Success

Well my eldest made the Dean's List at college. He ended up with a 3.54 something, something something average. Now that sounds as if I'm bragging and maybe I am a little, but it's more than that. We really need for him to get a scholarship next year if he is going to be able to complete year. Making the Dean's List will make getting a scholarship a little easier. Added to that, because he did so well in calculus he will be able to tutor in that subject as well as some others. That will be added money as well. So, yes being on the Dean's List does qualify him for bragging rights, but it's so much more important than that.



The second success I had was in Sunday night training. I had the middle class. Our pastor's wife has had it in the past but after having the baby she had to stop teaching. On the other hand she still thinks of it as her class so she keeps close tabs on it. This Sunday was the first time that I had class all to myself without her telling me what to teach.



I chose an object lesson about sin. We talked about how we are all sinful and that there is nothing we can do to make a way for ourselves so Christ had to do it for us. I'm a big believer in bible work. I want my kids to leave my class after to or three years knowing their way around a bible. Plus, it's God's word, not my thoughts that bring conviction. So we worked our way through the scriptures as I made my points. Our main scripture was Ps. 103:2.



Finally at the end I gave the demonstration. I took a white bowl of water and told that that the water represents our lives. I then shook pepper on the top of the water and said "So what does the pepper represent?" Of course they answered sin. I went on to talk about how a little sin covered our whole life. Then I took a tooth pick and dipped it into a little dish soap and told them that the soap represented Christ's blood and said "Watch what happens to the sin when we allow Christ into our lives." I touched the soap to the water and immediately the pepper shot out to the edges of the bowl. Every single student in that class gasped.



I knew it would work but I didn't expect them to get so excited I went on to explain that it wasn't exactly the same because our sins were totally gone, never to be found again, not out on the edge of our lives. When we went for snacks they made me do it again and gathered up all the kids in our discipleship training department to watch. A number of them where saying that they were going to go home and show it to their families. A lot of the kids who come, especially on Sunday, nights don't come with their parents so that really means something.

Interesting times

Well two hospital visits for my husband, a two week cold for me, the same awful cold for three of my four boys, a Trojan worm and consequent crash for my computer and I'm finally able to be back.

I love Christmas but it didn't go well this year. The tree never was put up. I didn't get out a single Christmas card. Very little baking got done and then only because I begged the boys to do the lion share of it for me. The fact that they boys willing went to work to bake cookies for me tells how bad it was. I was beginning to sing "If We Make it Through December".

I spent Christmas day in the hospital with my husband but that was better than when he was sitting in ICU. I couldn't bare the thought of the boys spending Christmas in the hospital so a few days before I sent them to my mom and dad's. I know that they love those boys as much as I do. I also know that it was the best thing I could do for them, but I never can help but feel guilty when I do that. The irrational side of my brain says that if I were truly a good mother I could take care of a husband sitting ICU and make a perfect Christmas for my children, fill my part in the Christmas play, and get out cards to all our friends.

What's wrong with me?! I know that that is impossible. No one can do all of that. I did the best I could with the options I had. I know without a doubt that I did what was best for the boys, so why do I feel guilty?

Well I hope everyone's Christmas went more smoothly than mine and that you all have a blessed New Year.