Almost every day Noa and I get into some kind of battle over clothing. Sometimes – rarely - it is a battle of the wills: What she wants to wear vs. what I want her to wear. Other times it is a battle to change or not to change She tries to convince me that she has valid reasons to change her clothes – like they are dirty, wet, uncomfortable, etc. There were a few times that I wondered if she had purposely had a potty mishap just so she could change her clothes. Our most common battle is using her and Martha’s clothing like toys. She LOVES to take their clothes out of their drawers and “pack” them, put them on dolls, and layer them over her already worn clothes. This has become a discipline matter because, as I have explained to her, it is inconsiderate and unkind to undo the hard work her mother does in cleaning, folding, and putting away her clothes. Furthermore, clothes are a provision from God, and I want her to learn to be a good steward of them and take care of them.
So, these are the waters we are treading right now. It is a daily thing (because – you guessed it - we get dressed every day), and I am trying to work it so it is not a battle every day. I think we have some good ways of dealing with it, but we still have some obedience issues.
Like this morning. The girls headed into their room to play after breakfast. It was entirely too quiet and I could have predicted what I would see when I went in. Sure enough, there were several things on the floor and this is what the girls looked like:
She even got Martha dressed!
So now, after being disciplined for taking out clothes without asking, she has to stay in what she chose to wear all day. sigh.
I guess I am thankful for this outlet of creativity… I just want to know how to instruct her well with it, and be consistent too.
Here’s another exhibit of her clothing craftiness – again – on her sister:
In Martha’s words, isn’t she, “boooo- foh” ?
Gloria usually goes back to sleep after her first feeding in the moring, and, depending on how early that is, she sometimes ends up just staying in my bed. By the time she reawakens, Noa and Martha and I have started our day. Her sisters are always delighted when they hear her stirring and run in to welcome her to the new day. I love these precious moments, and Gloria does too. Can you tell?
This photo was taken in October of 2006, a few weeks after Noa was born, with this special Eagles bear that her Grandpa sent her.
I don’t know what came over her (maybe superbowl season?) but Noa felt it was important to start indoctrinating her littlest sister on who her favorite team should be.
I didn’t put the bear in her bed or tuck it into her arm. I’m glad Noa takes her role as big sister-mentor seriously. I bet Grandpa is too.
I wrote on facebook that I would post this recipe last week but just hadn’t gotten around to it. But seriously, this is my favorite food right now and I think you will enjoy it too. I think it must be pretty heatlhy too (but I don’t know… I don’t keep up on health foods enough, I just know they seel Quinoa at Whole Foods 
), so here ya go:
Quinoa Pilaf:
Saute: 2 diced carrots and 1 diced onion in a tbsp. oil (about 5 min.)
Add a tsp. of tumeric and stir well.
Add 3 cups of water and bring to a boil
Add: 1.5 cups of Quinoa (you probably need to push is down to the bottom or it will stay floating at the top), 1/2 a green pepper diced, 1/2 cup (or more!) of chopped or slivered almonds, and 3-6 tbs. of raisins. I also like to add my salt and pepper at this point, but you can wait til the end if you’d like.
Cover and let simmer for 20-25 min.
Remove from heat and add 1/2 to 1 cup frozen peas on top.
Fluff with a fork.
We’ve had it a few times hot to go along with our dinners, but I realized when I ate the leftovers that it is even yummier cold, so I just started making it and keeping it in the fridge for lunches (and snacks!).
My kids usually love most things I feed them, but this took a little while. It helped that we told Noa it has her name in it: Qui-NOA. So sometimes, we also call it Qui-MARTHA and Qui-Gloria.
Do we take heed to the Lord’s word in Ezekiel 33:6?
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.”
This is the Lord’s word and it is serious business, in fact is there a business more important? In practical terms during Ezekiel’s time, when there was an attack, it was the job and office of the watchman to alert the people. The watchman sounded the trumpet to let them know the sword was coming. If he failed in doing this, the blood of his people were on his hands.
Why don’t I take this seriously today? My neighbors, my friends, my family, and strangers all around me are unaware of the sword that is coming. And yet, like a negligent watchman, I fail to sound the trumpet. The watchman does not save a person, he just let’s them know of the incoming peril. I often put the weight of someone’s salvation on my own hands and this is NOT what this passage is talking about. Man cannot save souls, only God alone does. But we are called to be watchmen.
The interesting thing is while we know that sword is coming, we also know there is already a victor as well. While the watchman couldn’t win the battle they alerted their people. With Christ, there is already full victory. However, if one doesn’t know of the peril, how shall they know of the victor? And what a sweet victor we have. The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, has already fought our battle. He was slain on our behalf, and then He conquered death so that we may live. This compels us to have joy. It compels us to be watchmen that recognize the seriousness of sin and it’s consequences, but at the same time rejoices in the triumphant victor of sin and death, the giver of life. Christ is the motivation of our life, and He is the strength and means in which we can be faithful watchmen.
He is the same victor, that also saves the watchman. As I think about my failures in this area, I need to repent. I also realize that Christ did not fail as a watchman. He showed us what was to come, and HE CONQUERED IT. The tendency for me is often to look at my “lack of being a faithful watchman” and wallow in that. But my Savior has already conquered this completely. As a healer, He has taken my wounds and given me his righteousness both now and forever. As I repent, I can take great joy in knowing that He was and is the perfect watchman. He alerted us and saved us. It is the joy of Christ that compels us to not wallow in our sin, but repent and share this good news with all who are in our lives.
Sweet Jesus, you are victor over all. Thank you for being the perfect watchman both yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You went before us and did what we could not do, you brought true worship to your Father. Help us to be a watchmen that care for the people all around us and shares both the peril that awaits, as well as the beautiful victory that is yours. May we all fall before you feet and praise you!
Noa, while coming at me with her toy stethescope:
“Here, Mommy. Let me check your heart-beep.”
