Princess Party

 

Waiting for the guests

 

 

Kaitlyn

 

and the twins

 



 

 

 

Cake

and ice cream

 

Opening presents

 

 

Playing Duck, Duck, Goose

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Lily!

 

 

Lily is Five!

Lily turned five last month.  She has grown up so much recently!  I feel like we've walked through a door into a new season.  She seems so much older than she was even last spring- thoughtful, responsible, self-controlled, and able to think through things, ask questions, and understand explanations.  A few of the conversations we've had this fall: the economy and the national debt, the presidential race, are Catholics going to heaven, and if Jesus is the biggest how does he fit in a house (which led to a discussion of the incarnation and the Trinity).

She's a busy girl with her Fit by Five preschool class two afternoons a week, ballet, and sewing lessons at Grandma B's.  She's a quick learner, an eager helper, and a loving sister.  She has an eye for detail and is my reminder-er.  She also has a soft heart for others and for God.  I love to hear her sing songs to Jesus that she makes up as she goes along.

 

With Daddy

 

Lily wanted matching purple princess dresses for her and Abby for her birthday present.  Unfortunately, Abby totally refused to wear hers.  Lily still completely enjoyed wearing hers.

The Law of Love

I am not a theologian or a Bible teacher.  Still, sometimes if you don't state the obvious, over time it is forgotten.  So, for what it's worth, here's a little reminder of what has historically been accepted Christian doctrine regarding the question:

Is it sin to be unloving?

In Matthew 22 a lawyer asked Jesus,  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

From this well-known passage we see three things (at least):

-Jesus considers loving others a commandment.

-Jesus considers loving others the second greatest commandment, second only to loving God Himself.

-Jesus considers all the rest of the Law (including the commands about things we readily accept as sin like adultery, murder, stealing) as hinging on these two commandments.

Is it sin to disobey the greatest commandment?  And is it sin to disobey the other commandments?  So then what about this second greatest commandment?  Is it sin to disobey it and be unloving? 

Granted, in different church circles we can confuse "caring" for others with genuine love, and that "care" can have all sorts of connotations and demands with it- making phone calls, having conversations with others, asking particular questions, meeting specific physical needs.  Jesus is not commanding any one culture's definition of "care."  If you look at all of Jesus' teaching, I think it's hard to condense his definition of love down to any formula.  It is much broader and deeper than that.  But I think most of us know when someone loves us, and we know when they don't.  And Jesus says God's command is love.

I'm not writing this post because I think I'm good at loving people.  I am very aware that that's a big weakness of mine.  In the last year, I've been confronted by my inability to even know what love is, let alone do it.  I am thankful for the mercy and grace of God.  But that doesn't change His commands. 

End Public Service Announcement.  Thanks for listening!

Mr. Charles Bingley

 

Jenn also got this picture of Bingley on his perch by the front window.



The Cub Scout

During Jenn's recent visit she got this picture of William in his cub scout uniform.  He and Eric were on his way to rake leaves with his pack.  Don't you just love boys in uniform? =)

Apple Orchard

We had two apple orchards on the farm where I grew up.  One of my favorite memories is making apple cider.  I loved watching the different machines that got set up outside, I loved the smell of the apple butter cooking inside, and most of all I loved waking up the next day and seeing the row of gallon jugs filled with apple cider lining the driveway. 

So it was especially fun to see the kids get into picking apples this year. They were much more discerning pickers this time, and were able to engage in conversation and really enjoy the day. The older two loved the wagon ride. Abby was scared at first, but then she got used to it. Her favorite thing was holding the bag of apples.

 

At the end, the kids played in the pumpkin patch area, and got a treat from the general store, and it just felt like a visit to the past.  So fun!

One of "Them"

The schooling has overtaken my blogging, as you all can tell.  I'm so sorry!  We've had so much life to report too, but I just haven't had the few moments to record it.  I know I will regret that.  So I'm going to go back and do a few retroactive posts.

Here's a shelter the kids made in the backyard from fallen branches (and that was before Sandy).  They got the idea from a Curious George video.  Growing up, there was a house we drove by often that had a lifesize tepee.  I didn't know the people, but always assumed they must be a bit weird.  Now I shake my head and swallow my pride and accept that I'm one of "them."

Actually, I've been surprised at how much I've enjoyed homeschooling.  Creating my own worksheets is extremely time consuming, but I really enjoy the strategizing and the actual school time.  William doesn't so much.  He gets into the science projects (like this shelter), but math, reading, and writing are a chore.  Still, he's learning, and that's what matters. 

We have a new tutor now; she comes two mornings a week.  So far she's done mostly review, but it's been helpful to have a break and be able to give the girls more attention.