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Thinking Blogger Award

I’ve been Tagged!

My kids play Freeze Tag, Bible Tag, and one (new to me) called Candle Tag where you freeze in place and then slowly melt to the ground. Tag is a great game – it can be played in small or large spaces, it lets kids run off some of their never ending energy, and even has a built in rest time where you can catch your breath (my kind of game). Of course, the game can be rather discouraging for those who are not fast runners (that would be me). Depending on the mercy of the group playing, you could potentially be stuck “It” for the entire game, never catching any one, until you finally run home crying (hypothetically speaking).

This tag, however, is of a different sort!

Back in February of this year Ilker Yoldas created a new sort of tag. It’s a blog tag (of course) and comes with an award. Very cool!

Dorothy has tagged me for this lovely award. Dorothy lives in England and lets me come on field trips with her (via her blog). She writes in such a real voice that I often find myself laughing and nodding at the same time as I read her posts.

When you are “tagged” with the Thinking Blog Award, you pick five blogs that make you think and “tag” them. They then go on to pick five, and they pick five friends, and so on. I love the idea of sharing favorite blogs and connecting people. I am honored that Dorothy and Yvonne both tagged me. Yvonne (another one of Dorothy’s five picks) has an amazing blog full of challenge, insight and spiritual depth.

Here a list of rules to share with the blogs you are tagging. I thought it would be appropriate to include them with the meme.

The participation rules are simple:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post (the original post on the award) so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

It’s hard to choose five blogs (just five??) that make me think but here they are:

1. Amy from In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 is a blog I’ve recently discovered. She wrote a post about decluttering the house that was powerful and convicting. The deciding factor on whether to keep or toss things — scripture! Amy has a wonderful testimony. Read and enjoy.

2. Edited to change – the blog I had chosen has since been closed. The blogger is a homeschooling mom of five awesome kiddos, and good friend. She is working on developing a new blog but I’m unsure of whether she wishes me to share the link.

3. One of my college roommates began blogging last March. The delight I took in reading Rachel’s blog was one of the thing that encouraged me to pick up the blogging baton on our Duckabush Blog. I loved hearing about her life and thoughts on parenting, God and housecleaning (not necessarily in that order). She recently wrote a post on how to survive those crazy days with a new baby in the house and it brought back such a rush of memories I almost needed a nap right then and there. :)

4. Emily in FL, a SHS e-mail loop friend, has a wonderful family blog. She is working on a very lengthy series on friendship that is both challenging and practical. Emily definitely captures “Life” on her blog, “Life in Pictures.”

5. Tina, a dear friend serving with New Tribes Mission in Thailand, has a brand new blog. I love reading anything Tina writes because she is truly a woman after God’s own heart and I knew her “when.” When she was an ordinary person (not a lofty missionary :) ), when she lived down the road from us, and when she was a mom just like the rest of us. Watching their family be called into the ministry and follow God’s leading (over years of labor and faithfulness) has been a huge blessing in my life.

Whew. It took me all evening (it seemed) to come up with this list. I hope you grab a cup of coffee, maybe some chocolate, and find some new treasures.

Kathy

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P365 – Day 115 (Middle School)

Joshua’s Middle School Small Group came to our house this evening. It was quite an honor to be chosen as the host for the night. The standards were high. The e-mail from one of the leaders said,

All we ask from our hosts is:

1) A godly example of a Christian home
2) A place to meet
3) A snack

I imagine #1 was important to the leaders but not something the 7th graders particularly care about (or even notice). #2 was high on the list for both leaders and the students. #3, however, was the real killer. Gotta have a snack (or more than one if possible).

We’re talking about teenagers. Boy teenagers. The kind that come through, eat all the snacks in the pantry and then wonder how soon dinner will be served.

I bought a large bag of chips. There was a half cup of crumbs left by the end. Joshua made a delicious looking pan of brownies. The younger children were so excited. They just knew there would be extras left over and they could all have a snack before bed.

Ha! What silly thoughts! As if nine 7th graders and two youth workers would walk away from the house while there were still brownies left in the pan. I think it’s pretty much part of the contract they sign going in to middle school.

“I, Joshua, do solemnly promise to eat all the food that is placed before me as well as the food placed in front of my neighbor (if he is so foolish to close his eyes during prayer time).”

The boys were loud and boisterous although Joshua says they were surprisingly subdued this evening (ah, a matter of perspective perhaps). I put on headphones and drowned out the noisy sound of chip crunching and brownie slurping.

I did manage to get a picture or two before the horde departed.

middle school

It’s wonderful to have a church family and a group of adult Christians who care about your children and wish to see them grow in their walk with the Lord. The snacks are just a perk!

Kathy

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P365 – Day 114 (Sweet Sarah is Sick)

Sarah (age 4 1/2) was sick today. She had a mild fever and a sore throat. Poor little one. She slept in, lounged around for most of the day, played just a little bit and then fell asleep watching a movie (must have been an action flick). It sounds like such a great day, I’m trying hard not to be too envious. Can I have all of that without the pesky fever and sore throat?

sarah

Sarah plays a quick game on Tim’s cell phone.

I took thorough advantage of her sleepy/snuggly state and grabbed her for some yummy time rocking in Tim’s super comfy chair.

Through it all, however, Sarah was careful maintain a proper sense of fashion. She had on a little pink summer dress as a night gown. I told her to get dressed this morning but she just looked at me, overwhelmed and weary. I realized she wasn’t feeling well so I suggested she just stay in her pj’s for the day.

The next time I saw her she had on white tights and a hot pink fuzzy sweater over top her night gown. It’s important to keep up appearances, even when you are feeling a bit down.

Kathy

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P365 – Day 113 (A Guy and His Wheels)

I’m fairly certain this is the conversation that went on at Julee’s house this afternoon.

Chandler: “Hey, Yo, Mom! I’ve got a great idea. Let’s ride on over to Mrs. E’s house and pick up some of her kids (she’s got enough there to spare a few). I’ll cruise along in my stud-mobile and you can walk along side, looking pretty.”

Julee/Mama: “You got it, Little Buddy, let me make the call and we’ll be on our way. I have to tell you, Chandler my good man, that shirt is totally working for you. Love it!”

Chandler's wheels

Chandler (holding out hand): “Thanks, Darling! Can I get a drink to take along with me? Something frothy and cold. I know you can make it happen.

See, I told you! Lots of kids and this isn’t even all of them. Let’s take these two little ones home with us. Mrs. E. won’t even notice they’re gone.”

chandler and the kiddos

Chandler (a slight grimace of worry on his face): “You know, Mom, I like that girl. I mean she’s pretty cute (almost as good looking as you, Doll) and she did take good care of me last time I came for a visit, but really, she needs to take her hands off my cruising machine.”

“Sarah, respect the perimeter around the convertible, will ya! Thanks, you’re a love!”

And with that, Sarah and David were off for a “ride” with Chandler. I know, for a fact, that they were appropriately impressed by his cool wheels.

Kathy

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P365 – Day 112 (Little Girls and Butterflies)

Sarah and her friend Miriam in their Sunday School class this morning.

miriam and sarah

David’s caterpillars decided to emerge this weekend. What excitement! We put a little dish of sugar water in the netting this morning on our way to church. When we got home we decided to release the butterfly into the great outdoors. David kept telling us we had to find flowers. I tried not to wonder at his eyes since there were flowering bushes all over. Tim handled the great butterfly migration.

butterfly outsidehanging the netfly away home

The butterfly fell, fluttered its wings and then gently flew off. I couldn’t help but think of us and how much we resemble a butterfly in our Christian walk. We start off as slow, plodding creatures, barely able to see the world around us. We find ourselves wrapped in this strange cocoon as Christ transforms us. It feels confining and different and even painful at times. Then, oh, then, we emerge as new beings. Able to fly and soar and see everything in a new and glorious light. Now we are beautiful.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Kathy

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The musings and ravings of a bloggart family