NTM

Take a 5 year old out for lunch.  It will refocus your perspective.  Stressed?   Take a 5 year old out for lunch.   Worried?  Take a 5 year old out for lunch.  Frustrated?  Take a 5 year old out for lunch.   Doubting?  Take a 5 year old out for lunch.   My 5 year old McKenna reminded me today of the importance of simplicity. 

"Dad, God is so big that I have to stand on my tippy toes and look way up if I want to see His face."

Wow!   When was the last time you stood on your tippy toes and looked up into His face?   May I remember today that though my God is big, He always takes delight when I fall on my knees and look up to see His face.  That’s my prayer today:  Lord, I want – no, I desperately need to see Your face today!

I took McKenna out for lunch – and I caught a glimpse of His face today!

Today, was not too much different from any other day here in Waukesha, WI, well, except for it snowed a couple inches for the first time this winter! It was beautiful! Perfect white snow on each and every branch of tree, everyone’s lawn covered with a blanket of snow!

This afternoon McKenna was playing make believe, as usual. She has lots of baby dolls and stuffed animals and she does have quite the imagination. Well I heard her playing and talking to her stuffed playmates and babies, so I thought… When I came around the corner to the living room I saw McKenna cuddling a………you will never guess……it was a 5 pound bag of SUGAR! Yep, sugar! I couldn’t believe it, either! She had gotten the bag out of my food pantry and was cuddling, kissing and carrying this bag of sugar around, talking to it just like a baby!

It reminded me of when I grew up in Paraguay and didn’t have many toys to play with, my sisters and I would go out into the mud banks and "carve" a baby out of the side of the damp mud bank and carry around our clump of clay until it dried and crumpled. I remembered it being so much fun.   Jael, Jewel and I perfected the art of carving these babies out so we could play make believe baby!

Thought I’d share that with you. Hope it puts a smile on your face as it did me!

Braden is in 5th grade. He loves football and is playing in a flag football league this fall, Adam is coaching his team. He has thrown 1 touchdown and also ran for a touchdown! He loves to swim too. We sometimes zip over to the YMCA which is 3 blocks away from out house.

Carter is in 3rd grade. She is very creative and loves to draw and make things with her hands. She has mastered rollerblading and has gotten pretty good. She is able to keep up with Braden, which is amazing since he has been on skates since 2 years old. Carter loves animals, she asks for a puppy or kitty all the time and is so good with our neighbor pets.

McKenna is 4½ years old. She will be turning 5 on January 30th. She loves to play baby dolls, make believe, and of course house. She has 4 little neighbor girls that she plays with on a daily basis. She is ALL girl and is in a ballet class at the YMCA on Tuesday mornings. She loves to dress up in her ballet outfit and also wear girlie clothes

This summer I have been awed as I’ve studied in order to teach Theology at NTBI. As I have wrestled with what to discuss in the class, I am learning again that the key to knowing God is wrapped up in communication with Him. When was the last time you talked with God about anything? I mean, just whatever you wanted to say to Him?

I was humbled and convicted when I read how my 9 year old daughter communicates with her God and Savior. Honest, open heart felt communication. 

Dear Jesus,

Carter Rae Demark