Here and now

I often think about what I need to do, where I need to go, when we need to leave, what we should be doing next. I have a never ending laundry pile, dishes that need to be washed, history lessons that need to be read, piano lessons that need to be given, games that need to be played, verses that need to be memorized. As I think of all the never ending tasks that must be done, I realize I am thinking too much. I need to be content where God has placed me here and now. “Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’.” (Hebrews 13:5)I call on the Lord. I need Him. I pray, "Lord, I am Yours. These children are Yours. This day, hour, minute belongs to You. May You do what You will. I am meerly a vessel in Your hand. Thank You for the grace You've given me. May I see You in this day... every hour, every minute."
#406 sunlight peeking through the gray storm clouds
#407 creative kids painting and building
#408 skating with Macy on our "mommy/daughter date"
#409 anticipation of the eggless cake to come out of the oven
#410 morning drizzle on the sidewalk
#411 God's divine influence upon my heart
#412 banana smudged handprints upon the window
#413 long kisses before Matt leaves
#414 giggles at nap time
#415 healthy, active and quite coordinated 3 year old BOYS
#416 reading about the promise of a Savior as we study the book of Isaiah
#417 little hands learning to say "I love you" in sign language

Book Review:
For eight weeks, Matt and I will be going through The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

My brother-in-law leads the book studies and always does an outstanding job keeping Christ as the center of the study.
According to the quiz that we took at our first study, my primary love language is Quality Time and Matt's is Acts of Service. Even though this is a study primarily for husbands and wives, I look forward to developing all 5 languages in my children.

Love Language #1: Words of Affirmation
Ephesians 4:17-32 (English Standard Version)

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self,created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

We all speak words and words are part of our life, our livelihood. God commands us to love Him and love others. We can love others using our words.
Compliments- There is something worthy of a compliment in every person because he is created in the image of God. Compliments can be powerful motivators.
Encouraging Words- God's Word in filled with encouraging words. We should cling to His Word. Meditate. Memorize. "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:19-20
Kind Words- Love is kind and kindness is a gift from the Holy Spirit.
Humble Words- Recognize our sinful state and humble ourselves and recognize that "grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift". Every word we say can point to God's grace. Eph 4:1-2 "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love"

Heart filled with gratitude

"You have been kept on this earth a little longer to be an ambassador for Christ." -K. Robinson

A full weekend

Eph. 5:20

I often visit Ann Voskamp's blog Holy Experience and have for a few years now. I find such godly counsel and encouragement from her posts. I  was recently given her book entitled One Thousand Gifts. My friend, Deb, knew I would love such a gift for my birthday. I have loved every bit of this book. I am challenged. I have been listing things for which I am thankful. I began this journey one year ago. I read through the past year and find more than 300, but I find I have missed the point and I finally get what Ann has been saying. Not just giving thanks for people or stuff or events, but giving thanks for everything in every moment. I realized yesterday, as I sat at McDonalds with my father-in-law, this giving thanks for eveything in every moment included the little old lady eating every last bite of her ice cream. I watched her savor every drop and I was thankful for that. Finding thankfulness and joy in the here and now is what I am just now learning. I look at Madi carefully tucking her brothers in for their daily nap and I watch differently than before. She spread their favorite blanket  carefully over them, placed a stuffed animal beside them and kissed them gently on the cheek. I almost missed it! I didn't. I see my children and think of how much I missed for which I could have been grateful. I am humbled as I see years of ungratefulness and complaining. I never gave thanks for gentle hands and kisses before naptime. I beg for mercy. Help me to practice eucharisteo.  I have read many times as I memorize the book of Ephesians: "And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). I must do this. I commit to do this day in and day out, in the good times and the bad times, until it becomes a life-long habit. Not just making a list and writing down things for which I am thankful, but seeing God in everything, holding on to the moment, savoring the gift I have been given and offering thanksgiving to God.

How we began our new year

I like to set goals for myself with deadlines. Since January 1st, I have completely gone through my house and organized everything. I have used the book Organized Simplicity to keep me focused. I began my fresh start. I set a date for our garage sale and worked diligently for 2 months to go through the entire house and garage. I don't know how we accumulate so much stuff. The last 2 weekends we spent time, along with 5 other families, selling our stuff. I made close to $700 ($3000 between all 6 families) and donated everything that didn't sell. This week has been such a peaceful and relaxing week in a house that is more simplified with everything in its place.

"The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less." -DON MILLMAN

Turning 3

So glad they have each other

We celebrated the three year mark of our precious twin boys. I am continually finding delight in them. The past three years have been such a learning time for me as I have been stretched and molded in new ways. Twins are wonderful and crazy and everything in between. I have been blessed. Some days along the way have been challenging for us all. I faced all sorts of emotion and have seen Christ change my heart through them.  I have practiced being thankful for them. God commands us to give thanks in all things. Since I have looked for ways to be thankful, I have grown to love them and appreciate them more and more each day. I am so thankful for you, Cooper and Parker. Happy Birthday!

The eyes

When I stepped into the PICU to see Madi after her third brain tumor resection surgery, I noticed her eyes moving back and forth. I immediately knew something wasn't right. After talking with her, I realized she had double vision. The brain surgeon gave us hope that day when he told us she may be fine once the swelling decreased. Four years later we continue to visit the opthamologist. The double vision decreases every doctor visit. We continue to give thanks for her visual improvement. But, these eyes are part of our earthly container which will wither and fade away. The eyes of our heart will last for eternity. I pray for the spiritual eyes of our children. I pray that none of them will have double vision. "I pray that the eyes of (their) heart may be enlightened, so that (they) may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Eph 1:18-19a

Exploring the backyard

Our boys love to explore our backyard because they are called to "take dominion over the earth". They are getting faster at catching creatures. I have seen them with spiders, moths, ants and now lizards.

Knitting a scarf

After three lessons, the knit stitch is becoming familiar to Madi. This has been a learning experience for both of us. I have seen my grandmas knit and crochet for years and have never learned how to do anything, but desired to teach my girls. A year ago, Hunter learned from his grandma and quickly made scarves with his big knitting needles and thick blue yarn. Now it is our turn. Our friend, Kim, taught us at our Keepers of the Faith meeting. When Madi was learning and making some mistakes, we would try to fix them. This eventually would lead to pulling it all apart and starting over. After much practice and mistakes, she now has a recognizable scarf and is really enjoying knitting.