Drama took center-stage this week (no pun intended). SweetPea's Tuesday afternoons are now filled with her drama class, a neat group of kids she knows doing a semester of dramatics with a Christian outfit, wrapped in a comedy version of "Robin Hood." My composed and proper daughter will be performing the antics of a bumbling, social-misfit, klutz of girl, the daughter of the Sheriff of Nottingham--complete with a couple of pratfalls. Should be interesting! Over the weekend we attended a play by this same group, a fund-raiser starring the leaders themselves. Pretty funny and quite amazing to see what they could do with good acting and minimal props.
Second on the distraction list this week was a dream-come-true for SweetPea, the acquiring of a DSLR camera. The treasure arrived on Friday, which was a good thing--she could play with it all weekend and have some semblance of focus (no pun intended) on her studies by Monday. Right. Silly mom, what was I thinking? I'm now trying to think of clever assignments for school that will piggy-back on this Distraction...a compare/contrast essay on manual vs. auto focus? A report on the acronyms and cryptic vocabulary associated with digital photography--ISO, BSS, raw vs. what, not-raw??, bracketing?? A psalm to the extreme goodness and generosity of the Lord?? Yes!
Thankfully we're all well once again and able to enjoy the wonderful warm-up we've had this week. Monday I had a Valentine from God--birdsong! That is huge. Seems early, for which I've been inwardly shouting. What might they know about spring that we don't?...
Lots of prayer needs this week that have been on my heart, too, big ones. Mostly friends and family contending with serious health issues, but also the greater picture of our messed-up world. How incredibly thankful I am that we have the revealed love and will of God in His promises, and the place of trust that provides for my troubled heart. Everywhere I'm hearing the call from Christian leaders to press in to the Lord, let our confidence and power come from that never-ending place of intimacy with Him.
I'd love to recommend a wonderful parenting resource for all of you who have teens. A group of us moms did this as a study together a couple of years ago (thanks, Sandy!) and I dug it out again to refresh myself on what I'm supposed to be doing as a savvy, Christian parent and fall short of. It's called Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp. I love how his focus is helping our teens develop a whole heart for God, instilling the fear of the Lord in them, helping them to judge themselves by the Word, and living victoriously in the anti-God world they live in. He gives a lot of practical strategies and an astute understanding of the inner workings of a teen's mind and motivations. I've certainly felt the sting of personal conviction where I've failed, yet with renewed hope that the Lord is working in everything--success and failure.
Pressing on in His grace, thankful for unnumbered blessings. A good week!
Sounds like a great week. How nice, a new DSLR. That's on my wish list. :)
ReplyDeleteJoAnn
I've heard the birds singing here, too! It lifts my soul to hear them. It's wonderful that your daughter has found two worthwhile opportunities, drama and photography. We read the book with our small group. I think it is a must read every year! Enjoy the taste of spring, my friend. The real deal is not too far away.
ReplyDeleteOhhh I have that book and I NEED to dig it out. ((blush)) I haven't read it yet. And what a creative mom you are to combined the distraction with learning. *grin*
ReplyDeleteI pray the Lord hears your prayers. Yes, I know He does.
Blessings and ((HUGS))
In Him<><
-Mary