Tea Cup

This is beautiful... I had to share. I have an aunt who send weekly inspirations. This is one of those times I really needed the reminder that there are tests and trials for reasons that I may never fully understand. Thank you Sara.

THE TEA CUP
~ Author Unknown~
There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that."

"I don't like it!" "Let me alone," but he only smiled, and gently said; "Not yet!"

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. "Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick!", I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, quietly; 'Not yet.'

He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet'.

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on he shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh, please, Stop it, Stop, I cried. He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'.

Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering "What's he going to do to me next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!!!

Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.

Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and think on this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

Spring Batting Practice

The boys have gotten alot of use of the batting tee this spring already. The clips below are of the kids playing outside during the nice spring weather.

Easter 2010

We had a nice Easter day. Bryson helped the boys find their eggs. He was nosing them around in the yard, but did not pick any up in his mouth. He is such a fabulous dog, we are very lucky to have him in our household. The children had candy for breakfast. Lars is enjoying a few minutes on the bench with Jamie in the photo below.

Quentin was very interested in counting the eggs and making sure he and his brother had an equal amount. It is amazing how well the bunny can count!

Quentin was very happy to show the camera his loot! Our children may be the only kids who got plain plastic pails for baskets this year. I thought they would get a lot more use of them. I can already imagine all the bugs, worms, toads, rocks and sticks that the boys will be toting around in them this summer. Boys will be boys...

Risen!

Happy Easter!

Easter Weekend

Saturday morning was egg dying (and finger dying) morning at our house. The boys were up for the challenge. Two dozen eggs, two boys, six bowls of food coloring, one newspaper.... let it begin! Quentin is an old pro at decorating eggs, I think this may have been Lars first egg extravaganza!

(A little tip- foamy shaving cream works wonders for cleaning the table and fingers after a project like this!)

Wonderful Monday

What a wonderful day! Lars and I spent some time with Grandma today. We visited her new apartment, played outside and had lunch. Grandma and Lars really enjoyed eachother outside. Lars rode his bike on the sidewalk and stretched his legs a good bit. We enjoyed lunch with Grandma in the common lunch area. Lars poking at the baked apple with cinnamon may have been the best entertainment of the morning. Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.

Spring

Sorry it has been so very long. We are all feeling refreshed since spring arrived in Wisconsin. It feels a bit early, but we aren't complaining. The winter has kept us busy. Quentin is two thirds of the way through Kindergarten and doing well. Lars has started attending daycare a few days a week. He enjoys playing with the other children, but does not enjoy being away from his Momma. We are glad he has started this transition now, or it could have been tough for him as school started. He is actually registered for preschool in the fall, and tells us he is excited to be in school too. He'll have the same preschool teacher Quentin did. Mrs. N is made for being a preschool teacher. If God has a mold he uses to create a wonderful early childhood teacher, she was definately created with it!

Quentin is riding his "two wheeler" these days. He still prefers the grass and going straight to hard surfaces and turning, however we are extremely proud of him for making the leap. Lars is riding his tricycle very well, and has actually begun to ride the small bike with training wheels too. He has a bit too much of the fearless Norse Viking blood in his veins. I have stopped him from riding down the stairs more than one time already!
The boys have been enjoying the batting tee and wiffle balls tremendously this spring also. Bryson has also been enjoying the game of chasing the balls. He is not so great at bringing them back to the kids, but there is a reason we buy them by the bucketload.

The spring bulbs have begun surfacing in the past week, a few crocuses are blooming this week already. It would be lovely to have a few more in time for Easter. We are hoping the bunny comes to our house this year. The kids have been doing a wonderful job eating their fruits and vegetables lately, they heard that the bunny is extra kind to children who eat healthy, especially carrots.