Theory of Spoons

I came across a story called "The Theory of Spoons" this morning that really hit home. It just so happens to be the morning after we've been gone for FBC Retreat (church family camp) all weekend. The boys had a blast and I know Andrew overdid it. And then last night, he started saying he didn't feel good. His throat hurt, his stomach felt funny, his body ached more than usual. "Ugh...here we go," I thought. Is he really coming down with something, or did he overdo it, or some combination of the two? Fun often comes at a price, so this sentence really stuck out to me:

"I explained that the difference in being sick and being healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think about things when the rest of the world doesn’t have to. The healthy have the luxury of a life without choices, a gift most people take for granted." (Christine Miserandino, author of The Theory of Spoons)

Check the article out, it's really good. And it might open your eyes to the statement, "But you don't look sick." And say a little prayer that we know what's best for Andrew in regards to his surgery scheduled for tomorrow. We see the pediatrician at 2.

Resurrection Cookies

Instead of our usual Resurrection Rolls, this year we tried something different at made Resurrection Cookies to celebrate Easter. This is a time-consuming, make ahead cookie, but such a good lesson in it. Everything that goes in has meaning in the death of Jesus and it even gives scripture to read as you do each step. The boys enjoyed themselves and it was fun to especially see Isaac able to read scripture to us now.

Beating the pecans, like the Roman soldiers beat Jesus.

Reading a scripture between steps.

They had to be mixed for a long, long time!

And as you can see, Isaac was greatly amused with the mixer. :)

"Sealing the Tomb" overnight. It said to tape it, so instead of a small vertical piece, tape-nut Isaac went across the front of the stove. 

The cookies were quite tasty...here's the recipe:

Resurrection Cookies

Read the whole recipe before beginning...
try to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.


Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Ingredients:	You need:
1 cup whole pecans	Mixing bowl
3 egg whites	Wooden spoon
1 cup sugar	Bible
1 tsp. vinegar	Zipper baggy
1 pinch of salt	Wax paper
	Cookie sheet
	Tape

Place pecans in the baggy and let the children beat them
with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested,
He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read - John 19:1-3 to them


Let child smell the vinegar.
Put 1 tsp. into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross,
He was given vinegar to drink.
Read - John 19:28-30


Add egg whites to the vinegar.
Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life for our life.
Read - John 10:10-11


Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand
let them taste it then brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that represents the salty tears shed by Jesus followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin...
Read - Luke 23:27


So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of this story is
that Jesus died because He loves us.
He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read - Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16


Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes
until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes
of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read - Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3


Fold in broken nuts.
Drop by tsp.onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid. Read - Matt. 27:65-66


Put cookies sheet in the oven.
Close door and turn oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door.
Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.
Read - Matt. 27:65-66


Go to bed !


Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read - John 16:20 and 22


On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie !
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
The cookies are hollow !
On the first Resurrection Day Jesus followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty.
Read - Matt. 28:1-9


He Has Risen ! Hallelujah ! ! ! ! !


Author: Unknown

Easter

I know I'm a little behind, but here are some pics to share from Easter.

Here's Isaac at the local Community Home's annual egg hunt. Between the lack of advertising this year, and the rain, there were only 3 kids older than 5. They had a dining room of eggs all to themselves and all won a prize. 

That night, we colored Easter eggs. Thomas and Kayla were here for dinner, so Kayla joined us. We doodled on the eggs with white crayon first, and then colored them.

Isaac is really concentrating, as you can see by the tongue! :)

The finished product!

Easter morning...the kid LOVES Peeps!                                       Trying the sour squeeze sucker.

Isaac is showing Andrew his loot.

Told you it was sour...but you kept eating it!

My handsome boys...they clean up pretty nicely, don't they?

Posing, after dinner at Mamaw and Papaw's.

Orange Belts!

For the past few months, Andrew and Court have been taking Taekwondo classes. Most weeks, they are there on Tuesday evening and Saturday morning, working on their forms and soaking it all in. Even though I don't even claim to have any interest in it, I love what this means for our family. Taekwondo was brought up when Andrew's Dr's at Riley said "No" to him playing basketball. He was crushed by this, and even suggested we just not tell the Dr's he was playing. He has taken everything he's been through in stride up to this point, so it really bothered me that he was taking this so hard, although I could certainly understand his frustrations.

The mito team felt like Taekwondo would be a good alternative, since they want Andrew to remain active, but not overdo it physically. Court had taken it as a teen, so was happy to be strongly encouraged to take it with Andrew to monitor him closely. On a good day, it wears Andrew out completely. On a bad day, his Daddy is there to make him take a drink and a break. Even in all their excitement, though, they were less than proud of their white belts they started out with. In fact, they immediately started counting down to the next quarterly test date. :) Here is everyone who passed their belt tests - Court was probably excited to be one of the taller kids for this pic. :)

Here they are, just a few months after they started and they are now officially orange belts. This means they can now spar, and also that they aren't the lowest belts in the class. Even though they both come home and rub Biofreeze all over their bodies, they truly enjoy it. :) They take such pride in learning new forms and practicing them. They have already counted down how long it will be before they get their black belts even.



What makes me the happiest is the quality time they get by doing this together. And the fact that my children have been blessed with an amazing, hands-on daddy. So even if it doesn't interest me in the least bit, my heart smiles watching them enjoy this together!