Celebrating Mack’s Birthday and Re-birth!

My sweet baby Mack turns 7 YEARS OLD tomorrow!  I just love that boy.  I remember telling him a few years back that I came home from the hospital with him on my birthday and that he was my birthday present!  He looked at me very seriously and asked, ” I was in a bag???”   Funny kid.

On Monday, Mack and the girls and I were reading about Peter the Great in History.  We read in a book that at the end of his life he asked God to forgive him and hoped that all the good he had done for his country would work in his favor.  We had a discussion about why that line of thinking isn’t biblical and what the Bible says about true forgiveness.  It most definitely can’t be earned by good works.  I asked Mack a couple of questions, but he said he didn’t want to talk about it.  He told me to “just ask Ruby.”

An hour or two passed.  We had moved on from History, and Mack was sitting in the kitchen about to start Math.  I was working on lunch for the kids.  He started getting kind of weepy.  I thought he just didn’t want to do his Math Facts sheet.  Then, he said….”Mama, remember when we talked about the dresser?  The clean side was heaven and the dirty side was hell?  Well, I want to go to the clean side.”

I was a bit confused because our Lego conversation that had to do with his dresser and the gospel didn’t quite go that way….so I sat down and asked him to explain what he meant.  He said he wanted to ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins.  We talked a minute about the gospel. And then he prayed to Jesus, asking Him to forgive him of his sins.  It was awesome.  He was obviously excited.  He wanted to tell his sisters immediately and then he wanted to tell Josh.  He also called grandparents to tell them.  We had some friends over Tuesday night, and he even told his four year old friend without any adults around!  He even says he wants to be baptized, too.  The girls were a little unsure about that water situation when they got saved, so it took them a little bit before they said they wanted to be baptized.

Needless to say, this has been a fabulous week.  I am so excited to be able to see how The Lord works in my kids hearts…and to be a part of all of these wonderful discussions at home and to know that we belong to a church that fosters a love for God every week is so encouraging.  It reminds me that these moments we live each matter and make a difference forever.

I found some pictures to share as we celebrate Mack Joshua this week!

Happy 7 th Birthday!

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Hard Work

It’s been a good week at The Dorminy House. We have done lots of learning and lots of cleaning. I ironed a multitude of clothing items for my dear husband. The school room got a spring cleaning today. And I cooked every single night this week. And they were all pretty good meals, if I do say so myself. We are caught up on our read aloud. I’m reading two fabulous books on my own. I even think Mack has brushed his teeth morning and evening all week. I’m telling you, it’s been a banner week.
But as in all weeks, we have our struggles. Mack and Ruby had an argument today. It started in Wal-Mart when Mack realized Ruby had money to buy tracing paper, but he did not have money to spend. He is a little slow at making the connection between work and money. He piously tells me, “Well, money isn’t everything.” I agree with him and tell him we aren’t making it out to be “everything,” but it is something! On Monday I told him that he would not get paid for the day (since he did not do his chores). He said, “We get paid today??” I told him that they do not get paid today for the chores, but what they do or don’t do affects Saturday, which is pay day. His response? ” So, we get paid tonight??” Ugh.

Today in Wal-Mart he wasn’t saying, “Well, money isn’t everything.” By his actions you would think money was indeed the center of the universe. Pouting. Whining. Crossing arms. Tears.
It was pitiful. Not in a “poor baby Mack” way, but in a ridiculous way.

We came home, all the while he tried to explain to me that I would feel the same way if I was the one left out like he was.

This selfishness began to affect Ruby when he wouldn’t go outside and play with her. Then, by the time he decided to go outside, she was ready to come inside. He got mad about that. Ends up, Ruby said she didn’t want to stay out there with him because he wasn’t talking and was being super grumpy.
I wasn’t surprised.

Soooo, on the way to pick Molly up from sewing class (you didn’t think she was anywhere around and just managing to stay innocent, did you?) I explained to Ruby that she could have been more patient and understanding, but I quickly let Mack know he was clearly taking his bad attitude out on her. Then, I told them I was staying out of it and if they didn’t figure out how to make things right with each other and with God, then they’d be sent to their room until they could.

Silence.

Ruby says, “Mack, I’m sorry for being mean. Will you forgive me?”

He just shook his head and kept looking out the window.

I glance back there, hoping he doesn’t dig a deeper hole for himself.

More silence.

“Will you forgive me Ruby?”

She quickly says yes. But I asked him if he apologized. “Did you say you were sorry for….?”

He waited and then said he was sorry for being so grumpy and not playing with her.

She forgave again and all was well.

I said, “Now isn’t that better? It’s hard work to stay mad and frustrated!”

He quickly said, “Well, it’s actually really hard work to say I’m sorry. I tell my mind to say it, no don’t say it, say it, no don’t say it. That’s why I first only asked her to forgive me. I didn’t want to say sorry. ”

Wow. I told him I knew exactly what he was saying. I’ve had that same conversation with myself, especially with Josh! Why I want to be justified in my sin, I don’t know, but many times admitting I was wrong is hard work. Selfish pride. It’s ugly.

We had a good conversation on forgiveness and the importance of owning up to our actions.

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This boy is just too much.

Only God

This past Saturday we got a letter in the mail from Dr. John Edmund Haggai. He was sharing a story about the country of Bhutan. It was quite a story about a man who worked tirelessly for over 17 years to get the Bible translated into their national language.

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Only God would have known that today in our school curriculum we would be reading about the country of Bhutan and singing our South Asia song to memorize where these countries are! I love it when this happens. It’s a sweet reminder that we are on track, doing what God wants us to do!

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And believe me, I need all the encouragement I can get!