Sundays in Spring and Summer

I have mixed feelings about our Sundays in the spring and summer.

Our family enjoys the early service at our church and once in awhile we stay for the Sunday school hour. After that we say to each other "see ya later!"

My husband is an avid mountain biker. He has gotten a bit older so he no longer races and he rarely (but it does happen) gets out the studded tires for the brisk winter rides. He is passionate about four things in life: God, family, racing and biking (sometimes not always in that order).

You can mostly find me on Sunday afternoons in the company of my parents and occasionlly my brother and our children.With our busy schedules there is not one day that there is nothing on our calendars. So when Sunday comes around I do start to miss the winter months when we are together for the entire day. Yet I wouldn't change spending the time with my family nor would I ask my husband to give up something that he truly enjoys.

Yesterday the kids and I went solo! We had a blast together. Just the three of us! No visit to the grandparents and daddy was off in the woods. My plan wasn't to spend a large amount of time outside on the beautiful day but that's exactly what happened. After delivering some Girl Scout Cookies and checking out the gardens in our back yard we decided to go and check out our lake. (We live in - for lack of a better term - a community around a nice size lake) Our lake has been temporarily drained (don't get me started) but the stream is still running strong.
Once on the bridge we spent time looking at the beaver dam, how fast the stream was flowing, (sadly) how much trash was around, how far we have rowed on our boat, etc. We then decided to check out the nature trail that goes the 2.5 miles around the water.

Our ten minute walk turned into an almost 2 hour adventure! No cell phone, no other people, no interruptions, puddle boots (thank GOODNESS!), questions, answers, beauty, fresh air, warm sun and tons of fun! We even found treasure - a rusty golf club and 4 golf balls! Now to a 5 year-old boy, that's pretty sweet!

My favorite memories are when they come unplanned! I only wish I would have grabbed my camera with me yesterday.

Reading Wendy's contribution to the newsletter today, titled "The Necklace", I can't help but think about the little things we do daily with our children that we think nothing of, yet leave a huge impact on them. The good and the bad.

Oh I so want more good!!

May some unplanned adventure put some good funds in the memory banks of your children soon!

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (NIV)

It has been a sad few days (that may continue for some time) for many people that we know and love. A motorcycle accident took a young man home to be with the Lord.

When things like this happen, it seems that it always forces you to put "things in perspective". I can't help but wonder (and I am very guilty of this), why we don't live like that daily? Why don't we embrace every moment with our child? Why don't we cherish the moments spend with our parents, siblings, cousins?! Why don't we go and visit the person we have been promising to? Why don't we send that card or buy that gift - just because?! I know there are times when we simply cannot do things we desire to in our hearts. Children need raised and raised properly with discipline and love. Children get sick. Jobs get lossed. Parents need help. Relationships are not easy. Life is difficult. I believe all of us have time to show how much we care for someone. We just have to want to make it happen. Turn off the TV and go through the effort of loading the kids in the car to go visit family or friends. Make an effort.

I am not saying that if we do those things and "live everyday like it's our last" and that every time we leave the presence of someone we love that we shower them with kisses, hugs, and words of endearment, (Some of our friends may start to worry about us every time we part we are kissing them and such?! "Jen may need some help." ) that it's not going to make a loss any easier. You know what, maybe it will?

Just think, if we took up some of our spare time to spend it with those we loved and by doing so we filll our heads and our hearts, with joyous moments and wonderful memories then maybe there wouldn't be much room for worry and fear?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"

~Matthew 6:25


Today I am thankful...

In the midst of tragedy seeing His peace and love in those hurting the most.

The Love and comfort of many that is surronding dear friends facing this loss.

Reminders

Five year old boys that say the cutest things - ever!

Faces that light up when given a sticker! A sticker!


For Josh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8dZG2yqB_I

Question Tuesday

Simon walks over carrying a book.

Book. Book. He says as he bangs it off my knee.

I've read them a hundred times before. Abigail has them memorized. I love the feel of little bodies curled up next to me learning to love words. Watching them sit with a book telling the stories over to themselves.

Abigail and I are working on phonics. She reminds me often that she can't read, implying that she needs to learn. Soon she will have the stories at her fingertips.

I'm a reading mom.

What's your favorite book and where do you read?

But do you KNOW Him?

Pastor Jack from Cherry Tree Alliance Church preached a 6 week series on prayer and how it is the primary work of God's people. He posed the question several times in those 6 weeks "You may know ABOUT God, but do you KNOW God?" This struck quite a chord within my heart.

I'm not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to Bible facts, nor am I the Verse Memorization Princess of 2011. However, I know enough to know that I can hang with a "Christian-y" conversation pretty well. Four years of Christian school Bible Class, (including what felt like eons of Chapel Wednesdays) taught me plenty. I've also learned much from books I've read, local Christian talk show programs and very bright, interesting pastors. I've read the Bible and spent a lot of time praying. I've been a youth pastor, a Sunday School teacher and so I guess I could answer "Do you know ABOUT God?" somewhat confidently.

However, that question of "Do you not just know ABOUT him, but do you KNOW Him?" was timely and important for me. This is not to say that I've faked my beliefs, but it seems that lately I've been on Christian autopilot. Jesus and I we were kind of on "hiatus" in the heart-connected relationship department, if you will. (read: my polite way of admitting that I was not reading my Bible or praying much).

During a 3 week fast challenge that our pastor put out to the congregation, I decided not to fast per-se, but to eliminate my extracurricular reading. No magazines at breakfast or books at night, and I put down my new e-reader. For three weeks, I was reading only the Bible and praying. Wow, what a difference that has made! I've had a lot of fun becoming familiar with the different Bibles I have laying around and what they have to teach me. I've felt closer to the Lord in the past month than I have for a long time. My prayers feel more natural and connected and I feel more open to His leading.

I say this, not to praise myself (for it was not my doing, but the Holy Spirit's lead. I was the one who had been reading my "get organized magazines" every morning and am still not organized!), but to encourage others that a willing heart and an open Bible are a great combination for rebuilding a relationship with Him.

I had been telling myself lately "I don't know that I totally understand the Bible when I read it", but I do if I take the time and am patient and interested through my reading. Reading about Christ in books and hearing about Him on the radio pales in comparison to reading about Him in his Word!

Are you in need of a jump start in your relationship with Jesus? If so, try committing to a small time period where you focus just on Him. Eliminate something in your life and spend that time learning about faith, trust and hope that the Lord gives us in his Word... the Bible can become addicting!!

Thankful Friday

The brief preview of spring this week has reminded me again how much I love the changing seasons here in beautiful Pennsylvania. There are great aspects of winter - the beauty of the snow, the coziness of my home, the comfort of hot soup and hot cocoa, and the celebration of two hour delays and snow days. However, I'm feeling quite ready to move on to a new season! Soon there will be longer walks outside, lighter jackets, more sunshine, budding trees and plants, and meals cooked on the grill! And springtime brings Easter, the celebration of Jesus' resurrection and the hope we have that death will be vanquished and all tears will be wiped from our eyes. I'm thankful that God allows nature all around us to remind us of Him and His greatness.

I'm also thankful for good books! Although my time to read is limited, I'm happy for even a few minutes sitting in bed or in the tub with a book open. I love that there are people who are so smart and creative and write such great stories! Have you read anything lately by Francine Rivers, Randy Alcorn, Philip Yancey or Elizabeth Elliot? Their stories and writings on the Christian faith have had a tremendous impact on me through my adult years. As a child, my favorite author was Patricia M. St. John, whose stories introduced me to unforgettable characters in countries where I've never been. The book I have read over and over that always has something new and applicable to my life is the Bible. The best part about reading the Bible is getting to know the Hero of the book, Jesus Christ!

My thankful list could go on and on, but I have to mention the people in my life - friends, family, church family and coworkers. To top off all of these wonderful relationships, I now have a darling grandson, who has completely stolen my heart! He is a constant reminder to me that it is the people in our lives who are our greatest treasure!

I'm also grateful that Friday means the weekend is beginning and there will be more time to relax and spend time with the people I love!

Question Tuesday!

Thinking back to last weeks' MOPS and POPS night, I'm thinking about all of the fun that we had! Not to mention that yesterday was Valentine's Day. So, here's a chance to brag on your husband (you don't have to have attended the banquet to answer!)

What is one thing you LOVE about your husband? What is something that he has done or does frequently that makes your heart soar?

Love

I totally forgot that I was supposed to post Friday. And today, I got caught up in the taxes and care of two littles and one sick big one. Feeling crummy myself, I forgot that I was supposed to post today, too.

I knew the basic outline of what I planned to say. To speak of the great God I serve. The one who can, who does, create it all and holds it all in the palm of His hand. Unflinching, fingers spread. The only things I can hold in the palm of my hand are inanimate! He holds spinning, swirling galaxies and scurrying ants and rebellious people.

I knew next I wanted to write of those palms etched with the names of His followers, marked with the scars of nails. Proof of love.

We were talking of it in Sunday school. The way in light of all that God is and all that He's created, we are really rather insignificant. But for the palms with names and scars! You see, it is God's love that grants us our significance. I am significant because I have been created by the hands of the one who places planets in their orbits and names the stars. I am significant because He saw my need and He came to my rescue. I am significant because of the scars and the etchings on His palms.

I am significant in love. And I grant significance to others through love.

I pray tonight, in this late night post, stumbling instead of eloquent, that you will find significance in the love of the God who holds galaxies in His nail scarred hands.

The Simple Things...

I am thankful for:

A cat named Dewey who comforted both of my sick children this week by snuggling them the entire time they were camped on the couch. One Monday & Tuesday the other Thursday and Friday. I believe he even found the time to snuggle up my husband who filled in the sickness gap on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Currently everyone's seems healthy again (just a little fatigue going around)!

Smiles on faces

Anticipation of a good night's sleep

Lysol Spray

Lysol 4-n-1 Cleaner

Pine Sol

Windex

Febreese

Comet

My first Valentine!

Last night at church, there it was! My little guy walked up to me with a "surprise" and handed me the very first Valentine that he's made for me. When we were trying hard to become pregnant, this was one of those things I dreamed about and there it was in real life! It was as real as a Valentine can get: it says "Mommy" and his name and is in the shape of a big heart, and it made my heart soar. Especially because he made a production of having it hidden in something else and presented it to me as a hard made gift.

These little things are so special, and the delight in his eyes as he gave it to me was so heartwarming. It make me wonder about God and how he must feel when we delight him. Psalm 149 tells us to praise him and he delights in us! What a great feeling, so much more so than even my son feels from giving me a Valentine, to have the Lord delight in us as we praise him!

Praise the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

MOPS is TONIGHT!!!!

(We are NOT cancelling!)

See you at 6pm!
Don't forget to bring your POP or you BFF!!!

Be safe on the roads...watch for ICE!!!!

God is in control!

Note to self: God is in control!
I have a confession to make - I really, really like my life to run smoothly! I enjoy it most when events of each day are well planned, organized, and everyone is happy. At some point along the way, I had to admit that these desires involved some control issues and that I needed help with my problem! I now refer to myself as a "recovering controlaholic", because I still struggle with these issues on a regular basis but I depend on my very big God to keep me in check.

Looking back on my life I really can't blame anyone for making me this way. It's true that I grew up in a large family with parents whose amazing management skills and work ethics combined could probably conquer a small country! They were quite balanced, however, and still let us have plenty of spontaneous fun. Perhaps it can be traced to that sinful nature I was born with that really likes my own way the best!

I made it all the way to parenthood before my calm little world was shaken and I realized that I couldn't keep things as smooth and ordered as I would like. Our first daughter was the model baby, sleeping through the night at six weeks, and causing me to pat myself on the back for being such a calm mother. Then our darling second daughter arrived and even though I followed all of the same great techniques, she did not sleep through the night for a very, very long time! When number three child, our first son, arrived, any sense of control and order I still clung to flew away and I went into survival mode! Because of my relationship with Jesus, I did a lot of admitting that I needed help and learning to relax. Even though I could no longer have a "quiet time", getting alone with God, I kept opening my Bible to look for insights on how to stay sane.

One verse that really hit me hard that God still whispers to me when I'm stuck on my seemingly superior plan, is from Proverbs 3:7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes..." The verses that come right before this much needed reminder help me to relax and not get hung up on my great plans. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Having straight paths means I won't be wandering in the darkness or getting stuck in bad detours!) This is one of those treasures in the Bible that tells us so clearly what to do and offers a wonderful promise for those who do it! Why do I make things so difficult for myself when all I need to do is give God control (the little that I perceive I have!) and let Him show me the best way?!

Over the years my Heavenly Father has allowed me many lessons in this area; He is so gracious that way! The experiences of going overseas as missionaries and adjusting to a new culture rivaled some of my parenting challenges. Everything I had known in my home culture was ripped away and I had to adjust to a strange, new way. I struggled deeply during our adjustment time and it was only through letting God's Word light my path that I was able to embrace my new surroundings and love the people to whom I had come to minister. During these years God mercifully changed me so that when the hardest test came along, having our precious daughter, Lisa, taken from us by illness, I was able to keep holding on to Him and believing His plan is best.

Each morning I still have to have a little chat with God and with my heart! "God please help me to remember today that You are in control. Nothing is too difficult for You! On my own, I can do nothing that will amount to anything! I need You so much!" Then I look for some new promise in His Word just to cement my resolve to leave it all in His Hands. Those promises are like my daily food and the air I breathe - they keep me persevering even when my life isn't going how I would have planned it!

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this." Psalm 37:4,5

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear You, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You."
Psalm 31:19

"A righteous 'woman' may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers her from them all. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17,18

~Joy Herman

Thankful Friday!

Right now, I am at my mom's house as is with every Friay. My son is playing with her and I am studying for my classes. I hear them playing and remember the hours and hours my grandfather spent with me doing something and doing nothing. I remember him pushing me on his huge tree swing, playing gin (card game if you don't know), shucking corn, taking me to Rishel's gas station for a lollipop and driving me around Hopwood to see the houses he'd built by hand. I remember him, crippled by arthritis, standing up to yell to me during my high school basketball game because he was so proud.
Pappy was 77 when I was born, I chatted incessantly and he was pretty quiet, he had blue eyes and white hair, I had brown eyes and brown hair, I was tiny and he was huge, we weren't even of the same gender... and yet, we had so much fun together. I can still hear his comments as he tried to cream me in gin. He lived his last years in Florida happily fishing in the Atlantic Ocean every day.
He received a letter from me the night he died... I was 15 and he was 93. We went to Florida and dumped his ashes in the Atlantic Ocean (illegal, I know!) I threw my hard earned state track meet medal in the ocean for him. He made such an impact on my life and I still miss him so.
I am so thankful for this time my mom is spending with my son. Not only because I get to study (yay!) but most importantly for the memories they are building. They don't play gin yet, but they play a lot of other things (right now, it's "car dealer") I remember how proud I was to see Pappy at my basketball game, and I saw that same proud glow in my son's eyes when he saw his grandma at his Christmas play. I can only hope that my mom is able to make the same impact on my son that her dad had on me. I think she's off to a great start... and she packs some great lollipops.
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of future memories and family.

Turn Off the Radio

I'm not good with things dueling for my attention. I think it explains why our efforts to have our children closer together were thwarted. One needy thing at a time. God knew.

I'm also a slow learner, preferring to blame something or someone else for my shortcomings. For a long time the car was torture. The ten minute drive to Target felt like a week.

I was used to getting into my car and turning on the radio and driving to my destination. Then Abigail started talking. Then she started having conversations. Then she started asking questions. And expecting answers. (How dare she, right?) The days of tuning out toddler babble were over. And I would spend the time with dueling noises--the radio and the girl.

This went on for a while, an embarrassingly long while. All I wanted was for Abigail to be quiet in the car.

Then I read a little homeschooling book about a method of educating children designed by Charlotte Mason. She observed in her original writings that when a child was thinking she was talking. There wasn't another way for a child to think. (Of course she also observed that adults can think and talk independently often talking without thinking.) It changed my perspective. Perhaps the girl should win the duel. When she wants to converse in the car, the radio is turned off. If she is making random noise, I reserve the right to turn the radio on and ask her to be quiet.

Turning the radio off in the car and in the kitchen has so relaxed me as a mother. I have allowed myself to be invited and to accept the invitation into her head and her heart. The things she thinks about are amazing, the questions she asks confounding, and the way she looks at the world intriguing.

I know some of you are like my husband and exist with background noise. My point isn't that you must mother as I do, but rather to accept that their chatter is an invitation to know them well.

Train up a child in the way he should go, 

Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 

Proverbs 22:6

(While this verse appears to say that if you teach your child about God, he will never turn away. But it has more to deal with teaching your child about his unique design and the ways he can go with that. Getting to know the unique person God has entrusted to us is imperative to giving them this training.)

Fun Question...for YOU!

I know this will be hard for some of us, seriously. Let's just focus on ourselves...and take a stroll down memory lane.

Many of us wanted to be many things as we grew up. I went from FBI agent to dolphin trainer. Swimming with the big fish by day...secret agent by night. Hey, it could happen!

As I grew my interests changed.

Writing (all kinds) is my passion (remember I am just focusing on myself).

However, my secret hidden "OH I so wish I could (be) _________________!"

Is...sing!

What's yours?