Monday, August 19, 2013

A letter to my firstborn on your first day of Kindergarten:

This morning my beautiful baby girl will start Kindergarten. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were meeting you in the hospital for the first time. I think back to when it was just me and you and Daddy and we would pick "wowies" together and eat "molt and mutties" for breakfast and watch "meemos" in Mommy and Daddy's bed together.
I know you have told me at times that you really want to go to school. And to be honest, sometimes, as a mom, I feel guilty that you won't get to do a Kindergarten graduation and you won't get to do class field trips and you won't get to do stations and have art class and all the other fun things that go along with "going" to school.
But, I want you to know that Mommy and Daddy have prayed very hard about this and we really feel like homeschooling is what God has for you and for our family right now and, honestly, I am excited about it! I am looking forward to spending time with you. Time...it's a precious commodity these days. And I am looking forward to seeing each milestone you pass. I am looking forward to taking you and your brother and sister on field trips. I am looking forward to seeing how your relationship with them grows. I am looking forward to getting up in the morning and seeing what new adventures the day holds.
I know you are nervous about learning to read. Don't be. You will be a great reader. You are already an avid storyteller and I look forward to you learning how to put your stories on paper. You are going to learn so much this year and you are really going to do great. Your Mommy and Daddy believe in you. Trust God to carry you through the days that are hard. Look for beauty in the things around you. Be positive. Be confident in who God has made you. Know that your Mommy and daddy are praying for you on a daily basis. We love you so very much and we know that God has a special plan for your life.

Love,
Your BIGGEST fan 
Mom

"And I am sure that God, who began the good work in you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Philippians 1:6
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." Philippians 2:13
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can comprehend. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Rudder!...

Our community group this past year was a pretty close group. Close...and talkative. Through the course of the year, we came up with a system for bringing us back into focus or bringing us back to the topic at hand when we would inevitably hop on the rabbit trail. I cannot remember this signal's origin, but whenever we veered too far off the main track someone would put their hand vertically on their forehead as if splitting it in half and say, "RUDDER!" This, of course, symbolized a ship's rudder and how the rudder is what keeps the ship going in the right direction. We used this signal many, many times.

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I was just thanking God for how He has always provided for us and was asking Him to give our family direction and I felt Him whisper to me,

"Let me be the rudder of your heart." 

I love the Psalms and I have been reading through them lately and time and time again God has told me through His Word that He is our hope. That He gives direction to those who follow Him.

"Psalm 39:7 "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."

Psalm 37:23-24 "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights (He DELIGHTS!) in every detail of our lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
 (When I read this verse, I envision Jaidyn toddling around. She is doing well walking, but she still gets off balance and ahead of herself sometimes so I hold her hand, and that keeps her from falling over when she stumbles.)


Psalm 32: 7-8 "For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'"

Psalm 37:4-5 "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you."  
(A good friend of ours explained this passage that God does not give us everything our heart desires, but rather He changes our heart so that it matches His desires. So that He literally gives us our heart's desires.)


What comfort we have in knowing that He delights in the details...in the small things...and big things in our lives. He cares for us, and if we allow Him to direct us...allow Him to be our rudder...we need not worry about what tomorrow holds. So when my heart gets anxious. When I find myself on the rabbit trails of fear and doubt and confusion, I can mentally, and sometimes if necessary...physically, put my hand on my forehead and shout, "RUDDER!"

Saturday, August 3, 2013

We Can't Go Today...


Last Saturday I had a wedding to do and Randy was going to help me so my mom came over to stay with the kids for a little while. She told me about the conversation she and Caleb had about the Evangecube we have and it went something like this...
   
     Caleb: "Mimi, this is Jesus dying on the cross."
     Mom: " It sure is."
     Caleb: "When was that?"
     Mom: "It was a long time ago."
     Caleb: "...I sure do miss him..."
     Mom: "Yeah?"
     Caleb: "Do you think we could go see him?"
     Mom: "Well, probably not today."
     Caleb: "Oh, dat's right. Daddy's got the car."

   LOL

And then one day last week he and I were sitting outside right after nap time, just the two of us and we had this conversation...

     Me: "Hey buddy. I just love you so much."
     Caleb: "Why?" (We are in the "Why Phase." Good times.)
     Me: "Because you are my boy."
     Caleb: He looks up at me with the expression on his face in the picture above and says...
   "And, cuz I'm cute!"

This boy is cute and he knows it!