Ash Wednesday

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and we held a service at church. At dinner time we were all sitting at the table and Mark explained to the kids why we hold a service for Ash Wednesday and the symbolism behind the ashes. Later in the evening I headed out to church with 4 children in tow, not ever an easy feat. I suppose I should be used to it by now, but being married to a minister means my Sundays and special services are just not what they used to be. I feel thankful if I walk away having heard just a piece of the message.

Well, upon arrival we were handed dried palm branches from Palm Sunday last year and a piece of paper that we were to write down a confession or something we wanted to give to God. When it came time in the service to do that I wrote down what I wanted to say, Ben wrote down what he wanted to say, and then wrote down what Ella dictated to him she wanted to say and I then turned to MT, who was sitting on the other side of me. I said, "Do you want to write something on the paper?" and he said to me, with this goofy little grin, "Like being bad?" and I said, "You can write down whatever you want" and he said, "Can you give me a few choices?"

Just when my children totally exasperate me, they do something so amazingly cute. I know God's given me wonderful children and I try all the time to slow down and enjoy the little moments, just like everyone tells me to, because they'll be gone quickly, I know. But being a mother to 4 busy children under the age of 10 and hopefully one that we're praying will be on a plane tomorrow is certainly not an easy job. But they each love the Lord and Mark and I see in them all the time a better understanding of their faith and a desire to learn more.