Powerful Words to Live By

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And what a day it is to give thanks as we celebrate Good Friday and remember the death of our Savior on the cross today. At this moment Mary-Michael and her Daddy are at a cross raising ceremony to remember and praise God. 

That God would sacrifice his own for us is incredibly humbling, especially when I think about my own son and how much love I have for Him. May you have a grateful heart today on this Good Friday.

Snow!

Our poor snowman fell over after only a few hours thanks to the quick melting, but it was fun while it lasted!

 

Enjoying a snow treat!

Easter Egg Hunt

While Daddy is with 900+ other men at an Iron Sharpens Iron conference (I LOVE that there are this many guys getting together and are focused on equipping each other to be better husbands, fathers and leaders!), we had to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine. Our local Parks and Rec hosts an annual Easter egg hunt, so we took a little trip there today. It was quite a workout for Momma, and a lot of fun for the kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Can Do ALL Things...

Celebrations

Life is enough to celebrate in and of itself, but it can be especially fun when there are momentous occasions like birthdays, babies and girl time. Over the past 2 weeks we have celebrated with Emily's baby shower - Karis will be here in a month or sooner if her momma has her way! 

We had a delayed celebration (thank you March snow) of Mary-Michael's 3rd birthday at one of her favorite places - Chuck E. Cheese! She is still talking about how fun it was, and let me tell you, it was fun! I grew up going with my Nana, so it holds a special place in my heart. It took a lot for me to not sneak away with a handful of tokens and play SkeeBall. 

(just a cute picture of my fashion diva)

Together with some of my favorite ladies that I get to serve with on our women's leadership council, we put on our largest women's event of the year at church - our annual Spring Tea Party & Retreat (no political affiliation)! It is always a good time with beautiful table decorations, good food and challenging, yet encouraging messages. The wife of Pastor Fred (who married us) rocked the house with things like:

-Embrace God's definition of yourself - you are worthy, you are beautiful.
-Are you confident in knowing you were made for the task at hand? You are not a victim.
-Stop saying "I'll pray about it" and do something!
-God commands rest - keeping the Sabbath day is one of the 10 commandments that many have forgotten. Rest ensures longevity in our work for God and in our marriage.
-We can undermine who we proclaim God is and what He has done in our life with just our words. Are we speaking words of life?
-We say we must speak the truth in love, but the person receiving the word is who defines the "in love" part. Be careful with what you say.
-We need to take responsibility for the feeling we create in the person that is listening. We have a choice. 

And here's the Niger table I decorated.

We wrapped up the weekend with a 2nd birthday party for Avery (daughter of our friends Zach and Renee). It was complete with tutus and a very fancy princess cake. Mary-Michael loved it. Here's Miss Avery herself. 

Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Frazier's First Haircut

Well, it's not the best little boy haircut, but it certainly made for some laughs and sweet memories. I'm a teensy bit sad that his sweet shaggy hair is gone, but it will grow...(hopefully, quickly!). We waited until Grandma and Grandpa returned from their long trip to Texas for Frazier to get his first haircut at the same place and by the same man that did Geoff's first haircut (30+ years ago!) and Uncle Kam's first haircut. 

I was not able to witness this fine event since I left to help throw a baby shower to celebrate my dear friend Emily and her soon-to-arrive baby girl. But Frazier was not without a cheering squad as Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa and Mary-Michael joined him at the Rose Hill Barber Shop.

Frazier had his first lollipop, which meant M&M had to have one, too. 

All seems to be going well...

Until the clippers come out. 

Apparently, he moved his head A LOT, which resulted in these lovely bangs. We are now calling him Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber (see below in case you don't know the movie). 

A Retreat for One

If you ever doubt that there is a true, living God, I'd say book a trip to Africa. God is moving there, and they see it. They feel it. If you went, you would see it. Most in Africa don't have all the stuff to attempt to fill a place where only God can go. Some say Americans have let comfort, safety and security fill the void that only God can fill. We (because I'm guilty, too) have more concern and put more energy into our retirement plans and figuring out our next vacation. Neither of these is bad, but is that what we're truly living for?

This weekend I had an entire evening and night to myself. Me and God (and the smoke alarm that beeped until I found a battery). I protected the time and scheduled a Retreat for One (or two since I believe God was with me). I started with a walk and prayer. Prayer for revelation. Immediately, I was reminded that I care too much about what other people think. Even as I write about this, I wonder how you might label me or misunderstand what I'm writing. Geesh.

I know even after this sacred time alone with my Heavenly Father I won't be who I need to be, but I will praise God that I'm not where I used to be, and that He forgives me when I fall back into old habits I swore wouldn't happen again. Thank goodness for grace. I AM REDEEMED! Yes, I played this song often during my retreat. What freedom in this song!

It's a good thing I live in the country. Not just for the beautiful quietness that is necessary for an evening like this. But if I had any neighbors that could peer through the windows, they might think I was a tad bit crazy with my celebrating and praying with God and my singing as I walked up and down the driveway.

I want to be different today from who I was yesterday. I need to think long term and outside the box and outside MY PLAN. I need to be OPEN! I think nursing school, and I think expensive, time consuming, amazing service opportunity, flexible schedule, cumbersome health care reform, fulfilling a need where people are at their most desperate points. God doesn't say His will is easy and without challenge. My friend, Christian, reminded me that "sometimes feeling anxious about something is the way God wants you to feel because it forces you to rely fully on Him. And it teaches you to turn your anxiety into diligence." That's good stuff. And so many dreams are killed because we think too much and try to figure it all out on our own. We cannot see the future!

I read tonight that genuine faith and fear cannot coexist. God, I need more of you and less of me. Less worry and thought about trivial matters and more true living. Why do I question the all-powerful, infinite God? How do I doubt my loving Creator? In reality, I want to care more about grieving God by my decisions and lack of obedience, but that is hard. Some decisions are hard, but God says to trust Him. Some people are hard to love, but God says to love them any way. Some actions are hard to forgive, but God says to forgive always. 

I focused a lot on the Holy Spirit during this Retreat for One. How easily He is forgotten. In fact, I read the Forgotten God by Francis Chan to remind me of the Holy Spirit's awesomeness. So many of the things I have been asking God to help me with (patience, self-control, peace, etc.), the Holy Spirit gives to us. Remember the Scripture Mary-Michael recently memorized? I need more of the Holy Spirit for the fruits of the Spirit to dwell in me - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

By trying to figure out all of this on my own, I am not trusting God. I need to work like it depends on me (because it's not going to just happen without work on my part) and pray like it depends on God. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

And it's not that I need evidence of God, I just need experiences with God, and sometimes we have to make those happen. I am so thankful I had time to make that happen this weekend. God is dealing with me and the matters in my heart. I am so thankful. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Girl

Mary-Michael,

My little lady in a tiny package. How quickly you have grown into a beautiful, smart, fun and curious little girl. Every day you surprise me with what you've learned, how much you remember and how inquisitive you are. Just the other day we had a conversation that went something like this:

M&M: Momma, where is heaven?
Me: Well...I don't know because I've never been there. 
M&M: I want to go to heaven with Jesus. I want to go when you go, and Frazier, too. 
Me: That's sweet baby, but it's not time for you to go to heaven. 
M&M: Why?
Me: There are still more things Jesus wants you to do here on earth. 
M&M: What does he want me to do?
Me: Well, he wants you to show his love to others and tell people about him. 
M&M: Ok. Can you turn up the music please? (I guess I satisfied your questions!)

Seriously, your Daddy and I just love you and who you are becoming. You are so eager to learn and you can't wait to start preschool in the fall (you're actually going to start with a few summer sessions this summer!). Your one requirement is that the school have babydolls, which they do, so we should have no issues. 

You love your new big girl class at church, and you definitely have some of my shyness, but you warm up pretty quickly and don't let it stop you from having fun. 

You have amazed me with your love and fetish for clothes, shoes and all things girly. Your Daddy refers to some days as a rock concert because there are so many outfit changes. Sparkle or shiny shoes are a must have and tennis shoes are only worn when I say so these days. 

But even though you are girly, you love to still go outside, get in the dirt and wear your work boots to help Daddy with whatever project he's working on. I think you are just as eager as I am for it to warm up and dry up so we can get outside regularly. 

You are very independent and want to do a lot on your own. You continue to entertain yourself well and love to look at books. You have started singing a lot to music we listen to in the car, and you're making up your own lyrics now. I love seeing your imagination unfold as a piece of pasta becomes a map to a treasure and you make up songs about what you're doing. So cute!

Mary-Michael, we just love you so much, and the way you're learning about God and what it means to live out our faith is awesome. He's going to do amazing things through you. I am proud to be your Momma, and I love you.

Forever and for Always,
Momma

Here are some pictures of our low key birthday celebrations so far. We had to postpone Chuck E. Cheese tonight because of the snow. 

Celebrating with dinner at Nonnie and Granddad's. 

Excited about her gently used but new to her LeapPad from Daddy and Momma. Today she had no limits with it, and I'm pretty sure the new batteries are almost dead. She kind of loves it!

Helping Momma make the birthday cake. 

We kept it simple this year with a Princess Minnie (that is supposed to be Minnie's skirt if you weren't sure like Geoff wasn't). 

Icing all over the face. Yum.

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In just a few short months I start nursing school. I am excited and petrified at the same time. And I can't remember the last time I agonized so much over a decision. This is one that for a season will cost me time and money - time away from my family and money we could use to adopt. That's all I keep thinking about is that this second degree will cost the same as adopting a child. I need to think long term and beyond the next year and a half, but it's been really hard not to lately. Friends that recently adopted their daughter from Niger told of their daughter's best friend at the orphanage whom we met and loved on while we were there in September. The (now fired) orphanage director was hardly feeding the children for the last several months and when they saw her a few weeks ago she had lost about 20 lbs. She only weighed 50 to begin with. Will she even survive? It is tugging at my heart so much, and it makes me so sad.

So, I pray that God would show me clearly that I really did hear from Him back in September when we were with the medical mission team and that I am supposed to go back to school. For years nursing has been in my heart. There are so many reasons not to go but so many reasons to keep walking it out. So, I will keep walking it out and trusting that God will show me clearly if I shouldn't go. He doesn't trick us or try to make it difficult for us to know what He has for our lives. If I can ignore all of the opinions and fears that are not of God, I know I will hear more clearly. For you praying people, thank you for your prayers. And please join us in praying continually for those sweet orphans that are just as worthy of life as we are, and if you feel led to do something, do it. We are called to take care of orphans and widows in whatever ways we can.