Little bit of this...

and a little bit of that. Mostly having to do with Addison because he's had some quotable material lately...

So Chris was talking to Addison a couple of nights ago and after reading the devotional he asked him, "Daddy, is there light and dark both in my heart? Do I have Jesus and sin in my heart?" Chris talked to him about the reality of us all having the potential to make bad decisions even though Jesus is in our hearts. And this was his reply:

"Daddy, when I get up tomorrow I'm going to try really hard to fight sin!"

This alone is pretty funny. And very noble. The next few days I found him to be very aware of "sin" and it came up in many conversations and incidents.

For instance, the following day we were shopping and he was "loving" on Cadence (I believe his intentions are initially good but it's pretty much pestering), and she really wasn't being very gracious about it. She didn't want to be bothered. So he came up to me and was telling on her, and this is what he said:

"Mommy, Cadence isn't being very nice. It's because of the sin in her heart. I can feel it." I only wish you would have been there to hear the passion and conviction in his voice.

Another incident yesterday was a reminder to us about how much he thinks about things. He randomly came in the room and told Chris, "Daddy, you said too much of anything can be bad, even good things. But you were wrong. You can't have too much thinking about God." Seriously, when he comes up with these things seemingly out of nowhere, we really wonder what goes on in that little mind. Sometimes it seems like he's thinking all of the time. I don't know a lot of other six year olds that well, but I wonder how many of them sit around and think about theological issues so often! I say this a lot, but I look forward to seeing how the Lord uses these special things about the way He made my children for His purpose and plan for their life.

I put all of this on here today because 1) I didn't want too much time to pass because I always forget about these stories, and 2) I feel it somewhat appropriate to post conversation about sin and the fallen nature of man as we prepare for this very special weekend. I can already see the need to emphasize for Addison that without Jesus, we cannot produce true goodness and love on our own. We are looking for ways to help our children understand the cross and talk about what Jesus did for us. Being a young family we are still trying to figure out things that can become traditions for us. I personally really enjoy that kind of stuff! So I'm sure there will be a lot of Easter related things headed your way soon.

I hope you will have an opportunity to really think about and reflect on everything this weekend means to us. Means to the world. It really changes everything.

Thunder in the Desert

When reps from the Pharisee camp approached John the Baptist in John 1 and demanded he tell them more about who he was, he said:

"I'm thunder in the desert..." (John 1: 23, The Message translation)

Imagine the earth, suffering under the relentless heat and unforgiving conditions of the desert. No hope or signs of new life and relief, only the impending drought and death that looms ahead. And then,

a clap of thunder.

As if the earth was holding her breath she lets out a massive sigh. It's not the thunder that is the hope, it's what the thunder represents. The sign that hope is on the way. Relief. Refreshing. Restoration. Life. New beginnings.

John knew his purpose in life, and all he wanted was for everything about what he said and who he was to point to the One that would come to save them all. Inspiring to say the least.

If Christ in us, the hope of glory, has room in our lives to be expressed, then the words coming out of our mouths and how we live our lives should rumble like thunder into the hearts of those who are desperately searching for relief and hope. The ones holding their breath. Something different and refreshing in a dry and weary land. Not us and how refined, how cool, or how amazing we are, but what our life and words are pointing to. The answer. The Redeemer. The opportunity for new life.

John the Baptist has challenged me today. What is my life speaking? Am I preparing the way or blocking the way?

I want to be like thunder in the desert.

"Glass Art" at the Grace

I started this post last week and never got around to finishing it. I usually don't have time to even catch my breath on Mondays, which I affectionately refer to as Monday Mania, but APAC (the dance studio) is closed for Spring Break which eliminates a big part of the work. So I'm just drinking coffee and doing a little school work with Addison. I can hear Cadence in the living room playing with barbies and ponies (she joins us a lot, but today she just wants to play). I just heard her say they're going to "Wal-mart." Exciting times. No Spring Break for us- we missed a lot of school when Chris and I were gone so I'm taking advantage of our lighter schedule to get some more work in. So here's a recap of our time at the Grace last week:

I have come to really enjoy our monthly art classes at the Grace Museum. The kids really seem to like it, too. I don't think I've told this story here yet, but on Valentine's Day the kids were making some crafts at church. They were painting these little wooden hearts, and Addison told his teacher that he did not want to paint the heart. He then said to them, "I only paint once a month." That would be the art class. I'm glad to see that we're meeting his monthly quota. So maybe he's not the artsy craftsy one in the family (that would be our daughter), but I'm glad that he seems to be enjoying the class, getting some culture and engaging his imagination.

This class was particularly interesting. We studied Dale Chihuly, who does really amazing glass art. We saw videos of people sculpting the glass over a fire and it was fascinating. We also saw pictures of his art installations at different parks and gardens in the US. Then it was their turn to make a "glass" bowl. AKA shrinky dink paper. They drew on the paper with markers and then the art teacher used a heat gun to mold the paper, much like the glass is molded over the fire. They had fun watching it shrink up and form. We topped off the fun morning going to Chick-fil-a with our bud Seth (who was there at the museum) and a couple of other friends who met us there.

A couple of actual examples of Chihuly's glass bowls- this is what we were shooting for :)

This is one of his art installations- isn't that cool? Most of these kind of glass sculptures have lights in them that light up at night. I'd love to see something like that in person.

Listening to the presentation from the art teacher. Gotta admit- I'm always impressed at how still and quiet they are during this part!

Going to work- this is Seth in the pic with them

Using the heat gun to transform. Cadence really wanted to use that gun- I don't think so!

This is Cadence's finished product. Unfortunately, much like glass, shrinky dink paper is breakable and Addison's finished product didn't make it in the week it took me to post! It was wonderful, though!

This is probably our favorite thing at the Grace. It's a sound sculpture where every block makes a different noise and sound. So much fun!

Have a great spring-like day! Cloudy and rainy here, totally opposite of the beautiful day yesterday :( Peace out from the Pate house.

Written on his heart

So I was reading Addison's devotional with him the other night when he was going to bed. It's the kids version of My Utmost for His Highest. The subject was about God giving each one of us a gift and a job to do, and our job is to do it well- not perfect, and knowing we'll mess up sometimes, but to know Him and do it the best we can. Then Addison starts to talk about being an astronaut or a pastor. These two occupations have run parallel with each other for some time, and these are the only two mentions thus far about what to be when he grows up. An interesting combination, I know.

Maybe a pastor in space???

Well, he stopped for a moment (and I saw his little wheels turning) then looked at me. He then said, "Well, if you're an astronaut then you just brag, but if you're a pastor then you get to teach people. I think I'm really good at teaching people." - I promise I don't make up these things. He really says them.

Now of course there are so many achievements and accomplishments that go with something as ambitious as an astronaut. They are to be admired and applauded. And if that is God's dream for him then it will be amazing. But what he said got my attention. And it wasn't just about the pastor part. It was the Kingdom awareness that caused him to say what he said. It's so amazing to me that at such an early age, he recognizes the difference between earthly recognition and achievement and the lasting impact of investing into other people. That's what I discerned from his statement. Who told him that?? In times like that I can literally see the Word coming to life. The Kingdom is written on his heart, an innate sense of something so much bigger than him, and the desire and attraction to be a part. God whispered that in the fibers of his creation, that's who told him that.

So whether we have a future pastor in our home or an attorney or a school teacher, I am touched and grateful that the Lord has already written greater purpose in his heart so that he will do whatever it is he does with tremendous Kingdom impact.

Things

Not a lot of output coming from me today. We haven't even been home a week, but these last few days have been intense, difficult, and emotionally draining (concerning the ministry to others department of our lives). And considering we were pretty tired coming home that means there's a whole lotta tired in this house right now. Not that I'm whining. It was a good tired coming home from Nashville. Still a lot of residual goodness looming around from that which will keep us encouraged for a good while, even in the midst of craziness happening. And as hard as it is, it is a privilege and honor to do life with people we love and care about. It's always worth it for us at the end of the day.

In light of the above, we took it easy today. We split up today for Boy time and Girl time. The Boy's time didn't end up as planned because they had to walk out of the movie- it was a little too intense for Addison. He's pretty sensitive so even some kids' movies are too much for him. So they went a couple of other places and Addison got the new long version of his hair trimmed and shaped up. As for the Girls, well we did a little shopping. Which Addison did not get at all. That is not fun for him! Pictured below are a couple of things Cadence managed to come away with. She was totally into it. In my mind I was thinking about how much fun we'll have together as shopping buddies. And while I was talking her out of a meltdown because we were not getting the rainbow sandals, I was also thinking about not letting her get too into it and using teachable moments along the way so as to not create a monster. :)

Girls just wanna have fun!

(She's been wearing those wings all week long!)

This evening Cadence came into my bedroom with her new purse and told me she was going to work. When she came back she told me she got a new shirt at work and pulled it out of her purse. Work=shopping. Now that's funny.

Randomly changing the subject, here are a few more pictures of the wonderful people we had the honor of meeting in Nashville. We really connected with these guys, and I hope we have made new lifelong friends in the ministry.

Rollan and B (Barbara)- going to plant a church in Chicago- she had her two month old with her the whole time (their fourth child). Strong!

Trevor and Yvette- currently in London going to Belgium! I thought their accents were awesome- until I met their little boy and heard him talk. It was the cutest thing!

Pasha and Tanya going to Russia!

Greg and Suzanne going to London! Greg would call Suzanne "my lovely" when they talked, and Chris thought he would try to bring that back home because it was so cute, but it just doesn't sound the same when you don't have a South African accent.

Corey and Jessica staying in the Tennessee land

From the left to right: Trevor and Yvette, Jay and Ginny, Joel and Jennie (both couples in FL right now but I think will be moving soon) and Amy and Ross who are currently in the DC area but are going to plant in Miami

This was an actual photo given to us that I took a pic of with my phone (so it's probably pretty terrible quality), but it's the entire group- the ten couples plus the team of fifteen assessors. We are standing in front of the historic house that I was talking about. What an amazing cluster of people right there!

Oh that made me happy to see those pics. So that's about all I got. There's not going to be much news coming from us for a bit- just a lot of figuring things out. But in the meantime, fortunately, we have two little people that live with us that always provide pretty great material for the blogosphere.

And now that I'm back home I can say peace out from the Pate house :)