Catching Up

(Sunday, 10/17): I started this post over a week ago.  It is so sad it has taken me this long to complete.  But, this afternoon there is finally some peace for me to publish it.  We've returned from church and I've fed everyone and finished sewing my first outfit for Robert, while listening to this.  The laundry is mostly done, and now everyone else is asleep.  It is peaceful.  I can be still, remember the Lord, be thankful, and take a few minutes to myself.

Whew. I knew it was going to be a busy fall.  Blogging has definitely taken a back seat.  I sincerely apologize to those 4.5 readers out there! :) It has been a good kind of busy though.  Lots of football and some cooler weather.   

Memory Verses:

We're not moving quite as quickly through our memory verses as I originally hoped, but that is entirely my fault, and no reflection on Emma.  It never ceases to amaze me how I am sometimes "too busy" to find even 5 minutes to work on a memory verse.   I am beginning to recognize the difficulty of "manufactured business." The VAST majority of what I spend my time doing doesn't have any eternal significance.  And man, oh man, how I am short changing my children (not to mention myself too) when my priorities become skewed.  They are learning so much by what they see.  Not what I say.  So, I think in this season of " earthly business" my prayer is quickly becoming that we would be "busy with the Lord," doing whatever work HE has for us. Whatever work advances and brings glory to His kingdom.  Praise God for his redemptive grace and mercy that allows us to "start again"--as many times as I need.  He surely is Mighty to Save. 

So, where was I? Oh, yes, the memory verse.  No doubt, Emma isn't quite as proficient with this one (Philipians 2:14) as the others.  But then again, just because I have it memorized, doesn't mean my heart has locked it up entirely either.  Despite these stumbles, the Spirit is moving in our family through this verse as our house is quickly becoming a place of repeated "whining."  Maybe it's being 2 1/2, or maybe it's being 30, but it is SO convicting to realize how often we complain during the day. (I'm giving Robert a pass on this one since the poor child can't even sit up yet...but I'm sure some doctrinal junkies out there would include him, given original sin and all...)

The Avery Family Process

With football season (absent last week's performance) and the increasing need for discipline around our house, we're developing (Saban style) a family process.  It's actually fun to think about listing all the important qualities and priorities we hope to cultivate in our family.  So, what better place to start than with physical toughness. Ok, I can think of LOTS better places to start...(e.g. memory verses), but it was fun to show Emma some of J's cultish-obsession with Tony Horton and all things P90X.

[IMAGINE VIDEO OF EMMA ATTEMPTING A PULL UP HERE. 

BLOGGER IS NOT COOPERATING].

Fall Fun

We made a trip to a local pumpkin patch (with half of the metro birmingham area).  Emma picked out her very own pumpkin (well sort of...). 

Robert really enjoyed the whole trip.  He told me so. He didn't mind one bit that I woke him up early from his nap to ride 40 minutes in the car (through Auburn game traffic) while Emma screamed sang the itsy bitsy spider.  He also didn't mind riding "off road" in the Maclaren stroller because I forgot the Baby Bjorn, OR taking his bottle on a bumpy hay ride.  He was also ok that I forgot his sunhat (which meant he spent a majority of our trip wrapped with a blanket  (or hat) around his head. Don't worry, he could breathe).  Despite all of these "hiccups,"  he told me it was the best trip to a pumpkin patch he'd EVER had! Can you believe it??? 

That's about it around here for now.  Kids are waking up and I'm going to try to run because I've been doing this.  The next question is should I do this? Be back soon!