We are not TV watchers in our home.  We do not have cable or a satellite dish.  My husband even jokes about being a 21^st century Luddite.  Truthfully, I can accomplish so much more without the distraction.  My husband and I do enjoy watching a movie on occasion.  We stick to “cleaner” films when we make our choices.  The problem is that even the clean ones have too many things that are just plain sin.  Although I might be able to identify with small aspects of the movie, the majority of events are something that I will never (thankfully) experience.  I will never meet someone on the internet and fall in love, never leave multiple grooms at the altar, never have a heart transplant.   It just is not going to happen.

Recently we watched a video that was different.  The main character (Grant Taylor) and his wife (Brooke) have problems that real people can identify with.  He is a high school football coach who does not make enough money.  Their car breaks down continually.  They long for a child yet cannot conceive.   Then some folks begin trying to get Grant fired.  The couple even has a horrible stench that they cannot determine the source of in their home. 

No, these exact circumstances have not happened to us (ok, maybe the unidentifiable stench!)   However, these things happen in normal lives.   These are the days when you feel like you cannot get out of bed and face another day.  It is the days when you cannot imagine another thing going wrong…yet it does.

Do you know how they respond?  Certainly not the way I would.  The trials drive the husband into some deep scripture study.  He realizes they need to love, praise and glorify God no matter what their circumstances.  Win or lose.  Baby or no baby.  It makes me tear up just thinking about it.

It made me realize how easy it is to sing His praises when we get our way.  What about during those dark trials?  Do we praise Him?  Do we thank Him for our very breath?  Or do we focus on all the things He is doing our way?  Are we signing up to be a believer because of what we stand to gain?  Or do we realize what wretched sinners we are?  He sent his Son to die for us….to cover those very sins.  We owe Him our lives.  Watch the movie.  You cannot help but be inspired.

Some days flow well.  You get up and everything goes how it is supposed to.  Others...not so much.  Here is a list of all the tasks I performed from the time I got up until just after lunch.  Mixed in throughout this was various times of checking my email and taking the baby potty.

Prayed about some things to talk to the children about

Found out Nick had inadvertantly wiped out the data for the Rosetta Stone program (here after referred to as RS)

Exercised

Tried to trouble shoot RS issue

Took a shower with Naomi

Got Naomi dressed

Heard Katy yelling she broke something

Raced downstairs to find one of my favorite mugs in pieces

Instructed children to stay out of glass

Ran up to get clothes on (meanwhile Nick, hoping to get on my good side, cleaned up glass)

Ate breakfast

Discussed with children examining our lives for places to improve

Talked about consumption vs. production mentality (more on that in another entry)

Worked on RS problem

Ironed a shirt and dress

Did Bible time with the girls

Kissed Naomi's owies

Snack

Purchased used writing program online

Scanned freecycle offers

Listened to Lisa do her reading

Helped Drew with a math problem

Helped Nick with several math problems

Helped Drew again

Helped Lisa complete her workbook pages

Washed some dishes

Put together Little Tikes "slide house" for Naomi (and Lisa)

Worked on RS problem

Talked to Brian

Emailed a friend about our unsold house in Colorado

Ate Lunch

Finally after carefully analyzing the problem and trying multiple solutions(I kept pressing buttons,) THE RS PROBLEM IS FIXED!!!!!!!!!!

I think I will take a nap.