Palm Sunday

Our church puts out a Lenten devotional. My submission made it in this one here it is...

Matthew 21:9
“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest!”

My oldest son Robert is made of pure energy. For example, he woke up at 6 a.m. this morning and by 6:15 he was literally running in circles and singing at the top of his lungs a song he’d just made up. All this was while I made breakfast on an average Monday morning. Robert loves church, he loves Jesus and he knows he wants to be his friend forever, but he really loves church. Unfortunately, his energy and my need for him to “behave” often make Sunday mornings less than joyful. There is lots of fidgeting and shushing and prompting and when he goes down for Children’s Moment I hold my breath and hope he doesn’t reveal some dreadful secret or inappropriate fact he learned on the History Channel.

But Palm Sunday is different. He lines up with all the other children in their new shoes and pastel shirts, clutches his Palm branch and for a few minutes he is free to shout and jump and generally express the joy he feels at being in church. I can’t help but think of the children in the first Palm Sunday processional. Caught up in the excitement of an impromptu parade and straining to see the man their parents have been speaking so passionately about. And then they see him and their joy is perfect. I think they recognized in him love and light and energy and a Messiah. Their joy could not be contained, “Hosanna in the highest!”

This Palm Sunday look for Robert his shirt will probably be untucked and he will certainly be loud. In his enthusiasm he may even whack another child with his wildly waving palm branch. But I will be smiling and trying to remember that church is supposed to be joyful and that he and all of his friends are teaching me something about my own faith.

Prattvegas

When I first moved here from Birmingham I never imagined how much I'd find to love about living in a small town. Today was full of moments that made me smile. They are in no particular order :



1. Opening day for Little League baseball complete with the national anthem, the mayor throwing out the first pitch and the kids throwing their hats in the air like they'd won the World Series.



2. Watching the air show from a picnic blanket at a place called (wait for it) Cooter's Pond.



3. All the kids in their prom dresses and tuxedoes taking pictures downtown by the fountain.



4. Having an impromptu cookout with our neighbors while the kids literally roam the neighborhood until the street lights come on.



Long live small Southern towns.

Baseball, bloody nose and fishing for jewels

Lots of excitement in the last couple of days here. My iphone arrived and although very impressive, it doesn't work inside my house...not at all. I am trying to make myself send it back but it is shiny and new....Hunter took off for a quick trip to Bham and a visit with Nolen. While he was gone we had lots of adventures, Robert got his first bloody nose. An accident while playing but very dramatic nonetheless. This morning he had his first baseball "practice" game. He got a good hit but was thrown out at first. Ethan roamed about and caused lots of ooohs and aahs but stayed off the field. Also, I managed to dodge being team Mom.

After the game we headed for a trip to Target and lunch at Cici's. (Robert's choice). I did break my Lenten fast and buy a new spring top, didn't realize I'd broken it until I was out the door. Which is the whole point I guess to make me more intentional and less unconcious in my spending habits...I did walk right by the Starbucks though.

Then home for more excitement as the smoke detector went off, the cat threw up and I lost my pearl bracelet (which I wore on my wedding day) down the sink. I handled the smoke alarm and cat issues but left the sink for Hunter. He was successful, thanks to some creativity and excellent fishing.

Spring Break and Jenvention 2010

Spring Break is almost over, Robert's room got cleaned. Tax Cut says my taxes are 75% done, not sure I believe them but I'll take it. We enjoyed our visit to Tuscaloosa for the annual Jenvention..we're down a Jen but it was lovely nonetheless. Check out Jen Mat's photo journalism of the event at jkmland.blogspot.com. Today Hunter took off and we enjoyed a family trip to the zoo. I am happy to report no tears or raised voices and the chimpanzees although violent did not precipitate a birds and bees talk. All in all a successful day.

What a relaxing weekend. Of course, the taxes aren't finished and Robert's room isn't even started...still it was a nice break. Last night marked the inaugural meeting of the Jelly of the Month club at Flemings in Birmingham. Nice to feel like neither a social worker nor a Mommy but a grown up out with her fabulous husband. Angy brought a much needed message today about Sabbath and the discipline of resting and hearing the still small voice. Hard to do, but so worth it.

My lenten practice is hard, but teaching me a lot. In the past I've given up chocolate or coffee etc. But this year I decided to eliminate unnecessary spending. Sooo much harder than I thought it would be. I have neither thought of myself as spending a lot of money, but the truth is that there are all kinds of things I waste money on.

The exercise in spiritual discipline has also made me think in a new way about coveting. I would never have thought I was someone who coveted, but that new handbag my girlfriend got is gorgeous and I really want one. I'm not jealous of her and don't plan on stealing it or anything, but there's a lot of energy that goes toward wanting something just because I want it.

I also realize I spend a lot on coffee , Grande decaf skinny mocha no whip extra foam actually. But I have only been to Starbucks twice since Lent started....I'm still drinking it @home, just not paying 4 bucks a pop for one. And I hardly even miss it, except everytime I pass it and when I am waiting in car pool pick up line, or when I am doing paperwork....actually I need to go to bed before I make another run tonight and mess up my whole Lent.

Spring Break

Spring Break is here, hope the weather cooperates. I love it when Robert's out of school. I clear my calendar and plan for lazy mornings and long procrastinated projects. This week those include taxes and cleaning out his room. Wish me luck...

Eighteen months have flown by...sweet Ethan had his check up today. He is solidly in the 40th percentile for size (except for his little pea sized head ) and seems to be reaching most of his milestones a-ok. He is getting to be such a little boy, not so much of a baby. But last night he woke up crying, and he laid his little sweaty sleepy head on my shoulder and I just melted. He is every bit the miracle he was when we first met him a year and a half ago.

Ethan loves music and dances with abandon everyday. He babbles all the time, mostly half words or made up words with a really clear one every now and then to keep you on your toes (like "cookie" he says that very clearly). But his favorite past time is being chased/tickled/wrestled by his big brother. And Robert is happy to oblige, with only the occasional shout of "Injury, Injury to the baby!!!"

Happy 18 months Ethan, can't wait to see what you do next.

I'm finally upright again after a nasty battle with strep, me not the boys, it won and I spent the beautiful weekend in bed. Being a little sick makes you appreciate your health overall, and the health of your family. Kudos to Hunter for keeping the house running smoothly and to my neighbors for pitching in as well.

In other news, Robert has a crush. Last week he wrote an anonymous note to Kendall in his class. It said "Hello Kendall, I think you are funny." The next day he had to get to school early so he could put it on her desk before she arrived. Unfortunately he didn't beat her to school. So Robert decided to be bold and just give her the note in person. We always say that to Robert Life is not a spectator sport.