One thing that I have to fight in my life is worrying about things. In each stage of my life the object of my worry has differed but it's always seemed to be there, lurking in the wings. In this current stage of my life, I find that it is very easy to worry about my children. Will they be safe? Will the catch something when we go to library story time? Will they turn out okay? What if they get in with the wrong crowd at school? Oh my! If I let myself sit here and really think I could probably have a nervous breakdown. Thankfully, I am learning what it means to "give it to God". What has always been a nice catch phrase to me, has been starting to mean something that is more real to me.
I was thinking today that there is much that I can look forward to for my children. Stay with me here. It's getting late and my brain is jumping oddly from topic to topic. I was going through pictures of our time in MN with family this summer and I realized how extremely blessed my children are to have so many wonderful people in their lives. While in MN they met up with a set of great-grandparents and a great-great aunt and uncle. Not to mention the great aunt and uncle, cousins...the list goes on. So many people in their lives that want to positively build into their two little hearts. I know this is true because these very same people have taken the time to build into my life. When the Reiss/Cochrane/Witter/Skeldon/Anderson clan get around a table for a meal there is laughter, love, joy and most of all the LORD! Some of you know what I mean when I talk with love about this great group of people. You have experienced it first hand...the quirky ways of great aunt and uncles who give your friend's husband a "bean spoon"* upon their first meeting! We have been blessed and I'm excited for our kids. What will they get to enjoy together with this family? What will they do as they get older, have children and create more great family memories? I think those are much more positive and constructive questions for my mind than what so often inhabits it.
The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed me the name of the Lord! I want to live with that attitude. My life and the lives of my children belong to Him.
Oma (my grandmother) playing with Libby. Something I love about my Oma is her love for Jesus and her grandchildren. She and Opa pray for us each day. The next best thing are her hugs.
My great aunt Jo connecting with Libby. Aunt Jo is full of life and is always willing to burst into song. Her and Uncle Gordon have traveled the world together and are so much fun to be with.
Opa playing with Libby. Uncle Gordon looking on. Something I love about Opa is that he often calls me "hon". I am so thankful for his love for Jesus. I love to see him laugh.
*Bean Spoon - we were in Banff several years ago and my aunt Jo and uncle Gordon gave Lindsay and Jeff bean spoons. Now, keep in mind this was the first time they had met Jeff. The spoons they received were wooden and the handle resembled a ladder. There was a little card attached that explained the use of this special spoon. The user was to put it in a pot of chili so that the little farts could climb out! This is just one example of my silly, yet very lovable and real family. I hope this did not offend anyone. ;)
