My Writch Istes!

That's right. My son told me that he couldn't lay still at nap time because, "my writch istes...uh, I mean my itch wristes...Uh I mean my WRIST ITCHES!" I tried to find it cute, but was far to obsessed with how scary it was. I used to (and still often do) talk so fast that my thoughts rarely came out clearly on the first try. My friends in high school coined the phrase "Amberism" to describe these and other such foreign thoughts that would enter my head and inevitably exit my mouth. I actually prefer the given name to describe this incident-"spoonerism." Come on, you can't say that one without a goofy grin-spoonerism=). The point is (if indeed their actually is one) that I think I am creating a little monster, or at least a smaller, male version of myself. This is scary and I am not sure if I am up for the task. I entered this whole parenthood thing with much more confidence then I currently possess and when it comes to parenting I think my mouth has written checks that my butt can't cash (to coin one of my husband's favorite phrases). It's not just the language thing either. What if my poor children end up with every quirky, obsessive, maladjusted, impetuous personality flaw that I possess? And worse yet, what if that is all they inherit...none of my husband's adorable traits...just my crazy genes?! I can't even fathom how people endeavor to raise children without the surety of God's sovereignty. The hope that He is making all things new is the only thing that has kept me from anonymously dropping myself off at my local fire station...seriously. On that note, I must go entertain the three young angels. I hope to se back boon!

a PINK, draw-string sack. That is what my 41/2 year old BOY decided would house his newest coin collection. The child truly is an enigma. His little world is full of self imposed rituals, habits, routines, quirks, and yes, even "collections." My son can start a collection with absolutely ANYTHING! Cars, action figures, miniature pine cones, things that are red...whatever. His most recent collection is that of coins. When I use this term I am not referring to the accumulation of an elusive, rare but valuable item I am speaking of those things which his father dumps from his work pants onto the desk at the end each day. Mostly pennies, his "coin" collection also includes such finds as Chuck E. Cheese tokens and Mexican pesos. And, as if raising a child with such idiosyncrasies was not challenge enough, this morning comes the question I had been waiting for, "Mom, can I take my collection with me to the store?" I knew what this would mean. I do not have a shy child. He would grab his PINK sack by the drawstrings, hold it out a few inches from his body, and proudly command the attention of any vulnerable passerby that he could con into smiling at him. See, it's not just about having a collection; it's about letting everyone KNOW that you have a collection. "Sure," I told him, "bring the collection if you must." So off to the store we went and what is normally a mundane task (unless you have three children) quickly became a crisis circumstance when my son realizes that he has abandoned his beloved coin collection in a shopping cart at our previous stop. "Go, back for it mom," he pleaded with me. I told him that we would try, but that it might already be gone. We returned, we searched, we did not find. The collection was GONE. He was broken and, I must admit, I was a little broken for him. He loved those dirty little pennies.

As we rushed about the parking lot and shopping carts I was once again struck by God's abundant grace. He sought after me in my lowly estate, with no worth or merit to call my own, He found what was already His and bought me from sin and darkness at the expense of his Son. What a gracious God...to give me worth and meaning, not out of any NEED He possessed, but to restore me. Hmmm....

" For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate."

and with no warning at all I had an unexplainable urge to do something I had never done before. I weighed my options and since I don't have money for an Alaskan cruise, nor the desire for basket weaving, the next most logical choice was to start my own blog. So here I am. My aim, of course, is to keep my expectations of myself low and thereby ensure that I will disappoint myself with much less frequency. So my goals are as follows: I would like to post at least one other blog before giving up on the endeavor altogether. This sounds easy enough and it might be if I were not technologically impaired (or in PC terms: A PERSON with technological impairments). The point is I often get lost just maneuvering my own e-mail account so I am officially in over my head.

Here is my current (albeit primitive) understanding of the purpose(s) of a blog and the reasons I believe I am up for the task. The first is to "journal" personal thoughts, ideas, and inner desires and then publish these personal discoveries in a public fashion. Since I am given to self-deprecation, and thrive on open ridicule and/or absolute humiliation I thought "hey, why not make my private world public?"

The second reason I have discovered for blogging is to share one's opinion on politics, religion, world events, etc., with people who could (often) care less what you think. At this I will be awesome! I have an opinion on just about everything and I am one of the only people who cares to hear it most of the time (which in the past has led to a lot of talking to myself...but now I can blog to myself!)

Besides, as a homeschooling mom of three children I get tired of laying around all day and watching the soaps so this will be a pleasant diversion.

The truth is that I am on a journey and I don't want it to fly by without taking notice of the landmarks along the way, that is why I want to blog. I am a fellow sojourner, living life, reveling in the truth that I have been purchased and provided for by an all-powerful God, by the mighty work done through His Son on the cross. I'm discovering the depths of His infinite grace and long for His likeness. I am still falling, but now I am falling forward.