Sledding!

Yesterday I took Lydia and Will sledding with some other people from our Sunday School class and was reminded how fun winter can really be! We had an absolute blast!!! I couldn't believe how daring MY children were... especially Lydia who is usually so cautious. She was the first one over the ramp! Some of our friends had these crazy bicycle/ski/ sled contraptions that truly looked like a death wish at first glance. It is a "banana seat" with handle bars atop 2 skis- one behind the other. Evidently Rubbermaid manufactured them for 1 year then quit because of all the injuries- no doubt! After endless begging, I agreed to give Lydia a ride on one- this is evidently how you do it- kid on the front, "adult" on the back. I use the term "adult" in quotes because no responsible adult would really try this... but, I admit... it was a RIOT! We squealed and screamed all the way down the hill which I have since come to find out is referred to as "suicide hill!" Anyway, not to be left out, Will wanted his turn- the faster the better for him. They went up and down the hill for 2 hours! GREAT FUN! The rode saucers, innertubes, toboggans, and the ski bike. I am so thankful for the laughs with my kiddos! I can't wait to try them on skis....

Teachable Moments

Every now and again as Lydia and Will grow and mature we have these really great conversations and teachable moments and I think maybe they won't need therapy after all when they're adults! I am marveling at the grasp our children have about God and Jesus and what sin is. Tonight in the car we talked about choosing friends and choosing the kind of people that we want to be around. Lydia is frustrated with a friend who seems to lie often and for no good reason. She has even told this girl that lying is "bad" and she might not want to be her friend if she keeps lying. We were able to talk about how utterly important it is to always tell the truth, how we still care for and love people, but don't have to be friends with everyone. Lydia said that lying is from Satan and that he tempts us to do things that are bad! She is learning the Lord's prayer and explained temptation to us right down to Adam and Eve and the apple! Amazing... I am truly thankful for a church filled with godly people who are pouring their time and their lives into my children!
I love these everyday moments where we are just doing life together and for a few minutes our children are talking with us and sharing with us. This week I am considering a TV fast and have told the kids that their TV time is limited to 1 hour a day. I know, I know... should be this way all along! After all, I am the model to them of how to spend time! We are going to read more, play more and grow more! I want my children to know who they are in Christ, who they are as Tirakis's, what is truly important in life and how much they matter to us.
So, maybe today we won't put that quarter in the "therapy jar!"

Lives of Quiet Desperation

Ed always says that people are living lives of "quiet desperation." This is so true and the more people I encounter in life the more I see it. Desperate for attention, love, respect, money, quality time and even for some sense of a normal life. Desperate to be unconditionally loved, though they often don't realize this is what they are longing for. They are deeply longing for Jesus. Quiet because they don't speak of these things, they just demonstrate it through their bad choices or lashing out. I met a 15 year old yesterday that I am going to try to spend some time with training for Team Hope and who is the product of a line of family who are desperate. It's a mess. My friend Becky says that sometimes the Gospel is messy. Why am I reluctant to get my "hands dirty" by getting involved in a "messy" family? Why am I torn between wanting to help and wanting to run? Jesus was involved with the quietly desperate. He was involved in "messy." This young girl wants to run a race so that she can feel that she has "accomplished something." When I talked to her about the fact that running not only gives me time to worship Jesus, but also helps me to feel good about who I am, she shed some tears. She doesn't like who she is. All I know is that I desperately am in love with Jesus and that He is desperately in love with her and that is what I told her. I told what I told 4 year old Will this week: that when you ask Jesus into your heart, he makes it shiny and new again. I don't know what God has in store for this, but if living life with Jesus allows us to cross paths with the messy and desperate, I will do it because that's the point.

SE Asia Someday

There is a group of 4 from our church in SE Asia right now and their blog is incredible! Check it out at www.woostercar.blogspot.com and see the pictures of the little children that we support through Team Hope. There are pictures there of the pavilion that funds from Team Hope built, too. One day, I will go there and hug those children! I hope to take our whole family oneday to Cambodia and Thailand. Our new Team Hope slogan is, "Ordinary People racing to relieve Extraordinary Need." This is what I mean- I am so ordinary, most of us are. The needs there, the needs in Haiti and the rest of the world are extraordinary; Almost overwhelming and ordinary people don't know what to do! But, we love and serve an EXTRAORDINARY God who does know what to do and He is using His ordinary people to do it! I don't know why I get to be part of His plan, but I am humbled and thankful and one day I will see the fruit in Asia!!

High Energy and blogging

I used to laugh when people described themselves or their children as "high energy"... isn't that a way to say "hyper" or "out of control?" Then, God blessed me with not one, but 2 "high energy" kids! And, I have become high energy, too. Why not? Life is short not to be lived with passion, zeal, furvor and ok, maybe a little craziness! So, now I say "high energy", too- but those of us who work hard, play hard, live hard... we sleep hard, too! It's naptime here!
Is this what I'm supposed to do with a blog? Write random thoughts that no one will read except our family? Maybe. I'll try to be wise, humorous, thoughtful and witty. Wouldn't want you to be bored!