Heavy Heart

I received some news this morning that made me sad - out of respect for the people involved, I am not at liberty to say any more, but ask you to pray one of those "unspoken" prayers that we tend to be so famous for.

Sometimes I sit and know that others are hurting and that I really can't do anything for them. My words seem to be too simple and not enough, but there aren't any actions I can take to fix the sadness or even take any of the burden away from them.

I know that they trust God and I hope they know that if there is every anything I can do, to never hesitate to call.

As hard as it is to remember, for as much as we always want to understand:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own undestandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Sunday Morning

When I woke up this morning, CW was sniffing with a cold/allergies and B10 could barely move out of bed.

Feeling like we were all pretty drained we decided to stay home from church. As the Caterpillars snuggled next to me on my chaise, CW asked for a Bible story - B10 specifically requesting the story of Jehoshaphat (II Chronicles 17-20/I Kings 22:41-50).

We read all four chapters together (they asked some pretty good questions!) and then began working on their craft (homemade puppets to tell the story of King Jehoshaphat's battle in II Chronicles 20). We have a whole host of songs to sing and B10 asked for a memory verse.

This week's verse is:

"Thank the Lord because His mercy endures forever!" ~II Chronicles 20:21b

I'll write it on a card and we'll post it in the bathroom over the sink for them to study and work on memorizing daily. It goes with our story, and is quite appropriate for Thanksgiving Week, if I do say so myself!

I am so glad to be able to spend this time with the Caterpillars. Even when I'm resting in a bed-sort-of-place, I can still share this kind of thing with them. And I always feel better when I know exactly what type of religious teaching they are getting.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Search for Home

This past Sunday was bittersweet for Hubby and I.

As you can see from previous posts, we had a very enjoyable afternoon with the Caterpillars, but the morning was spent as our last at our church.

The Caterpillars sang in their choir, two beautiful songs, that made me very glad we had chosen to be there that morning.

However, after the service was over, Hubby and I left knowing it was our last Sunday at this church. We will begin next week a search that could take weeks or months. Until we find a new home, the Caterpillars will continue to go with my Mum, Cookie, on Sunday mornings. I don't particularly want to expose them to teaching that I don't have any knowledge about.

And until December, the Caterpillars will continue to go to our old church on Wednesday nights - the Kids Choir will preform a Christmas Musical and they are already practicing. I feel like it's not fair to pull them out right now.

The church we've been attending is a good church. It's teaching is solid and the Senior Pastor manages to actually try and understand modern issues. However, we didn't feel comfortable there for a couple of pretty big personal reasons.

My two biggest regrets are that I'll not be with my Mum. She's one of my closest friends and I love that the Caterpillars get to spend so much time with her. Second, I love serving in the Media Ministry. In 2006 I gave the presentations on the software program that was installed, and since October of that year I have been pretty much the person sitting in the booth running the screens every Sunday morning (and preparing them every week).

But as much as I loved my 2 years in this Ministry, it was at the point where Hubby and I couldn't even worship together. That, coupled with the other personal reasons, have led us to our new church search. I know deep in my heart that there is a good place for Hubby and I, our Caterpillars, and the little Larva.

I am hopeful that we will find this new home quickly.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Indian Jones and the Caterpillars

The wisest people I know are children. Their simple faith and their way of looking at the world with basic truth blows me away.

After a weekend marathon of Indiana Jones (have to get ready for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull!) B10 announced that Indy had become a Christian. When questioned as to why, his answer was “In the Lost Ark movie, Mum, he knows to close his eyes, so God doesn’t hurt him – but in the Last Crusade he’s standing there, and his Dad says he has to believe, just believe. And he does.”

He’s talking about the scene where Harrison Ford must step out into what looks like a fathomless gorge, and there’s actually a small bridge that he can walk across. To find the bridge, he must believe it’s there and step out in faith. It’s a good movie scene, but more importantly – my oldest son gets it.

It’s not what good deeds Indian Jones did, nor even how he was currently living his life – B10 recognized that being saved is about believing.

I don’t tell this story to try and add Christianity where George Lucas and Steven Spielberg never meant for it to go – but I do think the basic truth is present.

All God requires is belief.

The rest should simply be a reaction to our desire to serve Him.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

When at Work -

There are times when as a Christian I feel uncomfortable. At work, currently, I have had a situation arise that has put me in a position that, while not difficult, is a little complicated.

One of the women I work with found the website A Complaint Free World. The idea is that you wear a purple bracelet on your wrist and every time you complain you move it to the other wrist. It takes 21 days to form a new habit, and this is suppose to help you. She ordered enough for everyone and work and distributed them with a letter from the organization.

A quote from the letter given out with the bracelet is as follows:

“Our words are powerful indicators of our thoughts, and our thoughts create our lives. When we complain, we draw to us negative things because we put out negative energy.”

The thing is, it’s not a bad idea to try and think positively. To limit our complaints and the time I spend criticizing others.

However, this particular “ministry” was founded by Rev. Will Bowen of Christ Church Unity, in Kansas City. I confess to find it odd that they named themselves a “Christ Church” when their public declaration of beliefs is clearly written on their homepage:

We Believe...
1.There is only One Presence and One Power, God the Good, omnipotence
2. If God is everywhere, God is also within everyone

3. Our thoughts create our reality4. Pray affirmatively giving thanks for what you desire
5. Practice the four principles (above) to the best of your ability each and every day.
We honor all faiths.

This is not a Christian church. It’s not even a Protestant church. It’s a “all pathways lead to heaven” kind of church, and that goes against my beliefs.

So here is my quandary.

I was given a bracelet like everyone else, which I have not worn and will not wear. However, the woman who handed it out has been rather vocal about chastising people she sees not wearing the bracelet.

At first, in order to “get out of Dodge” quickly, I made a joke that I wasn’t going to wear something I knew I would fail at (ie: me actually quitting complaining). And while many will say that this is not religious, but social - I disagree. The bracelet has the website written on it, thus if I were to wear it I would be basically advertising for these people.

~

It is my hope that she (the lady at work) will drop the subject. But then that frustrates me, as I know I should be able to articulate my position on the matter and not be ashamed of being a Christian. It's a delicate situation, because I am still at work, and I must remain sensitive to others.

~

Is it complaining to wish she was a little less of a pushy person?

~

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Sometimes I Am Ashamed -

I preface this entire post by stating – I am as guilty as the next Christian, and am speaking to myself as much as the Protestant world at large.

Last night B10 and I were curled up in my bed watching the Public Broadcasting Station. We have really ragged bunny ears on our TV, and only get the main channels, and those come in pretty fuzzy. It was after 10 pm, and I had stopped on a documentary about Jews in America.

B10 and I had a few great discussions about the show, but there was a part that struck me and really gave me pause today.

There is a rise in the number of Orthodox Jews in America. These are generally considered the most conservative, and it has only been recently that they have begun allowing women to even study the Scriptures. The narrator talks about this particular sect then the camera showed groups of women sitting around tables studying.

These women sat around in groups and just read the Scriptures out loud and discussed them together. In Hebrew.

When’s the last time you sat down with other Christian women and read the Scriptures in Hebrew? Greek? Aramaic?

When’s the last time you sat down with other Christian women and read the Scriptures in English? And just studied them for themselves, without the crutch of someone else telling you what to believe.

Please do not get me wrong – there is plenty of good in the world done by talented women such as Beth Moore and Anne Graham Lotz. But I’ve also seen women who will join in a Bible Study just because it’s a “Beth Moore” study or an “Anne Graham Lotz” study.

Whatever happened to studying because it’s GOD’S study? Without the fancy videos and pretty, slick here-are-your-answer workbooks? What about sitting down with the Word of God and other women who have the same desire to learn you have and just reading?

We aren’t going to have all the right answers, and it’s okay to ask questions of those more educated than us in the religious field (especially since most of us cannot return to the original text and languages). But Scripture as a whole was NEVER MEANT to be confusing or difficult to understand. That is NOT God’s way.

I wonder if it’s because it’s not a privilege to us. My husband isn’t sitting outside my door denying me the right to read about my Lord. The government isn’t threatening to turn my children against me or kill me for my beliefs.

Bible Study time has become social time for the Western Protestant Woman.

I wish I knew how to fix it. How do I get the same hunger for knowledge that drives the Jewish Orthodox women to go out of their way to spend time in the Written Torah? Where do I find a group of women to walk along side me?

How do I live my life less ashamed?

Worship Service

Defining worship is a hazy proposition for me. Most of the people I know practice the bulk of their worship on Sunday mornings during the “Worship Service”. It has been 18 months since I have had that luxury on a regular basis.

I would say I am relatively proficient at communing with God when I am alone. I have an active prayer life, and I read Scripture and listen to Him speak to me (never audibly, but usually pretty clearly).

My Sunday mornings, from about 8:30 am until after service is over (around noon) are spent in a booth in the balcony.

Every fifth Sunday I’ll drop off breakfast for the Sunday School class that I don’t get to attend, but Husband enjoys. If I’m lucky, someone else has started coffee and I can take a cup with me upstairs. Otherwise, it’s just me and the balcony.

The Sound Guys – led by my stepfather, Doc, will be up there fiddling and twisting things. Setting levels just right and making sure batteries are fresh, before they head off to class.

Meanwhile, I’ll be updating any changes the songs being sung, review the sermon notes, and if I’m really on top of things – I’ll make headway into all the announcements that have to be fixed/corrected/added in to the rotation we run before service begins. At some point the Music Worship Leader, the Pianist, and the Drummer will be ready to run through the songs. I’ll click over and show all the lyrics (which is good, because sometimes I have Jesus walking through the dessert, rather than the desert…).

Around 10:15 people will start to fill the Sanctuary. My church is a good-size building, with between 800-900 guests on a Sunday morning. The balcony fills to a comfortable level, with the pew right next to be being filled by Cookie, B-10 and CW – and sometimes Husband if he’s not ushering or singing in the choir.

At 10:30 sharp the service begins, and while the entire congregation begins to worship, focusing their hearts and minds on God, I tend to feel rather left out.

I know God recognizes those who serve Him. And I know that I’m, quite frankly, very good at what I do. It takes rhythm to properly advance lyric slides during songs, and I strive to remain on top of where the preacher is during his sermons. Unfortunately, I cannot sing along, nor can I read the Scripture or take notes during the talks.

If I’m feeling empty when I arrive at church on Sunday morning, I’m usually feeling empty when I leave. It’s frustrating and sad, but I understand – perhaps more than most – the necessity of those willing to serve.

Why do I continue to do it? Because I can. I’m the one who knows how, and doesn’t have other commitments. Even though that means for me - the Worship Service is more service than worship.

But if you were to sneak into my church’s Sanctuary around 5 pm on a Wednesday night – you’d be in for a surprise. The window shades would be up – natural sunlight flooding through the floor to ceiling glass and illuminating the room. One small desk lamp would be shining from the very top of the balcony. And the left large screen, hanging above the choir loft would be on.

And, if you’re very quiet and enter from the back of the room (under the balcony), you’ll enter my worship service. If you sneak forward and look up, you’ll see the tip of my head over the four computer screens bouncing up and down as I type in the words for the next Sunday’s service.

I won’t be able to hear you if you call my name, the iPod in my ears will be playing my songs much louder than you can shout. If your really lucky I’m singing along.

Every once in a while, I even have to stop my typing and raise my hands in the air – an action you would NEVER see from me on a Sunday morning (goodness, I don’t even clap in church). That’s my time, right there with the cross in front of me, worshiping.

My worship iPod playlist:

Undignified - Dave Crowder (The Lime CD)

Love Song for a Savior
Art in Me
Boy on a String
Flood - Jars of Clay (Jars of Clay)

High of 75
I So Hate Consequences
My Girl’s Ex-Boyfriend
More Than Useless – Relient k (Mmhmm)

Stand – Rascal Flatts (Me and My Gang)

Feel free to join in, if you're ever nearby. What songs bring out the worship in you?

~Lone Butterfly )i(

If This Is the Only Post of Mine You Ever Read -

I downgraded my Netflix membership today.

From 5 movies a month to 2 movies a month.

I wish I could say that I had made enough of a sacrifice.

By doing so, this allows me to sponsor two boys through Compassion. My intention was to sponsor one. A little boy that would be around B-10 and CW's age. Somewhere between 6 and 8.

We did, I will withhold his name for now, until we receive our first packet and I can share a suitable nickname with you. He's from Brazil, though, which was exciting for my boys who are already talking about when we can go visit him.

The most amazing moment for me was when we were looking at the children and I was reading the profiles. I came upon the part of our Compassion Child's "likes" and both B-10 and CW began with: "OH! I like that, too!"

They saw nothing but the similarites between themselves and this 8 year old boy living in poverty in Brazil.

How often do we see people in need and think of all the ways that we are different than they are. How much more we must deserve what we have, and how if they could just work harder or have a better attitude then God would help them, also.

We are ignorant and full of disgusting pride.

I am humbled to see that somehow my children know the truth. We are all the same in God's eyes. And He cherishes us equally.

After adopting our Brazilian boy - who had been on the website over 6 months waiting for a sponsor (the tiny red heart on their pictures indicate this), I began looking at the country where Boomama and Shannon from Rocks visited - Uganda.

I cannot tell you why I felt it neccessary to search for older boys, but I knew as soon as I saw the 19 year old's face, the only male 19 year old on the Uganda site, that he was meant to be ours. The little red heart sat on his picture and I wondered just how long past 6 months he had been there. How long he has been waiting in his country for a sponsor, knowing that many people will choose the cute little ones - the adorable four and five year olds that also need sponsors.

He'll only be ours for a few years. I know that, and yet I know that it's never past the point where God can impact a life.

I cried today. Tears for the children I could not sponsor and tears for the two boys that are now a part of my family, an addition to my prayers. Tears that no matter what I could never make a difference.

Then I had the greatest feeling in the world - because I logged back into Compassion and did the same search that I did before. And you know what? My boys didn't show up. Their pictures are gone. Two boys who have been waiting, and sitting on that site, for over 6 months are gone.

Because I can make a difference, and by God's grace I will. Will you?

~Lone Butterfly )i(

For This I Pray -

In my life of Wii and work -
as my boys play with their toys that are too numerous to count -
as I stroll through the 10 rooms in my house -
as I freely drive in a car wherever I want to go -
as I sit in a church that can seat 2,000 and sing hymns -

May I never forget to pray and act on behalf of those who cannot.

15 Christian Bloggers have traveled to Uganda, to stare into the Worldly Poverty of Satan. To smell his stench of pain and suffering which he has, through sin, spread through the world and into the lives of the innocents.

They speak of the poor with grace and compassion, remembering always that the children they see are not the lesser of this world.

I don't know what to say, nor do I need to find the words to explain it all to anyone here on earth. I am grateful to know that I have succeeded as a parent - because when I show my sons these pictures - they respond the same as I did - the same as Christ wants us to.

"How can we help, Mummy? Tell us how we can help."

Here is how we can all help.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

Chanukah

The 8th night of Chanukah will begin at sundown tonight, and it’s the first night this year the boys won’t be home to light the candle. They are spending the night at my sister, Boo’s, house. Her husband, Firefighter, is out fighting fires and won’t be home, so they are going to keep her company.

Last night, right before they went to bed, we sat around the kitchen table eating dessert (CW had baked cookies and B10 had baked an apple crisp – both very yummy) and we talked about Judah Maccabee and his father, Mattathias, and how God provides for us in our time of need.

This is the first year CW can actually understand the true story, not just bits and pieces. Due to the fact that we’ve just moved into our (still not all together finished) house, we weren’t able to have friends over for dinner any night, and the latkes will have to wait for Thursday night, but this was still a very special holiday for us as a family. It was our first Chanukah together as a family.

Last night, amid the giggling and slurping of melting ice cream and the spilled drops of milk, I realized how lucky I was to have children who don’t have to fit in with everyone else. B10 never questioned why we have a menorah in our window, when most of the other people on our street (or our neighborhood, or town) have one. CW doesn’t wonder why the other kids in his class don’t also know the story of how Antiochus IV oppressed the Israelites.

They listen and ask questions, and it excites me to see them slowing growing in faith.

Tomorrow morning, early, I’ll begin putting away the menorah, carefully packing it in it’s box. I’ll place it in the attic, where it will sit until December 21st of next year (it’s a later Chanukah in 2008). But the lessons my sons have learned will stay with them, forever.

Jehovah Jira, My Provider,

His Grace Is Sufficient for Me, for Me, for Me.

Jehovah Jira, My Provider,His Grace Is Sufficient for Me.

My God Shall Supply All My Needs

According to His Riches in Glory.

He Gives His Angels Charge over Me.

Jehovah Jira Cares for Me, for Me, for Me.

Jehovah Jira Cares for Me.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

My New Suit...

Fiancé and I need to go this weekend and purchase his tuxedo for the wedding and for our black-tie event that will be on October 6th. The whole "new suit" business reminded me of a story I had heard about 3 years ago. After searching for the story, I reread it and decided to share it here. I hope you are as blessed as I was.

Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson's disease.

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." And so he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger.

When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it. The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it."

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."

Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going."

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am .. I also know where I'm going."

How secure I am to know where I am going, even if I haven't the clothes to get there yet!

~Lone Butterfly )i(

He Sends His Words

Tonight, I ran media for the Sunday Night service. It's (to repeat a tired phrase) pretty lonely up in the booth, with everyone down below. But then the music started. I cannot take any credit for the words below, they belong to another.

But I felt as if God was speaking to me directly.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure.

That He would give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns His face away.

As wounds which mar the Chosen One, bring many sons to glory.

~

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there, until it was accomplished.

His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished.

~
I will not boast in anything; no gifts, no power, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

~
But this I know with all my heart - His wounds have paid my ransom.

I am a precious and beloved child of the Creator of the Universe. He loves me.

Me.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

This Morning I Cried...

We bow down,

we lay our crowns

at the feet of Jesus.

~

The goodness of

His mercy and love,

at the feet of Jesus.

~

And we cry holy, holy, holy.

And we cry holy, holy, holy.

And we cry holy, holy, holy

Is the Lamb.

~

~

This morning the entire family gathered at my sister (Boo's) church for her baby's dedication. They had all the babies up on stage and gave them their tiny bibles (which Nephew promptly shoved in his mouth), they gave a prayer then sent the children back to the nursery.

~

Boo and Fireman (her husband) slid back into the seats next to Fiance and I right before this song began. This is one of my favorite songs, but this morning I was touched unlike I have been in weeks.

~

I serve on the Media Team at my church, which involves me spending every Wednesday night working on slides and every Sunday morning running the slides for the songs, sermon, and annoucements. And while I have had a few Sundays off (due to a horrid meltdown of the church air conditioning system), this was the first Sunday I had off and was in a church. I had forgotten how joyful it is to worship.

~

I love serving, and have no desire to leave the Media Team, but it is so hard to never have the chance to SING the songs, because I'm so worried about making sure the words are up there for the 900 people or so that are singing during our church services.

~

I'm sure Boo couldn't understand why I was crying, or that the tears on my face were from joy, and a heart that was truly - at that moment - fully prepared to worship.

~

How lucky are we, to be able to lay our crowns down, at the merciful feet of Jesus? How beloved am I, to be the daughter of a King? How often does my heart sing to Him? How incredible that the Holy Lamb died for me?

~

May you be blessed on this Day of Rest.

~Lone Butterfly )i(

And on the Third Day...

Last night we didn’t go to bed until after 11 pm, again. B10 listened as I read almost 30 pages of Bridge to Terabithia and I introduced him to the Game Show Network (ah, the old game shows are just one of my major weaknesses…).

We managed to be up this morning by 8:15 am, but I did let B10 stay in bed while I went and got his breakfast (bagels and apple juice) and we watched a fishing show as we ate. B10 is intrigued by the idea of catch and release fishing. I don’t fish (I’m allergic to all seafood) and he thinks this would be a perfect compromise. (I don’t have the heart to tell him that the idea of bait and fiddling with a fish’s mouth doesn’t seem appealing to me at all!)

Our first stop was the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, one of my favorite repeat attractions. The Gatlinburg Museum was actually destroyed in a fire in 1992, and completely rebuilt and reopened in 1995. B10 was enthralled by the oddities, but the funniest part was the live sparrow that had somehow gotten into the Museum and was fluttering about. It almost gave me a heart attack when I came around the corner to a small room and it swooped down on B10 and I! B10 loved the optical illusions, he’s always a fan of those no matter where he finds them

Our next attraction was the Ripley’s 4-D Moving Theatre. I have to confess I had a smile on my face the whole time and couldn’t stop giggling at how fun the ride was. The only bad part? We were the first guests there that morning and they only played ONE song as we waited – so B10 and I heard “Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkston seven times in a row. The nice part of the ride was that there were actually TWO movies, and we got to ride both (each is approximately 10-15 minutes long). B10 was laughing right along with me.

We left the theatre and strolled down Parkway to World of Illusions. B10 had found a brochure and asked if we could go, to the point of repeating that request every time we walked by. It wasn’t the best exhibit, I think it could use a lot of improvement – because it was small and not kept up well. But I did like the educational content that showed magicians and illusions throughout history and all over the world. The best part was the boxes on walls that explained how many common illusions are preformed by street magicians.

Lunch was Breakfast at the Pancake Pantry – a Gatlinburg staple. B10 had an M&M Pancake with bacon and I had a plate of Georgia Peach Crepes and a cup of coffee. Poor B10 had asked for a glass of Chocolate Milk, which the waitress forgot, and I didn’t realize he thought that the small pitcher of peanut butter syrup was his Chocolate Milk! The child had tipped it back into his mouth and was sputtering up a storm! Our waitress rushed his Milk to him, but by that time he had already downed most of his glass of water.

After lunch we returned to the hotel so B10 could take a math test. While he worked on that, I took a short rest and uploaded our pictures from the day so far. As soon as he finished, we put on our shoes and headed to the Trolley Station. The fare for the Red Trolley is 50 cents and we simply rode all the entire route without getting off. We got to see the backside of Gatlinburg, the snow on the top of the mountains, and see lots of puppy dogs wandering around.

After the Trolley returned to our hotel, B10 took a rest and worked on the rest of his math book while we ate dinner. He finished quickly and we walked to a local course to play Mini-Golf. It was B10’s first time ever, and he did such a good job learning how to hold the golf club and swing it. Luckily there wasn’t anyone playing behind us, so he was able to keep swinging – even though there was a five stroke limit on each hole.

We wandered back and he took a shower while I called Fiancé. We talked for a while (I miss him SO much!) and then I took a bath while B10 watched Mythbusters on The Discovery Channel. When I got out of the tub, B10 had spread out his new Sea Animals in a mini-zoo, and I was able to tour his exhibits as he told me about each animal (my favorite is the angler fish).

B10 is now snacking on Pringles, as we watch Card Sharks on GSN. (I really do want my cable company back home to have GSN!) We’ll read some more Bridge to Terabithia tonight, but we have to get to bed early so we can get up and go to church by 8:30 am.

Our only snag today came when B10 and I got into a battle of wills. We both had to take some time to pray – and I had to ask forgiveness from B10 for my attitude. It’s always hard for me as a parent to admit that I was wrong is saying or doing something, but I can’t expect B10 or CW to admit wrongdoing if I’m not modeling it for them.

I’m so glad I’ve had this time with B10, just he and I! This is the time to lay the foundation for communication when he's a teenager.

~Lone Butterfly

Family Scripture

Every night, after we say the blessing for our food (which is usually two or three different blessings, because anyone who wants to pray gets to pray at our house), we recite our Family Scripture Verse.

Once I feel like the Caterpillars have a good handle on it, we'll add a second verse to the memorization. My goal is to always say our Family Verse, but use the time to rotate a second verse to memorize as a family.

Our Family Scripture: "Commit thy way unto the Lord, and trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

B10 and CW are both memorizing the Lord's Prayer right now also. Each of the boys also has a hymn they are memorizing. CW loves "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" while B10 is memorizing all the verses of "Amazing Grace".

Because the only way my little Caterpillars are going to be able to hide God's Word in their hearts, is if I teach it to them.