Transitions...

I've started a new job.  Back to work after 13 years of having, raising and homeschooling three babies.  Looking back, I realize just how blessed I've been to be a part of and witness their many firsts.  First smiles, first words, first steps, first practices, first games, first trophies, first recitals.... I've loved every second.

But with our move came changes.  The children started public school, Paul accepted a new position, and I... well, I found 8 hours a day to re-enter the work force.

I'm working at a local women's hospital.  My office focuses solely on high risk pregnancy patients.  It's both rewarding and heart breaking.  I've already learned that planning for and delivering a baby is not to be taken for granted.  My prayer journal is filled with requests for God to surround those struggling to conceive, be present with those making critical decisions within pregnancy and that he'd grant peace to those suffering from tragedy.

It's a busy office.  Tons to learn.  But this I know, every woman who enters our office is loved by an all powerful, sovereign, living God.  He rejoices with those who rejoice and is near to the broken hearted.  I pray He would use me in this new position as an extension of Himself.  A bearer of His love, grace and compassion.  A speaker of truth.  An extension of His arms to all those who need held.

Matthew 20... according to the Wargos

Grab a cup of coffee whilst I tell you a tale sure delight kids of all ages.  Once upon a time... SO KIDDING!

This story is more for the parents of growing children who've yet to understand work ethic and follow through.  (And possibly accounting)

We found out less than a week ago that the city does a Lawn Maintenance pick up once during the spring and that pick up was scheduled for Wednesday the 11th.  This was a welcome, though stressed filled, thought to us.  Why, you ask??   One- we just moved in.  Two- our yard is nearly a half acre of "unkeptness" and Three- pick up was 4 days away!

THANKFULLY- though a holiday weekend, we'd accepted no offers for Easter dinner and had planned to stay in our new home to celebrate.  (I promise you- the kids would have preferred to have been anywhere but in the new home all weekend)

We purchased 10 sets of Lawn Maintenance bags and got to work.  Raking, bagging, cutting, blowing, lifting, hauling... you name it- we did it.  FOR HOURS!!!  We found a variety of bugs, bunnies and other living creatures on our property hiding amongst the piled, composting leaves.

 The Before...

During...

Wanting to know if they can jump in the leaves before bagging them...

 Wanting to know how long he has to bag them...

After... (Sadly, the only difference I see is 35 lawn bags on our porch ;-)

The night before the city pick up the bags needed to get from our porch to the street.  You can see the trek one would have to make as I was standing on the street when I took the "after" picture.  Paul bribed the children financially (which if I may add, and I may because it's my blog, that the kids need to learn about supply and demand)  Anyhoo, the kids, all three of them agreed on a price per bag and the boys got to work lugging bags over half their size up to the street.  Kylee on the other hand took her sweet time getting ready to do such a chore.

When she finally joined them I heard the battle ensue.  The boys assured her there was no way she could carry such an awkward and large bag.  (Half because it was true and half because if she carried a bag they couldn't earn money for it.) Kylee whined and fussed that it wasn't fair that she couldn't make money.  Paul huffed and puffed that though he was paying the children, he clearly needed to go outside to oversee the process lest the neighbors call CYS on our unsupervised, fighting, slave laboring children.  

Paul ended up helping Kylee carry her bags but still agreed to pay her per bag... and then it began!

"It's not fair." 

"I have to carry a bag for the same amount that you're paying her to walk with you as YOU carry HER bag."  

"I should be making more money."

"I want more money"

"You're not even paying me minimum wage"  (True story... my kid said this!!) 

"I quit!"

It was a modern day rendition of Matthew 20, y'all!  One by one they filtered back into the house.  First Brenden.  He quit so clearly he had some time on his hands to tell me how unjustly he'd been treated out there.  How unfair it was that he was carrying bags alone but making the same that she was when dad was carrying her bags.  On and on he went until in walked Kylee.

Though she had to fight to get a word in edgewise she managed to do just that.  "Dad won't help me with anymore bags.  He said the bags are too big for me but that my helping him made it harder to get the bags to the street so I'm not allowed to do it anymore"

I tended to the yips and yaps of each of them but took the opportunity to ask Brenden specifically if he'd agreed to carry the bags for 75 cents a bag.  (I told you they need to learn about supply and demand. The service they were providing was in demand... they could've held out for a dollar... easily!!!) 

Brenden acknowledged having accepted that price and agreeing to carry the bags.  I asked him when a problem occurred and he immediately brought up Kylee and how she was getting paid the same amount despite the fact that dad was carrying her bags.  I immediately brought to Brenden's attention that Kylee's arrangement had NOTHING to do with what he'd already agreed upon with dad.  Seemed pretty clear cut to me but I stood amazed as my 12 year old could not get past the UNFAIRNESS of it all.  (If only we were blind to fair/unfair... I mean, honestly, do we not make our own lives harder by buying into what's fair/unfair when in reality God is PAINFULLY clear that neither exist!!!)  

I began to share with Brenden on the most basic levels I could how the only factors that mattered in the equation were what the task was and for how much he'd agreed to do it.  Thankfully,  our talk ended with a humbled, apologetic pre-teen recognizing the error of his ways and running back outside to finish the job.... 

WHATEVER!!

That boy done threw his hands in the air and stomped himself out of the room.  His sister quickly followed.  

I figure tomorrow is a new day to train them up as they should go so that in the end they won't depart from it... Oh shoot!  That's today isn't it??

Easter Card

I happened by Kylee as she was making her teacher an Easter card.  I asked her what she was working on and she said, "Mom, it'll say, 'Happy Easter Miss Schurman' and then it will have an Easter Bunny and a Basket on it."

I told her that was nice but wanted to confirm she knew why we truly celebrated Easter.  She then responded, "Oh.  OK.  Then I'll draw a cross with a bunny and a basket"

I couldn't help but giggle and think to myself, "Sure hope the bunny's not ON the cross when the card is finished"

;-)

I'm happy to report the card is finished and no, the bunny is not on the cross.  And yes, Kylee knows the reason we celebrate... TRULY CELEBRATE.... Easter.

Jesus wasn't on her cross.  And for good reason.  He isn't dead or buried.  He is ALIVE.  RISEN.  Preparing a place for us.

We have hope and life because of His resurrection.  We may decorate eggs, fill baskets and wear our finest garments to church but the reality is- We are alive in Christ today because He was dead on a cross 2000 years ago...  and didn't STAY THERE.

Let our Easter celebrations continue!!!

Good Friday

"We call it 'Good Friday' because we know how it all worked out, but the disciples would not have agreed at the time"

Anita Renfroe

I read this today.  It has kept my attention throughout the day.  It is indeed "Good Friday" because we know that had this day not occurred 2000+ years ago we would not have life.  Life eternal.  

It is "Good Friday" because the One who is Good, the One who is God, climbed upon that cross willingly.  He allowed the people who just days before cried out Hosanna in the Highest to condemn Him to death by crucifixion for sin He'd not committed.  

No doubt the disciples struggled with this...  Certainly Thomas did.  He refused to believe not only until he saw the nail scars in His hands but until he placed His finger to them.  He needed to place His hand to the scar in Christ's side... Oh Doubting Thomas.  How you confirm what I already know... we're not so different the two of us.  And he wasn't so different from the other disciples.  But now we know... 

It is "Good Friday" because though He was beaten, bruised, and nailed to a cross- though He was crucified, dead and buried... HE.  ROSE.  AGAIN!  

It is "Good Friday"... because Sunday's coming!!!!

As I sit here today, I'm so thankful for Good Friday.  And I'm ELATED for Easter Sunday.  Oh to sing with the angels, to glory in the King, to celebrate the RESURRECTION and LIFE of Jesus!  

Easter According to Twitter

Take a few minutes to watch this video by Igniter Media.  The organization uses social media to bring home the truth of the holiday of Easter.   

It's neither Easter Bunny nor candy based.  It's a day of remembrance.  Of celebration.  Our Lord, the risen Savior, is alive!!

Friday Night... Wargo Style

Though the Squirt/Pee Wee 2011-2012 Ice Hockey season has ended...  the 2011 Xbox 360 NHL season continues on... (our TV ;-)  And it is a family affair.

Here's the thing- getting ready to play Xbox resembles gym class in middle school.  There is a steady stream of "Be on my team!"- "I'm not playing with her!" and "Can we please just get started already?" circling the room.  Inevitably, Someone is handed a battery-free remote... Someone skates around everyone and scores constantly.  Someone leaves punished.  Someone leaves in tears.

I on the other hand enjoy watching the lot of them.  I know they seem quite sedated in the picture but make no mistake, Caeden rarely plays any game without bouncing up and down while screeching.  Kylee rarely plays any game without being sprawled across the floor (and/or upside down on the couch)... and Paul- well, he insists the children do the opposite of what they usually do in an attempt to throw them off their game :-)  Paul is unapologetic about gaining the advantage.

Ahhhhh,  I do so enjoy Friday nights.  (My daughter just said, "I don't even know which person on the screen I am... how is it that she is still unaware of her inoperable remote??)  I wouldn't trade these event free, stay at home, Xbox moments for all the "treasures" in the world.

Oh... here's an end game picture for you...

(In case you're wondering- Caeden's the one bouncing, Kylee's the one upside down in the game chair and Brenden- well he is upstairs... punished.  Looks like Paul's the one in tears tonight as Caeden crushed him!!! )

My Boys...

Apparently I neglected to mention that I still have two boys in the last post.  Realized this morning as I pulled up my blog that I didn't post one picture of the preteen beings that reside under this new roof of ours :-)

So here's the rundown... Brenden, now 12, spends most of his waking hours (and truth be told some of his sleeping ones) on the ice.  He lives, breaths, and sometimes eats, HOCKEY.  He spent this past year as the center for the Mon Valley Thunder Pee Wee Team. 

 Pause for unashamed bragging here- 

UNDEFEATED SEASON

 PIAA CHAMPS

MY BOY!!!!!  

Man, I love that kid.  I suppose I should also mention that he has adjusted quite well to our new life in the North Hills.  He loves school, has great friends right on our block, and spends a TON of time playing street hockey, riding bikes and trolling the neighborhood.  

As for Caeden... he is our resident rebel.  Refuses to be mainstreamed.  Loves to be different.  Has his own tune and marches to it.  I. LOVE.  IT!!!  He too plays hockey.  To be honest, he took to the ice like a fish in water.  He is speedy, has great stick handling skills and is a real leader on his Mon Valley Thunder Squirt team.  He was the top scorer this year and had several "hat trick games".  He was so fun to watch that I can't find a single picture of the kid on ice.  Terrible parenting, I know.  :-)  I did, however, come across this beauty of a video.  He is practicing his jumping rope skills for a school event the following day.  

Hee-Hee!!

I'm sad to report that it took us till Caeden was nearly 10 to figure out CHUCKS are the PERFECT shoes for him.  He picked these in multiple colors and I happily paid for each pair.   

The very moment my boy turned TEN.  Happy Birthday, Caeden!!

I'm ending today's Ode To the Wargo Boys post with a pic of my boys (all three) at Niagara Falls.  It was their first visit... and it was a quick one as they stopped on the way home from an ice hockey tournament in Rochester, NY a few weeks back.  Apparently it was a bit sunny that afternoon.  :-)

Until next time...