Since I'm on a roll with posting things... 2 of my most favorite videos...
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Thursday, April 25, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Need to say "thank you"
(Tonight, April 24, 2013 I found this post.... halfway written and unpublished on my blog... and decided I needed to finish it. So here it is.)
I'm going to confess something. I pout. I have pouted a lot lately. Because one of my dearest friends I have had in all my 29 years moved away. Not to mention how close our hubbies were and our children. The Lord gave us a GIFT a few years ago when He began a small group of couples that began meeting on Wednesday nights. He gave us the gift of friendship- an honest, humble, genuine, safe, transparent, unreserved, healing friendship. One that changed me. Shaped me. Grew me. Challenged me. Showed me Christ's love in action. Our God gives, and He takes away. He hasn't taken away that friendship, no way. But I have been pouting as if He did. And I realized, I need to say thank you.
I'm going to confess something. I pout. I have pouted a lot lately. Because one of my dearest friends I have had in all my 29 years moved away. Not to mention how close our hubbies were and our children. The Lord gave us a GIFT a few years ago when He began a small group of couples that began meeting on Wednesday nights. He gave us the gift of friendship- an honest, humble, genuine, safe, transparent, unreserved, healing friendship. One that changed me. Shaped me. Grew me. Challenged me. Showed me Christ's love in action. Our God gives, and He takes away. He hasn't taken away that friendship, no way. But I have been pouting as if He did. And I realized, I need to say thank you.
Thank you Lord....
...for the depth of our husbands' friendships
...the holidays spent together
... for VBS fun
... for God revealing Himself to me time and time again, as a reflection in this friend. For showing me what kind of genuine fellowship in joy and in depth He designed us to experience. I love you friend, and I am thankful for the journey God carries you on and that I get to continue being let in on it. Praying for you always, even when I don't respond for days with my 8 paragraph texts. You are a gift, and I need to say THANK YOU.
... for our children's unforgettable friendships, the hours of joy and playful laughter
...for the depth of our husbands' friendships
.... for QUALITY time
... for weddings together
... for doing pregnancies, births, and celebrations together
... for doing loss, deaths and tears shed together.
(Another) Day to Remember
Back in July 2010 I posted on this blog about V's acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Savior. Such a joy to watch her pray that prayer on June 30, 2010. And to see where she's at now, as she grows, matures, and says things that amaze me, things that most 6 year olds don't speak of.
Now I sit here again at this computer to document about April 13, 2013.
Our journey as parents with Victoria has differed greatly in our journey with Sophie. The stubborn, strong-willed spirit she has shown, the feisty defiance, our cluelessness as to what to try next... it's been interesting... and so rewarding to see little victories and growth in her and watch her character develop. Throughout our bible stories, and talking about Jesus, what He did on the cross, who He is, the Holy Spirit, etc we always ask the girls questions. I still remember sitting on Sophie's bed the first time I asked her if she would like forgiveness for her sin (bad choices as we sometimes call it) and if she would like Jesus to come and live in her heart forever.... a sweet silence as she thinks, and so politely and bluntly says, "um, no." Wow, my child just rejected Christ was my first thought haha. But, confident that as she grows and learns that she would desire to know Him and who He is. Months later... the topic comes up again.... "no, no I don't want to" was her answer. The first-time shock wasn't there for me, and actually, I appreciated and learned to be thankful that my child has such a mind of her own that she doesn't just do something because she thinks we want her to. That she was making a conscience choice.
Then one Saturday night we are reading and talking about the beginning. Before God created earth, what the bible says it was like before God spoke this world into existence. And somewhere in there V happens to ask Sophie if she wants Jesus in her heart. As I'm picking up our books I hear Sophie respond, "yes." What?? All this time and talks with mommy and now it's sissy that leads her younger sister. We prayed with Sophie that night, and the girls all played and wrestled with Dad for a good 30 minutes afterwards as I just sat and watched, soaking it up.
Not much else to say, but thank you God.
Now I sit here again at this computer to document about April 13, 2013.
Our journey as parents with Victoria has differed greatly in our journey with Sophie. The stubborn, strong-willed spirit she has shown, the feisty defiance, our cluelessness as to what to try next... it's been interesting... and so rewarding to see little victories and growth in her and watch her character develop. Throughout our bible stories, and talking about Jesus, what He did on the cross, who He is, the Holy Spirit, etc we always ask the girls questions. I still remember sitting on Sophie's bed the first time I asked her if she would like forgiveness for her sin (bad choices as we sometimes call it) and if she would like Jesus to come and live in her heart forever.... a sweet silence as she thinks, and so politely and bluntly says, "um, no." Wow, my child just rejected Christ was my first thought haha. But, confident that as she grows and learns that she would desire to know Him and who He is. Months later... the topic comes up again.... "no, no I don't want to" was her answer. The first-time shock wasn't there for me, and actually, I appreciated and learned to be thankful that my child has such a mind of her own that she doesn't just do something because she thinks we want her to. That she was making a conscience choice.
Then one Saturday night we are reading and talking about the beginning. Before God created earth, what the bible says it was like before God spoke this world into existence. And somewhere in there V happens to ask Sophie if she wants Jesus in her heart. As I'm picking up our books I hear Sophie respond, "yes." What?? All this time and talks with mommy and now it's sissy that leads her younger sister. We prayed with Sophie that night, and the girls all played and wrestled with Dad for a good 30 minutes afterwards as I just sat and watched, soaking it up.
Not much else to say, but thank you God.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
A Crown of Roses
In awe of what JUST happened. I had to sit down and write about it while it's fresh in my mind. I don't want to forget it, and even while it was happening I wanted to savor every moment of rawness and discovery.
All three daughters were busy and playing so well together and, as much of a lost cause that it is, I was actually trying to finish the last episode of The Bible that we had recorded from the history channel. Then V walks out, right as the Roman soldiers are putting the crown of thorns on Jesus' head. I quickly stop it thinking ok I'll have to finish this later. And so the conversation began...
V: Mommy what was that? Was that blood?
Me: oh yikes, how deep do you go with a 6 year old?! Yes baby, yes it was.
V: Oh, who was it?
Me: Well, that was Jesus. That was before he hung on the cross. A lot of people did not like Jesus, and they put that crown of thorns on him to mock him...
V: So they made him bleed??
Me: deep breath... Yes, love.
Suddenly her head drops, both hands cover her face, and I see her shoulders start bobbing up and down as she completely breaks down, tears pouring. And not in a whiny, melodramatic, exaggerated way, as I know my daughters are capable of. It was this cry of... genuine hurt.
After giving her a moment I bring her over to me.
Me: What's making you cry baby?
V: (through tears) That they did that to Jesus! And made him bleed!
Me: I know V, that makes Mommy cry too.
V: I'm just so sad that he hurt! (more tears)
Me: I know honey, and you know it should make us sad, because it's our sin that put him there. But don't you remember what happened after he died?
V: He rose again.
Me: Right! He lives!
V: But... but... (tears) that must have made God so sad!
Me: Yes, yes it did. But that's what God sent his son here to do for us, to save us from our sin.
(a pause)
V: But Mommy, if I were there.... I wouldn't have given him a crown of thorns.... (tears rolling down one after the next) I would have given him a crown of roses.
I think I could have thrown both hands up in worship, looking to the heavens in praise and wonder at the awesomeness of THAT moment. But I threw my arms around my daughter, hugging her, thanking the Lord for her heart and that He saved her. We talked for a few more minutes, told her that Jesus is with the Father now. "On his right side!" she joyfully reminded me.
And it hit me, if a 6-year-old can grieve Christ's sufferings like that, how much more could we. How much more it should hurt, drawing us to the cross, endured by the perfect sacrifice, leaving us with no other rightful response than a humbly repenting heart. And then living that out. Daily.
Thankful for that child's faith that teaches me so much. I need more of THAT... child-like faith.
All three daughters were busy and playing so well together and, as much of a lost cause that it is, I was actually trying to finish the last episode of The Bible that we had recorded from the history channel. Then V walks out, right as the Roman soldiers are putting the crown of thorns on Jesus' head. I quickly stop it thinking ok I'll have to finish this later. And so the conversation began...
V: Mommy what was that? Was that blood?
Me: oh yikes, how deep do you go with a 6 year old?! Yes baby, yes it was.
V: Oh, who was it?
Me: Well, that was Jesus. That was before he hung on the cross. A lot of people did not like Jesus, and they put that crown of thorns on him to mock him...
V: So they made him bleed??
Me: deep breath... Yes, love.
Suddenly her head drops, both hands cover her face, and I see her shoulders start bobbing up and down as she completely breaks down, tears pouring. And not in a whiny, melodramatic, exaggerated way, as I know my daughters are capable of. It was this cry of... genuine hurt.
After giving her a moment I bring her over to me.
Me: What's making you cry baby?
V: (through tears) That they did that to Jesus! And made him bleed!
Me: I know V, that makes Mommy cry too.
V: I'm just so sad that he hurt! (more tears)
Me: I know honey, and you know it should make us sad, because it's our sin that put him there. But don't you remember what happened after he died?
V: He rose again.
Me: Right! He lives!
V: But... but... (tears) that must have made God so sad!
Me: Yes, yes it did. But that's what God sent his son here to do for us, to save us from our sin.
(a pause)
V: But Mommy, if I were there.... I wouldn't have given him a crown of thorns.... (tears rolling down one after the next) I would have given him a crown of roses.
I think I could have thrown both hands up in worship, looking to the heavens in praise and wonder at the awesomeness of THAT moment. But I threw my arms around my daughter, hugging her, thanking the Lord for her heart and that He saved her. We talked for a few more minutes, told her that Jesus is with the Father now. "On his right side!" she joyfully reminded me.
And it hit me, if a 6-year-old can grieve Christ's sufferings like that, how much more could we. How much more it should hurt, drawing us to the cross, endured by the perfect sacrifice, leaving us with no other rightful response than a humbly repenting heart. And then living that out. Daily.
Thankful for that child's faith that teaches me so much. I need more of THAT... child-like faith.
smiling through the tears
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