tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370468680139090052024-03-13T16:07:41.805-05:00A Heart Full of HopeWe rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-25918928534804600292012-03-30T00:21:00.001-05:002012-03-30T00:21:31.237-05:00AnxiousTomorrow, Friday, is a big day for me. I have been struggling with an abdominal injury for nearly 3 years, and tomorrow we travel to Dallas to meet with a surgeon who may be able to correct the problem.<br />
<br />
But today I am anxious. I have my mind all wrapped around what the consultation will be like, wondering if they truly will have my best interest in mind, wondering if they will understand my descriptions of symptoms. I am anxious because the last 3 years medically have felt like a brick wall. I thought I was heading down a good and promising path only to smack my face, bruise my ego, and expose my weak and doubting spirit.<br />
<br />
But the past month has felt remarkably different. New hospital, new surgeons, new city, new insurance, and suddenly the path feels smooth. Each step of the way this month, from new CT scans, changing insurance, and ordering medical records has been a complete breeze with people along the way giving helpful counsel and pointing me in directions I would never have considered. <br />
<br />
Yet I keep bracing myself for the brick wall.<br />
<br />
And today was the worst of all. The entire day felt like a vain search for some kind of reassurance. I wanted so badly to know that Friday would go well, that I completely forgot to take care of Thursday's own things. But this evening an unusual request from my daughter brought me back into focus.<br />
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At bedtime, Jordan asked me to read outloud from her "Jesus Calling" devotional book. I have only read from the book once before, and the directness of her request made it clear this was an important thing for me to do. One look at the title of today's entry and I knew why I was to read it.<br />
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<em>March 29th: Everything In Its Own Time</em><br />
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<em>"Stop trying to work things out before their time has come."</em><br />
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I had tried for 10 months back in 2010 to work things out in regards to my abdominal injury. It lead me to 2 severe medical poisonings, muscle degeneration, digestive disorders, and much sadness. I wanted to be healed so I tried to knock down closed doors, I tried to work things out, on my own, before its time had come.<br />
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<em>"You can't take Friday's math test on Thursday. You can't celebrate your August birthday in June. And you can't make My will happen before the right time."</em><br />
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Well let's see - I have a big thing happening on Friday, but I am sweating it on Thursday. And my birthday really does happen to be in August. But seriously, I think the danger in trying to make something happen before its time is that God is forced to say No to something He may actually be planning to say Yes to! I have heard so many No's concerning my health, that I have come to believe that No is the final answer. Perhaps the final answer is Yes - but only by His time.<br />
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<em>"Your life will be much less complicated and confusing if you chose to live life one day at a time. There is a time for everything - and I will help you do everything I want you to do, in its own time."</em><br />
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It does seem that God is helping this time. Brick walls are gone and a pathway lies before us.<br />
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Today my mind was all wrapped up around Friday, and as a result I wasted my Thursday. But God has Friday, and every day through eternity wrapped in His hand. Which is where I need to rest tonight.<br />
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****************<br />
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<em>Philippians 4:6-7</em><br />
<em>Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-76580487806143055172012-03-20T21:01:00.000-05:002012-03-20T21:01:10.605-05:00Perfect LoveBedtime was almost a disaster tonight. Lots of tears, lots of questions, and finally we got down to the root of the issue - nightmares. My oldest had a big nightmare last night -- thunderstorms, dangerous utility poles, neglectful parents, panic, chaos. And she went to bed tonight convinced that the dream would return again.<br />
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A part of me just wanted her to realize it was only a dream and go back to bed. But the more I listened, I realized it wasn't just a dream. It was a window into the depths of her heart. And I needed to listen. I needed to hear how she feared the storm, I needed to hear how she feared that I might not care if danger was coming. I needed to hear that many other stresses of the past month have become deep fears within her heart and all played roles in her nightmare. Listening gave me a view into her soul that wouldn't have come if I had simply said don't worry, it's just a dream.<br />
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But listening wasn't enough. Listening to her dream didn't make her fear go away, praying for her didn't make her fear go away. So next I tried what every natural teacher tries - education! <br />
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Kaiden listened as I told her about fear - how fear is like a small seed that starts in our souls and seeks to grow and grow. As it grows, it makes us believe things that aren't true and it makes us fear things that aren't even a part of the original fear. I talked with her about how even though fear is real, fear is not good. Fear happens when we choose to look at the bad instead of at God himself. When Peter walked on the water, he was looking at Jesus. But then he looked at the waves, fear rushed in, and he began to sink. Fear keeps us from doing the amazing. <br />
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I agreed with Kaiden that nightmares are horrible but that God can take the horrible and make it good. He does not want us to fear, He does not want us to have nightmares, but He can use those nightmares to help us see the hidden things in our hearts.<br />
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Still the fear remained. Now what... I had listend to the dream, I had talk with her about where dreams come from, I had helped her see what was hiding in her dream, and we had talked about how God and I really do love her... what still was needed was faith.<br />
<br />
When Peter looked at the waves and began to sink, he had to cry out - Lord save me. Tonight in her heart Kaiden had to cry out in that same way. She had to, by faith, trust that God could conquer her fear. She had to believe that His Perfect Love would cast out her fear. <br />
<br />
It was beautiful to watch her fall asleep tonight, trusting in faith that God would push out her fears with His love.<br />
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Its funny, every time I put my girls to bed, I always hope for a quick night with no issues. But my times of greatest joys are after a wonderful night of quiet whispers as we work together through the issues.<br />
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<em>Father, thank you for letting me see into Kaiden's heart tonight. Thank you for allowing us all to have dreams, and nightmares, and for being able to see the hidden places of the heart. Most of all, thank you for a sweet time with my daughter. Thank you for giving me wisdom to answer her questions. Thank you for your Truth and your Perfect Love that is stronger than all our fears.</em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-11139029827163878232011-03-22T23:18:00.001-05:002011-03-23T01:06:44.331-05:00Right or Redeemed?Tonight I realized that many major decisions in my life that I thought were completely right might not have been right after all.<br />
<br />
Lost in thought today, I contemplated a major decision I made last August involving the sale our minivan and the purchase of a new one. At the time, I looked at the many positive events surrounding the purchase - the location, description, and price of the new vehicle, and the interest of a friend in purchasing our old one - and used those events as justification that my decision was "right". <br />
<br />
But tonight, while driving in my new van and lamenting that I didn't wait an extra few months to purchase a van that may have better met our needs, I began to question the rightness of my decision.<br />
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I realized that I used the seemingly positive circumstances surrounding the purchase to convince myself that I was on the right path. What if, instead of signs of MY right decision, those circumstances were actually GOD working my poor decision into something good. What if the decision wasn't right, but instead redeemed?<br />
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God is in the business of redeeming - receiving the wrong and making it right.<br />
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Take Israel for example. They wanted a king to rule them so they could be strong like all the other nations. He warned them of all the negative consequences of having a king and yet they persisted in demanding one. So God led Samuel the Prophet to select Saul as the first king of Israel. The circumstances looked good - a strong, tall, capable man, in just the right place at the right time. Requesting a king had not suddenly become right, instead, God was being gracious to Israel. He was working the circumstances for their good, despite their wrong pursuit. When Saul disqualified himself, God didn't back up and remove the monarchy, but instead provided a new king, David, a man after God's own heart. And when David died, God chose Solomon to reign as the wisest man ever.<br />
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But God didn't just take the choice of demanding a king and turn it to good by providing quality kings. God used the office of king to foreshadow and prepare the nation for the coming true King in Jesus Christ. God redeemed the wrong choice of wanting a king by using that path to bring about the true King. And that King, Jesus Christ, redeemed us all, bringing us from spiritual and eternal death to life through his death on the cross.<br />
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It seems I behaved a bit like Israel last August. I wanted a van, and I wanted it right away. I did care about what God wanted to provide, but the urgency I felt outweighed the counsel of God. In hindsight, our purchase was probably a foolish choice. But yet, thanks to God, our situation ended up good. In my urgency I could have ended up in a big mess, but God, knowing I am but dust, provided a good vehicle, at a good price, in the right place. My choice wasn't right, but God's redeeming it made it work.<br />
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What is humbling for me is realizing that the seemingly positive circumstances and outcome are not guaranteed proof of the rightness of my choice. Instead, I am now convinced that the good things that did happen occurred through the redeeming power of God.<br />
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I am overwhelmed tonight thinking about a multitude of times in my life when I was sure I was making the right choice when in fact God was simply redeeming my foolish choice. That is amazing grace.<br />
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I am humbled. I am thankful. It gives my heart peace to be reminded that acts of faith and acts of foolishness can both be worked for our good. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A28&version=NIV">Romans 8:28</a>)<br />
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<em>Lord as I end my day, forgive me for the foolish choices I have made, both choices made knowingly and choices made in simple human ignorance. Lord thank you for your redeeming power. I pray that you take each step of mine, steps of faith and steps of foolishness, and redeem them to your glory. And Lord, keep me humble. Continue to gentle remind me that apart from you I can do nothing. </em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-85784288677005942842011-03-10T21:18:00.000-06:002011-03-10T21:18:12.443-06:00Current Contemplation... Keeping CovenantsDuring deployments, when I don't have my husband to keep up half the night with my rambling thoughts and random contemplations, I have some pretty hefty things that sit on my mind.<br />
<br />
My current contemplation is how to best "keep covenant" with my husband when he is on the other side of the planet. We, by being married under God, are in a covenant relationship with one another. Keeping covenant means much more than just being faithful, it refers to the daily actions of the heart, body, and mind that maintain and nurture the covenant relationship. Unfortunately, during a 6 month deployment, it is tempting to disregard the covenant. Now, I don't mean I want to run off and have an affair. I mean that it is challenging to figure out how to maintain and nurture the relationship. I want to just say... "Hey, go have a nice 6 months and we'll catch up when you get back." While that choice may be convenient for the moment, it is obviously unwise. <br />
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As I've contemplated my marriage covenant, it has forced me to consider my holy covenant with God as well. He brought me into covenant with Himself, adopting me as His child, through the death and resurrection of Christ. This covenant relationship, while permanent, requires covenant keeping on my part in order to experience the fullest blessings. It requires daily activities of my heart, body, and mind to maintain and nurture the relationship. But, like my husband, God is not exactly here right now. So, until Christ returns it is tempting to say... "Hey, go have a nice time building the house in heaven and we'll catch up when you get back."<br />
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My relationship with God, and my relationship with Mark are both covenants, covenants that need constant maintenance to be kept strong. I could ignore God and Mark for the next 6 months -- I would still be a Christian, and I would still be married, but I would lose all the blessings that come with "keeping covenant".<br />
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So how do I keep covenant with a husband on the other side of the planet and God on the other side of reality?Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-37348720289051102922011-03-09T22:14:00.000-06:002011-03-09T22:14:54.602-06:00An UpdateIt has been a long dry fall and winter in West Central Texas. Dry outside, and dry inside my heart.<br />
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But God is gracious, and when we ask for wisdom, He comes alongside like a kind father and gives us guidance. And the wisdom has been pouring down now for several days like a good steady tropical rain.<br />
<br />
An update on us... Mark, after being mostly home for the past 18 months is officially deployed again. He left in January and will return in July. Emma will turn 2 tomorrow and speaks new words every day. Jordan is 4 and is a bundle of energy. Kaiden is 6 and amazes me daily with her intellect. And I am busy playing Super Mom, and not always doing it very well.<br />
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Which brings me to an encouraging thought for the day. What brings glory to God? Is it a clean home, obedient children, participation in every possible religious activity, recycling all our boxes and cans, and evangelizing our neighborhoods? No. What brings glory to God is when we accomplish the work He gives us to do. Nothing more. <br />
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Jesus only had 3 years of activity ministry. His life ended with only 11 disciples, and a couple dozen other followers, most of whom hid away in his final hours. Yet, in his last prayer, he said ""I glorified You (God the Father) on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do." He never did eradicate leprosy, He never did free all held captive in demonization, He never did convince Judas to have faith. Yet He glorified God having accomplished the work which was given Him to do.<br />
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It is freeing to know that we are not measured by our own to do lists - which are often far longer than the day allows. We only need to do what we have been given to do. And graciously, with God's strength, we will always be able to complete it.<br />
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That is encouraging, like fresh rain on a dry earth.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-36742970104365363972010-08-16T23:54:00.000-05:002010-08-16T23:54:10.169-05:00Where is Daddy?<em>When Absence Doesn't Make a Heart Grow Fonder</em><br />
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Emma recently took on the habit of shouting out "Dada, dada, dada, dada..." as soon as we drove into our neighborhood. We would pull up to the house and her hands would shoot up like a ref calling a touchdown. With a big "yeah!" Emma would toddle into the house in pursuit of her beloved, and often hiding, Daddy. <br />
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That habit has now disappeared.<br />
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Daddy has been away for 5 days. Less than a week to me, an eternity to little Emma. For the first few days, she would wander the house, looking. When someone said the name Daddy, her face would brighten and she'd be off on the hunt. And up until Sunday, she would still cheer when we pulled into the driveway.<br />
<br />
We have tried the life size cardboard cutout affectionately known as Flat Daddy. She gives it a suspicious look, she's not fooled. To her, Daddy is gone.<br />
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As I held her close tonight, rocking her again to sleep from an 11pm teething pain, I thought a lot about her and her Daddy. She loves him with all her heart, but just 5 days away from him and her affection is waining.<br />
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Then I thought about my Heavenly Daddy.<br />
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I go through seasons when I long to see Him, seasons when with excitement I start my morning ready to witness His presence in my life. But there are other times when my affections simmer, times when I will go days without a thought of looking for Him. Emma loves her Daddy and she would look for him constantly because He was constantly there. My Heavenly Daddy is constantly present as well, but it is I who am unfaithful. <br />
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Emma has gone 5 days without her Daddy, and now she has forgotten to look for him. When I go 5 days without looking for my Heavenly Father, I begin to forget where He can be found.<br />
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What a humbling reminder that I need to keep seeking God daily!<br />
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Please take time today to pray for my girls -Emma, Jordan, and Kaiden. It is a short trip for Daddy this time, but the impact on their hearts, and on mine, has still been great. And please pray for the families whose Daddys are gone for far longer. May they know the Heavenly Daddy who is always present.<br />
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<em>And Lord, Heavenly Father, thank You for always being present. I cannot imagine surviving this life without You.</em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-60896705622407056132010-08-15T22:45:00.003-05:002010-08-15T23:05:05.910-05:00No More Tattling!<em>Church Discipline in the Home</em><br />
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You can put down your "spanking spoons". That is not what I am talking about!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ssbaptist.org/content.cfm?id=328">Our Pastor spoke</a> on church discipline last week. Church discipline is the process by which we are to hold one another accountable in living a Christ-like life (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:15-17&version=NIV">See Matthew 18</a>). For those not familiar with church discpline, here are the basics: <br />
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Step 1 "Go to your brother" Go directly to the person and discuss the issue. <br />
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Step 2 "Bring a witness" Bring one or two others along to meet with the person - not for the purpose of taking your side, but for listening to and giving judgment concerning the situation. <br />
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Step 3 "Bring it to the Elders" You and your "witnesses" bring the person to the attention of the Elders of the Church. The Elders will then meet with the offender, counsel the offender, and if the offender does not repent, the Elders may choose to remove them from the fellowship of the Church.<br />
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A friend said to me afterwards, jokingly, "Hey, can I use church discipline on my kids? Can I haul them to the Elders when they won't listen to me?" <br />
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"Yes! Absolutely! Kinda."<br />
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If God designed the church to be a family, and God has given instruction for how the church is to operate ~wouldn't it make sense for those same ways to work in our home? Here is how:<br />
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Step 1: "Go to your brother (or sister)." When two children have fight, they should not bring it straight to the parents. There is no place for "tattling" in the Christian home. They must start by trying to work it out together. When one is sinning and the other finds them in sin or is hurt by their sin, they should not come running to the parent but instead encourage their sibling to make a right choice. (Dangerous situations are obviously excluded!).<br />
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Step 2: "Bring a witness" If the siblings cannot work out the problem, or if the one sinning chooses not to stop, it is time to go get Mom. When my children come to me, I must listen fairly to both sides, and give judgment -- allowing the offender an opportunity to repent and change course. I say "get Mom" because I am usually the one home when it all happens - but obviously either parent may come in as mediator. As my children age and their world expands, they will learn of other adults or trusted friends who can help them in solving a conflict.<br />
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Step 3: If the issue still is not resolved, it is time to bring it before the "Elders". Not the Elders of the church, but the Elders of the home -- the united team designed to work as "one" and guide the family in Christlikeness. This is when Mom and Dad meet together to address a sin issue that just doesn't seem to stop. One excellent, and biblical, punishment is to remove the child from the "fellowship" of the family. Have the child eat alone and spend all time alone as the family continues its time together. This is a true to life consequence since, as we all know, those who are not kind and loving to others will not have friends.<br />
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By teaching this diligently to our kids, we are creating the next great generation of leaders for our church! Children who are trained to hold one another accountable in the home will grow into adults who seek to live rightly and peacefully with one another. This lifestyle, loving one another while maintaining a devotion to righteousness, is the ultimate form of evangelism. <em>For they will know we are Christians by our love!</em><br />
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And you thought you were just settling a dispute over who gets the cookie!<br />
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Now for my military friends... who are the "Elders" of your family during a deployment? When only Mom is around, what other adult will back you up and stand in agreement with you when a discipline issue arises? In our family, it is Mr. Tuck, our chidlren's Sunday School teacher. If my kids get near Step 3 when Daddy is gone, I just remind them that they will need to go and see Mr. Tuck. We have needed Mr. Tuck only one time... and thank God for him!Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-23220319038555492512010-07-28T21:53:00.000-05:002010-07-28T21:53:05.703-05:00The Countdown26 days left. <br />
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26 days until I will no longer look like I "have my hands full".<br />
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26 days until the middle child becomes the oldest, well, at least from 8 to 3.<br />
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26 days until our Little Miss Sunshine heads off to be a light in the world.<br />
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26 days until Kaiden starts kindergarten.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/TFDrXSo8kMI/AAAAAAAAAb8/zr__91-jrhg/s1600/Kaiden+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/TFDrXSo8kMI/AAAAAAAAAb8/zr__91-jrhg/s320/Kaiden+151.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaiden, 2004</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course I am over thinking the whole thing. Of course I am thinking back on all the wasted days we could have gone to the park, could have gone to the zoo, could have baked cupcakes at 10 am just because we were home and had the time.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But now her days will be full, and our house will probably feel a little empty.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I thought of jamming a thousand things into our last weeks - something special every day - plus a fun calendar or paper chain to go along with the them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/TFDrPdRzEzI/AAAAAAAAAb0/DWYxyuEsmJs/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/TFDrPdRzEzI/AAAAAAAAAb0/DWYxyuEsmJs/s320/IMG_3343.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaiden, 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But instead, I find myself just wanting to sit with her in my rocking chair and be still. The time for a thousand things has come and gone. Now is the time to hold her, hug her, and remind her just how much God loves her and has a wonderful plan for her life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It will not be easy to watch her walk through the doors of school that first day. But the comfort for me is this, though she leaves my arms, she will always be held fast by the Lord.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Lord thank you that you hold each of my children safe in your arms. Life has clearly shown me that nothing of this world is sure, except for your presence. Give me wisdom in the days to come as I remind Kaiden of how to recognize your presence. May she always remember that you Lord are with her always!</em> </div>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-30033639268127882832010-07-27T22:29:00.003-05:002010-07-28T01:02:47.062-05:00I'm Back, I HopeWhat a long few months it has been. I finally checked my blog today, assuming my last posting had been sometime in late May. Wow. April 10th. That is sad.<br />
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So what kind of a summer has it been? Well, the "Happy Birthday" sign hung in my dining room on April 9th is still haning there, nearly 4 months later.<br />
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That is the kind of summer it has been.<br />
<br />
But enough of that. I'm back. At least I hope I am.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-19284834561543663072010-04-10T07:40:00.002-05:002010-04-10T08:20:04.154-05:00Parenting with Grace -- Seized by Temptation<em>The house was full of guests, and it was quiet time. Short on space, I had then 3 year old Jordan sit on my bed with a few books, hoping she would take a short nap. Beside the bed, in a crib was Emma, peacefully sleeping, for now. Emma normally napped for two hours, but today, thanks to Jordan, Emma's nap lasted 30 minutes. I never did get the full story as to how Emma woke, but certainly Jordan was the instigator. Not what I needed on a busy day full of company!</em><br /><em></em><br />I was not happy with Jordan that day. I was frustrated and overwhelmed. I felt bad for Emma knowing that she was going to have a difficult evening with lack of a good nap. But what would have been appropriate punishment for the offense? I actually opted for no punishment. In my heart, I knew that the circumstances had made it <em>impossible</em> for Jordan to obey. I had not worked through all the logic in my mind, but I knew I could not punish.<br /><br />The following day, I Corinthians 10:13 came to my mind: <em>No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.</em><br /><em></em><br />I then understood the reason my heart was uneasy with punishing Jordan. <strong>She had been tempted beyond what she could bear.</strong> And she had been tempted by me! Yes it was a full house of people, yes it was a situation in which the best scenario could not be found. But I should have taken an extra few minutes to think through how Jordan would do being so close to Emma during quiet time. I had placed Jordan in an impossible situation. <br /><br />But wait, isn't life full of impossibilities? Don't children need to be taught to obey no matter what? Doesn't God give us impossible assignments such as "Be Holy"? Yes, but that is where <em><strong>grace</strong> </em>steps in.<br /><br />When God gives us impossible tasks, his grace, his presence is available to fill the gap between what we can do and what he expects. This gets a little deep in theology, but follow me. When God commands us to be holy, we strive for it, fail at it, then God's grace through the death and imparted righteousness of Jesus Christ fills in the gap for us. We are not holy, but God's grace, Jesus Christ in us, makes us essentially holy. And what about the other impossibilities of life? God's grace is present in those, too. For when we are weak, then he is strong.<br /><br />God's grace is present in temptations as well. First, he says that he will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. He graciously only allows into our lives what he knows we are strong enough to resist (strong meaning our human efforts + his strength). Second, when we are tempted, he provides as way out!<br /><br />In Jordan's quiet time disobedience, there was no way out. Not only had I placed her in an impossible situation, but then I left the house to run errands (don't worry, other adults were still present!). Had I been home, I would have continued to check in on Jordan, give her gentle instruction and direction, and possibly removed her from the room when I realized the impossibility of resisting the temptation of waking Emma. My presence would have been her saving grace. But my presence was absent.<br /><br />God's grace, God's presence, is never absent for those who love him. I am not a perfect parent, I will never be able to be perfectly present, perfectly gracious, and perfectly wise. I will continue to place my children in situations where they will be seized by temptation. I will continue to forget to <em>graciously</em> provide a way out. But what I can do is take a few extra minutes when a disobedience occurs and see if a lack of grace has created the problem. <br /><br />Imagine that - a lack of grace on my part can actually cause disobedience! I still call it disobedience, because the expectation was not met. But instead of punishment, it is time for training. Go sit in a chair together, talk about the situation and the expectation and talk about how to resist temptation.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-24294841055096387182010-04-05T12:19:00.003-05:002010-04-05T13:09:17.553-05:00Grace?Every Sunday we fill the pews, listen to the messages, and are thankful for the grace God extends to us daily. But as we pile back in the van, does the grace continue? Do we extend grace to our kids in the same way God extends grace to us?<br /><br />We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. Do we consider our children as our neighbors? For if we, loving ourselves, seek from God mercy and grace, should we not also extend mercy and grace in equal measure as we have received?<br /><br />A friend and I had a challenging conversation about parenting and grace last week. My job as a parent is to accurately reflect the nature of God in my relationship with my children. Unfortunately, I tend to only reflect the character of God as Judge.<br /><br />"What does parenting with grace really look like?" After years of parenting in an authoritative manner, my friend has found that the discipline was creating obedient bodies but was not reaching the heart. <br /><br />This is a frightening realization for any parent. If obedience, our children's or our own, is not from the heart, we are nothing better than Pharisees.<br /><br /><em>"These people honor me with their lips, but</em><em> their hearts are far from me." Matthew 15:8</em><br /><br />How have we come to this? How is it that devoted, prayerful parents, parents dedicated to teaching the principles of faith, have children whose hearts are on a permanent moral vacation?<br /><br />Somewhere along the line, many of us were given a promise. Discipline the child and he will love you. Discipline the child and he will not stray. Train him up in the way he should go and he will not depart. Yet their hearts are departing.<br /><br />About two years ago, I came across a verse that has radically changed my focus in parenting. <br /><em>Romans 2:4 - Do you think lightly of the kindness, tolerance, and patience of the Lord, not knowing that the kindness of the Lord leads to repentance?</em><br /><em></em><br />That's what I really want, repentance. I don't need my kids to think my way, act my way, live my way. I need them to live with a soft heart, willing to see their own sin and need of a Savior. If the Lord leads me to repentance with kindness, can the same be true with my own children? In order for me to accurately reflect God in my children's lives, I must learn to discipline with kindness, tolerance, and patience. In other words, I must parent with grace.<br /><br />But the question remains, what does it look like to parent with grace? It is not a quick formula or an easy to memorize method, because that is not how God deals with me. His love for me, and his discipline of me is unique. Therefore, parenting by grace will look unique in each home, and for each child. <br /><br />In the coming weeks, I will be reading the Bible with an eye out for moments of grace. I am looking for where God shows us grace, and then thinking about how I can extended that same aspect of grace to my children. I will share what I find here on my blog, along with a good dose of humility for how often I fail in my endeavors of grace.<br /><br />A final thought from Psalm 103:<br /><br /><em>The LORD is compassionate and gracious, </em><br /><em>slow to anger, abounding in love.</em><br /><em>He will not always accuse, </em><br /><em>nor will he harbor his anger forever;</em><br /><em>he does not treat us as our sins deserve </em><br /><em>or repay us according to our iniquities.</em><br /><em>For as high as the heavens are above the earth, </em><br /><em>so great is his love for those who fear him;</em><br /><em>as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.</em><br /><em>As a father has compassion on his children, </em><br /><em>so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;</em><br /><em>for he knows how we are formed, </em><br /><em><strong>he remembers that we are dust.</strong></em><br /><br />Lord, help me today to remember that my children are but dust. That they, just like me, are in constant need of compassion and grace. Lord I cannot love them like this in my own strength ~ for my own heart is often far from You. So begin in me, help me to accept that I am in need of grace.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-34977888525281693602010-03-15T21:03:00.002-05:002010-03-15T21:30:34.382-05:00A Delightful InterruptionIt is "Spring Break" here this week. And what that means for a preschool family is a complete loss of all things that bring order and schedule. Throw in a time change and we have chaos! This morning we all overslept, then dragged around attempting to pull ourselves together for the one thing on our to-do list, s<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">torytime</span> at the local library. <br /><br />With Emma still on last week's time schedule, I thankfully had extra minutes on my hands after getting the older ones fed and dressed. Then the phone rang. I recognized the number and paused to consider answering it. I am thankful I did.<br /><br />My grandma called.<br /><br />Grandma <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">McLaren</span> is 90 years old and lives in an assisted living center in southwest Iowa. She occasionally calls me on accident, since my name is the first on her cell phone contact list. Today's accidental call was a real blessing to my day. I enjoyed 45 minutes of visiting, sharing stories, and hearing of the health struggles she has recently faced.<br /><br />After retelling a very difficult and frightening situation she recently endured she paused and said, "You know, God sure did take care of me."<br /><br />That's how I want to grow old. If God grants me to live long enough to lose my license and be moved into a nursing home, I want to be able to hold in my heart the truth that God takes care of me. So often, older people struggle with anger and bitterness from years of unresolved issues. But Grandma is so thankful. Yes, she has moments of frustration. And yes, as she told me today she sometimes wants to yell at people who don't treat her like an adult. But she is thankful. She is thankful for her children who work together and discuss everything before making decisions on her behalf. She is thankful for falling in the middle of the night because it caused the doctors to find the severe infection in her inner ear that may have taken her life. And most of all she is thankful for her Lord who took care of her through it all.<br /><br />Would you like to grow old in a graceful way? Old age brings to the surface what we attempt to hide in our hearts for years. But the Bible, the Word of God, doesn't let us keep things hidden. Grandma has faithfully read her Bible for decades and allows God to show her the hidden things of her heart that need refining. And now the years of her faithfulness are showing through in a heart of thankfulness.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-44225760692738474132010-03-15T08:34:00.001-05:002010-03-15T08:35:23.630-05:00A thought that makes this day valuable<em>"The years teach much which the days never knew"</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Ralph Waldo Emerson</em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-64643870264517027772010-02-23T12:24:00.002-06:002010-02-23T12:35:56.145-06:00Learning to WalkEmma is learning to walk, and so am I. I am not very good at it, spiritually speaking. I keep thinking that I am very skilled and can walk on my own with no help. But truthfully, I am as weak as a city girl <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">traipsing</span> through the jungle in flip-flops. <br /><br />When teaching Emma to walk. I don't have her look at her feet, I have her look at me. I hold her outstretched hands, talk to her joyfully, and draw her feet forward without her even knowing it. She isn't walking by herself, but that does not matter to her. She in enraptured with my smiling face and thrilled with the movement of her feet.<br /><br />In my spiritual walk, though, I have been doing a lot of staring at my feet. I think of all the things I need to do, I think of all the things I have done wrong. I look at the treacherous path I am attempting to traverse and all the sores on my feet. <br /><br />I need to get my eyes off my feet and on the Lord. I need to see His face and not the obstacles around me. Just like Emma is completely captivated with my smile, I must be captivated by His mercy, His patience, His grace. Only then will he be able to gently draw my feet forward and I will walk with joy.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-70532606012409018472010-02-23T12:13:00.004-06:002010-02-23T12:24:35.456-06:00Why Did Kaiden Take the Dirty Dishes to the TV Room?"Sorry mom, sometimes my brain just forgets where I am going."Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-53975933694769893102010-01-31T21:42:00.003-06:002010-01-31T22:04:17.962-06:00Time for the LeastIt was 10:40, twenty minutes past when my "relief" was to have arrived. I wanted to be in the worship service, caring for my own children, enjoying the music. But instead, I was still working the front lines, doing duty in the 4 year old Sunday school classroom. <br /><br />Most days, I love my job. Mark and I teach the 4-year old class Sunday School class each week. It is a joy and a challenge. But this morning, my heart was not in it. And my heart was hardening with each minute that my escape was being delayed.<br /><br />After some reordering of rooms, the teachers for the next hour came in and I readied for departure. A small hand tugged at me. "Can you read me a story?" "Just a sec.." I said, without giving it any thought.<br /><br />I prepped the next teachers, giving them the lesson plan and a rundown of the schedule. I grabbed my stuff and turned to leave. Then the small hand found my sleeve again. "Can you read me a story now?" "Oh, I'm sorry, I guess we didn't have time. I'll read to you next week."<br /><br />Tears welled in the gentle trusting eyes. I had broken the heart of an innocent child. I had used quick words and a quick promise to cast what I deemed an irrelevant request.<br /><br />I sat down slowly, took the child on my lap, and asked which book we should read. <br /><br /><em>"Let the Little Children Come to Me" Stories of Jesus and the Children.</em><br /><br />I opened the first page, it wasn't a simple three word story book. This was a detailed account of the work of our Lord in the lives of children. I was tempted to skip a line here and there to make the story quicker. I just hoped she couldn't read well enough to notice.<br /><br />But I looked at the drawing of Jesus, welcoming children, taking time for children, serving and saving children. I don't think He would have skipped lines just to make it to the worship service faster.<br /><br />I could still hear the worship music drifting out from the sanctuary, but the draw suddenly wasn't as great. I still longed to be with my own children, but they had Daddy with them in the pew, and he loves them as deeply as me. Right then, nothing mattered but this one small child, and a simple book about the Jesus who loves children.<br /><br /><em>Lord thank you for moments like these that slow me down and cause me to remember what really matters. Thank you for loving the children, all the children of the world. </em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-42171109502536953992010-01-13T21:49:00.004-06:002010-01-13T23:01:08.763-06:00Dancing with My Father<div>We concluded Lia's memorial service with the song "Field's of Grace" by Big Daddy Weave. I chose that song because in the days following our loss, whenever I thought of Lia, I would see a young girl, long flowing brown hair, dancing in a field of flowers. "Fields of Grace" captured the image perfectly for me - a little girl dancing with her Father God in fields of grace.</div><br /><div>I have listened to and enjoyed this song numerous times in the past 2 years, but it seems I have missed one critical truth - the song is in <em>present</em> tense. While enjoying the song and having a brief dance with my Father God while singing it, I have always thought of the Fields of Grace as a place in heaven. The song speaks of a place where religion dies, where we lose our selfish pride, where we run and play, and where we sing new songs of praise. All of that is true of heaven, where we will know His perfect presence, but how often do I think about having that same joy in the here and now? </div><div> </div><div>I don't want to wait for heaven, I want to dance with my Father God today. </div><br /><div></div><div>I am tired of feeling that this season of life, full of dishes, diapers, and discipline, is void of joy. I refuse to believe that lie! Some mommies I have known seem to just accept the drudgery and move forward from day to day, accepting the season and not expecting joy. But not me. I am fed up with waiting for the challenging days to end. I want to have joy every single day! I have to believe that my God is great enough to make every day a day of joy.</div><div></div><br /><div>I think that though I enjoyed the "Fields of Grace" song many times these past years, I have been missing out. I thought Lia was the lucky one. I thought she was the only one of us truly dancing. But I want all of us to dance, me, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kaiden</span>, Jordan, Emma, and yes, even Mark. I want us all to know the joy of living in the graceful presence of a loving God.</div><div></div><br /><div>All of these thoughts have stemmed today from my contemplations about a new book: <a href="http://wholeheart.typepad.com/itakejoy/2010/01/a-joyful-heart-is-good-medicine-but-a-broken-spirit-dries-up-the-bones.html#comments">"Dancing with my Father" by Sally <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Clarkson</span></a>. I look forward to reading her pursuit of joy. She of course has struggled with despair, but her drive is that joy, true inner joy, be a constant in her life, regardless of the outward circumstances. And that is my desire, too. To know, and live out, and dance in the joy of the Lord, no matter the season of life.<br /></div><div>When you see the little girl on the cover of the book, think of Lia. But think also of your own spirit, the child of God inside of you who longs to know the freedom of joyfully dancing with the Father of grace.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: right; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426452611961991074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/S06h5mZ8L6I/AAAAAAAAAbg/a7HRHQo5ccI/s200/lia.bmp" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-43311640975126311502010-01-02T12:59:00.005-06:002010-01-13T21:49:27.759-06:00A Good 2009It has been a challenging year.<br /><br />Adjusting to life with 3 kids, another long deployment, health problems.<br /><br />I was beginning to hate 2009. I was beginning to be glad it was over. I didn't want to celebrate the New Year because I thought it would make me reflect on the old one, and I didn't want to go there.<br /><br />Then came Baby Jared.<br /><br />Baby Jared is my friend Sarah's 3rd baby. Her first, Noelle, is a friend of my daughters. Her second, Jeffery, I am looking forward to meeting in Heaven someday. And on December 30th Baby Jared was born.<br /><br />In 2007 and 2008, were difficult years for our church as 6 women, including myself, lost children. In 2009, 6 babies were placed into each of those arms. Samantha, Emma, Sarah, Timothy, Gus, and now Jared.<br /><br />I was beginning to think that 2009 was just another year full of challenge and trial. But in this single year, each family has been blessed. And for that I am thankful.<br /><br />So to my mommy friends Aylin, Billie, Nancy, Katie and Sarah... I joyful wish you a happy 2010. May our hearts be as full of hope as our arms have been in 2009!Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-80727694522854324532009-12-13T22:02:00.003-06:002009-12-13T22:20:53.520-06:00De Ja VueToday I watched my childhood dancing in a field clinging to a kite.<br /><br />My second born, Jordan, is looking more like me each day. We have the same hair type and color, the same distant expression when lost in thought, the same body that is way to flexible and prone to aches and pains. While she is clearly her own person with great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">uniqueness</span>, I can see pieces of me hiding within her complexity.<br /><br />But today was something more than just watching my own child play. Today was like watching an old home video of 31 years ago. I cannot tell you what memory I was feeling ~ the details have been lost through the years ~ but watching little Jordan today, running through a field clinging to a kite took me back to somewhere.<br /><br />For all the times I have watched her play, for all the times I have been caught up in her joy, never before have I felt this connection. Perhaps it was her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">corduroy</span> dress, turtleneck shirt, and new bob haircut with bangs ~ a combination circa 1978. Perhaps it was watching her interact with Daddy as he told her to hold on tight. All I know is that I have been in that moment before, 3 years old, lost in the joy of a beautiful afternoon and in the company of my Daddy.<br /><br />I didn't have my camera today to capture the moment, but I know that the images written on my heart are far more beautiful than any technology could create.Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-50204273949919954122009-12-11T22:39:00.003-06:002009-12-11T23:00:37.599-06:0025 Days of Christmas<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/SyMe0GOAf3I/AAAAAAAAAbU/LeCrymKTmmg/s1600-h/25+Days+of+Christmas.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414205057400864626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/SyMe0GOAf3I/AAAAAAAAAbU/LeCrymKTmmg/s200/25+Days+of+Christmas.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Every year since having children, I have ended the Christmas season with regret. I desire to make it fun, magical, and meaningful, yet every year all my good intentions are lost in a sea of shopping bags in a vain attempt to make meaning out of materialism. </div><div> </div><div>But this year, I am hoping things will be different. </div><div> </div><div>I have always loved the idea of advent calendars, but I wanted more than just little doors to open with candy inside. So this year, we made paper chains to help count down the days to Christmas. The girls cut the paper and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kaiden</span> wrote the numbers on each slip of paper. (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Homeschool</span> hint: you can practice odds and evens with the red and green alternating days!) Then I wrote an activity on each slip of paper. Each morning, the girls cut the next link of the chain and find out the Christmas activity for the day. Now we truly celebrate Christmas for 25 days!</div><div> </div><div>The great part is the simplicity. Some days, the activity is nothing more than watching a Christmas video or setting out the Little People Nativity set. Some events are more involved, like decorating cookies or making gifts for friends. And while I planned out all the events on a calendar ahead of time, I am not bound to follow the plan. If an activity for the day is too daunting, I just replace it with another slip of paper and a new activity. (Now if only I could get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kaiden</span> to quit reading ahead!)</div><div> </div><div>In planning the events, I have tried to keep with the advent themes for each week (Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy). So for example, on the Love week, we have activities like making gifts for friends, buying groceries for the needy, and buying presents for Angel Tree kids.</div><div> </div><div>Here are some other fun events from our 25 days of Christmas: </div><div>Christmas Oatmeal (with red and green sprinkles!), painting toenails red and green, driving to see Christmas Lights, wrapping presents, singing Christmas carols, lighting the advent wreath, decorating their bedroom for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christmas</span>, making Christmas cards, having the neighbor kids over for a Christmas tea party, and having a snowman party on the first day of winter.</div><div> </div><div>What a joy it is to have Christmas last all month!</div><div> </div>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-59495273182674177262009-12-04T22:28:00.003-06:002009-12-04T22:45:07.397-06:00Shrinking ButsI have been blogless for a while now. And when I am not writing, it means I am not processing life. And when I am not processing life, then something is amiss. Right now, it is my health. I have lots of symptoms and few answers, but mainly my health problems are all related to complications from a ventral hernia (above the belly button) and pancreatitis. And those two things are the result of 4 pregnancies in 5 years. <br /><br />In the past 5 years, through hurricanes, babies, deployments, deaths, and a thousand other moments of pain and joy, I have found a strength which I never new was mine to hold. But that strength has been tested at a whole new level these past months. Every previous trial I have faced has felt like something outside of myself. But this trial of health is within. With other trials, the more effort I put forth, the stronger I become. Now, the greater I fight, the weaker I am. Other trials have caused me to value each day, not knowing when I may have to say goodbye to someone. But this trial has caused me to value each day because I am coming to grips with my own mortality. I doubt these problems would take my life, but just knowing that significant parts of my body are beginning to fail has caused me many sleepless nights.<br /><br />I am embarrased to admit the panic that my health has caused in me. After all that I have endured, can I not withstand the complications of a weakened body? I find myself once again saying "Lord use me, Lord refine me, <em>but</em> just don't...." I want to believe that He can use me, but I keep finding there is always something I am afraid to let go of, and right now, it is my health.<br /><br />There is always a "but" somewhere in my faith. So here is a little humor - my ailments have greatly restricted my eating, and as a result, I am losing weight. So if this trial keeps up, my butt will get smaller, now if only my restricted diet would cause the "but" of my faith to shrink!<br /><br />Okay, that will be my new prayer -- Lord, please shrink my "but"!Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-24790472362633278222009-10-20T14:18:00.004-05:002009-10-20T14:50:35.676-05:00Hurry Up and Slow Down<em>A children's book with a moral for moms...</em><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>We are studying turtles this week and I found this cute book at the local library. I figured it would have an excellent lesson for my children on being diligent, swift to obey, while always be sure to do a good job. But instead, the moral was for me<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394771211177777554" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2nQbYiyDDf4/St4T1XbBWZI/AAAAAAAAAbM/MMWyo0DT0oo/s200/hurry+up+and+slow+down.jpg" /></div><div>Hare is a fast mover. Always on the go. Always asking Tortoise to hurry up. He never wants to sleep in, never wants to be still, and is ready for dessert before Tortoise has even take his first bite of lunch. (Hmm.. sure sounds like some preschoolers in my house!).</div><br /><div>But then comes Tortoise's favorite time of day, when Hare settles down to sleep. Tortoise fixes a cup of chamomile tea and just as he sits, the plea comes... <em>can you read me a story?</em> And Tortoise, who always moves slow, reads the book just as fast as he can, eyeing his rapidly cooling tea the whole time.</div><br /><div>Hare looks at Tortoise<em>... Hurry up and Slow Down! We need to take time and look at the pictures. </em>Tortoise smiles at Hare, and reads the book again, nice and slow.</div><div></div><div>I am the Tortoise.</div><br /><div>All through my day I find myself running to keep up with children three steps ahead of me. And then, just as the nap time begins or as the sun sets, I with lightning speed rush through the bedtime routine. In the window of time when my children are actually ready to sit and listen, I have no time for them. Instead I rock my children with one eye fixed on the computer screen, longing to update my facebook status. I mindlessly read a chapter of Heidi while contemplating my to-do list for the next day.</div><br /><div>Then the questions come. <em>Mommy, why did Jesus die? Mommy, where is heaven? Mommy, why does my tummy hurt when I do something wrong? Mommy, can I have a water cup?</em></div><br /><div>I need to hurry up and slow down. Childhood is amazing -- they need to go fast all day, after all, there is an entire world to discover. But they need me to sit slowly with them at night, while they try to make sense of it all.</div><br /><div>I am thankful for children's books that aren't afraid to put a Momma in her place.</div>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-18148969030308899522009-10-14T06:48:00.002-05:002009-10-14T06:55:03.960-05:00A Little Husband HumorThe two most challenging commands in the Bible for men:<br /><br />1. 1 Peter 1:16 - Be holy because God is holy.<br /><br />2. 1 Peter 3:7 -- Live with your wife in an understanding manner<br /><br />I confess that I make that second command nearly impossible to fulfill!Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-47139475446227213792009-10-08T06:24:00.003-05:002009-10-08T06:41:29.473-05:00The Flesh is WeakI am thankful for babies that wake up at 3am. I am thankful for children who have constant demands. I am thankful for loads of laundry that do not fold themselves and piles of dishes that must be put away. I am thankful for the thousand issues of my day that challenge me.<br /><br />Jesus said, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Too many times I have had a good intention or a heavenly prompting that was left undone due to laziness. Though my spirit desires to do good, my flesh, my body, just isn't up to the task. It needs a boot camp. It needs to be pulled out of its indulgent, demanding, self-seeking pit and whipped into shape. <br /><br />With every late night feeding, every meal cooked, every diaper changed, every shirt hung and sock found, every plate scrubbed, I am training my body. I am training it to realize there is something beyond hunger and sleep. I am training it to be ready for the real work - the work of the spirit.<br /><br /><em>Lord thank you for the trying times, the tiring times, and the mundane times. Thank you for the trials that force me to find strength I did not know I had. Thank you for opportunities to train my body and prepare it for Your tasks.</em>Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437046868013909005.post-50504990580574613522009-09-26T14:45:00.002-05:002009-09-26T14:58:14.891-05:00A Mile in Her Shoes<em>Can we please get a cart Mommy? My legs are tired! <br /></em><br /><em>No, it won't take long sweetie, you can make it.</em><br /><br />Thirty minutes later, we left the store, conquered items in hand, exhausted child at my heels.<br /><br />Husbands are instructed by God to live with their wives in an understanding manner. How much more so we Moms ought to live in an understanding manner with our children. <br /><br />I am not the greatest cook, but when motivated, I can whip up a great meal, complete with a bread, a salad, and maybe even a set table. But that is on a good day. Most days dinner is simple and to the point. I simply don't have the energy or motivation to do my very best. And that is okay. But do I extend that same grace to my children, the grace to say "Do what needs to be done, even if it is not the very best?" How many days are they a little tired, a little under the weather, or just a little down, and yet I expect a four-course meal of perfect obedience served on fine china with a delicate floral centerpiece.<br /><br />My little Jordan wanted to shop with me today. She wanted to find a present for sister's birthday. But we walked at my pace, shopped at my eye level, and left grace at the front door. Her little feet do not move as swift as mine. I wonder what a mile through a store must feel like to her. She asked for a cart, so she could keep up with me, so that she could just do what needed to be done. She knew her limits, and I was the foolish one who pushed her beyond them.<br /><br />I need to slow down, see things from my children's eyes, live with them in an understanding manner and give them grace to do only what needs to be done. <br /><br />What is better, to have children who strive to live every moment at the maximum of their ability, or to have children who wisely know their limits and do what needs to be done?Anissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.com0