A Weekend of Wonder.

I'm sitting in my living room right now writing to you and this is what I'm hearing...

"Someone ought to take him out back and hit him over the head with a hammer."

Yep, my lovelies, "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." Or as we like to say around here, "remember it's Sunday which means it's football. Stay out of my way or I'll clock ya." We take our football very seriously.

This past weekend has been special. Any number of reasons really. (Most of which I plan on sharing with you here. So hit the ESCAPE button now or forever hold your peace.) But as some of you may have heard - and as many of you may be feeling - we are in a recession.

Recession - an extended decline in general business activity, typically two consecutive quarters of falling

real gross national product.

When the economy is bad, well, let's just say around our house - it's worse. If it's bad where you are, it's worse where we are. Mainly because our livelihood is one of discretionary means. And what I mean by that is, if the economy is bad guess what the first thing is to go? You got it. Music. Entertainment. Books. Movies. All the things that we make our living from. (Well, all the things the AG makes a living from...I'm feeling pretty useless right about now.)

So yeah, it's hard right now. It's unpleasant. And uncomfortable. And tight. Which is why this weekend was even more special to me.

Friday night the AG took me out for my birthday. He really surprised me this year with tickets to a play! I love that kind of stuff and didn't even know there was anything coming to town that I would be interested in. But he had bought the tickets almost 6 months ago...before that whole recession thing...and the tickets had sold out quickly. So good for us! It was a wonderful night out with sushi and my best friend.

But going out like that would never have been possible had we had to get a babysitter. I can't afford the going rate anymore so there are more and more nights in for the AG and I. But now that Meridith is here we at least have her to call on. And if she isn't working (and thankfully she wasn't on Friday night) then we have someone wonderful and patient and fun and our kids love - and it's absolutely free.

Thank you, Lord. I appreciate that.

Because we needed a good laugh on Friday night after a hard week, I specifically prayed that this play might do the trick. I needed a good laugh. I KNEW the AG needed a good laugh. And that was exactly what we got. We both laughed and laughed and it felt good (like a medicine, some might say) and helped our anxiety and our worry. And refreshed our spirit.

Very sweet, Lord, very sweet.

Saturday brought a trip to Home Depot to pick up some paint for Rocco's room. Because people, it's time! He is sleeping through the night and ready for a room all his on. (And momma having hers back wouldn't hurt either.) We had a gift card to Home Depot for the paint, and all the crib sheets, curtains and bedding had been given to us as gifts, so his room is all but ready to go.

Thanks for simple favors, Lord.

We still need a dresser and changing table for Rocco. But I am trusting the Lord has the perfect ones. I keep checking Craig's List or Ebay because now is not the time to be purchasing extravagant furniture for a child's room. I am not a girl of great sentiment, so I don't need some vintage dresser for $8200. I just need something sweet and brown and perfect for a perfect baby. Keep an ear out for me if you were to hear of something for sale. Or for free. Or even just for really really cheap.

You've already provided, Lord. Haven't you?

Friday, Saturday and Sunday came with only one accident from Remi. You heard right. It's official - Remi is potty trained. She has worn nothing but big girl panties since Friday morning and it has gone incredibly well. We've done Home Depot without accident and Sunday morning church without accident. So I am assuming it's a done deal. She seems repelled by the thought of diapers and loves the idea of underpants with Elmo on them, so I'd say we're in it for the long haul.

That's just like you, Lord. You remember everything. Everything. Nothing goes unnoticed, does it? And just when we can't take anymore...you lighten our load.

Sunday was special for me for many reasons. Sunday morning was our children's Christmas musical and it felt good and right to be sitting in a service where children danced and sang and laughed and forgot lines and dressed up like shepherds and cried on the front row. That felt right. Amidst a society of Xbox 360, MTV, cell phones and texting - it seemed particularly nice to see children do what it is children do best. I loved the fact that Remi sat spellbound on my lap as the children moved and swayed and sang with all their hearts. I loved seeing the children of my friends arrayed in their adorable cuteness. And I loved looking out and seeing their momma's smiling and crying and holding up video cameras like their child was the only one in the room. So yes, it was precious.

Ohhhh...so that's why you love children so much, Lord. Because they symbolize exactly what it is you like in all of us. The simpleness. No pretense. Just unabashed praise. And unapologetic joy. I forget that sometimes.

Lastly, this weekend the AG and I got the chance to make Christmas a little bit brighter for a little girl. We were told what her Christmas wish list was comprised of and off we went to pick out some toys for her Christmas day. This is a challenging thing to do when you are concerned with what your children will open on Christmas day - but my children are always well taken care of. So this little girl was my priority. But do you have any idea how much Hannah Montana stuff is?? Geez Louise. It ain't cheap! And as I sat in our morning service yesterday I sulked a bit. Afraid that what I got her wasn't enough. That what we got her she wouldn't like. That what we got her would not make her as happy as what some other people might have been able to do for her. And I felt lame. And ashamed. And embarrassed. And well, silly.

And then I was reminded by the words that came out of one adorable little mop-topped boy, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones...he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42) Can you believe that? That's what he said. And though he said it to the whole congregation I imagine he might as well have looked at me on the front row and said it straight to me.

And I thank you for using a child to remind me. It isn't the first time you've done such a miraculous work through a child, is it? Thank you, Lord. Always.