The Heart of Home

I love to write, I really do.  I enjoy sitting down to the computer and typing out my thoughts.  For me it's kinda like putting a puzzle together, making each word fit just right so that it paints the right bigger picture to reveal my heart.

So, my dear friends, you might be thinking, if you like to write so much, WHY HAVE YOU NOT WRITTEN A BLOG IN OVER A MONTH?  Ah friends, it is too cliche, it's not you; it's me.

Here's the thing.  I am also a big fan of the moderation movement; you know, everything in moderation.  My classes this year are not so much fans of this particular viewpoint.  My professors are more along the lines of thinking that if you are not writing, constantly, at all times, you must not be learning and therefore, you should probably have another assignment for writing.

In other words, my brain has been fully engaged in writing, just not writing here. 

Enjoying a "date" hike together

But today is Saturday and on this Saturday I am not driving to Columbus, Louisville or Indianapolis as I have for the previous month.  I'm not leading a small group or getting my shopping done or writing a paper.  I'm excited to say that on this Saturday, my calendar is looking delightfully empty and aside from having some friends over for dinner, it is open to all possibilities including writing a blog.

Hannah and fellow babysitter
Olivia carving the winner

From that long-winded intro you might have guessed that the last month for the Embrees has been a busy but full one.  My job/career/calling has had me busy learning and sharing at conferences.  Luke's classes, especially intermediate Greek, have had him studying, translating and working hard.  Hannah has fully leaned into the role of 5th grader "top dog" of the school and been chosen for a part in an all-state chorus (only 10 5th graders were chosen), joined the Music Makers of Wilmore Elementary, and is enjoying  participating in Jump Rope Club while also running her own business as a Mommy's Helper in Kalas Village.  Naomi is also in Jump Rope Club, so jump roping is her current passion, but she's also in love with our new Community House which has a room dedicated to art, so she's pretty much in heaven there.  And Caleb, our sweet boy, is so excited to go to school through the week to work on his speech and most importantly, ride the bus, and mom and dad are excited that we are officially a DIAPER-FREE house!!

Getting ready to share our Highs and Lows

Our life is busy but I am so glad to say that this semester I think we have grown more as a family than any before.  On Wednesday nights, our church offers a Family Faith Formation night where the entire family stays together and learns ways to engage together around discipleship and spiritual formation.  While Caleb often needs to go to the adjoining room to play, the rest of us have really enjoyed the times there of growing as a family spiritually and that has spilled into our home.  We have had some wonderful faith talks, times of prayer, moments of growth and stillness of worship in our home.  My kids are never more excited than when Mom and Dad declare a "family night."  They are never more engaged than we we spend time with them one-on-one.  And when we get to hear at dinner their "highs and lows" and what God is speaking to their hearts, we are never more blessed.  I feel like our chance to go our separate ways during the day brings even more meaning and purpose to our times together.  Even Caleb can't wait to share at dinner, even if all he ever says is that his high was "going to 'cool."

Naomi and Caleb playing

When I step back and look at where we are for this season of our life as a family, I smile.  I see joy.  I see growth.  I see peace.  Sure the sisters bicker, the brother bothers, the father fusses, the mother mutters and at times we're all a little on edge.  But even in those moments, Christ is welcomed into our space, into our good, bad and ugly moments, and His presence is tangible in our home.  Seeing my kids live into that more and more and seeing Luke and I finding our strength and our vision in Him, brings such rest to my soul.

So, it's unlikely you will find all of us sitting around the house for too long.  But when you do, you'll see something pretty special.  Something blessed.  Something worth writing about... even if I didn't "have" to write today.  May your home too be filled with the love of Christ and, as we pray at every Faith Faith Formation Night, may you sleep in peace and may you learn to see God even when your eyes are closed.  Have a blessed Saturday friends!