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to laugh AT your child?
Leah managed to stick part of her bagel with peanut butter in her hair last night at dinner. When Scott pulled it out and set it on her tray, she immediately snatched it up and ate it. Yummy! Then, when I washed her up after dinner, her hair stuck straight up like a mohawk. Scott and I were laughing so hard that we were on the verge of tears!
I've been sitting at the computer for a little while now, but have just now logged on to write. Maybe it's because I'm feeling a little lazy (rainy day, relaxing morning visiting with a friend, an unexpectedly free afternoon), but I have a feeling that it's probably because of the subject of this post: money. I'm not sure where this post will take me, but I expect it might generate some strong feelings/ responses. (Consider that your warning.) I don't intend to insult or condemn; I just want to share what's on my heart about this matter.
So why this topic? Well, the church shared its proposed budget for next year, along with a breakdown of the current one. This included the various ministries and future ones. Since it was the budget, it also alluded to member giving totals, and that's what shocked me: Within the past year (fiscal year?), only 41% of members has given to the church. That's it. Not even half of the total members has given. Whether or not this percentage gives regularly wasn't even mentioned, so it could be that some have only given a few times. Does this not bother anyone else?
This truth doesn't anger me so much as sadden me. Considering all that the church provides for us the congregation, as well as all that it does for the community, well, it just seems obvious that we as a congregation should do more in the way of giving.
Tithing is such a delicate topic, yet God commanded the Israelites to do so for a few reasons. One, so that the Levites, those in charge of the Temple, could be provided for. Since they were to devote themselves to running the Temple and spiritually guiding the people, they didn't have time to farm or work in other trades. The people took care of them. Two, through tithing, the people were reminded that God would provide. By giving a portion of their profits to the Levites, they had to live on less. By living on less, they could be reminded that God had given them enough. He provides. Third, it's one way of honoring God and all that He has done. Though God doesn't have any use for money like we do, we honor Him by giving to His servants. In effect, we're giving to Him by giving to others.
Although these reasons are compelling, I know that it's often difficult to part with our hard-earned cash. I know that I've struggled with giving at times now that we're down to one salary. I worry about whether the bills will get paid, or if we'll have enough for groceries. (Thankfully, I have a husband who is faithful in giving, and who doesn't worry about whether or not we'll have enough. And in the end, we always do.) Even in the midst of tighter times, God provides. That is the truth and the promise that I'm reminded of when I feel the temptation not to give joyfully. Even more important, God is in control-- not me. The moment I refuse to give to God and His service what is rightfully His, I deny His role as provider, protector, father, and God. It's an act of rebellion because I deny God's love for me, His creation.
Now don't think that I don't like money. After all, who doesn't? It does make life easier (or so it seems). After all, who doesn't enjoy buying a few new household items or a new outfit, or going out to dinner with the family? Saying "yes" to God means saying "no" to some of these items. That doesn't mean we have to deny ourselves these "perks" all the time; it simply means we shouldn't indulge in them all the time. That's relatively easy for me to say, especially since I'm not a shopper, but I do like nice things, and sometimes I do covet them, especially as I pass by various window displays at the mall, or even when I see how nicely dressed some of my friends are. I'm human; I can't help but experience these emotions.
Still, I have to remind myself that God commands us to be good stewards of all that He's blessed us with, which means that first and foremost, I should give back to God a portion of what He's given us.
Besides, when we give back to God, He can multiply those gifts for His glory. Look at all those who are touched by some of the outreach programs at church (the Easter egg hunt, trunk or treat). Or consider the service projects the youth have completed. Or note the work that our missionaries are doing day in and day out overseas (and compare that with all that we have here!). When we give back to God, we have the opportunity to partner with Him in making this place better. Shouldn't that be incentive enough?
"It was THIS big, I tell ya!" (Actually, I caught her mid-dance.)
Yes, she's trying to climb her sound stage.
This is what I like to call her flirty pout. 
Thought you might enjoy an update on the kiddo considering she is now 14 months old. I can hardly believe she's that much older now, especially when I think about when her older friends were this age. She's learning and exploring more each day, and I love watching her make new connections.
Here are just some things she's mastered or learned, as well as activities she simply enjoys:
*Throwing away her diaper. Granted, this only happens with the diapers we bring downstairs since I'm carrying her. She can't (more like won't) walk on her own yet, so she doesn't throw away the diapers that we change down in the family room. Still, she knows where the dirty diaper belongs, and is eager and willing to do her "job".
*Going for shoulder rides. Probably one of Leah's favorite activities is riding around on her Daddy's shoulders at the end of the day. Scott will run through the house, with Leah squealing with delight as the "wind" whips through her hair.
*Walking... kind of. Although Leah COULD walk on her own (she can easily walk between people), she chooses not to. I guess she just really enjoys having us with her. Case in point, last night: She had her little radio in one hand and Scott's hand in the other as she toddled laps around the house. Periodically she'd stop to play the radio, but she wouldn't let go of Scott's hand for fear of him stepping away. Instead, she'd kneel down, set the radio down, press the button, then pick it back up and continue walking; during all of this, she maintained a vise-grip on Scott's hand. Too funny.
*Expressing herself without words. Though she doesn't say any words yet, she understands plenty and can communicate what she wants without any problem. Thanks to pointing and a couple signs, we can determine what she wants. Plus, she understands most of our requests (pass Mommy the spoon; hand Daddy the toy; come sit over here; etc.). I sometimes wonder if she's simply soaking up all that we say and the books that we read and then will start speaking in sentences. If anything, I'm sure she'll surprise us with the words she can say once she decides to speak.
*Eating with utensils. Leah's gotten pretty good with a spoon. She can't load it herself, but she does know how to get it to her mouth, and she's gotten good enough that she doesn't drop as much on herself anymore. Don't think that she's a clean eater, though, by any means. She can make quite the mess. Often she'll "style" her hair with yogurt, peanut butter, or cottage cheese. (Sometimes this is because she's flung the food from her spoon, sometimes it's because she's grabbed it off the spoon and then rubbed her fingers in her hair.)
*Blowing kisses. Leah often affectionately blows kisses, regardless of whether or not someone is leaving. I must tell you, though, that she forgets to actually "blow" the kiss, preferring instead to keep her hand affixed to her mouth.
*Identifying body parts. When asked, Leah can identify her head, feet, and nose. Upon witnessing her identify her nose, you might think she's confused since she manages to plant her hand on her nose AND mouth. Rest assured, however, she knows where her nose is.
I feel as though there's so much more to say about her development, but because of how much she changes regularly, I can't remember everything (despite my best efforts to record her development on an index card). All I know is that my baby girl's growing fast, and each day as I witness various aspects of her personality, I love her more and more.
That's right; forget the toys, Leah prefers books. Since this weekend, Leah has spent more time reading books (well, to be more accurate, I have spent more time reading books to Leah) than she has spent playing with her toys. Seriously. The kiddo can't get enough of 'em. The especially enjoys her alphabet books, probably because they're so short.
We used to read together when it was time for a nap or at bedtime, but now we read simply because that's what Leah feels like doing. She'll take my hand and toddle over to her bookshelf, where she'll then start pulling various books down. (All the while holding my hand; she doesn't want me to get away!) We'll then both plop on the floor and commence reading the pile of books that Leah's amassed in front of us. And forget about stopping!
If I try to move on to something else after having read for awhile, Leah will crawl over to me, book in hand, and hand it to me. How can I say no to her, especially when I love seeing her enjoy books so much? (Periodically, she'll look through them on her own, but that only last so long.) My guess is that she's drinking in all the information in her stories, so that when she does start talking, she'll have quite the vocabulary. Or maybe she just enjoys all the undivided attention she receives when we're snuggled together reading a book.
Scott was away on a boys' weekend/ golf trip (have I mentioned before that Scott's NOT a golfer?), so Leah and I had plenty mommy-daughter time, which wasn't anything that I couldn't handle. The only glitch in this set-up was that I had just started reading The Help, and I couldn't put it down. It's been awhile since I've literally had to fight the urge to read, and boy, did it feel good to fight (or give in at times).
I'm not sure what it was exactly that I enjoyed most about this book. Maybe it was the overall dynamics among two black maids and a white woman/ aspiring writer in the 1960s that drew me in. Because of how far our society has come since then, I can't imagine what life must have been like for a black man or woman growing up in the South in the 60s (or before then). (Granted, I know that racism still exists-- on both sides-- but I know that there have been immense strides for the better.)
Regardless of what drew me in and held me there, I did manage to finish the book Sunday night. Now onto the next one...
