tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19805816454508670052024-03-20T03:57:45.553-04:00CharaLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-91550261637569954042017-07-22T23:35:00.000-04:002017-07-22T23:35:09.038-04:00Grace Always Finds His Children<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I drop the kids off at Vacation Bible School at a church we
admittedly don’t attend, but know many of the congregants and their leadership. The church takes the safety of the kids very
seriously, so after I sign off that I’ve dropped them off and stick numbered neon bracelets around their wrists, I can give them a hug, but I can’t go any
further. I haven’t filled out the
workers applications, haven’t been approved. I can’t walk them back to where all things
start…they go <i>without me. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little girl unnamed, I see her stiffen – her whole body at a
diagonal angle, feet plungered to the floor, back pushing against the worker leading her back to the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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I cringe on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smile on the
lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Will she cry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will she run? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />Such a simple thing...Going to Vacation
Bible School – <i>this is fun, right?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it’s another part of her growing up, of her getting brave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m
praying it’s another piece of her story in learning that God <b>is</b>
trustworthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She turns – <i>oh, no</i>. Without ever looking at my face she quickly wraps her arms around my middle, pushes her face fast into my belly, and I feel the tears she is commanding back down as she pushes off, turns, and goes down the long hallway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sigh a sigh of relief. She did it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the car Keith and Kristyn Gettys CD is playing. I turn on the lullaby they wrote for their own little girl who needed reminded not to be afraid on nights they aren't home to put her to bed. I’ve been wanting to memorize it so in my own broken, off-key voice I can sing it to occasionally scared girl as she drifts to sleep. It’s on repeat. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Consider the stars in the sky;</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look up and wonder, can you count their number?</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider the stars in the sky;</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Umbrella to hide in, a dance floor of heaven.</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not be afraid</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not be afraid</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider the stars in the sky;</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it is darkest they shine out the brightest</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider the stars in the sky</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In every anguish, Oh, child take courage </span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not be afraid</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not be afraid</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He who made all of this, and who holds all of this,</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Holds you in his hands”</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;">Second or third time through and it's no longer about her. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Consider the stars in the sky;</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diamond in a ring. Over the Child King.</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consider the stars in the sky;</span></span><b><span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grace He had promised, coming to find us”</span></span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh what a buttress for my soul! How often I forget, “Grace He has promised,
coming to find [me].”</span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Round every corner
it <i>has come</i>.</span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than enough.</span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;">
Here I am thinking I’m learning something for her, and here He is reminding me,
one of His girls, that <i>I</i> can trust <i>Him</i>. I can trust Him with the time He’s giving me that I’m
telling Him isn’t enough.</span><span style="color: #1e1412;"> </span><span style="color: #1e1412;">I can trust
Him with the work He’s given me that I’ve been telling myself I just can’t do.</span><span style="color: #1e1412;"> </span><span style="color: #1e1412;">I can enjoy the gifts
He’s given me that my failures, my sin, and the accuser remind me I simply don't deserve.</span><span style="color: #1e1412;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;">I realize I am so much like my sweet little girl, and probably with more to learn. I too often question if He will come through...If He will be enough. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1e1412;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aren’t all the promises
of God, yes in Christ? Yes, they are (2 Corinthians 1:20)! Grace He promised, coming to find me? <i>Even me?</i><i> </i> Even me!</span></span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1e1412; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1e1412;">“Get busy, get
distracted, and you can forget God.
Forget God, and you lose your mind and your peace. Forget God, and all your remember is
anxiety…Forget the face of God, and you forget your own name is Beloved.” Ann
Voskamp, The Broken W</span><span style="color: #1e1412;">ay</span></span></blockquote>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-85776241240533890172013-03-07T15:04:00.003-05:002013-03-07T15:04:33.751-05:00Wondorous ThingsBlogging for me generally only happens when my heart feels a little on fire and of course the children are sleeping. <br />
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The psalmist declares in Psalm 119:<br />
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"Blessed are you, O LORD;<br /> teach me your statutes!<br /> With my lips I declare<br /> all the rules of your mouth.<br /> In the way of your testimonies I delight<br /> as much as in all riches.<br /> I will meditate on your precepts<br /> and fix my eyes on your ways.<br /> I will delight in your statutes;<br /> I will not forget your word.<br /> Deal bountifully with your servant,<br /> that I may live and keep your word.<br /> Open my eyes, that I may behold<br /> wondrous things out of your law."<br />(Psalm 119:12-18 ESV)<br />
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I am not so much like the psalmist as I'd like to be in this passage, but friends, there really are WONDROUS things in His Word that delight. I have been listening to the Bible and having it taught to me since infancy and I have been reading it on my own since childhood (not as much or as often or as consistently as I would like to my shame and my own hindrance I'm sure) and still the Lord is so kind to show me marvel after marvel about Himself and His ways (Ephesians 1:18). Surely He has dealt bountifully. <br />
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The girls and I are reading through The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski in the mornings and the things the Lord has revealed to MY heart have been so satisfying and joy filling. No doubt sometimes hard (like God's response to the complainers of Israel), but beautiful and true and freeing. <br />
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Amazingly (because we are still in the Old Testament, or in the earlier books that are in the Bible), I will read something to them, and then in my own personal study read something from the New Testament that directly correlates and it is unreal. <br />
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Recently I read to the kids about the Tabernacle (also interesting is that they were talking about this same story in Anna's Sunday morning class at Church - love you Crossroads!). The story told how God told Moses to build a tent for Him to live in among His people. The tent and everything inside was designed to be a foreshadowing of all Jesus (Immanuel, which means God with us), would be. One of the pieces in the tent was the "ark of the covenant", sort of a chest or box, that would house God's presence. Moses was to have it made with two golden angels facing eachother with wings spread out over the "mercy seat". <br />
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That may be old news for seasoned Church attenders, but would you believe that later that afternoon as I was doing a Beth Moore Bible study called Jesus, the One and Only she pointed out that when Mary took some of the followers of Jesus back to the tomb Jesus had been buried in because Jesus' body was no longer there, "[Mary] saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet." (John 20:12). <br />
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Beautiful. Not only is Jesus our mercy seat, but God's design of the ark of the covenant even included the angels guarding over Jesus probably just bursting to tell the world He wasn't dead anymore?! I love it. Beautiful story writing God. Masterfully, lovely, intricate...I love that after 30 years of being in Your Word there are things You show me that make me cry, laugh, repent, be amazed, be silent, etc. It was so fun to share this with the girlies. So much praying they will see the beauty of the Lord. <br />
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There have been so many other cool things (to me), but I'm sure you're all already glazed over, so I'll conclude. Friends, let's read this book more. So good. And if you're not convinced, here's 5 reasons you should....<br />
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<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/five-promises-for-your-bible-reading-and-prayer">5 Promises for Your Bible Reading and Prayer</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-993581739864175012013-01-03T22:26:00.000-05:002013-01-03T22:26:22.912-05:00And so this is Christmas...<span style="font-size: small;">The beginnings of the Christmas season fall upon us bright and beautiful, slowly at first and then bursting forth all around - similar to the snow that so often accompanies the season here in West Virginia. Twinkling lights, frosty landscapes, houses full of light, laughter and love, hustle and bustle, ribbons and bows, peppermint and cocoa, snowmen and stockings...Christmas time is hope. It is beauty. It is peace. It is joy. It is merry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But it is also grief. It is angst. It is labor. It is exhaustion. It is cold. It is dark. It is lonely. It is war. It is long. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We each know of the widowed, left waking on Christmas morning in a silent house finding it hard to even breathe with their best friend gone. We know of parents who pull themselves out of bed and force a smile that hardly reaches their eyes to protect a house of other little ones all so desperately missing their sibling that sits around the table no longer. We know of the one who might not even make it out of bed they are so bone weary from the pain in the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />There is grief here. Too heavy to bear. Suffocating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Daryl and I have not so far faced such loss on a personal level. But we know and we ache for those that have and something about Christmas makes me think of them maybe even more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This year just before Christmas when I was "supposed" to be hosting a holiday party, I instead was kneeling shivering on cold, hard tile with my arms draped over our toilet seat keenly aware that this too was Christmas. That very moment retching violently into a toilet was a bold faced reminder to me of the unimaginable - that God came here. And He more than came; He came as human and He came to take on <b>all </b>of my wretchedness as He hung on a bloody cross. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">God made man. God with us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">"Why would you come?!" I whispered into the bowl. Why leave Your throne and settle in a womb full of messiness and be born in a stable covered in dirt and dung? Why would the King of all Kings, ruler of all, come to wash dirty feet, touch gaping, leprous wounds? Why would the all wise come to be mocked and ridiculed and unappreciated? Why would the perfect one come and take on not only our humanity, but our filth, our sin and our death? </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">"<i>For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost</i>" (Luke 19:10).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">"<i>...the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many</i>" (Matthew 20:28).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom </i><i>I am the foremost</i><i>"</i> (1 Timothy 1:15). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"</i><i>I come that they may have life and have it abundantly</i><i>" </i>(John 10:10). </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"...The reason the </i><i>Son of God appeared was to destroy the works o</i><i>f the d</i><i>evil</i><i>"</i> (1 John 3:8). </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: small;">Christmas <i>now</i> still reeks of death and dark and despair. It has since the very first one. Have we pondered Mary's trip on a donkey of all things all that way to Bethlehem belly full of the Son of God? Have we pondered weary Joseph who as a man must have so much wanted to protect and provide for his dear wife and this God child but could only come up with a stable? How many traveled for the census ordained so Jesus could be born where prophecy foretold? What was it like for them? I'm sure they were much more tired than I was from planning and baking and cleaning and wrapping. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have we pondered Christmas's since like when the wise men may have been traveling to find precious Jesus? What must their trip that took years been like? What was Christmas like the year that Herod sent soldiers to kill all the baby boys that might have been Jesus in a jealous rage? I hadn't even though about it until I watched <a href="http://vimeo.com/m/54321860">this</a>. And how did Mary feel after the crucifixion each year when Jesus' birthday rolled around? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have we pondered that Christmas, God become man, was purposed because God willed that Christ would die?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But thankfully not just so that He would die, but that He would rise, our king forever, offer life and light and liberty to all who believe. This is why the merry! This is why the angels proclaimed peace and joy to the shepherds that night. <br /><br />There is a kingdom and it is coming. There is a day when all will be made right. What Jesus life has accomplished is why we have hope, beauty, peace, joy and merry at Christmas. It is not just because of what we have here this Christmas that we rejoice, but because of all that was promised on that day so long ago when Jesus cries first sounded in Mary's ears. And because like the long labor pains that pushed Jesus into the world, we to are being pushed more and more into His likeness - and that is joyful. </span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />In Luke 10:20 the disciples are told to rejoice not that spirits are subject to them, but that there names are written in heaven. So let everyone who would believe that Jesus is Lord rejoice! Not that our "Christmas" is sparkly and cozy and clean and bright, but that God is with us, and He will be forever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>"For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus]. That is why </b><b>it is through him</b><b> that we utter our Amen to God for his glory</b><b>" </b> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>(2 Corinthians 1:20). </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-9181033667963539612012-11-28T22:56:00.000-05:002012-11-29T22:36:29.588-05:00A few of our favorite things...We have just had our best Thanksgiving season yet. I'm thankful for that :) I know we parents sometimes can make it seem like things get harder with kids, but let me let you in on a secret - harder often has great pay offs and holidays get more and <b>more</b> fun. So if you don't have kids, get you some ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKrjyQgw9L5eB74wh6fEzQuyZWcL6C-ZNHSaIILRkrC1_BOM_sAHfVC18NvNRT-Fhr8fXnzziGAh9RYHf_jpYoddKZm-fFSIjrt3RQ5nhbxQ-dhcpsvtaf2ZvBSHufh1K7kZvcCwCCBNf/s1600/DSC_0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKrjyQgw9L5eB74wh6fEzQuyZWcL6C-ZNHSaIILRkrC1_BOM_sAHfVC18NvNRT-Fhr8fXnzziGAh9RYHf_jpYoddKZm-fFSIjrt3RQ5nhbxQ-dhcpsvtaf2ZvBSHufh1K7kZvcCwCCBNf/s320/DSC_0470.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the record, only 3 of those are mine. The other two are some of our adorable nieces and nephews!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So now we are moving on to Christmas... Truly my favorite season ever<i>.</i> I just got done ordering some things for our Christmas season so I have to share our Christmas "book list". <br />
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2 of my favorite books for planning family Christmas fun:<br />
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<a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/5325/nm/Treasuring+God+in+Our+Traditions">Treasuring God in Our Traditions</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Christmas-Helping-Children-Traditions/dp/1590520890">The ADVENTure of Christmas</a><br />
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And I am SUPER stoked that Ann Voskamp decided to make a family devotional and Jesse Tree ornaments printable for FREE <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-tools-for-you/">here</a>. My Christmas planning just got oh so much easier. If I ever see Ann I will give her a huge squeeze.<br />
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My dear, wise, and beautiful friend also has some great ideas on her <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/free-tools-for-you/">blog</a>. She has kids a touch older than mine, and two boys and a girl :) Opposite mix.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFqh9tfRTmQ_cINjUy4IeDG1dzj46z9wj3EoBzZNcjafFgTZ8M29Zz2u0UrGUrj9gqxlE9MvNZ2Xg-u7xQhzgAr_HlH5zxmLkt1XhPICPtmylK1MU1Zu0Twv0FJeBcjnGkOLbZBlhwV-w/s1600/9781433501807m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFqh9tfRTmQ_cINjUy4IeDG1dzj46z9wj3EoBzZNcjafFgTZ8M29Zz2u0UrGUrj9gqxlE9MvNZ2Xg-u7xQhzgAr_HlH5zxmLkt1XhPICPtmylK1MU1Zu0Twv0FJeBcjnGkOLbZBlhwV-w/s200/9781433501807m.jpg" width="135" /></a>And for my own soul I have loved reading this (most) every night: <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/5835/nm/Come%2C+Thou+Long-Expected+Jesus%3A+Experiencing+the+Peace+and+Promise+of+Christmas">Come Thou Long Expected Jesus</a> the past few Christmas seasons. I love that even the cover looks artsy and full of Christmas class. :) I know that covers don't matter much, but a pretty cover really does provide incentive in actually picking the book up for me. (Shallow)<br />
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That said, this year, John Piper put out an advent devo (basically short bits about Christmas for you to read daily up until Christmas) also FREE. Lot's of people in the Christmas spirit :) You can download Good News of Great Joy <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/good-news-of-great-joy-free-advent-ebook">here.</a> Who doesn't want some great joy?<br />
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In case you didn't know, we kinda love John Piper around here. I'm assuming that's fairly obvious considering my daughters assume that if we ever have another boy he will be named John Piper. In fairness, we had planned to name Aaron John up until his delivery and so I guess they just think Piper would be the natural addition. Sadly that's a little much for me. <br />
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I ordered <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758614993/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER">The Wonder of Christmas</a> for a general storytime book. I am hopeful it won't disappoint as I've loved a lot of her other children's books (especially her Easterville one). We haven't come across tons of good Christmas storybooks so if you have some ideas pass them along, please! <br />
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Lastly, we always get the kids one good book for Christmas and here are this years picks... EEEP, can't wait to open these babies up.... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oops, busted. mighta ordered this one for me :) </td></tr>
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For those of you who may be thinking how cozy, let me tell you that we will sometimes miss our daily/nightly readings and that most readings or activities will involve teachable moments, corrections, encouragements, warnings, and even discipline, and sometimes for the kids :) It's true. We live in a house full of sinners so even our best moments need redeemed. Another reason we love that Jesus came and that we get to celebrate the God come man this season.<br />
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What about you all? What's Christmas like for you? Any good book or activity recommendations? We are always looking for a few good books and loads of fun around here. <br />
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Merry Christmasing!<br />
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***UPDATE: Our family will be doing the <a href="http://truthinthetinsel.com/">Truth in Tinsel</a> Advent Ornaments (got from Lorrie's blog) this year and Ann Voskamp's as the kids get older. Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-91470920661085477972012-09-04T15:33:00.005-04:002012-09-04T15:36:43.756-04:00Homeschool!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Twas the night before homeschool and all through the house...</b></i></h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i>...We were so excited we could hardly stand it! </i></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Came down dressed and ready to go (minus a little hairbrushing!)</td></tr>
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Today was our first "official" day of homeschool! I am so, so, so, so, so excited about this new season of our life. I know there will be days when the kids will be terrible, days when I'll be terrible, and days when we'll all be terrible together, but we'll be together! I love it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical first day pic - I don't know why we did it outside since we weren't going anywhere! Oh well!</td></tr>
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<i>For those of you who aren't homeschooling, please don't read this as a post on how I think you should be homeschooling, too. Please also try to be generous if you think we are out of our minds. It's very well possible :) </i><br />
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The decision making process wasn't a tough one for Daryl and I. Thankfully, as have been most all of the large decisions in our home, the Lord has been kind enough to bring us to the same beliefs even though typically through different means and in different amounts of time! <br />
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I was raised riding in our car listening to Focus on the Family (thanks, Mom) and hearing tales of homeschooling - the good and the bad. It's always been an option to me since then - and one I think I secretly always wanted to pursue - even though I attended and most of the time really enjoyed public schools and my own husband and mother are great public educators! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our school room</td></tr>
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Daryl wasn't as exposed to homeschooling and I<br />
remember when the subject first came up during our engagement he said something like, "I'd be concerned my kids would be socially awkward." I challenged him to come to Dv8 with me that week (the middle school youth ministry I worked with at the time) and pick out the 5 or so kids that were currently homeschooled. Couldn't do it. There maybe was a homeschool kid or two that was more quiet or strange than your average middle school student, but there were quite a few quiet and strange ones from public and private schools, too ;) ;) Most of the kids we know who have been homeschooled are absolutely delightful to be around.<br />
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Our kids may or may not turn out socially awkward, but we don't believe that to be the result of homeschooling as much of the result of their training, personality and/or sin (let's face it, most shyness is being more concerned about ourselves than others or disbelieving God's care and creation of us). Let us know if you think we are lagging behind somewhere in getting them around others! <i><br /></i><br />
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We also know that homeschooling our children doesn't guarantee they will love Jesus more or be smarter or be better people. Regardless of the outcome, Daryl and I feel like for now, this is what is best for our family. For a slew of reasons. Here's the main sum of our prayer in homeschooling during their younger years: to seize every opportunity God has provided with our children to foster delight in Jesus Christ and provide the tools needed to most enjoy Him and spread a passion for His glory with excellence (whether that be through homemaking, engineering, or anything else). It's our prayer that we will be faithful to train them and educate them well and our confidence that God will be faithful even when we are not and that His plans will come to fruition. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girl school supply cubby :)</td></tr>
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<br />
The one reason we are homeschooling that has <b>surprisingly</b> caused joy to explode in my heart this past month is that I actually get to BE WITH my kids. I was worried that as many of my friends were dropping off their sweet kids at various pre-schools or whatnot I might envy the few hours of quiet they might have (or at least I pretend they have!), or the one on one time they might get with another child, or even really doubt what we are doing because my kids or I might miss out on something. I know I will probably have those moments but for now, God has amazed me with delight in having them here, knowing they could be somewhere else. I have such a short, short, little time with these absolutely wonderful creatures. I am so humbled and thankful for the joy He has given me and for this season of getting to know and enjoy them. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nadia Hope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalPc5i7bcd4KV15CLLIbd6TJbjhEHaxh7GQJp7rWFZlWV4nO73fUbrXq9xPfeOOpho7HAwSFt07L7UCcP4xWPLrlGbQLwTpCfgGGRQcxr9BigJRFwwZ0PrYXpbK6FoH6_N-1HdAVjWd_P/s1600/DSC_9637.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalPc5i7bcd4KV15CLLIbd6TJbjhEHaxh7GQJp7rWFZlWV4nO73fUbrXq9xPfeOOpho7HAwSFt07L7UCcP4xWPLrlGbQLwTpCfgGGRQcxr9BigJRFwwZ0PrYXpbK6FoH6_N-1HdAVjWd_P/s320/DSC_9637.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Grace</td></tr>
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I'm going to want days off. I know it. So will they. But I am beyond thankful to the Lord that He is graciously working in me to fulfill His commands to enjoy my family and to be busy at home in such a simple way right now. I can't wait for what we will all learn! <br />
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Pray for us! We'll need it! Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-559093607716507562012-05-16T23:43:00.003-04:002012-05-16T23:46:48.755-04:00Mom<b>***Due to recent events in our lives, the publishing of this Mother's Day post is belated. My apologies.***</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kocG8-8GhydJgtfETVkrTk3BIbWGy7g9ibcUZHrAoLZKvBJ47XziV0o39vE65kZNYQNPZSRj-Cm4WU3FD1LSt78SKwEKOUwWLUvb8f1EYbSEVZeLDQzJXVY1xHWve3OPMg0OiHtGLbnM/s1600/DSC_7714.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_kocG8-8GhydJgtfETVkrTk3BIbWGy7g9ibcUZHrAoLZKvBJ47XziV0o39vE65kZNYQNPZSRj-Cm4WU3FD1LSt78SKwEKOUwWLUvb8f1EYbSEVZeLDQzJXVY1xHWve3OPMg0OiHtGLbnM/s320/DSC_7714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are some that dislike Mother's Day and holidays like these because they say it's all about commercialism. Hogwash. I love Mother's Day (and celebrations in general). There's a lot in life to celebrate and of those things is certainly our moms (I can say that with much more certainty now that I am a mom ;)). <br />
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<i> <span class="text Prov-31-31" id="en-NIV-17316">"Honor her for all that her hands have done,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-31-31">and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:31 </span></span></i></div>
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When I think of my mom I am often taken back and forth between childhood memories (toting my friends and I to the pool and getting us frozen treats during adult swim, leading games for my friends and I at my birthday parties, fixing Jarod and I yogurt and oranges for after school snacks, volunteering at school events, reminding me to cross my legs at band concerts, taking Jarod & I to Chuck E Cheese after report cards, buying me awesome presents, etc, etc), and her service to me at current (listening to my day as I scrub dishes and babysitting my kids - a lot, etc, etc). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzEpqerohm2iB5Jbdknq6lXYFFU_lVouPgC4PEOP5d6ZTGzFDU35KkUQprV2R70ot6PJwSINrIDaejB-BODEqInfufrf9WzCmTK_3zR8NHyH62bbwzY8OnQxdjF2pyFkvmOJIpKyGgO8K/s1600/72396_1558310850706_1623313688_1308580_4861651_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzEpqerohm2iB5Jbdknq6lXYFFU_lVouPgC4PEOP5d6ZTGzFDU35KkUQprV2R70ot6PJwSINrIDaejB-BODEqInfufrf9WzCmTK_3zR8NHyH62bbwzY8OnQxdjF2pyFkvmOJIpKyGgO8K/s320/72396_1558310850706_1623313688_1308580_4861651_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>My Mom is one of the most faithful women I know. At 19 she married my Dad and has loved, served and helped him til this day. I have complete confidence she will continue to. <i>*After this weekend, we are all even more grateful to be experiencing this and that I can leave that line in this post. </i> Not too many years later she had my brother, and then me (the fact that they stopped having kids after that means I was either really awesome or really not so awesome. I'm going with really awesome). <br />
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She has always been there, ready to nurture, protect, and help us as best she could since she knew we were in her womb - avoiding things like diet coke and all other loves that might have poorly impacted our growth, development, and souls. <br />
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She chose to pursue a career that would serve her husband and family and once she had one, she put her career on hold to give us the best childhood and prepare us for the best adulthood she could. I can't say that I know how difficult this was because I'm pretty sure being a stay at home mom in this day in age doesn't carry quite the same stigma that it did then, when feminism seemingly included asserting yourself in the workforce.<br />
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I don't remember a day not knowing the love of God and I'm pretty sure that's because of my Mom and Dad's love for Him and the way their faith was a reality. I'm also fairly certain that my life has been so blessed (and not primarily in a physical sense as much as a deep down joy sense) because of my Mom's many, many, many, many, many, many, MANY prayers for me and my friends (and her intuition!). I'm pretty thankful, too, that she and my Dad even prayed for my husband on her wedding day because I think he's pretty awesome :) <br />
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My Mom wasn't always a mom. Once she was able to pursue her days the way she wanted, but thankfully one of the things she wanted to pursue was a family. More thankfully, because of God's great love for us all, she didn't pursue just any type of family, she pursued Him and let Him define how our family would look. We don't have a perfect family, but it's perfect in the sense that God created it and is holding it together and I can say without reservation it is awesome and there couldn't be a better one for me! <br />
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So, Mom...<br />
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I am so thankful God gave me you! You are amazing. Faithful. <br />
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Thank you, thank you, <i>thank you</i> for loving and trusting Jesus and revealing His preciousness to me. Thank you for finding your treasure in Him so that you could lay down the lesser treasures of this world to serve Dad, raise Jarod and I, to bless us, and to bless our friends. Thank you for resting in His time and spending so much of it with us, reading to us, planning fun for us, praying for us, teaching us, driving us, cheering for us, waiting for us, serving us, and most of all, hanging out with us. Thank you for learning from the Word and for teaching me from it. Thank you for marrying Dad!!! Thank you for being passionate about serving our family and for providing me a vision and tools for loving and serving my own. Thank you for expressing that same love and service to my kids. My world, <i>the world</i>, is truly a better place because of you.<br />
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I love you, Mom! <br />
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Oh, and your an unbelievable grandma! But I think the kids have already broadcasted that :) <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI-wbrUE_cIHme6kIzH3Psmlwx5GS5evUslGrn3x_xTMvy4baWhfbxb_PcZ1AXZdx1LF5WO1eOkpYv4ZKf7dQ4S9k_sxojLTDCzf6xCoPFnpC7i4t9MfNb3dDbbOe4LaONQCIodYrVcAa/s1600/DSC_7458.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI-wbrUE_cIHme6kIzH3Psmlwx5GS5evUslGrn3x_xTMvy4baWhfbxb_PcZ1AXZdx1LF5WO1eOkpYv4ZKf7dQ4S9k_sxojLTDCzf6xCoPFnpC7i4t9MfNb3dDbbOe4LaONQCIodYrVcAa/s320/DSC_7458.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqe56iR1P93s6EyrNImodBYbbxV9C9wLUtcO-pKJQZynnHvZyC9FXPUrGgXg84McRvXj6Qr95M44aIvdd5Cl7OkgNjYAl2vUwgKqABTBzEe7WBwLx4vIpMFCxBbDYrhssk9s1LZRj7ZEO/s1600/_0003045.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqe56iR1P93s6EyrNImodBYbbxV9C9wLUtcO-pKJQZynnHvZyC9FXPUrGgXg84McRvXj6Qr95M44aIvdd5Cl7OkgNjYAl2vUwgKqABTBzEe7WBwLx4vIpMFCxBbDYrhssk9s1LZRj7ZEO/s320/_0003045.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuShA830tgE5EV70obBIy6jUZxrd5GsrE-ycJ_fHZBIVBjvctG0x8OCLcW31GkxbgzuKPtQ0M9FR4bpQdKD3WVihQKcUeFzY5w1Us9kxdcxdK-N3URLnbr5hUMSZHjC74ArXdp2kNUi71T/s1600/DSC_7056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuShA830tgE5EV70obBIy6jUZxrd5GsrE-ycJ_fHZBIVBjvctG0x8OCLcW31GkxbgzuKPtQ0M9FR4bpQdKD3WVihQKcUeFzY5w1Us9kxdcxdK-N3URLnbr5hUMSZHjC74ArXdp2kNUi71T/s320/DSC_7056.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuShA830tgE5EV70obBIy6jUZxrd5GsrE-ycJ_fHZBIVBjvctG0x8OCLcW31GkxbgzuKPtQ0M9FR4bpQdKD3WVihQKcUeFzY5w1Us9kxdcxdK-N3URLnbr5hUMSZHjC74ArXdp2kNUi71T/s1600/DSC_7056.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-43158290706987153202012-05-01T15:05:00.002-04:002012-05-01T15:05:32.017-04:00Something Like ThatI remember before giving birth to Anna sitting in her perfectly coordinated and clean room envisioning life with our baby as one of calm and peace. I knew there would be difficulties but I assumed my Babywise approach to parenting would mean she would be sleeping without issues by 7-9 weeks and wake up a perfectly happy, peaceful child from then on. I would have a clean, sunny home with music in the background and everyone would want to know how I did it :) <br />
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I remember before having toddlers thinking that meltdowns, bad attitudes and lack of first time obedience could *typically* be avoided by proactive parenting - clear boundaries, consistent discipline and encouragement, proper sleeping and eating habits and lots and lots of love between and from mom and dad. <br />
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The fact that these things are not necessarily true can drive me BONKERS. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BYt-u9lckrQh21yHruAnjQTKfoViw3nJtxT6cXOcNHtGe7wwKyVLak1YmNI4EbkDOUdsWReOZSPCrBbbs3WhkcpKtZIL9gtx8EAKARM6uGYENR7KL-yFtZ6-bUDFQJgUGlq_hHbkH7ti/s1600/photo(128).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BYt-u9lckrQh21yHruAnjQTKfoViw3nJtxT6cXOcNHtGe7wwKyVLak1YmNI4EbkDOUdsWReOZSPCrBbbs3WhkcpKtZIL9gtx8EAKARM6uGYENR7KL-yFtZ6-bUDFQJgUGlq_hHbkH7ti/s320/photo(128).JPG" width="320" /></a>To make matters worse, I can't seem to keep my house how I want it anymore (meaning orderly most all of the time). With two kids, even if I could not control them, I could at least control the status of my home. If you saw my kitchen right now (there you go, view left) you would most likely be tempted to think of me as a slob who needs to get my rear in gear. <br />
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But hopefully most of you moms can feel me when I say sometimes it's all I can do to get through the day getting basic needs met. By the time we are all dressed and fed there is another round of diapers. When I'm done changing diapers and we get on to our next task there is an attitude that needs addressed. Aaron has now crawled across the room and is eating paper. I save Aaron and get him set up in a more safe environment for play. I call the girls back to whatever important or non-important task and they don't want to come. Discipline. And the day continues in crazy moments like these. <br />
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Multiple times this month I have asked Daryl if he thinks I'm doing something really
wrong because it seems I've been dealing with so many heart issues (even if that means my own) I sometimes can barely get dinner on the table let alone all the laundry done. He's been so kind to remind me that I just have to keep doing
the right thing. I can't control our kids or regenerate their hearts,
but I can continue to obey God, love them, discipline and encourage
them, and do it again, and again, and again.<br />
<br />
I can do the right thing even if I can't SEE the fruit of it. I can trust God that even though I'm not doing this mom-hood thing perfectly and I am so afraid I will screw my kids up forever and they will write nasty stuff about me on the internet as adults, that HE is the author of their lives and days and His work isn't lost on my mistakes. I can hope and have joy in Jesus and His promises because He does live in me and has provided faith and hope. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sv_YeyKYZzOF-s9mRHeSYva6lv9p9qNo7enEDq31JAg_WoULHZ-cI6SonDjcciHSugVk1fyCP1FN24O49mWRcTjEzZfQTrVd5jB_SVz8UO3Aj832CaAF9LaQU7CEo4IiPM3ykk_e7gaV/s1600/photo(129).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Sv_YeyKYZzOF-s9mRHeSYva6lv9p9qNo7enEDq31JAg_WoULHZ-cI6SonDjcciHSugVk1fyCP1FN24O49mWRcTjEzZfQTrVd5jB_SVz8UO3Aj832CaAF9LaQU7CEo4IiPM3ykk_e7gaV/s320/photo(129).JPG" width="320" /></a>I really believe our sweet third child who has added to our chaos has served to continue to break me of my trying to feel good about myself based on something I can DO rather than based on who Jesus IS. I wish I could say I have arrived at just living to please the Lord and not get side tracked by what other people think of me or my kids or having a clean house or worldly pursuits or whatnot, but I am still struggling here. Like my eye will probably be twitching by the end of the night if my kitchen still looks the way that it does but I should be okay with this as long as I have loved God and loved others, right? <br />
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So here I am. A beautiful mess :) So thankful for my awesome husband, my parents and good, Biblical community and most of all for God as they continue to remind me and push me towards what is true, over and over again and as they LOVE me. Thank you for loving me, when I'm helpful, when I'm cranky, when I'm encouraging, when I'm over-dramatic; all the time. And I'm thankful for motherhood - for making me desperate and dependent on the grace of the Lord, which is where we are all, I just sometimes didn't feel it. And I'm of course thankful for my sweet children - may the Lord continue to break me so you see the beauty of Himself, even in me. xoxo<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0uLJG6t5Bo_Awp6Uz9YGsOuff7Y0zsSNNxI8ZyKQLorAvbbIhwsLsb1BNbYXwLGjp4JLbocLVzefwSQpumI58I8M8clxfvcdFzsQKbL0uBx2eFC427BMlEU_y2PTNl-30p_v3UMcdurq/s1600/photo(130).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0uLJG6t5Bo_Awp6Uz9YGsOuff7Y0zsSNNxI8ZyKQLorAvbbIhwsLsb1BNbYXwLGjp4JLbocLVzefwSQpumI58I8M8clxfvcdFzsQKbL0uBx2eFC427BMlEU_y2PTNl-30p_v3UMcdurq/s320/photo(130).JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_rX2DmBq64I8qa5fRdWZ34fCDM7A4l-pgLZdGHdZz_v9UkcpGEEH57fqJduakFbZJWLRsjzdfaTSeWbqGPTTM8sAeHHK4FWj3u9rlmnplamyeTMe1s4KbjhV_k2SMTB2L-fgK2adz0gT/s1600/photo(131).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_rX2DmBq64I8qa5fRdWZ34fCDM7A4l-pgLZdGHdZz_v9UkcpGEEH57fqJduakFbZJWLRsjzdfaTSeWbqGPTTM8sAeHHK4FWj3u9rlmnplamyeTMe1s4KbjhV_k2SMTB2L-fgK2adz0gT/s320/photo(131).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-39871714759289391042012-03-09T21:24:00.001-05:002012-03-09T21:26:54.459-05:00Moving On<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5RalFbVclyb786nJDxxEXguOiFqNJIyD_gZ6hAwDHJ3sxc18OpOW6V2rc68wlJvrKGiwmzMpjWR9NU2iEbWZeetyX1DnxgQlj6MSbo-Tz1MkDv9XBjWgOTAEC6Kg9j56wvhyEkTZsCeD/s1600/photo(120).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5RalFbVclyb786nJDxxEXguOiFqNJIyD_gZ6hAwDHJ3sxc18OpOW6V2rc68wlJvrKGiwmzMpjWR9NU2iEbWZeetyX1DnxgQlj6MSbo-Tz1MkDv9XBjWgOTAEC6Kg9j56wvhyEkTZsCeD/s320/photo(120).JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
We have been sick for a solid three weeks. Nothing terrible, but all night coughing, all day runny noses (which is really gross when you have a house full of little ones), body aches, etc. <br />
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I can't remember exactly the last time I left the house with all of our children for fun. I know for certain we have missed church and story time for two consecutive weeks and we lived off my last weekly grocery run for 11 days. While our delinquency in book returning is sure to annoy the librarians, I like to look at it like "it's people like me who keep the libraries in business." :) Don't burst my bubble on that one.<br />
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That said, I am still sane, and oddly enough, I've actually enjoyed (for the most part) a life without activity and my kids seem to as well. Maybe the simple life is the way to go ;) <br />
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Here are some things that have happened along the way:<br />
<ul><li>We went through an entire stock pile of tissues we bought at Sam's and are now halfway through the second load. </li>
<li>Daryl has changed the kids humidifiers more times than I can count and our trash pile always seems exponentially larger than our neighbors. I'm glad these are his jobs :) </li>
<li>I am pretty sure the 80% of the days we've been home I really haven't showered until around 2pm. For anyone who remembers the guy who worked in the same office building as me who told me (AFTER I announced that I was quitting to be a SAHM) that he was so glad his wife didn't do that, because SAHMs only ever wore sweatsuits and hardly put on makeup, I proved his point these past two weeks. That said, I did at least shower every day.</li>
<li>When the mail man delivers something to the house he looks in the windows either side of the door and waves enthusiastically if he sees us. Because I believe this has to be against USPS etiquette I would like to state that if he sees me in my underwear because someone just peed on me or running around holding a nursing baby because I'm trying to stop an impending disaster with one of the other children it's his own fault. </li>
<li>Aaron has started sitting up AND his first tooth has broken through! Way to go, buddy!</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyerFBDSVkqJYGf_tmMvKsFs-K4R950zjxUroqgmkxFFrfOJ82g9SUfu7w3yeM4NMnsjOyQYhaB71Jrx1pHfXjMuCTdKXDs9GqNoNENXQWdhnfyA-e6lnroREfrvTmfmrknzN7MCZLP7T_/s1600/photo(122).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyerFBDSVkqJYGf_tmMvKsFs-K4R950zjxUroqgmkxFFrfOJ82g9SUfu7w3yeM4NMnsjOyQYhaB71Jrx1pHfXjMuCTdKXDs9GqNoNENXQWdhnfyA-e6lnroREfrvTmfmrknzN7MCZLP7T_/s320/photo(122).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>The other day Anna Grace came sleepily out of her room after nap time and saw me carrying Aaron and Nadia. With her best pouty face she whined, "Mom, I want you to carry meeee." I gave her my best "that's insane look" and laughed, to which she laughed and said, "Mom, I wish you were an octopus. Then you could have an arm for Nadia, Aaron, and me. And you'd have one for Daddy because you love us all." :) I told her that I'd have to live under water to which she replied, "You could be a dry octopus, mom." </li>
<li>I really love our neighborhood and am thankful for the women I've met here. </li>
<li>I just got interrupted writing this blog by Nadia who I heard singing from her bed. When I asked her what she was doing she said, "I'm jus singing that I love you." Well, sing on child. **This is the same child that lately when I remind her in the course of discipline that I love her wails, "but I don't love you!" Sadly though, I think the drama was inherited. Oh, for the grace of God. </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9htziTwlRzXngAVA4sQr_KTOOBp1H7UvV_1fj75L_49XdRNKjD0f0VXzhFOPx86kfGoOBvLTOF1efwh13xpEg2LeJ3QCQViwtme87yEbqX11LC-22l4cfVkKC8imHMInalsVuMuwBEHxT/s1600/photo(123).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9htziTwlRzXngAVA4sQr_KTOOBp1H7UvV_1fj75L_49XdRNKjD0f0VXzhFOPx86kfGoOBvLTOF1efwh13xpEg2LeJ3QCQViwtme87yEbqX11LC-22l4cfVkKC8imHMInalsVuMuwBEHxT/s320/photo(123).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><ul><li>My husband is awesome. He always has been, but there are some specific areas of growth that have happened since we've been married that show up a lot in times like these - noticing more things that need done/picking up where I'm slacking/caring for me very practically (like getting up with kids, etc. Thanks, honey! </li>
<li>I always write too much for one post, so I'll stop now. Well, after saying, I love them so much!</li>
</ul><br />
Grace and peace!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-57031358266495923172012-01-16T16:46:00.001-05:002012-01-16T16:47:09.688-05:00No apologies :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheysEKq4L5lmjhHpdv9jN9E4bZFgiQ8GCrFRmO5vKW4jpHqzWTchM8ubrp0SQbdw_xyIls9QOUfD1lLPBnF2_AVHin15V0JvfM8P5KO3fbjC_y3Xg1Vu9J-72OMSTa06UQgR8YhGPvnGz0/s1600/photo%2528113%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheysEKq4L5lmjhHpdv9jN9E4bZFgiQ8GCrFRmO5vKW4jpHqzWTchM8ubrp0SQbdw_xyIls9QOUfD1lLPBnF2_AVHin15V0JvfM8P5KO3fbjC_y3Xg1Vu9J-72OMSTa06UQgR8YhGPvnGz0/s320/photo%2528113%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I haven't blogged in a l.o.n.g. time. I'm okay with that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But, while I'm thinking of it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There have been some awesome and encouraging Motherhood blogs/articles floating around on the internet - most of which I caught via someone else on facebook. One of those articles many of my mom friend's probably read - the one in which the author who has many young children responds to the phrase many mom's often hear, "You have your hands full!" with, "Yes, full of good things." <br />
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I <b>LOVE</b> that response and have decided to make it my response, too! It is so appropriate, not just for the person I am responding to, but for my own soul! Cause doggone it, I am such a baby and if enough people tell me that I can start setting up my own personal pity party. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But seriously, I don't think most people who say that to me really mean it like, "Oh, man, you have kids. Kids are terrible. WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY KIDS?" I'd say 90% of the time the person is just being sympathetic knowing that it is busy during this season and that we don't have a lot of time for leisure (or peeing, but from what I've heard, most mom's kidneys do in fact survive). </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I would like to suggest though that many other people have very difficult jobs, lives, are exhausted, etc, so I don't know why we mom's get so noticed. Maybe it's because there is so much at stake with kids and so many have also done it so they can relate? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Regardless, I hear that line, literally, at least once EVERY single week when I take my kids with me grocery shopping and typically at each store; Aldies and Giant Eagle. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> I'm happy about this because in effect, it's such an easier opportunity to "take the kingdom" with me. The kingdom where children are a gift and we love them as God has loved us, His children. To do this, I of course have to be gracious in my response (inside and out) - trying not to make the poor person feel like an idiot for telling me I have my hands full, but reminding them, myself and my kids of the truth so that it's like a breath of fresh air. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Another line we sometimes hear with young ones is, "enjoy every moment; it goes sooo fast!" There was an article written on this line as well, but honestly (and I might be being uncharitable), it didn't set as well for me. <br />
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Because I for one wish I heard this one more! It doesn't make me feel guilty, it makes me feel rejuvenated, inspired! There was literally a moment the other day when the girls were "dancing" in the family room and Aaron was babbling on my lap and I was getting "nothing" done and that very line popped into my head. "Enjoy them." My house probably won't be full of little voices and lack of self-consciousness for very many years, my goodness self, LOVE IT!!!! How precious are these days. They really are going so fast - I know this because just this morning I thought, "Ughh....cleaning day, again? Already? Seems like I just did that, maybe we can pass this week?!" :) </span><br />
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And I don't mean "enjoy every moment" like be utterly and completely delighted that your kid has to pee after you've gotten everyone back out to the car after shopping and the baby just fell asleep in his seat, but "enjoy every moment" like oh dear soul, take delight in pouring yourself out for you little ones just like Jesus did for you. Count on the fact that love is NEVER in vain and this precise moment is exactly where God wants me to be - reminded of my inescapable need for His energy, grace and strength (and ability to get three small ones in a teeny bathroom stall without anyone getting a disease or looking at someone else under the stall) and trusting in His future grace - that even in moments of difficult training or "nuisance" there is blessing. I might not see it til later, maybe not even until I'm standing face to face with my precious Saviour, but I will. </span><br />
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No one else may see what we do all day. We might not ever get an award for being most improved or a valuable player or most helpful associate, or even a bouquet or flowers as often as we'd like, but God sees and He does reward. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Hebrews 6:10, "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">God bless us, ladies, we are in such precious moments! Not that I always believe that (see top of post about my own personal pity parties). So next time someone tells us to enjoy our kids, let's be humble and remember it's not just their advice, it's God's will for us (see Titus 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). And who doesn't want a boat load of joy? Goodness. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SF82IdTyALiXh6E6lSoguB3cTA05wryKfSphmJCzv2uxaOsLcvdIgPwi1UHUxeZVEU32izBUIOLbj7NZsa0Zul9sTgM0TZnW0_i5PQnHCg-CHMqNazTwt5jM1VCmzXWJy41gJz9wRJ-Z/s1600/photo%2528112%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SF82IdTyALiXh6E6lSoguB3cTA05wryKfSphmJCzv2uxaOsLcvdIgPwi1UHUxeZVEU32izBUIOLbj7NZsa0Zul9sTgM0TZnW0_i5PQnHCg-CHMqNazTwt5jM1VCmzXWJy41gJz9wRJ-Z/s320/photo%2528112%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">(oh yea, and all my kids are currently napping, so if I remove this post later, I'm sure you will understand ;)). And, I'll post non-happy kid pictures soon so you can see both sides of the coin :)</span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-44709834193584181592011-09-15T20:56:00.000-04:002011-09-15T20:56:13.377-04:00Aaron Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrukxzw8rz4VTazK_MYorO8VxJoAiKzqoZNrPyAcHG0E60rkAJy7LpzpQlXW4VKxbO1M5d2NbfwUj1nNT1YZ6WNNB1N2RFkTxZo6Rv-7cDaoqSLak3F7thDzlRY7t-ubTGBV5IQbRrWeR/s1600/DSC_7044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrukxzw8rz4VTazK_MYorO8VxJoAiKzqoZNrPyAcHG0E60rkAJy7LpzpQlXW4VKxbO1M5d2NbfwUj1nNT1YZ6WNNB1N2RFkTxZo6Rv-7cDaoqSLak3F7thDzlRY7t-ubTGBV5IQbRrWeR/s320/DSC_7044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Love bug, baby love! This is by far our cuddliest baby! So far (eek), he has been an easy baby - or maybe that's just because we have "live-in help" this time since we have invaded my parents house and because I actually filled the pain med prescriptions the hospital sent me home with this time :) hahaha. Seriously though, I am recovering much better than I had anticipated (and I'm even off the pain killers!) and we have had great help! Especially from my parents :) Thanks, guys! They get the big award!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHiIQFoCdZb_amfgKFJkOD3Sc7plj4I1-3Y0JgLuJ0bcMgf0K5wPtTDPrA2itii-N5PqzMZ-vin6QCKA1bgulhS_5w2gYkoXU-NGqluitDloTJbI26NJaYRMak8y5eChekxjfqA9hyphenhyphenu0Q/s1600/DSC_7055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHiIQFoCdZb_amfgKFJkOD3Sc7plj4I1-3Y0JgLuJ0bcMgf0K5wPtTDPrA2itii-N5PqzMZ-vin6QCKA1bgulhS_5w2gYkoXU-NGqluitDloTJbI26NJaYRMak8y5eChekxjfqA9hyphenhyphenu0Q/s320/DSC_7055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Also, thanks to all the friends who have come to help me with the kids when everyone is at work! You have done far more than just lifting and entertaining, you have brought joy to our days and it's been fun to share this life experience with so many! And our church family - you all went way above and beyond!<br />
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Aaron has his Daddy's middle name and that makes me happy :) Praying he grows up resembling him - mostly in the attitude of his heart, but I think he's going to in appearance, too :) Here he is...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDbUi3exHnRhJyUlK4JoMh_fFDQVDD3dO_uqIIV3N6vxcUB5IN4yDhrA2JlNHlonk2fwYTLUEFqE1NgH9YgQWjyGKs87b8BQXavftEBbkJpCR5qqdkDnBg0erccuWxE0l0WBaZX82vBuR/s1600/DSC_7118.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDbUi3exHnRhJyUlK4JoMh_fFDQVDD3dO_uqIIV3N6vxcUB5IN4yDhrA2JlNHlonk2fwYTLUEFqE1NgH9YgQWjyGKs87b8BQXavftEBbkJpCR5qqdkDnBg0erccuWxE0l0WBaZX82vBuR/s320/DSC_7118.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l_amsq-Wf9QyQJEA8WTvoLurRpch2oidiCZGNSkNrrFqkon-4GMFHl2w3sY9XgcJjGATV-SBW2OVVGSoMf7rBNqiebcXyYt47AF4ueImjLKXCIxgdFkIHjxYABNxZEm4ID_J9kbYEHyN/s1600/DSC_7127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l_amsq-Wf9QyQJEA8WTvoLurRpch2oidiCZGNSkNrrFqkon-4GMFHl2w3sY9XgcJjGATV-SBW2OVVGSoMf7rBNqiebcXyYt47AF4ueImjLKXCIxgdFkIHjxYABNxZEm4ID_J9kbYEHyN/s320/DSC_7127.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGU-WOihj_8UGyJRnsswF0PYexeghGHlG0v7TVTfcEToPJR1VrBNE4aYYHroThhNgm19ufmPzeOI7M7F-97StXXFOpk3zeyK9kNmJQKBLQeT5rHR94hCej8XWPk4Mw-MYQeNBKAgKWoz3/s1600/DSC_7175.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGU-WOihj_8UGyJRnsswF0PYexeghGHlG0v7TVTfcEToPJR1VrBNE4aYYHroThhNgm19ufmPzeOI7M7F-97StXXFOpk3zeyK9kNmJQKBLQeT5rHR94hCej8XWPk4Mw-MYQeNBKAgKWoz3/s320/DSC_7175.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RUqNrTgyuNcp2Tp53MVc_yhqVuBVrx_OjNSyetD_CVYUtY_dYHkdXpaWodE_PA1h58aiB3OgRuIyWuQxe0dGXqBqo5lZunEV3z9ATtl6LZ7w79kPE9x5QXh7oVRgIp4E5PQ50b5kD0/s1600/DSC_7180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RUqNrTgyuNcp2Tp53MVc_yhqVuBVrx_OjNSyetD_CVYUtY_dYHkdXpaWodE_PA1h58aiB3OgRuIyWuQxe0dGXqBqo5lZunEV3z9ATtl6LZ7w79kPE9x5QXh7oVRgIp4E5PQ50b5kD0/s320/DSC_7180.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkMHQKDAHaMM32oenn-gRaFFnINj_E3GfWYWpsKwlDzWriL4QGeh-uITMcRw9nhAkeMCADbhcdrEjjqsZkl8bilUHAvINDNyqFunggbiuEfItskZAi6X8McmOl2jFRTlrRi8uum8JaFu/s1600/DSC_7108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkMHQKDAHaMM32oenn-gRaFFnINj_E3GfWYWpsKwlDzWriL4QGeh-uITMcRw9nhAkeMCADbhcdrEjjqsZkl8bilUHAvINDNyqFunggbiuEfItskZAi6X8McmOl2jFRTlrRi8uum8JaFu/s320/DSC_7108.JPG" width="320" /></a>He is going to be kissed a.l.o.t.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9jFRaWYrkivBGgkKSfNW2g_yBjScEnViWuY8X5PH6xD4Bkji74A4xvvqxw1NNVYNUEMCcDGGAPrtPn-Z4Q4dny1UHJvTXCOJTgHd1VxgoIFntMoLsXtgQIGwkbMgwjuZ-sejRm558Vts/s1600/DSC_7164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9jFRaWYrkivBGgkKSfNW2g_yBjScEnViWuY8X5PH6xD4Bkji74A4xvvqxw1NNVYNUEMCcDGGAPrtPn-Z4Q4dny1UHJvTXCOJTgHd1VxgoIFntMoLsXtgQIGwkbMgwjuZ-sejRm558Vts/s320/DSC_7164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afAVFy333Vg/TnFfnmtk19I/AAAAAAAAAWw/C3ROa8cMpOU/s1600/DSC_7190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afAVFy333Vg/TnFfnmtk19I/AAAAAAAAAWw/C3ROa8cMpOU/s400/DSC_7190.JPG" width="400" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-76962703117514102622011-09-14T22:22:00.001-04:002011-09-15T10:04:39.649-04:00Aaron Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrukxzw8rz4VTazK_MYorO8VxJoAiKzqoZNrPyAcHG0E60rkAJy7LpzpQlXW4VKxbO1M5d2NbfwUj1nNT1YZ6WNNB1N2RFkTxZo6Rv-7cDaoqSLak3F7thDzlRY7t-ubTGBV5IQbRrWeR/s1600/DSC_7044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrukxzw8rz4VTazK_MYorO8VxJoAiKzqoZNrPyAcHG0E60rkAJy7LpzpQlXW4VKxbO1M5d2NbfwUj1nNT1YZ6WNNB1N2RFkTxZo6Rv-7cDaoqSLak3F7thDzlRY7t-ubTGBV5IQbRrWeR/s320/DSC_7044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Love bug, baby love! This is by far our cuddliest baby! So far (eek), he has been an easy baby - or maybe that's just because we have "live-in help" this time since we have invaded my parents house and because I actually filled the pain med prescriptions the hospital sent me home with this time :) hahaha. Seriously though, I am recovering much better than I had anticipated (and I'm even off the pain killers!) and we have had great help! Especially from my parents :) Thanks, guys! They get the big award!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHiIQFoCdZb_amfgKFJkOD3Sc7plj4I1-3Y0JgLuJ0bcMgf0K5wPtTDPrA2itii-N5PqzMZ-vin6QCKA1bgulhS_5w2gYkoXU-NGqluitDloTJbI26NJaYRMak8y5eChekxjfqA9hyphenhyphenu0Q/s1600/DSC_7055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHiIQFoCdZb_amfgKFJkOD3Sc7plj4I1-3Y0JgLuJ0bcMgf0K5wPtTDPrA2itii-N5PqzMZ-vin6QCKA1bgulhS_5w2gYkoXU-NGqluitDloTJbI26NJaYRMak8y5eChekxjfqA9hyphenhyphenu0Q/s320/DSC_7055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Also, thanks to all the friends who have come to help me with the kids when everyone is at work! You have done far more than just lifting and entertaining, you have brought joy to our days and it's been fun to share this life experience with so many! And our church family - you all went way above and beyond!<br />
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Aaron has his Daddy's middle name and that makes me happy :) Praying he grows up resembling him - mostly in the attitude of his heart, but I think he's going to in appearance, too :) Here he is...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDbUi3exHnRhJyUlK4JoMh_fFDQVDD3dO_uqIIV3N6vxcUB5IN4yDhrA2JlNHlonk2fwYTLUEFqE1NgH9YgQWjyGKs87b8BQXavftEBbkJpCR5qqdkDnBg0erccuWxE0l0WBaZX82vBuR/s1600/DSC_7118.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDbUi3exHnRhJyUlK4JoMh_fFDQVDD3dO_uqIIV3N6vxcUB5IN4yDhrA2JlNHlonk2fwYTLUEFqE1NgH9YgQWjyGKs87b8BQXavftEBbkJpCR5qqdkDnBg0erccuWxE0l0WBaZX82vBuR/s320/DSC_7118.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l_amsq-Wf9QyQJEA8WTvoLurRpch2oidiCZGNSkNrrFqkon-4GMFHl2w3sY9XgcJjGATV-SBW2OVVGSoMf7rBNqiebcXyYt47AF4ueImjLKXCIxgdFkIHjxYABNxZEm4ID_J9kbYEHyN/s1600/DSC_7127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3l_amsq-Wf9QyQJEA8WTvoLurRpch2oidiCZGNSkNrrFqkon-4GMFHl2w3sY9XgcJjGATV-SBW2OVVGSoMf7rBNqiebcXyYt47AF4ueImjLKXCIxgdFkIHjxYABNxZEm4ID_J9kbYEHyN/s320/DSC_7127.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGU-WOihj_8UGyJRnsswF0PYexeghGHlG0v7TVTfcEToPJR1VrBNE4aYYHroThhNgm19ufmPzeOI7M7F-97StXXFOpk3zeyK9kNmJQKBLQeT5rHR94hCej8XWPk4Mw-MYQeNBKAgKWoz3/s1600/DSC_7175.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGU-WOihj_8UGyJRnsswF0PYexeghGHlG0v7TVTfcEToPJR1VrBNE4aYYHroThhNgm19ufmPzeOI7M7F-97StXXFOpk3zeyK9kNmJQKBLQeT5rHR94hCej8XWPk4Mw-MYQeNBKAgKWoz3/s320/DSC_7175.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RUqNrTgyuNcp2Tp53MVc_yhqVuBVrx_OjNSyetD_CVYUtY_dYHkdXpaWodE_PA1h58aiB3OgRuIyWuQxe0dGXqBqo5lZunEV3z9ATtl6LZ7w79kPE9x5QXh7oVRgIp4E5PQ50b5kD0/s1600/DSC_7180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBP-RUqNrTgyuNcp2Tp53MVc_yhqVuBVrx_OjNSyetD_CVYUtY_dYHkdXpaWodE_PA1h58aiB3OgRuIyWuQxe0dGXqBqo5lZunEV3z9ATtl6LZ7w79kPE9x5QXh7oVRgIp4E5PQ50b5kD0/s320/DSC_7180.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkMHQKDAHaMM32oenn-gRaFFnINj_E3GfWYWpsKwlDzWriL4QGeh-uITMcRw9nhAkeMCADbhcdrEjjqsZkl8bilUHAvINDNyqFunggbiuEfItskZAi6X8McmOl2jFRTlrRi8uum8JaFu/s1600/DSC_7108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNkMHQKDAHaMM32oenn-gRaFFnINj_E3GfWYWpsKwlDzWriL4QGeh-uITMcRw9nhAkeMCADbhcdrEjjqsZkl8bilUHAvINDNyqFunggbiuEfItskZAi6X8McmOl2jFRTlrRi8uum8JaFu/s320/DSC_7108.JPG" width="320" /></a>He is going to be kissed a.l.o.t.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9jFRaWYrkivBGgkKSfNW2g_yBjScEnViWuY8X5PH6xD4Bkji74A4xvvqxw1NNVYNUEMCcDGGAPrtPn-Z4Q4dny1UHJvTXCOJTgHd1VxgoIFntMoLsXtgQIGwkbMgwjuZ-sejRm558Vts/s1600/DSC_7164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9jFRaWYrkivBGgkKSfNW2g_yBjScEnViWuY8X5PH6xD4Bkji74A4xvvqxw1NNVYNUEMCcDGGAPrtPn-Z4Q4dny1UHJvTXCOJTgHd1VxgoIFntMoLsXtgQIGwkbMgwjuZ-sejRm558Vts/s320/DSC_7164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afAVFy333Vg/TnFfnmtk19I/AAAAAAAAAWw/C3ROa8cMpOU/s1600/DSC_7190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afAVFy333Vg/TnFfnmtk19I/AAAAAAAAAWw/C3ROa8cMpOU/s400/DSC_7190.JPG" width="400" /></a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-49697842956303739642011-09-14T21:31:00.002-04:002011-09-14T21:31:56.619-04:00Angelina DVD Give-AwayBecause my daughters absolutely L.O.V.E. Angelina - <a href="http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.com/2011/09/angelina-ballerina-shining-star-trophy.html">http://mamato3blessings.blogspot.com/2011/09/angelina-ballerina-shining-star-trophy.html</a>, and because I absolutely love them, I posted this to get more entries in the give away on Mama to 4 Blessings blog :)Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-6372243792962256622011-08-13T15:40:00.000-04:002011-08-13T15:40:05.208-04:00Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I haven't blogged in a long time. Obviously it's not super high on my list of priorities. Also, I've been in kind of a funk up until now :) I am only somewhat kidding - the main kidding part is that I am still fighting to get out of my funk - some days I fight better than others.</div><br />
Two quotes have been insanely helpful to me lately -<br />
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"<b><i>I hear so many Christians, murmuring about their imperfections, and their failures, and their addiction, and their shortcomings. And I see so little war! Murmur, murmur, murmur. Why am I this way? Make war!</i></b>" - John Piper<br />
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"<b><i>Be killing sin or it will be killing you.</i></b>" - John Owens <br />
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(Wouldn't be able to guess one of Piper's favorite theologians would you?)<br />
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Anyways, life really, really is good. And we've had some REALLY fun times this summer - visiting with friends, family from TX coming in, story time, dance lessons, mini trips, putt putt, dance parties, getting stuff for baby, ice cream, parties, etc :)<br />
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About a month ago we moved in with my parents because (piece of good news 1) our house sold and (piece of good news 2) our new house is being built - with a kitchen I am SO excited about - okay, so they really just plotted the grounds, etc, but ground is actually going to be broken this week (piece of good news 3 - this is the last piece I will point out; think of it like a treasure hunt from here on out). <br />
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My parents have been really generous to us and actually seem to like having us here (or they are really good pretenders). Either way, that's always good. So, Mom and Dad, thank you for taking us in and being so great about it :)<br />
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We each have our own rooms. Daryl has to share with me, but I'm pretty sure he knew that was how it was going to go down when he asked me to marry him. In fact, maybe that's one of the reasons he asked...I digress...<br />
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The pregnancy is mostly good, too. I can't believe our baby - who's name remains undecided (feel free to text Daryl and tell him to make a decision) will be here in like oh 20 days max. Very good and very scary - not gonna lie. Super excited to meet him, but definitely praying that having three won't be as hard as I'm envisioning :)<br />
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Bring on funk - lately I have not been fighting sin as I should. I have not been wallowing, as my beloved Sunday school teacher says, in the promises of God and in His grace, but have been more introspective - seeing what I am not doing well, the things I am not accomplishing and feeling like maybe I won't get better, and despairing about it instead of just doing the next thing.<br />
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</div>True, part of my problem is sleep deprivation. Since moving in with my parents, I have been staying up later. Maybe it's because I'm picking up after the kids more, or maybe it's because there are more people to talk to, but also because I've been doing some more Pampered Chef stuff, more sewing projects, and trying to get at least somewhat prepared for baby boy - we do have a dresser now, and some clothes and some diapers. Excited about that. Very excited about that. Also, Daryl is a lot of fun, so I like to blame him a lot for me staying up late :) <br />
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The kids have been sleeping poorly here, too - one sick, the other sick, one teether, and one having a hard time adjusting the first week to not being home. Having to go up two flights of stairs to get to them hasn't been that exciting either - especially when for some reason my body thinks it's cool to start having Braxton Hicks contractions the moment I stand up out of bed - maybe the adrenaline?! I would love to tell my body it can stop practicing and preparing for labor because we are having a c-section this time, but I know that won't help. So I'm not only waddling because I've gained so much weight this time, but also because those like to hit at inopportune times and I feel like I can't move.<br />
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Regardless, I could go to bed earlier. And, on long nights, I still can rely on new mercies in the morning. But in my funk, in my lack of war, I have been a murmurer more, not so much a fighter. <br />
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There are some major life changes going on here - I'm about to have my third c-section in four years (which does have it's pros, but I am not exactly excited about being cut in half again ;) or recovery), I will soon have a newborn, and a boy - and I've heard they spray pee a lot - and we are inbetween houses living on someone elses graces :) But truth is, God is the same as He was yesterday - and He will be the same tomorrow. Truth is, I ought to be absolutely delighted in Him and enjoying all the gifts He's giving me. Truth is, it's my own fault I'm in a funk :)<br />
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So, now you know. I am fighting. Sometimes well, sometimes not at all. Pray for me to be killing sin. It's been a season where I am sure God is drawing sin out of me to kill it off and help me love Him and enjoy Him more, but I have not been the best soldier :) In fact, I'm a pansy. So pray for me (and maybe more, for those who have to actually live with me), :) and join me in boot camp if you need to. May His grace be all the more evident as it is obvious I don't deserve it :)<br />
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And because no one likes a blog without pictures - here you go (I just unpacked our camera here, so these aren't the most current - but some are :))...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi1mbaJWaxRlFPURYi72EgR9ZgFHQzgrFWu21Af53zZc7v5U5DU_VkpqwWK6XpgeIHKTfnhqJIy4KH0CoH63-J4XxNOcgOFmjS1fETkGvpvO8G_4Perle6iG-ARTrX_y-gkT0xX7ucWHk/s1600/DSC_6690.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi1mbaJWaxRlFPURYi72EgR9ZgFHQzgrFWu21Af53zZc7v5U5DU_VkpqwWK6XpgeIHKTfnhqJIy4KH0CoH63-J4XxNOcgOFmjS1fETkGvpvO8G_4Perle6iG-ARTrX_y-gkT0xX7ucWHk/s320/DSC_6690.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Sweet, Sweet Nadia<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SR8XNBfvtA8JT97llZyWLzelulUajoH5taCru1tkpwerQmrT-vSDjuzYnr5Nmds8d6aMAhKJ0ZuU7W2COJ01svKiTgEyzJrQqb0lx50GBwwN_XDk90p3WdXZQyKz3-yfX4Q8ISMyuu2/s1600/DSC_6739.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SR8XNBfvtA8JT97llZyWLzelulUajoH5taCru1tkpwerQmrT-vSDjuzYnr5Nmds8d6aMAhKJ0ZuU7W2COJ01svKiTgEyzJrQqb0lx50GBwwN_XDk90p3WdXZQyKz3-yfX4Q8ISMyuu2/s320/DSC_6739.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDMCeiJ9QY-9x7mxTye7NVeXTO8toBZ9WE_4C_w1EZ58iSWRlGfxlp4e-cvA9NOg4gbnem-KY0h980qmTa7rvZg6gykNtgR2b5Zuj6XevN8HREbMaKYeAr76EUEcX6AOM5-WZywI7HXUP/s1600/DSC_6800.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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Our old view<br />
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Anna with her grown up Bible - ready for sitting in grown up Church :)<br />
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Me trying to get good pictures of the girls. In the one below you will see Nadia is crying. Probably shouldn't have put the rocking chair on a hillside :) But thanks for the cute outfits Aunt Pam!!!<br />
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Anna's first dance class...She has really loved dance!<br />
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Birthday party fun...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC6J32OQU7SFoAgHz9NvhQqagZ_HJ1lKTgDSh5O-n4oELtrDXYxrK-OzZQcw7dFeQm9EyEia-iZT21Re_zVq4d2gvb9bn0WjRGTO8FVQ2R_SHztgZmYq1WoFfZUqRVpEOLeu593m_2T-b/s1600/IMG_1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyC6J32OQU7SFoAgHz9NvhQqagZ_HJ1lKTgDSh5O-n4oELtrDXYxrK-OzZQcw7dFeQm9EyEia-iZT21Re_zVq4d2gvb9bn0WjRGTO8FVQ2R_SHztgZmYq1WoFfZUqRVpEOLeu593m_2T-b/s320/IMG_1926.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cigI51L62k-drED1knpXg7demko_4QK0qEGOZhvLtD-9J0mJC45gfrqLutV2-OPEzZjsrmrxabj5jCV7xIBeKu6FLUtJX-qikt-FzgZA7enaPguu9811H8ehMyg03qWX94uHqIzaQY8F/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cigI51L62k-drED1knpXg7demko_4QK0qEGOZhvLtD-9J0mJC45gfrqLutV2-OPEzZjsrmrxabj5jCV7xIBeKu6FLUtJX-qikt-FzgZA7enaPguu9811H8ehMyg03qWX94uHqIzaQY8F/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRiOkoDj5p4UgBx2FxPdf8ebpdnJqm49UcrByprfSSfLW2sA9e-hwEA7cVdL8tm4wtOZVJaOXpZ7Pxm3pWyoKdmoU8sfaHCB17UkVYBB1SF0ASbfc-IzYYZQbp_F2RrGRjMbhyphenhyphenon3K90f/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRiOkoDj5p4UgBx2FxPdf8ebpdnJqm49UcrByprfSSfLW2sA9e-hwEA7cVdL8tm4wtOZVJaOXpZ7Pxm3pWyoKdmoU8sfaHCB17UkVYBB1SF0ASbfc-IzYYZQbp_F2RrGRjMbhyphenhyphenon3K90f/s320/IMG_1874.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRiOkoDj5p4UgBx2FxPdf8ebpdnJqm49UcrByprfSSfLW2sA9e-hwEA7cVdL8tm4wtOZVJaOXpZ7Pxm3pWyoKdmoU8sfaHCB17UkVYBB1SF0ASbfc-IzYYZQbp_F2RrGRjMbhyphenhyphenon3K90f/s1600/IMG_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">With their neighborhood girlfriend :) </span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEn_7pFdn5cvtAY1o6trbsPjk_MUAy9qJ5i-6AMiXk413zJ9YrVZKaknEl4BTEKxK-po3U4CRHpk3Cdrgb_YeBjlgmsYpHdmvqrhbUXZRo0jyorrNOZNNHzuZsqMvjKfZJ3snXJ4xLtse/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEn_7pFdn5cvtAY1o6trbsPjk_MUAy9qJ5i-6AMiXk413zJ9YrVZKaknEl4BTEKxK-po3U4CRHpk3Cdrgb_YeBjlgmsYpHdmvqrhbUXZRo0jyorrNOZNNHzuZsqMvjKfZJ3snXJ4xLtse/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-8232812698987757492011-06-20T23:25:00.003-04:002011-06-21T07:40:53.127-04:00Home Again :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLoflVYThPXl2hcgufuMvmv8VO2vkpoVMHSc1Z-ZtOso2jALbERn9NMbZs31eG4VcR2zPdCXfje32FZSBhWLV3tQnaKE3bjBfzNKJtvY4yjPvRKBZLUJvZXc0ZRko6J49BABZjDomfW0G/s1600/photo%252890%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLoflVYThPXl2hcgufuMvmv8VO2vkpoVMHSc1Z-ZtOso2jALbERn9NMbZs31eG4VcR2zPdCXfje32FZSBhWLV3tQnaKE3bjBfzNKJtvY4yjPvRKBZLUJvZXc0ZRko6J49BABZjDomfW0G/s320/photo%252890%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On Tuesday, June 14th, the girls and I picked up Daryl from the Dulles airport after he went on a mission trip to Ethiopia with my brother and dad and a group of others with <a href="http://engageinlives.org/">Engage in Lives</a>. Kadie, Colton and my mom were there, too! It was so fun. The mission trip was great and productive, and God was <b>so</b> kind to each of us during our time apart.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl3CwTMUoD5dWZXWaNQldzSbMncEHfzZJmbxOer9ws1YxLaKnvP1RE9tsxxq2sNGTIkw3vFAvqmov4i47UmzxMrRLmrrmCLa_XsHMqhJYxDv61CEMxZOkmw5tCtvBIhMQDg3mK-9S2gs9/s1600/263854_1959004787804_1623313688_1946981_8189970_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl3CwTMUoD5dWZXWaNQldzSbMncEHfzZJmbxOer9ws1YxLaKnvP1RE9tsxxq2sNGTIkw3vFAvqmov4i47UmzxMrRLmrrmCLa_XsHMqhJYxDv61CEMxZOkmw5tCtvBIhMQDg3mK-9S2gs9/s320/263854_1959004787804_1623313688_1946981_8189970_n.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyUoVjsfkQtFNlAnWevuMrJmHzhJVpDBre_ef4yjijVxAvVLzeBksBNLxvX-T1xxp-Sr_uLdDMqgI2Zq1m47rpIYE_t60dLpdm4rIpi0giEX8nFuo2dTbqQK7MTzNbYEwkGfddPSwWKv9/s1600/photo%252888%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyUoVjsfkQtFNlAnWevuMrJmHzhJVpDBre_ef4yjijVxAvVLzeBksBNLxvX-T1xxp-Sr_uLdDMqgI2Zq1m47rpIYE_t60dLpdm4rIpi0giEX8nFuo2dTbqQK7MTzNbYEwkGfddPSwWKv9/s320/photo%252888%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Here is something I wrote one night while he was away and am finally posting...<i> </i><br />
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<i>If I weren't afraid of putting out in public that my husband is out of town, I would be screaming on my blog or facebook or to anyone else, "I MISS MY HUSBAND!" </i><br />
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<i>This is such a teeny "trial" - not that you could even call it that, I suppose, but I do feel like him being so far away and not having him "with" me or available to me has been teaching me a lot about the concept of being "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10).</i><br />
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<i>The first week has not been "hard." In fact, our friends and family have blessed us so much and kept us so entertained. But I love being with my husband! Not to hurt anyone's feelings, but I'd rather hang out with him than anyone else - hands down. </i><br />
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<i>I remember at our wedding, during the toasts, our best man saying that we had spent time together almost every day during our engagement and so it gave him great confidence for our marriage because he knew we really did like eachother :). So missing days with him is painful, even if they are good days :) </i><br />
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<i>And Anna, bless her dear, sweet, little heart, had a hard time, understandably. I understand the length of time he will be gone and God has given me faith in His unbelievably good Sovereignty and care for Daryl and I - even if things don't go as he or I would plan. She doesn't. Her lack of knowledge and faith combined with her love for her Daddy has made this a pretty stressful week for her.</i><br />
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<i>She ended up sleeping with me one night. Another day during her nap it stormed and she woke up and freaked out. I was confused at first but then she said, "My daddy is out there in the stoooooorrrrrrrmmm building a schoooooool....waaaaaaaa..." I didn't even try to explain that it probably wasn't storming there or that it was the middle of the night there, but I did reassure her that there were indoor places there and if it was storming Daddy would take a break and go inside. I think before he left we told her they don't have houses just like ours and so perhaps she assumed he was camping?! :)</i><br />
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<i>All that to say, we miss Daryl. Sorrowful: I miss my husband. I miss him terribly. Pretty sure at some point I'll cry about it. Definitely been stressful at times - like it's much harder to unload the car after going to Sam's without him. It's definitely not as fun at dinner time, etc. </i><br />
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<i>Yet rejoicing: I have a deep, deep unshakable joy that he is doing works that God created for him to do from eternity past and am so glad he is getting to have such a great experience. <b>God</b> has provided deep joy in His meticulous Sovereign over all things and deep joy in His absolute goodness to Daryl and I as His children. <b>He</b> is supplying me grace here to care for our children and prepare us to move and <b>He</b> is supplying him grace there to adjust to the time changes, the culture, the work, etc. He will supply us both grace in all things regardless of whether one of us goes "home" earlier than we would think (let's face it folks, I've thought about the very statistically low fact that his plane might not make it back over the ocean - but praise His glorious grace, it is God who is in control of his plane, ultimately, and that same God has crazy good plans for both of us in life and in death). </i><br />
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<i>Sorrowful, yet rejoicing. That's a lesson I would have never got on my own :) </i><br />
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<i>Well, I should go to bed. Did I mention it's hard for me to sleep without him here? </i><br />
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Note: The plane did land and I am so thankful God held it up all the way to Dulles :) It has been a joyful reunion week! <i> </i>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-91154040559973518882011-05-21T23:15:00.000-04:002011-05-21T23:15:51.197-04:00Must have!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVgvjXsraZURPmfNF_Z3E8goAhyphenhyphenyisTqT8zwXbPBbFpgkOhcuu3IeZItZfJjufsr9do3vp9NMsAW-Lw5g-OB_Lb-U_RacHmc8TI0lWOlxRa4OgXmcF4MW6ht5AQWzFrv7lHl7IYEWn4Uj/s1600/DSC_6641.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh_6KtFD8JtO2HjTBessKplqZJCMy0Aj4ESywcA8hDNXwShcroqkgeHm1FbxOvOynsLtmXfoa0ajSlEwCX0-8v0JgsnHm2xG3BqaZ6dRhNlhn0CB8YG0139D2b08qB_BgH_hZ9NmPW3Bf/s1600/DSC_6154.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh_6KtFD8JtO2HjTBessKplqZJCMy0Aj4ESywcA8hDNXwShcroqkgeHm1FbxOvOynsLtmXfoa0ajSlEwCX0-8v0JgsnHm2xG3BqaZ6dRhNlhn0CB8YG0139D2b08qB_BgH_hZ9NmPW3Bf/s320/DSC_6154.JPG" width="320" /></a> Oh my goodness...I love these people!!!! I'm thankful for every day with them - and especially thankful for those days where we get to play together. <br />
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We got to do that for a whole week, too! We went to Gatlinburg for a week and stayed in a place perfect for us (thanks to a great friend letting us use some of their timeshare points)...kiddie pools, playgrounds, in the mountains with a babbling stream off the balcony, and close to tons of attractions the kids loved :) Daryl and I had prepared for the week to be an "expedition" rather than "vacation" so to speak, but it really was like a vacation - the kids even slept more than they usually do :)<br />
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Most of all, I think we all really enjoyed having Daryl around for breakfast, lunch and dinner - and we ignored the outside world as much as possible (oh, and did I mention I didn't have to clean for any house showings that week because no one was around to mess anything up?! two thumbs up!). <br />
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Some pics...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90vWbmpG6ECxqEqXqFnqZtGLkOh7vC3-SVuqF_fFsKwEE2dP3wUeYZSFQXHrPLXafqgsng_nWPVBFzEntWZMBJBaukyCws5e1pX_dWSB0MmdvtvMFGJpDOh4pA7jX45rlqJik2348LQlW/s1600/DSC_6252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90vWbmpG6ECxqEqXqFnqZtGLkOh7vC3-SVuqF_fFsKwEE2dP3wUeYZSFQXHrPLXafqgsng_nWPVBFzEntWZMBJBaukyCws5e1pX_dWSB0MmdvtvMFGJpDOh4pA7jX45rlqJik2348LQlW/s320/DSC_6252.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The girls even went on a moderately difficult hike with us :) Way to go!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9lA8wOtiHpfBTMs4Aor6-CRz46vgBrsJ6l1spVmwyn-ClYTOINyzLVwn2IPOKFa-LN22mbJHoCwToQIHjhZ-jZqDYH1uqjgA-RG4TKI3qGfKQiA-sH0Y32NpsP2a2f1e85orj7CME80i/s1600/photo%252880%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9lA8wOtiHpfBTMs4Aor6-CRz46vgBrsJ6l1spVmwyn-ClYTOINyzLVwn2IPOKFa-LN22mbJHoCwToQIHjhZ-jZqDYH1uqjgA-RG4TKI3qGfKQiA-sH0Y32NpsP2a2f1e85orj7CME80i/s320/photo%252880%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltk9X1Of4xjbqftmPU41-pj187-ygz2KMj0XdOhmbwwbvnBIHkW2N1sikOOFqDHwiZW3pUSkqYJ70NLWRv5F4u5ILTACZ0gUfLY00rSTmhs-DA6j89rg7fKG46c1JRTb6LTpMVx9lPwtd/s1600/photo%252881%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltk9X1Of4xjbqftmPU41-pj187-ygz2KMj0XdOhmbwwbvnBIHkW2N1sikOOFqDHwiZW3pUSkqYJ70NLWRv5F4u5ILTACZ0gUfLY00rSTmhs-DA6j89rg7fKG46c1JRTb6LTpMVx9lPwtd/s320/photo%252881%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Sorry, Daryl, had to post it :) They LOVED Dollywood and survived there until closing with no naps. Nadia still talks about "da duckies" and "da peegs". She was constantly saying, "Oh wow...WOW" about lots of things that week! Anna said, "This carou<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZPbYVG6V9GrGXWTZRGAB936x0dZCW2mGAheMWBiWHgkAf08glEbDCesqgFOrCUBCxZaTs7LPToS9KYEoVMkX-rHuUbj9n-ucT-Kk38NDyeQxo3YXlJmlVFNb-mb8ohgxI1fYmqN_QzTN/s1600/photo%252882%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZPbYVG6V9GrGXWTZRGAB936x0dZCW2mGAheMWBiWHgkAf08glEbDCesqgFOrCUBCxZaTs7LPToS9KYEoVMkX-rHuUbj9n-ucT-Kk38NDyeQxo3YXlJmlVFNb-mb8ohgxI1fYmqN_QzTN/s320/photo%252882%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVgvjXsraZURPmfNF_Z3E8goAhyphenhyphenyisTqT8zwXbPBbFpgkOhcuu3IeZItZfJjufsr9do3vp9NMsAW-Lw5g-OB_Lb-U_RacHmc8TI0lWOlxRa4OgXmcF4MW6ht5AQWzFrv7lHl7IYEWn4Uj/s1600/DSC_6641.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVgvjXsraZURPmfNF_Z3E8goAhyphenhyphenyisTqT8zwXbPBbFpgkOhcuu3IeZItZfJjufsr9do3vp9NMsAW-Lw5g-OB_Lb-U_RacHmc8TI0lWOlxRa4OgXmcF4MW6ht5AQWzFrv7lHl7IYEWn4Uj/s320/DSC_6641.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The aquarium might have been their favorite. The tunnels through Shark Lagoon and the Penguin Playhouse were pretty awesome - not gonna lie. Although Nadia kept saying, "Bick shark bite." :) <br />
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What a delightful week!<br />
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I also got to take the girls (both currently sick - Anna more now than Nadia) to the playground today and we had a blast. I loved these things about the day:<br />
1) Anna wanted to wear her gingham dress<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1ckBCAug2gMkS9vVukk5IUTR4_sHq6o-fZzNeyOl53Y6Pk2amEFvIThK93db8OhdBydWBeVPUUsmIflP0dGKvqTTYOI5XzyY8h-t4AHtAghuBcIcBTCImlzJDb7NtNR4UpEjmS3BUirW/s1600/photo%252884%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1ckBCAug2gMkS9vVukk5IUTR4_sHq6o-fZzNeyOl53Y6Pk2amEFvIThK93db8OhdBydWBeVPUUsmIflP0dGKvqTTYOI5XzyY8h-t4AHtAghuBcIcBTCImlzJDb7NtNR4UpEjmS3BUirW/s320/photo%252884%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
2) Nadia therefore wanted to wear a purple fancy necklace<br />
3) Anna laughed and laughed and laughed on the swings because she thought she was going so high<br />
4) Nadia climbed up the huge slide at Marilla in the time it took me to help Anna off the swing and was so proud of herself as other parents looked on aghast<br />
5) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwGqCBpCoqfu-lK0GIYmXj03LO5iP-X24NV4ZkDBnqCZGvhvb_Kbd9fFMRzCQZdaAXVmX-ni_fgtYpSMthm-cmELWO9HySEoijF3K4dhcOrKGE1ZyJH0r61Q4LuBroPXLV25QOeaUmm1P/s1600/photo%252883%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwGqCBpCoqfu-lK0GIYmXj03LO5iP-X24NV4ZkDBnqCZGvhvb_Kbd9fFMRzCQZdaAXVmX-ni_fgtYpSMthm-cmELWO9HySEoijF3K4dhcOrKGE1ZyJH0r61Q4LuBroPXLV25QOeaUmm1P/s320/photo%252883%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Lastly, I can't wait to get my hands on this book (not that I think it will be right on, completely on, but I'm hoping it will be very helpful).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBwE2fgJIfNoWByph_1_whGoeoemRwQiaWI-zB7srdNzTbghF2a7b-X7pAf6rP9vBqIHkdYS88A496GdKNCRkz_GKtKAySA9HreuA_SkM3-2BGz80UJbmh6R34nd2czenkpmzjPoazh5r/s1600/givethemgrace11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBwE2fgJIfNoWByph_1_whGoeoemRwQiaWI-zB7srdNzTbghF2a7b-X7pAf6rP9vBqIHkdYS88A496GdKNCRkz_GKtKAySA9HreuA_SkM3-2BGz80UJbmh6R34nd2czenkpmzjPoazh5r/s1600/givethemgrace11.jpg" /></a></div><br />
You can get more from the author on it <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/05/21/elyse-fitzpatrick-on-gospel-centered-parenting/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+between2worlds+%28Between+Two+Worlds%29">here</a> but be forewarned, LENGTHY. Did encourage me though - I am constantly amazed at the wisdom God has blessed us with from godly people around us. <br />
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I could write more, but I'm pretty sure this is plenty lengthy enough :) Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-9371074142315042512011-04-20T15:56:00.000-04:002011-04-20T15:56:34.210-04:00Anna's 3!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_av4X0lBvCi-Qi-k-JRXz18wuVG9pIBsOWJsy0-pnmV382PJLFN1pAyizpcX61sycnMAbcGdTEDkDoTIFyeEg282ONYUg5UenTu63N2m0gBKaIij4C950uZDEmYL4uhqtsOSMAYkST9Cb/s1600/DSC_5819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpBsZKhhUZnNf9O74WZZwvSp4igvqN-3JZoiv9FPa7bZLSqiWjFsoLO9IQf8r9wCGw-K1H6wzE00yrlmonjXhOLv24ARq0BzMZaw0yN_Vu1DTB6cVIz9ZBMJa6fE_zmsoetFh88Kzu8lX/s1600/DSC_5752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpBsZKhhUZnNf9O74WZZwvSp4igvqN-3JZoiv9FPa7bZLSqiWjFsoLO9IQf8r9wCGw-K1H6wzE00yrlmonjXhOLv24ARq0BzMZaw0yN_Vu1DTB6cVIz9ZBMJa6fE_zmsoetFh88Kzu8lX/s320/DSC_5752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So, today is Anna's official 3rd birthday! As much as I have known she is growing up, it seems much more real...This weekend she slept in an actual queen sized bed at my brother and Kadie's house and loved it. She sleeps in panties at night (except we didn't let her there since this is new - lol). She can dress her self, put on her own shoes, open her own juice boxes, and tell me how it is :)<br />
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We were so blessed this morning that even though are plans of a park birthday party got rained out (or at least called for that), our friends came over and made our day so fun! I was so thankful when I put Anna and Nadia down for naps that I had pizza sauce finger prints on the window ledges, mounds of tissue paper trash, and remnants of cupcakes all over the floor. God has been so generous to us. I am so thankful for the friends we have to walk through life with and am looking for our family party this weekend!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlZM1rKfaHhSzT9WRrW3CXsAqogEMQA46tfU7mn72kfsObnvX7r2qyNjBU7jnqb9fi7EbntfPmDAT7rq1rW0M78Q9KmilK8sMUMz4vR76wRGxLXnwkWufJvToCAjaSoS3R5y6tLbKYN4c/s1600/DSC_5817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlZM1rKfaHhSzT9WRrW3CXsAqogEMQA46tfU7mn72kfsObnvX7r2qyNjBU7jnqb9fi7EbntfPmDAT7rq1rW0M78Q9KmilK8sMUMz4vR76wRGxLXnwkWufJvToCAjaSoS3R5y6tLbKYN4c/s320/DSC_5817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lately Anna has been exhibiting some attitudes that are not in line with how Jesus would have us to behave (or at least they have been more prominent). While I know it's her own sin in part, I also know exactly where she picked up some of it :( I was really convicted this week when I heard her talking harshly to her baby doll during room time (same phrase and tone I've used with her) and knew it was time for me to begin listening to this sermon series passed on by a friend - <a href="http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/parenting-little-ones">http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/parenting-little-ones</a>. IF you have kids 0-5 please grab your spouse and listen! It was SO beneficial to my soul.<br />
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After the first sermon I went in to Anna's room, and as I've had to do so many times, apologized to her. I correct her for impatience or for being rude and yet I have shown impatience and been rude to her. I was so helped by the speaker's words regarding how slow we are to change in sin areas and yet we often expect our children to change overnight. How foolish, self-righteous, and prideful of me!<br />
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Thankfully, when I asked her if she forgave me, Anna said, "Sure, Mom. Can we go play?" More thankfully, I know that God is bringing these sin areas to surface in me not to make me feel like a loser, but to change me, AND He has credited Christ's righteousness to my account, AND He can bless my child inspite of me :). I am so thankful for the sanctifying effect Anna and Nadia have had on me - they see me all the time, so no hiding sin areas from them - at least not for long.<br />
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While I have hated how my sin has affected and may affect Anna, she did two outstanding things today, that I am hopeful she learned from my poor example :) 1) She came to me this morning and apologized for "crying upstairs earlier" completely sincere and sweet (we had a time of instruction then, but she didn't apologize then as she was too upset - it is hard waiting for your birthday party to start). 2) I understand, it's hard to share new birthday presents or not get upset when someone takes from you, but those attitudes still needed addressed. So after the party, we chatted about the good and bad of the party :) One of the more "critical" insights I offered was that she needed to either give up what some wanted from her willingly or <i>kindly</i> tell them she still was playing with it. If that didn't solve the problem, she could ask a parent for help. She responded, "Maybe I could have another party and share real nice. Everyone would love that!"<br />
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Lastly, I loved her attitude about having to have her party inside. She asked if we were going to keep the "happy birthday" banner I had posted and upon saying "Yes, maybe we'll save it for Nadia's birthday," she exclaimed with enthusiasm, "And maybe she'll get to have her party at the park!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_av4X0lBvCi-Qi-k-JRXz18wuVG9pIBsOWJsy0-pnmV382PJLFN1pAyizpcX61sycnMAbcGdTEDkDoTIFyeEg282ONYUg5UenTu63N2m0gBKaIij4C950uZDEmYL4uhqtsOSMAYkST9Cb/s1600/DSC_5819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_av4X0lBvCi-Qi-k-JRXz18wuVG9pIBsOWJsy0-pnmV382PJLFN1pAyizpcX61sycnMAbcGdTEDkDoTIFyeEg282ONYUg5UenTu63N2m0gBKaIij4C950uZDEmYL4uhqtsOSMAYkST9Cb/s320/DSC_5819.JPG" width="320" /></a>THANK YOU GOD for YOUR transforming work! I am so glad that He is still working on me and I am trusting Him to work in these sweet bundles He's given me. Can't wait to meet #3!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-5990416723541343122011-03-30T22:42:00.000-04:002011-03-30T22:42:28.755-04:00BlessingsI'm not going to lie - I wrote this a few days ago and didn't post it because I had to download some pictures - the past couple of days have been more difficult, so I'm glad to reread this again!...<br />
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This week God has been unbelievably kind to me to reveal some more of His kindness to me in so many forms!<br />
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Somehow, the girls and I survived Daryl being away without us (this has only happened one other time in our marriage - it just so happens that this time also fell on our anniversary - boo, but oh well!). We actually survived well (thanks a lot to my mom and dad! and the company of good friends this morning), but the house was definitely missing someone :) I was reminded of how fun it is to live with your best friend - and how that is a huge gift in itself. I will confess though, I did enjoy one evening of solace - sipping hot tea in my bed, reading a fiction book once the kids went to bed, and the house did stay cleaner - hmmmm ;) ;)!<br />
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Since it was Daryl's spring break, I decided to impose one on the entire family - it's only fair, and we had a great week.<br />
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On Sunday I we were all worn out from a long weekend so we all took the longest nap ever. We usually don't get to do this since we host a Bible study at our house at 4pm on Sundays, so I took one both Sundays we had cancelled for break. Something I could definitely get used to.<br />
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I don't remember Monday, but on Tuesday we enjoyed taking them to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. Nadia was so thrilled by the rotating fish on the lamp poles in the parking lot that we could have gone home after that, but I'm glad we went in :) Anna wanted to go back after her nap time - sadly, it's a little far for that. A great day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAUeGZFzgr5UKgRzpPsIvJ7bqvPkJxFNS8ew2DK4Nb_sqyL38J9NoWF5t9OE11mpIfuKwtDWpYGdIQxLXbDcsb50o745QPNsXjQKu8KXRLAb8tLZuoZvnZHXU3hofG-abMMdh0OvCTQX/s1600/photo%252872%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAUeGZFzgr5UKgRzpPsIvJ7bqvPkJxFNS8ew2DK4Nb_sqyL38J9NoWF5t9OE11mpIfuKwtDWpYGdIQxLXbDcsb50o745QPNsXjQKu8KXRLAb8tLZuoZvnZHXU3hofG-abMMdh0OvCTQX/s320/photo%252872%2529.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikszBPI1Ev-0i9tMHWk53NyP5mPKrHF-7QN2gXSme8SaVO5rGHQZbxlT63gjYTObJDSTrZBG9aEJkR6d6XUT2UUq1e0DH23i1j8vEO1mg_PviRJBFl57Ts6-ukuIRcuXGDvxJlDvVjuG_Q/s1600/photo%252864%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikszBPI1Ev-0i9tMHWk53NyP5mPKrHF-7QN2gXSme8SaVO5rGHQZbxlT63gjYTObJDSTrZBG9aEJkR6d6XUT2UUq1e0DH23i1j8vEO1mg_PviRJBFl57Ts6-ukuIRcuXGDvxJlDvVjuG_Q/s320/photo%252864%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And so it will be, all too quickly </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUGA_b1aSwizsC11V05oa6PvDgSi6q073cyKlkqGV31Y2g58esJaTD6R_vy81oLhMsU1dCZtsqV4SbXaFotbJEaSi1frbBWFrrLtbmhvKw08ynLveQMQSQQathM6QZpaz4rSz4u0Tc6Jq/s1600/photo%252866%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUGA_b1aSwizsC11V05oa6PvDgSi6q073cyKlkqGV31Y2g58esJaTD6R_vy81oLhMsU1dCZtsqV4SbXaFotbJEaSi1frbBWFrrLtbmhvKw08ynLveQMQSQQathM6QZpaz4rSz4u0Tc6Jq/s320/photo%252866%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she did this over and over and over...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj263rEtVWO3Mo9jFHcbCrUifqxfcCCXdEfVP-bdPM9dzg7RjYV0BHNW23roa-vCxk6x6Gdaw1Dwu1adNaIF_QvMjAIX7iFP0DRcRHHB82Irle2gz_YO2G5JEVfIe6mJGXDHMN_j8ezWVH0/s1600/photo%252867%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj263rEtVWO3Mo9jFHcbCrUifqxfcCCXdEfVP-bdPM9dzg7RjYV0BHNW23roa-vCxk6x6Gdaw1Dwu1adNaIF_QvMjAIX7iFP0DRcRHHB82Irle2gz_YO2G5JEVfIe6mJGXDHMN_j8ezWVH0/s320/photo%252867%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Anna got to spend the night at my mom and dad's by herself and she had a blast, although she told us all, "Maybe next time Nadia can come, too." Lol. I love these kids. <br />
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We also played outside quite a bit, but sadly, it didn't feel quite like "spring break". Maybe more like winter solace. Oh well.<br />
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While Daryl was gone we mostly ran errands, hung out with friends, and grandparents, etc. Again, we were very glad to get him home. <br />
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Then the other evening I went into to Anna's room as I often do before I go to bed to just give her one last kiss and think about how much I love her (I know, I'm a creeper like that lady in the Love You Forever book I always make fun of), and she was so still I had a moment of panic. I quickly rushed to her bedside, placed my hand over her little chest and felt the immediate rush of relief with the first beat I felt of her heart that pulsed beneath my hand.<br />
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That moment, along with so many other times I have done the same thing, I was reminded of God's many graces to me with the sweet children He's provided. Every day I have with each of my dear family is a G.I.F.T. I think with them in my womb I sometimes am more aware that things may not go as I hope (I mean with more than 2 kids our chances statistically for miscarriage increase, right?), and I try to be grateful for every day (even if I'm puking). But outside the womb, their life is just as fragile even though there aren't statistics shouting at me about how lucky I am to have passed such and such a week. I certainly am not owed another day with them and nor do I deserve one. I am not a recipient of justice or fairness, but surely of much mercy. <br />
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So in a wave of emotions, I go back to my bed and cuddle up next to Daryl and tearfully tell him how much I cherish those dear girls in the rooms down the hall and want to remember every day. He could say I'm crazy, but I think he agrees, so he smiles at me and says, "I know." Oh, yeah, and he also knows he needs to be "tender" with me (mostly for his sake - haha). <br />
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The next morning Nadia gets up slightly before Anna and once downstairs goes to the bottom of the steps and calls, "Anna (only it sounds like Eeena), Anna." They annoy each other, but I have to say, the joy they take in one another is definitely a gift and often I am amazed that our house is noisy because they are laughing hysterically at each other. <br />
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Here are some real life clips of the normal laughter in the house:<br />
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I just finished reading a book series by Karen Kingsbury which I liked even though it's probably sappy, and though it was fiction, the parents had often told their five children as they grew up together, "the people around this table will be your best friends forever." I want my kids to have other best friends, too, I think that's important, but it definitely made me think it's something I want to encourage in them - to love eachother, encourage eachother and look out for eachother. So far though, it seems God has made that pretty simple for them, and again, I'm reminded of His GRACE. <br />
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Which leads us to baby 3. I finally go to hear the heart beat (can we say relief?!) and on April 11th we find out if it's a boy who will carry on the family name, or another sweet little girl. Either way, I'm glad God chooses.<br />
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And I think, all this and Heaven, too.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-83462925964970691772011-03-10T08:35:00.000-05:002011-03-10T08:35:06.945-05:00Easter is coming!!!I cannot believe Easter is almost upon us again... WOWZERS! It feels like just a month ago that we did this last year! <br />
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I will hopefully post some more about Easter, but I'm going to go ahead and provide my links from last year as it is time to get planning again... Share your ideas, too!<br />
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<a href="http://livingchara.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-time.html">Traditions</a><br />
Lamb cupcakes post - for Corie especially! - <a href="http://livingchara.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-easter-day.html">Lamb cupcake</a><br />
<a href="http://livingchara.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-book-recommendations.html">Books</a> - come on, folks, I know some of you have some good books I should be ordering now!<br />
<a href="http://livingchara.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-playlist.html">Music</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMlwJ7rwUFuwNvYVJclVDGP4KK9cqAWkOsvLxuuVHfFdI-HSoVb579rlVm3TRqXWf6EPJmC0dhR4BwcqYYLlEtnSJoqWLxINA-pLrElyxZ8-JUIatOISb9K7v2rD-X0oqGErBFt0Y25zM/s1600/easter_eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMlwJ7rwUFuwNvYVJclVDGP4KK9cqAWkOsvLxuuVHfFdI-HSoVb579rlVm3TRqXWf6EPJmC0dhR4BwcqYYLlEtnSJoqWLxINA-pLrElyxZ8-JUIatOISb9K7v2rD-X0oqGErBFt0Y25zM/s320/easter_eggs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Happy celebrating!!!!! Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-5797890536797828312011-03-03T23:10:00.000-05:002011-03-03T23:10:06.664-05:00Putting another iron or so in the fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPsVSPRJZzPdmi7WZk8qh_TldAC3wYL_zepTBcQ2pf41oVDcK29CFHK6iza2Vxjhp4huhprZd9PdmC8s9Jlv_UK-j4LnGb229o2KMWYwoR0JggxM9ssiOhx4LtDXVqp965SQyKYp52Y_/s1600/house-for-sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPsVSPRJZzPdmi7WZk8qh_TldAC3wYL_zepTBcQ2pf41oVDcK29CFHK6iza2Vxjhp4huhprZd9PdmC8s9Jlv_UK-j4LnGb229o2KMWYwoR0JggxM9ssiOhx4LtDXVqp965SQyKYp52Y_/s320/house-for-sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've thought about this blog every now and then, but it didn't seem for a while that I had much to say. I think though that may be in part due to the fact that amazingly I have been using more than enough words each day and being pregnant and having a home on the market and searching for a new one has left me fleeing into my bed as soon as the opportunity lends itself. Finally a cure for my struggle to get in to bed at a decent time! :)<br />
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Our house was listed about 3 weeks ago. The process has been easier then I had anticipated in some ways and much more difficult in others. Easier in that preparing it for showings hasn't been as bad as I've thought. The girls have even started cleaning up after themselves more without guidance which is a good result no matter what happens! And everyone seems surprised when their is a large mess somewhere (which I confess, irritates me a little - I can't do everything you see!).<br />
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Harder in the sense that deciding on what to do about if it sells is tricky business - reserving lots to build means your tied in to build there if you do sell, but if you don't reserve you might lose the lot, and harder in the sense that not knowing what will happen is...well sometimes a little grueling. <br />
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Honestly, if it doesn't sell, we're okay, even better than okay. Sure we want more space, but we KNOW that God is over this and working His best for us, so if the house doesn't sell, we will rest knowing that this is what God wants for us. But I'd like to know in advance whether we will or will not be moving - like yesterday actually ;) Because if we are staying here, then forget this process!!!! And the timing...the thought of moving the week before my due date or having no place to live while we wait for another one to be built with a newborn is something I SHOULD NOT even be thinking about.<br />
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Over and over again the Spirit has been kind to remind me "not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. Often I get a good chuckle when I think about the verse - true enough I think as I scrub lipstick out of the carpet in my room. <br />
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So, for now, we are just doing the next thing. Tending to the current fevered child. Preparing for our open house. Blogging - although I don't know how that fits in. Praying. Making the next meal. Answering the next phone call. Washing the next load of clothes. Playing the next game of chase. Changing the next diaper. Enjoying the next date night. Preparing for the next Bible study. And fending off worries I could have about tomorrow - will my girls soon be sharing a small room? Will I be able to survive without napping all day with a new baby? Will I have to? When will I ever learn how to sow well? <br />
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God has been so good to us! So many times a day I see it - I have a warm and comfortable bed and get to sleep next to the best man I know. And I have a house. And a cute one. With a view. I have two precious daughters who bless me beyond words every day. There is a baby growing in my belly - and yes, my belly's growing to (oh maternity clothes, I do loathe you). The children are happy. The body of Christ is blessing me beyond measure, spring is coming, and I am not where I deserve. I am still living and breathing and experiencing life in the Kingdom. Grace enough for me! Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-47829196751820955422011-01-20T19:41:00.006-05:002011-01-20T19:53:19.893-05:00Kids say the funniest things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr4pX_kKeBPfXQ0ATbRcrXelZ2k66Lg3nluZEaK0qlZhGd1GHVT2tDocEjOuP1sMPeLuf8spOIMc_85MJ49s4XIcC1Bmw-TsBoaJK0IL1YZ3H17hkEywpWZg7kAywqnmFfo7jDnTFR6oI/s1600/DSC_4922.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGr4pX_kKeBPfXQ0ATbRcrXelZ2k66Lg3nluZEaK0qlZhGd1GHVT2tDocEjOuP1sMPeLuf8spOIMc_85MJ49s4XIcC1Bmw-TsBoaJK0IL1YZ3H17hkEywpWZg7kAywqnmFfo7jDnTFR6oI/s320/DSC_4922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564435248833546450" border="0" /></a><br />So, Anna said and did so many funny things today, I have to write a couple of them down for posterity sake!<br /><br />The best was tonight just before bed. She didn't sleep well during her nap today and so she was a little less self-controlled than normal ;) At the table she threw a banana peel on the floor. When I asked her where her self control was she said, "I put it all in Nadia's heart." Good try.<br /><br />She has also started desiring "privacy" when she is in the bathroom. My assumption is that she learned this from Grandma :) Anyways, she was in the bathroom and I was walking past (the door was shut) with Nadia to get her in her pajamas and a little voice hollered out, "Mom! Don't come in here. I'm having my privacy!" <br /><br />Finally, earlier today at the doctor's office Nadia had to get some vaccines. Anna started crying as soon as she saw the nurse putting them together. I tried to explain about how they were good for Nadia, to keep her healthy and strong and how she needed to help Nadia be brave. So she came and held Nadia's hand, but as soon as Nadia started crying, Anna started crying so hard she was shaking. Nothing like having two crying kids - poor nurse!!!!! Anyways, once the nurse was done, I picked Nadia up and Anna, still crying, thanked the nurse for keeping Nadia "healthy and strong." Too cute! I love her tender little heart!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-62535119642717330982011-01-14T14:41:00.002-05:002011-01-14T15:03:45.595-05:00Joyful Recommendations: Listening While You WorkI was in the middle of cleaning, but I had to stop. While I sometimes have my qualms about all the various technologies in our lives, there is something I absolutely love about my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iPhone</span> (don't be alarmed - that is not the joyful recommendation I will be writing about) - I love that it is also an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ipod</span> or a means for me to listen to things I actually want to listen to. I used to misplace my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ipod</span> or forget it when going somewhere and later think, "Oh, I wish I had it so I can listen to such and such," but I hardly misplace my phone because it seems more of a necessity.<br /><br />Having a portable device to listen to things on, especially such a small one that I can use ear phones with and so not be too loud while they are napping, has become such a huge blessing to me especially since having the kids. Being a mom is busy (if you don't have kids, it's true. We don't just sit around reading stories, talking on the phone and eating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">bon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bons</span>. If you don't believe me, borrow my kids for a week.). There's a definite trade-off when you have a family - you don't have time to do some of the things you used to love to do; even some of the very good things you used to love to do. Of course, I think this trade-off is worth it, but that's another blog post.<br /><br />But I don't believe that growing in godliness is one of those things to trade-off. For me, IN SOME WAYS, it has gotten harder - I have to get up earlier or not get as many things done to have quiet times, and for a while I felt like reading books that I wanted to or listening to things I wanted to wasn't always possible. But a whole new world has opened up to me!<br /><br />Daryl introduced me, mainly, to downloading sermons some time ago. So now, while the girls are napping or after they go to bed and I am washing dishes or attempting to sort through and spray shout on mounds of laundry, I can also be soaking in truth. SWEET!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRKqZMRGN_USyN0htb907k0RsKQjhxBL0u_9rRY5-VigSwGSaBUf2CZXSKxBh-V1klpvZIDwOiawNoAnGcffIgSrFNbso9iiXWfO5pyKLtg3yRhwnsrM2L0dFafGFokKfZMLNSFNS8kjZ/s1600/photo%252849%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRKqZMRGN_USyN0htb907k0RsKQjhxBL0u_9rRY5-VigSwGSaBUf2CZXSKxBh-V1klpvZIDwOiawNoAnGcffIgSrFNbso9iiXWfO5pyKLtg3yRhwnsrM2L0dFafGFokKfZMLNSFNS8kjZ/s320/photo%252849%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562134548872641474" border="0" /></a><br />It's true, sometimes I think I'd rather listen to something more "fun"; but then I do it, and I couldn't feel better. Seriously. I do sometimes listen to music or even <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">audiobooks</span> occasionally, but since I don't have as much time for studying as I used to, the sermons have been oh so helpful to me.<br /><br />AND - there are so many out there! Recently I have been listening through John Piper's series on Hebrews (this <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/he-is-the-source-of-eternal-salvation-for-all-who-obey-him">one</a> today), and that's what spurred me to take a break from house cleaning to sit down and write this because I'm thinking, "EVERYONE needs to hear this stuff! It's fantastic!" But, regardless, I'd highly encourage you to listen while you work - and not just to anything, but Bible saturated, truthful, Christ exalting stuff. It's so fun for your soul! And, it makes cleaning less overwhelming!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-65753358742312409302011-01-09T21:32:00.002-05:002011-01-09T21:56:20.392-05:00NadiaWe can all find things to brag on about our kids - and I think we should :) When I read the book "Feminine Appeal" by Carolyn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mahaney</span> one of the things that most stood out to me was that we aren't just to "serve" (or slave away) for our kids, but we are to enjoy them - that's the real definition of the word "love" used in the passage of Titus 2.<br /><br />One of the things I enjoy the most about my kids is how funny they are. But they are funny differently - Anna is more hilarious just in the ways she reacts to things or some of the things she says that she doesn't know are funny (nursing her baby dolls, etc), but Nadia is an entertainer. We get double the funny in our house because when one laughs a deep belly laugh, the other laughs a deep belly laugh, and we can sometimes drive all the way home from the store laughing...about something that probably wasn't even very funny in the first place.<br /><br />Tonight though, Nadia wanted to try Daryl's drink at dinner. Both of our girls HATE anything fizzy, but we gave her a sip. The results were hilarious - and the great thing was, because she loves entertaining, she continued for us even after we finally got the video camera running.<br /><br />Hope you enjoy our kid, too...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOnXO4TGMPHanX7q6Apz5uXkPcC_GjMQuZoCnCLgeG5QYmSLDn1JESfQa1CyoZzEKqdgXdlE9O7mYN7Zfa' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />PS Yes we let our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span>-toddler have multiple sips of soda. Yes our daughters jump on their beds (I know they will get big and have to quit soon). Please don't call social services. :)Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-77251080193075880562010-12-28T19:52:00.002-05:002010-12-28T20:16:35.054-05:00Remembering Christmas...Alright, I'm just going to say it, I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">sad</span> Christmas is over! I know I shouldn't be, perhaps, but I just love the holiday - and just like that, it's gone! <br /><br />But what are my favorite things about Christmas? The cookie exchanges? The decorating? The parties? The Christmas outfits? The presents? And well, yes, I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> presents. Not just watching my kids open and enjoy there's or even my family/friends, but I like getting them for me. I'm not gonna lie. And minus the mattress my parents bought us a few years back that remains one of Daryl and I's all time favorite gifts, I think this year I may have gotten the best gifts in total ever. <br /><br />A whole knife block of Pampered Chef knives which Daryl and I EQUALLY love, and my personal favorite, the shirt he picked for me from Anthropolgie that wasn't even on my wish list! My sister-in-law also picked out some awesome jewelry for me and I got some sweet new kitchen gear (aprons, dish towels, etc) I have been craving from Anthropologie from other family members.<br /><br />Ultimately, those things aren't even my favorite though. Cause sooner or later, my shirt will ruin (probably sooner with two little kids). Sooner or later, my knives will dull. Sooner or later, my jewelry will not be in style. And secretly, those gifts don't do it for me as much as many of the other things about the season. <br /><br />I am sure that three days in a row I told Daryl in all sincerity, <span style="font-style: italic;">"You know what my favorite thing about Christmas is?" </span> He never made fun of the fact that I had multiple favorites, he never even mentioned it, and I have logged that in my reasons I love him :) But after some more thought, I have decided this is my mostest favorite...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus Christ, and the grace God has provided me in Him.</span></span> Simple. Basic. And I'm not trying to be overly spiritual. Just for real. <br /><br />The past cluster of years I really feel like, though I have had many ups and downs, failures and successes, God has opened my eyes more and more to the Gospel - to who I am without Him (rebel sinner) and what I deserve (nothing) and who He is (Holy) and what He has given me totally by His good pleasure (everything good).<br /><br />While going about our days over the holidays we listened to a lot of Christmas music. One song I heard was (Everybody's Waiting) "<span style="font-style: italic;">For the Man With The Bag</span>" and while the version we have is cute and catchy, the word's here startled me:<br /><blockquote><br />"He'll be here" (Santa of course), "with the answers to the prayers<br />that you made through the year<br />You'll get yours<br />If you've done everything you should, extra special good."</blockquote><br />SERIOUSLY?! This is the ANTITHESIS of Christmas! And the antithesis held out to us is the Gospel - GREAT NEWS!!!! WE are offered the answers to more than we could ask or pray INSPITE of the fact that we <span style="font-weight: bold;">don't do anything good on our own</span> - nothing. <br /><br />I love Isaiah 53. Charles Spurgeon calls it "the Bible in miniature, the Gospel in essence." Here are some of the verses from it that display the truth about Jesus and us (although you should go read the whole thing, just click on over to Biblegateway)...<br /><br /><blockquote> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-18716">4</sup> Surely [Jesus] took up <span style="font-weight: bold;">our</span> pain<br /> and bore <span style="font-weight: bold;">our</span> suffering,<br />yet we considered him punished by God,<br /> stricken by him, and afflicted.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-18717">5</sup> But he was pierced for <span style="font-weight: bold;">our</span> transgressions,<br /> he was crushed for <span style="font-weight: bold;">our</span> iniquities;<br />the punishment that brought <span style="font-weight: bold;">us</span> peace was on him,<br /> and by his wounds we are healed.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-18718">6</sup> <span style="font-weight: bold;">We all</span>, like sheep, have gone astray,<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">each of us</span> has turned to our own way;<br />and the LORD has laid on him<br /> the iniquity of <span style="font-weight: bold;">us all</span>.<br /></blockquote><br />The Lord has laid on Jesus our iniquity. Verse 10 says it was "the Lord's will to crush Him." The Sovereign and Holy decided <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-26137">16</sup> "[He] so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."<br /><br />And He did it while we were hell bound rebels fist shaking at His rule - <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-28056">Romans 5:8</sup> But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: <span style="font-weight: bold;">While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</span><br /><br />Oh, to the praise of His glorious grace! Grace upon grace, that's what I've received. From His lowly entrance in a stable with steeds, to His death on the cross accompanied by thieves. As He reigns at His Father's right hand pleading for me, grace upon grace, because of Him, I've received.<br /><br />Merry ChristmasLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-81417261160809027712010-12-22T20:37:00.016-05:002010-12-22T21:42:32.938-05:00And so this is Christmas...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh2xY4BqthrgRVWvnrVaeD4KmGiPxstwZ2xDfl5zpmwKhFH4ARDIGURGBEZnnWe-q4Jd0-cyGprSdwlE4UFZo1gYEfHHnJfxKbe3B7wr8EhTgM4VKbl_nuGVG41MhyphenhyphenGpYh2VSSV5vEnRv/s1600/DSC_4585.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh2xY4BqthrgRVWvnrVaeD4KmGiPxstwZ2xDfl5zpmwKhFH4ARDIGURGBEZnnWe-q4Jd0-cyGprSdwlE4UFZo1gYEfHHnJfxKbe3B7wr8EhTgM4VKbl_nuGVG41MhyphenhyphenGpYh2VSSV5vEnRv/s400/DSC_4585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553690139524897858" border="0" /></a>And what have we been doing?! OH, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LOVING IT!</span></span><br /><br />I have always L.O.V.E.D the Christmas "season" - I love that it is an "extended" holiday - not just wrapped up in to one day or a weekend. But really and truly my love for this season seems to grow yearly PRIMARILY because of God's AWESOME grace to reveal more about the blessedness of the incarnation of Christ and the joy that is provided us through the revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ.<br /><br />I think my kids have helped me with this, too, because wanting them to understand what it is really about and truly value the reality of it all has helped me to grow and enjoy it more as well.<br />I think the season provides so many easy teachable moments for our kids, too; and I like easy.<br /><br />Also, for us, there are so many fun events surrounding the season - shopping and cookie swapping, parties and wrapping...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvybz6-cwZm06CdQT20MnXZQEWT5yo2HD8fo5G2UCBEQe9fnhfOS44NKXxERIpTjMDn5kC8jOwel1hjUlzKXsykLfqv2DRQ4H5La9zoGLrY58Yh4A584732D29Xl8_crXUNJCkbfkD9kw/s1600/photo%252843%2529.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvybz6-cwZm06CdQT20MnXZQEWT5yo2HD8fo5G2UCBEQe9fnhfOS44NKXxERIpTjMDn5kC8jOwel1hjUlzKXsykLfqv2DRQ4H5La9zoGLrY58Yh4A584732D29Xl8_crXUNJCkbfkD9kw/s320/photo%252843%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553691704154589650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviM2Q-tt_7TTfNwoLTBP58V75sGSyq-EngCkQpg9Rr8kseewdMRPvrGQzX2hyphenhyphenIijUwT6Jt3pKVRwGIKGkCr3LSR8mbaKnMj5R3eAGL9vlhHP8sYZ9eXAnNIIHvkIAXtsaGcEs_8mo_GxL/s1600/DSC_4778.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviM2Q-tt_7TTfNwoLTBP58V75sGSyq-EngCkQpg9Rr8kseewdMRPvrGQzX2hyphenhyphenIijUwT6Jt3pKVRwGIKGkCr3LSR8mbaKnMj5R3eAGL9vlhHP8sYZ9eXAnNIIHvkIAXtsaGcEs_8mo_GxL/s320/DSC_4778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553690823464163826" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Crafting and baking... (lots of crafting and baking - which also means making messes and eating)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S0PPlXGGY3fZ5HVWPfhkzCA47J0I-Bjt_JaIIQOqRxE0YN_Ire2TSdi01-saonaM2ldMQX-jYkVfZ_7zxBCKn5lSWsDQOc-lk6iifDuKCkg0eFs79cx09RRlEROvQy9ajtYmKxfqCCPk/s1600/DSC_4692.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S0PPlXGGY3fZ5HVWPfhkzCA47J0I-Bjt_JaIIQOqRxE0YN_Ire2TSdi01-saonaM2ldMQX-jYkVfZ_7zxBCKn5lSWsDQOc-lk6iifDuKCkg0eFs79cx09RRlEROvQy9ajtYmKxfqCCPk/s320/DSC_4692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553690548318191842" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNTQTIN4XASiK7-DyVX0wFJwXLfnQCd8TJNDzLv_pk9Rx9ZMzU41kIZtolflkjG_vMkbnq7xThAOw7CKAlmUcLX2CkcV0DJLE3HHZysE6BLJxnykZI2WQNxtsgIcAGFfmWNoTdcIV3Nkl/s1600/DSC_4798.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNTQTIN4XASiK7-DyVX0wFJwXLfnQCd8TJNDzLv_pk9Rx9ZMzU41kIZtolflkjG_vMkbnq7xThAOw7CKAlmUcLX2CkcV0DJLE3HHZysE6BLJxnykZI2WQNxtsgIcAGFfmWNoTdcIV3Nkl/s320/DSC_4798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553699897523182162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Laughing and reading (speaking of reading, check out this link of some great Christmas books -<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> <a href="http://lifewithrejj.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-books.html">here</a></span>), as well as some of our own favorite - The Very First Christmas by Paul <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Majer</span></span> and Silent Night (this has music and lights and mommy has to sing E.V.E.R.Y. page) by Smart Kids Publishing, and Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus by Nancy Guthrie.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK7IUaUCLfcbO4eHTaVnOpWm6zew8U6VlO1uJ5DgoilSlm12wBHPGvPmmbz88TBlamaGR9dKzxnlHeufDGaoqLuLreVO4UCk3LyxpegxKSHKZT92IdZMYGi8WPJMfUyNy5Xs4yVIO9lwC/s1600/DSC_4734.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK7IUaUCLfcbO4eHTaVnOpWm6zew8U6VlO1uJ5DgoilSlm12wBHPGvPmmbz88TBlamaGR9dKzxnlHeufDGaoqLuLreVO4UCk3LyxpegxKSHKZT92IdZMYGi8WPJMfUyNy5Xs4yVIO9lwC/s320/DSC_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553700115283487010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiq8BiqQcXbdKtd9uaA-MGpAKC7tXuRFaSkl-nXNNU_Xq621WxxWiZvm0v_yO2rurgdYIDagyOOBFutj8XlcvBhOJpMvTDUX9WjbKgB_5663AiXOq1W0z8Vs_cfGqB7jT_zpH5SJozGGj/s1600/photo%252846%2529.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiq8BiqQcXbdKtd9uaA-MGpAKC7tXuRFaSkl-nXNNU_Xq621WxxWiZvm0v_yO2rurgdYIDagyOOBFutj8XlcvBhOJpMvTDUX9WjbKgB_5663AiXOq1W0z8Vs_cfGqB7jT_zpH5SJozGGj/s320/photo%252846%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553700645623572466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And we even got a nice getaway without the kids...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuF5t8gEIWaVgAdYtDIZMN33EjuZ-lmq0k23xF2q0I1LZmbZ7FGgEbWUrMUkj5HMVDBMMYsPMdsAxOc4jpM9DL1nCUv2Iwm2WRPsEdceAHpP1wiZ-N1vp6i3p1gJdl00jpnagQFagXfqX/s1600/photo%252844%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuF5t8gEIWaVgAdYtDIZMN33EjuZ-lmq0k23xF2q0I1LZmbZ7FGgEbWUrMUkj5HMVDBMMYsPMdsAxOc4jpM9DL1nCUv2Iwm2WRPsEdceAHpP1wiZ-N1vp6i3p1gJdl00jpnagQFagXfqX/s400/photo%252844%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553691595179191938" border="0" /></a> ...we had lots of fun with friends, got to see Handles Messiah with the National Symphony Orchestra, and I even got to take a nice, hot, uninterrupted bath. My husband is always super sweet to me and gets us a room with a huge tub whenever we get to go away alone...love, love, love. Then in the morning I got the pleasure of downtown Georgetown shopping where there was even a 3 story Anthropology which I think is just another evidence of God's great grace! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7gIUSXINB_NFTV_o8bSFktEcSru0aLUWjEkdnhCDpUa2ss3XoTIdZx4WFKkHl3DbqhbRK2y4KHY2ushxul4n8_YLmcMQ40tr2M8RBebWWYvdCrT68wWdPcpBnOlAZJZbLPeCTRoaTDol/s1600/photo%252842%2529.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7gIUSXINB_NFTV_o8bSFktEcSru0aLUWjEkdnhCDpUa2ss3XoTIdZx4WFKkHl3DbqhbRK2y4KHY2ushxul4n8_YLmcMQ40tr2M8RBebWWYvdCrT68wWdPcpBnOlAZJZbLPeCTRoaTDol/s320/photo%252842%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553700716571379586" border="0" /></a><br />I would be remiss to add that someone in the house, if not all of us, has been sick since September in some way or another, but that has only put a slight damper on the season. And, it is cold. That is the only thing about winter that I don't love (but sweaters, jackets, hot drinks, blankets, soft lights...I do...so I suppose the cold can stay).<br /><br />We are also so thankful for all the great resources we have during this season! So many of our friends have shared so many great Christmas traditions and we have been introduced to so many great resources to push us to treasure Christ more! We have decided to add the tradition of driving around to see all the Christmas lights in our pajamas, but everything else is pretty much the same this year...with the exception that we have a whole new member of our family - and boy is he cute!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6Ryyj2PlzOY5F395RrMDWeqd8Xa11YNeo9LOKlvMKKhmus5ce6sPf0Ra65W2-owP5gfhnmShJFH4lnl51KNuvGAAHo-lEVDhNRKsoBiINsEAg3Lum2g814aThkEW2xuubSvxGIF9S2wf/s1600/DSC_4656.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6Ryyj2PlzOY5F395RrMDWeqd8Xa11YNeo9LOKlvMKKhmus5ce6sPf0Ra65W2-owP5gfhnmShJFH4lnl51KNuvGAAHo-lEVDhNRKsoBiINsEAg3Lum2g814aThkEW2xuubSvxGIF9S2wf/s320/DSC_4656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553690373554056386" border="0" /></a>We've been too wrapped up in it all to post much (which explains why this must be the longest post ever), but we hope you and yours are having a terrific season as well and enjoy Immanuel, God with us!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WhZgocBak62Zqixv2Nl3AgsS5QNuFhSCgTqQCAUy77bVR8ReqWre4OyRUF6mbYzOLBzqn1R-FO0dPcbsZIe5VJK0uADYHhG0pOvjVtP7uKAbeSfJXicAxEZKTio549V731WmdelrethS/s1600/photo%252847%2529.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WhZgocBak62Zqixv2Nl3AgsS5QNuFhSCgTqQCAUy77bVR8ReqWre4OyRUF6mbYzOLBzqn1R-FO0dPcbsZIe5VJK0uADYHhG0pOvjVtP7uKAbeSfJXicAxEZKTio549V731WmdelrethS/s320/photo%252847%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553697934288929314" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1980581645450867005.post-83460592172292544772010-11-09T22:21:00.007-05:002010-11-09T22:40:51.695-05:00Thanksgiving TraditionsSome people in my neighborhood already have their Christmas decorations up. Not only am I not able to keep up that kind of pace, since college I have become a firm believer in giving Thanksgiving the time it deserves :)<br /><br />Last year we started a family tradition I love for this holiday. Beginning November 1 Daryl reads a passage of Scripture that either discusses giving thanks explicity or gives us reasons to do so and we discuss it. We then each share something that we are thankful to God for (except Nadia although I think we can guess hers - the people she loves, puppies and food - not sure what order) and write it down on one of those white picture frame mats that are sold to be signed at parties, etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO5y3r59E-YYaM5VAJh4qVWrsTw-zmXXFu_cdTrYwF6lkd6DPX4ARtZvh_5v8PvA0fY6rl4BMeL0CO0dY_TaXMdURQzqVn1TMoJR_ZnVmjsT6g4WP5gTPJEJtZjhegnS7pjFMEAOdBPBt/s1600/photo%252838%2529.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO5y3r59E-YYaM5VAJh4qVWrsTw-zmXXFu_cdTrYwF6lkd6DPX4ARtZvh_5v8PvA0fY6rl4BMeL0CO0dY_TaXMdURQzqVn1TMoJR_ZnVmjsT6g4WP5gTPJEJtZjhegnS7pjFMEAOdBPBt/s320/photo%252838%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537760706010009362" border="0" /></a><br />While last year we used a white tablecloth that we could write on, I prefer the mat that you sign on. I prefer this because our tablecloth got dirty (yuck) and it didn't go much with the rest of our fall decor :) I wasn't keen on the stark white tablecloth everyday anyways and didn't like feeling compelled to tuck it away when company come. This way, we can leave it on the easel and when we have company they can join in our tradition!<br /><br />It's a really simple tradition to prepare for and fulfill, but is a great reminder of God's goodness to us and worthiness of thanks and also bonds us closer together as a family. The most time consuming part is selecting verses, so here are some of the ones we are using this month - James 1:17, Romans 6:22-23, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:3-6, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:4, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Colossians</span> 2:6-7, Luke 17:11-19, Romans 1:18-23, Psalm 95:1-7, Psalm 106:1-3, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Colossians</span> 3:16-18, etc, etc.<br /><br />Among my favorites Anna has added to the board are of course "mommy", "daddy", "arts and crafts" and "God is a cheerful giver." <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hahaha</span>!<br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving to you!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01436911713730482384noreply@blogger.com0