Last Thanksgiving

I really like the Thanksgiving holiday. I enjoy the crafts, the traditions, the way my kids respond when we talk about thankfulness. I think I'm especially looking forward to this Thanksgiving, being with family, letting my kids run around (relying on family to tell me if they are about to jump off the roof) and yummy food. Why is this Thanksgiving more exciting than normal? I think partly because of last Thanksgiving. Don't worry, nothing tragic happened but it was definitely different. In fact, it was a good lesson in contentment and thankfulness.

We were going to my Aunt Brenda's last year for lunch. It's a 2-hour drive so we were going to have a quick breakfast, jump in the van and be off. Everybody was grabbing whatever they wanted (mostly doughnuts) while I fed Gabe and tried to tame my hair. We made it to the van right on time and headed east. Joshua and Noah grabbed some handheld games and Samuel, who is a big fan of the "Which Way USA" magazines, took one to work on in the backseat of the van.

Notice the combination here: 7-year old, belly full of doughnuts, bent over a magazine, backseat of a van. Needless to say, we did not make it to Aunt Brenda's. We had traveled 1 hour when "Oh Gross!" rose above the normal chatter and alerted us to a major problem. Samuel no longer had a belly full of doughnuts but rather a lap full. We pulled over and worked for probably 30 minutes trying to clean out the van and clean up Samuel. The poor kid had to ride home in his underwear, a jacket from Josh, and a blanket from Gabe.

Once we arrived home, we stayed home, but we still had to prepare "Thanksgiving Dinner." Samuel and the rest of us were actually quite hungry by now. We feasted and enjoyed the game. The menu? hotdogs, doritos, and ho-ho's.

By the way honey, don't forget to pick-up some ho-ho's - just in case.

Yum, yum, yum

Okay, I'm curious. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
(Now don't get crazy on me and list the entire table. Think: when I'm driving to Grandma's, or my Aunt's, or setting my own table what's the dish I get most excited about?)

Kristie: gravy (just the right amount on the turkey, dressing and mashed potatos) and pecan pie.
Samuel: turkey
Joshua: deviled eggs (quote "and for dessert - more deviled eggs!")
Noah: rolls
Gabe: I don't know, but probably mashed potatos since he can smoosh those into his sweater most effectively.

Now somebody better comment and put dumplings on here because those are one of my favorites, too, but I had to follow my own advice and not "get crazy...and list the entire table."

Nothing

No, this isn't a post about nothing; it's a post about something - which is "nothing." I mentioned in a earlier post about my new marriage motto. Now I have a new personal motto. Before I tell you what it is, let me tell you what it is not. It is not Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." That's such a beautiful and encouraging verse, isn't it? I hope just hearing it encourages you. But I'm afraid that is not the one that I felt the Lord pointing out to me as a personal directive. The one for me (Miss Prideful) is Galatians 6:3 "For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

Now this verse obviously speaks for itself, but I would like to add a quote from Humility by Andrew Murray. (I am eager to read C.J.'s book, but have not had an opportunity yet, so I will have to quote from an older compatriot.) In his preface he discusses the "three great motives that will urge us to humility" I am a creature, a sinner, and a saint. He then says of humility:

It is not something which we bring to God, or He bestows; it is simply the sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is all, and in which we make way for God to be all. When the creature realizes that this is the true nobility, and consents to be with his will, his mind and his affections, the form, the vessel in which the life and glory of God are to work and manifest themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as creature, and yielding to God His place.

I like that; I want to be like that - nothing.

Isn't it Funny?!

Isn't it funny how you tell someone something, or write about something that God is showing you, and it comes back on you? Just to let you know what Kristie is really like - I can post about planning my days in such a way as to serve my husband in the a.m. and then argue and pout like a baby in the p.m. because he wants me to go the dentist. Nice, eh?

I love God's sovereignty in this. "Oh, you want to serve your husband and plan your day according to his wants/needs, huh? What if he wants you to go to the dentist? What if he wants you to interrupt your plans for the week and find a babysitter and get a shot in the mouth?" My response: "Well, I didn't mean that! Oh, you meant that? Oh, great."

So check on me in a week or so and see if I've gone to the dentist with a good attitude!

Freedom! (can't you hear Mel Gibson?)

I have been reading Galatians again and again these past few weeks. It is amazing how God uses His word to reveal new or clearer truth to us even if we just read the same scriptures last week. His word is definitely "living and active." (and maybe I'm just too slow to get it the first couple of times!) In doing this, I believe God has given me a new marriage motto. After Paul reminds the Galatians that Christ's justifying work on the cross has set them free from the yoke of the law (Gal. 5:1-6), he then admonishes them in the exercise of that freedom: "Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Gal. 5:13)

Now obviously this applies to us all: married, unmarried, adult, child, male, female, but if you are married, look at it for a moment in the context of your marriage. Our freedom is not given to us so that we can do whatever we want. Nor is it a compromise: "I'll do some things for him and some things for me." It says "serve one another." Is that what I'm doing with my freedom? When I plan my day (my opportunity to do whatever I consider important or fun or interesting) am I planning it in such a way as to serve my spouse? There are days I would not like to be asked that question, but there it is waiting for an answer.

Now, let's take it one step further. How does it say to serve one another? In duty? No, "in love!" I can't determine to serve out of some obligation or duty - just set my goal and serve, serve, serve. I must serve out of love. OK, this is where Kristie fails and the Holy Spirit must supply. First of all, He must give me the strength, brains, opportunity, etc. to serve my husband. But even more, I will never serve Him in love without the help of the Spirit. I know what you're thinking - "Doesn't she love her husband?" Yes, I do! (Are you reading this, Sweetie?) I love my husband dearly, but I tend to forget how much I love him in the midst of serving him.

My service reaches new heights when it is motivated by affection for my husband, and I need God's grace to help me do that. I don't want to just check off my list of "to do's." I want to respond to him and his needs and do my best to meet those needs because of my care for him. And again, this doesn't just apply to our spouses, but to whomever God gives us the opportunity to serve. (Bless you if you unmarried and still reading this post.) We can ask daily, hourly even, for the grace to "serve one another in love" Lord, help me!

He's Going, Going, Gone!

Well, Gabe is up and going. He took a couple of steps on Wednesday which were very exciting. Yesterday, we went to visit Henry and Jonathan (Mctwins) and a couple of steps just wouldn't do. He started walking all over the place. He doesn't have much of a limp which is surprising. I tried to get some pictures of him walking, but they turned out blurry. (No surprise since he was moving!) So here are some of him trying to take apart the camera accessories.

You Ate What!?

I'm eating lunch and it's dinosaur nuggets and applesauce. Yesterday, it was a corndog and cheese curls. My diet definitely reflects my mealtime companions. Sometimes I'm grateful because I can buy Froot Loops without feeling silly, but at other times I regret my "dietary choices" (like after the very green eggs and ham or the blue velvet cake - Thanks, Suzie.) I know I'm not the only one. So satisfy my curiosity, please - what's the strangest thing you have eaten while caring for children as a mom, teacher, babysitter, etc.?

How Old is Pop Anyway?

Okay, from the serious to the goofy. Hey, that's what you get in the Cormany household.

I have four fabulous boys. Although the escapades of the younger two could fill a blog all their own, this post focuses on the older two. Samuel and Joshua are 13 months apart. They do everything together and are, thank God, the best of friends. They are not, however, anything alike. They don't look alike, think alike, learn alike, eat alike, grow alike, sit alike, dress alike, talk alike, nope, nothing alike.
Yes, of course they both have two eyes, two ears, a head and all the relevant body parts alike, but that doesn't count right now.

For example, they each have a very different sense of humor. Samuel's jokes are very corny (when they make any sense at all) and seldom get a genuine laugh from his audience, a polite chuckle maybe, but that's it. Of course he is laughing so hard at his own joke that he never notices that no one else is. Then there is Josh. Josh is hilarious. He has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor, great timing, and a good understanding of what a joke actually needs in order to be funny.

Over the years, I have realized that God is using these very different boys to help one another along. Sam helps Josh with school; Josh keeps Sam from dressing like a nerd; they both help each other live with Noah; etc. And now I think there is evidence that Josh is helping Sam with his sense of humor:
We love games at our house. Every member of our family likes to play cards and boardgames. (Well except Gabe who likes to bend the cards and hide all the small pieces.) The only problem is, as you can guess, we all like different games. Recently, after being told to pick a game for us to play, Sam and Josh come upstairs empty-handed. "Where's the game?" I asked. "We can't decide," Sam replies. "Why?" "Because I'm just too old to play the games Josh picks." (Remember, they are just 13 months apart!) Before I can respond Josh interjects "What are you talking about?! I picked 99. Pop Cormany likes to play 99 and he's 80 million years old!" Sam without missing a beat responds "Josh that's silly, Pop Cormany is not 80 million years old. He's only half that." I laughed. Sure, it's not the best material I've ever heard, but I actually laughed out loud. I'm so proud of him - he's come a long way. And he even managed not to laugh at his own joke, but just stood there with a smug grin on his face.

Oh, and yes, for those of you who are knowledgeable about these things, 99 is a drinking game. My 40 million year old father-in-law taught my boys a drinking game. Fortunately, they leave out the drinking part. Thanks Pop!

The Good, the Bad, and the Glory

Despite the cheesy title, this is not a cheesy post. In fact, it's pretty serious. Looking over the past few weeks I've heard about marriages and divorces, miscarriages and births, sick babies and healthy babies, new houses, destructive storms, new jobs and funerals, in other words "the good and the bad." Is there a plan behind all this? Are these things random or purposeful?

The truth of God's word is the only thing that will help us here. God sovereignly directs all things: "He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, 'What are You doing?'" (Dan. 4:35). He directs all things according to His purpose: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). So everything that happens has a purpose. God directs not just the "big" things, but also the "little" things; not just the "good" things, but also the "bad" things. All the big and little events, all the good and bad events are all sovereignly heading to one very big and very good purpose.

So what is this purpose? Well, I am not a theologian in the professional sense and am pretty limited in knowledge, but I believe that it is God's glory. Definitely our sanctification is involved in this process, but it is to God's glory that it all points.

Whoa, isn't that a little self-serving of God, to glorify Himself? No!
God doesn't need our attention or our praise. He is serving us by drawing our attention to Himself - the only pure, most beautiful, only true, and completely selfless person there is. We will find peace and joy only when our gaze is fixed on Him. Sometimes something little focuses my attention on God, sometimes something big is required. Sometimes I glorify God because of something good, sometimes it is something bad that reminds me of His glory.

Now I'm not trying to downplay the pain that comes with some of the difficult events of life. I'm just saying that God plans and uses even that intense pain for a good and godly purpose. The joy of a newborn and the pain of a lost loved one work together in His hands to make a beautiful and glorious purpose. I don't understand it all, and sometimes I don't even feel like it's true, but my understanding and my feelings don't change it (thank God), but are instead slowly and surely molded by it.

In an already long post, let me just give two quick examples from Scripture. In Acts 6:8 - 8:4, the story of Stephen the first Christian matyr is told. Stephen was a godly servant, a real gift to the early church and a man full of wisdom and courage. He was, however, stoned just as the church was beginning. It must have seemed like a terrible loss, completely without purpose or reason to the friends who mourned him. We then find out that Stephen's death initiated violent persecution of the early church (another "bad" event) which scattered the young church all over the area. How could God let this happen? But as we read on, having the helpful perspective of hindsight, we find out that this scattering of Christians actually spread the gospel of Christ all over the area. God's glory spread as many men and women heard the gospel for the first time.

Secondly, in Galatians, Paul gives us a brief retelling of his conversion. Few would doubt that the conversion of Paul the greatest persecuter of the church and vehement supporter of Stephen's stoning would be a "good" event. Did this good event happen to honor Paul or help out a young church. No, Paul is clear about the ultimate purpose of his conversion in Galatians 1:24, "And they glorified God because of me."

So maybe I should change the title of this post. Not just because it is cheesy, but because it is inaccurate. Are there really any bad things? There are certainly sad events, but when all things are orchestrated to His good purpose can we call them "bad"? Maybe it should be "The Good, the 'boy it sure seems bad to me, but I'm believing by faith it will turn out for good', and the Glory" - more accurate, but a little long, don't you think?

Our Castaway

Gabe's cast is gone! It was taken off yesterday morning and he is doing wonderfully. We thought he would have trouble sleeping, but instead he seems to be making up for many sleepless nights. He slept 3 hours for his nap yesterday and over 11 hours last night. His skin looks great with only a couple of calluses and one red spot behind his right knee, but no sores. His leg is weak of course, but he is already moving it and trying to learn to scoot around again.
We are amazed at God's mercy and kindness toward us! Thanks for praying for our little guy.