Shane and Leah

In the Bible we read about how the people of Israel escaped from slavery in Egypt.  Their former rulers valued the Israelites lives so little that the Egyptian Pharaoh ordered the massacre of all the male children born.  When this tidy plan didn’t work it was decided to work the Israelites into the ground making bricks for various building projects.  The prophet Moses was sent and after the ensuing plagues the children of Israel were allowed to leave Egypt.

Once the Israelites had escaped Egypt another problem arose, where to find food and water.  The Lord provided both as needed.  The most notable miracle was that manna appeared on the ground as dew every morning.  Manna was a simple food prepared in a simple way.  It was gathered in the morning and ground into flour.  The flour was used to make cakes.  This was the staple of the Israelite’s diet for 40 years.

A couple of months into their journey the Israelites declared to Moses that they would rather be in Egypt.  What triggered their desire to return to tyranny and slavery?  What would induce you to return to such a place and way of living?  For the Israelites it was simply the desire for other food than the miraculous manna the Lord had provided.  They said to Moses,

“…Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.”  Numbers 11:4-6

The Lord’s response is rather humorous and a great caution to us when we go lusting after the flesh pots,

“…Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you:” Numbers 11:18-19

The Lords threat was not an idle one. A three feet deep pile of quail landed over the Israelite camp. As those of the people of Israel who lusted for meat dined a plague struck and killed those who ate.

I find a great metaphor for motherhood in this story and the calling for mothers to be at home with their children whenever possible.  Manna was a daily miracle, so simple and plain it became unappreciated.  Manna changed in the people of Israel’s eyes from a miracle to a mundane unwanted part of their lives because they forgot it was a miracle.  Children are like manna.  We bring them into this world with excitement and hail them as a piece of heaven.  The task before us is to appreciate every day with them as a miracle  putting our best self into each day.  Our part in caring for children is often repetitive, simple and can seem very mundane.  If we forget the miracle of motherhood and who sent us our little ones we can become like the children of Israel, “Our soul is dried away, there is nothing at all, besides these children before our eyes”.

When we feel like this the temptation is to put motherhood on the back burner because it seems too boring or mundane.  The world tells women, “Go to work, get away from that awful manna, the slavery of motherhood.  Return to Egypt with it’s variety, other people to talk to, work that actually seems done, self fulfillment and praises, honor and success.”  Yet it is all a lie, because Egypt really wasn’t all about meat and cucumbers or onions and leeks, it was about slavery.  Choosing to work outside the home full time because the manna is too boring isn’t about success or honor it is selfish.  Just like the quail, our selfishness might cover our lives with three feet of distraction.  As we eagerly partake we will find instead of satisfaction and fulfillment we now have a plague called guilt.

There are other reasons why women work outside the home and spend time away from their children.  As women when considering pursuing these avenues for whatever reasons arise it is best to include the Lord in our plans.  When we know we choose what was right our confidence can be strong before the Lord and the blessings we need will follow.

This is Peter’s smiling face.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Peter has become quite a character lately.  When he wants something he yells for it at the top of his lungs like, “COOOOOKIE DOOOOOOOUGH PLEEEEEEEESE!” or he lowers his voice to a growl at the end of his request.   He has also taken a fascination with small cars and trains, especially crashing them together.  He carries about five around with him all day, sleeps with one at night and invariably leaves them on the kitchen floor for me to step on while cooking dinner.  (A new pet peeve of mine)

Marie has also given life a few interesting moments.  A few weeks ago she started really getting worried about germs.  This past week she washed the inside of her eye, her tongue and the inside of her nose with soap.  A few days ago I asked her to brush her hair and came in to find her rubbing soap into her hair because her hands had touched something dirty and then she had touched her hair.   I reacted poorly, repented, called my ever wise Mother and had a good talk with Marie about her concerns.  We made a deal that she would tell me when she was concerned about the germs and we would decide together if she needed to wash.  It only took one day and now she is just fine.  Thank goodness Mothers have Mothers.  Marie also read some of her first words this week, it thrilled her and she was so proud to read them to Daddy.

Oliver is his ever fun loving self.  He of  course wants to learn how to read like Marie but can’t even sit still for a lesson.  One day he got into bed for his requested lesson and pulled the covers over his head…very productive.  He does like finding the sounds he knows written on everything around and loves the time with Mom.  He has also taken to a particularly contrary streak but thanks to inspiration I have learned more about the sentence, “lead me guide me”  Instead of asking for things to be done and waiting for him to do them, I walk up to him and ask him to hold my hand.  Then he is very easily and gently lead to the task at hand, and usually does it with a smile.  I guess right now for him, “I won’t” really means “I want you Mom”

Recently we have started “school” at our house.  Besides our reading lessons we mainly do fun activities making things that can teach ideas to children.  The mask activity was for imagination play and they had lots of fun anticipating scaring Shane when he got home.  Peter was dubbed “Speed” by Marie and Oliver, but then they all liked that name so they all ended up being “Speed” as well, except Marie was ghost speed and Oliver was monster speed.  They are so funny.

After a quiet day going to the Temple and relaxing we spent the next day playing with a hot wheels stunt set and then drove to Salt Lake to visit my Grandparents and see the lights at Temple Square.  Our visit was very pleasant and the lights were beautiful especially as they sparkled in the lightly falling snow.  It was rather chilly and we were glad to warm up in the car.  Christmas Eve we had a wonderful family dinner over at Quinten and Jen’s and then opened the traditional Christmas Eve Jammy’s.  Grandma had a surprise gift of a flashlight for each kid.  They loved them and stayed up late playing in bed.   Kids really make Christmas the best.  We had a fun slacker Christmas day and then spent the next day sledding.  Our drive home was long, but uneventful except for the last hour when Peter started yelling at the top of his voice, “MOOOOMMMMM!”  Thank goodness for Sesame Street and portable computers.  Have a wonderful New Year! Click here to see our pictures