What Are You Dining On?

I read a blog this morning that really got me thinking. So there is your warning. This isn't going to be cute. It won't be nice and neat. It may be a little too much for you. But I just have to say it.

The blog was talking about a church that is in the process of transforming their new building. The church wants to be "relevant", and relevant to them means to have a sparkly, over-the-top building in order to reach out to those around them. As I kept thinking about it, I got madder and madder. I thought, "Yes. Just what we Americans need. Another plastic church to make plastic people feel comfortable!" But then I realized that I should probably quit judging because you never know what God's vision is for that church. AND, I should quit judging and look at my own life.

I immediately thought of this:

We've all seen these cute, little, plastic kitchens. I (am weird) started imagining sitting around a table with people and eating this plastic food. Everyone puts on a fake smile and talks about how wonderful the fake food is. Each of us knows that the food is fake, but we are all too fake to let on that we know. (Just follow me here.) The plastic food is bright and colorful. It isn't messy, and there is no clean up involved. In fact, you don't really have to eat it. Just look at it, smile to the other people at the table, get up and go on with life.

That is one group of people. Another group looks at the fakies sitting at the table, thinks they are nuts (rightfully so), and wants to have nothing to do with the plastic dinner.

How many times have I sat at a table like this and put on that cheesy grin? And how many times have I served a plastic meal to people and thought I was doing them a favor? How many times have my kids watched me serve it to them or someone else? How many times have I been looked at as a fake and even made the idea of the real food something to be avoided? Does that make sense?

I know that there is real food out there. I can eat (and have eaten) the real food and be satisfied, thankful, rejuvenated, healthy...

So why do I go back to the plastic food? Is it because it's simpler? I mean, real food takes time to make, a lot of clean up is involved, it costs something, and sometimes I make a mess all over myself.

I mean all of this spiritually, of course. I don't want to fill my life with fake anymore. I don't want for people to look at me and think that the plastic is as good as it gets!

A relationship with God takes time. Sometimes it's hard and can get a little messier than I'm comfortable with. But isn't it worth it? Isn't it satisfying?

We are all created with a spiritual hunger that only God can fill. All of us have tried to fill it with something else like relationships, money, work, hobbies, activities, and even church... But I want to stand up from the plastic dinner, look everyone in the eye and say, "I'm not going to sit here and pretend that this is satisfying. It's not. Let's go and get some real live, messy food! And then let's serve it to all of those hungry people that we meet each day."

God, would you open my (our) eyes to the places in my life where I have allowed "plastic" things to try and fill me? Help me to strive daily to know you and to make you known.

So, I've been dining on the fact that I think I can make it work myself because I've seen God in control enough...it looks easy, I'm sure I can handle it. Wow, I've been missing out.

What have you been dining on?

CANDY!!!!!!!!!

Here we go!

Trick-or-Treat!

Check out those PINK shoes. This girl loves pink, and if you know me, you know she did not get this from me. But you know what, pink has certainly grown on me since having this little princess.

I couldn't tell if she looked like a ballerina or a girl wearing a poodle skirt because of the mix of her tutu and lacy socks and bright shoes.

My cuties. Josiah and Isaac both changed their minds about 3 times today before they decided on these costumes. Isaac is a little mixed up with his Cowboys helmet and Gators shirt. :)

This makes me smile.

Ready for take-off. Josiah was running at Olivia and making her laugh.

First house.

Olivia ate each piece of candy as it was handed to her. This Shirley Temple/lollipop picture brings a cute song to my head.

Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolli-lolli-lolli...

eagerly awaiting the next trick-or-treaters

Gators/Bulldogs

Today's the day the boys have been waiting for since last year. Guy Day! Well, I happened to stick around this year, but they didn't seem to mind since I kept their plates full of junk food.

Go Gators!!!

Back to the food...

It doesn't get any better than this.

Hi, Mom. Okay, leave us alone now. We are bonding.

The man behind it all.

Hay Ride

Jay and the boys went on a hay ride with some friends last night. (Liv and I stayed home.) Our friends live in a fun neighborhood by the river and seem to know every single one of their neighbors. Jay said that older neighbors kept hopping onto the trailer as our friend drove past their houses. haha

My poor kids think that juice is a luxury. They never get it since they are hyper enough on their own, so if they see it, they jump up and down and scream "JUICE!!" Look how intense they are.

My hyper boys and their hyper friends.

The tractor was all decked out.

So was the driver...haha

They all had such a great time. I think that Olivia will be awake enough to make it next year. :)

The Many Faces Of Olivia

You might think you know this girl, but let me tell you, Jay and I are constantly learning more about her. She loves life. No doubt about it. She doesn't waste a single moment of it.

(By the way, I know my photos have been very grainy lately. I think I finally figured out that the boys messed with a dial on my camera. I told Jay that something was wrong with my camera! But then I quickly realized that it was most likely just me. :))

Her final bow.

Front Yard Football

Josiah threw the ball to Isaac, who made a touchdown. I think Jay was a little impressed. And Isaac was elated.

The boys against the big boy.

This is their idea of huddling. I have no clue what they are doing.

passing off the ball

They can't wait for Jay to get home every evening so that they can team up against him. I love these days.

Today

Today

Olivia looking at her picture from Andi. Thanks, Andi and Joshua! All of the kids were so excited about their pictures!

Oh, so peaceful.

She could draw or color all day long. I love having a girl. :)

working on a masterpiece

Her car needed a little beautifying.

I LOVE this picture because when I first looked at it, I saw my Papa Sanders in my daughter. He always made this same face (with his lip sticking out). My mom also makes the face, and so do I.

That is one dirty, happy girl.

pink chubby fingers

A friend dropped by our house and asked Olivia if she happened to eat some of the chalk, too. haha

Mother, please!

She found a buddy.

Oh my.

Bedtime story--Pigs In The Mud In The Middle Of The Rud--we love this book!

Notice that all of my kids have their hands in their mouths.

We make a funny voice for the grandma character in the book. Every time we talk like her, Olivia shudders and whimpers and says, "No." It's funny and sad at the same time.

Oh, and yes, we did get the boys' hair cut. I hated Josiah's last cut and told the lady to just even his hair out so that we can grow it out again. His hair hasn't been this short since he was 2 years old. Tonight he carried Olivia across the room, and I thought, "Wow! It is a baby carrying a baby." He looks so much younger with his ears lowered. :)