A Time For Every Season....

Four years ago I sat humbled after a convicting sermon at church - I wasn't growing because I wasn't consistently reading God's word. I wasn't seeing life change because I wasn't madly in love with the Lord. That day I remember committing to the Lord, out of my helplessness, to renew my mind daily, I determined to grow more intimately with the Lord and meet Him regardless of whether He showed up or not. I didn't want the mundane, I didn't want the duty, I didn't want the guilt - I just wanted to know God. Jesus says, " “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”  ~ John 15: 7 All I wanted was intimacy with the Lord - I knew I had salvation, I knew I had eternal life, but at that moment all I wanted was to know God more deeply. I wanted to want to read God's word, I wanted to want hours and hours just Him and Me. I knew there was more to be had and I was finally ...

The boys were so anxious this morning to get to school! Drew insisted on wearing his new "Cars" shoes which light up when you walk. Gabe insisted on taking his nighttime bear and blanket with him. Drew refused to eat breakfast this morning because he said, "I'm so excited I can't even eat! I'll have patience mommy and wait to eat my lunch with the Tinkerbell fruit snacks that you let me pick out." Drew's new 4's class is a step up from last year, instead of Drew being an older student we chose to go with a class around the same age as him. So far it appears to be a great fit. He has some very organized and structured teachers who love to play and teach the children using lots of hands on materials. Both his teachers are wonderful, though he still says that "teacher Andrea is his favorite." Drew ran right into his class this morning and wasn't shy, he even made a friend named Abby! Gabe wasn't so eager to go into his class. The...

Sunday was one of those days where I wondered, "have I lost my mind?" First we arrived to church later than desired, the worship and message were wonderful and it challenged me for another week. I arrived home and tried to get the boys through lunch and then Gabe took his nap. This is when all the chaos started, we left for church team and arrived on time! Drew insisted that he wanted to "run out his energies" by climbing stairs close to the building so as I watched him out of the corner of my eye while I grabbing Gabe out of his seat. I took his hand and into the building we went.... very slowly because Gabe can only walk so fast and is too heavy to carry very far! Our team was great and then I collected the kids and out to our car we went, only to discover that I had left the car door wide open - for 2 hours! What a goof! Some sweet ladies had gone all over the church asking for the owner of the car, but we're in the way back of the building, so I didn't g...

I'm back from my blogging sabbatical, what a month it has been. February was super busy with a marriage conference, parenting conference, and a respite away in Oregon. Things around our house are adjusting back to normal, we're swinging back into a routine and my planting addiction has returned now that Spring is officially here! Planting and weeding affords lots of time to think great thoughts about God and lots of sun rays to absorb His character. The sun has a way of lifting my spirits and the dirt calls me to action - like digging up two huge shrubs so I could have more planting space in my front courtyard! Enjoying God's creation takes me right to the heart of God - the Creator of all things. I love the designs, the variegated variety, and complex nature of life. I was thinking today as I plopped in the most beautifully perfect white petunia into the soil, "How does God keep the flowers so white and without stain?" Here there are covered in mud one moment and...

I'm taking a little sabbatical from blogging. The Lord perfectly worked out a busy February and a March fast to keep my mind focused on Himself. Over three sequential weekends I'll: attended a marriage conference, attended a mothering conference, and fly away on a personal retreat to Oregon to visit my best friend Bethany and read tons of great godly books. At first I was overwhelmed with being gone for so many weekends, but the Lord knew that I needed a retreat to process all the ideas swimming around in my head. I'm coming out of a "dry" time with the Lord. I have them about once a year and the Lord uses those times to reveal various sin or lifestyle changes that need to be made in my life. I'm so excited to be out of the dry spell and am excited again to be inspired by God's word and walking in faithfulness. Coming out of the desert and into the valley makes for a peaceful home, joy filled children, and a very happy husband! It is interesting how the L...

For many, especially those with girls, enjoying the artwork of their children is a common occurrence. In our home it is very lacking, not for lack of trying, but for lack of interest. So I am so proud to post Drew's very first person - a beautiful picture of baby Jesus. Can you see the arms? He doesn't have legs because, according to Drew, Jesus is "wrapped in swaddling clothes" so the blanket covers his legs. To a mommy, it is as if Vincent Van Gogh himself drew this special piece of art. My favorite part is his hair, so adorable! I am so proud of Drew for his hard work and perseverance to draw me a beautiful, time consuming, picture!

"That which is known by heart is what the heart knows." ~Dennis Lennon Some have asked what the Catechism's are that Drew is learning. We got them out of a wonderful book called, " Big Truths For Little Kids " by Susan Hunt. She was on Focus On The Family a few years back and I desperately wanted to teach them to Drew (he was only 9 months at the time). So, here we are at 3 1/2 and Drew knows about 10 of the statements, 20 with some help. Each week we read a story and add 1-2 new statements. Each concept builds on the next. For the entire list of Catechism's click on the title of the post. Below are the ones Drew has been learning. This process of Questions & Answers has been awesome! Drew has learned his birthday, address, phone #, and various states just by using the question & answer form of training. I'm excited to start included scripture memory in this too. The Book "Big Truths For Little Kids" has a real life story to go with t...

Drew is fascinated with learning. He and I are into reciting various things back and forth. Saturday he was talking about his Birthday and how he would be 4 years old and that he wanted a rocket cake that would go to the moon. I asked him when his Birthday was, he said he didn't know . So we practiced "January 24" back and forth. Then today, I asked him when his birthday was and to my amazement, he replied "January 24!" We also put a world and state map up in the kitchen. We added little ladybug pegs where various family live. I told Drew he was going to see his TiTi and Tio in a few days, he replied, "I'm going to Okluhuma " and then he ran and pointed to the state! I was so excited for him. He is learning so much! John showed him where Australia is and I mentioned that Kangaroo's live in Australia. Now he loves to show us where Australia & kangaroo's are located. We also put a peg where our missionary lives (India) and Drew has me...

Drew said the cutest thing yesterday , I asked him why he was sad and crying. His reply, "I'm not crying, my eyes are raining!" So cute! This week we have been learning a little Geography. We found some wonderful world & state maps and stuck two of them up in the kitchen area. We then placed ladybug tacks in the places where family live. Drew is so proud to show where his Grandma Patti will be living for 9 months - the country of China! Drew has learned the the map locations of: Oregon, Washington, Texas & Oklahoma. We also worked today on writing the letter "D." We're going to need to work on those fine motor skills! We're also muddling our way through the book "Big Truths For Little Kids." I say muddling because every time I get the book out he tells me, "Mommy later, lets read that later." Evidently learning the Catechism's is boring to our 3 year old! Drew is getting a ton of good truth and despite his complaints, he...