Thursday, September 12, 2013
I Love My Life
It's certainly not perfect, but it's perfect for me. I really do love my life! I love all of it - even the part where my laundry is sitting in a washer full of water and starting to stink because we have a clog somewhere in our pipes that is causing the nasty water to spew all over the basement. Which, in turns means that we cannot use any water tonight until the drain guys can come back in the morning - so I have my own little special cup to use throughout the night. At least I'm no longer pregnant :-) The good news? I'm still blessed beyond words!
Elle has started school. Its been slow going, but we are going and that's all that matters. Today I told her that we needed to go home and do schoolwork and she told me that I could do the schoolwork by myself and that she was going to play. Sadly yes, it appears that the teenage years have begun before she has even turned 3! This kid is a riot. We were working on her reading this morning, and I have to say, for not even being 3, I think its impressive - not that she can actually read, because she can't, but she's getting there. She sounded out her first couple of words today. Jin tried so hard to record some of it, but this is what we ended up with instead....
I love this kid.
Elle has started school. Its been slow going, but we are going and that's all that matters. Today I told her that we needed to go home and do schoolwork and she told me that I could do the schoolwork by myself and that she was going to play. Sadly yes, it appears that the teenage years have begun before she has even turned 3! This kid is a riot. We were working on her reading this morning, and I have to say, for not even being 3, I think its impressive - not that she can actually read, because she can't, but she's getting there. She sounded out her first couple of words today. Jin tried so hard to record some of it, but this is what we ended up with instead....
I love this kid.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Apparently I'm not much of a blogger
So, I haven't done this in years, but it seems like the time to actually begin moving forward. My family is amazing, my memory is terrible and I would really like to be able to hold on to so many of the things that happen daily in our lives. I can't imagine that anyone else would care very much, and the idea of drawing people's attention to this blog embarrasses me, but I'm going to do my best to keep up with this blog in spite of all of that - we'll see how it goes.
2013 is moving along. Before long, it will be gone altogether. Aletheia (Elle) is going to be 3 years old in 2 months and Amelia just turned 4 months old yesterday. There is something about having 2 kids that makes me feel like we are a "real" family. I'm not sure what we were before. Maybe it has more to do with the fact that with each child our family feels more and more complete - as if this is how it is meant to be. Obviously, this is how it is meant to be for us at the moment and I am excited to see what else God has coming around the corner. I'm always looking forward to the next phase but I do not want to miss a second of what is going on all around me. I have to say, I really do love my life -- even the parts I don't like, I still love!
Here they are - my little loves! Princess Elle and her sister (Amelia's princessesness has yet to be determined, but I'm sure it won't take long). Elle is the best big sister ever. Who would have thought that a 2 1/2 year old could be so self-sufficient and helpful! She really is absolutely amazing. I am working hard to form good habits now. We read her Bible just about every morning and she has already memorized 10 Bible verses! I pray that the Word of God will sink into her heart now as a child and will stick with her forever. My hope is to have Amelia gravitate to the Bible the same way, and maybe even younger since she's already a part of our daily reading time.
I want to homeschool my kids, but I am so afraid that I won't be disciplined enough to do a good job. Elle and I have already started in many areas - for me, I think it is mostly about establishing habits. I'm definitely not doing a great job at the moment, but little by little, we are making progress!
Here's the proof - at least we're trying :-) Elle loves to do art projects - painting, drawing, coloring, play dough, cooking, etc. etc. She has one of the most active imaginations I have ever seen! She has begun to play with her "Calico Critters" set. I love to see her replay out her day and our conversations between her squirrel family. She is obsessed with princesses and will often refer to me as Miss Highness when I ask her to do something. Apparently, I'm the queen.
Our family is amazing and I am so thankful for God's grace. He has been so good to us in every possible area! I try to be mindful of the many extra blessings - food, air conditioning, a home - things that I so easily take for granted.
Sadly, Jin and I never end up in pictures together... mostly because it is one of us who always has to take the pictures (Elle tried to take pictures of us the other day but we both came out headless). So, here's the best that I can do for now...
And this is all for now - I'm tired, so I'll have to wait til next time to start recording all of our funny stories :-) Goodnight!
2013 is moving along. Before long, it will be gone altogether. Aletheia (Elle) is going to be 3 years old in 2 months and Amelia just turned 4 months old yesterday. There is something about having 2 kids that makes me feel like we are a "real" family. I'm not sure what we were before. Maybe it has more to do with the fact that with each child our family feels more and more complete - as if this is how it is meant to be. Obviously, this is how it is meant to be for us at the moment and I am excited to see what else God has coming around the corner. I'm always looking forward to the next phase but I do not want to miss a second of what is going on all around me. I have to say, I really do love my life -- even the parts I don't like, I still love!
Here they are - my little loves! Princess Elle and her sister (Amelia's princessesness has yet to be determined, but I'm sure it won't take long). Elle is the best big sister ever. Who would have thought that a 2 1/2 year old could be so self-sufficient and helpful! She really is absolutely amazing. I am working hard to form good habits now. We read her Bible just about every morning and she has already memorized 10 Bible verses! I pray that the Word of God will sink into her heart now as a child and will stick with her forever. My hope is to have Amelia gravitate to the Bible the same way, and maybe even younger since she's already a part of our daily reading time.
I want to homeschool my kids, but I am so afraid that I won't be disciplined enough to do a good job. Elle and I have already started in many areas - for me, I think it is mostly about establishing habits. I'm definitely not doing a great job at the moment, but little by little, we are making progress!
Our family is amazing and I am so thankful for God's grace. He has been so good to us in every possible area! I try to be mindful of the many extra blessings - food, air conditioning, a home - things that I so easily take for granted.
Sadly, Jin and I never end up in pictures together... mostly because it is one of us who always has to take the pictures (Elle tried to take pictures of us the other day but we both came out headless). So, here's the best that I can do for now...
And this is all for now - I'm tired, so I'll have to wait til next time to start recording all of our funny stories :-) Goodnight!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Lowest Common Denominator
So I'm really not thrilled about this post, but I feel like I need to write it down... Do you ever have a thought or feeling that that isn't necessarily fully formed in your mind? It flits in and out on occasion but never sticks around long enough for you to fully recognize or seal with it - yesterday I had one of those that finally took it's full shape, so now I'm dealing with it. Of course it's related to sin in my life - why wouldn't it be?!
I'm sad to say that I don't seem to ever be able to affect the temperature of the conversations that happen around me. What I mean is that I don't seem to ever be able to change them. The best that I can do is to surround myself with people who walk closer to God than I do, so that I can stay out of trouble. Even this, though, causes problems for me. So many times I have walked away from conversations where have jumped across the line and put my foot so far into my mouth that I'm amazed it ever makes it back out again! It's usually for the sake of humor - which is just sad. What's even worse, is that I know who I can go to - who will get a kick out of what I have to say. Instead of looking to exhort my brothers and sisters closer to Christ, I appeal to their flesh and pull them back down - all for the sake of a laugh? I actually feel worse now that I've written it down. It didn't seem so intentional yesterday, but now it just sounds deranged. God says that our hearts are deceitfully wicked - in Psalm 139, David asks God to search his heart, find the wickedness and then to lead him away from it into the way everlasting. That's what I want - as awful as it is to see what's really there, I want God to search my heart, find the evil that's hidden neatly away, and lead me away from it. I want to walk close to the Lord in everything, and I want to to be used to bring others (all others) closer to Him - not exploit their weak areas. Love covers a multitude of sins - it doesn't use them as an excuse to sin.
I'm sad to say that I don't seem to ever be able to affect the temperature of the conversations that happen around me. What I mean is that I don't seem to ever be able to change them. The best that I can do is to surround myself with people who walk closer to God than I do, so that I can stay out of trouble. Even this, though, causes problems for me. So many times I have walked away from conversations where have jumped across the line and put my foot so far into my mouth that I'm amazed it ever makes it back out again! It's usually for the sake of humor - which is just sad. What's even worse, is that I know who I can go to - who will get a kick out of what I have to say. Instead of looking to exhort my brothers and sisters closer to Christ, I appeal to their flesh and pull them back down - all for the sake of a laugh? I actually feel worse now that I've written it down. It didn't seem so intentional yesterday, but now it just sounds deranged. God says that our hearts are deceitfully wicked - in Psalm 139, David asks God to search his heart, find the wickedness and then to lead him away from it into the way everlasting. That's what I want - as awful as it is to see what's really there, I want God to search my heart, find the evil that's hidden neatly away, and lead me away from it. I want to walk close to the Lord in everything, and I want to to be used to bring others (all others) closer to Him - not exploit their weak areas. Love covers a multitude of sins - it doesn't use them as an excuse to sin.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Trials - Perseverance - Character - Hope....
"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)
Exult in what?? Oh yeah - in tribulations... Sometimes I get excited about suffering for Christ (in theory), but the reality is that suffering is suffering and its never naturally fun. I think its easier when its a direct hit in a spiritual area because its easy to see where the attack is coming from - it becomes a natural reaction to throw on that spiritual armor and pray for God to be glorified. But usually, its a bit more camouflaged - hidden somewhere between losing your keys, holding a crying baby, picking up the overly stuffed diaper bag and full day's worth of food bag only to realize that you still have to pick up the car seat and walk it all the way down the road where the giant truck that refuses to start on the first try is parked - and once you're all settled and tucked in, you realize you forgot your coffee. Now that's a trial... I know it sounds petty and ridiculous, and honestly it absolutely is, but I found myself praising the Lord (out of obedience) through it all, because it was all a result of serving Jesus. So Praise the Lord! I know that daily sucking it up and dying to myself will force me to persevere. I mean, really, there is no alternative - nothing in this life is worth quitting a life of serving God, so there is no option to quit - we simply must push on. And in pushing on and persevering through the daily trials, my character is being built up and proven day by day by day. And as I look back over those days, weeks, months and years, my hope increases as I see how faithful God has been to carry me through every single trial. Surely, He will continue to carry me when I am tired, strengthen me when I am weak, feed me when I am out of money for groceries - why??? Because He always has!!! This hope that I have WILL NOT disappoint, because it is a result of the Love that He has poured out in my heart through His Holy Spirit. And where there is love, there is no fear - Because perfect love (Jesus Christ) casts out all fear. Praise the Lord! I have nothing to fear, because I have Jesus. I know that He is good - because His Word declares it is true and beyond that I have experienced it myself. I know that He will take care of me - because my Bible tells me so (and because He always has). So, what's a little rain that keeps me from going for a walk - Or a backache that will not go away no matter how many hundreds of IB Profin pills I take (not necessarily at once) - Or a baby that's sick and throwing up all over the place? All these things exist to draw me closer to the Lord, to make me more like Jesus. They might not seem spiritual in the moment, but these are tools God uses to bring Himself glory through my life. Am I going to complain about them? I hope not - at least not today anyways since its all so fresh in my mind.
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB)
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