Twas the Night Before...

Twas the night before Jesus came and all throught the house
Not a creature was praying not one in the house
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be the day.

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus, returning just like he said
And though I possesed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.

In The Book Of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose name had been written in love
He gathered to take to His Father above
With those who are ready He rose with out a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees but it was too late
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight
Oh, if I had only been ready tonight.

In the words of the meaning is clear.
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.

Three Little Words

Many of us enjoy hearing those three little words. But each of us may enjoy a different set of three little words. For me, my favorite ones are “Can I help?” Matt's, of course, are “The Bears won.” My children love to hear “School is out.” Where as I am usually ready for “School is in.” My mother-in-law's favorite three little words are “Keep your fork!” because that usually means there will dessert after dinner. For others it may be the store's sign reading “We are open” when you have just used your last diaper. Or sometimes just a simple “I've got this!” And, obviously everyone enjoys hearing those famous three little words “I love you.”

But one day I heard three little words that I never thought I would hear.

We had to take our youngest child, Zech, to the doctor for an unexplained rash. The raised bumps combined with the duration and consistency of them made us quite concerned. We had deducted that his rash and other issues were caused by an allergic reaction to something. So the doctor was calling us back with the results to his blood draw. When she called back I wasn't expecting what I heard. But, I count by blessings in the phrases I didn't hear. Some parents' three little words are:

Could be contagious,

Might cause sterility,

Traumatic Brain Injury,

This is cancer,

Doesn't look good, or

Prepare for death

No, thankfully, I didn't hear any of those phrases. But my three little words were just as life changing. My three little words were “Get a pen.”

Get a pen? Are you kidding? You are only telling me what he is allergic to. How hard can that be to remember?

Trust me. It proved to be hard. There were five things on that list. Five! How can one little boy be allergic to five different elements? And we aren't talking about five basic things here. The doctor just should have just told us he wasn't allowed to eat ever again. In addition to completely limiting his dietary intake, we also had to get rid of our dog—or at least turn her into an outdoor pet.

Our lives have changed quite a bit since the restrictive list was given to us. We have adjusted. Some things we have completely taken out of the kitchen. Some things we don't cook as often. Other times we have to make him is own separate meal. It is more work for me but his smile and big blue eyes are worth it.

And today his favorite three little words are “Happy Birthday Zechariah.” Let's go made a gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free cake to celebrate. Yuck!

I love you Zechy--even through the endless rashes, the explosive diapers and the difficult breathing. You may be the most challenging one of the bunch but that is just what makes you even more special. Welcome to the Terrible Twos...and let's go get another blood draw to see if you may have outgrown some of these restrictions. Maybe, just maybe, you will be able to have a real birthday cake this year. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Go Caroling!

Matt and I were finishing up our Christmas shopping. Outside of the store was a man playing Christmas carols. I recognized most of them. Then he played one that made me stop and think. I have heard this song many times in the past. But I have never even considered it a Christmas carol. Once I actually listened to the words it is obvious to me that it is. 

Here are the words:

Go tell it on the mountain 
Over the hills and far away 
Go tell it on the mountain 
That Jesus Christ is born 


The shepherds all were watching 
Over their sheep at night 
When a guiding star shone from heaven 
And the followed that holy light 


Got tell it on the mountain 
Over the hills and everywhere 
Go tell it on the mountain 
That Jesus Christ is born 

They found a lovely manger 
Where the humble Christ was born 
And God sent out salvation 
On that blessed Christmas morn 


Go tell it on the mountain 
Over the hills and everywhere 
Go tell it on the mountain 
That Jesus Christ is born 


He brought with Him forgiveness 
He live to show us the way 
He came to redeem all creation 
And to wash all our sins away 


Go tell it on the mountain 
Over the hills and everywhere 
Go tell it on the mountain 
That Jesus Christ is born

Go! Go tell it on a mountain. Whether that mountain is your cubicle at work. The lady in front of you at the dry cleaners. The guy who just cut you off. The store clerk. Your neighbor. Your children. Or their teachers. Go! Get on that mountain and tell them that Jesus Christ is born!

No matter how cliché it may be---Let us not forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas this year is:

1. A grocery gift card—to fill the shelves of the food panty.
2. Unlimited supply of PVC pipe—to send clean water to other parts of the world.
3. New, dry pillow—for the child whose own is tear-soaked.
4. A new Bible—for everyone who wants one and isn't allowed to have one.
5. Snow boots—for all the kids whose feet will be wet and cold all winter.
6. Make-up—for the wife who doesn't want to answer yet another question on why her husband would do that to her. She doesn't know why.
7. Sore knees—from being on them so much praising and thanking God for all that He has done.
8. A peace that surpasses all understanding—for all my friends who lost a loved one this year and will celebrate their first Christmas without them.
9. 2012 Calender—to fill up with appointments, assemblies and assignments that accomplish His will, not mine.
10. Sunglasses—for a future so bright I can hardly believe I deserve it.

My Nonstop Eight-Year-Old

From the minute his feet hit the floor in the morning until the second he crawls back into bed that night he is nonstop. He is in continuous motion. Constantly on the go. Perpetually moving.

At 7:00 he comes trotting down the stairs to greet me with one of my favorite request, “Mommy, can we cuddle?” Of course we can Honey. Then after some quality time waking up in my arms, we open his Easy Reader Bible and start our day reading God's Word.

After some questions and reflection it's time for breakfast. And we are not talking about just a bowl of Fruit Loops here. In the morning my lightweight can eat up to four bowls of cereal, a banana and toast with honey on it. He can really pack it away. Where he finds a place to put all that food in his 63 lbs frame I am not sure. All I know is that he can eat.

Then he is off to school. He literally jumps onto the bus with such exuberant force everyone knows he is there. Then, as it has been reported to me, the ceaseless moving, talking and hyper behavior continues. He hums, walks around and sometimes sings out loud while doing his morning work. He enjoys school and gets great grades. He is in the high ability class which is great because it challenges him. He is a wonderful student overall. But I am sure the teachers would love it if we could find a way to tone down the disruptive part of his behavior.

Then it's time to come home. As soon as he is off the bus he is off to play. He romps, frolics and runs around until it is too dark to even see the ground. While he is still in motion, we work on homework. When it is finally time for dinner he eats like a grown man. Then I remember that is what he is becoming. He is no longer my little boy. And if he is going to burn all of this energy with his never-ending activity he's going to need to get his strength from somewhere.

By bedtime he is still raring to go and begs to get to stay up and watch some TV with Daddy. However, I don’t think it has anything to do with the show on the talking box. I think he is more interested in spending some quality time shoulder-to-shoulder with this dad.

Finally to bed but not before some more intriguing questions in hopes to prevent the closing of the door. As he falls asleep I wonder if his brain is still running miles and miles a minute like it does when he is awake. But when he does finally give in and let slumber take over, his body is out for the count and nothing will wake him. Well that is nothing but the clock reading 7:00 so we can start the process all over again.

He is mine. He is loved. And today he is eight!

Happy Birthday Boo! You have turned my life into a roller coaster ride. I never know which way we are headed or what turn is coming next. All I know is this has been the ride of my life. And I wouldn't have it any other way.