No 'Search & Rescue' Members In This House

My boys can't find the mayo jar in the fridge, so the chances of them finding a small child in the 100 Acre Wood is slim to none. So, yep, marking that career off their list. They could, however, be Dog Trainers.  They've trained me well.  If I say, "Clean your room."  They know that if they pick up a sock...play XBox....put their pillow on the bed....shoot a nerf gun.....open the closet door....I'm going to march in, scream, "Forget it! Go outside!" and then clean the room for them.

Training is in their blood.

They're really, really good.

As infants, they would whine and I'd drop everything to come to them. No words necessary.

As toddlers, they could bust out a good cry and I'd scoop them up to the Nursery to avoid disturbing the congregation. Only problem was, they were smiling before I made it out the back door.

They've got this down.

So, today, as evidence proved a serious rubber band war goes on in my absence, I thought of our cleaning routine.  I tell them what to do. They do it. Next time. I tell them what to do. They do it.  When will they catch on for themselves? When will they notice the sock in the floor, the paper on the desk, the pizza under the bed?  When will they take the gumption to clean something because they want it clean?

I know the day will come. I saw it in my oldest son. His room was only clean after I'd made a visit in there and then suddenly, he would be vacuuming on his own time.  It takes a little bit of maturing and a little bit of getting sick of dirt. And before you know it- you find a  good guy where there was a grimy kid.

I think about their souls.  They read their Bible when I remind them...they pray with us because we always pray at meals, church time, bedtime, in crisis....they go to church because we load them up and go....they abstain from things because we don't allow them...they partake because we lead them.  When will they take the initiative on their own?  Have I stunted their spiritual cleaning by doing it all for them?

I pray not.

I pray I'm leading by example.  I mop with Pine Sol because I was taught. I wash with Dawn because I've seen it done.  I wash with Tide because Mom did.  I know bleach will whiten because Maw Maw said it would.  I find myself tapping my broom the way my Grandmother did.  But it in all, I've found what works. I've what doesn't...and I've made my own 'brand'.

I hear myself praying, and it is the voice of others' in my ears.  I raise my hands and I catch a glimpse of loved ones gone.  I know the truth is found in the Bible- because my Great Grandfather found it there.  Church is a comfort because my family has found it to be so.  The way I live, the standards I follow, the joy I feel in my soul....it is not done for me, as a Mother makes the bed for her child. It is buried deep, grown in a well-toiled heart of an honest child.  I know my convictions are true.  I pray that in spite of all the ways I pamper my boys, they will love the cleanliness of a Christian life and pursue their own path.  A path of Godliness and Holiness knowing that while they may have seen their Dad and I live it- they must embrace it themselves and become who God wants them to be. Live how God calls them to live. And work for God like nobody's business.

Who knows, with the amount of 'training' they have under their belts- they just might be the next greatest leaders of our time.

Sweeping and praying,
Sondra

Day 3

One of my cousins had a sweet little boy, so I painted a banner to welcome him into the world (and our family!)

Actually, I lost the material I bought to make him a carseat tent, so at midnight, I painted this adorable gumball machine to celebrate...my wish for his Mommy & Daddy is that he is as Sweet as a Candy Shoppe!

Welcome William Grayson!

Day 1

Happy New Year from Chance. 

Happy New Year

2011 was a year of change for us.  We learned how to live without our oldest son under our roof....we miss him but are SO proud of the husband he has become.  Of course, I never doubted he would be anything but a wonderful husband- he has an incredible example in his father.

Larry lost his job in January, but God kept us through a few months of unemployment.  During the New Year's weekend, God had prompted us that the upcoming year would be one of change.  We had been praying about a ministry in the area of Tuscaloosa for 5 years. This would be the year- but when?  After Larry lost his job, we felt the Lord's guidance to jump all in. God opened a job and sent us to work for Him, too.  The devastating tornado in April set us to work running full steam ahead.

 We haven't slowed down.  We are currently waiting on our home to sell and in the meantime are living in an apartment. While we are thankful for a roof over our head we are SO looking forward to a 'Manse' of our own.  The Preacher's Home, a place of peace, a place of hospitality....we can't wait to see what it will be like. Until then, I have purposed to make this apartment our home.
No matter how long it takes-(have I ever mentioned that patience is NOT one of my virtues?)

We have a precious group of people who worship with us at Refuge Holiness Tabernacle.  God has given us favor in our community and we are so grateful.  2012 only brings me hope. I am super excited when I think of what God is going to do.  He has promised us so much, and He is always faithful.

So, from the West home- HAPPY NEW YEAR!