Zac's take on Adam and Eve

Zac and I were reading the story of Adam and Eve before bed tonight. Here is some of what he said...

Zac..."Mom, I want to read this story."

Me..."Why?"

Zac..."Because I get to see the girl naked, hee, hee, hee."

Later on...

Zac..."Mom, if a girl and a snake ever ask me to eat fruit or anything I will say no way!"

Burdened...

That's how I have felt this past week. I lot to think about, process and pray about. I am leaning in to Psalm 23...trusting that He will lead me down a path of righteousness for His Name's sake. Giving thanks pulls me away from worry and reminds me of His daily provision. So, I give thanks...

201. For my husband..a solid rock, a best friend, his kind words that remind me he really, really knows me, his wise words, his patience.

202. For my mom and dad...advice, wise words, love, prayer, the time they give out to me so generously whenever I need it.

203. 40 minutes of reading the Bible with Jacob today. Snuggling in a blanket, drinking fresh "flavor water".

204. Routine. The routine of a day, the daily mommy tasks that at times get me down, are actually comforting, make me feel secure.

205. Sharing book club with my friends last night. Diving deep into a book and enjoying the "girl time".

206. Life-long friends, bound together by Christ. Distance does not divide us. Knowing I get to see y'all soon is a great comfort.

207. New life. My good friend just had a sweet, baby girl...Campbell. New life is so beautiful and reminds me of God's power. Jacy, thanks for calling it was good to hear your voice.

208. Watching my kids play the piano, seeing their smiles when they finish a song.

209. Watching Zac beam after breaking a board at his first martial arts class. He is too precious for words, what a gift to me!

210. God's Word. The Holy Spirit drew me to the Word late last night and after I read Psalm 23 I could fall asleep in peace. The Word is unfailing, constant, sure...THANK YOU JESUS!

Psalm 19 - Part One

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

³ There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. ^a]">[a]

⁴ Their voice ^b]">[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6)

I love, love, love this Psalm. It is so full of hope for the world. His creation shouts to a lost world, I AM, I am here, I made this beauty for you, it declares that I am alive, I will sustain you. I think about my immediate family that lives far away and near by. Not all of them know salvation through Christ, but I know that day after day He is making Himself known to them. His mercy to us is so great, beyond words...

I also see His love of beauty in this Psalm. Creation demonstrates God's creativity, His love of beauty. Lately, I have been challenged to bring that beauty into my home. I know God can see beauty in something our eyes see as ugly, but I also can see how he loves beauty when you look at the Rocky Mountains, a rainbow, the frost on NE trees. I want my family to experience little bits of that beauty in my home.

How, you ask? How about clean counters, fresh fruit on those counters, a few flowers on the table, a real green plant, setting the table and using the glass bowls instead of the plastic. Do you have any other ideas? Little things, not big expensive projects, just bits of beauty to remind me and my family of the Lord's beauty.

Lessons learned from my daughter

Our basement has been transformed back into a playroom in the last week. Over the last five months it has been off limits for much play because we have been loaning it out to various family members and friends.

As we were cleaning things up and getting the basement ready for kids to ride scooters and play with Hot Wheels Hallie came up to me with a "great idea."

She told me all about how we should find another family to move into our basement, maybe a family that is struggling and needs a place to stay while the dad gets a job. She thought we could give them one of our cars so he could look for a job. She also thought that if we got a bigger kitchen table then we could all eat together. Right now we just have a queen size bed in the basement but she thought we could get several bunk beds to house more people and then put a jar downstairs with some money in it so they could buy a few things. She went on to say that we need to get the word out now, so maybe we should make a poster and put it up somewhere so people would know that we have a place for them.

I'm sure you are laughing thinking how ridiculous it would be to make such an announcement, right? Well, my daughter's heart of compassion really hit me. Why am I so grateful for my kids to have a second playroom (like they NEED it) when their are people that need a bed and a warm (Hannah I know you might disagree about warm) house to sleep in? I don't plan on announcing that anyone can come live with us (I am aware that I need to be safe about this) but God has challenged me, through Hallie, to keep my eyes open to the needs of others and be willing to go above and beyond to care for the hurting and those experiencing hardship.

Isn't God doing something wonderful in her heart?!!

He hears the cry of my heart

As many of you know from a previous post, we recently had to send off our nanny of two years. She moved to Arkansas and we are forever grateful for the time and love she gave to our family and our kids.



She was such a fixture in our family that losing her has been hard. I have wondered what we should do about childcare. Should I quit my job (two days a week), should we go to a childcare center, should I try and find someone that can consistantly be here or look for someone each week, even if that person changes.



My mind has been pretty consumed with what to do. Certainly I have prayed about it, but even more than audible prayer has been the constant cry of my heart for the best situation for me and the kids. I know full well that the best situation looks different for each family, so I wanted God's best for us.



Well, praise God! He has answered my heart's cry! We have a wonderful arrangement that I feel so at peace with.



What I learned from all this is that David's prayers in the Psalms to hear his cry, his sighing, his tears are all ways that we can communicate with God. He doesn't just hear and answer me when I formally put together a prayer that begins, "Dear God," and ends with "Amen." He is listening and answering when my heart cries out too.


So thankful for...
186. A new babysitter...God working it all out.
187. Three siblings searching for icicles in the backyard for 45 minutes today.
188. The icicle island they made for me.
189. The boys being wonderful hosts for their friends.
190. Manners being used at the table so beautifully.
191. A chat with an old friend...sharing hopes with each other over coffee.
192. Little girls giggling together.
193. Hallie's love of art...a masterpiece made describing God's love.
194. My mom and dad's safe journey to NZ and back. Listening to their adventures.
195. How uniquely individual all my kids are...seeing their individuality in the kinds of toys they play with, how they play and their choices.
196. The laundry game. It is not only productive, but fun! (I will have to explain this one sometime).
197. The way the boys don't try to get away when I tickle them.
198. My new friend, Darcie
199. Watching Ryan become his very best...he includes me, shares with me his thoughts, dreams, ideas.
200. A happy day.

Living Expectantly

I have enjoyed the winter break with my kids. Have you? We have played with new toys, spent loads of time together as a family, stayed up late, watched movies and on and on and on. But, I am now getting kind of antsy! My patience is wearing thin, they are bored and so am I! We are a go, go, go kind of family and lately we have been doing a lot of quiet, inside games (it's really cold and snowy in NE) and activities. I feel like the days are dragging on and I am desperately searching my mind for a new activity that will not end with me barking orders or stopping a brother/brother or brother/sister battle. OK, enough with the whining, but here is my point...

I have been reading in the Bible lately about living expectantly. It sounds exciting, like something is just around the corner and I can almost taste it, see it, feel it. But, the reality is that my days seem to blur together. I repeat the same instructions to my kids, make the same meals and the same beds every day. What's coming just isn't getting my attention or motivating me for the day I am in.

So, as I ponder this I'm thinking that it is me,not God that is doing or thinking something wrong (I know I am brilliant, right?). I'm thinking that my idea of time and "right around the corner" is different than God's perspective on time. I think He wants me anticipating each moment, mundane to me or not, and living it fully for Him. I think he wants me to joyfully make beds and meals, purposefully instruct and discipline so that I am a living testimony of His presence in my life. I think He wants me to see how these everyday activities are really ways for my kids to see Him in action in my life. The "something new" that is "right around the corner" is my children's salvation, it's their new life. My days are not wasted or boring when I see them as eternal.

I am more motivated to engage with my kids, be creative, be consistent, be loving and stick to our standards and rules tomorrow because God is about to do something new in the lives of my children and I don't want to miss it. I want to be a part of it!

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

"Give ear to me words, O Lord, consider my sighing. . . in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:1-3

Pictures from the Party

Hallie had a wonderful Hawaiian sleep over birthday party to celebrate being seven last month. We had eight girls join us and I must admit it was the most high pitched party I have ever been a part of! She asked all the girls to wear summer clothes, we decorated flip flops, played the limbo, ate pizza and cake, painted toenails and watched the movie, Barbie Island Princess. It was a wild success and lots of fun. Here are the pictures from the party...

Giving thanks for Hannah

Over the last two years we have been blessed with THE BEST nanny in the world. She walked into our home at just the right time over two years ago and has been a constant in our lives and the lives of my children ever since. Just yesterday we celebrated Hannah with a party at our house. She is moving to Arkansas to bless others and share her gifts and talents with a new group of fortunate souls that will likely become part of her family and fall in love with her just as much as we have.

I have endless things to be thankful for, but this entry is dedicated to Hannah. Lord, thank you for Hannah because...

181. She has taught me courage. She does not listen to man, but confidently chooses to obey You and be blessed by Your promises. Over a year ago she felt called to change her name and did it!

182. She fills our home with worship. I see how God can change a timid, shy and reserved girl into a confident woman. Often times I will come home and open the door to hear her singing songs of praise and playing beautiful music on the piano. Her music is peaceful, powerful and invites God's presence into our home.

183. She knows how to play with my kids and love, love, love them. Just last night my kids all giggled as she read them six stories and gave them sweet little kisses before they went to bed. She can make my kids laugh like no one else can and has a precious, special place in each of their hearts.

184. She teaches my kids about Jesus. On the days when I was away at work, I knew she was filling their minds with the truth about Jesus in day to day activities. She came along side Ryan and I in teaching and guiding our kids in truth.

185. She radiates God's love with her optimism, her smile, her curly hair and even her tears. Without even uttering a word (which is a rare thing indeed) Hannah displays the beauty of the Lord in her character and behavior.

I think you see how she has blessed us. I could go on and on and on but Zac just woke up and needs a snuggle from mom. So, I will end by saying...thank you God for the people, like Hannah that come in and out of our lives, but that will never leave our hearts.