blessed.

This past weekend, we had Ella baptized at our church.  We were so thankful to share the time with our family who support us, love us and pray for us.  We also have two very dear family members who have promised to pray for Ella and for us as we guide her through this life for as long as we have with her.  More than anything, we pray she chooses to follow Jesus and lives a life for Him.  We are so blessed!

while they were sleeping

One of the biggest privileges and responsibilities of being a mom (or a dad or grandparent, for that matter!), I think, is to pray for my children.  What a blessing that we can offer our children to the Lord in prayer!  However, sometimes as the busyness of life gets away from me...I find myself offering quick prayers for our kids that seem like it's just a routine or the same thing all the time.  I know the Lord still hears these prayers and answers them in His way, but I sometimes feel like I need more direction in what to specifically pray.  So recently, I pulled out a book I received at a baby shower when I was pregnant with Miriam.  I had read through it a few times after she was born, but I have found it so helpful in guiding my prayers with all three girls now.  I would like to continue going through it over and over again as they get older.  It is called While They Were Sleeping by Anne Arkins and Gary Harrell.  The book takes you through 12 specific character traits to pray for your child or children.  It uses Scripture followed by a few prayers specific to the character traits.  It leaves blanks for you to put in the names of your kids as you pray.  It also offers ideas to incorporate your kids into learning the character traits at various age levels.  The specific traits are: kindness, humility, teachability, forgiveness, obedience, discernment, purity, responsibility, courage, servanthood and contentment.  I highly recommend this book for new moms or grandparents or if anyone just wants more direction in praying for your children.  It is fantastic.  

a new decade

Tomorrow I enter into my third decade of life...and although I feel like many people dread turning 30, I'm actually kind of looking forward to it.  My twenties were FULL of about every new life change: graduating college, getting my first job, getting married, moving to a new state, having three babies and buying a house.  Of course there were many, many wonderful things that came along with that, but also a handful of challenging moments as well (starting over in a new city, pregnancies (I could list about 1,000 challenging moments that came with that alone), lack of sleep, demands of raising a preschooler, toddler and an infant, home remodeling, discovering my extreme selfishness through the incredible refining process of marriage and being a mom, wow...the list could go on and on).  I feel like I really grew a lot during that time.  And I pray I can learn just as much or more through this next decade.  Thankfully, no matter how much older I get or how many new things life will throw at me, God is faithful.  He continues to prove Himself over and over to me.  I'm excited to see where He takes me and my family in the next ten (and hopefully more!) years.  I'm thanking the Lord for my Easter birthday tomorrow!

perfection

I'm a perfectionist.  Not with everything, but with many things.  And I'm pretty sure I've been that way for awhile.  My dad tells me stories of how he and I used to sit down and draw pictures together and if my picture wasn't exactly perfect, I'd crumple it up and throw it away.  I always tried to do my school work perfect and wanted my hair to look perfect and oftentimes wanted everyone else to think I was perfect, too. Even now, the pictures on my wall need to be exactly symmetrical and I want my bed to be made so that the comforter falls over the edge the same amount on both sides.  But beyond just how my house looks, I also want to be the perfect wife and mom.  You know the kind: the kids are always wearing clothes with no stains with hair combed exactly right.  The mom has a trendy haircut that is styled even at 9:00am when she's out grocery shopping.  And then she returns to her perfectly clean house where everything has a spot and it's all in its spot.  When her husband comes home from work, dinner is ready and the table is set and they have a wonderfully perfect evening because that's what they are: perfect.  And then I get up each morning and wear pajamas until about 10:00am and try and get something put together for lunch while attempting to keep the toys at least contained within the room they came from.  If you look closely in the corners, there is sure to be dust bunnies.  There are always laundry piles (clean and dirty) somewhere in the house.  I often leave the house with no make-up.  And it's a miracle if I have something ready for dinner by the time my husband is home from work (except this week!  We're doing well on this meal planning thing so far!).  It sure doesn't sound like a perfect picture of a family, but I've learned that I just need to accept that.  I need to let some things go.  My house doesn't need to look perfect, my kids don't need to look perfect and I don't need to look perfect.  And the mom who looks perfect in every way?  Is she really?  We don't really know anything except what's on the surface.  But, of course, we're moms...and want to compare every single thing with her.  Why do we do that?  Why do I do that?  Regardless if that perfect mom is really perfect or not, God doesn't want us to live trying to be the image of her or whatever we think perfection happens to be.  He wants us to live in the image of Himself.  That's how He created us!  Lord, help me to reflect Your image and be the wife and mom You want me to be.

Meanwhile, I do believe I will  have many more years of praying that this little girl also learns that things don't need to be perfect:

She does this with her orange every time she peels it and has done it all on her own.  This is just one of many "perfectionist" traits she seems to carry on.  Lord, teach us both!

new year thoughts and Christmas recap

I know it's been awhile since my last post, but we were away for Christmas and I am just now starting to feel the routine of normal life again.  We've also all been fighting sickness, so much of my "break" was spent lounging and resting (as much as possible with a 3-year-old and 9-month-old).  With that, I'm going to start my first post of 2011 with a list of highlights/events from Christmas and also some thoughts going into this new year.

Christmastime for our family included:

~five church services

~five days at my parents' house

~four Christmas celebrations

~three Christmas dinners (one being pizza)

~three presents for each of our daughters (because Jesus received three gifts)

~one wonderful afternoon/evening spent with some of my favorite Minnesota people

~one visit with two great high school friends

~many days to have my beloved husband around (something I missed throughout December)

~one morning spent singing and playing instruments at a nursing home

~many lovely memories of one of my favorite times of year

We really did enjoy a bit of a break from the busy December we had.  We spent a few days at my parents' house and then a few days at our house catching up on things, relaxing and trying to get well again (and still working on that last one).  

And now for the new year...I never have been much with making goals as a new year rolls around.  Sometimes I think about a few things I'd like to do or change about myself, but nothing really concrete.  I always enter the new year wanting to grow more in my faith and continue to be the wife and mom God wants me to be, so I guess that's my main "goal" for this year.  I pray that I would fall more in love with my Savior first and foremost and then continue to become more selfless in my relationship with my husband and more patient in my role as a mom.  I have so far to go, but am so thankful I am loved and accepted by God in my imperfect ways.

This year, our church is also being challenged to read through the entire Bible.  I would love to say that on December 31, 2011, I accomplished just that.  I have tried in years past to complete the whole Bible in a year, but usually get behind by the middle of the year and don't seem to catch up.  Please pray with me that I stick with my daily reading and that God would use his Word to teach me and show me Himself in new ways.

Happy 2011!

Lord, you are

Over this past year, the Lord has shown me the power of speaking out loud Who He says He is.  So many times throughout my day, I feel weak, in need of direction, helpless, and just in need of my Jesus.  When I recognize that need for Him, I speak the Truth of His character.  When I am weak, I say, "Lord, you are my Strength"  (Psalm 28:7).  When I need help, I say, "Lord, you are my Help" (Heb. 13:6).  When I feel like running away, I say, "Lord, you are my Refuge" (Psalm 91:2).  God shows His character through His Word; the more I study and learn Who He is, the more I can recognize His strength and power in me when I am weak.  And I truly believe there is power in speaking it.

Praise Him for all that He is.    

what I've learned in four years of marriage

Matt and I shared our four-year-anniversary yesterday together.  We enjoyed spending the evening out while my parents watched the girls.  We went out to eat at The Hubbell House in Mantorville, Minnesota and then toured the Mayowood Mansion in Rochester.  We had a wonderful evening talking, reminiscing, dreaming, and just enjoying each other's company.

So, in thinking of what to post about our anniversary... I thought I'd write down a few things I have learned in our four years of marriage.  And even though I think I've learned a lot, I know I still have much more to learn.

~ Married life is better than I thought it could be.
~ Married life can be more challenging than I thought it would be.
~ You learn all of your faults very quickly.
~ It is both a blessing and a joy to serve and be served.
~ You never really stop dating.  {I love that.}
~ Even though you think you know everything about each other before you get married, you don't.
~ It is possible to fall in love with your spouse all over again.
~ Having a constant companion is wonderful.
~ Prayer for and with each other is essential.
~ God is truly the only One that can hold a marriage together.

Happy Anniversary, my wonderful husband!  I am so thankful to share my life with you.

what Miriam taught her Mama about whining

A few days ago, all of us were out and about running errands. As we were leaving a store, Miriam noticed a gumball machine and decided right then and there that she had to have one. And she let us know it.

"Mama, can I have a gumball?"

"No, honey, not this time."

"But I want one!"

"No, Miriam. I already said 'no.' "

"But Mama!" {cue whining}

Little did Miriam know that her Papa was planning on taking us all to get a little ice cream after we got in the car. Ice cream is something Miriam loves. And she loves it far more than gumballs. And ice cream is definitely a treat for her as we don't have it all that often. Meanwhile, Miriam proceeded to whine and whine and whine. So by the time we got her calmed down and into the car, we told her we had a surprise for her. Yes, perhaps we should have skipped the whole ice cream idea after all of her whining, but we decided we still wanted to go and enjoy family ice cream night.

This whole event sparked a thought in both Matt's and my head. Oddly, we said the same thing right after we were packing up in the car. We related the incident with Miriam to how we sometimes (or often in my case) whine to God. We always seem to have something in mind that we want and we want it right now. So, we beg and plead with God to give it to us. Meanwhile, He has something bigger and better in mind if we would just stop whining and let Him bless us with His better idea. I love that the Lord puts word pictures like that right in front of my face so that I don't miss what He's trying to say. I pray I can continue to remember that as I think about whining to him yet again.

book review

This book is so good. I'm not sure that I can give it a proper review since I haven't read the whole thing yet, but the little I have read is wonderful.

My dear friend Heidi gave it to me a few weeks ago as I was sharing with her some of the challenges and anxieties I had been dealing with as of late. As much as I adore being a mom, it sure can be tough sometimes! But God continues to guide me and give me strength and wisdom to make it through each day. But anyway, back to the book... each page is a devotional for each day of the year. The devotionals are brief (usually a paragraph or two) and are just perfect for busy moms. I actually think this book is so good for women in general (I'm sure men can gain a lot from it as well, but it seems like women would really really like it). Each devotional is written as if Jesus is talking to you. They are taken from Scripture (cited at the bottom of each page) and written in a way that make me feel like He is whispering in my ear. It often deals with anxiety and worry that so many of us tend to battle with (this is why I think it's so good for women). So, that is my humble review on this amazing book! I highly recommend it -even though I just started it!

savoring 'til the last bite...

Miriam loves fruit. Any kind of fruit. Often times I need to persuade her to eat whatever else is on her plate before she can have more fruit. There have been many times that something like this comes out of my mouth:

"No, Miriam, you have already had a huge handful of blueberries. Please take two more bites of your pizza before I give you more."

So, because of her love of fruit... she often will savor the last piece of whatever she's eating until it's completely gone. For example, she'll keep a grape in her mouth for 10-15 minutes just because she knows it's the last one she'll have for awhile. I often forget that she even had anything to eat until I notice she's still chewing on something for quite some time after.

As Miriam was savoring a fruit snack today (another one of her delectable delights), I thought to myself, "how often do I savor the Word of God? Do I read it and quickly get back to what I am doing, or do I hold onto it for a long time?" Perhaps that is quite the stretch in relating fruit to Scripture... but it did cross my mind. Many days I find it challenging to take more than five minutes to sit and spend time with the Lord. But I do know that He delights in even those five minutes -and especially if I savor His Words. A challenge for myself now is to make sure that my time with Him is not just another thing on my "to-do" list; rather, I want it to be a sweet time of solace in my often-times busy day that I can carry with me through the rest of my day. I want to savor my relationship with Him.

He Is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

The Solid Rock

Just after 10:00 last night, I was lying in bed and listening to the election results on the radio. When the news broke that our President Elect was named, I felt like my heart stopped for a minute. I sat silently and a wave of fear swept over me. I had been preparing for that moment for a long time, but part of me still hoped and prayed it wouldn’t happen. But, come January 20^th, our country will have a new president… and it wasn’t the one I voted for. I didn’t vote for him for many reasons, especially because I feel like the right to life will be compromised. I spent many months fearing what direction America would go if our current President Elect was elected, and praying that God would have mercy on us.

However, this morning, I woke up with a sense of peace that I hadn’t felt before. It’s not a peace because I support what our new president stands for, but because our God is completely sovereign. He knew long before 10:00 last night who would govern our country pending the results of this long election. I cannot live in fear of our president and what could happen, but I need to live in fear of our God. Proverbs 2:1-5 says:

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Even though circumstances may change in our country, I still need to fear the Lord and Him only. I can rest that He is in control and pray that God will give our new president wisdom and direction as he leads America. As believers, we cannot stop praying. I pray that through this, God will bring revival to our nation. Let us continue to rest in His sovereignty.

An old hymn kept playing through my head this morning as I thought of our country and what we may face. It reminded me that our hope is in Christ alone, not in any person…

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, his blood, support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found,

Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before His throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand –all other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

A Bittersweet Day...

Today is Matt's last day at the radio station. As much as we are excited for him to move onto a new job where we believe the Lord has called him to, we are also sad for him to be leaving the station. This was the job we moved to the area for! But, God continues to show us that His plan always prevails. We thought Matt would be working a few years (at least) at the station, but Matt's calling into music ministry happened just a little earlier than we had "planned". We're very much looking forward to this new ministry opportunity, but also ask for prayer as we are stepping into full-time ministry.

We also are stuck on our housing situation right now... we really would like to move to Eau Claire (since this is where the church is), but we're not entirely sure when or where. We'd like to buy a house, but are find that somewhat unsettling since Matt's job is technically only a 1-year position. We think he will probably be there longer, but we're still not sure if we should buy a house with that hanging over our heads. Our landlords are also willing to let us swap units and move to one of their properties in Eau Claire, but there really aren't any available that we like. So, please pray for us as we're trying to find the Lord's direction in this.