Something that I love about my husband is his knack for finding things interesting on the Internet, and this has been a wonderful source of entertainment for myself as I have no knack for that whatsoever. What he also does is read many different blogs, and one, "Between Two Worlds" by Justin Taylor is a popular one among them.
Casey was excited to see that another post was added highlighting a comment he had made on a previous post by Taylor.
Sometimes the simplest things can make you happy or bring a smile to your face- like being noticed. So here is a link to my husband getting noticed.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Going Home
This last week I had the opportunity to take my children to Oregon to visit family. Of our combined three siblings, my husband and I are the only ones who have moved out of state or even live more than twenty miles from our parents. So for us to visit is a pretty big deal.
My husband and I emotionally parted ways at the airport, and after having one of the easiest flights with a 3-year-old and 1-year-old, we arrived in Portland, Oregon and were greeted by Casey's parents.
In the days to follow, my children's days were filled with cousins, and different outings like the Oregon Zoo, Enchanted Forest, and Silver Creek Falls. They got to watch movies at each of their grandmother's houses, and had pancakes about 5 times in a nine-day period.
We were blessed to celebrate my sister's graduation from nursing school, and enjoy meeting the newest member of our family, Miles Jacob, only 4 weeks old. In person we were able to give hugs and laugh together and have sweet conversations. We beheld my sister-in-law's growing belly and were able to enjoy the anticipation of gaining another niece or nephew in the fall- and seeing Uncle Kyle and Aunt Kari become parents for the first time.
So I am thankful that we were able to go and that my children had a sweet time with family, and I am thankful to be home. Upon coming home, I was immediately hit again with the responsibilites of being mom and wife. A sick husband, suitcases of laundry, a shower to host, and a wet bed all hit me within the first 48 hours! It is good to be back home. I am blessed.
My husband and I emotionally parted ways at the airport, and after having one of the easiest flights with a 3-year-old and 1-year-old, we arrived in Portland, Oregon and were greeted by Casey's parents.
In the days to follow, my children's days were filled with cousins, and different outings like the Oregon Zoo, Enchanted Forest, and Silver Creek Falls. They got to watch movies at each of their grandmother's houses, and had pancakes about 5 times in a nine-day period.
We were blessed to celebrate my sister's graduation from nursing school, and enjoy meeting the newest member of our family, Miles Jacob, only 4 weeks old. In person we were able to give hugs and laugh together and have sweet conversations. We beheld my sister-in-law's growing belly and were able to enjoy the anticipation of gaining another niece or nephew in the fall- and seeing Uncle Kyle and Aunt Kari become parents for the first time.
So I am thankful that we were able to go and that my children had a sweet time with family, and I am thankful to be home. Upon coming home, I was immediately hit again with the responsibilites of being mom and wife. A sick husband, suitcases of laundry, a shower to host, and a wet bed all hit me within the first 48 hours! It is good to be back home. I am blessed.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Six Buttercups and a Purple Flower Whose Name I Don't Know
Tomorrow I'm leaving to visit our hometown in Oregon. It will be just me and my kids traveling, and so today I have been doing laundry, making lists, and attempting to leave the house in order (which isn't going as well as I'd like).
But in the midst of all the "to-do's"- there was a moment that was precious. I had gladly given my two children the permission to go outside- more as a treat for me than them, as I had some tasks to get done- and after a few minutes they come bounding into the kitchen holding a treasure only a mom could enjoy to its fullest.
In their hands combined were six buttercups, and a purple flower from our back yard. The stems of the buttercups in my daughter's hand were too short to do anything with, and they were a little damaged. My son proudly held a mutilated sixth buttercup and the purple flower- whose stem was bent. And at his big sister's leading, both presented me with their great find.
Although I'm quite focused on tomorrow's trip, and despite the long list of things yet to do, I relished that moment today. For the first time I received flowers from my little boy, and although the bunch looked a little sad and wasn't worthy of a florist shop, I felt like those seven little flowers may well have been a dozen perfect red roses.
But in the midst of all the "to-do's"- there was a moment that was precious. I had gladly given my two children the permission to go outside- more as a treat for me than them, as I had some tasks to get done- and after a few minutes they come bounding into the kitchen holding a treasure only a mom could enjoy to its fullest.
In their hands combined were six buttercups, and a purple flower from our back yard. The stems of the buttercups in my daughter's hand were too short to do anything with, and they were a little damaged. My son proudly held a mutilated sixth buttercup and the purple flower- whose stem was bent. And at his big sister's leading, both presented me with their great find.
Although I'm quite focused on tomorrow's trip, and despite the long list of things yet to do, I relished that moment today. For the first time I received flowers from my little boy, and although the bunch looked a little sad and wasn't worthy of a florist shop, I felt like those seven little flowers may well have been a dozen perfect red roses.
Monday, June 9, 2008
20-20-20's
For nearly a week now, I have been setting my alarm for 6:00 am to wake up for what I call, "20-20-20's". I get up, exercise 20 minutes on the treadmill (a blessing in and of itself because we got it for FREE), then spend 20 minutes in the Word, and then 20 minutes of showering and getting ready. All of this is so that these things get done. All has to be done before my children get up or there just isn't enough time or I end up not getting to take a shower until 11 o'clock or so.
Of course this is a hard habit to establish, but I have found that the rewards of doing this are so great. I'm ready before my daughter wakes up (she's my earlier bird)- ready to play with her, meet her needs better, and it allows me to focus on my children better throughout the day. There's no fighting for time to clean, play, pick up, and run errands. Things are scheduled out, and I don't really know what took me so long to figure this out. I'm a slow learner I guess. But I am so grateful for the routine that I now have with the kids, and how putting forth this extra effort on my part has changed the tone in our home- for the better!
So I am just so grateful for the work that God is doing in our home, continually reshaping it, and growing our family more and more.
Of course this is a hard habit to establish, but I have found that the rewards of doing this are so great. I'm ready before my daughter wakes up (she's my earlier bird)- ready to play with her, meet her needs better, and it allows me to focus on my children better throughout the day. There's no fighting for time to clean, play, pick up, and run errands. Things are scheduled out, and I don't really know what took me so long to figure this out. I'm a slow learner I guess. But I am so grateful for the routine that I now have with the kids, and how putting forth this extra effort on my part has changed the tone in our home- for the better!
So I am just so grateful for the work that God is doing in our home, continually reshaping it, and growing our family more and more.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Your Blessings
I would love to hear from others...
What everyday grace gifts are you receiving from God? What is He teaching you? How is the Creator revealing His majesty in your life?
Tell me. I want to know! Leave comments here, or if you want, e-mail to me!
What everyday grace gifts are you receiving from God? What is He teaching you? How is the Creator revealing His majesty in your life?
Tell me. I want to know! Leave comments here, or if you want, e-mail to me!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
I Cry Out
One of the greatest parts of God's daily grace to us is the fiery process of sanctification and conviction over sins. In the moment of seeing the holiness of God Almighty and the wretchedness of who I am, the cross is so clear. It was on the cross that my sins were paid for with the blood of Christ. As conviction overwhelms the spirit, all we can do is cry out for mercy to the God who is love. And in mercy found at the foot of the cross we must press on having made a commitment to prove true repentance- turning away from the filth we let consume our hearts that are to be faithful to our Lord.
I am up early this morning, because I feel the weight of all these things this morning: conviction, mercy, forgiveness, repentance- working together to refine my heart in the fire of God's grace to move me closer to the image of His Son.
The words of a worship song are stuck in my head. This is a song that I know we sang in youth group when I was in high school, but I can't remember if it was sung in the youth ministry that I served in before my husband and I were married. It really hasn't been sung my myself regularly since those times. So it has been a good five years since it has come to mind, really. But here it is, in my head, weighted in my heart:
I Cry Out
I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me.
I am weak, I need your love to free me.
Oh Lord, my Rock, my strength in weakness,
Come rescue me, oh Lord
For you are my hope,
and your promise never fails me
And my desire
is to follow you forever
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me.
(Craig Musseau, 1990)
I am up early this morning, because I feel the weight of all these things this morning: conviction, mercy, forgiveness, repentance- working together to refine my heart in the fire of God's grace to move me closer to the image of His Son.
The words of a worship song are stuck in my head. This is a song that I know we sang in youth group when I was in high school, but I can't remember if it was sung in the youth ministry that I served in before my husband and I were married. It really hasn't been sung my myself regularly since those times. So it has been a good five years since it has come to mind, really. But here it is, in my head, weighted in my heart:
I Cry Out
I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me.
I am weak, I need your love to free me.
Oh Lord, my Rock, my strength in weakness,
Come rescue me, oh Lord
For you are my hope,
and your promise never fails me
And my desire
is to follow you forever
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me.
I cry out, for your hand of mercy to heal me.
(Craig Musseau, 1990)
Psalm 41:4, "...I said, 'O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me,
for I have sinned against you!'"
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