Monday, December 29, 2008

The days after...

I find myself sitting at our kitchen table today with the sliding door open, letting in the fresh air as it mixes with the warm rays from the sun, a quietness is felt in the cool winter warmth. There are no crickets talking and no birds singing...  the earth is still right now except for the occasional flock of geese flying above.   

The days after Christmas find us recovering from a nasty virus.  I have one little man that is beginning to show signs of life again and a little girl who is just in the midst of it...  
Even in this there is so much to be thankful for...   thankful for our Christmas break and the slower days; thankful for warm chicken soup; thankful for the crisp, warm days that are calling us outside to enjoy the fresh air even in the midst of sickness; thankful for the beauty of His creation...




Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Celebrating The Season



For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6


Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas From Our Home To Yours!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Wonder of all wonders...


Two years ago we made the trek up to a cabin in the mountains for Christmas.  We were able to spend a week there with my parents, sister and her family.  The days were gentle and quiet... our time was spent together, enjoying a simple Christmas.  It did not snow on Christmas day but the next morning we woke up to see the earth covered in white.  The snow continued on through out the day and my heart fell in love with one of His creations.  It was such a simple act, yet in that moment, with the snow falling fresh, the world seemed to pause and worship to Him began to flow.  There was something so peaceful about the snow falling.


The days are full for my little family... helping Daddy with work projects, preparing for my beloved and two little men to fly out to California for Great-Grandma's memorial service, a Church Christmas service to attend, preparing for Christmas, all that goes along with keeping a home of six running...




It's a cold day and snow has begun to drift down...  blessing us with a white blanket.  As snow floats down, brushing against my face as I walk to get the mail, bringing pure joy to my little ones as they go outside to just stand and enjoy, a song of worship flows from my heart, words of thanks and praise fall off my mouth.  Snow falling...  so simple and yet so profound. 

And then in that moment as it falls, my soul whispers to Him, and He reminds my heart... peace, be still.   

|Be still, and know that I am God
|Psalm 46:10                                    


Yes, Lord, Yes.

Celebrating The Season





little Christmas trees that the boys designed and built with Grandpa


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Labor of the Home

Several years ago when my oldest was still in the toddler stage, a Titus 2 friend gave me a copy of an article she found and loved from a magazine that is no longer in print.  I read it and re-read it over and over again...  it was the soothing balm that my soul needed at that time.  I have kept the copy, shared it with friends, and still enjoy sitting down to read it again.   I thought in light of my last two posts on death and life and vision this would slip in perfectly.


Our labor is lifelong and culture-forming.  It takes place in the smallest moments- taking the time to give the extra word of praise instead of hurrying to the next item on the "to do" list.  It takes place around tables opened to strangers and saints.  It takes place when wives publicly honor their husbands and when children love and obey their parents.  This is the labor that matters most.  
It begins with us.  It begins afresh each day.  May the Lord give us vision to see the long term in the midst of the bustling, busy short term.  May He equip us to build His kingdom with confidence, eve as we watch the kingdoms of men crumble.  Christ has called us to labor with Him.  What a privilege and a joy!  Let us labor together and call all of the work a blessing as day follows day.  This is our birthright, and we must not sell it for the pottage our culture hold out to us.  

Jennie Chancey

It's okay that our home gets a little messy, there is life here.  I am not at home to take care of a list of chores (yes, there is a proper place for lists and actually getting the house clean :) ) but my job goes much farther than that.  We are learning and growing together.   There is needed instruction and encouragement. Relationships need to be build and love needs to be shown. 

Lives are being shaped.  

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  
1 Corinthians 15:58

  

Monday, December 15, 2008

It's always fun...

... to get creative. :)


Last week Monica posted the instructions for 
making this Names Of Jesus garland.  I loved
the idea and got to work on making one that afternoon.  

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Over the last month or so, I have made 
several of these dryer balls and they work!!
 I've made some for us and some for gifts.  
You can find instructions here.


Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Vision


I know my role. I know what I was designed and created to do but I still need a vision.  I don't want to find myself walking aimlessly down this path.

It's more than dirty dishes. It's more than changing diapers. Our labor is lifelong and culture-forming. It takes place in the smallest moments.
Jennie Chancey


My prayer is to see my little men become mighty men.  Men of God, men of prayer, men of wisdom, fully set-apart, fully yielding yet walking with courage and strength.  Loving the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and mind.   That they would act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.   Having the character of Daniel and the heart of David, the faith of Abraham and the boldness of Paul.   

My prayer is to see my little women become the King's daughter.  Women of prayer, of wisdom, fully set-apart, fully yielding and walking with grace.  Having a gentle and quiet spirit, a corner pillar fashioned for a palace, all glorious within.  A creative and confident woman, full of vision, realizing that like Esther she was created for such a time as this.

I want them all to fall in love with learning.  To see them read voraciously and to let their passions take shape.   I desire that they love and value family, finding their best friends within our family unit. Then to see them raise a godly family.  Desiring to serve the orphan and widow and standing before His throne with hearts on fire.


I can't do it on my own though...  I need Him.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  
Galations 6:9
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Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 3:13,14
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I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 
Philippians 4:13




So I press on, lean on His strength, ask for and receive His grace...  

graphic from artposters.com

Sunday, December 7, 2008

In death... life


It's funny to see how some things can change you to the core...  

:::
There is the gift of salvation as it radically calls you, it can radically bring you out of darkness, and then it radically transforms you...  in death, there is life.  
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Motherhood.  It is a role that can rock us to the core, change us, and yet it seems like this is a role that is attacked quite frequently in our American culture.  The message out there can leave us full of questions and frustrated...  What are we to do?  What is our role in the home?  

Being a mommy can be exhausting to say the least.  We spend our best energy on changing diapers,  wiping noses, potty training, reading kids books, making snacks, cleaning messes, only to then have sleepless nights.    

It leaves you little time for yourself.   

But in many ways that is the beauty of it...  it's a dying to self.  

Our American culture (even the Christian culture) so often convinces us that this life is all about us rather than being all about Jesus Christ.
Leslie Ludy

We need to understand that He has called us to do this, then as we lay down our lives and serve Him it is no longer about us and what we deserve. 

No longer is it about us but about Him. No longer is it about what the world says but what He says.

Our role was designed by God Himself...
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  
Proverbs 22:6
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One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 
Psalm 145:4
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And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart;  and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.   
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
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Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.

Titus 2:3-5

Once we understand what He has called us to do, then we can ask Him to fill us with a vision for our role.  
The mission of motherhood is strategic in providing the next generation with wholehearted, emotionally healthy, and spiritually alive adults. It is not simply a lifestyle choice. It is a divine calling that will indeed affect eternity.
Sally Clarkson

Then when we are exhausted, pushed beyond our limits, tired... we remember why we are doing it...  

"There they dwelt with the King for His work." That's the secret.  They do it for Him.  They ask for and receive His grace to do it.  I saw the joy in their lovely faces." 
Elisabeth Elliot

By His grace, as we surrender and seek to follow Him... we are changed, molded... 

...and we find joy in our role. Complete and full joy. 

In our death there is life.


My quiet thoughts on a  Sabbath afternoon...


Thursday, December 4, 2008

We arrived home yesterday and today finds me unpacking and in a sea of laundry.   Our trip was wonderful but I always love coming home.   We were greeted this morning by some snow and it seems a perfect way to welcome the Christmas season.

Our time in Bakersfield was sweet...


There was time spent saying goodbye to a loved Grandma.


:::


and time spent with cousins... 
laughing, playing, running...   
The kiddos LOVED seeing them.  

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 We are thankful that we added a couple of days for a little family vacation.  

Faith was so excited about seeing princesses and wanted 
to wear her own princess dress... Daddy said she could.  :)

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Sweet memories were made.