Did anyone else wake up recently and realize they have less than a week to finish (or, ahem, BEGIN) their Easter sewing?

Sean and I traditionally give the girlies new dresses for Easter, and I've enjoyed making them for several years now.  I'm in a complete rut, and I'm not even ashamed of it...almost every single one of them has been some soft shade of purple.  Reality struck this weekend, and so this morning the girlies and I marched out to shop for some fabric.  We found a beautiful lilac shantung and some pretty trim, so the raw materials are now present. 

Anyone want to join me in some lively last-minute sewing?

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Simplicity is a popular desire these days.  More and more folks, especially, I've noticed, in Christian circles, are expressing the desire to simplify their lives and strive toward more "natural" living.  They want to live in the country instead of the city or the 'burbs. They want to stop eating fast food or prepackaged food in favor of organic, natural, handmade food.  They want to make their own laundry soap, bake their own bread, and wash their own diapers.

I can sympathize with the desire.  In fact, I think there is wisdom in some of these ideas.  Homemade bread tastes best and is arguably best for you, nutritionally.  Cooking from scratch can be more economical than scratching open box after box of prepackaged food.  Skin sensitivities can be avoided by controlling the ingredients of laundry detergent.  I can even feel the appeal of living out in the country, enjoying the fruit of the land and the fruit of my hands.  I completely identify with the desire to be less encumbered by junk.

However, I am convinced that this idea is taken to an extreme by many.  In fact, I'm prepared to suggest that it can lead to idolatry and disobedience to the Lord.

Anything becomes an idol when it starts to be THE answer to life's problems.  If "simple living" is perceived as some cure-all for discontent, financial distress, laziness, child discipline problems or in-law problems, it has become an idol.  When all of life's energies and focus are centered around an idealized lifestyle, we are in danger of turning the idea of simplicity into an idol.

Furthermore, some have taken the idea of "the simple life" and equated it to "pioneer living", or "Laura Ingalls living" or some other chronological throwback.  There is an idea (sometimes even articulated!) that somehow those times were better, holier, or more pleasing to the Lord. Yet I find no support for that Biblically.  Grinding wheat by hand is no holier than buying flour at the store.  Living in a suburb is not forbidden.  Disposable diapers are not inherently "unclean" (at least not while in the package).

When God created man, He gave this command: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it" (Gen 1:28).  We can handle being fruitful and multiplying, but what about subduing?  I can subdue my garden better with a hoe than with a stick, and even better with a motorized tiller.  I can subdue my pile of laundry better with a washing mashine than with rocks in the nearest brook.  Progress is not an evil to be avoided at all costs!  Technology can be our friend and helper to do what God has called us to do. 

Modern conveniences can free up time to enable us to accomplish more. In the time it would take me to hand wash all our clothing, I can make a lovely meal for a family with a new baby.  I am looking forward to the day when we put a dishwasher in the kitchen, because hand washing dishes for six takes a good chunk of time! That's time I would much rather spend reading to (or playing with!) my children, writing notes of encouragement to friends, and any number of other good things.  I do not believe it is a stretch to say that I can love my family and my brothers and sisters in the Lord better, when I sometimes avail myself of modern conveniences that save me time for service.

Simple living is a noble concept, with much good in it.  Let us not be tantalized into thinking it is something it cannot be, a fix-it for our struggles.  Let us not romanticize it into a substitute for godliness.  Let us be thankful for the tools the Lord has given us to help us love and serve Him and His people better.

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I read a great blog about Narnia, and about how we read it to our children...see what you think! Of Narnia and New Life

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I've reached the point where I am no longer able to adapt to all the rapid changes in technology.  My beloved spent some time yesterday (of which he has precious little of late) setting up a secure wireless network.  Don't ask me to explain what that means.  A couple hours after he accomplished this great feat and went triumphantly off to work, I managed to botch it.  With one click of one button. *POOF*  And there wasn't a thing I could do but stare forlornly at the screen. 

The problem?  I have no idea how this machine works. There are times when it is kind to me and allows me to do some pretty fun things, but the bottom line is that this box is a mystery to me.  There may as well be fairies in there.  Or monsters.  Or little green men.

And then I think of all the times I've quietly chuckled when someone from an older generation has expressed puzzled exasperation with cell phones, VCRs, CD & DVD players.  I think I've joined their ranks.

And the wireless network disaster? It wasn't as catastrophic as it sounds...he fixed it late last night, probably by winking at it...he's cool like that...and very kind to be so patient with this fuddy duddy.

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I love the Olympics.  We've been having lots of snuggle-down-in-the-couch time in the evenings, watching the competitions.  The kids have decided that snowboard cross is the coolest winter olympics sport out there.  I keep wondering about the mental stability of those who choose luge, skeleton, and especially ski jumping as their area of expertise.  I heard a great quote during some ski jump coverage: "The key to ski jumping is convincing your body to do what your brain is telling you is suicide." 

Interspersed amongst all the higher/stronger/faster coverage is the unavoidable commentary...everyone's got a sob story, everyone is an underdog, everyone has won a victory just by showing up. (Did my eyes roll out loud?)

There's something else in all the verbiage as well, and it's just plain creepy.  It started in the Opening Ceremony with the olympic hymn, the oath, the flag saluting, and the hyper emotional sentiment of, "why can't the olympic spirit last forever, because then there'll be no more war, no more hunger, no more hangnails..."  It's a religion!  And these 2 weeks and change of days is the worship service.  There's a call to worship, hymns (literally...it's really called the Olympic Hymn), recitation of oaths, exposition of the glory of faithful and fair participation, exhortation to go and play hard, and crown of righteousness--oops, I  meant medals-- for those who finish well.

Now I'm just trying to figure out who the god is supposed to be.  I'm guessing it's the athlete him/herself.  What a reflection that would be!

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There's an odd phenomenon occuring around here.

We're meandering along, in our routine little life, with our routine and expected bumps in the road.  The children are each engaged in their academic studies, which is the context for much of their character development.  They each have their own particular struggles...things they're in the process of overcoming, bit by bit, day by day.

I find myself repeating the same instructional phrases, one for each child (in no particular order):

You must listen and remember what you've been told.

You must obey without fussing.

You must learn to accept the calling God has given you and be faithful in it.

You must focus on the task at hand, and not allow yourself to be distracted.

None of these are earth-shattering, and, God willing, these struggles which seem so hard for them today will be less hard later.  They will practice now, so that their characters will be established in ways that are to their benefit.  A child who learns to love the calling God has given them now, will have an easier time loving the calling they are given as adults...whatever their portion may be.

I wonder at God's perfect wisdom, that he has given me children who currently need the lessons I also need.  I hear myself encouraging them to press on, and I hear that same exhortation to myself. 

I must listen and remember instruction...from those who love me and are in authority over me.  Am I seeking to listen carefully?  Am I remembering the instruction of my Father? my husband? my pastors?

I must obey without fussing...without even the internal fussing that no one else sees but myself and my Father.

I must accept the calling God has given me and be faithful in it...I must be faithful in all aspects of it, not just the ones that please me.  Faithfulness is the goal...not entertainment, pleasure, recognition or reward.

I must focus on the task at hand and not allow myself to be distracted...my lines have fallen in pleasant places, and my portion has been perfectly measured.  My tasks have been given to me as opportunities to honor the bestower of the tasks, and to bless those around me.  Diligence and faithfulness are required.

I'm thankful for the reminders.  And I'm thankful for the means by which my Father is reminding me to press on.

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We have one bathroom.  Sean was in it, getting ready for the morning shower.  Andy, with urgency, communicated his need to use the bathroom for "number 2".

Andy: Dad, I need to come in the bathroom right now.  I need to go # 2.

Dad:  Number 2, huh? (terminology we don't even use...)

Andy: Yes, #2.  Don't you know what #2 is?

Dad:  Yes, son, I know what #1 and #2 are.

Andy: And #3 is throwing up.  And you know what #4 is...

Dad:  No, I really don't.

Andy:  BOOGER VOLCANO!

(Isn't it an interesting fact that his middle name is Calvin?)

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Ellie's rendition of the Gloria Patri is evolving.  Her new version of "World without end" is "Girls without men."

Not to let such a statement go by without an editorial footnote, Andy piped up: "Girls without men? That's what the Amazons are!"

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Andy(7) was helping me assemble the ingredients for chili.  He was looking through the spice basket on the hunt for chili powder and cumin when he piped up:

Andy:  Mom, I've got some good news and some bad news.

Mom:  Well what's the good news?

Andy:  I just saved a lot of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.

Mom:  What's the bad news?

Andy:  I just spilled whole cloves all over the floor.

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The past week has been a delightful blur!  Saturday was our anniversary.  We went to a yummy Italian restaurant, did some Christmas browsing, and went to see Narnia.  It was a lovely evening, and we enjoyed the time together.

Narnia was better than I expected.  I won't spoil it for anyone, but I will say this...the differences between the book and the movie were mostly to heighten the drama.  They also seemed concerned to justify why Edmund was such a twerp, and hinted that it wasn't even really his fault.  It's a nitpick, really.  I wept throughout the movie...the Narnia books were my favorites as a child, and I love them more now, knowing and understanding the intent behind the stories.

Last night was our church's annual Lessons and Carols service, which is a favorite of mine.  Our congregation is unusually blessed with a multitude of excellent musicians.  It is always a pleasure to participate with others who love to use their gifts to glorify their Lord.  We sang a neat song, "All is Well", that I hadn't heard before learning it for this service.  It's beautiful and very moving.

After the service our home filled with some of the young adults for an impromptu viewing of Elf with Will Ferrell.  FUNNY.

This morning we cleaned the house.  On the agenda: cookies and finishing a few hand made gifts...very manageable!!!

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