Jake's take on things

The kids are always fascinated by the patients I see at work and their various ailments. They usually ask me to explain in detail who I saw, what their concern was, the anatomy behind their ailment and how I "fixed" them. Tonight was no different.

So, I explained to them that I saw a patient with Diverticulitis. I won't go in to detail on the pathophysiology of the disease for all of you but thought you might like to hear Jacob's take on it...




Fortunately, the patient's outcome is looking a lot brighter than Jacob's final diagnosis!

You have to read this...

For any parent out there trying to raise children that will one day choose to follow Jesus and live life His way this blogger's entry from 2007 is inspiring and convicting. Please take a few moments to read it... You can find it at: Shelter is not a place.

I'm a Mommy

A few days ago I came downstairs in the morning to find a house that was not at all clean. There was evidence that our family had tried to tidy up the night before but had been busy getting three little ones bathed, read to and snuggled with instead. As I looked at the house the Lord touched my heart with joy. I smiled as I looked around and saw evidence all over the place that I was a mommy of three amazing, young children. I will not always have a house filled with the sights and sounds of children and so I rejoice that today I do. Here is some of what I found...

Piano Music and a homemade calendar to record days of practice with puppy stickers
Pictures of my three little ones and a homemade Easter decoration.
A pile of shoes by the back door reminding me of all the fun they had playing outside.
The stool by the sink in our guest bathroom where little hands washed before dinner. I didn't take a picture of the toilet that wasn't flushed!
Fingerprints all over my walls!

On the other hand...

On the same day Jacob says these sweet things to me Zachary says, after I scold him for running away from me, "Mom, I'm gonna make your head spin."

What do you say to that? I think it's too much Madagascar 2!

What makes Jacob happy...

Ryan was driving Jacob to school today and asked him, "Jacob tell me three things that make you happy."

Jacob replied, "When mommy hugs me. When mommy kisses me and when mommy snuggles with me at bedtime."

That pretty much made my day!

Recent Bible Study Thoughts

Ryan and I have started going through the book of Nehemiah together. Why Nehemiah you ask? Basically, we wanted to study an Old Testament book and this study caught my eye when I was at Parables looking through studies.

Nehemiah is not a long book so after I read through it on my own I just kept reading into Esther. Both of these individuals lives got me thinking about the significance of living submissively for the Lord, in the world, so that relationships are rightly prepared when God calls us into action. It also made me think of other men and women of faith that seem to me, to demonstrate this as well. People like Joseph and Mary.

Let me explain what I mean...

Nehemiah was a cupbearer to a pagan king, Artaxerxes. He faithfully brought and tested wine for the King for many years. When he was called to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls he showed amazing bravery to approach the king and ask to go and rebuild a city wall that, in doing so, could pose a threat to King Artaxerxes. God's favor was on Nehemiah and the king said it was ok for him to go. Why was he so willing to let this man return to Jerusalem? I wonder if it was his faithful service for so many years. I wonder if his life was so visably honorable that the king had no reason to question his motives and considered him, on some level, a friend.

Esther has a similar story. She was an orphaned child brought up by her cousin Mordecai. She was chosen (taken from her adopted family out of obligation to the pagan king Xerxes' orders) to join the king's harem. The king was, "attracted to Esther more than any of the other women," and she became queen. It would seem a desirable position, but her main role and job was to fulfill the king's desires when he so wished and keep quiet about any of her personal thoughts or ideas. Anyway, she was queen for four years before she was called to approach the king in an effort to save her people from mass destruction. I wonder if her submissiveness, inward beauty and faithfulness impacted the king so greatly that he allowed her to live and save her people.

These people and so many others lived honorable lives, serving their God IN the world and in doing so were prepared as it says in Esther, "for such a time as this."

It makes me want to live above reproach and honorably at work and home and in all my relationships so that when God calls me to action the groundwork of authentic and trusted relationships can pave a way for Him to work powerfully through me and in the lives of others. Their example reminds me to hold my tongue when I'm tempted to tell others off and always show kindness and gentleness. They remind me to consider others better than myself because in doing so trust is established.

Every boy's (man's) dream

I was at the gym this morning and when I called to check in with Ryan to see how the morning went I got a good laugh!

Zac is always putting his underwear on backwards. This morning was no exception. Ryan told him to turn his Superman underwear around and Zac says, "Daddy why does Superman have to go on my booty?" Ryan tells him that's just the way that those underwear are made and the tag goes in the back. To which Zac replies with arms folded and a big pout on his face, "I want a Superman wiener!"

Strawberries

Two nights ago we had strawberries with dinner. Yum! We had not eaten strawberries in a while.

Zac says to me, "Mommy, my strawberry has hair on it!"

Busy attending to everyone's dinner time needs I replied, "Ooo, yuck. Take it off your strawberry." A minute later, when I sat down I looked over to see Zac very intently pulling every seed off of his strawberries!

"Oh, honey. That's not hair, those are seeds. See it is ok to eat them," and I popped one in my mouth.

He looked at me as if I was pretty disgusting then, assuming I am not crazy tentatively tries one himself.

"Hey, mommy. These strawberries are good!"

Sometimes I forget at less than a year ago Zac came into our family and is still learning things about the American culture, the foods we eat, what words mean in English and how we function as a family. He is an amazing and highly adaptable, trusting child!

Love

Well, I've made it to the last (or first) of the Fruits of the Spirit. This week the focus is on love. Love can get pretty confusing according to the world's standard and definition, but the picture of love in the Bible is so beautiful. All of the Fruits of the Spirit deal with how I behave and interact with others as a Spirit-filled believer. So, love in my life needs to be present despite the circumstance or the person.

In our family everything has a song so here is the lyrics to the song the kids and I concocted about love...

We've got to share God's love,
We've got to give God's love,
We've got to show God's love to the world.
Share it with our neighbors with our friends and family
Even sharin' with our enemies (Repeat first three lines).

So, I teach my kids these songs and they are all cutsy and fun, but living that kind of love out is hard! Even our enemies, seriously! Yes, seriously.

The Lord often reminds me of 1 Cor 13 when I start stewing over someone or something or some situation. Have you ever had an entire conversation with someone in your head and at the end been filled with bitterness for that person. Unfortunately, that happens far to often with me! That's when God reminds me that love, "keeps no record of wrongs" and that "love is patient (more than one hour or one day) and kind"

So, this week is about practicing that kind of love because I know that in giving Christ's love out others will see Him in me and I will be blessed too!

Should I be concerned?

Last night Hallie wanted to play Barbies. I actually like playing with Barbies or dolls cause I still think it is fun to brush their hair and change their clothes...

Anyway...she often has little conversations between the Barbie and last night this is what I overheard...tell me if you think I should worry? :)

Ken says, "Hi, do you want to go on a date?"

"Yes!" says the girl Barbie, Theresa, as she puts her head on Ken's chest.

"Let's get married next week!" says Theresa with enthusiasm.

"OK, now let's go on our date. We can go walking and look at the moon. Isn't that romantic?" says Ken

The week passes quickly and it is Wednesday, the Wedding Day! They get married and kiss, of course, then head off to a party. The whole time Theresa is snuggled up into Ken's arms. At the party a very pretty girl walks in with an elegant, yellow dress. Ken abandons his new bride, who falls to the floor and says to the new girl, "You look beautiful!"

So, here is my over-analysis...

She knows that you date first, then get married...Good
She is a romantic at heart...Sweet
She likes fashion and elegance...OK
She thinks that beauty is more important than commitment...Bad
Someone at school is talking about boys...Hmmm?

Getting to Know You...

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I love you this much...

Around our house we often play the game, "I love you more than _________!" Often times the kids will say, I love you more than all the stars or all the sand or more than 50 billion. You get the idea. Well, I always managed to one up them until today. Jacob, my son who is more about quality time as an expression of love than saying it with words, said, "Mommy, I love you as much as Jesus loves you! I will love you forever." This was followed by one of Jacob's endearing smiles and a kiss.

I couldn't one up that one.

Update

Well, Ryan's aunt is speaking, a little, and seems to know what she is talking about. She is paralyzed on the left side of her body and has lost some vision in the left eye. The neurologist is still waiting until later today to give her a prognosis. The brain is still swelling which could mean surgery to relieve the pressure and could also result in more brain damage. We are all praying for her recovery and that God might be glorified through it.

Zac's prayer..."God, please protect Cheri."
Jacob'd prayer..."God, heal Cheri."
Hallie's prayer..."God, please heal Cheri's body and help her kids not be scared."

Joy in Pain

This week my focus is on the Fruit of the Spirit, Joy. I was ready to right a joyful, happy post but found out today that Ryan's dear aunt has suffered from a severe stroke at the age of 52. She is right now fighting for her life as her brain begins to swell. Would you please stop and pray for her complete healing and for her three children?

So, I am at a loss. Or at least I was. I didn't know where to begin. Is joy, as a fruit of the Spirit, meant to be present every day in our lives? Even in the midst of suffering? So I just spent some time reviewing some old notes from a Bible Study by Beth Moore on the Fruit of the Spirit.

After reading and praying I believe that Joy is designed to be a part of this life, every day of this life. Moments of happiness may pass by me for which I am grateful, but true joy, from the soul only comes from abiding with Christ. Scripture tells us that we know Christ more fully when we learn to fellowship with Him in His sufferings. Certainly He knew suffering and yet He was so fixed on the joy set before Him that He endured the cross. His joy was in knowing what was to come. I have confidence and hope in the joy of heaven. The salvation that I have in Christ Jesus is reason for joy. "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Even in painful situations the psalmist says, "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again...My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you." Psalm 71:20,23

So, even though today is filled with uncertainty and tears an inner joy, manifested in peace and eternal hope is alive in me.

I trust you, Lord.