Let the training continue

Olivia is continuing to train her body for the purpose of running a better and better 400m race....She is starting to buffet her body for the purpose of athletics.  But today we had training of another kind;  training that is much more painful than any "hills" workout....I'm talking about the buffeting of the body that leads to righteousness.  I have been trying to share my own sin struggles with the girls to let them know that everything they struggle with is not uncommon to my fleshly vessel.  And those same struggles were not uncommon to our perfect Saviour.  He knows everything that we go through in this life and is here for us.  AMAZING!  When we're in the "heat" of the fire, however, it's not so easy to see that, "Mama has made these same kinds of sin choices....I understand."  or that Jesus wants us to look more and more like Him, "and dying to our flesh is painful".  The things we want to do we can no longer do if we want to please our Master.  He deserves it all.....no matter what the price.

I hope I can teach them by example more and more.  It is, after all, the most effective learning tool I have!  I desire to show them Jesus by my life more than simply "telling" them how to live the Christian life.  I pray each day that Jesus will give me more and more of HIS wisdom...and less and less of mine.  The world wants to swallow them up....I won't let that happen willingly.....

Are they really twins?

From the beginning, Hannah and Madison have been as different as night is to day.  As you can see from this photo, their physical differences are tremendous....but it doesn't stop there!  I love that I have two completely different children who just happened to be born at the same time!  Hannah is more cuddly and sensitive.  Madison is more independent and out-going.  We just got measured and at 11 years of age Hannah measured 5' 7" while Madison came in at 4' 11".  As you can see, Hannah looks more like her daddy than Madison....guess she got his height genes as well....
This is them at 4 1/2 years getting ready to play soccer.  Hannah was more nervous about doing something wrong....but oh those long legs could run!  Madison was so aggressive she was stiff-arming other little kids and scored like 9 goals her first game....how she loves sports!  Her greatest goal is to do everything well.  It's not an easy lot in life, to have that internal drive.  Failure is not an option in her book.  She will have many lessons along the way.  I work to try to teach her that God cares more about what is in our hearts and how we treat others, than how smart we are, or if we are the best volleyball player around.  It will be fun to see what they desire to become in this life.  Hannah talks about being a wife, mom and beautician; admirable jobs all.  Madison has the goal of being a veterinarian (at this early stage).  She says she only wants to adopt babies, because "childbirth is too painful".  I remember being there when I was young--afraid of the unknown.  It's great to be able to comfort their hearts with truth from God's word.  Motherhood comes in so many different ways throughout the day....I'm learning to mother in different "ways" with each of my girls.  They're as different as night and day....and I wouldn't want them any other way!

Technology....ain't it grand?

I have a serious love/hate relationship with technology.  I love my computer, but the second there's a problem, I'm lost.  I don't know how to "defrag" my computer without help.  I don't know how to fix any problems at all!  I am a professional, however, at surfing the web, shopping, making posters and cards.  Everything else, I really am not competent in at all!  The girls have gotten ipod touches with some money they saved.  They just love to send text messages to each other and their cousins.  Part of me has to "let go" of them into the world of technology, but I also don't want to see them become the kid who sits at a basketball texting people the whole time.  It's a difficult balance....But God knows how tickled I am when the girls text each other things like, "I miss you"....or "I love you".  Can it really get any better than that?  People tell me when my kids leave the nest that texting will be my easiest way to communicate with them.....I guess I'd better start learning how, because to be honest, I've never texted in my life!  I wouldn't even know how!  I like to hang onto my world of ignorance as long as I can.  I only do technology on an "as-needed" basis.  Well, I have 3 years until Olivia heads off to college....learning to text can wait....for now!  Then again, perhaps she'll live at home and go to college nearby.  One just never knows!