On Earth as it is in Heaven?

Phoebe and Mboy

Hi my hot friends! I hope you have a/c today! Vacation is wonderful so far if only because my hubs is around to answer all the fights and scuffles. Currently he went to help Mgirl nap. He is leading by example. At last check, she was wide awake.

In my Bible today I read I Corinthians 4 because something from a recent parenting class has been circling my brain. Parents were challenged to pursue our own holiness. 

In I Cor. 4:16 and 11:1 Paul says, "be imitators of me." 

We were asked if we were willing to proclaim this to our kids. It's had me thinking about that and wanting to live my life in a way that I can proclaim it without wincing... 

Life is just moving right along. Each child is growing sweeter to me every day. 

On Sunday I was in the pew by myself with the 5 youngest kids. Mgirl, 3, was standing on the chair behind me with her arms around my neck, Phoebe, 7, was on my left with her arms wrapped around my waist. Mboy, 8, had wiggled in between some of them and Tgirl, 6, was pushing in closer to me, trying to push him out. Dboy, 5, was standing in front of me, facing me, trying to figure out how to get closer to my face. Mgirl would bend down and try to take Phoebe's arms off me, and Dboy stretched out his arms, up the front of my torso, straining with all his might to will himself up in my arms. I had my hands up, singing, "I am bound....for the promised land," straining to focus on being before the Lord's throne one day.  And I was thinking about our little scene in comparison to that day. I was afraid the whole group of us might topple over as we were all mashed up and I found it hilarious and glorious that as I raised my hands to my heavenly Father all these kids were clawing and climbing over each other to get this grand prize of mama. It's a big job to point them to Christ and they seem to suck the very life out of me at times. I couldn't sing the last 2 verses 'cuz I was choked up (literally and otherwise) and overcome with love and suffocation and being in the presence of my great Lord one day. I wonder if we'll be (lovingly somehow, of course) clamoring over each other to get to touch our great and awesome God one day when we are in His presence. Of course how much more worthy is my heavenly Father of my admiration and attention each day and this moment should remind me to pursue Him with at least as much vigor!

Eventually 2 of the kids left for children's church and I had one on my lap and one on either side. I got up to take the 3 year old to nursery cuz she couldn't stop chattering and when I cam back Josh from the row behind us had moved up to sit between the two I left there. I forgot to say, "behave..." when I left so apparently, it was optional. I am so thankful for many of you who are stepping up to chase my kids off the stage steps, stop them from tossing the hat up at the sprinklers and break up fights in the pew. I love my church family and don't know what I'd do without you! Thank you, thank you!

Mgirl and Dboy. Did I mention they do dishes? They FIGHT over who gets to do the dishes.