We just got news today of a little two year old boy who fell down a flight of stairs and passed away. It totally blew me away when I heard this. My heart aches for the mother of that little boy. Falling down stairs is a very common occurance in our home - an often daily happening around here. It was probably a crazy, freak accident, but it just really reminded me of how much I take EVERYTHING for granted around here! We really have no idea when we will breathe our last breath. And I forget the fact that God tells us in His Word that He has His guardian angels watching over us. I wonder how often they have delivered my family from some sort of serious peril? It scares me to think about how often one of my kids could have gotten seriously hurt or injured in these past six years. And really, other than Jesse burning his hands as a baby, we have come out completely unscatched other than a handful of bumps and bruises. How thankful I am for the health and safety of my little family.
Psalm 91:11 ~ "For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways....."
Thank you, Jesus....
HOME
Well, we are back home again from our little rendezvous away as a family.
Can't say that it was the most restful time away with all FIVE of us sleeping in the same room. In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't slept that bad in a long time, but it was fun! At least we had our own bed. Kaden and Jesse shared one for the first time. Ransom actually did the best of all of the boys...I set his Moses basket inside the bathtub, brought a little C.D. player from home, and shut him in the bathroom for the night! Didn't hear a peep from him until morning. :0) Kaden, on the other hand, talked in his sleep - LOUDLY - for most of the night (poor Jesse, if this is what he has to try and sleep through most nights), and the Jester was the flip floppinest child I have ever seen in my life! He was all over the bed and practically on top of Kaden all night long (poor Kaden...good thing they have bunkbeds at home)! Plus, Jesse was stuffy and kind of congested, so he kept crying out in the night when he couldn't breathe through his nose.
It was really quite glorious.
And other than Jesse falling off the ladder into the pool (why am I not surprised?), and Kaden spilling orange juice and piping hot coffee all over me in bed this morning, we had tons of fun! And it was nice to just get away for a bit. It actually felt like a pretty long time because we left first thing Friday morning and didn't get home until late this evening. We spread it out pretty good. We ate at some fun places, swam in the pool three different times, snuggled in bed and watched some t.v., did a little shopping, and just enjoyed being together. Kev even snuck away and brought us back some icecream in the night while the boys were sleeping. We hid the evidence before they woke up!
Anyway, we are home. The kids were all down for the night by 6:00 - they were fried, Kev is currently crashed out on the couch, and I am waiting for my bread to finish cooking so that we can have something to eat in the morning....and then I am off to join them. We're all pooped.
Whew! Vacations are exhausting! :0)
Can't say that it was the most restful time away with all FIVE of us sleeping in the same room. In fact, now that I think about it, I haven't slept that bad in a long time, but it was fun! At least we had our own bed. Kaden and Jesse shared one for the first time. Ransom actually did the best of all of the boys...I set his Moses basket inside the bathtub, brought a little C.D. player from home, and shut him in the bathroom for the night! Didn't hear a peep from him until morning. :0) Kaden, on the other hand, talked in his sleep - LOUDLY - for most of the night (poor Jesse, if this is what he has to try and sleep through most nights), and the Jester was the flip floppinest child I have ever seen in my life! He was all over the bed and practically on top of Kaden all night long (poor Kaden...good thing they have bunkbeds at home)! Plus, Jesse was stuffy and kind of congested, so he kept crying out in the night when he couldn't breathe through his nose.
It was really quite glorious.
And other than Jesse falling off the ladder into the pool (why am I not surprised?), and Kaden spilling orange juice and piping hot coffee all over me in bed this morning, we had tons of fun! And it was nice to just get away for a bit. It actually felt like a pretty long time because we left first thing Friday morning and didn't get home until late this evening. We spread it out pretty good. We ate at some fun places, swam in the pool three different times, snuggled in bed and watched some t.v., did a little shopping, and just enjoyed being together. Kev even snuck away and brought us back some icecream in the night while the boys were sleeping. We hid the evidence before they woke up!
Anyway, we are home. The kids were all down for the night by 6:00 - they were fried, Kev is currently crashed out on the couch, and I am waiting for my bread to finish cooking so that we can have something to eat in the morning....and then I am off to join them. We're all pooped.
Whew! Vacations are exhausting! :0)
Checking Out
After two weeks of REALLY busy days, we have spontaneously decided to check out for a few days. As soon as we wake up in the morning, we are all headed to Porland for a night. No big agenda other than:
* completely uninterrupted quality time with our boys
* lots of swimming in the pool
* ALL of us snuggling in bed, staying up late, and watching T.V.
* eating out with a lovely gift card that someone gave us for Christmas
....and coming back home a little more connected and a little more in love with each other.
* completely uninterrupted quality time with our boys
* lots of swimming in the pool
* ALL of us snuggling in bed, staying up late, and watching T.V.
* eating out with a lovely gift card that someone gave us for Christmas
....and coming back home a little more connected and a little more in love with each other.
This Month
Somehow, in these past few weeks, wee little Ransom turned four months old! Not sure how this happened, and not sure how much I like my little baby growing up right before my eyes, but it's happening. He's happily sleeping in his very own room these days, and most of the time he is able to sleep through his brothers' shenanigans. He is sleeping through the night - 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. consistently. One of his naps is really great during the day, and one is not so hot.....usually the one where his two big bros are sleeping. But, that's okay because it gives us a little bit of alone time where he is not being mauled by the Jester! He remains our happy, relaxed little guy for which I am so grateful and delighted! He is really just a joy, and it feels like he's always been with us. Can't imagine life without him.
Jesse has taken several rather large tumbles lately....ones where I had a brief moment of panic thinking: "Okay. This is it. Here's our first rush to the ER." But, each time he has come out surprisingly unscathed. He's nuts. Just in the past week, we have made some rather large strides potty wise. Still an occasional accident, but many more successes than not - with the #2 issue almost always going where it should....as opposed to on ME. This is very exciting.
We have had lots of ministry opportunities this month. It's been a REALLY busy month, but a very enjoyable one, as well. We are currently taking all of our deacons and their wives through Clarion, and we are really having fun with that. (Hopefully, they are too)! I had a chance to speak at a ladies Valentine's Brunch which was a little nerve-racking, but a good opportunity, as well. And just yesterday, Mom, a friend, and I gave a special, little tea party to the Junior High girls at my church and spoke on the topic of purity and saving themselves for their future husbands. That was SO much fun - and a really special experience to do it WITH my mother. We had a REALLY good time.
I also was able to have a lovely, long overdue, somewhat spontaneous visit with a dear friend one evening, Kev and I had a glorious Valentine's Day date, Mom and Dad came down to spend a night, had a lovely breakfast out with my sister cuz, and we have mice in our house. That about sums it up for this month.....
Happy Late Valentine's Day!
Jesse has taken several rather large tumbles lately....ones where I had a brief moment of panic thinking: "Okay. This is it. Here's our first rush to the ER." But, each time he has come out surprisingly unscathed. He's nuts. Just in the past week, we have made some rather large strides potty wise. Still an occasional accident, but many more successes than not - with the #2 issue almost always going where it should....as opposed to on ME. This is very exciting.
We have had lots of ministry opportunities this month. It's been a REALLY busy month, but a very enjoyable one, as well. We are currently taking all of our deacons and their wives through Clarion, and we are really having fun with that. (Hopefully, they are too)! I had a chance to speak at a ladies Valentine's Brunch which was a little nerve-racking, but a good opportunity, as well. And just yesterday, Mom, a friend, and I gave a special, little tea party to the Junior High girls at my church and spoke on the topic of purity and saving themselves for their future husbands. That was SO much fun - and a really special experience to do it WITH my mother. We had a REALLY good time.
I also was able to have a lovely, long overdue, somewhat spontaneous visit with a dear friend one evening, Kev and I had a glorious Valentine's Day date, Mom and Dad came down to spend a night, had a lovely breakfast out with my sister cuz, and we have mice in our house. That about sums it up for this month.....
Happy Late Valentine's Day!
On Passion & Desire!!!
Ooooh la laaaaaa!
No, it's not really going to be THAT kind of a post. Sorry. :0)
A local church - Kev's church that he grew up in, actually - has asked me to be the speaker at their women's Valentine's Day brunch this Saturday. I was excited for the invite, because I have always loved this event; and even though we no longer attend there, I was going to happily invite myself along, so now I don't have to!
However, I'm feeling very nervous about what to share. I love people and I surely am not shy, but I have never loved speaking in front of others where everyone is just staring at me and waiting....for some tidbit of wisdom or knowledge....or something.......A majority of these women are older than I with far more life experience in EVERYTHING, and everyone else is in the same stage of life as me, so I'm a little stumped at what I am going to impart to these ladies.
So, I've been praying a lot about this and talking with Kev a lot about this, and I think I'm just going to share a little bit about why I love this crazy ministry that we're pursuing. We're all living in a story, and God has a unique part for all of us to play in this story of life. But, so often we get caught up in the mundane of all that needs to be done, that we forget....everything. We forget the big picture, we forget the part that we're supposed to be playing, we forget and lose our identity. We forget what God is calling us to do....
Or at least I do....
So, I'm going to talk a little bit about discovering and re-discovering our God given passions and desires and try to remember and relearn the value that God has placed on MY life. I want to talk a little bit about what God is calling each one of us to do and to be be. I think it's so easy for us as women - especially - to not be able to see this. One of my favorite verses from Psalms (I can't remember the reference) says something along the lines of: "You who seek the Lord, let your hearts REVIVE!" Satan comes hard after our desires to shut them down. To make us just want to "exist" and nothing more. But, God wants so much more for us!
It's all about the heart. If you shut down the heart, you shut down love. Then, you're not invested in relationships, you're not living in your calling, and you're not trusting in the Lord for each day and for the part He wants for us to play. When we are living in our calling - not our JOB - our job is just our assignment - but when we are doing what God has called us to do and to be, we bring that whereever we go....to our homes and our families, to our churches, to our jobs, etc.
I love this quote:
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes YOU come ALIVE. Then, go and do that. Because, what the world needs is people who are ALIVE!"
.....So yeah. Something along those lines, me thinks.......
But way less rambly. OR maybe not. I do tend to ramble......
Lord, give us all grace!!!!!
No, it's not really going to be THAT kind of a post. Sorry. :0)
A local church - Kev's church that he grew up in, actually - has asked me to be the speaker at their women's Valentine's Day brunch this Saturday. I was excited for the invite, because I have always loved this event; and even though we no longer attend there, I was going to happily invite myself along, so now I don't have to!
However, I'm feeling very nervous about what to share. I love people and I surely am not shy, but I have never loved speaking in front of others where everyone is just staring at me and waiting....for some tidbit of wisdom or knowledge....or something.......A majority of these women are older than I with far more life experience in EVERYTHING, and everyone else is in the same stage of life as me, so I'm a little stumped at what I am going to impart to these ladies.
So, I've been praying a lot about this and talking with Kev a lot about this, and I think I'm just going to share a little bit about why I love this crazy ministry that we're pursuing. We're all living in a story, and God has a unique part for all of us to play in this story of life. But, so often we get caught up in the mundane of all that needs to be done, that we forget....everything. We forget the big picture, we forget the part that we're supposed to be playing, we forget and lose our identity. We forget what God is calling us to do....
Or at least I do....
So, I'm going to talk a little bit about discovering and re-discovering our God given passions and desires and try to remember and relearn the value that God has placed on MY life. I want to talk a little bit about what God is calling each one of us to do and to be be. I think it's so easy for us as women - especially - to not be able to see this. One of my favorite verses from Psalms (I can't remember the reference) says something along the lines of: "You who seek the Lord, let your hearts REVIVE!" Satan comes hard after our desires to shut them down. To make us just want to "exist" and nothing more. But, God wants so much more for us!
It's all about the heart. If you shut down the heart, you shut down love. Then, you're not invested in relationships, you're not living in your calling, and you're not trusting in the Lord for each day and for the part He wants for us to play. When we are living in our calling - not our JOB - our job is just our assignment - but when we are doing what God has called us to do and to be, we bring that whereever we go....to our homes and our families, to our churches, to our jobs, etc.
I love this quote:
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes YOU come ALIVE. Then, go and do that. Because, what the world needs is people who are ALIVE!"
.....So yeah. Something along those lines, me thinks.......
But way less rambly. OR maybe not. I do tend to ramble......
Lord, give us all grace!!!!!
I Am Not Dead......
I'm here. Rotting at posting, as usual......
Life is getting a little ca-razy, but it's really the way we like it. Except for the wee, small fact that I have not seen a blessed friend in ages, and am feeling quite out of the loop on people's lives....
This must be remedied soon.
We just got back from being up in "The County" (Kev always mocks me when I call it that) for about 4 days. Kev spoke at my old home church both Sunday morning and evening, so we made a long week-end out of the trip. It was very nice. Always awesome to get home to see my family, my cousins, and re-connect with my home church family. And it's always awesome to get to share our ministry with people.
This week we're doing our very first kick-off with all of our deacons and wives, so that should be really cool. Our "boss" (and Kev's mentor) is coming up from Philly to help us with the first night and just to spend a little time with us up in God's Country, as well. Exciting times.
So, we'll see what comes of everything. We're so close to being able to run with everything - our leadership and team development training with churches and teams and missionaries and marriages and whoever! A few more intense months of support raising and hopefully we'll really be able to start doing what we've been chomping at the bit to do for about a year now. Scary and exciting.
For the past five years, I've never really known what my life is going to look like from one year to another. And this is no different. But, this journey of faith has made me grow and trust in ways that I have never had to do before, and I can even say that it's been fun!! I'm learning to hold things loosely, to listen to God's still small voice, to take risks and step out of my comfort zone, to be okay with the unknown, and to just walk one step at a time - trusting Him for guidance to see the next step. It's good.
Pray for us this week!
Life is getting a little ca-razy, but it's really the way we like it. Except for the wee, small fact that I have not seen a blessed friend in ages, and am feeling quite out of the loop on people's lives....
This must be remedied soon.
We just got back from being up in "The County" (Kev always mocks me when I call it that) for about 4 days. Kev spoke at my old home church both Sunday morning and evening, so we made a long week-end out of the trip. It was very nice. Always awesome to get home to see my family, my cousins, and re-connect with my home church family. And it's always awesome to get to share our ministry with people.
This week we're doing our very first kick-off with all of our deacons and wives, so that should be really cool. Our "boss" (and Kev's mentor) is coming up from Philly to help us with the first night and just to spend a little time with us up in God's Country, as well. Exciting times.
So, we'll see what comes of everything. We're so close to being able to run with everything - our leadership and team development training with churches and teams and missionaries and marriages and whoever! A few more intense months of support raising and hopefully we'll really be able to start doing what we've been chomping at the bit to do for about a year now. Scary and exciting.
For the past five years, I've never really known what my life is going to look like from one year to another. And this is no different. But, this journey of faith has made me grow and trust in ways that I have never had to do before, and I can even say that it's been fun!! I'm learning to hold things loosely, to listen to God's still small voice, to take risks and step out of my comfort zone, to be okay with the unknown, and to just walk one step at a time - trusting Him for guidance to see the next step. It's good.
Pray for us this week!
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