So how is your summer going?

In May I posted my grand plans for our family's summer.  Friends keep asking me how our summer is going and how the whole no TV thing is working out.  Here's what's happening at our house this morning...

Yep, that's how the no TV thing is going.  That actually illustrates how all my plans are going.

I planned for us to have Adventure Days where the girls and I made sweet memories together.
I planned for casual playdates with friends, and lazy afternoons at the pool.
I  planned to write.
I planned to slow down from the freight train of a schedule our last 12 months have been.

Of those plans I am 0 - 5.  Oh my earthly plans.  Instead, we buried a beloved uncle and got pneumonia.  We loved on and have been loved by our extended family.  We have traveled and had the unexpected joy of holding new baby cousins and seeing lifelong friends.  Emily has watched just under 7 million hours of TV. (Once while she had pneumonia I caught her watching one TV show on her iPad while she watched another show on TV. Awesome. I'm Mother of The Year.)

My only condolence is that my detailed plans must make God laugh.

When I look closer at the last 6 weeks I see His plans.  His plans that reign. His plans that are 5-0.  He planned for us to be His hands and heart to our grieving family.  He planned for me to be loved on by a stream of life-long friends in a season when my heart needs it.  He planned for Sarah to spread her new middle school wings and make memories independent of me.  He planned for Pete and I to have a date in Madrid.  Most preciously, He planned for us to see Him.

I opened by bible study this morning and was instructed to write out this verse:

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
~ Jonah 2:8

Then I walked through looking at twelve verses related to God's supremacy.

Oh God truly must chuckle, chuckle, chuckle at me, and yet His instruction is so sweet.

My plans are my idol, and my calendar is the little alter where I worship myself.

But I don't want to cling to worthless idols.  I don't want to live out worthless plans. I want to grasp on to the hem of the God of gods and Lord of lords, and not forfeit an ounce of the grace He offers me.  I look at my broken plans and my abandoned summer calendar, and I rejoice.  Our summer is going just as it should.

Celebrating Ascension

It has been 40 days since Easter, the day traditionally used to mark Jesus' ascension to heaven as recorded in Acts.  I am sharing below a post from two years ago (I can't believe how little my girls look!).  I hope this simple and sweet way to mark the day helps your family remember that Easter Sunday isn't the end of the story.   If you are in the midst of the end of school like we are, and just trying to drag your family over the the end-of-year finish line, tuck this idea in the back of your mind and pull it out in July for a family devotion.  We are not people living under the law, any day is a good day to train our children in the Word of God.  

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Last Sunday was Ascension Sunday when we remember Jesus ascending to Heaven.  Jesus had been with the apostles for 40 days since His resurrection.
“…he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”  Act 1:9

 When I saw this cute idea on Cultivated Lives, I knew my girls would love it.  The blue Jello and Cool Whip clouds are such a fun visual reminder of Ascension.   

Last night I surprised Pete and the girls with their Ascension desserts.  (You can see mine were not nearly as cute.  Reddy Wip from a can does not hold up like Cool Whip!)   I added a strawberry cut into the shape of a heart to represent the promise of the gift God would send after Jesus' ascension. 

Our family has been reading the Book of Acts each morning since Easter, so instead of reading the biblical account of Jesus' ascension, we played "Ascension trivia."  Emily (6) surprised us all by having all the answers.  She of course thought that deserved a reward.  You can guess it where this lead....

The joy of watching the girls enjoying their blue jello (I don't serve a lot of blue food around here.) and just spending a few extra minutes at the dinner table together, was such a great reminder to me that raising faith in our children doesn't have to be serious or difficult, we don't have to have the perfect devotion guide or a seminary degree.  It can be as simple as some blue jello, a can or Reddi Wip and the time to talk about our great and loving God.

As for the little strawberry heart... Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift God would send.  They waited 10 days, and then received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is marked by Pentecost in the church calendar.  My girls are marking off 10 days on our chalkboard.  Next Wednesday night we will celebrate it.  I will share ideas for celebrating Pentecost and the church's birthday next week.

Family Fun Night at Bay Leaf Baptist Church

Last night was our church's first Family Fun Night of the summer.  It was "Leap of Faith"  night.  We had about 225 people come for dinner, family devotion activities, and worship. It was a great night of showing what the church should be for families - a partner that says, "hey, let us walk alongside you and help you learn to lead your own kids."  It has long been Pete and I's passion to see church activities where you don't drop off your kids at their program and go to your own.  It was so exciting to see this idea come to life!

Our family had great conversations as we played outdoor games, did indoor activities, and explored themes of faith, salvation and God's holiness in His Word.  The night ended with worship.  If you are in the Raleigh and would like to join us - there are two more Family Fun Nights coming up.  There is no cost - you can register here. 

The girls playing "Mr. Clean" an activity about God's holiness - our favorite of the night! 

Dinner.  We played bible trivia during dinner - congrats to the Reed family who won! 

Closing Worship. 

Families outside for Mr. Clean and Reach the Goal games. 

This morning I have been working on next week's Family Fun Night - and it is going to be great! The theme is "Power of Words."  There are tongues, and fire, and toothpaste involved - and that's all I can share with you! I hope you'll join us if you are in the area.