This Isn't the Time

So much I'd love to post, but my friends, this is not the time! Of all the priorities in my life as I seek to serve the Lord and my family during this Christmas season, the blog's got to go. Hopefully, I'll be able to follow up on more posts about what the Lord's been teaching me regarding marriage in the new year. Maybe over the next week I'll have a chance to post some updates about the kids...you know-posts that take little time and can just be plopped up here. We'll see!A couple Tali quotes from today:To Owen as he stood up on his own: "Oh, duhd, dob, bruh-duh! I'm powd of you!"To Owen when he got up from his nap: "Oh, hi bruh-duh! Hi, baby bruh-duh! How wuz yuh nap, Owey? It wuz duhd?...

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The Privilege of a Wife: Mirroring God's Character

I started reading the book that Jodi had suggested and was immediately challenged by the questions the author posed. Here are just a few:Why did God give Adam a wife?If an outsider observed your daily routine, would he say that befriending your husband is important to you? How would he be able to tell?How does God's covenant with you impact your relationship with your husband?Maybe these answers come easily to you, but to me that wasn't quite the case. As I read, I realized that my ideas and beliefs about marriage weren't very thought out. I wasn't quite sure how I would answer the questions above. Prior to marriage I had been really excited about the idea of marriage, couldn't wait to...

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The Privilege of a Wife: Orienting My Life, pt.2

(Since it's 29 degrees here today, I thought a little warm photo might cheer me up!)It's been a while. But...back in this post, I talked about how the Lord started showing me that I wasn't seeking to be the wife that He's called me to be. I was living for myself and my plans and my agenda. My life was oriented around myself.As I was thinking about posting more on this, I realized that I was skipping the Gospel. Before talking about ordering priorities to prioritize our husbands, we need to first remember the Gospel. Whether you're married or single, a woman or a man, our lives should be centered on the Gospel. I'm so grateful that our church reiterates this again and again; we never move...

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Tali's Husband

Well, she may have just turned two but this girl is all ready thinking about matrimony. Tonight on the way home from Grandma's, she was talking, and talking, and talking about her "hubpin.""Um...I'm not shore. Someday, when I'm a lady, I'll hab a hubpin. I'm not shore I'm a lady yet. Sooo...I'll let chew know. But in a liddle while I'll be a lady. I'll hab a hubpin. Maybe he's on the train. I'm not shore. Maybe he a white hubpin or maybe he a purple hubin. I no know. Sooo...I'll let chew know. Maybe he tould sit by me in da tar an I tould tell him I doe to my damma's house today. I'm not shore. So...I'll let chew know. If I fine a hubin, I'll let chew know."This facinating monologe...

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Little Fighters

Thank you for all of your prayers, comments, emails, and calls. We feel very loved and cared for. The good news is that both kids are doing great and on their way to full recoveries. As you can see here, Tali isn't quite back to her chipper self; her split lip is hurting quite a bit but is getting better. In God's mercy, Owen's couple of bumps never even swelled or turned color (as the doctor had said they would). You probably wouldn't have known he had a head injury yesterday, but after he smacked his head on his crib this evening (in the same spot as his bump from yesterday) it's pretty clear that he's had a rough couple of days.Praise the Lord for His protection for our babies! I just...

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Firemen Visit the Fenskas

We interrupt this whole "marriage" business talk for an exciting story about our afternoon today.............................................................................................................................................................................Lunch had just ended and we took our usual spots on the bench by the window. Both kids can be entertained for a good 20 minutes simply by looking out this glorious window (anything that entertains children for 20 minutes is glorious in my book!). Tali decided she was ready to get down so she started backing off the bench. Unfortunately, she backed off right onto her head and her face. Blood started pouring from her mouth and...

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The Privilege of a Wife: Orienting My Life

A couple months ago I started noticing that my affection for Josh wasn't quite what it used to be. When he came home from work, I wasn't all that excited to see him. When we had the opportunity to go on a date it seemed a bit like a chore rather than a delight. When I talked with friends or had some time to plan, my thoughts and words quickly turned to my kids and housework, rarely to my husband. It's not that I didn't love Josh or wasn't glad to be married, but unlike at the beginning of my marriage, being a wife wasn't really something I thought a ton about. I knew that something wasn't right but wasn't quite sure what.After talking with Josh and with the ladies in my small group, it...

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Ah, to be like Mary Bailey

So Josh and I have this tradition: every year when the snow covers the ground for the first time, we watch "It's A Wonderful Life." We're not claiming it's very theologically accurate or anything like that, but it sure is a sentimental Christmas favorite!This time when the movie ended, I turned to Josh and said, "I think the moral of this story is that husbands should make use of the helper that God has given them!" I mean seriously, think of all the trouble that George would have averted had he merely told his wife what was going on and asked for her help and prayers! No contemplating ending his life, no jumping in the cold water after Clarence, no seeing the people he loved not even recognize...

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Another Fever Gone

Thank you for praying. Her fever is gone now. It's so good to have my happy, healthy girl back!I cannot say enough about how the Lord has blessed us with our pediatrician. I absolutely consider Dr. Schnell a blessing from God. She is wonderful! Yesterday morning she called me (yes, she personally called me, not a nurse!) and talked with me for about 15 minutes about Tali's situation. She said that all test results came back negative but that she took the liberty to walk down to a different office to consult a doctor who specialized in immunology. He shared w/her several potential conditions that Tali could be experiencing with cyclical fevers. Each of those conditions, children generally...

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Pray for Our Girl

Hello friends. We'd love to request prayer here for Tali, that her fever would go away. She's been fighting it since Friday (105.9) and after a night and morning without it, it's coming back a bit this afternoon. We'd love prayer for her, that the fever would completely leave and she could get back to feeling healthy. Also, please pray for Caleb, Tali's friend, who is fighting off the same sort of thing.Thank you!p.s.-We went to the dr. today and she thinks that Tali might have a sort of cyclical reoccurring fever (not something contagious or some virus or something). Most kids grow out of this by the time they are six or seven. We shall s...

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Savoring Fall

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I just read some of Romans 8 in my quiet time and was reminded of this great truth: Christ has taken all of the condemnation that I deserved upon himself at the cross. There isn't any condemnation left for me! Jesus has all ready been condemned in my place. Even though I deserve the full penalty for my sins (God's justified wrath, condemnation, and eternal punishment), I will never know any of that because Jesus took that all upon himself.He took my condemnation and now I know peace with God. What a beautiful mystery!Oh Lord, help this great truth fill my heart with joy today and help me remember it as I'm changing diapers and folding clothes tod...

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Papa and the Bear

Tali is totally into stories. When Owen was born, I was desperate for some activities to do with her while I nursed so I started telling her stories. Being the abnormal child that she is, she was an avid listener even at 13 months old, and remembered EVERY story that I told her (thankfully one of us did). Sometimes I make up the stories, sometimes I tell her true ones. Tali especially enjoys the stories that I tell her about "Mommy and her cousin, Meghan" and "When Papa was a little boy...". She recently started coming up with her own stories. This is one that she told my mom and me today during lunch:"Once sp-on a time dare wuz a yiddle boy name Papa. One day, Papa win into da woods...

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Pumpkin Patch Fun

Fun times at the pumpkin pat...

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Is One Issue That Important?

This is a picture of Tali taken a couple of months before she was born. I shudder to think that in the name of a"woman's right to choose," babies even older than she was in this picture are being aborted.We watched a bit of the debate last night. Obama's eloquence always captures me for a while...he's just plain fun to listen to; he knows how to get you fired up about change and it's pretty clear that America needs change.I've heard some people say that they wouldn't "not vote for someone simply based on one issue." If you've wondered, like I have, how to think about that, please read the following from Dr. Albert Mohler's blog:"Some argue that the sanctity of life issue is simply one among...

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A Reason to Smile

Need a reason to smile right now? One look at this little guy should do the trick! Isn't he just adorable?!...

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God's Absolutely Unique Love

After growing discouraged about seeing so many areas in need of growth in my life, Josh kindly helped me see that I've not been viewing my sin in light of the cross.  When I'm looking at myself through the lens of the cross, there is so much hope and joy and peace. When I look at my sin through the lens of the cross, I can rejoice in knowing that Jesus has paid the penalty for my sins and I can have hope that He'll change me.  So, at the suggestion of my husband, I've been trying to immerse myself in cross centered books and started studying Romans.  Stott's commentary of Romans has been particularly helpful for me.  I've been so encouraged by the quote below, that talks...

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Don't Miss This!!

In the midst of grocery shopping, changing diapers, doing laundry, and countless other things, I rarely stop to ask, "What has God really called me to as a woman?" How can I reflect His character in this unique role that He has called me to? These are essential questions that I must think about if I'm going to be intentional about glorifying God and obeying His commands.Right now, "The True Woman Conference" is about to begin. They will be biblically addressing what it means to beautifully display God's design for us as women. While I won't be there in person, I'm so excited to be able to benefit from their live feed. I need to hear truth from God's Word so that I can grow here. I need...

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Tali's New Favorite Drink

Today I decided to give myself the gift of some Starbucks. This is somewhat monumental because I haven't had anything there (aside from tea) since I went on this crazy food restriction diet for Owen. Now that I've added back in soy and dairy, I thought I needed to celebrate. So, Tali and I went to the Starbucks drive-through. Here's what she said on the way there, even before she'd had a taste of my soy hot chocolate (with only one pump of chocolate, mind you):"Ooh! I lub Sar-bus! Sar-bus id sooo yummy! I yike Sar-bus! Tah-yee say, 'Mommy, tin I hab sum Sar-bus?' Mommy say, 'Sir, Tahwee, dust a widdle bit. Ya mite yike it, Tahwee.' "Poor girl. I mean, does she really have any chance...

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Life

Recently Josh & I watched the haunting, stunning movie, "Bella." I'm not sure a day has passed since I've viewed it that my mind has not gone back to the movie. My heart continues to be stirred by what I saw and by the reminder that life hangs in the balance for thousands of babies each and every day as their mothers contemplate what "choice" to make. If you've not seen it, it is worth the watch. (And no, it's not for kids.)Then, today, I hopped over to Carolyn McCulley's blog and watched this excellent testimony. I know that time is short but it's worth the watch. I was especially struck by this, "But I wonder if my own children will one day ask me, 'Daddy, what did you do about abortion...

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My Happy Boy

It's been quite a while since I've given an update on my sweet boy. He will be a whoppin' 10 months old on October 17th. I can't believe it!!! The fact that he is almost one just seems unreal. Where has the time gone?Owen is such a sweet guy. His smile is so big and so frequent; he's almost always smiling. He really has a very sweet personality; he is farily quiet (hard not to be with Miss Gabberjaws around), loves to be held, thinks his sister is hillarious, and loves to be read to. I just love hanging out with him! He's weighing in at 18 pounds so he's just barely making it to the 10th percentile for weight. He's healthy though, and that's all that really matters! His reflux is still...

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God Hears Us

Yesterday was the start of another fever/sickness thing with Tali. These things are getting familiar as she's had so many but they are still scary. Anyhow, the dr. wanted me to bring her in to see if it was UTI. Checking for UTI means...you got it-urinalysis. A urinalysis on a baby who is not potty trained means a catheter. A catheter means excruciating pain for your baby and an all-out awful and hard-to-forget experience for the both of you.So, on the way to the dr's office I asked the Lord to help Tali pee in the little bag that they'll do as a first try thing so that the cath wouldn't be necessary. The whole way to the office I talked w/her about what would happen when we got in there...

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Still Here

Given that my computer isn't hooked up yet at our new house, my blogging has been a bit...non-existent.  Sorry, friends.  Hopefully soon!Here's the life update:* We're officially moved in!  Each night as we get ready to go to sleep one of us can be found saying, "Isn't this house just such a blessing?!"  We're so grateful to God!*  Owen is doing the army-crawl these days.  It's so weird to see a baby sort of crawl the "right" way after Tali and her months of scooting.*  Tali is funny, as always.  She's been really into pretending as of late.  "I'm Mih-tuh Nat.  You Yay-nuh.  O-wen id Mih-siz Hanna."  Or, "Oh-tay, Mommy!  I'm Drahma....

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Owey in Door County

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Tali at the Bay

I'm behind on posting pictures...so here are some of Tali at the bay in CA. We didn't expect her to be super excited about the water because we thought it would be cold. It was extremely warm and, as you can see, she went straight for it even with a pretty dress on. Lots of fun memories! ...

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I Love Stuff

Way back before the house actually became ours, something dangerous started happening in me. It was subtle at the time and just seemed like a fun thing to occupy my time with, but now I can see it in all its ugliness. Oh yes, my friends, I have that dreadful disease of the soul called "wanteritis." Maybe you're familiar with this sin-sickness. It creeps in when you're just minding your own business, checking out the latest "Pottery Barn" catalog and then "WHAM" it slaps you upside the head. Suddenly you are overcome with a sense of urgency to purchase/buy/get! You can think of nothing else but the dresser/picture frame/lamps/really-really-cute-purple-and-white-polkadot-curtains-for-your-girl's-room...

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Oops

Oops. The author's name is Ann, not A...

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Sacrificing Time

I'm not sure if there's ever been a time that I've read the Holy Experience blog and not started crying at one point or another along a post. And folks, I'm not that big of a crier. Her words just ring so true to my heart again and again.As a mom who struggles to fight selfishness, especially in regards to what I deem as "my time," Amy's post today was just what I needed to hear. If you're a mom who knows that fight to give of yourself rather than holding back, I encourage you to read it. It's worth the time.Let's be moms who "pluck" tod...

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Some Tali-isms

Ok, friends. So Tali has been absolutely cracking us up lately. I thought you might enjoy hearing some of her humorous comments.Oh, Mama! I'm all ticky! Dust yike da pid!!!(And so her love for "If You Give A Pig A Pancake" continues...)--------------------------(Imagine this: it's 9:30pm and Tali is 2 hours past bedtime. She's in a white onesie and her hair looks like she stuck her finger in a light-socket. We arrive at the place we're staying for vacation and I start marvelling at what a blessing the place is. Before I know it, I see Tali running all around touching everything, saying emphatically...)Oh my dud-ness dway-sus! Whud a bess-een! Whud a bess-een! A towch! Whud a bess-een!...

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Door County Pictures

We are back from Door County and are so grateful to the Lord for the awesome time that we had! It was so wonderful to be there together as a family. Here are a couple of pics from our trip. More to come... Sitting outside of the "Silly Goose" Holding hands on a walk with Daddy Owey and his friend, BredonTali & her friend, Li...

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Leaving for Door County

Our first trip to Door County: I was pregnant w/TaliLast summer when we went to Door County: Tali was changing so much and I was pregnant with OwenTomorrow when we leave for Door County: I get to spend the week with a husband I love and my two favorite kids in the whole world! What could be bett...

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Tali's Version of the Story

One of Tali's favorite books right now is "If You Give a Pig a Pancake." I caught her "reading" the book to herself yesterday. Here's what she said:"Ta pid a pan-tate. Tee wan tum suh-rup go wit you. Soooo...you pan-tate a you an a tam-era an all tickee! Pah-bee all tickee!"(The pig a pancake. She wants some syrup go with you. So, you pancake and you and a camera and all sticky! Probably all stick...

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Best Friends

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Being a Mom on Sundays: Preparation Tips

I had a coach one time that always shouted to us while we were running laps or doing drills over and over and over, "Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance!!!!!" I don't know that preparing our hearts prior to Sunday prevents all challenges on the Lord's day, but preparing does help.In this final post about being a mom on Sundays, I thought I'd share some random preparation tips. Pretty much any thoughts I have come from others, so thank you to all you wise friends for helping me!Preparing for Sundays: Some TipsTalk with your husband about the temptations you face on Sundays and ask for his prayers and input on how you can grow in those areasThank God for the input your husband gave and...

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