Being a Selfish Giver

Giving is something I've been struggling with lately.  We've been showered with generosity from family and friends with our birthday season, and now that we're preparing to move I feel like we're just asking for more.  I want to give back.  I want to give these people something equal to what they have given me; but I can't.  I don't have the resources to pour the generosity back on all of the people who have given to us.  I feel like I just take and take and take and have felt very uncomfortable about it. 
Today in my bible study, we discussed being selfish and generous in friendships.  It wasn't anything earth shattering.  It's not a foreign concept to understand that in any relationship there is give and take - one person should not be the giver all of the time.  And I feel like I do what I am able to most of the time.  But I never feel like I do enough.
The first passage that gnawed on me was James 3:17. 
      But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
OK, makes sense.  Hmm submissive...

The next one was Philippians 2:3
     Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Humility ... selfish ambition ... God what are you trying to tell me?  Why are these words popping off of the page?

And then it all made sense.  I was trying to be a selfish giver.  I wanted to give what I thought was good enough, what I thought was the right thing.... but giving is about submitting to the person's needs, practicing humility - it's not about how I feel about giving - it's what God does with my gift so that person is blessed.  It's about the giftee, not the gifter.  Then I realized that we give the best my house has to offer: Sean.  We give Sean's time, talent and treasures to the congregation.  I make sure he is taken care of at home so he can care for the members of the congregation.  Something as simple as clean socks ensures he is ready.  Being available for him to talk through his sermon ideas with me - and giving him my full attention to do so.  Making sure the girls are tended to so that he has a quiet space and time to write.  I don't complain about the time he spends at church even though I wish he didn't have to go to the meetings at night.  Being prepared and willing to walk into a house that is not baby proof with a very busy Christine so that he can be in fellowship.

Today the women in my bible study (thank you Emily and Rachelle) helped me realize that the people want to give to us, and welcome us into their homes.  Each time we break bread with someone we learn from them, and Sean is able to leave them with something too.  It's reciprocal - not the reciprocity I expected, or planned on - but it's not about me.  It's about them.  As Mary Beth McNamara (Our supervising pastor's wife) told me back in August - my ministry is to my husband.  If I take care of him, he can take care of them.  That's a pretty awesome job God has given me, and I thank Him for that!

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!

After what seemed like an eternity for her, Kaitlyn's birthday finally arrived - and she had a great time.  Her birthday was Tuesday, April 13th which is a preschool day.  So we all went to preschool chapel time and then followed her class back to their room for cupcakes.

Then we were off to the birthday girls favorite place - Chuck E Cheese.

We all crashed pretty hard after that day.

On Saturday the 17th Kaitlyn had her princess party.  We had six party guests in our little house and it was full.  Unfortunately it rained the night before so everything was muddy outside, so we were stuck in.  A friend of mine who's daughter was at the party let us borrow some of their costumes.  The girls had a great time dressing up as different princesses.  They also decorated crowns and played some board games, and just kind of ran the house for 2 hours. 

We saw a cake at the local grocery store bakery that was a princess castle.  Instead of paying $50, we decided to pay $13 and try to make it ourselves.  We borrowed some supplies from a friend, I made the cake and Sean made it a castle.  It was one of the most frustrating things he's ever done, and we had to leave him alone and go upstairs so he could finish his creation in peace.  I think he did a phenomenal job!

Happy birthday my big 4 year old!

Happy Birthday Christine!

Celebrations are officially over for Christine's birthday.  We all had a great time celebrating what a blessing she's been to our family since we knew she was there.  On her birthday which was Friday, we had lunch with a family who has kids the same age as ours.  It was a great time for everyone.  We finished the day with a special cupcake decorated with a big sunshine just for Christine.

She was very excited to

eat her cake!

MMMM Yummy!

On Sunday, we had a party for her at a place called The Incredible Pizza Company which is pretty much Chuck E Cheese meets pizza buffet.  A good time was had by all.  I learned that the no gifts rule does not apply to Texans.  Each person brought her something :-)

The birthday princess dined on hotdogs, nilla wafers, cheese and pizza crust - all her favorites!

Time to Play!

She grabbed a hand and was off!  She hasn't decided to walk more than a couple steps on her own yet, but she loves to walk around as long as someone is holding a hand or two.

Christine loves going down the slide!

Cake Time!

OOO what's this?

Want some cake Daddy?

Look what I have!

Her party guests!

We all had a great time, and crashed when we got home - it was a great day!

He is Risen

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 
It's such a joyful greeting to have on Easter morning.  We feel that Easter is the most important holiday in the church because it is when we celebrate our salvation.  It's a humbling and celebratory day for our family.  A gift that we didn't earn, and don't deserve but are given out of pure unconditional love by God.  Wow!  What a blessing to spend Holy Week focused on just that precious gift.

In our family's celebration, we began the morning with dolling the girls up in thier Easter best to go have breakfast at church.

Kaitlyn's Sunday School class had an egg hunt.  It was a bit wet that morning, so they had to do it inside.  She was allowed to pick 6 eggs, and of course went for all of the princess decorated ones - but only the pink ones of course.

Christine decided to get in on the action too.

During communion, everyone brought up a flower to place on the cross.  The finished product is beautiful, and provided a great backdrop for several family pictures.

Including our own!

Happy Easter!

Resurrection Story Cookies

This year, we received this recipe for these meringue type cookies from Kaitlyn's preschool.  It was sure fun to try them out!

Before you do anything, preheat the oven to 300
Ingredients
3 egg whites
1 c whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
pinch of salt
1 c sugar
ziplock baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Place pecans in the baggie and have the children beat them with the wooden spoon.  Tell them after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3

Let the children smell the vinegar, and put in the mixing bowl.  Explain this is what Jesus was given to drink when he was thirsty on the cross.

Read John 19:28 - 30

Add egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life. Explain Jesus gave his life to give us life.

Read John 10:10 - 11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest in the bowl.  This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

Add 1 cup of Sugar.  This is to represent the sweetest part of the story - Jesus died because he loves us.

Read Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 - 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed (don't stop early - they won't turn out right).  Explain the color white represents purity in God's eyes for those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons on wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus's body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57 - 60

Put the cookies in the oven, give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain Jesus tomb was sealed.

Read Matt 27:65 - 66

Turn oven OFF  and GO TO BED.  The children may feel sad about leaving their cookies overnight.  Explain Jesus's followers were in despair when his tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 & 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!

Read Matthew 28:1 - 9

Then get ready for church!

OK, so they didn't turn out like they should have for us, party because we didn't beat the egg whites enough I think.  So hopefully next year they will be hollow!  But it was fun anyway, and Kaitlyn heard the Easter story in a new way.