Come and have dinner...

Everyday they continued to meet  together in the temple courts.  They broke bread and ate together in their homes with glad and sincere hearts.  Acts 2:42


It just so happened that I read this verse during my devotional time today.  And it just so happened that it's the verse I chose to write on top of the sign up sheet that I made at church.  The sign up sheet is meant for those that would like to get together for dinner on Tuesday nights at our house.  Not too long ago, the Lord laid on my heart that we should be meeting together more often to fellowship with one another and that the bonds of friendship should be tight among His Body.  


Since then, I have contacted friends I don't speak with often.  It's not that I don't want to.  And it's not that I don't have time to.  I'm just terrible about picking up the phone.  I get nervous.  I don't know what to say.  I wondering if they'll think, why is she calling me.  But I dialed several numbers, and I survived each conversation. Some were short and some were long.  After each conversation, I thought about how God might use it in their lives.  I have also made a point to let people know how thankful I am for their ministry at church.  Without all of us, using what the Lord has blessed us with...His Body would cease to exist.  Talking on the phone and emailing some thank yous is only a small part of doing what the Lord wants us to do.


We read so many times in God's Word that they are getting together and sharing a meal.  So the invitation is out their to join us on Tuesday nights.  Our congregation should have more in common then our Sunday schedule.  We should share more then just a Hello before we worship.  God has selected each of us to be apart of His Body at my church for so many reasons.  We are designed to enjoy each others company.  We are meant to know each other and the work that God wants us to carry out both as individuals and as team.  But if we don't even know each other as a family then how can we effectively pray for one another?  


Families know each other well enough to joke and laugh,  and they know when they need to be on their knees for one another.  My sister and I had fights over clothes and TV.  We talked about boys and kept secrets.  We shared lots of time together playing and growing up.  We saw each other read God's Word.  We knew that we both had a  desire to share God's Word.  We encouraged each other to make the right decisions.  Because we spent time with each other, we knew how to rightly pray for the other.  Since she died I feel like it's my duty to carry out what she and I both know to be true.  God wants his Word spread.  His Family should be growing because they should be spending time together and praying for each other.  


After reading in John this past week, I asked Billy if he knew what Jesus told the disciples when he appeared to them after the resurrection.  After telling them to switch sides of the boat and cast their net in the right direction...he said, "Come and have breakfast."  He wanted to spend time in fellowship.  So "Come and have dinner."  (Just a warning...four kids are very messy...)

Goals

Have you ever had a strong desire to accomplish a mission, yet you didn't actually want to carry out the actions necessary in order to complete your goal?  For instance, this house of mine took a beating.  It's the usual...kitchen counter, shoes at the door, each room could use a five minute clean-up, a load of laundry, some dishes to put away.  But I find myself continuing to type.  So I guess I've made my choice.  


Speaking of goals and accomplishments, back in January I wrote about New Beginnings.  Here's the report.  My five minutes of reading and exercising...it's worked!  I can't believe it's mid March and I can say that setting a bare minimum goal as turned into something amazing.  I actually set my kitchen timer after I dropped my kiddos off at school and read and prayed.  (Crazy short time, but I had two little ones playing in the background...I was amazed on days when I had no interruptions.)  God used that commitment in such a special way.  Now, I set my alarm for 5:30am.  Again, crazy, I know.  But I have this regular quiet time alone with God.  I can read and write and pray all I want!  I even have time for a shower and to fold a load of laundry, all before I wake up the kids.  


As for exercising, that didn't work out so well at first.  Yes, I ran down my street a couple of times. But after a while the desire faded.  Exercising was just plain old yucky.  Billy and I have always wanted to get a treadmill.  Lucky for us, I worked for a week straight in February...so we bought one.  This giant contraption now resides in our bedroom.  I am not one to make large purchases like that, but I'm glad I did!  I have walked a mile (up-hill, kinda) each day since we bought it.  (With few exceptions.)  There's actually hope of muscle developing in my legs and hope of losing a couple of pounds.  Although, I hear altering your diet helps with that too.  So maybe the pancakes for breakfast, lasagna for lunch, and full ham dinner wasn't the best plan for losing weight.  Okay, then there was the chocolate peanut butter heavenly somethings I consumed too.  


Ella's updates:  She's been out of the crib.  She's been out of diapers (except while sleeping.)  She even goes potty by herself!  And she still sleeps with that paci.  She sleeps...still not messing with that yet.  She is an amazing little girl!


Very thankful, that God has allowed me to accomplish these goals.  It is a struggle.  I mean waking up early is nuts. Especially when my neighbor's roosters wake me up BEFORE my alarm.  But I wouldn't trade that morning time for anything.  Even if there are days when my prayers start out Dear Lord, I'm just so tired.  And cranky.  And out-of-it...  I also wouldn't trade all that time I put into exercising.  I use the treadmill whenever I can.  Before everyone wakes up, or during the girls' rest time, or after the kids are in bed (the last is my least favorite.) I don't like sweating and taking time to cool off and then trying to find time to shower.  I don't like intentionally putting my body through pain.  But knowing that I am doing what I set out to do and liking the results, come on.  It's been a long time since I felt this way.  The one and only time in my life I walked this much, I was pregnant with Eric.  I walked after school because I had no one else to take care of, but I just kept getting bigger!  


God has blessed me this year.  I want to continue to honor Him in setting goals.  Here's a one more:  make relationships become stronger (whoa...that's big!).  Sharing more of the Lord with my husband and kids, actually letting family know I care and love them,  strengthening bonds with those I know from church,  making new friendships, and caring for people God has put in my life.  There, I said it.  

Ella Turns Two

Spring Training

On the way to Clearwater we created our own Go Phillies! posters with hopes of having them signed by our favorites.  Our wish came true!  Somehow, someway, Eric left his shyness at home and let his desire for autographs take over.  Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Raul Ibanez, Mike Schmidt, Dominic Brown, Darren Daulton and more!

There was no stopping this boy!  We met a man that had great seats.  When most were kicked out of the "autograph section" he lent us his tickets so we could stay around and wait for the players to get on the field. Very thankful for that stranger...

Cailin,on the other hand, clung to mama.  We snuggled a lot in the heat.  Yes, there was sweat between us.  I don't blame her though...lots of creepy old men trying to talk to her.  

Alayna felt so special getting her autographs!  She is always such a joy posing for pics!  She is our feisty sweetheart.  She loved sporting a real jersey!  She gave her look to the old man behind us.  He was singing along with Buffet and soon stopped after she gave him the look.

You can't tell by this picture...but 75 and sunny means sunburn.

My boys couldn't be happier!  Hot dogs and ice cream.  Great comeback (even though they didn't win.)  Great seats.  Beautiful weather.  Palm trees swaying in the breeze in the outfield. Come on!  Oh and all the autographs!

We tried for a quick photo.  Next year it will be more complete...Ella will join us.  She did have her turn last year and we are going to take the whole crew next time!.  I might need to get our own seats on the berm with my ladies though, so they can play around.    

Philly Phanatics through and through!  They loved our walks around the stadium and playing at the playground.  Though we miss Citizens Bank Park, we think our annual Clearwater day trip is pretty sweet.

Somehow Time Keeps Going...

Hasselman Family poses...always a bit awkward.

Here are some random uploads...Christmas '10.

Nights of Lights     St. Augustine, FL

Cailin Rose

Ella Mae

Alayna Erin

FT for a Week

Recently I have had the opportunity to help in Eric's classroom for a couple of days. From the first bell until the last, I was able to keep my eye on my little man. I did not give him any extra attention or extra help. He had to hold his own even with Mommy there all day. Occasionally, I would share some Mommy words with him. Go blow your nose. Wash your hands. Did you go potty? Did you wash your hands? Go get a tissue. Get a squirt. Other than that, we left each other alone. I saw my son work hard. I saw him treat others nicely. I saw him have fun playing with others without any problems. I saw the effort he puts in his work. I saw his mind engaged. I also saw how he looked at me when I was walking around helping students. He seemed both happy and thankful I was able to be there. His eyes told me he loved me.

It was quite a strain on the home front in order to be there for as long as I was. The sickness that hit Eric's class last week, hit me over the weekend, and then it got my girls in the beginning of the week. Before school I dealt with throw up and fevers and after school I continued to deal with the craziness. You know Mommy has worked full time when the breakfast dishes are washed at 8 o'clock at night. And when laundry piles up high. And toys stay on the floor. And no one really knows where the dog is. When the girls are cranky because they haven't seen Mommy all day and they wonder who is going to watch them. I had a crash course on the full time working Mommy. It brought back lots and lots of memories. My appreciation was renewed for what Billy does for us.

I do feel blessed to be able to be in the classroom. Helping students is where my heart is. I do feel blessed to be able to be at home with my kids. They make me love and laugh like no one else can. The shared love and laughter allows us to share it with others. Nothing is more beautiful.

Alayna said...what??

The ramblings of a four-year-old...

While still teaching I created a simple alphabet on brightly colored card stock.  I attached magnets to the back of each letter for home use.  Getting ready for dinner the other night I dug them out and told Alayna to put the lower case letters in order on the refrigerator.  She noticed the the set was missing the letter r and she was quite upset.  Days have passed and this morning eating breakfast, staring at me with a straight face she tells me, "Mommy, did you know there are only 25 letters in the alphabet?" We bantered back and forth about  the correct number and finally she says, "Well, in YOUR alphabet there are!" 

Last Saturday night, the girls were playing amongst their piles of dollies and puppies.  Holding a little dog in her hands, Alayna tells me this..."Mommy, I keep telling him to stay away from the Lady dogs.  This Boy dog likes the romance. He likes to lick and kiss the Lady dogs.  I keep telling him that the Lady dogs don't like that."

During a night out with my ladies, we decided to finish our shopping adventure with dinner at Crispers.  The girls were warned that they will be sharing chocolate milk because I wasn't going to buy them each their own drink.  Alayna said, "So, we'll have to put two straws in one drink.  That means we are on a date.  Eww!  Cailin, if we are on a date together I am NOT going to kiss you.  Kiss my sister...Eww!  Well, maybe if you were a boy..."  As we ate dinner I told her even if she was on a date...that does NOT mean the she has to kiss the boy.

She has a heart of gold.  I am always amazed by her.  After leaving her with other kids and adults, I sometimes am a bit nervous about what they'll say she said while I was gone.  She says exactly what's on her mind.  Oh the mind of a four-year-old.

So many more interesting conversation to go...