My Grandma was able to come and visit me. I am so happy we had this time together. She turned 80 years old today. She has been a believer all her life. She is the reason that I am who I am.
She beat sense into me when I was a wee one. She preached to me when I was a teenager. She prayed for me all the while.
And her hard work payed off. I am God's worker. I do what I do because my grandma cried and prayed over me.
I love her. I will miss her. I thank God for her. She is the rock that holds our whole family together.
She truly is one of my biggest heroes in life.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Infant Baptism
Today I want to look at the practice of infant baptism. How did it develop? Is it biblical?
To answer the first question, we have to look at the church's history. We really don't see infant baptism popping up until about the 4th Century.
There are two key things that were at work when thinking about the issue of infant baptism...church doctrine and the infant mortality rate. In that era of time, life was very agriculturally centered. It was not uncommon for a farm couple to produce 9 or 10 children but only have 2 or 3 of them survive.
Infant death is hard enough to deal with now, and it was equally so back then, but it was much more common place. Grieving mothers in that day and age did not grieve any less than a mother would today who has lost a child. It was a cold, hard fact of life. Most babies did not survive.
The other issue was the Roman Catholic doctrine of "Original Sin" (OS). OS was the belief that all babies are born with sin. Therefore, if they are not baptized they will not go to heaven. So it was absolutely essential that infants were baptized immediately upon their birth to ensure that they go to heaven.
In many instances, it was not uncommon when a child was being born that those present were the woman in labor, the mid-wife and a Catholic Priest. As soon as the baby was delivered, the rite of baptism was performed (through sprinkling the child with water).
So this doctrine accomplished two things, it helped pacify a faulty belief that an innocent child had met the requirements for heaven and it helped ease the pain of a grieving mother when that baby would almost surely die.
So that is how it developed, but is it biblical? No. That is the short end of it.
Last post, I quoted Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." The importance of belief in becoming a Christian cannot be overstated. This is simply impossible for an infant to do. An infant does not have the mental faculties necessary to have that kind of belief.
Some who practice infant baptism point to passages in Acts, like Acts 11:14, where it speaks of a whole "household" being saved...from which we can infer that even infants were baptized. This is absolute nonsense. The Scriptures never say an infant is baptized...never.
If I say that I will get rich after I'm saved doesn't mean it will happen. And the Scriptures are equally as silent about that as they are infant baptism. (So I better not look to that method for getting rich!)
Infant baptism is practiced still today by many churches and denominations. I wouldn't say that it is evil. But it is most certainly not biblical.
It would certainly be okay to say it is dangerous. Because it is definitely dangerous for someone to think that if they were baptized as an infant that they have done all that they need to do. Nope...there's more.
And there is the issue of making the baby mad. Most babies cry and scream when water is sprinkled in their face...so at purely a courtesy level...it is kind of a rude thing to do.
Now one thing we do practice for infants is what is known as a "Dedication." This is based on what Hannah did with her child in 1 Samuel:
1 Samuel 1:27-28
I prayed for this child , and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. NIV
We don't expect every child born to be set aside for being a full-time minister but we do think it is good for young parents to take it seriously that they raise their child and set that child aside in such a way that they publicly say, "We are going to raise this child in the ways of the LORD. We will have him love Jesus all his days."
That is a good thing. A Biblical practice and something that makes the parents feel good too!
To answer the first question, we have to look at the church's history. We really don't see infant baptism popping up until about the 4th Century.
There are two key things that were at work when thinking about the issue of infant baptism...church doctrine and the infant mortality rate. In that era of time, life was very agriculturally centered. It was not uncommon for a farm couple to produce 9 or 10 children but only have 2 or 3 of them survive.
Infant death is hard enough to deal with now, and it was equally so back then, but it was much more common place. Grieving mothers in that day and age did not grieve any less than a mother would today who has lost a child. It was a cold, hard fact of life. Most babies did not survive.
The other issue was the Roman Catholic doctrine of "Original Sin" (OS). OS was the belief that all babies are born with sin. Therefore, if they are not baptized they will not go to heaven. So it was absolutely essential that infants were baptized immediately upon their birth to ensure that they go to heaven.
In many instances, it was not uncommon when a child was being born that those present were the woman in labor, the mid-wife and a Catholic Priest. As soon as the baby was delivered, the rite of baptism was performed (through sprinkling the child with water).
So this doctrine accomplished two things, it helped pacify a faulty belief that an innocent child had met the requirements for heaven and it helped ease the pain of a grieving mother when that baby would almost surely die.
So that is how it developed, but is it biblical? No. That is the short end of it.
Last post, I quoted Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." The importance of belief in becoming a Christian cannot be overstated. This is simply impossible for an infant to do. An infant does not have the mental faculties necessary to have that kind of belief.
Some who practice infant baptism point to passages in Acts, like Acts 11:14, where it speaks of a whole "household" being saved...from which we can infer that even infants were baptized. This is absolute nonsense. The Scriptures never say an infant is baptized...never.
If I say that I will get rich after I'm saved doesn't mean it will happen. And the Scriptures are equally as silent about that as they are infant baptism. (So I better not look to that method for getting rich!)
Infant baptism is practiced still today by many churches and denominations. I wouldn't say that it is evil. But it is most certainly not biblical.
It would certainly be okay to say it is dangerous. Because it is definitely dangerous for someone to think that if they were baptized as an infant that they have done all that they need to do. Nope...there's more.
And there is the issue of making the baby mad. Most babies cry and scream when water is sprinkled in their face...so at purely a courtesy level...it is kind of a rude thing to do.
Now one thing we do practice for infants is what is known as a "Dedication." This is based on what Hannah did with her child in 1 Samuel:
1 Samuel 1:27-28
I prayed for this child , and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. NIV
We don't expect every child born to be set aside for being a full-time minister but we do think it is good for young parents to take it seriously that they raise their child and set that child aside in such a way that they publicly say, "We are going to raise this child in the ways of the LORD. We will have him love Jesus all his days."
That is a good thing. A Biblical practice and something that makes the parents feel good too!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Baptism: To Be or Not To Be
A debate has raged for aeons as to whether or not a person should be baptized to be saved or not. I have a pretty simple view of this whole issue. I don't get caught up in all the differing hypotheticals (i.e., If a person is headed toward the baptistry and they are hit by a bus, do they still go to heaven?). I think those are all stupid wastes of time to even discuss.
I think it boils down to this...Jesus said we should, so do it. Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." Why would anyone counter Christ's remarks? Who would argue against Jesus' position?
Now is a person saved before they are baptized? What exactly happens at baptism? How should baptism be performed? Those are all worthy discussions.
But whether or not a person should be baptized was settled by our Savior. The only individual who trusted Christ in the New Testament and was not baptized was the thief on the cross. Everyone else who trusted Christ and followed him in the New Testament was baptized. So the idea of an un-baptized follower of Jesus is not supported in the New Testament.
Next post I'll look at infant baptism and whether or not that is a valid practice.
I think it boils down to this...Jesus said we should, so do it. Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." Why would anyone counter Christ's remarks? Who would argue against Jesus' position?
Now is a person saved before they are baptized? What exactly happens at baptism? How should baptism be performed? Those are all worthy discussions.
But whether or not a person should be baptized was settled by our Savior. The only individual who trusted Christ in the New Testament and was not baptized was the thief on the cross. Everyone else who trusted Christ and followed him in the New Testament was baptized. So the idea of an un-baptized follower of Jesus is not supported in the New Testament.
Next post I'll look at infant baptism and whether or not that is a valid practice.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The Darkness
"I've been in here before!" I exclaimed. I knew this place. But I couldn't see. The room was dark. And even though I knew I had been there before, there was something very unfamiliar with the room.
My goal was to just get through the room. But someone has monkeyed with the layout. I still can't see a thing! It is pitch black. It is can't even see my hand in front of my face black.
So there I stand in the doorway. Do I move forward into the darkness or do I turn around and leave the dark room? Going across the room brings with it real risks. I could do serious damage to myself if I move forward.
The thing is, even though I can't see anything, I like this place. It is comfortable. It has a sweet aroma about it. It feels right to be there. I WANT to be there. I don't want to leave.
What I think is, that if I stay here, even though I can't see anything, then I might not miss something. In fact, I think that this place is better than most places. It is kind of fun, come to think of it, to be challenged by the room.
But lingering causes my heart to race, because I really shouldn't be there. I don't want to get caught in the dark room. Maybe it would be better to move away from the doorway and more into the darkness, that way no one would be able to see me if they walked in here.
So I scoot a few steps away. Nothing happens. What was I afraid of?! In fact the flooring was smooth and very comfortable to my feet.
But now, a new thought occurs to me. What if I can't find my way back to the doorway? If I go too far, I am really committed to this path across the dark room. Do I really want to do this?
I really shouldn't be here.
I start to scoot back towards the doorway, but this time the floor isn't smooth and comfortable it is painful and it is stabbing me. It is much like when you run your hand against the grain on a piece of wood and then the wood pierces your hand.
And, something even worse than the pain in my feet, I am much farther from the doorway than I thought. I panic. I lurch my body forward toward the doorway, leaning with my arms out ahead of me, groping out in the darkness, hoping to touch something solid (and not painful).
Now all my energies are focused on getting back. I don't care about the pain now. I just want out of the dark room.
I finally reach the doorway. And I become more aware of just how bad I have hurt my feet. Why did I do this? Why did I ever convince myself that this was a good thing? It isn't. It's bad.
I place my hand on the knob and twist. But as I do I feel a sense of longing again for the darkness. Can you believe it? After all the pain I went through? I quickly let the longing go and open the door.
Light. It hurts. But it is a good hurt. I feel so much better. The ground here is hard and cold, but it doesn't hurt.
My eyes are adjusting. I can make out shapes now. There are others.
I turn around and look through the doorway into the darkness. I don't see anything but a pair of yellow eyes staring back at me.
I am so glad I'm here. But even as I am here, my heart grieves over leaving the darkness. I vow, no I pledge...no I hope to not return to the dark room again. But it is like I can feel the darkness calling me back...
1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness , we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. NIV
My goal was to just get through the room. But someone has monkeyed with the layout. I still can't see a thing! It is pitch black. It is can't even see my hand in front of my face black.
So there I stand in the doorway. Do I move forward into the darkness or do I turn around and leave the dark room? Going across the room brings with it real risks. I could do serious damage to myself if I move forward.
The thing is, even though I can't see anything, I like this place. It is comfortable. It has a sweet aroma about it. It feels right to be there. I WANT to be there. I don't want to leave.
What I think is, that if I stay here, even though I can't see anything, then I might not miss something. In fact, I think that this place is better than most places. It is kind of fun, come to think of it, to be challenged by the room.
But lingering causes my heart to race, because I really shouldn't be there. I don't want to get caught in the dark room. Maybe it would be better to move away from the doorway and more into the darkness, that way no one would be able to see me if they walked in here.
So I scoot a few steps away. Nothing happens. What was I afraid of?! In fact the flooring was smooth and very comfortable to my feet.
But now, a new thought occurs to me. What if I can't find my way back to the doorway? If I go too far, I am really committed to this path across the dark room. Do I really want to do this?
I really shouldn't be here.
I start to scoot back towards the doorway, but this time the floor isn't smooth and comfortable it is painful and it is stabbing me. It is much like when you run your hand against the grain on a piece of wood and then the wood pierces your hand.
And, something even worse than the pain in my feet, I am much farther from the doorway than I thought. I panic. I lurch my body forward toward the doorway, leaning with my arms out ahead of me, groping out in the darkness, hoping to touch something solid (and not painful).
Now all my energies are focused on getting back. I don't care about the pain now. I just want out of the dark room.
I finally reach the doorway. And I become more aware of just how bad I have hurt my feet. Why did I do this? Why did I ever convince myself that this was a good thing? It isn't. It's bad.
I place my hand on the knob and twist. But as I do I feel a sense of longing again for the darkness. Can you believe it? After all the pain I went through? I quickly let the longing go and open the door.
Light. It hurts. But it is a good hurt. I feel so much better. The ground here is hard and cold, but it doesn't hurt.
My eyes are adjusting. I can make out shapes now. There are others.
I turn around and look through the doorway into the darkness. I don't see anything but a pair of yellow eyes staring back at me.
I am so glad I'm here. But even as I am here, my heart grieves over leaving the darkness. I vow, no I pledge...no I hope to not return to the dark room again. But it is like I can feel the darkness calling me back...
1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness , we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. NIV
Saturday, May 19, 2007
A Cool Moment
Today I made a run with my sons to QuikTrip (a local convenience store) and we went in for a drink (the boys got fountain pops and I got a bottled water). Well, as usual, the boys were taking their time and I had already gotten my drink, so I told them I'd be in the van.
We were parked right in front of the store, so I could easily see them and what was going on inside. But something outside caught my attention. A man that had one shoe on with ripped pants at the ankles and a bright yellow shirt walked in front of me.
He was carrying a bag that he set down and a trash bag that he had filled with pop cans and bottles. He stopped directly in front of my van and opened the lid to the trash can and took out two more pop bottles to add to his collection. When he closed the lid, he looked over at me and we made eye contact...me sitting in air conditioning in a nice van, and him on the outside, dirty and hot.
I looked away nervously. He walked into the store.
My boys were still inside fiddling with their sodas. And I noticed his bag he had left resting against the wall outside of the building. I got an idea and stepped out of my van.
I walked over to his bag, took out my wallet and left some cash inside of it.
Then my boys came out. I moved the van from where we were parked in front of the building to a distance away where we could still see his bag clearly. I told them what I did.
We waited, watching for the dirty man with the bright yellow shirt to come out of QuikTrip. When he did, we were hoping he would look in his bag. He did.
He pulled out the cash and then looked around. We looked away so that he wouldn't notice us.
Jacob, my youngest, yelled, "AWESOME!" And we drove off. It was a cool moment. He never knew we did it...he never knew who did it. But we did and God did. And that was cool.
We were parked right in front of the store, so I could easily see them and what was going on inside. But something outside caught my attention. A man that had one shoe on with ripped pants at the ankles and a bright yellow shirt walked in front of me.
He was carrying a bag that he set down and a trash bag that he had filled with pop cans and bottles. He stopped directly in front of my van and opened the lid to the trash can and took out two more pop bottles to add to his collection. When he closed the lid, he looked over at me and we made eye contact...me sitting in air conditioning in a nice van, and him on the outside, dirty and hot.
I looked away nervously. He walked into the store.
My boys were still inside fiddling with their sodas. And I noticed his bag he had left resting against the wall outside of the building. I got an idea and stepped out of my van.
I walked over to his bag, took out my wallet and left some cash inside of it.
Then my boys came out. I moved the van from where we were parked in front of the building to a distance away where we could still see his bag clearly. I told them what I did.
We waited, watching for the dirty man with the bright yellow shirt to come out of QuikTrip. When he did, we were hoping he would look in his bag. He did.
He pulled out the cash and then looked around. We looked away so that he wouldn't notice us.
Jacob, my youngest, yelled, "AWESOME!" And we drove off. It was a cool moment. He never knew we did it...he never knew who did it. But we did and God did. And that was cool.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Don't please...just preach!
You know, sometimes when you preach, you worry about what people are going to think. You worry if you will do a good job and really move people. You worry if they will get mad at you or not by the things that you say or the way that you say it. You worry.
It really is liberating to stop worrying about what people think though. Paul said in Galatians 1:10b:
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)
I can't slow down to worry anymore. I need to get this message that is in me out. I need to get it out of my heart like I have a splinter deep in my skin that I keep trying to dig out.
My heart beats for lost people. If they are going to choose to go to hell...then, as Spurgeon said, let them go having to jump over my body. Let them go with me still holding onto their ankles. Let them go but let me do anything and everything I possibly can to make sure I can stop their blood from being on my head.
And that kind of preaching isn't popular. That kind of preaching can get a guy fired. But that is a risk I'm willing to take. I would rather be unemployed but have helped one more know about Jesus Christ. I'd rather flip burgers knowing that I got to baptize someone else.
That's why I'm here. That's why God let's me breathe still.
It really is liberating to stop worrying about what people think though. Paul said in Galatians 1:10b:
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (NIV)
I can't slow down to worry anymore. I need to get this message that is in me out. I need to get it out of my heart like I have a splinter deep in my skin that I keep trying to dig out.
My heart beats for lost people. If they are going to choose to go to hell...then, as Spurgeon said, let them go having to jump over my body. Let them go with me still holding onto their ankles. Let them go but let me do anything and everything I possibly can to make sure I can stop their blood from being on my head.
And that kind of preaching isn't popular. That kind of preaching can get a guy fired. But that is a risk I'm willing to take. I would rather be unemployed but have helped one more know about Jesus Christ. I'd rather flip burgers knowing that I got to baptize someone else.
That's why I'm here. That's why God let's me breathe still.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Stale Bread
Call it tough. Call it harsh. Call it mean. But I got a nice loaf of bread. You see, we usually buy not the most expensive loaves of bread. But today, I got a really expensive loaf of bread.
We have this rule in our home. It's a simple rule. When you make a sandwich, close up the loaf of bread and put it back in the bread holder. The rule continued to be blatantly broken causing me great sorrow and grief.
And my youngest son, who has come into some financial means via lawn care services provided by himself, was given the opportunity to buy his father a really expensive loaf of bread causing him great sorrow and grief.
Ultimately, parents you have to take your stand on the most important things! And fight we will and win we must when it comes to stale bread!
We have this rule in our home. It's a simple rule. When you make a sandwich, close up the loaf of bread and put it back in the bread holder. The rule continued to be blatantly broken causing me great sorrow and grief.
And my youngest son, who has come into some financial means via lawn care services provided by himself, was given the opportunity to buy his father a really expensive loaf of bread causing him great sorrow and grief.
Ultimately, parents you have to take your stand on the most important things! And fight we will and win we must when it comes to stale bread!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Church 2.0
On the recent trip I had taken down to Arkansas I brought back a little friend. A Three-toed box turtle. I knew my boys would think I was the bomb for bringing them a pet turtle. And of course, I was right. They think the turtle is awesome.
I let them name him. They chose "Church 2.0". The reason for the name is this is the 2nd turtle we have had in our family's history. The first one we had about 10 years ago or more and he was called "Church"...th
us the name "Church 2.0" for our newest addition.
Box turtles are cool. They have a hinged plastron (bottom shell) that they can withdraw into and be completely safe from predators. In fact, in Southern Missouri, where we acquired Church 2.0, the only real threat to a three-toed box turtle is the road.
The turtle has become quite acclimated to his surroundings with us and he has quite a voracious appetite. So he doesn't withdraw into his shell so much.
I know a few people that come to church and then seem to really get acclimated to the environment and then all of a sudden they experience something difficult and they withdraw into their own shell. Maybe, they stop attending Sunday School...or they say they need a "break" from a ministry they have been involved with...or they start missing Sunday morning worship with a regular frequency.
And when that occurs I know something bad is about to happen. You see it may seem safer to withdraw, but the problem is that most times when people withdraw they do it and they are sitting right smack dab in the middle of the road and they can't see it coming, but a truck is getting ready to roll them down.
When we isolate and withdraw from our brothers and sisters in Christ we no longer remain accountable. We can't see the problems that others can easily see. And we gently and slowly, kind of like a turtle, fall away from the faith.
And that is the truck that our enemy is driving in our direction and the one goal he has is to flatten us from ever desiring going back to Church.
Hebrews 10:23-25
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (NIV)
I let them name him. They chose "Church 2.0". The reason for the name is this is the 2nd turtle we have had in our family's history. The first one we had about 10 years ago or more and he was called "Church"...th
us the name "Church 2.0" for our newest addition.Box turtles are cool. They have a hinged plastron (bottom shell) that they can withdraw into and be completely safe from predators. In fact, in Southern Missouri, where we acquired Church 2.0, the only real threat to a three-toed box turtle is the road.
The turtle has become quite acclimated to his surroundings with us and he has quite a voracious appetite. So he doesn't withdraw into his shell so much.
I know a few people that come to church and then seem to really get acclimated to the environment and then all of a sudden they experience something difficult and they withdraw into their own shell. Maybe, they stop attending Sunday School...or they say they need a "break" from a ministry they have been involved with...or they start missing Sunday morning worship with a regular frequency.
And when that occurs I know something bad is about to happen. You see it may seem safer to withdraw, but the problem is that most times when people withdraw they do it and they are sitting right smack dab in the middle of the road and they can't see it coming, but a truck is getting ready to roll them down.
When we isolate and withdraw from our brothers and sisters in Christ we no longer remain accountable. We can't see the problems that others can easily see. And we gently and slowly, kind of like a turtle, fall away from the faith.
And that is the truck that our enemy is driving in our direction and the one goal he has is to flatten us from ever desiring going back to Church.
Hebrews 10:23-25
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (NIV)
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mother's Day 2007
We had another great weekend at The Fort! Mother's Day is a time to take it easy but we still packed a big punch with a great couple of services. We had our Kingdom Kids ministry sing at one of the services and a trio of ladies sing at both services...great music and a good message to boot!
We played a video that we have been working on for some time and it was received great! The video was a montage of the kids sharing their own thoughts about what moms do and what they would like to do for their own mom and what they would like their mom to know. It was cute and very heart-warming. Everyone left with a smile and we were all encouraged by just meeting and worshiping together.
During my message I shared a little item that I really liked and several asked for copies so here it is:
Before I was a mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts and I slept all night.
Before I was a mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
So there you are. Happy Mother's Day to all of you.
We played a video that we have been working on for some time and it was received great! The video was a montage of the kids sharing their own thoughts about what moms do and what they would like to do for their own mom and what they would like their mom to know. It was cute and very heart-warming. Everyone left with a smile and we were all encouraged by just meeting and worshiping together.
During my message I shared a little item that I really liked and several asked for copies so here it is:
Before I was a mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts and I slept all night.
Before I was a mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
So there you are. Happy Mother's Day to all of you.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Arkansas Excursion
Just got back from a quick excursion to Bella Vista, AR. What a beautiful part of the country! Just gorgeous rolling hills. Went on a geocache but wasn't so successful at that but we did catch a snake.I went with my buddy Kyle down to his folks home. They are great people and were very gracious and hospitable.
One of the spots we were at was called Tanyard Creek [ http://www.beautifulbellavista.com/tanyardcreek.htm ]. This was a beautiful spot with wonderful scenery. En
joy a couple of the photos we took while we were there.
joy a couple of the photos we took while we were there.It was a great little get-away but mostly I enjoyed just being with Kyle and learning about him and his family. Life is better when you have good friends!
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