Brothers become friends

My two oldest sons are completely different. They look different, act different and are talented in different ways. They are just a little over 2 years apart. If I were to share old home videos with you, you would laugh at the way they used to play. Nick loved his little brother. Scout was in awe (and still is) of his older brother. It was so sweet. As they grew older, and Scout began to follow Nick a little less often, the rivalry began to grow. We had a few years of pure torture in trying to get them to get along. The angry voices, the disrespect for each other, the physical fights…yep, we’ve been there. For years, my prayer would be, “God…fill their hearts with love for each other”. Sometimes I would pray, “Lord, bind them together in a way that only you can, that they see a gift from you in their brother”. I would sit and wait for God to work….and wait……and wait. All the while, we were playing referee!

Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer; Proverbs 14:30

Now, unfolding before us is a good thing. Sometimes, conversation between the two of them….not started or encouraged by me or Kevin. I’ve even caught Nick paying Scout a compliment and receiving one in return. Though it’s not perfect….we are seeing them grow older and closer. Thank you Jesus!

If you are in the season of fighting siblings…do not despair!!! It is just a season. Not one you need to ignore – but one you will get through. The encouragement I can offer you is to never allow them to be hurtful or rude. There were times we would let them go at it physically. That may be too much for some of you, but if you have all boys, you understand that there is no other way sometimes. Especially if one keeps asking for it! We’ve seen that too. Anyway, I’m trying to say, we have less of that now and more of what I always thought was ideal.

You are not a bad parent if your kids fight. You are a good mom or dad when you sometimes allow them to work out situations among themselves. (with coaching from you of course) But, God cares about this and can offer you peace when you feel like crying because you feel your kids don’t love each other. How do I know? Because he has done that for me, over and over. It’s as old as the Bible. Remember Cain and Able? Be encouraged – and know that as your kids grow, so will their love and even like for each other. And when it gets to be too much….just lock them outside…after all…you are paying the bills!

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when children live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

Amazing News.....

Yesterday, I received two important messages. One was from my sister Jennifer. She is pregnant and we thought that our sweet baby girl was going to be here sometime around mid May. May 19 was the big target date. Well, when Jen went to the doctor this week, she was told that she is already beginning that process we mother's know as 'getting ready for labor'. The doctor told her it could be anytime and that he would probably not let her go longer than May 12 without inducing! WOW! My niece, Payton Bailey will be here sooner than I thought. That....was a great surprise. We had a baby shower for her this past Saturday and it was WONDERFUL. That girl has more clothes than ANY baby I have ever been around. I am truly not kidding. All adorable. I was good and actually bought something off my sister's registry - a practical gift she wanted....but then.....I went to find something fun! I am proud to say that I bought baby Payton her very first pearl bracelet. I am so going to enjoy being the fun, girly Aunt Sha Sha.

The second message was from my sister in law about my other niece whom we've been waiting on for 2 years now. Addeline Grace Johnson is somewhere.....either she is born and in an orphanage in China or she is safely wrapped in her birth mother's womb...awaiting her big day. Either way...we know she is on her way. Ken and Kelly (Kevin's brother and wife) have been in the process of adoption since March of 2006. They love that baby girl already....we all do. And we are looking forward to holding her and welcoming her as a Johnson soon. Kelly updated her blog with the dates that they should hear something about their baby. The good news is that it will be by April 2009 at the latest. Please visit her blog for more information. It is entitled Kelly's Blog at the bottom of this page. I know that it must be hard for Ken and Kelly at times...the waiting. Kelly has been pregnant longer than any of my friends. :) But...she looks amazing! Well....you know what I mean. They have been expecting her and waiting...all that love just stored up for their little girl. A sister for my nephew Alec. A new niece for me and Kevin. And a sweet baby cousin for my boys. We are all ready.

How ironic that both messages come on the same day. Payton, coming sooner than we expect and Addie....we've been waiting on a while. We may wonder and ask God why, but He knows. He's known all along and His timing is perfect.

Philippians 4:6-8
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


We will not be anxious, we will wait and trust Him. Because He knows the exact date that our girls will be with us. He has formed each of them and has a plan for each of them.

Please pray with us for both baby girls. Pray that we have a safe delivery for baby Payton (and her mom Jennifer too) which will be soon....and that our sweet Addie will be taken care of....and that she will get here really, really soon too! We love them both...my, how our family is going to change.

Oh....I almost forgot....Happy Earth Day!

Wow....going green is definately the trend huh? While I agree we need to be good stewards of our earth's resources....some people take this a bit too far! I am attending a tradeshow this week and today...was the official observance for the hotel community to take hold of Earth Day. As a sales person...when I go to tradeshows, I hand out my material and usually give away a few little trinkets. You know...the typical goody with my hotel name and phone number so they won't forget me! Being a resort...I usually have cool goodies. Like hand poured travel candles....Wow....

Well, today our directive at this tradeshow was to talk only and not hand out brochures or anything printed on paper. (um...business cards) We were not to bring any give aways. (like my really cool hand poured candles) We were to observe Earth Day. This would be our way of respecting our earth's resources. Whatever....it was wierd. So while we were all using our laptops for our powerpoints instead of killing trees and handing out brochures......we were all burning hours of electricity. Did we really make that much of a difference?

My family has made a more consious effort to recycle at home. Or...maybe I should say Kevin is making a more consious effort. I really do want to do my part too. I just don't always think about it. But I do think about how precious my world is and I know WHO created it. Some of my 'green' friends don't know that!!! Nor...are they open to knowing more about my God and how he had a plan for how our earth would function and how the resources within the land would allow us to live, breath and MAKE Paper!!!! I know who created ME! And...you too for that matter. We didn't just appear you know....no Big Bang people!

Have you heard about the movie 'Expelled; No Intelligence Allowed'? Ben Stein has a wonderful film I think we should all see and take our children to see as well. Plugged In has a great review on this film. Take a moment to visit this webpage and see what you think.

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0004010.cfm

Kevin had mentioned this movie to me last weekend. At dinner Monday night, a former pastor asked me if I had seen it. He and his wife saw the movie over the weekend and they said it was fabulous! A must see. There are too many times our schools and public offices are so quick to go green because it is politically correct. But....try to offer them a Christian perspective on our world's creation......YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!! Wow....not open to that at all.

See what you think. Let me know if you see the movie or please comment if you did see the movie already. What did your kid's think???

Beautiful Hands

I was looking at some pictures from my sister's baby shower when I ran across this picture. At first, I thought....what in the world was my husband thinking??? Taking pictures of his Grandfather's hands. I mean there were several of them on my camera. But then, I looked closer - and noticed how large his hands are. Strong. They are hands that have worked hard for many years providing for his wife and his 3 daughters and 1 son. Preston Duncanson is Kevin's grandfather on his mother's side. He has fought a long battle with cancer and still, just a week or so ago, I heard he went to a church social just because he wanted to see everyone. He is tired. He knows his maker. He is not scared. As I looked at this picture, I started to get it....my husband see's these hands differently than most of you will. They are his grandfather's hands. The hands of a strong and loving man that hugged him when he was little. Hands that would swallow his hands when Kevin was a boy. Hands that would discipline at times too, I am sure. (Kevin is a preacher's kid you know, lol) Hands that seemed so strong long ago....that now rest more than they ever did or thought they could years ago.

I see this picture and I'm reminded of legacy. Leaving a legacy that is. Grandpa Duncanson has lived a life that honored God and hard work, serving his country through the military (he has some great stories!!) - and loving family and church community. I wonder if my boys even begin to understand the legacy that is left for them by this wonderful man. You see, because Grandpa Duncanson loved the Lord and served God and brought his family up in the way of the Lord - my husband has a Godly mother. Kevin's mom married a pastor and together they served in the ministry for 40 years. For me, that meant I met and married a man who loved the Lord. Kevin is a leader in our home spiritually. Now, our boys are learning the same thing. I pray it goes on and on and on. A legacy of faith.

Honor should be given to those who have gone before us and have laid foundations in our lives. I think I've missed a few opportunities to share with my boys just how special this is and how blessed they truly are.

Too often, we get so busy that we don't appreciate the loved ones in our life that are in the twilight of their own lives. Or, maybe we are sad because they are old now and we miss the way they used to be.

I was looking in my Bible this morning to see what I could find about legacy and the blessing it is within a family. Though I didn't find what I was actually looking for, I ran across this verse. I like it best in the Message Translation -

Proverbs 17:6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
children take pride in their parents.

Get past the part that says...Old people. So it's not politically correct. But it says that our grandpas, grandmas, nanas, memaws and papas are to be distinguished by their grandchildren. That our children take pride is us.

Question: Am I leaving a legacy for my children that they will truly take pride in? Hmmmmmm