Little Boys & Hoping for Heaven

My littlest guy is at a fun, and terrifying stage. He can do lots of new things. For instance today, he “told” me he wanted to brush his teeth. He was making me nervous walking around with the brush in his mouth so I told him he needed to sit down. So, he waddles over to one of the dining room chairs and “tells” me he’d like to sit there. It’s pretty exciting because we actually communicated. He’s only 15 months old, but we’re starting to be able to understand one another.

The terrifying part is that he wants to run, and climb and do all the things big brother can do. He seems to be ramming into everything with his head. I remember when Abe went through this stage, and I wondered if I was doing something wrong. You just want to be able to protect them from hurting themselves, but you can’t - even if you’re standing right there. So, today he did a face plant on the floor and got a bloody nose. He also hit the edge of a piece of furniture on his cheekbone, and I think he rolled off big brother’s bed. So, it was a rough day. He was really tired and I am too. It’s great watching him grow and mature. It’s also a little hard because he’s getting so big. Both my boys are getting bigger. I know that the Lord has created them to change and grow; it just tugs at my heart sometimes. There’s just something in me that wants to take a slice of my life and freeze it. Just hold onto it, and know that it won’t change. But, it will change. All of it makes me long for heaven where my Lord is, and things are not so fleeting. He never changes and in that I find my hope!

Costco Humbling

So, this is really funny! It could have been potentially disastrous, but the Lord spared me true embarrassment. So, it was really funny!

Abraham, Benjamin and I were strolling along the aisles of Costco during our most recent shopping trip. As we were meandering along the frozen food aisle, all of the sudden I felt a giant tug at my skirt. Tugging back, I thought to myself I’ll just pull a bit and things will get straightened out. Ohhh, was I ever wrong. Spontaneously I dropped to the floor-yes, right in the middle of the aisle, amongst other shoppers. My floor length hippy skirt had entangled itself all the way around the wheel of our cart. Oh, dear. Well, just a quick tug and I’ll be loose. Not so fast. The skirt was actually wrapped completely around the wheel, including the metal thingy on top. So, I lifted the cart (filled with water and frozen food) and gently yanked my skirt from under it. Thankfully, the Lord allowed me to get it out, and I was up and shopping again like nothing happened. (OK, maybe it took a good 30 seconds.) Abe and I had a good laugh, as he astutely pointed out as only a four year old can that if I hadn’t caught my skirt when I did, that things would have gotten pretty bad. Thanks Abe. I’m glad that the Lord spared me. It’s funny now.

Jesus

“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18

I read this verse this morning and was so encouraged! This is one that I can lean on, hold onto, clutch with white fists. He is able to help me. I struggle daily, moment by moment with my flesh, and my desire to satisfy my wants. But, there is much hope. Through Jesus, the One who was tempted in every way, yet did not sin there is hope. He is able to help me. I pray that I’d fight today. That I would battle my thoughts, and attitudes with this verse, and that He’d be glorified. HE is able!

Back to School, Back to School

Tomorrow, Ryan starts back to school. He’s been off of work this past week and we’ve been enjoying lots of “Daddy time.” I’m pretty sure the boys and I will go through withdrawals these next couple of days. But, after that we’ll get back into the groove of things. Ryan and I are thinking that this will be the most difficult (busiest) semester until he finishes school. The Lord is good! He promises to never give us more than we can handle, in Him ofcourse. It helps that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. He’s got 3 more semesters to go, and we ARE counting down.

So, I’ve purposed that starting tomorrow I am going to be getting up earlier and going to bed earlier as well. I have never been a morning person. Since we’ve had children I treasure each moment of sleep I can get. Yet I’ve been feeling lately that I would be a happier wife and mother if I rose before my family and spent time with the Lord. So, that’s what I aim to do. This article over at GirlTalk prodded me a bit, as I was already thinking that I should endeavor to do this. So, here goes! I pray that this will help me be more diligent in seeking the Lord, more pleasant to be around, and more capable of serving my family in the mornings.

Pizza Night Continued…

So, if you’ve been holding your breath I apologize. My love has been off of work this week and I’ve been enjoying that instead of writing on my blog. (A very good trade-off!!) So, the pizza turned out tasty. Everyone ate it, except for me and they said it was good. That makes me happy. I would still like to try some other dough recipes, but it worked AND it wasn’t hard AND they liked it. I was pretty stoked! (That word is so junior high.) The recipe was neat too, because it made enough for two crusts. So, I cooked one that we ate that night, and then I precooked the other and we had it on Sunday for lunch. It was easy and homemade. GREAT!!

My Love

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!

Today is my husband’s 26th birthday. Today he read, and read, and did stuff on his computer, read some more, and played Hungry Hippo. Oh, yes and his birthday dinner was a carne asada burrito from the world famous (at least in our house) Jalapenos. I hope it was a great day. He is a wonderful, patient, man and I pray that this next year draws him closer to the Lord than the last. I love you Ryan!

Pizza Night

We love to eat pizza around here! My husband is a pizza connoisseur, and the little guys just like it a lot. I really like pizza, but I can’t eat it. I’m allergic to pretty much everything in it, but I do eat the boy’s crusts when they’re done. So, tonight I am going to attempt to make our pizza from scratch. It doesn’t look that difficult, but we’ll just see about that….I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Pray for John Piper

John Piper was just recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Read this inspiring letter he wrote to his church. Please pray for him and his family.

Psalm 3

On Saturday night I borrowed a book from church called In the Presence of My Enemies, by Gracia Burnham. Today I finished the book and I can’t stop thinking about it. You all probably remember hearing about Martin and Gracia Burnham a few months before September 11th, 2001. They served as missionaries in the Philippines. He was a pilot with New Tribes and the couple was taken hostage as they celebrated their 15th (I think) wedding anniversary. This couple spent 53 weeks as hostages in the jungles of the Philippines. They spent over an entire year away from their three children, from a hot shower, a Bible, a washer and dryer, toilet paper, and church. Everything familiar and comforting was taken from them. I just can’t fathom it. The book was gripping and I couldn’t put it down. It gave a beautiful picture of the kind of support, and love that can flow between a husband and wife that love the Lord. Martin supported his wife and pointed her to Christ when her faith was weak. They prayed together and reminded one another of the promises of God that were theirs in Christ. They laughed together and cried. They had only each other, and the Lord.

They were taken hostage by an Islamic terrorist group carrying out jihad. In the end, Martin was killed by the Philippine soldiers who were trying to rescue them. But Gracia made it out alive, and is now raising their three kids back in the states. I love reading biographies of missionaries. They always challenge my faith and help me to see beyond my little corner here in Southern California. I need that more than I probably realize. So, as I was reading Psalm 3 today I was struck with a new perspective on these types of psalms. It is a psalm of David, when he is fleeing from his own son Absalom. David speaks of his many foes, and says, “I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” I can not relate to these words. I do not have these kinds of enemies, or people chasing after me threatening my life. So, I’ve always read these imprecatory psalms and wondered what I was to do with them. Today I realized that I can pray! There are people just like David, and the Burnhams who are still out there being held captive. There are people who are being tortured for their faith in Christ today in places like China. People who are killed proclaiming His name. These people are my brothers and sisters in the Lord. David’s psalms give me insight and help me to pray for the persecuted church. Oftentimes these people seem so far away, and I wonder what I can really do to help. But I can pray! We can pray for these people, and these nations. Our God is able to hear our prayers, and comfort, save, and uplift our brothers and sisters in chains.

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Hebrews 13:3

One More Thing

Oh, yes one more thing for my list! I want to do Christmas thank you cards this week. I am thinking about what exactly to do because I want our little short man to get involved. We would like to help him to be appreciative and grateful for all that he has, and I believe that thank you cards are a good place to begin. Prayerfully they’ll help, and those who receive them will know of our appreciation.