Yep, that infamous sentence that we all heard as kids growing up, when we didn’t like our parent’s decision on a particular matter.  Remember it?

“When you get older and live on your own, you can do what you want to do.  BUT, as long as you live under our roof, you are to listen to our rules!”

It all came down when I discovered that a particular child exploded a bomb in his room, sending a mixture of clean and dirty clothes across the floor, scattering toys everywhere, leaving drawers half open with items hanging out, numerous books falling off of shelves and…well…you get the picture… It was a mess with a capital “M”.

Like any irritable mother who wants to keep her home tidy and presentable, I began ranting on what a pig stye his room had become.  Amidst my many, many, descriptive words to get my passionate point across, I was careful to throw in a few biblical terms like stewardship and order vs. chaos.  I admit that I was not erring on the side of graciousness and kindness.  This was a pattern and I had “had it.”

My child listened and didn’t even disagree with the assessment.  There was no arguing that the room was a mess, but the question of whether or not our standards were too high, was raised.  This child didn’t question me in a disrespectful manner at all.  It was a simple statement that indicated that perhaps our expectation of what “clean” looks like is a bit unreasonable.

I listened.  I paused.  And that’s when the sentence almost came out of my mouth.

Even as I swallowed back the almost words, two things came to mind:

1- This is such a tempting statement to make to your children.

2- At the heart of it, the statement is not a good one to ever make.

What parent hasn’t felt at one point or another that they are at the end of their rope? Nothing has gone as expected all day long, there is one setback after another, and just when your day seems to be taking an unexpected pleasant turn, you discover a pig stye around the corner.  That’s all it took for me.

I began thinking through the statement, “When you get older and live on your own, you can do what you want to do.  BUT, as long as you live under our roof, you are to listen to our rules.”

At first glance it can seem like a true and even reasonable statement.  Unfortunately, I have yet to ever hear this statement made apart from an irritated, exasperated, or angry tone.  But setting the tone aside, I sought to unpack these words to see what actually lived within them.

In the next day or two, I will share what I came up with personally.

Hait got hit with an earthquake, leaving behind scenes of horror, death, and fear.

I complain because I am stuck inside this warm, comfortable home, filled with every type of food imaginable.

The Haitians worship and praise God in the filthy streets, amidst the rubble and in spite of their great loss.

My children get bundled up in layers of clothes to dig tunnels and forts through the snow, having the time of their lives.

So many Haitian children have lost their lives.  Their bodies are broken beneath tons of concrete.   Others are alive but left with nothing.  No clothes.  No home.  No toys.  No mommy or daddy.

I have the flu.  I am sick.  But I have three different types of medicine I am taking.  I have a warm bed to rest in, a tv to watch if I’m bored, and a husband to care for me.  I have four kids that hug and kiss me and tell me they love me.

Haitians are sick and suffering yet many do not have proper medicine.  Haitians have lost legs and arms and have endured crude amputations with little if any pain medication.  Is there someone holding their hand?  Is there someone telling them that they love them?

I admit that I am an Anderson Cooper addict when a tragedy hits some part of the world.  I find his reporting gripping and raw.  It always affects me and gives me perspective on life.  I have went to bed these past few weeks praying for the Haitians and especially for the many children left orphaned.  And I have prayed for myself too, that I would see and feel my own helplessness and hopelessness apart from Jesus.  It’s difficult when I am smack in the middle of my comfortable, worldly trappings, to be at a place where I see my need – but it’s worth fighting for.

The Haitians have taught me that.

No complaints regarding D.  He is a great little smiler.  In fact, as soon as he sees a camera pointing anywhere near his face, he turns on the cheese.  Azariyah, on the other hand, is a monster-baby.  As soon as we were all positioned, she either screamed or whined and in one shot, she even jumped out of the picture.  UGH!

So, here are a few funny rejects and then I will show you the winner!

Reject #1

Reject 2 – What a beautiful smile Azariyah!

Reject 3: Merry Christmas from Matt, Tracy, Stephen, Abbie, D and Azariyah’s foot

And the winner is….

The thought of that board popping up, causing an explosion of shapes was a fearful thing for any elementary school kid.  And do you remember that one stinkin’ macaroni shaped piece?  That’s the one that always got me!

After a long and close game of Settlers, where Fox took the win (ugh!), we whipped out a new game for a little competition.

Some notes on the pics below:

1- Allyson looks way to calm.  How annoying!  Then again, she beat the timer with room to spare so I guess her calm expression makes sense.

2- Becky looks panicked, though she beat the clock with plenty of time to spare.  No need to panic Fox!

3- Me – well I look panicked too, but like the other girls, I beat the clock so why the worry?

4- Pat looks calm but surprisingly, he is the one that needed to look worried.  After all, the first two times he played, the game beat him!