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April 27, 2012

Counting My Little Blessings

So....this may not mean very much to you, but I just thought I'd let you know that today is my 100th post!  It's been fun!  I really do enjoy sitting down and writing a little about my life each week.  Even if no one else reads it, it's become great therapy! :)  I thought I'd celebrate my 100th post by just leaving 10 little blessings that I'm thankful for today.  So here goes...more of God's undeserved graces to me:

61. Jesus was willing to take all of God's wrath for me on Himself
62. My humble abode (which feels as though it may blow away today in this 50mph wind) :)
63. Family coming soon!
64. Times of waiting that make me grow
65. Sweet smelling candles
66. Warm blankets on a cold morning
67. My little newbie sleeping on my shoulder (I'm so glad he still does this often!)
68. The mass confusion my five kiddos bring
69. Reading times with my family - this has become one of our most favorite things every day! (Don't tell him I told you, but I think even the Mr. enjoys reading time!) :)
70. Seeing a friend's prayers being answered

April 26, 2012

Overwhelmed by God

I just finished the nicest quiet time - a rainy day, a cup of coffee, quiet music, quiet kiddos! :)  Although I did have to use great imagination so that I could forget about my insanely topsy turvy house!  As I was to trying to imagine the mess and the to do list away (which by the way didn't work!), I began to think over the last three years, and I saw how God has been and is continuing to change my desires.  It is hard to see many of the changes God makes in our lives because many times they are gradual and even subtle, but it so fun to look back over a long period of time and see how God has stretched you and grown you!  Before I go any further, I just need to stop and say that all the praise goes to Jesus for these changes.  I would never have made these decisions or had a change in my desires on my own.  It has only been God's sweet and amazing grace that has made me who I am.

Back to my thoughts of how God has changed my desires.  Three years ago, the Mr. and I were deep in the middle of house plans - MAJOR house plans.  It was to be our dream home - our forever home - the home our kiddos would grow up in and come back to when they had kids.  Three years later, here we sit, in our little over 1100 square feet very humble abode with seven people all packed in!  But you know, a few nights ago, the Mr. and I were actually talking about how NICE it is to be here.  We truly are forced (sometimes that is the most accurate word :) ) to be a family - a close family.  Everybody knows everybody's business in this place, and you know what?  That's good!  No secrets, no hiding, no shutting people out.  Now, please do not misunderstand me.  I'd still love to have that dream home, and I even pray for it every now and then.  But it has been "freeing" to set aside that burden of want and to be happy with where I am now.

I was also thinking of how we live in the middle of nowhere - seriously!  It takes me 20 minutes to get to any store.  It takes me 5 minutes to get to any neighbor, and - this is what almost killed me when I first moved here almost twelve years ago - it takes me 50 minutes to get to a Wal-Mart!!!  I have always enjoyed living out here for the most part, but a few days ago, I was reminded of the practicality of it.  You see, I'm a girl who wants to be in the middle of everything.  I believe that if I lived in the middle of town, I would never stay home!!!  I would always be at a store or with a friend or having someone over if I did finally decide to stay at home.  I'm glad that God placed me out here and has stretched me and grown me and made me make my family become my world.  That's not to say we don't have room for others.  We do, and we love times with other people, and we enjoy serving others, but we do it....together....as a family!

One of the last ways God has been growing and changing me (well, there are many more, but the last I'll mention today) is in homeschooling.  I grew up being homeschooled, and honestly, I loved it!  I loved that I could set my pace and my schedule (within reason).  I loved being able to work a job at 16!  I loved being with my family all the time.  However, I decided when I had kids I was not going to homeschool because I was pretty sure I would want a break from my kids! :)  Guess what?  Because I live an hour away from the closest Christian schools, I was FORCED to homeschool my oldest in kindergarten!  That was the plan - ONLY for kindergarten.  Well, she's almost done with third grade, and we're still homeschooling.  What's even better is that we really do enjoy it!  I love teaching my kiddos to read and write (math - not so much), and I think, for the most part, they enjoy being at home all day!  Again, don't get me wrong!  I'd still love a break from my kiddos every now and then, and I'm accepting any and all volunteers (within reason) for any who would like to take the five hoodlums for a few hours, but I don't know if anyone can understand the depth of my thankfulness to God for these three changes He made for me!  Again, it is all Him because I would have never made any of these decisions on my own!  God has been so faithful in this journey of my life, and I love that in His sovereignty, He has given me far better than what I had planned!

So...you've listened to me ramble.  What about you?  Can you look back and see how God has blessed you by keeping you from your own plans?  How is your life different because of God's work in your heart and life?  I'd love to hear about your little blessings!  Isn't God just good? 

April 25, 2012

Peanut Butter Smores

Happy Wednesday, All!  How has your week been?  We have had a productive one with dashes of fun thrown in!  Once again, our humble abode is in major upheaval - but for a good cause! We are replacing the flooring in our kitchen, and can I just say, it REALLY needed it!  This was going to be our most expensive project on the list, but God gave us a great big blessing! We were looking for a laminate flooring to match what we put down several years ago in other parts of our house.  The Mr.'s brother just pulled his laminate flooring out of his house, and it is a very close match!  So, we received our laminate flooring for FREE!  What was supposed to be our most expensive project is going to cost us absolutely nothing!  Isn't that just so like God?

Our week has also had some three wheeling, playing in the sprinklers, teaching Mr. G how to tie shoes and counting down until Papa and Nina come!  Three weeks from today, my parents AND my grandparents and three of my brothers and sisters will arrive!  Our family is very excited about this big event! 

(Just a side note here:  Because of all the remodeling we've been doing, I haven't posted any family fun pages. That's not to say we haven't had any fun! :)  But we have been doing lots of work.  I will probably not post another fun page until the month of June.)

I'm sorry I missed posting the Tummy Tempting Tuesday recipe yesterday.  We had a huge windstorm/thunderstorm yesterday afternoon and were without internet the rest of the day.  I do have a recipe for you, though....just a day late!  I'm fairly certain it will still be yummy, though! :)  This is what I call a FUN recipe - fun to make and fun to eat.  Hope you enjoy it!

Peanut Butter Smores
8 large (home made are the best) chocolate chip cookies
Hot fudge ice cream topping
4 large marshmallows
4 large peanut butter cups 

Spread the bottoms of four cookies with fudge topping.  Roast a marshmallow just the way you like it.  Carefully, place the marshmallow and a peanut butter cup on each fudge topped cookie.  Top with remaining cookies and serve immediately!

You can also place your marshmallow on your cookie and put it in the microwave for a few seconds if you do not want to go to the trouble of roasting it!  It makes a great treat for those winter days when it seems like summer may never come!


April 20, 2012

The Trap of Selfishness

This last year I have had to "redefine" the words "taking a break." For one, does a mom ever really get to take a break? There are some days that I think I would enjoy working a "real job" just so that I could go to the bathroom in peace and quiet! :) I've hinted in previous posts that during my pregnancy with the newbie, I was exhausted, demoralized, unfocused and well, pretty much, no fun to be around! I tried...really, really tried, to put on the fake face and carry on, and sometimes I was able to, but many times, I ended up sitting in a chair having a pity party wondering why no one was waiting on ME hand and foot!

During that time, I became really convicted about "me time." I had never thought of this before until I read it an article (do not remember where at), but do you realize that selfishness begets more selfishness and "me time" begets more "me time?" In other words, the more we get, the more we want! We are surrounded by a culture who tells us to take what we want. If it makes you feel good about yourself, by all means, do it! But, is that truly the way Jesus lived His life on earth? Then, I'm reminded of that word servant. I am to live my life as Jesus lived His - full of service to others not to myself.

However, I have also come to realize that in order to be a mom, I do need what I call R&R. My R&R stands for Rest and Rejuvinate! I try to make sure I guard my R&R time, but I have found that I have to guard it more from myself than my kiddos. True R&R does not involve the computer, the phone, a list, text messaging, etc. True R&R calls for things such as sleep, refreshing music, some Bible reading or just reading from a good book. True R&R is taking time to fill my mind with things that are good and lovely, peaceful and encouraging, so that I can then pass those things on to my family. I think we mommies, well, really, all people, have forgotten to take the time to purposefully fill our minds with beautiful, lovely and gracious things. Because of this, we don't have much beauty to share with others. I try to make time for this R&R daily. Believe me, it doesn't always happen, but once again I will say, it happens more when I make it a goal than if I didn't.

All that being said, there are times when I do things for me just because. I try once a month to go to lunch with my friend. At the beginning of every spring, I look forward to my pedicure. As a matter of fact, tomorrow, I am going for the very rare treat of a massage and facial! (Thanks to my sisters and sweet Mr. for the gift certificate at Christmas!) I try to look at these times as undeserved blessings, not as "Well, after all I've done, it's about time I get to do something I want to do." And I think that is where we ladies need to draw the line. God created us to enjoy beauty and to enjoy feeling special, but do we look at these things as blessings given to us from a God and a family we really don't deserve, or do we take and take and then expect more? I will be the first to say that I do not always look at it with the right perspective, but I can also say that it is wonderfully freeing to not be a part of the trap of selfishness when I do think the right way.

I pray you all have a beautiful weekend. And if you do get a chance to enjoy some time away, make sure you sing God's praises and tell your Mr. and your kiddos how they have blessed you by allowing you to have that special time!

April 18, 2012

Let God Do the Work!

Do you ever have those moments in life when you have soooo much that you feel like you must accomplish in your life, your children's lives or maybe even your husband's life? I have many moments like that especially when I think of how much I have left to teach my kids and how quickly the time is passing. I can almost panic if I allow myself to think about it for too long! As I've been painting (we should not even mention that word in today's post, but it's hard to not mention something that has consumed your life for the last two weeks!)....I digress. As I've been painting this week, I have been listening to audio recordings by Sally Clarkson, and she addressed this topic extraordinarily well in one of the recordings. She was speaking to moms, but I think we can apply this Biblical thinking to anyone or any situation.

Sally encouraged me as a mom to have faith that God is working in my children's lives. Two amazing quotes that I wrote down while listening:

"Faith is believing what will happen when you haven't seen the results yet."

"God wants us to live in the realm that only could happen if He intervened."

Are those amazing and thought-provoking or what? I have come to the conclusion that I miss out on a lot of amazing opportunities because I've tried to fix everything myself my way. I see my kiddos doing this same thing in real life. Maybe they break one of their toys, and they are trying so hard to put it back together. They finally get it put together but not the right way. It only half works. If they would come to me and ask, I could make it as good as new, but they are stubbornly trying to do it themselves, and so they do not enjoy the toy as much as they could if I had repaired it. I do the same with God. I'm so busy trying to do it all myself and make everything "just perfect" when I really am only making things worse or robbing myself of something even better that God has for me. So, I've been telling myself this week, "Walk by faith. Don't try to fix everything yourself. Walk by faith." It's hard to do though!

The next thing Sally challenged me to do was to immerse myself in God's Word. I cannot grow, and I will not change if I am not continually feasting on God's Word. I can also apply this to my "hurry up and teach my kids everything" syndrome by immersing them in Scripture too. Together, as a family, we can grow by steadily reading, memorizing, and studying God's Word. Just like physical growth, our spiritual growth doesn't happen all at once. It takes a steady diet of many good things to see the positive changes we want to see - physical or spiritual.

Thirdly, Sally mentioned prayer. This is a big one for me, and it goes back to that "I have to do it all myself" thing. Instead of stepping in all the time and trying to fix my children, there are times when I really do need to just stop and pray. Pray for wisdom from God as to how to handle the situation, but also pray that the Holy Spirit would do the "fixing" for me. After all, I'm sure He can do a much better job than I can, but again....easier said than done!

The last thing Sally mentioned in her talk was to keep an eternal perspective. Focus on laying up those spiritual treasures in Heaven. Don't let the small things in life take you down. Remember, what is truly important and sift through the rest. We cannot do it all, so do what matters most! It occurred to me yesterday as I was thinking on this that there is no way I can teach my children everything that I want them to know or that they need to know. After all, I'm still learning all the time myself! What I can do, though, is to give them (with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit) an eternal focus and perspective, a love for God, and a passion for pleasing Him.

Another quote that I madly dashed down was this:

"Those who give up in the battle only remember defeat, but those who persevere to the end remember the adventure and victory."

Bottom line: Don't give up, but don't forget it is ultimately God who changes all of us, and He will do the changing when He sees best.

April 17, 2012

Two Recipes for Tuesday!

Happy, happy Tuesday, everyone! We have a beautiful day today, and I'm so thankful for it because my kiddos have been able to play outside most of the day while I FINISH painting!!! We actually have the toys back on the shelves. I still need to finish the touch ups, but then I can put the furniture back, and everyone can sleep in their own beds tonight! YAY! This whole painting thing did cause one fun event (and probably the only fun event :) ). Last night, just before supper, I RAN OUT OF PAINT!!! So, we ate supper, had the kids put on their PJ's, did our bedtime reading together, but instead of telling them to go to bed when we were done, we told them to go to the car! They nearly died of curiosity, but cheered like mad when we pulled into Dairy Queen! We ate ice cream in our jammies (well, the kids did), and then I ran and got another bucket of paint from good old Wal-Mart! Overall, a fun and spontaneous family night!

I also need to consider the small issue of the laundry marathon that I started. Yes, I have determined I will not go to bed tonight until every piece of laundry is folded and put away! The Mr. says I'm being a little overly optimistic again. As a matter of fact, he began this morning by telling me I needed to start setting realistic goals for the day! :) I have a feeling we will forever be having this conversation!

Well, today is Tummy Tempting Tuesday. I missed the last couple of Tuesdays, and so I will leave you with TWO recipes today. One is for the best Strawberry Lemonade EVER (so say my kiddos), and the other is for my yummy but easy to make chicken salad! Hope you enjoy!

Best Strawberry Lemonade EVER

1 12oz. frozen concentrate lemonade made according to directions
2 cups of orange juice (I make mine from the frozen concentrate as well)
16 oz. frozen strawberries (with sugar added or you can add sugar to the strawberries if you cannot find the ones with sugar)
During strawberry season, I make this with 2 cups of fresh strawberries and sprinke them with sugar.
Fresh lemon slices, optional (I'm usually not quite that fancy) :)

Mix the 3 ingredients together. I usually puree the strawberries and OJ, but it isn't necessary. Chill and serve cold! Just a fun note: my kids love drinking this with straws so that they can suck the strawberries onto the ends and eat them! :)


Yummy Chicken Salad

3 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into bite size pieces
4 medium size apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup of chopped cashews (more or less if you prefer)
Mayonnaise to taste (usually a cup or so)
A dash of sugar
10 crescent rolls

I know! I know! This is a very loosely measured recipe, and I usually do not prepare many of these, but this is a great tasting recipe! Mix all the ingredients together. I make this like I make my potato salad. Taste a bite...add more mayo. Taste a bit...a touch more sugar. The sugar is the key ingredient! :) Serve on crescent rolls. This recipe will make approximately 10 medium crescent roll sandwiches.

April 16, 2012

Coffee and Conversation from the Heart - 4/16/12

I thought I would invite all of you over for a cup of coffee today. That way, we could catch up and share bits of our hearts. If you were to come to my house for a cup of coffee today, I would race to meet you at the front porch and not let you enter into my humble little abode. Sounds like a great way to start a coffee date, but it's the truth! I would tell you all about my idealistic dreams of painting a room in 5 or 6 hours, and then I would tell you that I didn't know what made me think I would be able to do that. I would tell you how every toy that my children own (which thankfully aren't as many as some have) is piled in my living room so that I could paint the toy shelves as well. I would also tell you about the crazy idea of mine to have a laundry marathon where I washed about 7 loads of laundry, but didn't finish the marathon, and it is all piled on the couch waiting to be folded and put away.

I would tell you how much I love my family and how I wish I had realized much sooner what beautiful gifts I have been given through each of them. I would tell you of my newly found passion for getting to know each of my children in a personal and very real way so that I can reach their hearts and disciple them in following Jesus. I would tell you how excited I am about homeschooling my kiddos and some of the new things that I want to try with them this summer. I would humorously refer to Miss E and Mr. A as my "guinea pigs" in this thing called homeschooling.

I would tell you how the Mr. laughed at me at lunch as he looked around at all this ridiculous mess and heard my speech on optimism. He told me that for every optimist there has to be a realist who is willing to come and rescue them! He is so right, and I'm so very thankful that he is my rescuer.

I would also tell you how excited I am about a challenge I am going to take up this summer to read through the entire Bible in 90 days! I have never done this before, and I really don't even know if I'll be able to. But I do know I'll never know unless I try. I might would even ask if you'd like to try it with me and help me stay accountable to my goal.

I would want to hear about you and what all is going on in your life. I would love listening to your everyday happenings - the challenges you are facing, the goals you are reaching for, and the prayers you are praying. The best part of our cup of coffee on the porch would be the sweet time of sharing our hearts and then praying together so that we could share our hearts with the One who loves us most.

Then, I would give you a hug, walk you to your car and make sure you knew how to get back to civilization (because we really do live in the middle of nowhere). I would walk slowly back into my ridiculously messy house and thank God very sincerely that you never actually saw the house, and then I'd go to the back and start painting....again...for just a few minutes before one of my kiddos needed me again.

And that....would be our coffee date. I think I kind of like these! :)

Hey! Have a great Monday, why don't you? And while you're at it, don't forget to count all the little blessings God has you covered you with today!

More of God's graces to me:

51. A washing machine - can you imagine hand washing all these clothes?
52. That God's grace is bigger than all my mistakes and sin
53. The comfort and peace of God when saying good bye to a friend
54. My kids love each other and really are each others' best friends
55. Our Moms and Munchkins meetings
56. The opportunity to 'remodel' my house!
57. I met another homeschooling Mom who lives in our area yesterday! This is the first one I've met since I began homeschooling 5 years ago!
58. Talks with friends who challenge me in my walk with Christ
59. An upcoming date night with my Mr. We haven't had a 'going out' date in a LONG time!
60. The exersaucer which keeps my little newbie entertained despite the dr.'s warning that "due to the large size of his head, he may not be able to enjoy being in the upright position quite yet!" (hee hee - THAT made me laugh! Yes, my newbie's head is quite large, but it's quite adorable too!)

April 13, 2012

The Path of Life

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
~Psalm 16:11

I was doing some Bible study and came across this verse a couple of weeks ago. It's amazing how God works in your heart in so many different ways and at such different times. I know I've read this verse many times, and my kiddos have even memorized this verse in one of their church classes this last year. When I read it this time, though, God was so good to open my eyes and show me a way that I can daily use this verse in my life and the life of my family.

In this verse, the Psalmist is saying that God will show us the "path of life," and this path is going to bring us into God' presence where there is joy and more pleasures than we can imagine. This is how I explained it to my kiddos. God has a path for us to follow. We can't always see what is up ahead, and so we need to trust God to guide us on that path. If we follow God down the path, it will lead us to abundant joy and pleasure - not the pleasure this world has, but even better pleasures from God. I have also told my kiddos that sometimes we may leave the "path of life" that God wants us to walk on. That is why God has given them a Daddy and a Mommy. Daddy's and Mommy's job is to help them stay on the path with God, and when they leave the path to help bring them back to it. This has been a great analogy because kids know what a path is, and they know how easy it is to wander off of a path. By explaining this verse to them, they can see that it is God's path for them - not Dad's and Mom's. We are obeying God's rules - not Dad's and Mom's. It also shows them that God has given Dad and Mom the authority to bring them back to the path through consequences.

Using this verse has made it so much easier for me to encourage my kids to do what is right. We are memorizing this verse and reviewing it every morning together. When I see one of my kiddos about to make a wrong choice, all I need to say to them is, "Are you staying on the path of life?" If they do wrong, then we discuss where and why they left the path. We remind them that if they stay on the path, they will receive blessings and joy, but if they leave the path, there are sad consequences.

It has been such a blessing to see how quickly the kids have picked up on this and how firmly it is already planted in their minds. This morning during our Bible time, we were talking about Heaven, and I was showing them a picture from a book of what someone thought Heaven will be like. In the picture were the streets of gold. My Mr. G piped up and said, "Look, Mom, there's the path of life in Heaven. It sure is pretty!" What a great opportunity to remind my little guy that God's path is not always easy, but it is always best, and there are many beautiful places along God's path. I pray my kiddos will always remember this illustration - especially in those moments when they are tempted to do things that may take them off the path and away from God's best for their lives.

April 12, 2012

Life Is for Relationships

Hi, my lovely friends who are so good and kind to stop by and read my ramblings. It's been a few days since I've been able to stop and take the time to think....much less write! When I have had a chance to think (I do occasionally do this), God keeps bringing my thoughts back to relationships. I need to stop and give a little background here. I love being with people that I know really well. As a matter of fact, I really don't like being alone at all. But there is nothing in the world I am more uncomfortable doing than meeting new people and getting to know them. I do not enjoy it all. For years, I would always look around and wish that people would be my friend and take time to ask me over to their house. (This would be the selfish, immature me!) A few years ago, God finally decided He had enough of my little pity parties and knocked me over the side of the head with some common sense! One day, I was suddenly struck with the idea that I cannot have a friend or be someone's friend if I am not available or willing to reach out to others. I know! I know! This is REALLY elementary, but it took me SOOOO long to truly grasp this!

This last week, as we said goodbye for the last time on earth to a dear elderly friend of ours, I was again reminded of how little or how much of an impact we can leave behind when we die. At the funeral of our friend, the young men were asked to stand along the walls because our church (which holds almost 300 people) was overflowing. This was a man who made people and relationships his priority in life. And his legacy still continues through us. I left his funeral thinking, "I want my life to count! I want to open my life up to be available to people and their needs! I want to leave that kind of legacy behind!" This man left a rich legacy behind for his family and friends!

I encourage you as I have encouraged myself this week. Take time for people! Nurture wonderful relationships! Take care of your relationship with God first! Make sure there is never a wall between you and Your Creator! Love Him with all of your heart, and then follow the example He gave through His Son Jesus! Love people! Bend over backwards for them! Forgive them, and then forgive them again! Reach out to the ones who are hurting. Don't be a part of cliques. Make everyone you come in contact with feel like they are the most important person in your life at that moment! Don't look at people as interruptions. See them as opportunities. Step out of your comfort zone and build relationships. We cannot take anything with us when we leave this earth. Why not leave behind a legacy overflowing with love and grace given freely to every person you meet?

April 7, 2012

I KNOW My Redeemer Lives!!!

Today, I say with confidence MY SAVIOR IS ALIVE!!! Today, I can worship my RISEN SAVIOR with my whole heart! Today, I can know my sins are forgiven - completely, absolutely FORGIVEN - because I have placed my trust in the one and ONLY RISEN SAVIOR! Today, I worship with complete abandon. I've mourned my sin - the cause of His death. I've waited to hear His voice. I've waited to see Him working in my life, and now today, I celebrate! I have seen Jesus! I've seen Him change my heart and life, and I am so thankful! Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Savior for saving a sinner like me. Take my life - as miserable as it is - and use it in any way You choose. I will serve You for the rest of my days because You did all of this for me! MY SAVIOR IS ALIVE, and my heart is full of praise!

My two favorite Easter songs...the words perfectly describe my heart today!



April 6, 2012

Today, I Want to Remember

Today, I want to ponder the sacrifice Jesus made for me. I want to impress upon my family how deep that sacrifice was. Today, I want to remember how hurt He must been when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss....how exhausted He must been when He was arrested. Today, I want to remember how kind He was to His accusers who beat Him and spit on Him. Today, I want to remember how badly He must hurt every time the whip slapped across His back and when the thorns were pressed hard into His head. Today, I want to remember how His face must have bled when they pulled His beard off. Today, I want to remember how unrecognizable He was as they laid the cross on His back and forced Him to carry it down the road. Today, I want to remember how the crowds watched as He went by - some crying because their friend was being murdered, some angry because He was not the King they had wanted, most still curious about the miracle worker who had upset their entire world in only three short years. Today, I want to remember the sound of the nails being pounded through His hands and feet and into the wood of that old cross. Today, I want to remember the agony He must have felt as they raised the cross slowly into the sky. Today, I want to remember Him struggling to catch His next breath so that He could use it to forgive those who were hurting Him. Today, I want to remember the despair He must have felt - the intense loneliness He experienced - as the Father turned His back on His own Son. Today, I want to remember the darkness that closed in upon the world as all creation mourned the death of the Son of God. Today, I want to remember the kindness of all His words, the sadness in His eyes, the forgiveness in His heart. Today, I want to remember the One who loves me like no other ever has. Today, I want to remember that all of this was done for me...just. for. me. I will celebrate on Sunday, but today, I want to remember that the One who loves me most in this world sacrificed the most for me. Today, my Savior died.

April 4, 2012

Answering the Hard Questions

Two things have been lacking in our house this week: 1) sleep and 2) motivation! It's funny how the two seem to be so closely related! ;) Last night, the newbie finally slept decently again, and so we are praying for a more motivated day today! How are your Easter plans coming? Have you been able to set aside time for some special reflection on this great event? I hope so! Our Easter time this year has been made even more meaningful by the passing of a dear family friend. The Mr. and I have had to answer several deep questions. As soon as we received a phone call saying that our friend was on his way to the hospital in an ambulance, the kids and I stopped to pray - each of taking a turn. A short while later, we received another phone call saying that our friend went to Heaven. It's challenging to answer the little 6 year old who says, "But Mom, we prayed and asked God to make him better! Why didn't God make him better?" Or to answer the 5 year old who asks, "Why do we bury him if he is in Heaven?" Or the really challenging question from the 8 year old, "What is a soul, Mom? What does it look like?" I'm so thankful for the hope of Heaven and the reality of God's Word. It has been a great opportunity for the Mr. and I to point our children to God's sacrificial and unconditional love for us, and it has been a great reminder to us that the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ has given us so much to live for right now and to look forward to in the future. Praying you have a day full of blessings as you walk in power of our Risen Lord!