Is this my glass?

It's a constant question at our house.  We've had "stations" assigned for cups and glasses so that everyone knows which is theirs throughout the day.  And it usually works...except when we have guests in the house...or when Dad is home from work more than normal...or when somebody forgets to put their glass in the assigned spot.

So Grandma's got us covered.  Today a box was delivered containing glass mugs and etching cream and a note explaining the idea.  So we tried it out:

First, tape it off and apply letter stickers to spell the name.

Apply the etching cream (liberally) and wait about 5-10 minutes.

Wash off the etching cream under running water; remove stickers and tape.

And voila!

Personalized glasses that cannot be mixed up!

I think our stickers were on the small side (too narrow) and didn't make as big an impression as I'd like, but it'll work!

Two Things...

We saw pictures!  The camp has a website where they post pictures of the campers throughout the week, and on Monday we were able to see some pictures of Luke with his tribe.  As soon as I saw the first one, I cried.  It was such a relief to see him smiling. And right now I'm anxiously awaiting the pictures that are being posted from yesterday.  The website is in the middle of loading, and I can hardly wait for it to finish!

Now, I want to recommend a book.  I have not finished it yet, and I can't claim to have it all sorted through in my brain as to what exactly I think of it.  But it IS making me think deeply about the way we raise our children.  I've read a few parenting books in my time, people, and this is by far the best one. 

Here it is:

Give Them Grace - Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

Not only has it been helpful in examining the way we raise our children, but it's been so helpful to me in the way that I see the outpouring of God's grace in my life. 

So click on the link and order it - it's not just for parents, but for grandparents...teachers...and all Christians, really. 

Summer Camp

Yesterday we dropped Luke off at camp for the first time ever, and we won't see him for a week.  I'm so thankful that he's there with friends from church (or trust me, he wouldn't have been going!).

His little brother had the hardest time leaving.  And his sister was quite unhappy about it too.  So I shared a promise with them that I had made to myself earlier in the day:  everytime I miss him so much that I want to cry, I'm going to stop and pray for him instead of crying. (Note: I might cry anyway!)

I can assure you, the Lord will hear lots of prayers for Luke this week!

He's the one in the middle here:



Poor Tigg

He hasn't been my cat for well over 11 years now, but he started out as my kitten.  And it makes me so sad that he's not doing well.

Tigger was adopted by my parents when I up and got married and moved to the other side of the country.  My husband-to-be already had a cat who was very territorial and would not likely accept another cat in the house.  So Tigg was left in the hands of my parents.

They've taken good care of him, and he's always eaten well - honestly, he weighed about 17 lbs. 

But now he's not eating much of anything at all, and the vet can't find anything wrong with him.  They gave him medicine anyway in hopes that he'd come around, but he's still not doing well.

Maybe he's just old.  Maybe he really is sick and they didn't figure it out.  I don't know.

But because Tigger was my first pet, I've never lost a pet before.  And even though he's not really mine anymore, it just makes me so sad to think that he may not live much longer.

Our girl Sabrina is the same age as Tigger - to the month - and it's hard to think of her not being with us anymore either.

Thankfully, God cares about these losses in our lives, just as he cares about the other trials we face. And we can trust Him to comfort us over the loss of a pet just as He comforts us in greater losses.

Right now I'm praying for my parents through this as they're the ones front and center.