A New Year

With a new year comes new resolutions, new goals, new beginnings.  I’m all for new beginnings.  I love brand new days, new calendars and a new year.  It’s a fresh start; a clean slate.  I sure need that...a chance to forget the mistakes I’ve made and the areas I’ve fallen short.  I’ve been thinking, that as Christians, our New Years Resolution should be to hear from the Holy Spirit.  We can have goals...lose weight, exercise more, train children, get married, go to school, etc.  In this crazy world there are so many things on our plate.  We live in a culture that demands so much perfection of us in every area.  I am continually overwhelmed by the all the areas in which I’m lacking.  Social media only magnifies those things.  In comes the Holy Spirit.  He doesn’t condemn, but convicts, and teaches.  I believe he will speak to us about exactly what area of life we need to focus on.  Furthermore, I believe he can specifically give us ways to accomplish those goals.  If we try too much, we may fail, but don’t sell yourself short and think you can accomplish nothing.  Tune in to that sweet Spirit and follow his leading.  He’ll speak, if you’ll listen.  What area(s) does he want you to improve and what steps can you take to get there?

Jesus, help us to carve out time, to be still and listen to the Holy Spirit.  How we need to hear from you!  There are so many other voices we’re listening to.  Give us the strength we need to accomplish what you’ve set before us.  Help us to focus on the eternal, and not just the here and now.  In your name we pray, Amen.

Isaiah 43:18 - 19

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!

Revelation 21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

I've been having all these fun theological conversations with Addalyn (4yr) lately. Yesterday she was asking if God was bigger than her, Makenzy, the table, trees, me, daddy, etc. I kept telling her, He's bigger than the whole earth. He's the biggest thing ever. Finally she says, "Well, then how does he fit in my heart?"

Today we were playing with playdough - something she and Mema did together ALL the time. Mema was the master playdough woman - they rolled little balls and tried to throw them in the containers, made worms (Addalyn was really interested in the ones that were on our patio after it rained when she was smaller). I like to remind her of Mema - her amazing grandma (my mom) that went home to be with Jesus October 2010. Anyway, she asked what I missed about Mema. I told her that I mostly missed the girls being able to grow up with her, that they won't know how incredible she was and how much she enjoyed being with them. She exceeded my expectations. I told her I missed talking to her, telling her all about the things going on our in lives, like Addalyn starting VPK and getting her input on things. There is no one like my mom! She said, "you don't get to talk to her in Heaven, do you?" "No." "But you get to talk to God." Me - "Yes, and I'll get to see her when I get to Heaven." Addalyn - "yeah, but that will be a REALLY long time from now. Maybe God will tell her that I'm in VPK." :) Yes, baby, he probably will tell her. She would be so proud of my little girls. Thankful for the hope of life everlasting.

It's been a while...a long while...

Haven't stuck with this very well...perhaps it's the idea of people judging everything I say...or my "internet grammer", perhaps it's wondering if people really give a hoot to read a random paragraph from me. :) Either way, we'll try this again and see how it goes.

I've been slightly addicted to blogs lately. Not so much this kind of "share your heart" blog, as much as decorating, kids crafts, holiday blogs. Wow - there's so much out there that can completely consume my time!

So...while I was checking my usual blogs, I found one that was connected to "Bring the Rain", http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com and was so moved by her story. I'm not incredibly emtional, but I bawled at this one (sobbed!). Ang, as she calls herself, was pregnant, and had her regular ultrasound at 18 weeks, just to find out her sweet baby girl had a myriad of health problems and was terminal. She ended up carrying her until she was 32 weeks and she lived for 2.5 hours after she was born. Such an incredible testimony of Jesus, love, grace, family, etc. I've been deeply moved. Life is so much harder than we expect it to be, full of joy and grief, triumph and sorrow. Her story made me want to go hug and kiss my babies and never let them go. Thankfully, we have a God who knows and loves and is faithful.

Just a reminder to me (and anyone reading this) that petty things are just that - petty. Life isn't about television, silly humor, how cute your house can be, how much money we have in the bank, but, as my senior Pastor, Mark says, it's about God, People and Time. Let's cherish those things & disregard the extras. So, kiss your hubby and cherish those moments with your sweet kids (even when they're driving you crazy!)

Miracles

My husband has been teaching out of the Gospel of John on Sunday nights. This past Sunday, he spoke on miracles, and God really challenged me to believe Him for miracles, without the practical, hope-preserving BUT. We've been praying for another baby. Some of you know that it took quite some time for Addalyn to be conceived (about a year and a half), so we were unsure how difficult it would be the second time around. So, after Beau spoke on miracles, I decided to trust God fully with my need for a miracle. This week, I've been living in faith, (not blind faith), we obviously did what needed to be done on the right days! :) So, I got my caffeine-free soda, started taking my vitamins again, drinking plenty of water, etc. Tuesday night, I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. I was disappointed, but planned to take another one on Friday morning. Yesterday, I dropped Addalyn off at the church with daddy because I had a meeting at CCMV. So...I stopped at the house & decided to take another test. Sure enough, it said PREGNANT!!

We are absolutely overjoyed! We believe our new little bundle will arrive sometime near the end of June (June 22nd according to babycenter).
So...please keep our little family of four in your prayers...that God will keep us healthy and the baby will have all he or she needs to develop perfectly and be born perfectly healthy! We know that God is the giver of life! He is so good (and he STILL does miracles!!) And what a reminder...life DOES BEGIN AT CONCEPTION!!

Psalm 127: 3 & 5a (NLT)
Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

God, thank you so much for blessing us with another baby. We are so overwhelmed and in awe of you. You are the giver of life. Please keep our little one healthy and whole as he or she grows in my womb and deliver him or her perfectly with no health complications for either of us! I know this child's days are already planned by you...we serve a mighty God!

Best part of being a mommy...

I love being a mommy...have always wanted to be one...

Today, was a little extra special...

It was time for lunch and lucky Addalyn (now 20 mos) got to have some leftover pizza. Pizza is one of her favorite foods (much like her mother!) It was time to pray before we ate, and I usually just pray, but today I said, "Addalyn, pray". She folded her little hands, bowed her little head and said "Jesus", then she started giggling a little, like she was embarassed. Wow!

So, this is my favorite part of motherhood...having the privilege, the blessing, the responsibility of passing on the knowlege of Christ to my young children. They are always watching, always listening. I remember when Lynne Schoolfield, a great mothering mentor once said that God had spoken to her, the most important thing for your kids is not that they are perfect or geniuses, but that they "get on the bus" - meaning - become fully-devoted Christ followers. That's my prayer...

Psalm 78:4-5, 7
We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done...
so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Lord, help me to have the wisdom, patience & knowledge to share your unchanging truth with my family. Let Addalyn come to know you at a young age and follow you every day of her life!