Kingsway was one of the best decisions we've ever made.  They have the best teachers, and I know they are being academically and spiritually challenged.  Recently I went on a field trip with Isaac to Eagle Creek.  They have built a new nature/learning center.  I highly recommend it- very nice.  Isn't Isaac a handsome young man?



We went to my dads after church last week to celebrate my birthday.  For some reason, my dad thinks allowing a 13 year old to pull around his 4 siblings  on a tractor is perfectly legitimate...Perhaps- but it scared me to death.  They are all alive though. :)




And here is Mr. Curly Locks on my birthday- just days before he took the clippers to his hair.  I suppose he did need it cut, but I want him to be my baby forever.  I guess that is not possible.