Breathing a LITTLE air

     This last week has been a very busy week but a good week. Over the last several days, since being on LOCK DOWN, things have shifted around here. For the children and myself, things are looking a lot more loving, more forgiving and hopeful. I feel hopeful that the character of Christ is growing deep in us.
     Because of the progress Bubba and I have seen in our family, we have allowed different books and three movie's to be watched. After the first one, there was SERIOUS behaviors: yelling at each other, arguing, tattling, hitting, warring over toys! It..was..bad.
     So, after a few more days off, we tried it again, this time it went a little better. Still whining, but less fighting.
     I ask myself why we keep trying. Why do we NEED t.v. type entertainment in our lives? Why are we trying to make movies work in our family?
     The answer is….we all need to be able to handle this world with God's grace and mercy. Movies seem to be a pretty "safe" way to practice dealing with the world; we talk about the spiritual things happening in the movies, we talk about the worshiping of false gods in the movies, we talk about how we feel when we are watching the different situations…all good discussions.
     I guess I feel this is just a training ground. REAL people are much more challenging and we sure want to love each other and them well. I know the Lord talked with Bubba and I about getting our family deeply grounded and a HUGE part of that is being able to act in love in daily situations as well as in hard times too.
     Until we get deeper, these things are going to rattle us up. More Jesus! More grace, more mercy, more fun, more love...more of all that you have for us.

Lock Down...

A rare ALMOST happy moment :)

     This summer vacation thing is very different this year. The kids are fighting, yelling, speaking hatefully, not loving each other, out to "win" over each other, crying, blah, blah, blah. I can't even bear to write it all out!!!!
     I flipped out about a week and a half ago and put our family on Lock Down! NO tv. NO movies. NO screen time. NO book accept the Bible. NO playing with friends. UNTIL, there is a shift in our family.
     The shift has started! There has been more peace, less fighting and even more forgiveness with less yelling! Awwwww, the sound of a family that LOVES each other :)
     And, today I caved. Why? Because of the NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE and all the talking, and asking of questions, and wanting to shop, the asking of questions, the whining, the sadness, the asking of questions. Did I already say that?!
     And just as I expected, things got worse after the movie. More yelling, hitting, fighting, even Jojo (the 17 month old was worse!) I knew it wasn't a good idea :/
So, tomorrow is the second day of our sale. Bubba will be home to help, PRAISE GOD!! But, no caving this time!!!
Jesus HELP ME!!!!