John Caden has been very strategic all week in the way I went about cutting his birthday puppy dog cookie cake. Tears were almost shed, but alas, tonight we were down to the head and there was no way around it--the final cut had to be made.
Note to self: Next year, go with a guitar or soccer ball design--anything without a cute little face. Surely this will lessen the chance of an emotional attachment developing.
When I lose my way, And I forget my name, Remind me who I am. In the mirror all I see, Is who I don't wanna be, Remind me who I am. In the loneliest places, When I can't remember what grace is.
Tell me once again who I am to You, Who I am to You. Tell me lest I forget who I am to You, That I belong to You. To You.
When my heart is like a stone, And I'm running far from home, Remind me who I am. When I can't receive Your love, Afraid I'll never be enough, Remind me who I am. If I'm Your beloved, Can You help me believe it.
I'm the one you love, I'm the one you love, That will be enough, I'm the one you love.
"Though You Slay Me"
I come, God, I come I return to the Lord The one who’s broken The one who’s torn me apart You strike down to bind me up You say you do it all in love That I might know you in your suffering
Though you slay me Yet I will praise you Though you take from me I will bless your name Though you ruin me Still I will worship Sing a song to the one who’s all I need
My heart and flesh may fail The earth below give way But with my eyes, with my eyes I’ll see the Lord Lifted high on that day Behold, the Lamb that was slain And I’ll know every tear was worth it all
Though tonight I’m crying out Let this cup pass from me now You’re still more than I need You’re enough for me You’re enough for me
"Not only is all your affliction momentary, not only is all your affliction light in comparison to eternity and the glory there. But all of it is totally meaningful. Every millisecond of your pain, from the fallen nature or fallen man, every millisecond of your misery in the path of obedience is producing a peculiar glory you will get because of that.
I don’t care if it was cancer or criticism. I don’t care if it was slander or sickness. It wasn’t meaningless. It’s doing something! It’s not meaningless. Of course you can’t see what it’s doing. Don’t look to what is seen.
When your mom dies, when your kid dies, when you’ve got cancer at 40, when a car careens into the sidewalk and takes her out, don’t say, “That’s meaningless!” It’s not. It’s working for you an eternal weight of glory.
Therefore, therefore, do not lose heart. But take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach his word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for."]
Anna and John Caden did such a great job with their first week of school that I decided to surprise them with a trip to the pool during lunchtime today. John Caden was in such deep thought after his swim--I'm sure he must have been reflecting on all that he's learned this week (and not just staring blankly, utterly exhausted from his first week of 1st grade).
Although he's seen the Braves play on TV, John Caden was definitely mesmerized by the thrill of being at Turner Field. We quickly realized, however, that perhaps we should have done a little better job explaining the game of baseball before we arrived. Right when we took our seats, he asked in a loud voice, "Mommy, why do some people have such big mittens down there?" Then pointing to the pitcher he asked, "Why does he just keep throwing the ball to that same guy squatting down? That's not nice of him. Other people might want a turn to catch the ball too." And then taking notice of the ball, strike, and walk counts, with concern in his voice, he asked, "Mommy, it says they only have one ball left. I hope they don't lose it." I'm not sure which was more entertaining--the game or John Caden's comments/questions.
Sweet Anna enjoyed the game as well. She was sad when at 10pm (the top of the 8th) we decided we had better call it a night and head home.
This was Tim's first Braves game as well. Not being an Atlanta native, this look of "humpf" and uncertainty appeared on his face every time the crowd would break out in the "Tomahawk chop." I never could get him to get his arm up and "chop" Atlanta style.
