And thank you for my guns

So I haven't had a voice for the past couple of days. I got a cold over the weekend that left me without a voice. Being mama (of 2 boys!) isn't that easy without a voice. Yesterday morning started out as most mornings do in the Maddry household. At 8 am Caleb's alarm clock went off and he came in to "wake" me up (even though most of the time I've been awake reading my bible.) When he realized that I had no voice and was whispering - he started whispering too! I was hopeful! Maybe this would be a quiet day in our household. He kept whispering until Luke Bear woke up 30 min. later. Once he saw his brother he yelled, "Good morning." And from there it was full speed ahead!

Breakfast wasn't too bad because they can't touch each other. Once the silliness of breakfast was over it was on to what they do best. Hard play. They put all the couch pillows on the floor and started jumping (Caleb) and falling (Luke) off the couch. It was all fun and games until...Luke Bear hit his head on the coffee table. After I put an end to that game and sent them downstairs to their play room, they started wrestling over a ball. I knew how this would end up. Like it always does...with someone needing Boo-Boo Buddy. Sure enough Luke hurt Caleb while climbing on him (little brother tends to hurt big brother more often that not). So then I sent them upstairs to play in Caleb's room. After folding some laundry I went up to check on them (I heard hysterical laughter and knew that was a bad sign) only to find them running down the hall and into one another. I started clapping my hands to get their attention and Luke thought it was so great that I was clapping for them he started clapping along too.

So I sent Luke to room time, let Caleb watch PBS and jumped on the treadmill. After I was done it was time to run errands. The second we pull out of the driveway Caleb is thirsty and hungry. We got gas, dropped off our VERY overdue movies to Blockbuster, then headed for the library - the place I've been avoiding for a week. I had 2 books that were almost a month over due (I thought I had turned them in until I found them on Caleb's bookshelf) and Caleb had completely destroyed one book beyond repair. Those Librarians aren't the nicest so I was fearful of their wrath (towards me not Caleb). I had whispered to Caleb all morning long that he was going to hold the book and tell the librarian what he had done and that he would never do it again. Of course the one time that I need a mean librarian I get one that tells Caleb how cute he is and that he is sure he Caleb didn't mean to tear the book, and ended with "it's okay buddy accidents happen". Not exactly the scolding I was hoping for.

Finally we get home to have lunch. By now we are all hungry and the boys are running WILD! After much signing (that was getting ignored) I was able to get the kids to the table for lunch. I whispered to Caleb if he would pray for us. He says, "Thank you for my mom-mom and my daddy and Luke Bear. Thank you for the library and playing with Luke Bear. Thank you for yummy food. Thank you that Jesus died on cross so that I can go to heaven. And thank you for my guns. Amen."

I love my boys!

Great Movie!!

Joseph and I went to see End of the Spear last night and HIGHLY recommend it! It is the story of the Waodani Indians and how their lives changed after killing 5 missionaries, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Flemming & Roger Youderian. This movie is an excellent movie to take someone whose heart hasn't been touched by Christ because it will open great dialogue about forgiveness, redemption, sacrifice, grace & so much more!
What I loved about this movie is that it reminded me that our God pursues us and he doesn't have to. I'm always amazed that God doesn't need us, but will continue to pursue us knowing that we need him and because of his great love for us! Thank you Father for pursuing me even though I rejected you (and still do sometimes)!


www.endofthespear.com

Get it straight!

I read this before I went to church today:

"Mercy understood is holiness desired. '(Jesus) gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him - people who are always wanting to do good deeds (Titus 2:14). Note that last phrase: "people who are always wanting to do good deeds.' Grace fosters an eagerness for good. Grace doesn't spawn a desire to sin. If one has truly embraced God's gift, he will not mock it. In fact, if a person uses God's mercy as liberty to sin, one might wonder if the person knew God's mercy at all.
God's trust makes us eager to do right. Such is the genius of grace. The law can show us where we do wrong, but it can't make us eager to do right. Grace can. Or as Paul answers, 'Faith causes us to be what the law truly wants' (Romans 3:31)." (From In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado)

Then...
I went to church today in a bad mood. No reason. Just because. I went to worship determined that I still wanted to be in a bad mood. So I wasnt' going to sing and songs or participate. Yeah, that will show...them? But I can't seem to run away from God (THANK YOU LORD!!!!) And his name is so worthy of being praise how could I not praise it? And then I was reminded of what I had read this morning. Oh Lord, will I ever "get it straight"? Everytime I think I get it...I loose it. And that's the beauty of grace and mercy. God still gives it. Father, help me find it more. And help me teach it to my boys.
~SSM

ps. The funny thing is we are always talking to Caleb about grace and mercy. That's probably the same way God feels about me

During Joseph's break they went on a "date" to the Air & Space museum. Joseph has been wanting to go for a while and they had a great time. Here is Caleb in front of some sort of helicopter (sorry if this is yours Amy!!) 

I know this! Caleb in front of the space shuttle!

Caleb in front of some sort of fighter 

Caleb and some kind of jet 

And Caleb in front of...this is probably why I wasn't invited on their date! 

Christmas morning! Before they ripped the presents we had Caleb look for baby Jesus to try to teach him to seek God first before all things! 

How blessed are we? We didn't think that we would have many present under the tree this year and were content with that. Then Mama arrived. Between the grandparent gifts we couldn't fit anything else under the tree! 

Luke's ball pit is a HIT! What a perfect gift for him! 

the Maddry men are ready to respond to any emergency! 

has anyone seen Dr. Maddry? 

He looks 'bad to the bone' until you you check out those mittens! 

We started a new tradition this year of decorating cookies as a family. While the girls were out shopping Caleb and Daddy make all the gingerbread cookies for us to decorate. 

Daddy even got into the decorating 

Luke didn't get to decorate, but he did get to eat 

The chef's decorating their cookies 

More frosting ended up in Caleb's mouth than on his cookie! 

One of my favorite things about my mama is what a fun grandma she is. Caleb wanted to put a leash on her and walk her around the house! How many grandma's would really go for this? 

Caleb is trying to figure out how to get her downstairs to the basement 

the girls and Luke Bear 

isn't that elephant doing a great job posing for this photo? 

Mama, Luke & Sarah at the Natural History Museum 

Nana and Luke. Mama was surprised Luke Bear had grown since the summer and how much he has come into his own little personality. 

scuba-boy 

2 cute boys! 

Being Clay

I read this this morning and thought that it was a great reminder of the mindset that I want to have going into this new year.

'Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.'
~ from He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado