1.  God is amazing!  I am so thankful to Him for His grace.  I have been really floored by the magnitude of character it takes to raise children with good character.  Sometimes the word comes to my mind:  "Bankrupt".  It's me.  I don't have enough love, patience, consistency, strength, joy, discipine, imagination, creativity, to raise our precious children.  There are times when I am just going through the motions.  Yesterday, at the beginning of the day, both children were sleeping late, mercifully, and I just grabbed my Bible and meditated on Peter (1st or 2nd, I'm not sure).  I then prayed for two things--1 for parenting strength and wisdom, and two for help in controlling my eating.

All I can say is that God answered my prayer.  My love and affection for our children is refreshed, and I am reminded to MEAN WHAT I SAY AND SAY WHAT I MEAN!  It is so easy to slide into believing that "they really didn't hear that...they really can't obey the first time.....etc."   And how surprised our children were when I shortened the tether---the tether that I've been tugging at with all of my own strength for a long time, and losing my grip.  How His strength is so different!  He is full of power and love, and He enabled me for a full day.  I understand that I need about 6,570 days (18 more years) of days like this one. 

I can't stress out about whether or not I'm going to fail again, and if anyone has suggestions on how to strengthen my consistency, please let me know.  What I am doing right now is rejoicing that my Savior is still powerful and mighty to save and rescue me, that I can be a vessel, and not the main menu.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for reaching out to me, and blessing me and our house with Your grace and salvation.  I of all people do not deserve anything, and You have set my feet in a new place.  Please help me to stand in You and for You.  Please make my life worth something of eternal value.

In Jesus Precious Name,

Lori

2.  Christopher had soooooo many questions about Jesus tonight, and life, and death, and the resurrection.  I tried to answer everything straightforwardly, until he seemed satisfied.  I didn't just want him to have head knowledge without responding, so I asked him if he wanted to pray to Jesus, and he did.  I helped him to pray before going to sleep.   His heart is so much softer now, and I pray that God will continue to tug at his heart and help him to grow spiritually.

3.  If this isn't enough blessing for two days, Christopher has started to read!  We have been going over the '-at' family (cat, sat, bat, etc.).  He wanted to add 'o' and 'u', so we went over the "-ot" and '-ut' family, and then he switched it to the '-un' family spontaneously.  He is not reading books yet, but he is beginning to sound things out on a very simple level.  He's pretty excited to show off to daddy at supper time.

4.  We went biking today down the river, and stopped at  a public water fountain and waded around in it.  What fun!  I was relieved the security guard didn't seem to mind us wading. 

Good night!

Lori