2 (and now 3) Angels to Grow Me

Shavuot/ Feast of Weeks/ Pentecost

2011-06-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

I am so absolutely amazed at the things I am learning...
and how after 12 years of walking with the LORD I still learning things I have never known before.

Until recently, I had never heard of (or appreciated) the LORD's Feasts and Appointed Times. I mean, they are right there - in the "front" of the Book...but I must have skimmed over them as "old stuff" like I did most of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament). Sure they were great for Bible storied for the kids...but totally irrelevant for "New Testament" Christians, right?

Maybe not.

Tomorrow we will be celebrating the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)/ Pentecost. Here is why:

Acts 2:5
"And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven...."

If you go back to the beginning of Acts you can see the context. Jesus (Y'shua) had finialized his time on earth by telling the disciples to STAY in Jerusalem until their helper (the Holy Spirit) came to them. Then Y'shua ascended into Heaven to be with the Father. About 10 days later, there were suddenly thousands of Jews from every nation under heaven dwelling in Jerusalem who just-so-happened to witness the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples (Pentecost). I never stopped to wonder WHY thousands of Jews just-so-happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. But now I get it...

They were in Jerusalem to celebrate one of God's Appointed times...the Feast of Weeks (or Shavuot). This was one of the three times each year that Jews from all over the world traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate one of God's commanded Holy Days. They were all there celebrating the Feast of Weeks (a celebration of the harvest and a time when they remembered the giving of the law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai). It is no coincidence that God gave the Holy Spirit to His people THAT day at THAT time. 3000 Jews put their faith and trust in Y'shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) that day and also received the Holy Spirit themselves. The Holy Spirit who would be a helper to them - to guide them in Truth and write the Law (the same Law that they were celebrating) on their hearts. How amazing is that!

So let me rewind a little and run down the "Spring Feasts" that we have been celebrating and how they tie in to our Messiah...

Passover: A time to remember when the LORD "Passed Over" the homes of the Israelites during the last of the Plagues in Egypt. The firstborn sons of all of Egypt were killed that night. The Israelites placed the blood of a pure and spotless lamb over the door of their homes so they would not suffer the the death the Egyptians were suffering. Jesus died on the cross on Passover...he is more than "figuratively" our Passover Lamb. He gave up his Spirit roughly the exact time the priests began killing the passover lambs for all the Jews in Jerusalem. The blood of our pure and spotless lamb excuses us from the wages of sin and death. The blood of Jesus allows us to enter in to eternal life.

Unleavened Bread: When the Israelites fled Egypt, they did not have time to let their dough rise. So, they ate unleavened bread. Yeast, throughout the Bible, is used to represent sin. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life as represented by the bread made without leaven. Even today, Jewish people eat matzah during the Feast of Unleavened Bread - it is "striped and pierced" in tradition before it is baked. Jesus was pierced for our transgressions and by His stripes, we are healed...hmm, see a connection?

Firstfruits: This was a holiday to celebrate the start of the harvest. The best of the new harvest was brought to the LORD as an offering. Jesus rose from the dead on Firstfruits. He is the perfect Firstfruits offering to the LORD...the beginning of the harvest of souls that was to occur through belief in Him.

Counting of the Omer: The Israelites were commanded to count 7 Sabbaths from the Celebration of Firstfruits until the Feast of Weeks (or 50 days). Jesus was with the Disciples for 40 of those days and told them to STAY in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came.

Feast of Weeks/ Shavuot: A celebration of the harvest and remembrance of the giving of the Law to Moses at Mt. Sinai. The Holy Spirit came to live in Believers and guide them in Truth on this day.

Isn't that amazing. Things I never learned in church. If you want to learn more about the Feasts and Appointed times, they are in Leviticus 23. I also highly recommend checking out Robin Sampson's book A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays . We have been using it for school and have really enjoyed learning about the Feasts of YHVH (the LORD).

I tried to paint a very simple and clear picture of what we have been learning. There is soooooo much more to it. And soooooo much more that I have to learn! But the simplicity of God's order and structure and have helped me understand and appreciate my Creator so much more. Isn't it amazing how it ALL happened on His already appointed times. He had it all planned from the very beginning. AMAZING!

To my friends who have been observing Biblical Feasts and Holidays much longer that I...please feel free to leave a comment and correct me where I may be confused. I welcome your knowledge and input.To friends who may have questions about this...ask away...I probably don't have the answer but I can find out!

Chag Sameach Shavuot!

Leah

Miracles

2011-06-04T22:40:00.000-06:00

I am going to let you in on a little secret...one I would rather not share...

but I will because it is directly related to the miracle that just occurred at my home.

I have been a little stressed.

Yes, I just said that like I belonged in a 12 step program...

Hello, my name is Leah and I am stressed.

Specifically, I have been stressed over finances and the growing cost of our food bills. We drive 90 miles (each way) to purchase very expensive specialty foods for 3 members of our family who have food allergies. And these aren't just allergies to things you can leave out...they are wheat and dairy.

It is hard to have a balanced diet without wheat or dairy and not substitute them with any specialty (gluten free and dairy free) foods. Sure, we can go without cheese or yogurt...but milk is essential (we use almond milk) and it is EXPENSIVE. We also buy some gluten free pasta and gluten free bread - although we go without most things like hamburger buns and specialty bread items unless it is a special occasion.

I do make most thing from scratch...but

a 4 lb bag of gluten free flour costs me $14.

So anyway, I was chatting with a friend earlier this week about the growing cost of food and how difficult it is getting to feed our family. Money is tight and well, like most of you, the grocery shopping trips are getting stretched because we just can't afford what we used to.

Especially since it costs so much money just to get there!

My friend reminded me of how YHVH (Yahweh, the Lord) provides and told me

how so many times people just show up at her door with food.

I thought, hmph...that never happens here...and if it did...

we wouldn't be able to eat it because of our allergies.

Yahweh just doesn't provide in THAT way for us.

That thought has been stuck in my head for days.

And then, this morning, when I had surely reached the end of myself...

I cried out to YHVH (literally crying out - face down on the bedroom floor)...

for help...for reassurance...for a glimpse of His glory...

Show me, YHVH, just show me, please.

And so tonight (just 12 hours later),

as I was rushing my children to bed and my husband out the door to work...

our neighbors stopped by to tell us some news...

Remember the raffle we entered a few months ago...

for the FCCLA fundraiser...

for the 1/2 BEEF?

We won it.

WE WON 1/2 OF A WHOLE COW.

Do you know how much beef that is?

(roughly) 400 lbs of fresh grass-fed beef.

That would cost over $800.

We know...we recently asked the butcher and he told us. $850 for 1/2 Beef.

Our neighbors just showed up at our door and gave us food to eat.

And we can eat it despite our allergies.

I guess Yahweh CAN provide in that way for us.

"Great are the works of יהוה,

Searched for by all who delight in them.
Splendour and greatness are His work,

And His righteousness stands forever.
He has made His wonders to be remembered;

יהוה shows favour and is compassionate.
He has given food to those who fear Him;

He remembers His covenant forever.

Psalm 111: 2-5

Oh YHVH, thank you for your provision...

but even more...thank you for showing me...

for giving me the "glimpse" I so desperately needed.

You are so good to me. Thank you.

Around the World in 20 Days...

2011-05-25T22:04:00.000-06:00

OK, so maybe we didn't make it all the way around the world...but by the time we got home it sure felt like it!

Last month, the kids, the yellow lab, and I embarked on a great adventure...of sorts. We drove from (northern) Montana to Raleigh, North Carolina for my little sister's wedding. I can hardly recount for you the many adventures we had...so I will let the pictures tell it for me!

We left Montana in a blizzard...continued through Wyoming in 80 mph winds and hit Nebraska about the time the first wave of Tornadoes was wrecking havoc on the country. I had wonderful plans of the places we would stop and things we would learn along our trip...but the reality was that we just needed to keep moving. We did stop in Nebraska for a quick lesson on the Pony Express...the kids were amazed!

We also made time for a few stops at our FAVORITE restaurant...

(I would have taken a picture of the yummy food...but it was always gone before I could get a picture.

This was the best I could do!)

Once we finally made it to Raleigh (after some help from my dear Dad who met us in St. Louis two days after the tornado ripped the roof off the airport)...we got to spend some quality time with Ashley before the wedding!

And try on our fancy wedding clothes...

We even got some professional pictures taken at Duke Gardens...

And had lots of time to play with Bumpa...

Before we knew it...it was the wedding day! Aunt Ashley and Uncle Taylor were "going to the chapel and they were gonna get married" (as the kids sang ALL day).

And don't forget the limo ride...

But the fun didn't stop there...after the wedding we went to visit Aunt Christy and our favorite North Carolina cousins! Thanks to a snafu in travel arrangements...our one day visit became a 3 day visit and boy did we have fun! Thanks Aunt Christy for putting up with us!

(this was the laughing horse that Anna got to feed in honor of her 4th Birthday)

After our extended visit with Aunt Christy and company...we whisked up to Maryland to pick up Samson (the yellow lab) and see Mimi & Bumpa one more time...then we headed on home. Unfortunately...Abigail got sick about a day into our trip and everyone else followed closely behind her. The trip home was grueling and the only picture we took was at a crazy restaurant in Casper, Wyoming...

We have been busy recovering, regrouping, and recreating a schedule ever since we got home. We have enjoyed a little 4H and prepping our garden too...those pictures can come later!

Hope you all enjoyed our trip around the world...er, I mean...half way around the country. We are thankful that we traveled safely and that no "Tom Tomatoes" (that's 3 year old for tornadoes) came and knocked over our car! Till next time...

Shalom,

Leah

Montana Winter...

2011-04-06T19:07:00.000-06:00

Now that Spring is finally in the air...I figured a few pictures from our winter were in order. Enjoy!

Snow Days...

Apparently Montana loves indoor water parks...so do we!

And of course, I couldn't leave out wrestling pictures....but you'll have to go to Joshua's blog to see those :)

April Daybook

2011-04-05T19:50:00.001-06:00

Outside my window...

It's beginning to look a lot like...SPRING! It is cold and windy but the sun is shining and the snow is finally melting!

I am thinking...
I am VERY ready to be done with illness. We have been down for about 15 days now with some sort of sickness. Josh started throwing up at 4am today. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

I am thankful for...

The ability to be home with my kids! To be able to take care of them when they are sick and not have to worry about taking a day off from a job. I am also thankful for homeschooling...that I can read to them when they are sick or just know that we can get around to school tomorrow when they are feeling better. No counting days of absence or doctors notes...just meeting their needs.

From the learning rooms...

Lots and lots of sick days. Lots of reading out loud and "life" learning

as we take care of one another and try to get healthy.

From the kitchen...

Ordered 20lbs of apples from the co-op this month. Lots of homemade applesauce, dehydrated apples, and maybe even a few apple pies to make the Papa happy :)

From the garden...

Starting tomato seeds (inside) this week. Woohoo! So excited to get the garden going!

I am creating...

Well, I am surviving at this point and not much more. I am working on a prayer shawl for my mother-in-law (who is still in a coma, 9 months and counting) and a few other small crochet crafts to sell at our next craft show...

I am going...

To be driving to the East Coast with my children the end of this month for my little sister's wedding. Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, a few other random states, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, and on to North Carolina. And then back home. I am actually looking forward to it...really!

I am reading...

Through the Bible (I found a new Bible Reading Plan that I really enjoy), Weekly Torah Portions, The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace, and A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce. I am also reading "The Wizard of Oz" to the kids :) My dear sister-in-law sent me a copy of 1000 Gifts and my husband informed me that it arrived today. I am looking forward to reading it soon!

I am hoping...

That everyone recovers quickly so we can be healthy and rested for our long road-trip this month. We also have the end of Awanas and Missoula Children's Theater before we go...so everyone NEEDS to be healthy!

I am hearing...

Abigail tell Nicole a secret...

Around the house...

You just don't want to know.

2 full weeks of illness is hard on a house. And the Mama.

One of my favorite things...

When my kids are getting along like best-friends/ siblings should!

A few plans for the rest of the month...

Piano lessons, Missoula Children's Theater, speech therapy, Awanas, and wedding prep ...Oh my! Then we drive 2400 miles (one way) to celebrate the marriage of my little sister to "Uncle Duke." I am so excited!

Nicole:

My little performer tried out for her 2nd Missoula Children's Theater play yesterday...our town will be performing "The Frog Prince" on Friday night and Nicole will be a "flytrap." I have no idea what that means...but she is excited and can't wait to be on the stage!

Joshua:

My little man finished his first season of wrestling and we are so proud of him! He improved so much and we can definitely see a major improvement in his strength and coordination. He wrestled in 17 tournament matches and won only one of them...but his attitude was incredible. He never once cried over a loss (and trust me...a lot of kids do). He is motivated for next year and is already "working out" with Daddy so he can be even stronger next year. I pray that his hard work will pay off with a few more wins next year!

Abigail:

Currently has stickers in her hair and is running around half dressed. Need I say more?

A picture for you...

Swimming lessons finally paid off for Nicole!

Shalom and blessings to each of you,
Leah

Check out the original Simple Woman's Daybook for more great stuff!

Sick, sick, sick...

2011-03-30T09:08:00.000-06:00

Yes we are...and have been for about 10 days. Miserable sick. And just when one person gets over it...someone else gets it again. I was prepared to drive Abigail to the city this morning to see the Pediatrician, but she seems better and now Nicole has a fever and feels miserable....again (she already had it once). Man, if I didn't know that YHVH (the Lord) loved me like crazy, I'd probably go insane!!!

"...casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7

Lord, please heal us and make us healthy again!

So, I realized that I haven't posted in about 2 weeks and I have very little other to say than to whine about being sick :) So I thought I would share a few pictures of recent crafts I have been working on....

Before

After

We are working on an Amerciana theme in the Family Room and this cabinet ~ though necessary ~ has been a huge eyesore. We have had this cabinet since our first Christmas together and it is a piece of junk from StuffMart...but it keeps on tickin'. I added a little Americana fabric inside the glass door panels and at least now you don't have to see all the junk inside. Easy peasy...

I have also made a funny hobby out of turning old jeans into skirts. This one I made with a matching headcovering. Fun, fun, fun and cheap too!

OK, I hope to be back with you soon...feeling good and full of wonderful things to say :)

Until then, Yah (God) bless you all!

Shalom,

Leah

If I only knew then...

2011-03-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

My dear husband and I were having one of those conversations...you know...if only I knew then what I know now....

It got me thinking about some of "those things" in my life...

If I only knew that I wasn't actually going to marry any of those boys
I wouldn't have wasted so much time (and so many tears) on them.

If I only knew then that I would spend the next half of my life exhausted...
I might not have stayed up so late at night.

If I only knew then that I would one day be a homeschool mom...
I might have chosen a different major in college
(although my nursing degree occasionally comes in handy as a mom).

If I only knew then that it was only a test...
I would not have treated it as if it was the end of the world.

If I only knew then that one day I would have to give an account for every word I have spoken...I would have chosen my words more carefully.

If I only knew then that my best friend would never make it to her high school graduation day...
I would have made up with her after our last fight.

And you would think that after that...I might have learned my lesson...

But instead...

If I had only known that I would never hear my mother-in-law's voice again...
I definitely would have answered the phone the day she called.
She called to ask for my P.O. Box #.
Instead, I was busy and chose to ignore the call on my cell phone.
And then delete the message intending to call her back.
And then...the next day...she was in a plane crash with my father-in-law.
And now...she is in a coma.
I never answered her call and I never called her back.
I am sorry, mom. Very sorry.

Apparently, she must have gotten our address from someone else because a week after the accident...I received a package in the mail from her. Some beautiful gifts she had picked out just for me. She sent them the morning of the accident.

If I only knew then...I would have answered the phone and told her how much I appreciate her. Now all I can do is tell her how much I miss her over the phone.
And she cannot respond. I am sorry, mom. Very sorry.

So....

Wait for your one true love,
take a nap,
take the test but don't stress over it,
always keep the bigger picture in mind

And if you love someone...tell them. Today. Answer the call. Or make one yourself. Tell your loved ones you appreciate them. Hug your babies and kiss your husband and never let the day get away from you.

You might not get another one...

Leah

Please Help Bring Anya Home....

2011-03-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning, friends! Just a quick note to let you know about my dear friend Angela and her family ~ they are working very hard to bring a very special little girl home from Eastern Europe.

Grab This!

Jump over to Angela's blog : The Daily Planet to make a donation AND win a chance (or two) at a free i-Pad.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

If you cannot bring an orphan home yourself, please help someone else in their calling and obedience to the Father! I am certain that every penny helps!

Have a blessed day and I'll be back in a few ~ we are "switching shifts" right now (daddy changes to evening shift today) and it always takes us a few days to readjust to a new routine!

Shalom,

Leah

2011-03-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

March Daybook

Outside my window...

Snow, Snow, and more SNOW!!! And frigid temperatures. Winter is still in full force here in Montana.

I am thinking...
that I just posted my February Daybook ~ how can it be March already?

I am thankful for...

so many things. YHVH's blessings can be overwhelming at times. Healthy bodies, a warm home, homeschooling, a good paying job (for my husband), and the assurance of all things in Elohim's hands. Yes, it is overwhelming.

From the learning rooms...

I am longing for warmer weather so we can take school "outside." Planting our garden and exploring God's creation is such a wonderful way to learn. In the meantime, we are doing lots of reading out-loud and copywork. Nicole's reading skills are progressing very nicely. As usual, I am starting to consider curriculum options for next year. Part of me want to stick with what we have started...to stay the course...but part of me is always wanting to try something new. I will be praying about that!

From the kitchen...

I tried several new recipes this month...some wonderful...some not. We made cabbage rolls in the crock-pot last week for Saturday night. Nicole and I loved them...but Dave and Josh did not. Bummer. I also made homemade potato soup last night. It was delicious and even Joshua (my texture sensitive kid) was able to eat his whole bowl. Perfect for snowy winter day!

From the garden...

We have been nursing a pot of rosemary indoors ever since last summer. We had big plans for that rosemary. Sadly, so did the 3 year old...apparently she picked each little precious plant out of the pot and threw it in the trash. I guess she needs a bit more supervision during "play time."

I am creating...

too many unfinished projects! I have a few skirts left to wrap -up and an afghan that needs to be finished. Here's to productivity...one day!

I am going...

too many places for gas to be so expensive!

I am reading...

Through the Bible (I found a new Bible Reading Plan that I really enjoy), Weekly Torah Portions, Liberated through Submission by P.B. Wilson, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Whitney, and A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce. I am also reading "The Wizard of Oz" to the kids :)

I am hoping...

that everyone in my home will be healthy again ~ soon. My dear husband has pneumonia and he is miserable. The kids battled sickness for about 10 day (each one was sick for about three days, then the next one would get it). Now everyone has healthy amounts of snot. Ewww.

I am hearing...

The dog barking (at who knows what) and the kids playing. There is never a shortage of noise around here!

Around the house...

We finished painting the main areas of the house and they really look great! Other than that, things have fallen a bit behind because of our unending sickness...but I am hoping to be caught up soon!

One of my favorite things...

Elohim's (God's) Word and a warm cup of coffee.

A few plans for the rest of the month...

Piano lessons, wrestling practice, speech therapy and sign language...Oh my! We are also awaiting word on my husband leaving for 6 weeks for work. Good think I learned how to use the snow-blower yesterday!

Nicole:

My precious little girl turns 7 this month. I can hardly believe it. She is such a good helper around the house and a joy to be around. She is almost finished with Book #2 for Awanas and she started piano lessons last week. You can read more about that adventure here. She lost both of her front teeth and has no more loose ones at the moment (thank goodness). I am very proud of Nicole and I am very excited to see what YHVH has planned for her life!

Joshua:

My little man started wrestling this week. It is very challenging for him and seems to highlight his coordination issues...but he is very motivated and excited to learn. My husband has been very impressed that he hung in there through the whole practice each day...when some of the other kids his age sat out when they got tired. This morning he wanted to know if he could have vegetables for breakfast so he could get stronger for wrestling :)

Abigail:

We all hoped that Abigail's "antics" would resolve when she turned 3...but alas...no such luck. She is still Abigail and as much as she makes me crazy....I love her all the more for it! She can be the sweetest, most loving, and fun child on the face of the earth. I just have to focus on those moments and stay strong in training and disciplining her! Abigail is also learning verses for Awanas now...she is officially a "Cubby" and has memorized about 10 verses so far. She loves getting stickers for her book and patches for her vest. I love that she is hiding Yah's Word in her little heart!

A picture for you...

Not a great picture...but a great way to start the school day...Battleship!

Shalom and blessings to each of you,
Leah

Check out the original Simple Woman's Daybook for more great stuff!

Why Shabbat?

2011-02-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

This week our home has been full of flu. It seemed to creep one person to the next in about 2 day intervals. There have been many lazy days...pajamas and homemade soup...movies and naps. Finally, we are starting to turn the corner. Everyone has had it except for me (I thought I was coming down with it one day but it turned around by mid-afternoon). Joshua has been walking around praying, "Dear Lord, please do not let mommy get sick or we're all gonna die."

And yet, after all this sickness and resting and laziness...one might be inclined to skip Shabbat (Hebrew for Sabbath). After all...it would be easy to take tomorrow to catch up on a few things...

But no. We will not skip the Sabbath. My kids made me promise. "Mom," they said, "God commanded us to keep the Sabbath, so we should definitely do it." Yes, they have been listening to our Bible reading!

There are many Christians who believe that it is not necessary to keep the Sabbath. It's a Jewish thing...or that it was part of the "old covenant" and that Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) did away with all that....right?

Well. Did you know that Elohim (God) established the Sabbath LONG before "Israel" existed? That's right. Go check your Bibles right now...I'll wait.

Genesis 2: 2-3
"By the seventh day Elohim (God) had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested (ceased) from his work. And Elohim (God) blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

Shabbat means to cease or stop. God set the example for us to STOP. The result of stopping...is rest! Yes, REST!

God didn't create the Sabbath for the Israelites or the Jews. He created it for you and for me...and for all of mankind right from the beginning. Was God tired from all that creating He had done? No. He was setting the example for us. He was giving us a gift. A gift of rest. Common' tired Mama's...how many times have you simply begged Him for REST...just a break, Lord...can't I get a break? Well, He already gave it to you. You just have to trust Him and obey. He called the 7th day Holy...who are we to argue?

Now...if God ordained this holy day at the beginning of time...what happened to it? Did the "new covenant" excuse believers from participating? Did Jesus rename the Sabbath , "The Lord's Day" and formally change it to the 1st day (which would be Sunday)? Nope.

You may be surprised (cause I sure was)...that the change came in the 4th century AD by none other than Constantine himself. After Constantine's alleged conversion...at the Council of Laodicea, the Church declared the Sabbath to be a an exclusively Jewish holy day and abolished the practice by the "Christian" church. They decided to replace the Sabbath observance with a new tradition of worship on the day Yeshua (Jesus) rose from the grave...which would be the 1st day of the week. This day was also named "Sun-day" because it was the day people worshiped the sun-god and Constantine believed that church worship on the "sun-day" would attract more followers than the traditional Sabbath observance which was associated with the Jews.

So - God ordained the 7th day Sabbath...and Constantine changed it. As for me and my house...we will serve YHVH (the Lord)!

So, my kitchen floor is dry now and I need to get back to work. My house does not look the way it may have during a "normal" week (whatever that is)...but I am doing my best to prepare today and I am so anticipating resting with YHVH tonight and tomorrow!

Thank you, YHVH, for your mercy and for the gift of Shabbat!

Curious about this information? Check out Torah Class - which is free and online...there are written and audio lessons which cover "The Scriptures" (Old Testament) chapter by chapter. It is challenging me to read and study the Bible from a Hebrew point of view.

Shabbat Shalom,

Leah

She's a MANIAC...for the Lord!

2011-02-22T21:38:00.001-07:00

Remember that perfectly sweet almost 7 year old I was telling you about here...and how she wanted to ride her bike all around town so she could tell people about Jesus? Well you can give that girl and inch and she will take you for a mile!

(Nic showing off her missing teeth)

Nicole had her first piano lesson today. We were blessed to find a christian piano teacher who was teaching a group lesson to some little girls in our town. Nicole would be the oldest in the class - but it would be a great way for her to meet some new friends and see if she would like to continue with private piano lessons down the line. Anyhow, the piano teacher lives about 15 minutes outside of town so the moms decided we would take turns driving to lessons. One of the other girls is particularly shy so she wanted her mom to drive first.

Now...never before in the last (almost) 7 years has anyone driven up to my house, picked up my daughter and driven away with her. Never. I have always been there. A few months ago she went to a friend's house for the day without me...for the first time ever. I guess you could say I am having a hard time letting go!

I anxiously watched the clock waiting for her return. She came home bounding with energy (what else is new) and excitement. She had a wonderful time at lessons and remembered to use her manners. The only complaint was that the lesson was too short (to which I had to explain the theory of time flies when you are having fun). And then...she dropped the bomb...."I did talk a lot on the way to and from lessons, Mom."

Uh oh.

"Really, what did you talk about?"

"Well, I asked if my friend knew about God and she said only a little. So I told her about the Bible. The whole Bible. I started with Adam and Eve and then I told her about Noah and Abraham and Moses and David and Jesus and even about Paul - how he was in jail and told people all about Jesus while he was there."

Wow.

That must have been an earful for a 5 year old and her mom...who don't go to church...who think homeschooling is a little, um...weird.

Wow.

And yet, I was so proud of her because she was finally doing what she feels called to do - to tell people about Jesus.

Then...just about 9pm the piano teacher called. She wanted to let me know about something that happened in class.

Uh oh....

The teacher uses a mouse puppet named Mozart Mouse to help her teach the class. At the end of class, Mozart Mouse bowed to the students to thank them for coming. Then she had the student take a bow back to Mozart Mouse. Uh oh. I knew where this was headed...

She said that as Nicole was walking out the door...when all the other parents were there...she said, "But Mrs. Holden, I though we were only supposed to bow down to God."

I explained with a laugh that we had been reading the Torah and learning more about the 10 Commandments. We had also recently discussed Shadrach & friends (cause I don't know how to spell their names) and how they ended up in the fiery furnace because they wouldn't bow down to any god other than Elohim (the one true God). The teacher said she completely understood and that she thought it was wonderful...but mentioned that the other parents did look a little concerned. I told her I would talk to Nicole about it tomorrow morning and maybe next time she could use the term curtsy instead of bow...just a suggestion!

I can only pray that her little fire keeps burning with passion for YHVH (the Lord)! You tell 'em, Nic!

Preparation Day

2011-02-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

I have long heard it said that...

A Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail

I experienced that last Sabbath. Let's just say, it wasn't pretty like the others. Why, you ask? I wasn't prepared!

So here is how it works...the Sabbath officially begins at Sunset on Friday evening. Friday day is known as "Preparation Day." As my friend so wisely instructed me...you clean your house and prepare everything as if you are having very important company for dinner. Your company is Jesus. On top of the house cleaning, you prepare your dinner and challah (bread) ahead so that you are not scrambling at the last minute. And since the Sabbath lasts through sun-down on Saturday...you prepare everything you will need for Saturday as well. That is a lot of preparation! But the reward...lots of rest! I have said since the very first Sabbath we celebrated ~ I will gladly put in the extra work Sun - Fri if it means that I get a day of real rest on Saturday. The problem comes when you don't get the work done.

Last week was weird...Joshua had a severe allergic reaction on Tuesday when we were in the city. I spent the rest of the week in some sort of "funk" as a result. I let the circumstances get to me. I was physically and emotionally tired and I excused my own laziness. As the Sabbath approached, I told myself I would do as much as I could but not stress over it...after all...it isn't a legalistic thing. I would still take my "rest" on Friday eve and Saturday...even though I hadn't prepared for it. Sadly, the result was anything but restful.

One major complicating factor is that...before I became convicted to keep the Sabbath...I committed to a sign language class for the kids...in the city (90 miles away) on Friday afternoon. Knowing what I know now...I won't do that again! Our class puts us home about 4pm which is plenty of time to finish last minute preparations...but hardly enough time to do it all. I now know that I need to move our preparation day to Thursday, preparing as much as I can so that Friday is not so hectic. Today we are cleaning and I am prepping my food as much as I can. I am making chicken cacciatore and homemade french bread for dinner tonight (Thursday). I will also cook my beef tonight for beef with mushrooms for our Sabbath meal. I can cook my rice ahead as well so that I just have to reheat it tomorrow night (when we get home from class). We will have leftover challah for breakfast on Saturday and egg salad on toast for lunch. We boiled eggs and made the egg salad yesterday. For dinner, on Saturday night, we are having a crcokpot dinner that includes ground beef and vegetables. I will cook the beef for that today and assemble the vegetables in the crockpot tomorrow morning before we leave for class. That way, all I have to do is plug in the crockpot Saturday morning and all of our meals are ready.

I know that may sound ridiculous to some of you...but the result is so worth it. Do you know what I do on the Sabbath? I rest. A mom of three little ones...resting and playing with her kids. Enjoying fellowship with them for the glory of Elohim (God). I do not do dishes or chores. We each rinse our own plate and put it in the dishwasher. Dishes that need to be washed by hand go into the sink to soak until after the Sabbath. On Saturday, we usually eat on paper towels for breakfast and lunch if we can. I do not do laundry or clean (unless there is a spill or something, ya know). And you know what...nobody dies because mom rests! I spend the day reading the Word with the kids, playing Bible games, watching Bible movies (ok, that is translated Veggie Tales, but thats ok), and enjoying Yahweh's glorious creation (hiking, etc...which will be a lot easier when it is spring/ summer). Oh yeah, and naps! We ALL take naps.

Last week, I failed to be prepared and I failed to rest as a result. I was grumpy and unsettled because I hadn't finished my work. My husband came home from work to a disaster and and a frazzled mom. Not a good witness to my observing the Sabbath! This week, I will work hard to be prepared for my rest. And it will be glorious!

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the YHWH's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
¹⁴ then you will find your joy in YHWH,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of YHWH has spoken.
Isaiah 58:13-14

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
Hebrews 4:9-10

When She is Sad...

2011-02-16T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have the most precious 6 year old (almost 7, yikes) daughter in the world. She is beautiful, smart, funny, talented, very helpful and has more love for Jesus than I could ever imagine having. She longs to ride her bike up and down the streets of our small town, telling people about Jesus. You have no idea how much I love this precious little girl.

And yet, she is sad. Grandma has been in a coma for 7 months now. In case you missed it, my in-laws were in a terrible plane crash back in July of last year. They were flying from Colorado back home to San Diego via New Mexico. They had weather difficulties in New Mexico and crashed. My father-in-law sustained serious injuries but was released from the hospital a few days later. My mother-in-law was in a coma and on a ventilator in New Mexico for several weeks. They were able to transfer her to a rehab facility in San Diego and eventually back to her home where she is receiving in-home care. To date, she is breathing completely on her own. She opens her left eye and even tries to speak. She eats some pureed foods by mouth but otherwise has a g-tube for feeding. There is great debate over whether or not she is actually in a coma...but that is what we say to keep it simple.

We went to visit the beginning of November and it was very hard on Nicole. Well, it was very hard on all of us. This precious woman who is so lively and constantly moving...was bound to a chair and unable to move. She would occasionally, when holding your hand, not let go. There was a day when she tried so hard to speak that it broke my heart. I liken it to being trapped in a prison. The kids sang for her and drew her pictures and Nicole would go with Wolfie just to sit with her and care for her. While we were there, Nicole had dreams that Grandma woke up and spoke to her. I secretly prayed for them to be prophetic. They were not.

And so, 7 months later...we are still waiting. We are praying for a miracle. That she will "wake up" and be restored to her old self. This would take a full-on miracle and we KNOW that God is capable. What we don't know is if that is His plan. And it is hard to wait.

Nicole has been struggling again lately. She is having dreams again - dreams that Grandma wakes up and that they go to church together. That they are hiking together in the mountains. Sometimes, when we are driving in the car she will start to cry - because (God) Elohim's creation is so beautiful and she is not sure that Grandma will ever be able to see it again. She tells me that her heart is sad and that she just doesn't know what to do to make it happy again. She says it will never be the same without Grandma to share it with. We hold her, distract her, and cry with her...but beyond that I just don't know what to say. I encourage her to pray, which she does...but I am afraid that (what seems to her) unanswered prays will shake her unshakable faith.

This morning, Josh and Nicole had a discussion about Grandma. Josh confidently stated that he thinks Jesus is going to take her to heaven. Soon. Nicole cried. Josh said, "but Nicole...in heaven her brain will be healed and she will be like the old Grandma you liked to play with." This is coming for a 5 year old who KNOWS without a doubt that his speech and his food allergies will be HEALED when he gets to heaven. If he had it his way, I think he'd be there today.

There is something about the in-between that makes it really hard to grieve. She is not dead, she is not in heaven...rejoicing with YHWH. She is suffering. And it isn't fair. And yet YHWH remains faithful in our suffering.

Will you please pray for my little girl, that somehow Elohim (God) would comfort her in her suffering? That He would make her faith stronger through this and not let her doubt? And for us...that we will know how to meet her needs and comfort her when she is sad? Thank you, dear friends.

Shalom,
Leah

PS: you can follow my mother-in-law's recovery here http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/barbarakaiser2010

Will you be His Valentine?

2011-02-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

A true gentleman may open the car door for you...
but Jesus opens the door to heaven for you.

A true gentleman may hold your hand in public...
but Jesus holds your soul in the palm of His hand.

A true gentleman may ask your father for his blessing...
but Jesus gives His blessing to the Father on your behalf.

The love of your life may take you on a restful vacation,
but Jesus gives you rest for your soul.

The love of your life may give you beautiful jewelry,
but Jesus has a crown waiting for you in heaven.

The love of your life may promise you the sun, moon and stars,
but Jesus made the sun, moon, and stars for you before you were even born.

The love of your life may promise to love you forever,
but only Jesus really will.

The love of your life may even promise to never leave you,
but only Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.

The love of your life may say that he would die for you,
but Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

The love of your life may, sadly, one day break your heart,
but Jesus is the healer of broken hearts.

When you are professing your love to "the love of your life" today, do not forget the lover of your soul. He wants to know if you will be His Valentine...forever? Give your heart to Jesus today!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only begotten son, that whoever believes in His should not perish but have everlasting life. "
John 3:16

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-02-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

February Daybook

Outside my window...

Snow, Snow, and more SNOW!!! We are having one lovely winter storm today and the snow is so beautiful!

I am thinking...
that my coffee cup needs refilling. I'll be back :)

I am thankful for...

staying inside on a snowy day. I am very also very thankful for friends far away that I can connect with via internet...friends who teach me, guide me, and encourage me in my journey!

From the learning rooms...

School is progressing nicely, tho slow at times. We have recently begun studying Biblical Holidays and we are all enjoying it very much. Our curriculum challenged us to observe a traditional "Sabbath" and it has started us on a journey of learning and growth in the Lord. I am really looking forward to learning more about Passover and the Messianic symbolism as we approach the Spring Holidays.

From the kitchen...

planning monthly menus and experimenting with new recipes. Learning how to cook ahead (in order to observe a day of rest each week) and experimenting with gluten free Challah...lots going on! Check out Joshua's Blog for some yummy Gluten Free Dairy Free Recipes.

From the garden...

visions of springtime and plants growing are dancing in my head. Before we know it ~ it will be time to start some plants indoors!

I am creating...

skirts from old blue jeans. It has become a fun hobby and I hope to get some more good sewing time this month so I can finish up a few I have started.

I am going...

to the city once a week right now for sign language classes. It is a long drive but so worth it for the kids to be able to sign with other kids. They are learning a lot and having fun!

I am reading...

Through the Bible ( I found a new Bible Reading Plan that I really enjoy), Liberated through Submission by P.B. Wilson, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Whitney, and A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce.

I am hoping...

that my Mother-in-Law will wake up...soon. I have a very sad little girl on my hands who misses her Grandma very much. I would also very much like to have conversation with her about all that Yahweh is teaching me right now. I would love to share it with her and get her feedback. I miss her very much!

I am hearing...

My husband preparing to paint the Living Room...and I am very excited for the outcome!

Around the house...

We painted the kitchen and dining room a few weeks ago and are very happy with the results. It is amazing how a coat of new paint can make a house feel like home. I am also working very hard to stay on top of the housework so that I can fully enjoy our Shabbat (Sabbath) each Saturday. It is amazing how much more I am willing to do during the week when I know I will have a day off on the 7th day.

One of my favorite things...

Watching the snow fall.

A few plans for the rest of the month...

We have 2 more weeks of swimming lessons and 7 more weeks of American Sign Language Class (ASL) is the city...that means lots of driving time! I hope to get out and do some snow shoeing this month since we just got this amazing fresh snow! We will be celebrating a birthday later this week and going to Awanas and starting piano lessons and...wow, we have lots to do!

Nicole:

Lots of drama over loose teeth. Daddy pulled out one of her front teeth about a week ago and as soon as he was done ~ she was the toughest girl in the world. She was gonna pull out all of her teeth all by herself from now on...but now that she has another one ready to go...we are back to the tears and terror over losing the tooth. She refuses to eat with the front tooth and despite the fact that it is literally hanging out of her gums...the tooth remains in her mouth. Other than that she remains mom's little helper and all- around good girl. She longs to ride her bike around town and tell everyone she see's about Jesus. Future Missionary? Maybe.

Joshua:

My big boy is about to finish Sparks Book #1 for Awanas...even faster than Nicole did. He has such a heart for the Lord and I cannot believe how quickly he is growing! He is also doing very well in Speech and in swimming lessons. His favorite food is still Pizza and whenever I make it he pretends he is eating at Pizza Hut...even tho he has never been there and will probably never go :/

Abigail:

My baby is turning 3 this week. I have no words other than...
Wow!
The days go by way too fast.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Check out the original Simple Woman's Daybook for more great stuff!

Our First Shabbat

2011-01-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I have been challenged to a new level of obedience in my walk. Radical obedience. I will give you a glimpse of what this looks like...

The kids and I celebrated our first Shabbat (Sabbath). This is something that has been on my heart and mind for quite some time. I have a tried to implement a few "things" to put my heart at ease...but it wasn't working. I began researching and praying and talking to a few wise friends. Then...the answer came. I was flipping ahead in Nicole's school book and saw that next week we are supposed to observe a traditional Sabbath. The very thing I had been praying about and researching was placed in front of me as a school assignment. Coincidence? No. Confirmation? Maybe.

OK, so you have written me off as crazy. That's ok. But if you are curious about my craziness you are welcome to continue reading.

On Tuesday of last week I pretty much decided that we would be celebrating the Sabbath starting Friday evening. As soon as the decision was made - the attacks started in. I immediately began to doubt...that I could even be ready to "rest" by Friday....that I was qualified to participate in such a tradition...that I was legitimately crazy (that one is still out to jury). I emailed my friend in a panic Thursday and said I just simply didn't know what to do for our Sabbath. She responded with sweet encouragement. She told me..."On Friday, clean and prepare your home as if you were having company for dinner. Your company will be Jesus. Prepare a nice meal for dinner early in the day and set the table nicely. When the sun sets...your work is done. Enjoy your meal with your family and follow it up with time enjoying your family. Saturday, rest and remember what the Lord has done for you. Try to avoid "work."

Friday morning I was in a frenzy cleaning. My house was in desperate need of cleaning. It was sad. But the thought of a day off....a day of real rest...motivated me to work hard. And I did. And the results were beautiful. My home felt cozy and inviting and I like it that way. I then prepared a nice casserole for dinner. When I was done preparing I washed and put away all the dishes except the casserole dish it was baking in. The kids set the table "fancy" and we made cupcakes for a special dessert. (Next week I will undertake making challah...a traditional sweet egg bread but I wasn't ready for that this week...) As the time drew closer to sundown I got more and more anxious....would I ever get everything done? But when the sun did set I was filled with an overwhelming peace. My husband came home from work and initiated a game of football with the kids. I actually got to SIT and watch them play. Next, we ate dinner...all together at the table. It was lovely. I rinsed the dishes after dinner and put them into the dishwasher. The casserole dish, I put in the sink and filled with soapy water. That's it. The kitchen was still clean from earlier in the day and I got to walk away from it and play a few games with the kids....something I never get to do in the evening. We read our New Testament Scriptures for the evening and then went to bed.

Saturday morning we slept in and then had left over muffins for breakfast - on paper towels that got thrown away when we were done. The kids and I settled in for some "Bible Study" together. They each followed along in their Bibles as I read the "Torah Portion" for the week. I found this here. It was great - the timing was perfect. We actually read about when Moses received the 10 Commandments and talked about WHY we were observing the Sabbath. Next, the kids colored some pictures of Moses receiving the commandments and Nicole did some copy work that I found on the Torah School site. Next, we wrote notes and drew pictures of encouragement to put in a care package for Uncle Dan (who is in Afghanistan) and Grandma (who is still in a coma). By that time we were ready for lunch...which was cold leftovers from the fridge w/ cut-up fruit. Plates in the dishwasher. Done. Then it was nap time :) I had some nice quiet Bible and prayer time then manages to squeeze in a nap as well! After nap we worked on our Catechism together, played a board game of the "Books of the Bible" and watched a Veggie Tales movie.

Dad came home from work and the sun went down. Shabbat was over. I have never been so bummed for the day to end! I went to the bedroom to pray awesome thanks to Yahweh as this was truly one of the best days I have had in years. I was so refreshed and blessed by our day of rest. It truly was a GIFT from Him...not a burden. Even now, on Monday...I am extra motivated to get our "work done" each day so that we can rest again next Sabbath. It is extremely motivating to know that there is an end - or at least a break - in sight.

I know this post is lengthy and I know that some of what I have expressed may be "controversial" in the church. Even our Catechism says that believers are not longer under the law of the Sabbath. Ok great, so that makes me FREE to celebrate the Sabbath with my family. I will be working on another post that details some of the things I have been learning as I studied the Sabbath. Leave me questions too - I would love to answer them in the next post!
Thanks for hanging in there and reading my LONG story!

Shalom,
Leah

2011-01-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Your encouragement for today...

"...acknowledge the God of your father,
and serve Him with wholehearted devotion
and with a willing mind,
for the Lord searches every heart
and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you;
but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."
1 Chronicles 28:9

"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are committed to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9

For the Nay-Sayers

2011-01-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

I know you are out there....
I have encountered some of you, had conversations with some of you, and yet felt the strong sense of disapproval from others...
This post is for you.

The single-most important thing in my life is my relationship with my God and Father. He has extended grace to me in ways that I cannot even understand. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 I deserve death ~ and yet He has given me life. "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10. My life is full. I am blessed. I am content. And yet I strive to live in a way that pleases my Heavenly Father more and more each day. Not because my obedience will save me - only belief in Jesus Christ can do that - but because I love Him and I desire to live the way He has shown me. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23 I am no longer satisfied to live a comfortable faith that the world tells me is right. The WORD tells me what is right and I am choosing to follow what it says. Not according to our culture or what is "popular Christianity" but radical obedience based on love. I have been challenged and I have accepted the challenge. I will mess up. I will fail. But I will try...because I love Him who has first loved me.

I am a wife and a mother and I count myself blessed for it. I am the keeper of my home and responsible (to my own humanly limitations) for guarding the hearts and minds of my children. I am responsible for educating them in God's way ~ not the ways of the world (or the government for that matter). These commands that I give you today are to be upon your heart. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

There is no other job or thing in the whole world that is more important OR more rewarding than what I am doing now. I am not perfect and I do not do my job perfectly. I mess up. I fail. But I trust that my Heavenly Father will make up the difference.

I assure you, this is foreign territory for me. I was raised to be career oriented. I am well-educated and licensed as a Registered Nurse. I had a successful career as a military nurse and helped many women and families and families while I was there. I made my own money and spent it when and where I wanted to. And yet...I consider these things to be rubbish compared to the life I have been given. "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ..." Philippians 3:7-8.

There is not a beloved person out there who needs my nursing skills or my compassion or my time more than my husband and children need me at home. There is not an understanding of self-worth or excellent career to be gained ("What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" Matthew 17:26) that can compare to knowing that my husband has full confidence in me (Proverbs 31:11) and my children are walking in the truth. "I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

My words are not meant to be harsh, I speak them out of love. That you would understand who I am and what is important to me. That you would not worry for me or be disappointed that who I am is not who I used to be. I am a work in progress. "...that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

And for my sisters' in Christ who may understand where I am coming from...press on towards the goal. Your reward is waiting for you in Heaven ~ where we will rest and fellowship and be lavished in the Love of our Savior. It will be a glorious day!

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. " 1 Peter 3:14-16

Shalom, Leah

GFDF Cinnamon Rolls

2011-01-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

What I am up to these days...lots of gluten free baking! Check out Joshua's blog for more yummy recipes!

This is my version of a wonderful gluten-free cinnamon roll. The original recipe (which I have modified quite a bit) was posted here: I Am Gluten Free. I highly recommend doubling this recipe as it only makes one pan of cinnamon rolls. This BARELY fed my family of 5 as everyone wanted more! Even my hubby (who is not gluten-free) loved them! Please let me know if you try the recipe and have any suggestions...

Ingredients:
2/3 cup warm milk (we use almond milk)
1 packet active dry yeast

2 Tbsp dairy free margarine (we use Earth's Balance)
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg (at room temperature)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups All-Purpose GF Flour (we use GF Mama's Almond Blend)
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp xanthan gum

For filling:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
chopped nuts - optional

For glaze:
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
milk to desires thickness

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine warm milk and yeast (be sure all the yeast dissolves) and allow to sit for about 5 minutes until it is foamy.

In the bowl of stand mixer, combine margarine and sugar until smooth. Add proofed milk/ yeast to bowl. Add egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix until combined.

In a separate bowl combine gluten-free flour and remaining dry ingredients. Stir to combine then add to mixing bowl. Beat on high for 2 minutes.

Lay a piece of wax paper on the counter and sprinkle 1-2 Tbsp sugar over it. Scoop dough (which will be quite soft) on to wax paper. Cover this with another piece of wax paper and roll out into approximately 9x11 size rectangle. Remove top piece of wax paper and cover rectangle with filling. Use the bottom piece of wax paper to lift edge and start rolling dough into a long cylinder. Cut into 8 or 9 even size slices (about 1" wide). (Original poster suggested trimming off irregular ends but I just leave them on there). Place rolls into a greased pie plate or cake pan.

Bake approximately 20 minutes (or until the tops are golden brown). Top with glaze if desired.

And ENJOY....I know we did!

A Tale of Two Daughters

2010-12-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

I have 2 daughters, one is 6 and the other is 2.

The older daughter is a gem - you couldn't ask for a better child. She is sweet and fun, silly, smart, and loves Jesus with all her heart. When she was a toddler she insisted on having well-dressed baby dolls. Each morning we would dress them from head to toe - only to redress them in the jammies when the sun went down. Each doll had multiple outfits and she loved to dress them up. Flash forward to today....Nicole is our "modesty police." She is grossly offended by immodesty. Even Dora the Explorer (with her belly-button showing top) isn't off the hook. She was horrified to learn that...a long time ago...her mommy was one of those "not modest" cheerleaders she sees on television. Yup, the modesty police....

The other daughter is, well...2 and taking full advantage of it for a few more months. Any and all baby dolls withing her reach MUST be NAKED. In fact, the first thing she does to a baby doll is strip them down. And now that I mention it...she likes best to be naked as well! A neighbor commented to me in the fall that Abigail was outside in her undies...I quickly pointed out her clothing which was strewn about the yard. I dress her ~ she undresses herself. What it a mom to do?

My husband and I were discussing the vast differences in the personalities of our daughters when he pointed out that....if Nicole's baby doll preferences led to her obsession with modesty...we'll be lucky if Abigail doesn't end up a stripper.

I'm not sayin' ...I'm just sayin'.

Theological Smackdown!

2010-10-20T16:18:00.000-06:00

My beloved 6 year old is too smart for her own good...

We were in Home Depot the other night with my husband....waiting for my husband, I should say. Home Depot happens to be the one store in the whole world that sells my childrens' most favorite gum in the whole world...mentos gum with the green stuff inside. As we were waiting for Daddy, the children hunted down and recovered 3 packages of said gum. They of course asked to open them right away...to which I said...

NO! I said, "Let's keep them right here in the cart until you prove yourselves WORTHY of the gum by your good behavior."

Nicole looked me square in the eyes and said,

"Mom, we are not WORTHY. We will NEVER be WORTHY...only God is WORTHY and you should never compare us to Him.
Now can I please have my gum?"

Yes, Nicole, you may have your gum.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2010-09-29T14:41:00.001-06:00

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...the sun is shining and we are enjoying some warm weather before the cold is here to stay.

I am thinking...I wish I was able to take a nap today. We have Awanas tonight and I am going to be very tired! Praying that the Lord will give me the energy I need to get through the rest of the day!

I am thankful for...Awanas and the scriptures that my children are committing to their hearts. It is priceless!

From the learning rooms...we had to take a few sick days this week while everyone got over their colds. I am looking forward to getting back to business!

From the kitchen...made my first ever gluten free/ dairy free apple pie this week. It was so yummy. I have been too intimidated to try making them but it was really easy.

From the garden...glad I waited to pull the tomatoes off the vine (see last week's post). Hopefully this warm weather will ripen them up a bit!

I am creating...still plugging away on the afghan.

I am going...to Awanas tonight and the city on Friday, exciting!

I am reading...The Bible and On the Banks of Plum Creek (with the kids). I found a new Bible Reading Schedule that is really renewing my passion for the Word...each day you read one chapter from 4 different books of the Bible... one historical, one devotional, one prophetic, and one doctrinal. You can read more about it at Perpetual Bible Reading Schedule by Michael Lancto.

I am hoping...that the children are over being sick and we can all be healthy again!

I am hearing...the landscaper "blow out" the sprinklers - a sure sign that winter will be here sooner than we hope!

Around the house...finally got it clean again - now here's to hoping it stays that way!

One of my favorite things...leaves changing colors for the fall!

A few plans for the rest of the week: the usual ~ Awanas, school, church, and checking out a new pediatrician in the city.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

One year ago...the time is going way too fast!

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

2010-09-22T10:25:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...it is definitely fall in Montana, even if the calendar says that fall starts tomorrow. We have already had our first snowfall and the wood stove is already earning it's weight in gold.

I am thinking...I need more coffee before I can think!

I am thankful for...my family. I am so blessed.

From the learning rooms...we are learning the words to the Star Spangled Banner this week. It is fun to listen to the kids sing it while they run around the house. I am pleasantly surprised by how well both Joshua and Nicole are doing this year. Nicole is becoming quite the little reader and Joshua is very motivated to learn, despite his challenges. I am so proud of both of them!

From the kitchen...found a wonderful recipe for homemade gluten free "flour" tortillas. Yum.

From the garden...I need to pull the tomatoes off the vine since the weather is getting colder and colder. Hopefully my neighbors are right and they will ripen inside. Our corn was a bust this year ~ it never got hot enough for it to grow. Oh well, maybe next year!

I am creating...an afghan that seems it will never end! I think I need to take a break for a while and work on something smaller till I can get motivated again!

I am going...to Awanas tonight. The kids are so excited for a new year of Awanas.

I am reading...The Bible and On the Banks of Plum Creek (with the kids).

I am hoping...for my mother-in-law to wake up today, that would be a great Birthday present!

I am hearing...my husband teaching (or trying to) my kids how to play chess. This has been a good lesson in patience for him :)

Around the house...wrapping up projects outside before winter and then we'll turn of focus back inside.

One of my favorite things...sleeping in!

A few plans for the rest of the week: starting Awanas, school, and church.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Rock Climbing

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

A Little Special Needs Learning...

2010-09-02T22:27:00.000-06:00

Jump over to 4 the Love of Josh to see some of the adaptations we are making for Joshua's Apraxia of Speech while he battles his way through Kindergarten! Go Joshy, Go...we are proud of you!

A thief on the loose...

2010-08-31T22:03:00.000-06:00

We recently had the pleasure of hosting the "Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde" here in Northern Montana. No one knows for sure where they were staying or how long they were here...but everyone knew they were close at hand. I got the dreaded phone call one evening from my husband at work..."Are you going anywhere tonight?" Me, "No, why?" Him, "Make sure you lock up and keep an eye on your surroundings." I always know what that means...there are bad guys on the loose. It is amazing how quickly we batten down the hatches when we know that evil is close by. Suddenly we are aware of every car that passes by and every unfamiliar face in town (and when you live in a town of 500...well, you can guess).

And last fall, when our puppy was stolen right out of our front yard...we made it our personal mission to find her. We searched for hours for her. The next day we made signs and called the radio station. By noon we had her back. We soon learned from our new neighbors that the hot handed thief was a habitual thief in our town. We kept our eyes open and our doors locked much more after that. Yes, he was most likely harmless, he was young and mostly a petty thief ~ but we certainly did not feel obligated to share our hard earned bounty with him.

And yet all the day between the town thief and the murdering fugitives...we went back to our complacent lifestyle. We live in a town of 500 people...we generally feel safe. Our biggest threat here is a grizzly bear coming in to town. How concerned do I really need to be? Well... I was reading from the book of John the other day and came across this so familiar passage...

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
John 10:10

Ladies, there is a thief among us ALL THE TIME. And he is far more cunning than some runaway fugitives (who were thankfully caught far far away from my home) or some petty puppy stealing teenagers.

He is the king of LIES and he wants our joy, our peace, our patience, our trust, and anything else he can get from us. He is swift, sometimes hard to trace, crafty, and most certainly deadly. And chances are...he is hanging out right outside your door...or worse...he is already inside your home.

The good news is...if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...you have the most effective home and heart security system available to man. When the enemy is knocking at your door ~ the Holy Spirit sounds the alarm and all you have to do is hit your knees and pray to the One who has already overcome (John 16:33). He comes swiftly to your defense...faster than any local sheriff ever could...and He rescues us from the enemy. Thank you, Lord that you are my personal security team!

Pondering all of this has also made me realize there are things I need to be doing to continually safeguard my home and my children from the enemy. We cannot become complacent in our walk with Jesus or our lives. As my Pastor mentioned this past Sunday...the enemy works best when we THINK we are safe.

Do I assume that just because I home school my children will be safe from the enemy? I may have allowed that thought to cross my mind once or twice...

Remember ~ he is sneaky and he will darn sure try until he finds a way to get to them. My initial reaction to this thought is to panic...but Pastor also reminded us that, "...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

So what do we do? We use that sound mind to call upon the power of Jesus to protect our children and our homes. Do we do this once? Or twice...and call it good? Nope, daily my friends. Every single day.

I have also been convicted to re-examine the media we allow into our minds. Now....let me first day that we are very strict about what they are allowed to watch on television. My kids consider Sponge Bob to be evil and Phineas and Ferb not much better. They are restricted to Clifford and Curious George, Dora the Explorer and Mickey Mouse Club House (plus a few other hand selected titles). They also have TONS of Veggie Tales videos and my personal favorite, Signing Time. So my biggest conviction lately has been just to turn it off.

And for the radio...I mostly listen to Christian music but I must confess I do like my country music too. And since the ONE and ONLY radio station I get here is the local station and it happens to be country...that is usually what I turn on in the car. Recently, the kids have been asking me questions about the songs...like the song, "I Run to You" (by Lady Antebellum)... Nicole asked me if they were singing about Jesus. Gulp. And my favorite...when Joshua asked me the other day what a "Mississippi Hippie" was (She's Country by Jason Aldean). I decided we should probably turn off the radio and listen to christian music, hymns and Bible verses (to music) on my iPod. The kids love it and I find myself singing the hymn (or verses) as I go through my day. Don't worry, I still have my country music playlist on my iPod and I will listen to it when the kids are not around...which is never...so oh well.

And that leads me to a last thought (before I fall asleep on the keyboard)...I need to remember to stop what I am doing and pray with them when they tell me about things they are struggling with. For example ~ I heard Nicole talking in her bed tonight and when I went in to check on her...she told me she had bad dreams in her head and she was telling them to get out. I stopped and prayed for her...and the other 2 as well...out loud and asked Jesus to remove those bad dreams and replace them with sweet ones. I want them to learn to stop what they are doing and seek the Lord when they come again struggles (especially ones that are suspicious of the enemy).

OK, so I gotta admit this post took a completely different turn than I had intended. I wanted to tell you how I've become so content and at peace with life here but after reading John 10:10 I realized that I do not experience that "full life" that Jesus died for me to have. I am not sure when the enemy stole it from me...or if I ever really took hold of it when He offered it to me...but I'll be praying about that one and I'll let you know what I find out.

In the meantime..."Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 Don't let it be you...or your kids!

Many blessings to you all,
Leah

The Simple Woman's Daybook

2010-08-30T22:13:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it's beginning to look a lot like fall here. Is the summer gone already? Is it really almost September?

I am thinking...about a million things that feel overwhelming right now...and wishing I was in bed instead of fretting!

I am thankful for...access to God's Word ~ it gets me through the day!

From the learning rooms...school has been in full swing for about two weeks now. I have 2 students this year ~ 1st grade and Kindergarten. The days are longer but so far so good!

From the kitchen...hubby's smoking a brisket for us today. Can't wait to sit back and enjoy tonight! Believe it or not...I actually sat down and planned my menu for the WHOLE month of September. What a relief!

From the garden...lots and LOTS of zucchini and green beans. Still waiting for the tomatoes to turn red. Looks like we will have a few pumpkins too!

I am creating...a "patriotic" crochet blanket.

I am going...to reorganize the school room a bit. Need to move some cabinets so I have a little more room for my growing students.

I am reading...The Bible and about to start "Girl Talk" with Nicole (as recommended by my pastor's wife)

I am hoping...that my Mother-in-Law will wake up today. C'mon Grandma, it's time to play! Oh yeah, and that Abigail will get this potty-training thing down soon!

I am hearing...complete and utter silence. That's because I am typing this the night before I post and everyone else is in bed (or at work)...

Around the house...trying to keep things organized now that we are back to school. It can get out of hand far too quickly!

One of my favorite things...the complete and utter silence of after bedtime!

A few plans for the rest of the week... hubby's weekend starts tomorrow so a little family time then lots of school and a trip to the library!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Nicole and Joshua whitewater rafting near Glacier National Park.

Check out the original Simple Woman's Daybook for more great stuff!

Our Circle Time

2010-08-26T13:28:00.000-06:00

Well, school is in full swing here as we muddle our way through week #2. For the first time I have 2 students ~ Nicole is in 1st Grade and Joshua is in Kindergarten. We are using My Father's World Curriculum (for both K and 1st Grade) and we love it! Nicole and Joshua are able to do quite a bit of school work together and then I spend about 45 minutes one-on-one with Joshua and about 2 hours one-on-one with Nicole (much of which happens when the younger 2 are sleeping).

My most favorite time of the day is Circle Time. I first learned about "Circle Time" from Kendra over at Preschoolers and Peace. She is amazing/ inspiring/ and quite personable. I read all of her archived posts about Circle Time and downloaded her e-book about it as well. I have even asked her questions and she has answered them all! Anyhow - my circle time looks very different from hers but that is the beauty of it...you can make it be whatever you need!

Our Current Circle Time Activities:
ACTS Prayer Time
Sing and Sign (ASL) Hymn
Define Pledge of Allegiance
Say Pledge of Allegiance
Calendar (Months of Year/ Days of Week/ Today)
Number of the Day

ACTS Prayers
I made a poster of the different parts of the ACTS prayer model. I wish I could post a picture of it but I am just not that savvy. Anyhow, I explained it like this...(words in parenthesis are actually clip art pictures of that word)

ADORATION... (heart) ...I love you, Lord
CONFESSION... (sad face) ...I am sorry, Lord
THANKSGIVING... (happy face) ...Thank you, Lord
SUPPLICATION... (child praying) ...Please help, Lord

After we discuss the aspects of the prayer model, we use the poster to help us pray through each element around the table.

Sing and Sign Hymn
We are currently learning the hymn "This is My Father's World." The kids sometimes perform hymns with Sign Language at church, so I figured we would incorporate the American Sign Language with each hymn we learn. It is such a beautiful way to worship and it helps us keep up on our vocabulary. See Joshua's blog to find out why we sign...

Define Pledge of Allegiance
My kids have been saying the Pledge of Allegiance for several years now. But I realized that they really have no idea what they are saying. So...I decided to break it down into vocabulary words for them to learn and teach them what the Pledge actually means. Do you know it means?

Pledge: Promise
Allegiance: to be loyal, faithful and true
Republic: form of government where leaders are elected by the people to represent them
Indivisible: cannot be divided
Liberty: Freedom
Justice: Fairness
For all: Citizens

In other words...

I promise to be loyal
to the flag of our country
The United States of America
and to the elected government the flag represents
one nation, under the authority of God,
that cannot be divided
and offers FREEDOM and FAIRNESS
to every CITIZEN of this country

This morning we spent some time discussing the freedom that we so often take for granted. We want our kids to know that our freedom is precious and cannot be taken lightly - or it will be taken away. They know that is other parts of the world ~ Christians are being killed for worshiping the one true God. And other parts of the world ~ children are being taken away from their parents because their parents choose to home school (and that is Germany, and possible soon the UK...scary). If you are not up to date on the UN Rights of the Child Treaty - please go to ParentalRights.org to learn more. Our rights and freedoms are in grave danger folks. We MUST take this seriously. Our children will know and understand what we are fighting for!

After discussing the pledge, we stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance facing the American Flag in our school room. I am hoping to soon have a flag pole next to the school house so we can raise and lower the flag each day.

The rest of Circle Time is pretty self-explanatory. Our curriculum has lots of great ideas for the # of the Day. We also discuss the calendar and all the good stuff that goes with it. Today I made a section in my Lesson Plans binder for future "Circle Time" activities...So far I have written down memorizing the Lord's Prayer, the Fruits of the Spirit, Hymns such as Holy, Holy, Holy and How Great Thou Art, and a series of Patriotic Songs to learn. I am sure that as the year goes on our Circle Time will change and become more in-depth...but I think we are off to a great start so far!

Hope your school year is starting well! May the Lord bless you as you teach and train your little ones!

An Update of Sorts...

2010-08-21T19:27:00.000-06:00

Since my last post, I have driven over 7,000 miles. Impressive, huh? OK maybe not. But add the fact that there were 3 children under the age of 6 in the car at least half of those miles were just me and them - I am considering it impressive.

So we rewind. May brought warmer weather and garden planting. June wrapped up the end of our first year of homeschooling, Vacation Bible School, a visit from a dear family friend, my husband's birthday and a call from my parents that my grandfather's health was failing fast. You know the call - if you want to see him again you need to make some travel arrangements. That left 2 options...$4,500 in plane tickets or start driving. So we did. Just me and the kids. 2,600 miles. We drove 600 miles per day. We used the DVD player. We stopped at hotels that had a pool and a continental breakfast. My dad was gracious enough to fly to Chicago to meet us and help up drive the rest of the way in to Maryland. We made it. And just in time. (If you are considering driving from Chicago to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in one day with 3 small children in the car...reconsider. It was a long day.)

The kids saw my grandfather (affectionately known as Pop-Pop) one time before he was too sick for them to see. I was able to spend one night at his bedside before he died - I shared the gospel with him one last time and asked him some questions about his faith. He was able to answer yes and no questions and after praying with him...I am certain that he is with Jesus right now. Thank you Lord for your sweet assurance. Pop-pop passed away on July 4th. He had a really good view of the fireworks that night...and the Orioles actually won a game in honor of him (I am sure that was it cause they can't win a game when they try).

The next week was the hustle and bustle of funeral arrangements and time with family. Just as we were hoping to turn our trip into a vacation we got a terrible phone call - my in-laws were flying their single engine plane from Colorado Springs to their home in San Diego when their plane crashed. They were outside a small town in New Mexico. My father-in-law sustained severe injuries and was transported to the local hospital for surgery. My mother-in-law was life-flighted to U. of New Mexico hospital with multiple would and TBI (traumatic brain injury). She has been in a coma since the crash. My husband flew from Montana to New Mexico early the next morning. I tried to make arrangements to meet him there - but he told me to stay put. He didn't want me driving back across the country under the circumstances. So we waited. Days passed and my mother-in-laws condition waxed and waned. Some doctors thought things were hopeful...others disagreed. On June 29th they were able to transport her via helicopter to a facility in San Diego so she would be closer to home. At that point - we all headed home. My mom was kind (or crazy) enough to drive as far as Denver with us....which is where we met my husband and he drove us the rest of the way home. Boy were the kids glad to see their daddy. We had been away from home for 5 weeks.

Fast forward to the end of August and we are home...harvesting the little bit of garden that survived the cold Montana summer and the lack of care it received from us being gone. Surprisingly - we have harvested quite a bit of zucchini and green beans. We will also have tomatoes and pumpkins before the cold takes over (I hope). We also celebrated Joshua's 5th birthday last week and started school. Joshua has been dying to start "real school" when he turned 5...so we decided to dive in. So far so good.

My mother-in-law remains in a coma. We are praying desperately for her to wake-up. None of us are ready to lose her. I can't begin to tell you the number of times we have gone to pick up the phone and call her...for a recipe or to tell her the latest hysterical thing that Nicole has said...only to put down the phone and cry. The grand kids need their Grandma. Please Lord, wake her up! Not our will though ~ but Yours Lord. You can keep up with her condition on her Caring Bridge Website

I am working on a post right now that has been brewing in my head for days...just figured I better update ya'll before I hit you with some heavy theological thinking :)

Many blessings,
Leah

2010-04-13T07:22:00.001-06:00

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...dreary day. It looks like winter again! Forecasting up to a foot of snow today!

I am thinking...about my friends who lost their little girl, Lauren, to cancer this past week. My heart is so broken for them and I wish I could be there to wrap them up in a big hug.

I am thankful for...the promise of heaven and knowing that we will see those who believe and have gone before us once again.

From the learning rooms...getting my curriculum order in place for next year. For some reason that is really exciting to me!

From the kitchen...lots of baking~ gluten free/ dairy free doughnuts, zucchini bread, biscuits and sandwich bread.

From the Garden...in light of all the snow, I am so glad we haven't planted anything outside!

I am creating...a prayer shawl for Caroline, Lauren's grandmother.

I am going...to the post office to mail our taxes today. Sure hope I don't forget...better write a note!

I am reading...The Bible, Believing God (R.C. Sproul, Jr), and Little House on the Prairie with the kids.

I am hoping...for God's mighty hand to work in several areas of our life. I need to keep reminding myself that He is faithful!

I am hearing...Josh's helicopter. It is a rather monotonous and maddening sounds at the moment :-)

Around the house...decluttering.

One of my favorite things...a good night's sleep!

A few plans for the rest of the week: school, housework, Awanas, and spending the night in the city Friday night so we can get hubby to the airport Saturday morning.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Ice Waterfall...Amazing!

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

Easter 2010

2010-04-07T08:50:00.000-06:00

Nicole has a knack for saying the funniest things you could ever imagine from out of the blue. Last night, we were cooking dinner when then oven alerted me that it was done preheating. I was over at the computer so Nicole yelled out, "Mom, the timer is going off!" I walked over and said, "Thanks hon, it's just telling me that the oven is ready..." She looked at me with wide-eyed amazement and said, "WOW MOM, You can speak timer?!?!"

The Simple Woman's DayBook

2010-03-23T08:25:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, March 23th, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...the sun is shining and there is a slight frost covering everything. Beautiful!

I am thinking...it was sad to return the puppy to her breeder but it was the right thing to do. Much less stress here this morning. And Samson is much happier now that she is gone...

I am thankful for...God's many blessings...there are too many to count!

From the learning rooms...finally back to the grind. We stalled last week after I got a migraine. Glad to finally be back in the books!

From the kitchen...Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare...headed to the city for some groceries!

From the Garden...getting some seeds and supplies today in the city. Yeah!

I am creating...crochet bandannas. Great for bad hair days and they don't slip! So fun!

I am going...90 miles to the city for a month worth of groceries with 3 children. Walmart, Sams Club, Health Food Store, Pet Store. Should be a long day!

I am reading...The One Year Bible, Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis), and Little House on the Prairie with the kids.

I am hoping...for God's mighty hand to work in several areas of our life. I need to keep reminding myself that He is faithful!

I am hearing...our morning dose of Dora the Explorer. This morning Nicole tried to convince Abi that she couldn't be Dora if she still sucks on a pacifier...Abi didn't like that!

Around the house...finally managing the mess. Mopped floors, some de-cluttering, and lots of laundry!

One of my favorite things...a clean house :-)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Groceries, school, cleaning, Awanas, and lots of outside play in the sunshine!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

The Splendor of the King...

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

Days Like These...

2010-03-18T11:30:00.000-06:00

It's days like these that I love the most...

Daddy gave us a job to do and we decided to tackle it with gusto, determination, and creativity! We conducted "outside school" in the backyard this morning as we picked up rotten apples off the newly exposed ground. Yeah, sounds fun, right? Let me go back for a minute...

We moved into our home November 1st last year and the crab apple tree in the back yard had been unattended for several months. Soon after we moved in ~ as we were unpacking and getting settled ~ the weather quickly turned cold. The remaining apples on the tree fell off the tree and were covered in snow in what seemed to be overnight. I figured that snow would melt and we'd be able to pick up the apples before winter really set in...but I was wrong. The ground is now exposed for the first time since then and boy is there a mess! Not only are the 100's of rotten apples on the ground (I really don't remember there being that many before....it's like they multiplied under the snow), but the puppy has made a habit of eating them and the make her stink in a way you cannot even imagine! And that's why Daddy challenged us to pick them up.

We set out this morning with gloves and buckets to get the job done. I pulled a large garbage can from the garage to empty our buckets into. While we worked, the school lessons and creativity came naturally. We counted apples as we put them into the buckets, talked about seasons and life cycles and even recited verses we have memorized about working hard for the Lord. We pretended to be our favorite characters from "The Little House on the Prairie" series...our current read-aloud selection. After about an hour, I could tell they were wearing out and I had to run inside ...so when I came back and heard them talking about picking up seeds, I figured they needed reminding that we were supposed to be picking up the apples. They explained that they were birds - specifically a mommy and daddy bird and they were collecting seeds (which were the apples) for their baby birds (who were in the large garbage can). Oh...I get it! We sang birdie songs and even flew away to birdie school where we talked about the many differences between flying birds and penguins (we learned about penguins just before Spring Break). This went on for another whole hour!

We still have a few apples to pick up this afternoon. The large garbage can is almost FULL...I can't believe how much work we accomplished in such a short time. After lunch, it's back to work then into the school house for a wee bit of "inside school." This morning has made me look forward to gardening with the kids this summer....and all the things we can learn in the process.

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to homeschool my children for your Glory. Thank you for showing me ways to teach them more about you in the everyday chores of life!

Happy Birthday Nicole!

2010-03-15T09:23:00.001-06:00

My precious little girl has turned 6...I never could have imagined this day! She is so full of life, creative, thoughtful, and FULL of love for the LORD! I am so thankful for Nicole.

The Simple Woman's DayBook

2010-03-14T11:58:00.001-06:00

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window..."Tut tut~it looks like rain!" That must mean that spring has reached Northern Montana.

I am thinking...I would really like to go back to bed today. Our company left last night and it is time to recuperate. Guess I'll have to turn to more coffee instead!

I am thankful for...my eldest daughter. She is such a blessing to me!

From the learning rooms...Spring break is over and we are getting back on track to finish the school year strong! This week is the Letter Z and zebras as we finish studying "wild animals."

From the kitchen...baking more gluten free bread today.

From the Garden...still planning and hoping that I will have a successful garden for the first time ever! Got a book from Home Depot last night to read-up and learn some more.

I am creating...a home that is a safe-haven and place of rest for my family and friends.

I am going...to take it easy this week and catch up on life!

I am reading...The One Year Bible, Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis), and Little House in the Big Woods to the kids.

I am hoping...that Lauren's MRI brings good news this week (Mar 17th)!

I am hearing...a lot of whining this morning...kids need to catch up on rest!

Around the house...mess, mess, mess!

One of my favorite things...Chili's chips and salsa. Yum!

A few plans for the rest of the week:clean, school, rest, and grocery shop at some point. Boring, I know, but necessary!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

The Simple Woman's DayBook

2010-03-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...a beautiful fresh snowfall...confirming that winter is indeed not over yet!

I am thinking...I am not sure if the puppy was a good idea. She is quite a handful and the last time I checked ~ my hands were already full! My husband would like me to spend more time training her, but I am not sure where to fit that time in...

I am thankful for...the God of all comfort and strength who gets me through each and every day!

From the learning rooms...currently transformed to Wolfie and Grandma's guest house. We are on Spring Break so we can fully enjoy their visit.

From the kitchen...still battling with homemade gluten-free bread. I am not satisfied with the end product so I will keep trying!

I am wearing...my pajamas!

I am creating...memories with my children and their Grandparents.

I am going...to the other side of the mountains later this week! Can't wait...I hear they have good shopping there!

I am reading...The One Year Bible, Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis), and Little House in the Big Woods to the kids.

I am hoping...that the rest of the week goes smoothly!

I am hearing...a rare moment of quiet since Grandma just took the kids over to the school/ guest house for an hour.

Around the house...a bit messy since we have company and have not stuck to the "routine." Oh well, we are making memories, right?

One of my favorite things...my own personal quiet time in the morning. Doesn't always happen but it did today and I am very thankful for it!

A few plans for the rest of the week: go with the flow...we follow the lead of my husband and his parents so they can see and do all they want to while they are here.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Never got this picture posted after Abigail's Birthday...now we are getting ready for Nicole's 6th Birthday later this week. Hope her cake turns out as well as Abi's did!

To see the original Simple Woman's Daybook click the link!

Training the Littles...Olympics Style!

2010-02-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Since we started moving late last summer - I have absolutely blown it when it comes to training my children. I was reading the other day that if your children disobey you in public it is because you are not expecting 1st time obedience at home...ouch. They were right. Not that my kids are bad...my mother regularly calls me from stores to thank me for having such well behaved children :-) But I think that is because she is their Mimi and she overlooks some of their less than desirable qualities!

Part of our new "rural" living experience involves a daily trip the post office to check the post office box. Usually we just visit the side with the boxes, but some days (like today) we have to actually see the postmaster to pick up a package or to send something out. The postmaster just smiled politely as my children acted like a bunch of wild animals in his tiny post office this morning. That just didn't suit me. I was not a happy momma.

Thus begins our Winter Olympics training....

When we got home I made my children stand in the middle of the living room for 5 whole minutes....hands in their pockets with their mouths SHUT tight. And you know what...they did it! I think they were just as surprised as I was. One time I had to tell Joshua to stand still but that was it. Abigail stood with them for the first two minutes then sat down - but she was quiet and still the whole time as well. I was happy enough with that.

Then, while I had their undivided attention...I decided to tackle another pet-peeve of mine - getting in the car. Why on earth does it take my children 15 minutes to get out the door? I grabbed my timer and told them we were going to have a race to see how fast we could get our shoes and our jackets on and get into our car seats. The older two got their jackets and boots in record time (they had just taken them off so they were easy to find) and headed for the door. I thought...great! But by the time they got to the car, Joshua had forgotten the mission and decided to get in the drivers seat and pretend to drive the car. Mission....failed. I explained that they had failed the test and that we would have to try again later. They were disappointed but I think they got the idea.

Later in the afternoon we repeated the drill. This time their boots and jackets weren't close at hand so they had to look for them. Nicole was very upset that she couldn't find her boots. I told her to get any pair of shoes and in to the car -we would find the boots later. When the timer stopped it had taken them (all 3 of them this time) exactly 3 minutes and 10 seconds to get ready and in the car in their appropriate seats. Now that is what I'm talking about!

Our second run presented a great opportunity to talk about why we put things away where they belong. If Nicole had put her boots away when she took them off she would have known right where to find them! A lesson I could probably stand to remember as well...

Not only is this good for mom's sanity - it is great training for emergencies. My children should be given a command..."get your boots and jackets and get in the car" and they should do it...without question and right away! I would have to say this is training with eternal benefits as well - isn't that what the Lord expects of us as well? Wouldn't you like to be disciplined enough to say, "Send me, Lord!" when He asks?

I guess you probably won't see "endurance standing still and quiet" teams or "sprint to the car" teams in the Olympics anytime soon...but we are preparing for life and Godliness and that is far more important! Our "gold medal" will come from the King of Kings when we get to Heaven!
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14

Children, obey your parents in everything,
for this pleases the Lord.
Col 3:20

A Better Plan...

2009-12-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

We are finally settling in to our new home and conforming to a brand new pace of life. No more traffic... hectic schedules... long days out of the house... running to get fast food or carry-out for dinner (the nearest fast food restaurant is 30 miles away)... And we LOVE it! Of course, there are a few things we miss - the children still ask for in-n-out regularly and we miss our friends dearly. I would love to be able to attend CBS again - but the new life we have gained by moving here has been well worth the cost. We have a TON of family time now, we have survived our first "official" semester of homeschooling and we are surrounded by a wonderful cloud of witnesses here that encourage us in the Lord daily! God has been so good to us~ and yet we are so undeserving of his mercy and grace. While watching the movie "Up" today with the children I realized that this is our Paradise Falls. We have arrived. Thank you, Lord!

Of course, the transition has not been without a few hiccups. One day I am sure we will look back in laugh about them.

Just about a week after we moved into our new home, our black lab puppy (about 20 weeks old) was hit by a car and killed. The kids were devistated (as well as our 3 year old yellow lab) and Abigail kept saying, "Mommy, Lilah's cold...Lilah come home." This melted my husband's heart and 2 days later we had a new Lilah...a 6 WEEK OLD black lab puppy. Now let me tell you - 6 weeks old is WAY TOO YOUNG! But it was done and we loved her and Abigail was totally satisfied that Lilah was back home. About 3 weeks after our new Lilah came to live with us she was taken right out of our front yard. Apparently the town hoodlum needed a Christmas gift for his girlfriend and thought our puppy was the perfect thing! Unfortunately, we had no idea then who he was or why our puppy never came back from her potty outing. As daddy threw the 2 smaller kids in the car to go searching for her, Nicole and I stopped to pray for our puppy's safe return home. Nicole was confident that God would answer our prayers and that Lilah would be returned that night. Worried that she may be let down, I explained that we don't always get what we pray for...that sometimes God has a better plan for us and it was possible that God had a better plan for Lilah's life. Nicole looked at me a little funny and said, "You mean, maybe it would be better for Lilah to come home tomorrow instead of today?" I could only imagine the disappointment she would feel if we didn't find our puppy.
The next morning, David called the radio station to put out word and printed out a flier to put out at all the local hot-spots. Just as he was about to leave, we got a call from a young lady who said she had heard from a friend that we were missing our puppy and she thought that it was at her house. She brought our Lilah home at lunch time and we were thrilled! I guess God's better plan was to bring Lilah home "tomorrow instead of today."

As always, I was extremely humbled by God's grace towards the prayers of my children. Oh that one day I may have faith like a child...
Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
^{James 1: 6-7}But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.

Lord, please help me to have faith that is as great as my 5 year old. Thank you.

The Beautiful Ballerina herself...

Samson and DeLilah together again.

Peace

2009-05-27T17:31:00.000-06:00

"Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid."

John 14:27

As a Mom of 3 children under the age of 5, I often find myself seeking just a moment of peace in the middle of a hectic and noisy day. The wonderful chaos that consumes our home can be overwhelming every once in a great while (smirking). I try to keep us on a pretty tight schedule to keep our home running smoothly. But with speech therapy and ballet, bouts of illness and my husband's crazy work schedule things can easily get off course. As I contemplated John 14:27 this morning and considered my general level of "peace," I began to wonder what I was missing. I realized that as long as things go as planned - in other words - my way...I am a generally peaceful person. I can be productive and pleasant to be around. But the minute things slip out of my hands...it all goes out the window! I find myself running for shelter and craving that "moment of peace" to get me through the day. But what exactly is the source of that peace? My favorite song on the iPod (obviously tuning out the screaming in the background), 5 minutes on facebook while the children watch tv (which always turns into 20), a good workout at the gym, a nice big cold soda (hey, at least it isn't a beer, right), a telephone conversation with a friend? These may bring you peace in the moment....and if you are lucky it may even last for an hour...but is that really enough to get through the day? God tells us that He gives us peace, "not as the world gives..." The world, and things of this world, offer peace that is temporary and conditional. Peace that is rooted in our Lord and Saviour is unconditional and everlasting. No matter what comes our way we can have peace because we know that God is with and knows our current condition. We also know that He sees the big picture especially when we cannot. Furthermore, we know that He (and only He) has our best interest at heart and wants so much to bless us and prosper us. Only when we know these things and keep them close to our hearts can we trust Him with our lives, our circumstances, our disappointments, shortcomings, and chaotic lives and then truly experience His peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7). Peace that says...my house is sold and we have no idea where or when we are moving and that's ok by me. Peace that says...we are in God's hands and He will provide for our needs. That's the kind of peace that can only come from the Prince of Peace!

Question: Where do you run to for peace? The King of Kings or a temporary fix? Ask God to show you how to truly abide in Him today so that you may experience His unconditional and everlasting peace!

Let not your hearts be troubled, my dear friends,
neither let them be afraid!

SLACKER....

2009-02-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

That's right...I am a slacker.

Everyone gasps...

Never suspected it, did you?

It's true...I have been a horrible slacker when it comes to blogging. I didn't even wish you all a Merry Christmas this year! I am so sorry, so very sorry! Can you ever forgive me? After all...it's not like I am raising a 3 ring circus...oops, I mean 3 beautiful children, a yellow lab puppy (commonly referred to as Marley reincarnate), managing a home, and juggling my husband's constantly changing schedule. I really do sit around and eat bon-bons all day. Really. (Actually,I am horrified at the thought...bon-bons are gross).

So, have you forgiven me yet? Things really have been hectic! We had an awesome Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had a visit from our cousins on the East Coast and my kiddo's thoroughly enjoyed playing with Peter and Anna. My family was here for a total of 3 weeks and that was fantastic! The kids had a blast w/ Mimi and Bumpa and Aunt Ashley.

Since the start of a new year, we have changed our schedule a bit. Nicole is attending ICAP (Inland Christian Academic Program) for a Kindergarten 101 class. This is a homeschooling Co-op close to our home. She goes to class for one hour each Wednesday. While Nicole is in her class, Joshua goes to the "preschool room" for snacks and fun with some new friends. Fortunately, Mom got assigned to work in the preschool room the hour he is there...or else I am afraid he wouldn't be so excited about it. We are gearing up to officially start school with Nicole in the fall.

Here is the funny thing about me and homeschooling. I am a very type A, uptight person. I like a schedule. I like to know things in advance. And I do not like to take things lightly. But surprisingly...I am not the least bit stressed about how or when or what curriculum I am going to use for Nicole next year. And for that matter, I am not sure that I will even register her for kindergarten next year. (In CA you do not have to take kindergarten and you do not have to "register" for school purposes until you are 6). We may just do kindergarten for fun! She has already met most of the kindergarten objectives in "preschool," so we may just plug along at our own pace. My sister-in-law was astounded when I shared all of this with her - I think because she knows my personality so well. I explained that this overwhelming peace...peace that surpasses my understanding... is how I KNOW that the Lord has "called" me to homeschool. The conviction is strong and I am certain the He will not only make a way, but show the way as well!

Aside from schooling changes, Nicole has moved up to "the big girl" ballet class. She was previously dancing in the "tiny-tots" class and was invited to move up to the "pre-ballet" class (for 5-7 year olds). She looks so tiny next to all those 7 year olds! She is doing a great job though and even got fitted for her recital costume last night. She says the class is "hard work" but fun. She has even made a new friend, Riley, who is in both her ballet class and her ICAP class.

Joshua is...well...he is still Joshua and we love him more and more each day! Check out his blog http://4theloveofjosh.blogspot.com for more info on latest developments with his health/ diet/ and speech. Just a few weeks ago he tried out a Karate Class at Sunridge Christian Karate. We were excited for him to work on his balance and coordination while increasing his confidence and building character. Unfortunately, he isn't quite ready for the "seriousness" of karate lessons...even in the very young ages. That being said - it was amazing to see him around other little boys...talking and playing and being silly! I never would have imagined that! The instructors were great and offered for us to bring him back every 8 weeks to try a class again and said we can repeat that as many times as necessary until he is ready. In the meantime we are working on discipline at home...standing still, sitting still, and Yes Sir!

And Abigail - it breaks my heart to type the words...she is turning 1 tomorrow. Where did this year go? I cannot even believe a whole year has come and gone. Abigail is the spitting image of Nicole as a toddler. They look the same and...scary enough, their personalities are much the same. Abi is very strong-willed and determined. She is very close to walking and is a super fast crawler who looks for any chance she can find to escape! She maneuvers the stairs with ease and loves mischief. I spend most of my day chasing her around trying to keep her from making (or cleaning up) messes. (Note: see the first paragraph about me eating bon-bons on the couch). She adores her big sister and brother and would follow them anywhere...including into danger, so I have to keep a very close eye on her!

OK, so that is enough update for now. You have my word - I'll be back to post again soon! I have a few devotionals to post and more updates on Joshua's blog as he has really been my focus these past few months! Thanks to you all for your grace - even those of you who pestered and harassed me to get back to blogging :-) Talk to you again soon!

Love, Leah

Wordless Wednessday - Look Mimi...

2008-11-19T16:37:00.001-07:00

I have hair!

Not here...

But here it is!

(and it curls too)

Silly Mommy!

For more Wordless Wednesday go here:

Go see it...now!

2008-11-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

My husband and I went to see Fireproof last night. It was our first date in 11 months. Other opportunities had presented themselves - my parents always offer to watch the kids when they are in town...but my husband was not interested in going out on a date together. We have been overwhelmed with trials this year and the toll is wearing on us.

This movie is already actively changing our marriage.

It opened the door to much needed conversations. It encouraged us to say things to one another that we may not have said. And we both agreed that - no matter what - we will make it through the fire together. Not that we didn't feel that way before, but it was a great affirmation of our commitment to our marriage. For better or worse.

The movie itself was phenomenal. Funny, emotional, and action packed. My husband loved it too. The music was awesome. I already bought the soundtrack from iTunes. We will buy it as soon as it comes out on DVD.

For those of you thinking that you will wait to see it when it comes out on DVD....don't wait! Get a babysitter and go to the theater... pay the $20 to see the movie - this not only supports the ministry this church has started, but it also encourages theaters to continue bringing these wholesome inspiring movies to their theater. It was the best $20 we have invested in our marriage yet!

These are the lyrics to one of the songs in the movie...I cry when I even read them.

Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave

Lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter in the raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
If we try to leave, may God send His angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

Warren Barfield - Love is Not a Fight

Please, go to the movie!

Lip Gloss and Sparkly Hearts

2008-10-30T16:37:00.000-06:00

Nicole loves to play with our neighbors out front in the afternoons. This has been a wonderful blessing to us - friends her age just 2 houses down the street. Joshua enjoys playing with them too, which is really nice. Their mom and I enjoy fellowship while the kids play. Watching our children play together has also given me insight into my child's heart that I may not have seen in our own home. Especially Nicole.

You see, Kaitlynn and Gracie are girlie girls and they like make-up and high heels just as much (if not more) than any young girl. Nicole is somewhere in the middle - she likes to dress up and play princess, but she also loves to wrestle with her daddy, sword fight, and play in the dirt. I am not really a girlie girl myself - so she doesn't see a lot of make-up and heels around our house. Of course she is intrigued when the girls next door play make-up. Being the mean mom that I am, I have never allowed her to participate in the make-up free for all (and don't intend to any time soon). I am always willing to paint her fingernails and toenails and that has become one of our favorite bonding activities- doing our nails together. But no make-up. None.

The other day we were at Walmart and I decided it would probably be ok for her to have some CLEAR sparkly lip gloss. I was looking for the flavored lip smackers (chapstick), but couldn't find them anywhere. After much searching, we found the Bon Bons lip gloss and got her a cute little case with sparkly strawberry flavored lip gloss. I have never seen her so excited.

She had practically used the whole container by that evening. At one point she came to me -all puckered up and said," Mom, I cannot wait to show everyone my sparkly lips - everyone is going to love them!" I decided to reach for a teaching moment - "Nicole," I said, "Do you know what is even more important than people loving your sparkly lips?" She pondered, but was speechless. How could anything be more important than beautful lips? I replied, " Showing God your sparkly heart. God looks at our beautful hearts, not our beautiful faces. So instead of showing off your lips, lets try to think of some ways we can show off our sparkly hearts for Jesus." We brainstormed a few ideas - share our toys, give to people who are in need, obey mommy and daddy (my personal favorite) and tell everyone about Jesus. Now, when she puts on her lip gloss and shows me her pouty smile...she reminds me, "Don't worry mom, I have a sparkly heart that matches my lips too."

While I may not be overly concerned with my outward physical appearance (as a matter of fact, I should probably be a little more concerned with it :-), I am a people pleaser. I have a very hard time telling people "No" when they need a favor (although I am getting better) and I like to appear better than I really am - organized, creative, gifted, peaceful, gentle, etc. Like for example - I like to be early to Bible Study, but what good is that when I spent my morning yelling at the kids to get them out the door on time so I could look good to others? Or that I offer to bring a meal to someone in need, but grumble to myself because it means an extra trip to the store w/ 3 kids and an extra meal to cook and another trip out...Man may see the outward sparkly deed (always with a smile, of course), but God sees and knows my heart. Yikes. I better stop now because I am becoming more and more convicted with every word!

I guess now when I see Nicole put on her lip gloss, I will think of all the "good deeds" and "perfect image" I try to put on so other people will love my sparkle. Maybe I need to spend a little less time trying to sparkle and a little more time on my knees in the closet (prayer closet, that is...which does happen to be my clothes closet). Truthfully, I'll be glad when the sparkly lip gloss is gone, and we can focus a bit more on all of our hearts around here! And prayerfully, one day I'll be able to serve others and say, "Don't worry Lord, my sparkly heart matches my my sparkly deeds for You."

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7

"Where are you?"

2008-10-10T08:32:00.000-06:00

In a recent study of the first few chapters of Genesis, I was greatly convicted by one simple line:

But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:9

You see, Adam and Eve had just committed the grievous sin of eating the forbidden fruit. Their eyes were suddenly opened to their nakedness and they were embarrassed. They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves and when they heard the LORD walking through the garden, they hid in shame. The LORD, knowing full well of their sin and their current location, gently calls out to them, "Where are you?"

Begin conviction...

Somehow, "NICOLE ASHLEY GET YOUR HIND-END IN HERE RIGHT NOW...AND I MEAN NOW!" doesn't sound quite the same as, "Where are you?"

Our Bible Study Commentary notes that "God deals with His fallen creatures in grace, wooing them back to Himself in godly sorrow and repentance. Ouch. If that is how God deals with me (fallen creature that I am), shouldn't I be extending that same grace to my own children?

For example, when I find Joshua covered in permanent marker. And I mean covered. Face and all. Or my bible written in with permanent ink. Or the dog covered in finger paint (ok, that was a little funny, but it did mean that I had to give the dog a bath)...do I respond with gentleness, patience and self-control? Do I gently woo the offender to me with a loving, "Nicole - Where are you? Come see Mommy, please." Or do I yell? Well, you can bet that since I am writing this - I yell (see above comment regarding Nicole Ashley).

There is one thing in life that I never want to be called and that is a fool. Someone dear to me once called me foolish (over something very trivial - corn chips, to be exact) and it cut me very deeply. I thought to myself - the Bible says a lot of very strong things about foolish people and I am NOT one of them. This morning, I found this:

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 7:9

Foolish me.

Thank goodness my loving Father deals gently and patiently with me, revealing my own shortcomings in His perfect timing. Good thing...

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11

Or I else I'd be hearing a lot of "LEAH DANIELLE, WHERE ARE YOU AND WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING..."

As my heavenly Father gently leads me (and continually pulls me back) towards His path of righteousness, I will strive to gently lead the young who are behind me...following me towards that very same path.

PS: I realized that I must need to lighten up a bit because I could not find a single picture of the naughty things my children have done. And some of them were pretty funny. I guess I should laugh a bit more and enjoy the fun of having 3 little ones ages 4 and under!

Wordless Wednesday - Double Trouble

2008-09-30T22:45:00.001-06:00

"She made me give her the toy, Really..."

"Trouble? Not us!"

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Back to Business

2008-09-28T13:17:00.000-06:00

Things have been crazy here! We passed around a summer bug for a couple of weeks, started speech therapy, ballet, and Community Bible Study, mourned the loss of a dear friend's baby girl and weathered another surgery for Joshua. Whew...I'm tired now. I'll be back after I go take a nap...

Just kidding.

For updates on Joshua...his speech therapy and surgery...go here.

Nicole started an AWESOME ballet program. She is attending the Good New Dance Company compliments of her great-grandmother who is generously paying her tuition. We had tried the local Parks & Rec ballet class, but were unimpressed by the emphasis on booty shaking and sassy attitude (she has enough of that on her own). This dance school focuses on teaching girls how to worship and praise the Lord through dance. They model and insist upon modesty and self-control and use very tasteful dance moves and costumes. I actually saw one of their recitals a few years ago and was so impressed - I couldn't wait for Nicole to get old enough to attend. By then, we had no money, so we had to wait for the Lord to make a way. Nicole was actually praying every night that she would be able to go to ballet class. Praise God - He is good!

We also started back to Community Bible Study (CBS)about 3 weeks ago. This will be my 4th year there and my 3rd year in leadership. The last 2 years I was the teacher for the Jr. CBS class (middle school aged home-schoolers). This year and I am really excited to be the core group leader for the Nursing Mom's class. Abi gets to come in the classroom with me and I get to lead discussion group for the new mommies! I have already been so challenged and blessed by our study of the book of Genesis.

And that brings to me to some sad news. My dear friend (and fellow CBS leader) Hillary and her family have suffered another unthinkable tragedy. Her little girl Lauren is the 4 year old suffering from an inoperable brain tumor that I have written about here. Look to your right and you will see her picture, which links to her blog. Hillary was 37 weeks pregnant with their 3rd baby girl, Brooke Hope, when they lost her just 9 days before her scheduled c-section. Please, please join me in praying for this family. They have suffered more heart-ache in the last 6 months than anyone should in a lifetime.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. " Romans 8:28

Wordless Wednesday - Hello World!

2008-09-10T09:10:00.001-06:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

You Want WHAT?!?!

2008-09-04T22:09:00.000-06:00

"Mommy, I want to have pink hair."

"Where did you see someone with pink hair," I gently asked my 4 year old...amused at such a silly suggestion.

"I didn't, Mommy, I saw a girl with green hair and I thought I would like to have pink hair."

After a little pressing to figure out where she saw this girl - so I could make sure she NEVER saw her again - I figured out that we drove past a teenager on the block next to our house and that was were the idea blossomed.

Unsure of what to say next, I said what any good mom would say, "You'll have to talk to your daddy about that one." (I of course figured she would forget before he ever got home from work).

But sure enough, she remembered. The minute daddy walked in the door from work she asked," Daddy, can I have pink hair?" My husband, so authoritatively said - "Go ask your mother." Fortunately, she ran off to another room. I looked at my husband and explained that she already had asked me and that I had put her off to him, figuring he would say NO!

I racked my brain for a biblical answer as I try to mold my daughter into the young woman that I wasn't. I figured that she was a little too young to understand this:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

And I'm not really sure that pink hair qualifies as beauty anyway. I asked my husband if it would be blasphemous to show Nicole where it says, "Thou shalt not color your hair pink..." in the Bible (she can't read, she wouldn't know the difference), but the Holy Spirit immediately reminded me of the scripture:

"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
(Proverbs 30: 5-6)

I was stumped.

Later that night, I was combing her hair before bed when she mentioned to me that she wished she had curly hair like her cousin. Ah Ha! The light-bulb went off in my brain. I knew just what to say...

Mom: "Sweetie, God gave you straight hair and you should be thankful for what He has given you."

Nicole: "But I want curly hair!"

Mom: "If God wanted you to have curly hair, He would have given it to you. He made you perfect just the way you are. AND...if God wanted you to have pink hair He would have given that to you as well. But instead, He gave you beautiful blond hair and I think He likes it that way."

Nicole: "But I want pink hair!"

Mom: "Well then sweetie, maybe you should pray about it and if God wants you to have pink hair, then one day you'll wake up with pink hair."

Done. Enough said. End of conversation.

Until this evening when, out of no where, Nicole said," Daddy, I really want pink hair." My husband looked at me and said, "Leah - we have tattoo's how can we tell her No?" I gently reminded him that both of us were over the age of 18 when we got our tattoo's and that he could tell that when she is 18 she can color her hair whatever color she wants. Somehow, my message got lost in translation because the next thing I heard was...

"Nicole, when you are 14 years old...you can make your hair whatever color you want."

Yes, go back and read it again. I said 18...he said 14. Lord help me please, it's gonna be a long road with this little gal!

Lord, please help our precious daughters to see themselves in Your perfect image. To be content the way that You made them and not to be swayed by the things that the world says are important or cool. Keep them pure, modest, and help them to learn to focus on the hearts and not their appearance. Amen.

If I only had a Donkey...

2008-08-30T23:07:00.000-06:00

My daughter came out of her Sunday School Class excited to tell me about their lesson. It usually only takes a few seconds for me to figure which story she is telling, but today this was not the case. I am embarrassed to say that I never did figure this one out on my own: she was describing a donkey with super-powered eyes. Stumped? Probably not. But I was. So, I got in the car in the church parking lot and immediately looked up the scripture reference. Numbers 22: 21-35. That's right...Balaam's donkey had super-powered eyes, ya'll. And I wish I had a donkey just like his! You see, his donkey was able to see the angel of the Lord standing before him with sword drawn.

The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her." (Num 22: 32-33)

Your path is a reckless one before me...

How many times has God said that to me before? And I am sure that each one of those times I berated my donkey and beat him just like Balaam did to get him back on my path.

But not this time.
Oh no, if I only had a donkey with super-powered eyes...I promise I'd listen.
Are we supposed to change jobs or stay the course?
What are we supposed to do when we lose our house this winter?
Where do we go to rent and start over financially?
Will Joshua ever learn how to speak normally and live a fulfilling life?

I have heard the saying before:

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

Well, I can tell you that we keep God rolling on the floor with laughter around here. Just 3 weeks ago we were accepting a transfer to Oroville, WA...that is until my husband went to visit and decided...ummm, no. Not for us. Now, we may be staying where we are so he can spend a few more years in his current job before trying to transfer out. But that will be interesting since we are indeed losing our house (due to a family business deal gone bad...and not in our favor...If you are considering going into business with or accepting money from a family member, stop right now and say NO...God is using our humiliation and defeat to speak to you...JUST SAY NO!!!) and renting in Southern CA is not always the best option.

So which path do you really want us on LORD?

Since I don't have a donkey...and couldn't keep it in my tiny backyard even if I did, I guess I will have to continue relying on the LORD to open and close doors as we map out our earthly future. He has been faithful to do so in the past, and I am sure He will continue closing all the wrong doors in the future. A few open ones would be appreciated too.

And the next time your donkey lays down in the middle of the road - don't beat him....turn around and go back to whence you came!

Happy Birthday Josh!

2008-08-18T08:49:00.001-06:00

Our little man turned 3 on Saturday. It was a wonderful celebration revolving mostly around "red car" (Lightning McQueen, from Cars). The 5 of us celebrated with his favorite dinner, ice cream cake, a movie, and a few presents. You can see him proudly displaying his new red car shirt and camouflage boots above.

Many of you know the struggles we have had with Joshua's health. I am so happy to say that he is feeling great and growing again! He is completely off his medicine and hasn't even asked for it in weeks.

I have started another blog entitled "For the Love of Josh" where I am writing about my struggles and victories raising a wheat free/ gluten free toddler. I am posting recipes, product reviews, and great ideas (little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on gluten free pancakes). Stop over and check it out and if you know anyone struggling with the joys of food allergies, let them know too!

Wordless Wednesday - Beach Bums

2008-08-13T09:07:00.000-06:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

A Little Bit Redneck

2008-08-04T09:16:00.000-06:00

You might be (a little bit) Redneck if...

You spend your spare time helping your husband
make a ghillie suit and then he hangs out
in the front yard after dark to test it's functionality.

(yes, the brown heap is my husband)

-AND-

If your husband moves the grill to the front porch
so he can watch the live MMA fight through
the front window while he cooks.

(note the cute little boy in his underwear in the front yard)

We may live in the city, but we'll always be (a little bit) redneck at heart!

Accountability

2008-07-31T00:12:00.001-06:00

My precious family is trying to help me lose my postpartum weight. Truth be told, Abi is almost 6 months old and I have lost 30 pounds, but I still have about 25 to go. Complicating the matter right now is the fact that I am extremely hypothyroid...which also accounts for the fatigue and depression I have battled since Abi was born. But that is a post for another day...

We were eating dinner a few nights ago - our favorite...Take-out from Jalapeños Mexican Grill (I still haven't quite mastered working from home and cooking on a regular basis). I had eaten one beef flouta and was intentionally saving the 2nd for lunch today. I started to take a bite of refried beans when my precious, loving, well-intentioned husband said, "Don't you think it is time to stop eating - since you want to lose weight and all?" Ummm yeah, cause I just lost my appetite.

My husband must be in cahoots with my daughter, because today we were on our way home from the park when I decided to jump in the Taco Bell Drive-thru line for a large Pepsi.

Confession time: Coca-Cola and Pepsi are my drug of choice. If not for them, I would either be a chain smoker or raging alcoholic. I know it is not right, nor is it healthy. But it is reality right now. MY husband HATES that I drink soda (and I drink a lot of it ).

So anyway, I tell the kids, "Mommy is just going to get a drink and then we'll go home." My 4 year old says, "Mommy, you don't need a drink from here." I replied,"Oh really, and why not?" She very matter of factly stated, " Because you can get a drink of water at home."

Ouch!

It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! No mercy!

Thankful Thursday

2008-07-29T23:03:00.001-06:00

Today I am thankful for the following:

For the first time in 4.5 years, I will not have to buy diapers again...

for the next 2 months!

Joshua is officially potty trained and Abi has enough diapers left over from the baby shower (yes, she is almost 6 months old and we are still lavishing in the wonderful gifts of our friends) to last us at least 2 months.

What will I possible do with the $$$ I will save by NOT buying diapers over the next 2 months???

Any great ideas?

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-29T22:11:00.000-06:00

Seeking comfort after a bad dream...

For more WW visit

Abi's Bedtime Song

2008-07-27T22:00:00.000-06:00

I love you, Abi
And I always will
Forever, true
I love you, my child

Have peace from God
As you close your eyes
May you have a sweet,
sweet sleep,
Tonight...

I'm Back....

2008-07-16T17:00:00.000-06:00

OK, so after a wonderful 10 day visit with my family...

And 5 days with NO INTERNET...

Resulting in 5.5 hours on the phone with Verizon/ Microsoft/ Belkin/ and then Verizon again...

I am finally back online!

I'll post some great pictures a bit later tonight. Right now I am recuperating from the sheer exhaustion of dealing with very intelligent non-English speaking computer technicians from far away lands...

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-01T21:52:00.000-06:00

A Girl and Her Bear...

For more WW visit

Hit the Brakes, Nic!

2008-06-30T21:55:00.000-06:00

Laugh, Cry, whatever you will...

Just hang in there, I promise there is a point!

Thursday Night

Leah and the children are sitting on Nicole's bed reading stories shortly before 8pm. Nicole starts to cough a bit. Then Mommy starts coughing too. Then Joshua next. There was a "spice" in the air that was tickling...no...collapsing our airways. My heart began to race. I ran downstairs and shouted to my husband - "Honey, did you just spray Pepper Spray?" (Yes, I am talking about Mace, but stronger...) "Yup, three cans of it...all over the trash cans!" He replies quite smugly. I guess he didn't realize that the children's window was open and the whole house fan was sucking cool air in the house...and that the trash cans are right next to the children's window...Which is why he did not realized that 90% of the pepper spray would be sucked right into their room. And WHY???? on earth would he spray the trashcans with pepper spray, you ask? Because our 1 year old Labrador Retriever has a territorial issue and keeps peeing on them as if someone other dog has been encroaching on his trash turf. My husband was tired of washing off the trashcans only to find more sun baked urine the next day. Thankfully the room aired out quickly and the children were able to return to their beds at a somewhat delayed bedtime.

Flash forward 2 days...

Nicole requests to ride her bike. Her super cool purple and blue bike that Mimi and Bumpa slaved away to find for Christmas. Problem is...Nicole's version of riding her bike involves walking and pushing it up and down the driveway a few times before leaving it haphazardly in my husband's way. Daddy's response..."Do you want to me to give your bike away to some little kid who will ride it?" Nicole, says..."Sure Daddy, that will be fine." Daddy placed bike in shed behind the house and tells her the bike is gone. Little girl cries because she'll never be a "big girl" because she won't be able to ride a bike.

Now for the behind the scenes...

The dog (at least in my husband's opinion) pees on the trashcan and various other items in the backyard because he doesn't get walked as often as he should. Click here to find out why that is. I guess male dogs need to get out and pee on everything visible in order to feel validated...or something like that.

Nicole, on the other hand...is a girl and is a bit afraid of things like falling down and going fast. Daddy took Nicole to a church parking lot once to teach her to ride the bike and came back a little frustrated with her progress...they haven't been back since. Sometimes Daddy forgets that he was the 4th child...2 others of which were boys. Of course he knew how to ride a bike when he came out of the womb. If we were going to have a 4th child (which we are not) and it was a boy (he could only wish)...I am sure that he come out riding a bike too. But not so for our 4 year old princess loving ballerina.

Mom to the rescue...

I decided to kill 2 Goliath's with one stone. After all, what SuperMom can't exercise the puppy AND teach her daughter how to ride a bike at the same time.

Now Picture This:
Leah pushing Abi and Josh in double jogger...
80lb yellow lab on leash for the first time in about 2 weeks...
Nicole on super cool purple and blue bike for the first time in...a long time.

We (all) go cruising down the sidewalk.

Things are going great.

We go around the block and back.

We are within 50 yards of our house.

Nicole was feeling confident and decided to go from riding behind me (and the stroller and the dog) to riding in front of me. We started down a very SLIGHT decline. "You can stop pedaling Nicole and coast this out..." I yelled to her. She pedaled faster.

"NICOLE, USE YOUR BREAKS..."

I yelled. She started to swerve and wobble...and then scream. Now here I am...a good distance behind her now with the double jogger and the puppy. If I let go of the jogger it would go careening down the street even faster than her because of the extra weight. And if I didn't catch up to her....she was definitely gonna eat it! I found a patch of grass to ditch the jogger and quickly hit one of the brakes. I dropped the leash and took off in my fastest sprint (a crawl at best compared to some). Just as I was about to reach her...right at the end of my finger tips...she ate it all right. Off the curb and into the back of a parked car. Amazingly...there was no blood and even more amazingly...my Drama Queen shed no tears. I on the other hand...had just become scarred for life with guilt.

And now for the point...

Picturing Nicole on her bike yesterday is a good example of how I feel about life right now. Some days feel good...I am cruising along, feeling confident and even willing to take a few risks. Most days, however, I feel like that scared little girl...out of control, pedaling faster, swerving and wobbling as I head for what is likely to be a major collision. And yet now I see...if I would just stop...just put on the brakes for a minute...I would be fine. I could slow down, regain control, coast it out, or even stop for a breather.

I wonder if God ever feels like I did...screaming at me to STOP and PUT ON THE BRAKES... wishing I had never felt confident enough to go out ahead of Him on my own. If I would just listen to Him, I would be safe.

Today, I gave the theory a try. It was nap time for all three - and time for mom to sit down at the computer for 2 hours of work (I work from home for a friend's business when I can find the time, ha ha). No one was cooperating and I was feeling stressed. Pedal faster (get them into bed and get to work)...Starting to swerve (frustration building)...Panic setting in (Lord, I can't do this anymore!!!)...

And then I stopped. I hit the brakes. And I hit my knees...

Just like a little girl at bedtime, I knelt down beside my bed and asked the Lord to help me. I stated my weakness, confessed my frustration and acknowledged that only He could get me through the rest of the day. And you know what...He did.

Next time I think I'll hit the brakes a little sooner.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46:10

"Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer Request

2008-06-29T10:53:00.000-06:00

Please join me in praying for Kendra and her family. Their 7 week old, Baby Joe, was admitted to a Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit this weekend after Kendra found him limp and unresponsive in his crib. They are now several hours away from the SEVEN other children. The doctor's anticipate that Joe will be in intensive care for at least a week and MAY have some severe long term damage from the viral infection that is inhabiting many of his organs and brain. You can read updates straight from them at Preschoolers and Peace.

PLEASE PRAY!!!!

Thank you all!

Thankful Thursday

2008-06-25T22:27:00.001-06:00

Today I am thankful for...

My wonderful husband!

He has sacrificed so much for our family. He leaves for work at the crack of dawn and gets home far too late in the evening ( He commutes 2 1/2 hours each day) - just so that we can have a better life. He has given up many of his personal goals and hobbies for the sake of family time...and yet maintains a passion for life like no other person I know. He is my knight in shining armor. He is my best friend. He is a wonderful husband and father, provider and protector of our home, and we Praise God for him each day!

Wordless Wednesday - Changes

2008-06-24T22:36:00.001-06:00

She can SIT!

He wears UNDERWEAR!!!

And she just smiles as she plans the next

victim of those beautiful blue eyes!

(But then again...that's nothing new)

For more WW visit

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

2008-06-18T08:31:00.000-06:00

Nicole - Age 5 months (2004)

Abigail - Age 4 months (2008)

For more WW visit

Gratitide

2008-06-17T23:28:00.001-06:00

This is so what I need right now...
a commitment to focus on gratitude.
To praise the Giver of all Gifts.
So many of my days have been spent in a "funk" lately and yet,
I am so blessed...

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:11

I am grabbing a notebook right now
and labeling it my 1,000 Gifts Journal.
I will randomly share some of the entries with you.

Want to join me? Check out the details here...

So, here goes...my first entry in my 1,000 Gifts Journal:

1) The stillness and quiet of the house after everyone has gone to bed for the night.

Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings and gifts you give to me each day. Please forgive me for my indifference and lack of attention to details. Open my eyes, my ears, and my heart so that I can see you in all the small details of my day, everyday. Amen.

A Meme...

2008-06-16T23:21:00.001-06:00

Ok, so I am not really sure what a Meme is...but I was tagged by my friend Leah and I'll give it my best shot.

The rules:
1. Link your tagger and list the rules on the blog.
2. Share 7 facts about your kiddos on your blog…random, weird, funny…whatever you want!
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post
4. Don’t forget to let the tagged people know!

So here is every random thing I can think of about my children

1. Nicole has been deathly afraid of water since she was about 18 months old. I mean...she cries when I wash her hair. Until 2 weeks ago, that is... We visited a "beach-entry" pool and she decided to try it out. She cried when we left because she didn't want to get out. Since then she has swam in the ocean (at a ripe 60 degrees), a regular swimming pool, an unheated hot tub, a friend's wading pool and anywhere else she can go in her bathing suit. She has also decided that she wants to be a lifeguard when she grows up. Amazing.

2. Abi pooped today. "Big deal" right? It is around here. From about 6 weeks old until 6 months old, my children do not poop. With Nicole, I freaked. With Joshua, I was mildly concerned. Abi - I know better. She'll start pooping again when she is 6 months old. All of them were exclusively breastfed. All gained weight. None pooped. I am a lactation consultant and I cannot explain it. They are not constipated, there is just no poop in there. Strange but true.

3. Nicole's favorite bedtime song is "Shout to the Lord." She calls it the "My Jesus song but not Jesus Loves Me." Joshua's favorite bedtime song is "Taps". Did you know that "Taps" (the solo trumpet song they play at military funerals) has words? My husband googled it and found the words. You can read more about the history of "Taps" by clicking here. The words are:

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our days,
'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

4. Joshua's birthday is coming up in August. He wants a "red car shirt" for his birthday. That would be Lighting McQueen from Cars. Nicole's birthday is next March. She wants a pink telephone with a cord (which she thinks is so it doesn't get lost). Abi is still undecided on her next birthday gift...

5. Nicole has flown cross-country 6 times. Joshua 4 and Abi 2 times. Mimi and Bumpa (my parents) live in Maryland and the kids long to go to their house again. Amazingly, Nicole still remembers that the plane makes her ears hurt when she goes to Mimi and Bumpa's house.

6. Neither Joshua or Nicole slept through the night before they were 15 months old. (Joshua was actually more like 21 months old when he started sleeping through the night). I have very low expectations for Abi sleeping through the night any time soon...although maybe she'll suprise me! I have been sleep deprived now for 5 consecutive years and I live on Chai Tea lattes and Coca-Cola. Not good...

7. Though my children drive me absolutely insane sometimes, they are the most precious thing in the world to me and I praise God for them everyday! I could not imagine my life without their madness and I wouldn't want it any other way. There is a country song called, "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins and the very last stanza says this:

Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin' One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizin'
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but...

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast These are some good times So take a good look around You may not know it now But you're gonna miss this"

That pretty much sums up my life right now. Except instead of the plumber...it's the air conditioning repairman (who has been back to my house 3 times now since allegedly fixing the air conditioner). I just laugh when I hear that song because it describes my house perfectly.

Sampson is barking...Joshua's crying and Abi is screaming...

I could wish these days away, but I will try my best not to. I know that one day they won't be so small and I won't be able to kiss away their boo-boos anymore.

OK, so that wraps up my random facts about my children. I am supposed to "tag" 7 people...but I hardly think I know 7 other boggers. So, here is everyone I know and if you are lurking and want to join in...please feel free!

Blessings to you all, I'll be back soon with a more "meaningful" post about prayer!

TAG:
Kaiser Chronicles
Mommyology
Cooper Chaos
Mommy Doesn't Live Here

Intercession

2008-06-05T22:13:00.000-06:00

We are **SUPPOSED** to be on vacation right now.

We are not.

Any guesses about the atmosphere in my house right now? Yeah, whatever you are thinking is probably right - we'll leave it at that.

We were scheduled to leave for Colorado last Thursday, a much needed break from an otherwise overwhelming life. We were planning to drive and camp along the way. We were returning to the Christian Camp where we met, 9 years ago, for a dedication ceremony and some long anticipated fellowship with old friends. We were (somewhat) packed and awaiting my husband's arrival home from work on Thursday when he called to say we could not leave...a work issue had come up and it would not be feasible for us to drive to CO in time for the ceremony...especially w/ 3 children under the age of 4 in the car.

Now, some of you may be thinking...3 children in the car...driving to Colorado...and CAMPING...good thing the trip was canceled!!!! I have actually thought that once or twice over the past week myself. But the truth remains - we needed to get away. And we didn't.

My dear husband tried to make it up to the kids with a last minute overnight camping trip at the lake. It was a disaster. Not because of the children (as you would expect), but because of the (scary) people camping around us. We did not sleep at all. We are eaten alive with mosquito bites. We did not even stay for breakfast the next morning...we were packed and headed for home by 8:00 in the morning! But the kids had fun, so I guess that is all that matters.

Sunday, we decided to try the pool. Nicole (who has otherwise been terrified of the water) was suddenly converted to part fish and could not get enough swimming done. Joshua (also known as our future river guide due to his passion for the water) sat on the edge and cried the entire time we were there. Another disaster. Yeah!

My husband headed back to work on Monday and well, when you are planning to be away from work for a whole week and end up back there anyway...you usually aren't very happy about it. None of us were. And none of us were doing a very good job of hiding it. We were tired and grumpy and driving each other crazy. By last night I was done. I mean D-O-N-E. The children had been whiney and disobedient...the baby cranky because we are in the middle of changing her meds. I had been puked on all day and I was, well done. There was an issue with the (new/ used) car that had to be dealt with immediately, so my husband spent all evening taking care of that...which meant another meal and bedtime on my own. I knew that I was headed for a meltdown, so I text-messaged my dear friend Tami to ask for prayer. It went something like this: Pls. pray for me, I am close to meltdown. Call me tomorrow. Love you! She text msg'd me back the following: You are a wonderful mother and wife because you know when you need prayer and you ask for it. Love you too.

Man, who doesn't need a friend like that!

By the time I got her text back, I had actually calmed down a bit...but I still wasn't exactly "speaking" to my husband. We were both clearly annoyed with one another. As I stood at the sink washing dishes, I thought back over the events of the evening...At one point I was ready to call it quits. And at some point, I regained a small glimer of hope (perhaps it was the rapidly approaching bedtime). I chuckled to myself as I thought, "someone must have been praying for me, not even knowing that I needed it." And you know how thoughts go...that snowballed into a flury of thoughts that led to this..."If I am supposed to LOVE my enemies and PRAY for those who persecute me (Matt 5:44), how much more should I be LOVING and PRAYING for my husband right now..."

OK, stop right there...I am in NO WAY implying that my husband is my enemy or that he persecutes me. My husband is my BEST friend and takes care of me better than I take care of myself. My point is, if I am to treat people I am not fond of in this manner, shouldn't I be treating my husband 100 x's better than this? Sure, I pray for him daily. I **try** to put his needs before my own, although I am not very good at it. But the word INTERCEDE was stuck in the forefront of my mind. My husband was suffering through this bad week just as much (if not more) than I was. He needed prayer. I immediately confessed my negative thoughts and selfish musings as sinful and asked the Lord to forgive me. I then began to pray for him, for encouragement, for peace, for him to KNOW that I was on his side, supporting him, and not just someone else who needed his support and attention. You know what happened? Nothing...
Just kidding.

My heart began to soften towards him. More and more, my heart turned towards him and I began to want to encourage him and serve him myself. Even more awesome is that his heart softened towards me (and I know it because he finally started speaking to me again). We were on the same team again, supporting one another through this time of trial, not feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming the other person. Prayer is amazing! (And he doesn't even know how I manipulated him into speaking to me again, ha ha).

So, what in the world is the point of this LONG post...I'm not really sure, but I needed to get all this off my chest. Pray for your husbands ladies. If you are upset or frustrated with them, do not harbor bitter or wrong thoughts towards them. Confess any wrong thinking immediately - these thoughts are sin! Begin to keep a mental list of things you love about your husband and pray through them, praising God for each thing (even if you can only think of one or two at the time...keep it up and the list is bound to grow). Instead of grousing about him, praise God for the man He brought into your life. God is faithful to soften our hearts and turn our hearts back to them when we do!

Blessings to you all...have a great weekend!

But I tell you: Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you...
Matt 5:44

For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Matt 6:21

On the Reflux Roller Coaster Again

2008-05-27T15:38:00.000-06:00

Well...here we go again.

I guess that I have been in denial.

Abigail has always been a projectile vomiter. I have even nick-named her "pooker" (because she pukes all the time). But until recently she was a relatively happy puker. She has been becoming increasingly fussy over the last few weeks, with periods of intense screaming/ arching/ and poor nursing. She clings to me in desperation and cannot be consoled. After a quick trip to North Carolina this weekend, it became apparent that we needed to do something about it. My mom agreed that Abigail's behavior mimicked that of Joshua when he was about 3 months old...which we learned much later was because of his reflux. Part of me wants to run and hide from the reflux monster this time...and the other part of me wants to treat her NOW so she doesn't get as sick as Joshua did (which was from leaving it untreated). I just don't want to give her medication if it is all in my head...

We saw our fantastic pediatrician today, Dr. Grant, and she agreed that it was time to do a medication trial. I guess I should be optimistic that this will bring back my happy baby...but I am sad that we have to go through it again. That on top of some other discouraging news regarding our home/ job situation has me a little bummed. But hey, God has a plan for us...and it is good. So I will cling to Him and His Word as we round another corner in this roller coaster called life!

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

A Sense of Humor

2008-05-21T21:49:00.000-06:00

Did you know that GOD has sense of humor?

I mean, we all know that He is magnificent, holy and perfect. Creator and sustainer, giver of all good gifts. All knowing and all powerful. (I could go on and on, but you get the picture)

BUT...have you ever stopped to think about His sense of humor?

Can you ever just tell that God is getting a good chuckle out of your situation? Well, imagine this scene...

I was shopping at Kohl's for a pair of shorts for my upcoming trip to North Carolina. The shopping part was unpleasant just because of the size I ended up purchasing, but that is a whole different topic for another day...Anyhow, the pleasant part of the experience was my children's' behavior. Abi was in the stroller and Joshua and Nicole were walking...usually a recipe for disaster...but things were going surprisingly well. We got to the register and had almost succeeded without incident when it happened...

I noticed a poor momma of 4 walking towards the register with her SCREAMING 3 year old. He was having the tantrum of a century. And she had "the look." You know it...the 1,000 yard stare that says, "Do not look at me and certainly do not speak to me or I shall surely rip your head off." Feeling great compassion for this woman (as my children stood patiently waiting for the cashier to help us), I said a quick prayer for her...it went something like this, "Lord, I know how this poor woman feels. Please help her now. Give her Your peace and let her know that she is not alone." And why did I have to say that last line? No sooner did I say "Amen" than my own Joshua began his own gianormous temper tantrum right there at the check out. Fortunately, we were almost done, I swept him up into the stroller and made a mad dash for the door. As I reached the car (Joshua still WAILING) I realized that God has used ME to show her she wasn't alone. Thank you...I needed that.

As my husband loves to say - "Everyone needs to be humbled every now and then."

PS: Chores got done today and we made it to speech therapy. I must admit that I am starting to lose my motivation though...Tomorrow: clean bathrooms and empty trash. We will probably eat out since I am leaving (with Abi) early Friday morning for North Carolina (my baby sister is graduating from college...Congrats Ashley!!!). I'll be spending most of my evening packing, I'm sure.

PS Again: The picture above is of Joshua when he was about 8 weeks old. Always has been a screamer!!!

Wordless Wednesday - 3 Months Old

2008-05-20T23:52:00.001-06:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Progress Report

2008-05-20T23:35:00.000-06:00

Day #2 of life back on track...

Chores: DONE!

Yes, that's right...I tackled my greatest enemy (other than my weight and the dentist) and dusted my house. I also Windex'd the mirrors and glass in the house. We tackled the market and ran an errand for my husband. I somehow managed to have dinner ready when my husband got home from work (thankfully he was a little late getting home...so I had a few extra minutes) and I even walked the dog!!!! Brownie points for me, ha ha. You should have seen the looks I got from people...me with the baby in the front carrier, Nicole and Joshua in the now VERY heavy jogging stroller and the huge yellow lab pulling us down the street. We were a traveling circus!

Tomorrow:
Vacuum up and down stairs
Balance the checkbook

Dinner: Tacos, Spanish Rice and Beans

Wednesday is a crazy day because we go to speech therapy an hour away. Joshua loves his teacher and she is working miracles with his speech...so at this point it is still worth it. When gas hits $4.00 per gallon here in So Cal I will have to reconsider our 2 hour round trip drive for 30 minutes of speech class! Until then, we pack up the kids and enjoy the ride! The cool thing is that we drive by Miramar Naval Air Station and always see cool helicopters and jets flying overhead.

The bad news for today was ATTITUDE! It stunk all around my house. Nicole has been pushing buttons ever since she has recovered from being sick last week. Give her an inch of slack and she'll walk all over you! I quickly grew impatient with her finagling and Joshua's whining and my attitude went right down the toilet with theirs! Looking back now, I see what was missing - that short but ever so important prayer time during the baby's morning feed. Bummer - I cannot leave that one out! Anyway, there was a fair amount of shouting in my house today. I am very disappointed in myself. The market was a nightmare because the children would not keep their hands to themselves and Nicole almost knocked an older man down because she was dancing around the sidewalk while walking to the car. I feel like they should know better because I am always on their case about it...but I guess they don't. I guess I should just take it as a reminder of the importance of my quiet time in the morning (no matter how short of insignificant it seems, it is still vital for my day) and the ever important task of TRAINING my children. So we keep training. And praying. And praying. And praying some more.

Hope you have an awesome day tomorrow! Here's praying for a better attitude in my house...

Update

2008-05-19T22:16:00.000-06:00

Air Conditioner: FIXED!

Chores: DONE!!!

It was a better day.

I started the day with a short prayer time during the baby's 5:30 am feeding (it was short because I did fall back asleep when she was done).

We somehow managed to hit the ground running and actually finished our chores by 9:30 am. By that time, the air conditioner repairman had arrived and I was able to use his presence for a short lesson on strangers...just because he was at our home did not mean that we knew him. My daughter is very friendly and outgoing and would take him all over the house showing him things if I let her. Gotta be careful of that one!

Anyway, we pulled out a game for "school time" and tried a slightly less formal method of learning. Dora the Explorer Chutes and Ladders was the lesson...we practiced number recognition and counting. We actually played the game for about 5 minutes till they decided to play the game "their way" and I decided I wasn't going to die on that hill! Next, we moved on to play dough while mom balanced the checkbook. The kids had a blast. This was also a nice lesson in color recognition for Joshua! Then we had lunch and were off to naps - during which time I managed to squeeze in 2 hours of work (I work from home helping out a friends business as often as I can). All in all, I'd call the day a success...a few moments of, well...chaos and disorder, but overall I am feeling pretty good. Now, we prepare for tomorrow...

Chores: Dust up and downstairs.
Windex all mirrors and doors.

I know it doesn't seem like much, but dusting is my LEAST favorite chore. We also will do one load of laundry and will probably run to the market. Hopefully we can get some "school" in as well. And speaking of chores...in all my ambition last night I printed out new chore charts for the kids. This really helped their motivation level today...

Nicole's Chore Chart (4 years old): Make Bed, Feed Dog (AM), Kitchen Helper (empty the dishwasher if clean, set/ clear the table), Clean-up the Play Room, and Quiet nap time.

Joshua's Chore Chart (2 1/2): Make Bed, Feed Dog (PM), Laundry Helper (he puts the laundry in the washer and presses start, then changes it to dryer), Clean-up Playroom and Quiet nap time.

Nicole has to help Josh do some of his chores, but as we learned this morning in devotions...helping others is a way to show God's love to them. And besides, they get stars for doing their chores with a "happy heart," who could ask for more?

And so now, the kitchen is clean, my husband's lunch is packed and I am off to bed. Lord willing, tomorrow will be as productive as today and I can be one step closer to my re-organized life after Baby #3. Tune in tomorrow for the next update...

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 28:7

Hard Pressed but not Crushed

2008-05-18T23:36:00.000-06:00

We live in Southern California, near the desert.

It's hot here. (No really, it was over 100 degrees today).

Our air conditioner is broken. Dead. 6 feet under.

I probably needn't say more...but I will.

It's currently after 10:30 pm and my house is still 80 degrees INSIDE!

This has been going on for four days. I am not happy. And like the old saying goes, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" The baby is crabby, the children are grumpy, and my husband spent all weekend busting his rump in the hot hot weather. Saturday he spent all day in the attic (approx 115 degrees) installing a whole house fan and today he did yard work all day. You can bet...he's NOT happy either.

Yesterday (while he was installing the attic fan and watching the children at the same time, so I could throw my best-friend's baby shower)...the house became a war zone. The children were in Level 5 hurricane mode and the attic fan installation produced tons of rogue drywall and dust. I guess I should also confess that, in light of baby shower prep - I may have neglected my chores a bit too. So imagine my humiliation when a neighbor offered to come over yesterday afternoon and help my husband finish installing the fan. I NEVER wanted anyone to see my house like that again! I fell on the bed last night feeling totally defeated and promised myself (and my children) that tomorrow would be a better day.

It wasn't.

Tomorrow being today...I hit the ground running. But unfortunately lacking the joy I so desperately wanted in my heart. I cleaned up most of the downstairs before breakfast and tried to keep myself in perpetual motion. About the time I hit my mid-morning slump...the phone rang...it was my husband's friend John and he was going to be in town later that day. He wanted to stop by. Uh oh.

I have long had a dream that my husband would never again have to apologize for the state of our home. It's happened a few times before and it was humiliating. I want to be that person who can be on top of things (especially the home) all the time. You know...ready for drop in company on a moment's notice ready. Well this afternoon, he had to apologize. It broke my heart. I need to get back on top of things around here.

So, tomorrow I start anew. I have a wonderful routine in place for home chores...but I haven't been faithful to it ever since Abigail was born. Tomorrow that changes. Please, hold me accountable to this (I'll be posting each evening this week to let you know that I got my chores done...and what I have planned for the next day).

Tomorrow: Change the linens and towels.
Wash Linens and Towels.
Empty all trash.
Take trash down to the curb for pick up on Tuesday.
Grocery Shop.

I know that I shouldn't be so hard on myself...I did just have a baby (3 months ago)...but God has given me an amazing man for a husband who is harder to please than most. And I want nothing more than to make him proud of his family and his home. I know that I am lacking in many areas right now (the home, training of the children, my own appearance/ weight). And it's time to get back to work!

I do feel discouraged. Hard pressed to be exact. But I will not be defeated and I will rely on the Lord to guide me, energize me, motivate me, and strengthen me in my endeavors.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. "
2 Cor 4:7-9

Pray for me :-)

And by the way - The air conditioner repairman is coming tomorrow to fix the AC...tomorrow is going to be a better day, I promise!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Fun

2008-05-14T10:54:00.000-06:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Beloved

2008-05-11T22:07:00.000-06:00

I was reading a post in a blog I frequently visit when I was challenged by the writer's message...she asked, " If you had to choose ONE word to describe your mother, what would it be?" I have thought long and hard over this question and I have finally decided the word that I would use to describe my mother is:

Beloved!

That's right, the word I would choose to describe my mother is Beloved. And no other word could bring me such joy!
You see, I was the first in my family to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, at the ripe old age of 19 at the Pennsylvania State University (I was a sophomore at that time). I believe that my Dad was close in following, and then my sweet sister (who is 7 years younger than me), but my mom was a little harder to convince. She was raised in the Catholic Church and was certain that I had lost my mind when I became an evangelical Christian. She wanted nothing to do with my outspoken faith! But somewhere along the way I began to see changes in her. And with much prayer and perseverance, I am so thankful to say that she is now a Believer as well! And that is why I chose the word Beloved...because my mother is a Beloved daughter of the King of Kings, just like me!

A few weeks ago, when my father was preparing for his heart surgery, he asked me if he should write each of us (my sister, my mother and myself) a letter before he went into surgery. I quickly responded that he should NOT write me a letter. I told him, "Dad...I know that you love me and IF something should happen, you can tell me whatever else you need to say on the other side. Because I know that I will be spending eternity with you in the Kingdom and our earthly goodbye is just a temporary one."

Very few things bring me more joy than knowing that my whole family (and Lord willing, my children one day too) will be with me in Heaven. Thank you Lord for this amazing blessing.

And Happy Mother's Day Mom, I miss you and I love you!

Wordless Wednesday - Quality Time

2008-05-09T23:29:00.000-06:00

Nothing beats a little quality sibling time!

Sorry my post is a few days late for WW -
but these were too cute to pass up!

Blessings to you all and Happy Mother's Day!

Hold my hand, Nicole...

2008-04-24T22:17:00.000-06:00

That scream could only mean one thing...
My 4 year old "princess" had come face to face with a bug.

He was poised in the dog's food dish and he was by far the biggest grasshopper I had ever seen. Joshua, being the brave 2 1/2 year old brother, walked right up to him and picked him up. (I am sure if he had been a little older he would have thrown it at her, but fortunately he hasn't learned about those things yet). My husband called for back-up...a glass jar so we could keep him as a pet! Hooray! So, we sacrificed our one and only glass jar
(typically used for storing homemade marinade) for the sake of a "classroom pet." (I guess I should get used to that as I prepare to home school our children. At first the kids were excited. We put grass and leaves in the jar for him and punched air holes in the metal lid. But by the end of the day...the excitement had worn off!

I had just finished changing Joshua's diaper and instructed him to take the dirty diaper to the trashcan. He started to walk that way, then started to panic. As I looked over in that direction I noticed that the grasshopper was sitting on the counter above the trashcan. I again instructed him to take the diaper to the trashcan and he insisted, "No." Preparing myself for the battle of the wills, I asked him, "why not?" He replied with a quiver in his voice..."Joshua scared!" Well, no little boy belonging to my husband could get away with being scared of a bug. Daddy told him to be brave and get over there. And then...melting our hearts once again...he looked at his sister (the one who screamed with full on drama at first sight of the grasshopper) and said, " hold my hand, Nicole?" Much to our surprise, she did. They held hands and crept towards the trashcan. Joshua quickly opened the lid and threw in the diaper, then made a bee-line for the play room. There was no way he was hanging out near the grasshopper any longer than he had to. And yes, we did return the grasshopper to his natural habitat the next morning.

Oh to have a friend like that...one that will hold your hand and help you face your worst fear. Even if they are also afraid of that thing you are facing together. The Bible tells us that friends are good, they are necessary, and that one is indeed the "loneliest number."

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-13

However, friendship of this caliber takes work and quite frankly, most of us don't have a lot of time for that. Between our homes and husbands, cooking meals and folding laundry, our ministries and homeschooling and sick kids and on and on and on...How is a mother to maintain these friendships?

And let us consider how we may spur
one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another—
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10: 24-25

Unfortunately, when the tough gets going around my house, the first thing I must "give up" is my friends. And in most cases, they are the very ones I need the most during those times. I need their encouragement, their understanding, their prayers, their hugs and their "spurring on" so that I can continue to stand firm in my faith.

Seeing the closeness of my two older children has helped me to realize that I need to give a little more attention to these friendships. God has blessed me with some amazing women in my life - some "Grandma" friends (Carol), some "more experienced" mom friends (Diane and Chris), and a select few who just plain "get it."(Tami) While this season of my life may make it difficult to get together on a regular basis- it is still wonderful to be praying for one another and helping each other out any way we can. I especially love the phone calls that say..."I am running in to Walmart, can I pick anything up for you?" (Diapers, hangars, bathing suits...you name it) I love you all so much and I hope that we can maintain our friendship throughout the years.

If you have a friend, especially a sister-in-Christ, who you have let slip away...call them today and let them know that you still love them and purpose to encourage one another any way you can!

Thank you Lord that you have blessed us with women who can give us a small glimpse of you by their loyal friendship. Thank you for equipping us to spur one another on towards love (for our families and for You) and good deeds. Help us to nurture these friendships so that they may blossom and grow over the years.

Click here for Grasshopper Picture Above

Wordless Wednesday #5 - Healing

2008-04-22T23:56:00.000-06:00

Nurse Abigail brings healing and smiles to Cardiac Surgery patient (my dad). Praise God, he is home and doing great!

2008-04-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

Our Precious Lauren

Lauren and Nicole at Bible Study

(please see prayer request below)

Wordless Wednesday #4 - Prayer Request

2008-04-15T21:36:00.000-06:00

Please read the urgent prayer request below. Thank you all!

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Urgent Prayer Request

2008-04-15T15:38:00.000-06:00

There are some things that we just cannot understand. The hardest for me is seeing a child suffer....

Please join me and MANY others in praying for Lauren Nihei. She is 4 years old and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor today. Her parents just learned of the tumor 2 weeks ago when Lauren was complaining of severe headaches. Today they were informed that Lauren had approximately 16 weeks to live. If her parents choose to try aggressive treatment, it could be 9 months. Lauren has a little sister, Marissa, who is 2 and her mom, Hillary, is 4 months pregnant. Please help us pray for a MIRACLE and that, above all else, God would be glorified and his will accomplished.

We serve an awesome God who is perfect, holy, and above all things of this world. I know that He has a plan for each of our lives...including Lauren, and it is a plan that will prosper us and not harm us. I don't know what that means for Lauren, or for any of us for that matter. But I do trust that His word is truth and that He sees the big picture when we cannot.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

May the Lord bless you and keep you today!

Wordless Wednesday #3 - Praise!

2008-04-09T09:02:00.000-06:00

It's official...Joshua is OFF his Prevacid (acid reflux medicine) and well on his way to becoming a healthy, happy, growing boy. All praise be to God who is our Great Physician!

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Follow Me...

2008-04-07T14:57:00.001-06:00

I've heard those words a hundred times lately..."Hey Josh, Follow Me!" It seems our little Nicole is a born leader. And her brother would follow her anywhere. Joshua also has one of the sweetest hearts of any 2 year old boy I know. He is almost always willing to give up his toys, his seat, or his snack for her (now, if I can only teach her not to take advantage of that we'll be ok). Once in a great while he gets stubborn and I hear "NO" reverberating through the whole house. When this happens I explain to Nicole - just wait a few minutes and he'll come around to your way of thinking. And he usually does...a few minutes later they are playing together happily.

One morning last week, after reviewing my lessons from the book of Matthew, I pictured myself in the same scenerio - only with two different characters. You see, Joshua's willingness to 'get up and go' for Nicole is exactly what Jesus expects from me.

Matthew 16:24 says,
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

In the early days of my walk with the Lord, I was so much like Joshua. I'd go anywhere the Lord asked me...without hesitation. Is that still the same today? Let's just say that the 2 year old comes out in me more and more often these days. I find myself screaming "NO" because I want it my way. You want me to do what?!? Learn a lesson, experience pain, deal with a difficult child, go where, apologize to whom? I have better plans than that!

One of my favorite songs is "Bring the Rain" by Mercy Me. However, I admit that I cringe every time I sing the chorus (so do my children in the car...but that's because I don't sing very well)...

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

How many people out there can honestly say..."Lord, please bring me pain if it brings You glory." Sure, we endure it when it comes...we even know the He will get us through it. We pray for Him to be glorified in the end. But not too many of us seek it out for the sake of His glory. Even Jesus spoke out loud his hesitation regarding the suffering He was about to endure on the cross...

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42

OK, I guess I shouldn't beat myself up so much. God cares about me - my life, my problems, my dreams and desires. It's alright to tell Him what I want...or don't want for that matter. Is He surprised when I say "NO"...not really, after all He made me and He knows me better than I know myself. As long as I surrender myself to Him in the end..."not my will, but Yours be done" we'll be just fine. And fortunately, He is patient with me and, just like Joshua, I usually do come around to His way of thinking.

Lord, help me to follow You at all cost. Take my dreams and desires and mold them so they align with Your plan for my life. Help me to always glorify You, especially during the hard times, so that others may want to follow You as well. I love you Lord!

Wordless Wednesday #2 - Joy

2008-04-02T09:48:00.001-06:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Wordless Wednesday #1

2008-03-25T22:57:00.000-06:00

"Mommy's Little Ladies"

For more Wordless Wednesday visit

Jesus and the Helicopter

2008-03-21T23:05:00.000-06:00

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

We were reading the Easter story before bed tonight when my 4 year old (Nicole) and I engaged in a riveting discussion about the cross. We looked at a picture of the cross and discussed the "bad ouchies" that Jesus endured during His death. I explained once again that Jesus had to die on the cross so that we can go to heaven and be with Him forever. She began to rattle off a list of friends and family members, asking if each one would be in heaven with her. After each name I assured her that yes, these people would also be in heaven if they loved Jesus with all their heart.

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37

She boldly proclaimed that SHE loved Jesus with all HER heart and that she was "so happy to go to heaven one day". My 2 1/2 year old (Joshua), following in perfect suit (and in his own foreign language) proclaimed, "Joshua love Jesus too!" Excitedly I asked him, "Joshua, do you love Jesus with all your heart too?" He thought for a moment and frowned, "No," he said, "Joshua LOVE helicopters."

Oh, the wisdom of a 2 year old! As I thought about it later, I realized how right he was. How can we, as believers, claim to love Jesus with ALL our hearts when our hearts are consumed with so many other things...some good (our families, ministries, and fellowship of good friends) and some not so good (our homes, finances, careers and the opinions of others). Of course Joshua couldn't love Jesus with all his heart when something as wonderful as helicopters was taking up so much room! A very wise person once told me that in order to truly pick up your cross you must put down everything else you are carrying. It takes 2 hands (and a whole heart) to carry your cross for Jesus.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

This also got me thinking about all the non-believers out there who think that Jesus could never love them because of the things they do hold in their hearts. Addictions, wrong choices, and ugly scars. They think, "when I get myself cleaned up, then maybe I'll be ready for Jesus." That is the beautiful thing about our Lord, He takes us just as we are. He knows that we will never be able to set those worldly things aside or clean out our hearts by our own power. All we have to do is surrender our hearts to Him, tattered and broken and filled with garbage as they are...and He will do the dirty work for us!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Some of us may already have an idea of the big things taking up room in our heart, squeezing out precious space for Jesus...and some of us may not. If you can't think of anything that is holding you back from a passionate whole-hearted love for Jesus, then ask Him to show you... and in His time, He will.

In the meantime, God bless you and Happy Easter!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Happy Birthday Nicole!

2008-03-21T10:29:00.001-06:00

Our little princess turned 4 on Saturday. We had a wonderful time sharing pizza, cupcakes and presents. I can't believe how fast she is growing up! She loves ballet and all things girl, but at the same time she is often found playing with monster trucks and getting dirty outside (she especially likes mud)...what a nice combination! She also has a magnificent love for Jesus and frequently asks people if Jesus lives in their heart too. Oh, if we only had the same gumption as adults! When was the last time you asked someone if Jesus lived in their heart? We are so blessed to have Nicole as our oldest child, she is paving the way quite nicely for our younger children. Thank you Lord for our precious big girl!

And then there were 3...

2008-03-19T22:14:00.001-06:00

Welcome to our newest addition, Abigail Danielle...proudly displayed by her big sister and brother. Time passes quickly with a 4 year old, two year old, and newborn at home!

Musings of a VERY Pregnant Momma

2008-01-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

It's official...I've lost my mind.

It happened about 3 days ago when I realized I had lost the mayonnaise jar. I had made myself a tuna fish sandwich for lunch and must have been in a hurry to clean up afterwards. That night, when I started to make David's lunch for work, I could NOT find the mayonnaise anywhere. We searched the whole kitchen over...the freezer, the pantry, the trash can. No mayonnaise. I was laughing so hard I could barely hold my bladder (not uncommon being 9 months pregnant). I also knew that the laughter could at any time turn into uncontrollable sobbing (also not uncommon given the circumstances). Anyhow, 2 days later we found it...On the 2nd shelf up in the spice cabinet. Don't ask me, cause I don't know.

All I know is the brain is gone. And at this point I might not get it back!

And just when you think it doesn't get any worse...

We (Nicole, Joshua and I) were at Motherhood Maternity store purchasing a few "end-of-pregnancy" shirts (yes, I have outgrown all that it is my closet) when my daughter decided to strike up an all too familiar conversation..."Mommy, does that lady have a baby in her tummy too?" Well, in the maternity store you wouldn't think that was a big deal. But no, she had to be asking about the one non-pregnant woman in the store. The cashier...
She was a very sweet lady who happened to be a slightly larger than average woman. We were standing at the register when my daughter asked her pointed question and I quietly told her, "No sweetie, she doesn't." The lady smiled at me and I explained that she asks that about everyone we see. I thought things were under control until Nicole stood up in the stroller and insisted quite loudly, "Mommy, she does have a baby in her tummy. I know it! See how big her tummy is." I suddenly felt like a live version of a Southwest Airlines commercial...wanna get away?

C-section day is officially one month away!!!

Surviving Christmas

2007-12-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

I received this cartoon in an email the other day and it meant so much to me. We don't have a lot of money for Christmas gifts this year, and all that I have bought is contained in 2 Walmart and 2 Target bags in the guest bedroom. Fortunately, we have family (my parents) who have been willing to pitch in and be "Santa" for the kids...they'll never know the difference. I have been overwhelmed with the peace that comes when lacking the "Christmas Crazies." I have had more time to focus on Jesus, and less worry about the commercialism of the holiday. I find myself searching for creative, inexpensive ways to bless others...like chocolate covered spoons for dipping in coffee and homemade goodies for neighbors/ needy. Anyway, the cartoon made me smile so I thought I'd pass it on you. Enjoy! God bless you and Merry Christmas.

Mountains of Faith

2007-12-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

Mountains are my thing.

As a matter of fact, some of my most meaningful quiet times have come in the mountains…on the side of a cliff in Utah, by a rushing river in West Virginia, and so many wonderful times in the Collegiate Peaks of Colorado. I have never experienced the beauty of the Lord so richly as I did sitting on top of Bob's Rock on Sunday afternoons watching the sun sink low behind a landscape of rugged peaks. I often wonder if my life would be filled with just a little more joy if I could step out on my balcony every morning (of my log cabin, of course) and smell the fresh mountain air as I view God’s majestic mountains before me.

If you were to open my Bible to Psalm 121, you would see RMH 1999 written beside the title. That is where it all began for me. Rocky Mountain High was an outdoor leadership program where I first encountered the Rocky Mountains, and my future husband. I vomited all over him as I suffered through Acute Mountain Sickness and one of the most humbling experiences of my life. My passion for the mountains and my realization of the need for the Lord’s help in my life began there. It’s a good thing I started to learn it then…cause I am no where near as strong and confident today as I was back then!

Psalm 121, verses 1-2 say, “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

As I was reviewing this verse the other day, I realized something for the first time. If the writer of this psalm was lifting his eyes UP to the hills – he was NOT standing on top of a mountain when he wrote it. Looking further into the history of the psalm, I found that travelers would sing this psalm, probably as the traveled to Jerusalem…looking up at Mount Zion. They would sing out loud the attributes of the God they knew as they endured a gruesome journey. They confessed out loud that God was their helper, that He would not let their foot slip and that He would not slumber during their journey. They knew in their hearts that he would protect them despite the perils of this trip.

Now, my family is facing a season of “trials” right now and, as we have done so I have learned something very interesting about myself. While most people run to the Lord in times of trouble, and draw a little further away when times are good…I am the opposite. When things are at peace in my life, I enjoy great fellowship with the Lord. I guess I feel his favor and love and want to be close to him because I know he "likes me." But when times get tough…I start running. After pondering this for as long as a mom of a 2 and 3 year old can…I think I might know why.

I am pretty certain that we are being disciplined right now for some poor decisions made over the last 2 years. I feel like God is disappointed in me, and the details of daily life seem like they would be annoying to him. I feel like God has put me in a spiritual time out. No talking, just sit there and think about what you have done wrong (that's what I tell my 3 year old when I put her in time-out). But how do I treat my own children when putting them in time out? I follow it up with a period of great love and concern. Lots of cuddling and talking and making sure that they know I love them dearly. Surely, if I know how to give my children good gifts, my Father in heaven is able to do so much more for me!

Psalm 121, verses 7-8 say “the Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.” These verses have always instilled a mental picture of God looking down from on high, watching tons of people go back and forth…kind of like an aerial view of New York City streets. But I realize now that it is so much more than that. Matthew 10: 30-31 says. “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth many sparrows.” If God cares enough about me to number the MANY hairs on my head (and I have A LOT of hair), he must also care about the daily details of my life. Yes, there is the huge looming darkness of possible foreclosure on our home, but what about the fact that my dear son, plagued with so many health concerns already, may now need hearing aids and I can’t even bring myself to tell his daddy because it is one more thing about his son that will break his heart. Or the fact that David is in tryouts right now for a job that he so desperately wants…and needs! Or how about my own job situation...being 7 and 1/2 months pregnant and needing to return to nursing ASAP to help pay the mortgage. We spent several hundred dollars updating my certifications and I have not gotten one call-back regarding my resume. Do I dare ask for God’s help with these things during a time of discipline? Am I being like my 3 year old who asks for ice cream after she has just received a spanking?

1 Corinthians 13 is the quintessential chapter regarding love. Many times I have heard my name inserted in the verses to encourage me to love others the way God intended. Leah is patient, Leah is kind…but last night I read something profound. If God is love, as noted in 1 John 4:13 , then it is only logical to assume that God’s love towards me is patient, God’s love towards me is kind, God’s love towards me does not take into account a wrong suffered, God’s love towards me bears all things, God’s love towards me endures all things. And God’s love towards me will never fail. I can never out knuckle-head God’s love for me. So yes, he MUST care about the details. Everyday and in every way.

And while I cannot run away to the mountains right now (as tempting as it is), I can look up to mountains around me and dream of all the wonderful adventure God has planned for me. I can look up to the women who represent mountains of faith in my life, women like Violet, Caroline, Bonnie, and Laurie…and know that they have endured valleys and I will endure too. And I can be thankful for this time in the valley, because only then can I truly lift my eyes up to the mountains and praise the God I know for the work He is doing in my life.

In a Haze

2007-06-29T16:30:00.000-06:00

Things were going so well...

We were on a high with our new diagnosis, a happy son, and hope in our hearts. I had new energy, enthusiasm, and felt like I could reach the world for Jesus with my knew knowledge and passion. And then it happened. The backslide....

I don't know if he ate the wrong food, started cutting a tooth, or (as my dear friend Heather suggested) is just suffering from "growing pains," but all of a sudden our son is a wreck again. He is still cranky, defiant, and VERY needy. Now granted, he is NOTHING like how bad he was before...but I was just getting used to his new joyful attitude and independence.

And how have I responded to this? With the patience and grace that Jesus supplies a desperate mother? With love and gentleness for a child who is likely hurting more than being defiant. Sadly, no. I immediately became exasperated with him; defensive of my time and my priorities and unwilling to spend hours holding my son like the old days. Oh, how wretched we are when left to ourselves.

In 2 Cor 12:9, Jesus tells me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I am so ashamed of my weakness and my need for daily renewal by Christ. I was totally busted today by an older mother from my church...she caught me yelling at Joshua! I wanted to crawl in a hole...but it makes me understand what Paul was talking about when he said: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Getting caught only made me realize even more my need for Christ's power...I can't do it on my own. I do need daily renewal...surrendering myself and my desires to Christ and allowing him to work in me and through me...in order to make it through even one day with Joshua. Realizing my weakness brings me to my knees. Sharing it with you helps hold me accountable, and will hopefully help someone else out there realize the need for Christ's power in their life.

Will things be peaceful and normal in my house again? Who knows. My husband broke his finger at work last week (crushed the bone/ 5 sutures) and we found out that we are expecting baby #3 in February (hey, God's timing is perfect, not ours :-). Peaceful may not be the first word that comes to mind regarding my household, but I can and will be FULL of PEACE thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose power (and peace) are made perfect in our weakness.

God Bless you all!

At the Bookstore...

2007-05-23T13:36:00.000-06:00

I was cruising around Barnes & Noble yesterday when the Lord taught me a very nice lesson. I had finished looking at Gluten Free Cookbooks (mmm, sounds yummy, huh) and had a feeling that I should look in the children's section before I left. Enjoying a few minutes of mommy time (sans children), I headed that way.

I came across a lady with an infant in a stroller and the baby was wearing a skull molding helmet. I thought...wow, what a bummer! As I browsed for a book on children and celiac's disease, she asked me what I was looking for her. I told her and she immediately pulled a book off the shelf. She had obviously been sitting there for a while. She asked me if my child has celiac's disease and I said yes. She started telling me about her daughter and wondering out loud if she should try a gluten free diet for her. You see, her daughter was 6 and was on the verge of being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. She had heard somewhere along the way that food allergies can cause very disturbing behavioral problems. I immediately heard the Holy Spirit whispering..."pray for her." I thought...ok,ok, hold on.

We kept talking. Next, she told me that her mother had recently passed away. This was the first death she had ever experienced and she was having a hard time learning how to grieve. This lady had her plate full! She told me that she had been to see a "spiritualist" who was able to receive messages from her mom "on the other side." She had told her children about this and was encouraging them to leave notes and pictures around the house for Grandma to see. By now the Holy Spirit was screaming...PRAY FOR HER! This was a well dressed middle-class normal looking woman who was desperate. I know, I've been there. She was searching for encouragement...from her mother, from anyone who would be her advocate while she watched her child suffer. She explained that her daughter was tearing apart her home...been there too. My heart broke for her as I wondered if I had the courage to witness to her.

I could tell that the conversation was winding down and that she needed to go take care of her baby. I told her my name was Leah and, as she shook my hand, I asked if I could pray for her. She enthusiastically said yes. So I did, right there on the floor of Barnes & Noble. My prayer was not elegant and I probably did not say the right things...but hopefully I planted a seed and I know that the Lord will watch over her and her family in the days ahead.

I came home and, with a few minutes to spare before the children woke up, I decided to do my Bible reading for the day. I was reading from the book of John and came across the following verse:

John 12:27-28
"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name."

I thought back to my own troubled heart and the many times I have asked my Father to save me from this trouble - a son with a chronic illness. Why us Lord? Why Him? Am I being punished? Did I somehow bring this on him? Would my God actually cause a child to suffer in this way as punishment for something I had done?

John 9:1-3 tells about a man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?" "Neither this man or his parents," replied Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

And all of a sudden it made sense. Who cares what the reason is...or what the outcome is for that matter. But that the name of God might be glorified in our lives! Maybe, just maybe, God put this on our plate so that we might reach others (frustrated, angry, watching their children suffer and getting no support) and direct them to Him. Oh Lord, glorify your name!

How I got here...

2007-05-22T22:38:00.001-06:00

A blog?!? You want me to do what?

This has been my thought for the past few weeks. But in the end I realized...the story is too good not to share.

You see, the Lord has blessed me with two beautiful children. One energetic, fun, happy and healthy 3 year old little girl and one not so happy, not so healthy, challenging 21 month old little boy. And let me tell you...they grow me!

Joshua started getting sick around 5 months old. Over the next 17 months, I took him to more doctors than you could imagine. We evaluated for everything from sleep apnea to well, you name it...And the general doctors' consensus was not in our favor. He's spoiled. He's bored. He'll grow out of it. But the Lord put a conviction on my heart that Joshua was hurting. So we pressed on. Finally, at 18 months (still not walking or talking) Joshua was diagnosed with "silent" refux. This means that he has acid refux but does not throw up like most babies...he swallows it. Reflux medicine made significant improvements in his quality of life, but we still wanted to know why he was suffering from the reflux in the first place. Well, after much struggle, we have reached a diagnosis...Celiac's Disease (or gluten intolerance).

When I first decided to start the blog, Joshua was still really suffering. But I am happy to report that he is doing VERY well. He is on a new diet and is enjoying life for the first time EVER! He laughs and has an amazing smile that we never knew existed. He dances and tickles and gives hugs and kisses...things I never thought I'd see him do! He is eating and sleeping (yes, this is a miracle) and has gained 2 pounds since we restricted his diet. Amazing! We are praising the Lord and yes, we are dancing ~ for He has given us much to dance about!

Leah's Psalm

2007-05-22T22:27:00.000-06:00

I praise you Lord, for you are my all -

All I have, all I need, all I desire.

When I am down, I try to run to you

yet often I am unable to move.

But you are faithful to meet me where I am.

All I need to do is turn my thoughts to you

and You are there.

You renew me, lift me up to a high and solid place

and set me on my way again.

By your grace and strength alone can I stand.

Stand before your throne, before your people,

and again the enemy.

By your grace and mercy alone can I dance -

wild with joy and passion,

For you have given me much to dance about.