Thursday, October 28, 2010
In My Heart
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. - 1 Chronicles 28:20
So you are also complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every rule and authority. - Colossians 2:10
It's no mistake that these two verses appeared one after another in my Bible study this week. The first verse spoke to me about "doing the work" - something I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never noticed in this verse I've heard so many times. It's important to be strong and have courage, but this morning I was pointed to doing the work that has been laid before me. Sometimes those things require courage like putting our house on the market, but other times it's putting down what I'm doing when Tink asks me to read with her, keeping my house in order, or (a big one for me) holding my tongue when something comes to mind that I know isn't encouraging. I know that God lays before me big tasks, but they sometimes seem unimportant according to the world's standards. I loved this reminder about doing the work, because sometimes, it's about doing the things I know I'm supposed do.
Appropriately, the second verse was a reminder that I can never be "complete" on my own. I often have unrealistic expectations of myself, and am easily discouraged when things don't go as planned and the laundry piles up, the house is a wreck, or my kids are "angels" in the grocery store. I was encouraged by the instruction to "do the work", but needed to be reined in a little bit with the reminder that I'm not on my own here. Only through Christ can I be complete - lacking in nothing. God's view of perfection isn't the same as mine (thank goodness!) This explains it better than I ever could:
"Our efforts to model the Proverbs 31 woman should be focused on the love that was behind her actions, not the actions themselves. This woman is simply one whose outward actions were a result of a heart being transformed into Christ-likeness. She was exemplary because God's intervention had influenced her life, not because her human efforts were perfect." (Tracie Miles)
Praying that my actions are a reflection of the work that Christ is doing in my heart . . .
So you are also complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every rule and authority. - Colossians 2:10
It's no mistake that these two verses appeared one after another in my Bible study this week. The first verse spoke to me about "doing the work" - something I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never noticed in this verse I've heard so many times. It's important to be strong and have courage, but this morning I was pointed to doing the work that has been laid before me. Sometimes those things require courage like putting our house on the market, but other times it's putting down what I'm doing when Tink asks me to read with her, keeping my house in order, or (a big one for me) holding my tongue when something comes to mind that I know isn't encouraging. I know that God lays before me big tasks, but they sometimes seem unimportant according to the world's standards. I loved this reminder about doing the work, because sometimes, it's about doing the things I know I'm supposed do.
Appropriately, the second verse was a reminder that I can never be "complete" on my own. I often have unrealistic expectations of myself, and am easily discouraged when things don't go as planned and the laundry piles up, the house is a wreck, or my kids are "angels" in the grocery store. I was encouraged by the instruction to "do the work", but needed to be reined in a little bit with the reminder that I'm not on my own here. Only through Christ can I be complete - lacking in nothing. God's view of perfection isn't the same as mine (thank goodness!) This explains it better than I ever could:
"Our efforts to model the Proverbs 31 woman should be focused on the love that was behind her actions, not the actions themselves. This woman is simply one whose outward actions were a result of a heart being transformed into Christ-likeness. She was exemplary because God's intervention had influenced her life, not because her human efforts were perfect." (Tracie Miles)
Praying that my actions are a reflection of the work that Christ is doing in my heart . . .
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monster Triathlon
About three months ago, R came home and announced that he was going to train for a triathlon - I wasn't really sure where it came from, but was excited for him to work toward a goal. Fast forward to Saturday, and we were all up EARLY for the Monster Triathlon in our hometown. People travel quite a long distance to enter triathlons, so we're really lucky to have several so close to home! None of us were sure what to expect, but it was a great day! We got to watch him swim, leave and return on his bike, and run across the finish line! R was a little nervous about completing all three events, but he finished ten minutes earlier than his goal - I was so excited and proud for him! We had a lot of fun cheering and people watching, and look forward to the next event in March :)
waiting to swim
indoor swim (he's second to the top)
waiting to swim
indoor swim (he's second to the top)
headed from the swim to bike
coming in from the bike
waiting at the finish line
an official triathlete
Ryan's friend, Andy, who got him interested in training
proud daughter
all the fun he could handle
Sewing Part 2 - for the boys :)
My second round of projects were "boy" themed - the first was stressful because I didn't have a pattern and it took me a few tries to get it right. The second two were new to me, but they turned out really well and I'm really proud of them! I'm already starting to look around for Thanksgiving and Christmas ideas :) I linked to the tutorials that I used in case you want to try one of them yourself.
Tag Football (I was scared to sew the threads, so my Dad helped me out) :)
Frankenstein shirt - I didn't like any of the "boy" Halloween shirts I saw in stores, so I decided to make my own! I cut and ironed on the fabric and appliqued with my sweing machine. Of course, Bug's favorite thing is chewing on the buttons.
I made these for Ryan's triathlon (he wore a spiderman jersey). I used a bleach pen to make the web and a freezer paper stencil for the spider and words. I was pleasantly surprised with the way they turned out and plan to use both of these techniques again!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tea Party
Tink was invited to her very first tea party today! The girls got to play dress up, have a mini "makeover", take lots of pictures, and, of course, eat cookies and drink tea! It was such a fun playdate and I have a feeling the first of many more tea parties to come :)
The clothes
The makeover
Admiring her new look
Having a spot of tea
The clothes
The makeover
Admiring her new look
Having a spot of tea
Seven & Eight
Maybe I should blame my lack of blogging on Bug's new ability to "explore" :) He's a champion roller, and is currently perfecting the army crawl. He also finally figured out how to lay down from a sitting position by himself, which is a lot harder than it seems, and was really making him mad! We're having fun watch this guy make his way to the things that interest him. Right now, those include little bits that the vaccum doesn't pick up (I know, gross), Tink's books and toys, and anything else besides the toys I scatter around for him to play with :) His first two teeth are in and constantly chomping on something, but so far, no others are in sight. When he does play with toys, he seems to prefer balls and things with wheels (such a boy). He's also started to pay attention to Blues Clues as Tink watches (do all second children watch television a LOT earlier than their older siblings?) No doctor's appointments this time, but I stood on the scale with him a few weeks ago and it said 18.5. He's grown out of his 3-6 month clothes, so he's definitely growing! He's constantly making noise, usually grunting, which gets both of us some funny looks when we're out. He's eating two meals a day in addition to nursing (which I'm very proud of b/c I didn't make it this long with Tink). His menu now includes Puffs (an instant favorite), applesauce, pears, peaches, peas, and green beans. His PaPa tried to feed him barbeque and corn on the cob last weekend, but I rescued him just in time! We spent lots of time with family the last few months, and he loved every minute. Bug got to meet some of his cousins at a family reunion and attended his first garage sale! He also spent his first night away from us (with Grandma and PaPa while we slept just a few miles away). I wasn't quite expecting it, which might have been the best approach because I didn't have time to worry. He's a great traveler, and is happy for friends and family members to hold him (unless it's nap or meal time). This boy steals my heart every day!
making an escape
discovering his toes
future guitar hero
Seven months
sitting champ
a family tradition - the taggie blanket!
eight months
making an escape
discovering his toes
future guitar hero
Seven months
sitting champ
a family tradition - the taggie blanket!
eight months
Oh, how times flies . . .
in the fall! I can't believe it's been an entire month since my last post and I'm TWO months behind on Bug's updates. I have a long list of wonderful excuses that I will spare you, but here are some of the things we've been up to:
We spent a weekend with my family attending a reunion - it was great to see everyone and R enjoyed an afternoon of college football with my Dad :)
Lots of cousin fun! The girls are loving TotSchool, playing outside, and keeping me on my toes! The boys are both really laid back (SUCH a blessing), but are starting to be active - I can't wait for them to play together!
Tink and Bug are learning to play together. The sound of their giggles is priceless!
We've been enjoying the fall weather and spending lots of time at the park! R is training for a triathalon, so we play while he runs or bikes, and then have a picnic!
We spent several weekends helping R's family prepare for a sale at his Grandma's house. Tink got to spend the day at her new apartment during the sale, and they had quite the time! We also brought home a few treasures that she was happy to put to good use!
We're spending the weekend as a family and lots of fun pictures are to come - here's a teaser: it involves pumpkins and corn dogs :)
We spent a weekend with my family attending a reunion - it was great to see everyone and R enjoyed an afternoon of college football with my Dad :)
Lots of cousin fun! The girls are loving TotSchool, playing outside, and keeping me on my toes! The boys are both really laid back (SUCH a blessing), but are starting to be active - I can't wait for them to play together!
Tink and Bug are learning to play together. The sound of their giggles is priceless!
We've been enjoying the fall weather and spending lots of time at the park! R is training for a triathalon, so we play while he runs or bikes, and then have a picnic!
We spent several weekends helping R's family prepare for a sale at his Grandma's house. Tink got to spend the day at her new apartment during the sale, and they had quite the time! We also brought home a few treasures that she was happy to put to good use!
We're spending the weekend as a family and lots of fun pictures are to come - here's a teaser: it involves pumpkins and corn dogs :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
In My Heart
One of the reasons I blog is so that my kids can look back at the story of our lives. I blog about our experiences as a family and how our kids are growing, but I realized that I have not recorded the thing I want most for them to know about - my relationship with the Lord. I hope that they will see and learn by my actions, but I want them to know that I learned and struggled and grew. I also want them (and us) to look back and have tangible evidence of God's hand in our lives through all of the ups and downs.
There's a lot going on right now - trying to sell our house, hoping to buy another one, trying to sell Ryan's car, changes and sickness within our families, and just the day to day struggles of raising two little ones! I know that God is in control. I know that he will work all things for my good. Yet, my biggest struggle is with worry. I worry that things will not turn out as planned. I worry about the unknown future. I worry about our families and our kids. In my quiet time this morning, I read Hebrews 3, which talks about the Isrealites and the way that their hearts hardened even though God brought them out of Egypt and provided for them for so many years. Verse 14 says, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." We are blessed in so many ways and God has brought us through so many circumstances before. I need to not just believe that He is in control, but have CONFIDENCE in what He has in store for us! My prayer today is that when I look back on this phase in our life, I can say, "We didn't know what was going to happen, but we knew that God was in control, so we didn't worry." I can't wait to see what God is going to bring, because I know that in the end, it will be good and we will be able to give Him the glory!
"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
There's a lot going on right now - trying to sell our house, hoping to buy another one, trying to sell Ryan's car, changes and sickness within our families, and just the day to day struggles of raising two little ones! I know that God is in control. I know that he will work all things for my good. Yet, my biggest struggle is with worry. I worry that things will not turn out as planned. I worry about the unknown future. I worry about our families and our kids. In my quiet time this morning, I read Hebrews 3, which talks about the Isrealites and the way that their hearts hardened even though God brought them out of Egypt and provided for them for so many years. Verse 14 says, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." We are blessed in so many ways and God has brought us through so many circumstances before. I need to not just believe that He is in control, but have CONFIDENCE in what He has in store for us! My prayer today is that when I look back on this phase in our life, I can say, "We didn't know what was going to happen, but we knew that God was in control, so we didn't worry." I can't wait to see what God is going to bring, because I know that in the end, it will be good and we will be able to give Him the glory!
"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tot School
We're having a great time "doing school" while the boys are taking their morning nap! The girls are learning through structured play and doing really well. We're working on fine motor skills, colors and shapes, as well as charcter traits such as sharing, taking turns, kindness and self-control. T-Kids (the Wednesday night kids program at our church) begins this week, so I hope to start incorporating the stories and verses from their curriculum into our routine. It's still a work in progress, but it's a great part of our day and all three of us learning a lot :)
taking turns with a magnetic puzzle
sorting bears
color dominoes
feeding babies
measuring
using the cookie press
lacing
sound puzzles
putting coins in a bank
matching clips and cups
playing outside
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