Embracing Him

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)

This past spring, a local Christian bookstore held a children’s event. JT and I took the girls over to enjoy storytime, crafts, and games. The children who attended had an opportunity to participate in a coloring contest. Sweet Pea was especially eager to partake as her ability to color within the lines has improved and she wanted to showcase her progress.

Two days after the event, I received a phone call from a staff member at the bookstore telling me that Sweet Pea was one of the coloring contest winners. I brought her back to the store where she picked up her gift card prize. When I asked what she would buy, Sweet Pea explained that she wanted buy a “Bible for big kids” because she no longer wanted to use a “baby Bible” like her little sister.

After thirty minutes of meticulous Bible inspection and careful comparison, Sweet Pea finally found the Bible she liked, 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs by Steven Elkins. I think she picked a winner as this a fantastic children’s Bible that offers a wide variety of Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments. As an added bonus, the book includes a collection of 100 Bible songs. Some songs are the traditional children’s favorites I learned in Sunday school, other songs are new tunes I’ve never heard, while some songs are the lovely hymns we often sing in church.

Though the girlies enjoy singing along with the Bible song CDs, they also enjoy singing the tunes acapella. After church on Sunday, Sweet Pea and Sugar Plum were feeling especially musical. They snatched up their microphone and sang Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho and Who Did Swallow Jonah? They were so enthusiastic that I asked JT to grab the video camera. Of course we think the girlies’ singing is fabulous, but what’s even more wonderful is that using songs, they’re making space for God’s word in their hearts!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:1-2)

Ladies, I am still alive and well and am bouncing back into blogging! Thanks for the “just checking in on you” emails. An intended two week blogging break became a two month hiatus as I quickly found myself wrapped up in the joys of summer fun! Now that August is here, I’m easing back into the swing of things online. I’ve missed all my blogging buddies and I’m eager to read about what you’ve been up to! And…I can hardly wait to share more stories and recipes with you!

Since my last post in May, our family has been busy fully enjoying the delights of the summer. In early June, JT and I enjoyed a romantic overnight stay at a beach bed and breakfast. After we returned, Thorpe family day trips kicked into high gear! The four of us have basked at the beach, explored the aquarium, romped around countless playgrounds, examined the animals at the zoo, trekked through a few gorgeous nature trails, frolicked at the town fair, picked produce at the local farm, and eaten more than our fair share of water ice and ice cream!

In the midst of all of that, JT spearheaded some home remodeling projects. We had new flooring installed in the house’s main floor (one less place to vacuum praise the Lord!), JT remodeled our powder room, and he also built a fantastic vanity for me in our bedroom. I can’t wait to show you the pictures of that!

As for me, I joined my cousins in hosting a lovely baby shower for our cousin Jennifer who lost her mother to breast cancer this past winter. In addition, I recently wrapped up an encouraging summer Bible study with the moms’ group at our church and participated in a summer book club meeting.

Though the summer has not come to an end, September is right around the corner. It’s time for me to full myself off the comfy porch furniture and get busy putting the finishing touches on Sweet Pea’s kindergarten homeschool curriculum, tidying up our basement, and planning the fall meetings of our church moms’ group. Would you be so kind as to say a prayer for me as I try to get back to my regular routine? These days, reading novels on the porch is much more appealing than menu planning in the kitchen!

Photo: Courtesy of mfrascella (Flickr)

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

The girls enjoy listening to the Bible stories I read to them and they also love to watch the Veggie Tales videos that sometimes bring these stories to life. These days, the girls’ favorite Bible heroes are Noah, Joshua, David, and Moses. As the girls played earlier this week, the stories of a few of these great men merged in a loud, entertaining, and most unexpected manner.

I was in the kitchen washing the lunch dishes while the girls played in the sunroom. Sweet Pea and Sugar Plum often make lots of noise as they play, but this day their voices were extremely loud and their shouts were accompanied by lots of stomping and banging.

When I came into the sunroom, all of the sofa pillows were piled on top of one another in the center of the floor. The girls were marching around the pillows and banging their large Legos together. My inquiry of the situation led to the following conversation.

Mommy: Girlies, there’s a lot of noise in here. What’s going on?

Sweet Pea: We’re making a show about Joshua, Mommy!

Mommy: Oh? (Anxious to give the girls an opportunity to share what their wise mother had taught them.)

Sweet Pea: I’m Joshua and this is Moses (pointing to her sister as Mommy realizes her teaching may not have been that great).

Mommy: Hmmm, what are Joshua and Moses up to today? (stifling giggles)

Sugar Plum: We’re marching! (jumping up and down while banging Legos together)

Mommy: Marching and banging I see. Is that the wall of Jericho? (pointing to the massive pile of pillows on the floor)

Sweet Pea: Yeah. We have to march around the wall 40 times and we then we have to knock it down.

Sugar Plum: Wanna see us march Mommy? (jumping up and down while banging Legos together)

Mommy: Oh yes! Please show me! (settling down on the pillowless sofa)

Sweet Pea: Ready Moses? 1-2-3 march! (stomping and banging around the pillows several times, finally knocking them down, and flopping on top of them)

Mommy: Good job girls! The walls came tumbling down! Just try to march and tumble a bit more quietly. (clapping while still stifling giggles and attempting to rise from the pillowless sofa)

Sweet Pea: Mommy, sit down. We’re not done. She has something to say. (pointing to her sister and then whispering in her ear)

Mommy: Oops, I thought you were done. Sorry. (sitting down on the pillowless sofa once more)

Sugar Plum: Let my people go! (rising from pillow pile and jumping up and down while banging Legos together)

Sweet Pea: The end!

It appears we have a few Bible stories to straighten out, but at least I know my children are internalizing what they hear!