Papa Aliwa?

"Papa aliwa?" can be heard multiple times a day around here....where's Papa? All of the kids, especially Zeke and Elly, miss their Daddy when he's gone. Confession time...I do too...a lot! I am so thankful for a husband who spends not just quality time but quantity time with our children.

For the past 6 weeks, JT has taken Zeke and Elly while I teach school to the older three. They generally play in the playroom (some type of singing is involved here and building towers and laughing...lots of laughing), run errands (they LOVE to ride in the car), or work/play outside. So, this week, with just Mom running everything, they have missed their Papa a lot! We have had to juggle the schedule in order to get school finished each day, but God has given the wisdom and patience necessary to complete it all.

Those who know me well know that I'm a homebody at heart. I love to be at home. That was NOT the case while I was growing up, so it is a joy to be here with my family managing the home. But, on Monday, as soon as school was over, we packed up and headed to the McWane Center (let me say, membership to McWane and the zoo have been well worth it for the past few years).

Jett LOVES going to the McWane Center mainly for the playground, the wind tunnel, and the Publix grocery store. However, on this trip he spent most of his time in the dinosaur dig area. He thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the bones using a paintbrush. Madison enjoyed being a meteorologist several times over and the fish exhibits (she's studying ocean creatures in science right now). Kaitlyn said her favorite activity was playing checkers on the 3rd floor with her sister (I think it's because she won). Zeke loved everything...especially the playground and the water area near the playground. He thought it was fun to just explore any and everything! For some reason Elly LOVED the fish area....she has NOT stopped talking about it. She pretends she is a fish and shows us how to touch the back of fish (two fingers only she reminds us)....

It was a great day for all of us. Madison said it was one of the best days ever. I agree...

God's grace and provision are all-sufficient. I don't have to rely on my own desires, needs, strengths or talents to make anything happen. I have all that I need in Him alone. I must totally depend on Him and not on me. So, I trek the kids downtown because He prompts me to do so...I know that I personally wouldn't choose or entertain the idea...I'd rather be here marking things off my growing To-Do list...but God reminds me that other things are more important. They are eternally significant. His teaching is good, and I learn from Him.

Speaking of which, I have been going through the book of Ephesians for a while now. God is teaching me SO much. One of the biggest concepts He has shown me lately comes from Ephesians 4:20 where Paul is talking about the Christian walk. He reminds the believers that they "did not learn Christ in this way." To "learn Christ" is ESSENTIAL to the daily faith journey. How you can live like Christ or love like Christ if you don't LEARN Him first. That's not the word "KNOW"...it implies more than that...to "LEARN" Him! Oh, how I must study Christ through the Word of God daily. I must soak it up and memorize it more. I am more convinced than ever that teaching Him to my children is more important than school, work, etc. They must know and learn the Word of God. I must do the same and set the example. I don't know Him enough. I must know and learn Him more. I feel like I'm at a water fountain every morning drinking of His Word and wanting more. Oh, how I long to learn Him more and more and more.....