My grandma, Joanne, was taken to the hospital in DesMoines, IA today after being in the ICU yesterday for some sort of heart problem. They are unsure if it's a heart attack or something different. Please pray for Grandma's healing and for compassionate and quality care from the doctors. Also, please pray for my grandpa as he isn't feeling too well himself (bad cold) and is waiting to hear how my grandma is doing. Thank you!
reflections
Read, Think, Pray
January 15, 2008
My hubby gave a very helpful and practical message on Sunday about prayerfully meditating on God's Word. The strategy involves reading the passage, thinking/meditating about the passage, and then praying through the passage (read, think, pray). Our pastors have challenged us to use the next seven days to try out this helpful strategy. Josh has encouraged me to do this before and I've found it very fruitful. Today I sought to do it again, except this time it went a little something like this:
1) Prayed that the Lord would bless my time with Him
2) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth as he awoke screaming
3) Read 1 John 4:10-11
4) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth again
5) Re-read 1 John 4:10-11
6) Stopped to keep Tali from pulling by Bible off of the table
7) Started to write out 1 John 4:11
8) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth again
9) Finished writing out 1 John 4:11
10) Started to write a sentence to meditate on the passage, starting with "God..."
11) Stopped to keep Tali from ripping a page out of my Bible
It continued like this for quite some time until, at last, I had actually read, meditated, and prayed! The process took about 30 minutes but the actual invested time with the Lord probably totaled 5-10. I hope that God is glorified by my efforts!
p.s.-This is a good example of how much more fruitful my time with God is when I do it during Owen's 6:30am feeding, rather than when he's sort of asleep and Tali is running around the house like a crazy woman. Now, if I could just be disciplined at 6:30am rather than wanting to half feed him and half sleep at the same time...
1) Prayed that the Lord would bless my time with Him
2) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth as he awoke screaming
3) Read 1 John 4:10-11
4) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth again
5) Re-read 1 John 4:10-11
6) Stopped to keep Tali from pulling by Bible off of the table
7) Started to write out 1 John 4:11
8) Stopped to go put the pacifier back in Owen's mouth again
9) Finished writing out 1 John 4:11
10) Started to write a sentence to meditate on the passage, starting with "God..."
11) Stopped to keep Tali from ripping a page out of my Bible
It continued like this for quite some time until, at last, I had actually read, meditated, and prayed! The process took about 30 minutes but the actual invested time with the Lord probably totaled 5-10. I hope that God is glorified by my efforts!
p.s.-This is a good example of how much more fruitful my time with God is when I do it during Owen's 6:30am feeding, rather than when he's sort of asleep and Tali is running around the house like a crazy woman. Now, if I could just be disciplined at 6:30am rather than wanting to half feed him and half sleep at the same time...
reflections
The past couple of days my grandparents have been visiting. It was so much fun to have Grandma playing with Tali and to see Grandpa hold Owen. I can only imagine how strange it must be for them to be playing with their daughter's daughter's daughter. :) It was another reminder to me of how quickly time passes. They made comments about when my mom was an infant just like it was yesterday, as it is still fresh in their minds. I hear it constantly from voices all around me, "Enjoy the time now because it will go by so quickly." To think that in the blink of an eye, Tali and Owen will be grown and before I know it, I may be visiting them to see their own children...
Yes, the shortness of the time continues to be at the forefront of my mind, as you can see. I just do not want to wake up one day years from now with an empty house and the thought that I wasted the time that I had to love my children while they were with me and to reflect to them the mercy and grace of God. One day all of the diapers and the a.m. feedings will be a distant memory. Today, I have the opportunity to speak and live with my children in such a way that I am a living message about Christ's saving work. I want to redeem the time!
Family is a Gift From God
January 12, 2008
The past couple of days my grandparents have been visiting. It was so much fun to have Grandma playing with Tali and to see Grandpa hold Owen. I can only imagine how strange it must be for them to be playing with their daughter's daughter's daughter. :) It was another reminder to me of how quickly time passes. They made comments about when my mom was an infant just like it was yesterday, as it is still fresh in their minds. I hear it constantly from voices all around me, "Enjoy the time now because it will go by so quickly." To think that in the blink of an eye, Tali and Owen will be grown and before I know it, I may be visiting them to see their own children...
Yes, the shortness of the time continues to be at the forefront of my mind, as you can see. I just do not want to wake up one day years from now with an empty house and the thought that I wasted the time that I had to love my children while they were with me and to reflect to them the mercy and grace of God. One day all of the diapers and the a.m. feedings will be a distant memory. Today, I have the opportunity to speak and live with my children in such a way that I am a living message about Christ's saving work. I want to redeem the time!
children
He Does What I Can't Do
January 10, 2008
It's funny, the rich sense of accomplishment I feel when the day is ending. There's this resounding "I made it through another day...and it went fairly well" echoing in my head. I didn't do brain surgery (or even leave my house) but seeking to love and care for two babies is downright hard work. At this moment, all that I want is to go to sleep and not wake up until at least 6:00 but that's just not reality and it probably won't be for another month or so. And it's completely worth it; don't get me wrong. I would not trade this for anything but I am tired. Very tired.
A week ago I really didn't see how it was possible for me to take care of two needy babies at once. They both need things at the same time and there's only one of me. I can't be everywhere doing everything at the same time. Thankfully, God is helping me to see the situation in light of who He is, not just in light of who I am not. God is everywhere and He does everything that needs doing, even if I can't do it. So, I guess the sense of accomplishment is just the recognition of the grace that He's giving me to do what I can as I trust Him to do what I can't.
Every single exhausting moment is a blessing and I am grateful for it. But oh, do I need grace to have the energy to keep on going with joy and diligence! As always, I would love your prayers.
A week ago I really didn't see how it was possible for me to take care of two needy babies at once. They both need things at the same time and there's only one of me. I can't be everywhere doing everything at the same time. Thankfully, God is helping me to see the situation in light of who He is, not just in light of who I am not. God is everywhere and He does everything that needs doing, even if I can't do it. So, I guess the sense of accomplishment is just the recognition of the grace that He's giving me to do what I can as I trust Him to do what I can't.
Every single exhausting moment is a blessing and I am grateful for it. But oh, do I need grace to have the energy to keep on going with joy and diligence! As always, I would love your prayers.
children
Josh and I cannot get over how cute Tali is these days. She has a head full of curls and the things she says and does are just hilarious. We are constantly shaking our heads in disbelief at how just plain adorable she is! Here are just a few of the sweet things she's been doing lately:
*This morning when I went in to get her up, I walked into her room and she quickly stood up in her crib with a huge smile on her face and exclaimed, "Hi!"
*All day long, any time that she walks by Owen she nonchalantly waves at him and says, "Hi." Occasionally, she will stop long enough to shake ("rock") his bouncy seat or to give him a quick kiss on the the tummy.
*When we correct her for doing a "no-no," the first thing she says with tears in her eyes is "Baby! Baby!" (Her baby doll is a source of great comfort for her. Her baby never tells her "no.")
*She likes to walk backwards and say, "Beep, beep" like a truck backing up.
*She likes to lay on the floor and say, "N-eye, N-eye" (Night, Night) and pretend to sleep.
*Her primary form of entertainment is her myriad of dolls. She calls each of them, "baby" and she carries them around the house, gives them bites of her food, kisses them, plays peek-a-boo with them, reads books to them, rocks them in the car seat, and covers them with blankets.
I'm sure that my explanation doesn't even remotely capture how cute she is. Hopefully, we'll get our new video camera up and running soon so I can stick a video on here to better demonstrate the cuteness in action. :) But you've got to admit, that pink pea coat is pretty adorable on her.
My Beautiful Girl
January 9, 2008
Josh and I cannot get over how cute Tali is these days. She has a head full of curls and the things she says and does are just hilarious. We are constantly shaking our heads in disbelief at how just plain adorable she is! Here are just a few of the sweet things she's been doing lately:
*This morning when I went in to get her up, I walked into her room and she quickly stood up in her crib with a huge smile on her face and exclaimed, "Hi!"
*All day long, any time that she walks by Owen she nonchalantly waves at him and says, "Hi." Occasionally, she will stop long enough to shake ("rock") his bouncy seat or to give him a quick kiss on the the tummy.
*When we correct her for doing a "no-no," the first thing she says with tears in her eyes is "Baby! Baby!" (Her baby doll is a source of great comfort for her. Her baby never tells her "no.")
*She likes to walk backwards and say, "Beep, beep" like a truck backing up.
*She likes to lay on the floor and say, "N-eye, N-eye" (Night, Night) and pretend to sleep.
*Her primary form of entertainment is her myriad of dolls. She calls each of them, "baby" and she carries them around the house, gives them bites of her food, kisses them, plays peek-a-boo with them, reads books to them, rocks them in the car seat, and covers them with blankets.
I'm sure that my explanation doesn't even remotely capture how cute she is. Hopefully, we'll get our new video camera up and running soon so I can stick a video on here to better demonstrate the cuteness in action. :) But you've got to admit, that pink pea coat is pretty adorable on her.
reflections
I can't believe that Christmas has all ready come and gone. Having a newborn near the holidays seems to make it zoom past even faster than normal. Now, we're supposedly in January but given that it feels like April, I feel really disoriented. Did Christmas really come and go all ready? Did Josh's family all ready come and leave for the holidays? Did the piles of snow that were outside last week really melt all ready? Where did the time go?
Having Owen has made me even more sentimental about the passing of time. I asked the Lord before my little guy was born to help me gain perspective about how quickly time passes. I prayed from Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Let me just say that He has answered that prayer a thousand times over. Each day, I get up and look at Tali and about cry. Where did my baby go? How is it that she's big enough to walk, talk, pretend, etc? Then I look at Owen starting to outgrow his newborn diapers and I'm in awe again. It just goes by so quickly! He's all ready sleeping 4 consecutive hours a night and starting to hold his head up more strongly. Time really does fly by...
I can't believe that I'm 26 years old, married, and enjoying two sweet children. Sometimes I still feel like I'm in high school. My days are numbered and only the Lord knows their length. I want to enjoy each day that the Lord gives me and live it to the fullest for His glory...because the time truly is short and every day is a gift.
Is This January?
January 7, 2008
I can't believe that Christmas has all ready come and gone. Having a newborn near the holidays seems to make it zoom past even faster than normal. Now, we're supposedly in January but given that it feels like April, I feel really disoriented. Did Christmas really come and go all ready? Did Josh's family all ready come and leave for the holidays? Did the piles of snow that were outside last week really melt all ready? Where did the time go?
Having Owen has made me even more sentimental about the passing of time. I asked the Lord before my little guy was born to help me gain perspective about how quickly time passes. I prayed from Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Let me just say that He has answered that prayer a thousand times over. Each day, I get up and look at Tali and about cry. Where did my baby go? How is it that she's big enough to walk, talk, pretend, etc? Then I look at Owen starting to outgrow his newborn diapers and I'm in awe again. It just goes by so quickly! He's all ready sleeping 4 consecutive hours a night and starting to hold his head up more strongly. Time really does fly by...
I can't believe that I'm 26 years old, married, and enjoying two sweet children. Sometimes I still feel like I'm in high school. My days are numbered and only the Lord knows their length. I want to enjoy each day that the Lord gives me and live it to the fullest for His glory...because the time truly is short and every day is a gift.
reflections
My wonderful husband and my cute son
More Than I Deserve
January 4, 2008
My wonderful husband and my cute son
There's this old Sandra McCracken song that I love about marriage and our relationship with Christ that sings again and again, "And this is more than I deserve." That refrain is what my heart is singing to the Lord again and again for the gift of my husband. To think that God has given me the gift of my husband, despite the fact that I am a wretched sinner, is a breath-taking picture of the love of God.
Josh simply goes above and beyond in the ways that he serves me, especially in this new season of caring for two babies. Since Owen was born, Josh is gladly asking me to wake him up at any hour to help change diapers and rock Owen back to sleep. He is taking time away from his own morning routine to get Tali out of bed and started in on her day. He is constantly asking me if there's any way that he can be serving me better or any way that I need more help. He's been doing all of the dishes, helping me with picking up the piles of toys around the house, and has taken numerous last minute trips to the grocery store. He is compassionate when I'm overwhelmed, speaks loving truth when I need corrected, and has been encouraging me to spend time with the Lord even when I feel there is no time available. That is only a sampling of how he has been blessing me. I am just so grateful for my husband!
The thing that strikes me the most about it all is that I don't deserve Josh. Really, I don't deserve Tali or Owen or this beautiful home we rent, or the incredible church that we are a part of. I don't deserve to be breathing this minute but God, in His mercy, has given me all of these gifts. None of them would be possible apart from Christ dying on my behalf. If not for His sacrifice, I would still be an enemy of God, an object of His righteous wrath. What I deserve because of my sin is hell, but God has given me a right relationship with God and the hope of heaven. How can I not praise Him for this gift and so many others?
Lord, thank you for giving me so much more than I deserve! Thank you, especially, for my husband.
Josh simply goes above and beyond in the ways that he serves me, especially in this new season of caring for two babies. Since Owen was born, Josh is gladly asking me to wake him up at any hour to help change diapers and rock Owen back to sleep. He is taking time away from his own morning routine to get Tali out of bed and started in on her day. He is constantly asking me if there's any way that he can be serving me better or any way that I need more help. He's been doing all of the dishes, helping me with picking up the piles of toys around the house, and has taken numerous last minute trips to the grocery store. He is compassionate when I'm overwhelmed, speaks loving truth when I need corrected, and has been encouraging me to spend time with the Lord even when I feel there is no time available. That is only a sampling of how he has been blessing me. I am just so grateful for my husband!
The thing that strikes me the most about it all is that I don't deserve Josh. Really, I don't deserve Tali or Owen or this beautiful home we rent, or the incredible church that we are a part of. I don't deserve to be breathing this minute but God, in His mercy, has given me all of these gifts. None of them would be possible apart from Christ dying on my behalf. If not for His sacrifice, I would still be an enemy of God, an object of His righteous wrath. What I deserve because of my sin is hell, but God has given me a right relationship with God and the hope of heaven. How can I not praise Him for this gift and so many others?
Lord, thank you for giving me so much more than I deserve! Thank you, especially, for my husband.
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