iSonto #32

There is so much to be thankful for even on the hardest days. Last Monday my thankfulness list at 2pm was  . . .

• Nate singing along with "Angels we have heard on high" and wanting it again and again, playing the piano together. Nate trying to play and sing on the piano himself! 
• Forbearance and Nate's peace when Mercy screamed and screamed 
• A dishwasher!!

• Learning to do chores together, and Nate's eagerness to help and thankfulness for being given tasks
• Books bring moments of peace to Mercy's teething screaming, sitting together reading
• Dave's faithfulness
• A reminder from our character chart of the importance of decisiveness "the ability to finalise decisions based on God's will and ways", the opposite of double mindedness
• Washing flapping dry in the sun
• A clean bench
• A friend's desire to pray together
• A chance to make some contacts for Choices of Life pro-life schools program

Elnathan was the instigator in this bit of mischief, me thinks! It was funny to come out and see them both in the flower bed, happy together.

Natey's memory verse was "Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16.

Mercy was eager to help with feeding the chooks. We love it that these birds are like pets for the children but also productive.

From garden to tummies . . .

We enjoyed the last of our corn, and we were happy that it lasted into April. Corn is a source of dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin C.

 A book we enjoyed together was "Poppy Cats Love Parties". Mercy asks for it often saying "cake", which is one of the pictures in the book.

Encouragement, ideas and inspiration came from John Piper's Racial Harmony and Interracial Marriage, including this quote:

Christ does not call us to a prudent life, but to a God-centered, Christ-exalting, justice-advancing, counter-cultural, risk-taking life of love and courage. Will it be harder to be married to another race, and will it be harder for the kids? Maybe. Maybe not. But since when is that the way a Christian thinks? Life is hard. And the more you love the harder it gets.