Life is Good...

Well, we serve a GOOD God, so how can we expect anything less?!

Here in Southern California the weather is about 70 degrees, the garden is slightly damp from the light shower we had last night. The wind is blowing the trash can lids down the street and the neighbors are sure to love thousands of leaves from our 60 foot Ash tree. The sky is a brilliant deep blue with fluffy white clouds over in the West, something that is rare in Los Angeles.

I've been spending time with the Lord in the afternoons on my bed admist unfolded laundry (lots of it), sharp pieces of Legos under my butt and legs (those feel good), and nail polish that the baby poured out on the wooden floor (and the girls white couch, white coffee table and all over her hands.) Just as I am praying for the older ones, the baby comes in to sit with me (I mean she wants boobs, wants to talk, wants me to play with her, etc...) so I ask her if she wants to pray with me and she says nothing but sits in my lap and repeats every last word I say.

I have let the children get away with not obeying the first time and this has been disasterous in the older ones. When I ask my older ones to do something, they will, but they argue a few times. Mom, I'm really busy now. Mom, can I finish my book first. Mom can you ask someone else. I didn't see this as a big problem years ago, but the older ones teach the younger ones and it SPREADS...like a disease. So, thats what I'm working on and on and on.

I DO NOT have perfect children. I think in alot of ways I have totally messed them up. But you know what, THANK GOD for Jesus who works in us to ever purify us and as we repent and encourages us in Him, we can in turn bless and correct and smile with our children. I can go from spanking to no spanking back to spanking again and then back and forth again. :) I still haven't figured it out yet. Only to say that I have learned that I should have either had stuck to spanking or no spanking. Either way you can still get good fruit if you are CONSISTENT and add LOTS OF GRACE (smiles, hugs, kisses, praises.)

Both Eric's father and my father are bachelors, so they come here every night for dinner. Tonight we plan to watch 700 Club, and play Yatzee and Uno Flash.

I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.....LIFE IS GOOD!

Blessings,
Shannon