I LOVE IT!!!

Just had to share one of the cutest things and I think one of my most favorite things when it comes to being a Mom.....Looking outside on the patio today I saw my children enjoying each others presence! Ah.... They were coloring and making their "original" toddler art. Lilly asks Judah what he is drawing and he says, "look, it's a Mama otter." And Lilly says in her approving voice, "O, that's nice Judah." Love it, love it, love it!!!

P.S. I made this post in bold to see if it is easier to read....

Washed in the Word...

Well, I seek to be good at laundry and to accomplish this task with precision, for a desired outcome...clean, non-linted, un-stained clothes. Well God's Word was in the wash machine today. It made for an awful mess when I pulled out the clothes finding I had missed one of Shad pocket New Testaments. So my wash machine is cleansed in the Word! And as I shook out the clothes the entire laundry area was littered with bits and pieces of the Word. Kind of make you think about His gospel going out and being blown by the Spirit.
I have not had the best of luck the last few days with water. Yesterday I dropped my phone in the sink drain garbage disposal and although it only got a "little" wet, I lost all my contacts and over 90 pictures! I had pictures on there of when Judah was a baby and now they are lost forever! I was just about to download them off my phone too and we did not have the special card here at home so thus they are gone. :(
So I am trying to avoid anymore "water mishaps" for awhile. How about you? What is the worse thing that has gotten wet or ruined by water?

Unexpected things...

I just wanted to let those of you who know me and check up on my blog every once in a while to be aware of a need. Our friends the Stauffacher's have a very ill daughter. They are missionaries in Malawi. Their daughter Nya came down with what they thought was the flu, but it turned into possible Malaria. She has all the symptoms, but the tests were negative. They doctors are thinking Blackwater Fever. So they had to go to South Africa to the hospital there for better care and still are waiting for a diagnosis. In the midst of this Amy, the mom, and their younger daughter were also sick with fevers and coughs. So they had a load to handle and they need our prayers in the name of Jesus to our Heavenly Father for this situation...for healing....

Been thinkin about...

Being intentional. Do I wake up thinking I am going to intentionally be a Mom today, or I am going to intentionally be a wife, sister, daughter friend, child of God? Or do I wake up tired wanting to sleep more, wanting to be fulfilled and happy with my life, all my ducks in a row, children behaving well, trying to survive the day? Do you see the difference? I do: SELFISHNESS! We don't need to find ourselves, we need to place our hope and trust in the one who is outside of us in that He sees all, knows all (and us intimately), and His sovereignty reigns over all. Maybe its just a play on language, but I think the lie can be so masked with good intentions and sound so close to what we think is right that we don't allow for true servanthood to rule our lives. We don't need to find ourselves, we need to loose ourselves. Loosing yourself might sound scary, weird, or uncontrolled. But I am not talking about loosing yourself to float around the galaxy in mindless purposeless tasking. I am speaking about trusting in our God who is bigger than you, bigger than your life, bigger than your problems, bigger than your exhaustion, bigger than your frustrations. We so limit the Holy Spirit's work in our life by making it about us, by seeking to be fulfilled and happy, by choosing our own self-centered standard for what is good for us.
My Father, You are so far beyond my comprehension yet so intimately connected with me. Thank you for Your faithfulness and long-suffering with this self-centered child. For Your name and Your glory cause your servant to be intentional for You. Your Name is great and mine is not. Your Kingdom is alive in the hearts of men and I desire your will over mine. I ask for this days food to allow my physical body to serve you and those around me. Please forgive my sin and help me forgive those who have sinned against me. Holy Spirit guide my feet away form what is wrong and the sin that so easily entangles and do not let the evil one glory from my life. To You O Lord, of You and from You is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever! In Jesus name, Amen!

The Hair Cut...

So here is the new boy setting up a track for his Hot Wheels.
And that tongue just has to be in constant use in order to make the track work properly...

Hey, what's up?

results of good use...

Didn't think it was possible to wear out rain boots in Southern California....but here is proof...the best $10 I have spent in recent past....

Rain, rain and more rain....

So do you feel soggy? I actually feel refreshed. Today was the first day waking up to sun in about 4 or 5 days. I was reminded last night of a more exciting and transforming rain: the reign of Jesus Christ. Does that excite you? With all the amazing clouds that have been in the sky's these last few days, I was also reminded of the scripture where the disciple's are asking Jesus when He will return and what do they need to be looking for. And Jesus says, you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds. I was trying to visualize what that would look like. Of course it will not just be in the sky where I am but for all the world to see! AWESOME!

SNOW!

Last weekend me and the kids went to High School Winter Camp. And there was actually snow on the ground. Luckily the days were sunny so you could find a warm place in the sun. All the High Schooler's had a blast and of course my kids had fun. The students and Shad said the speaker was really good and I enjoyed being able to be in the meetings long enough for worship. The band was really good too.
The little tiny one here is our sweet friend Aurora and the kids just love her! We took care of here at night while her Mommy was with our High School girls in their cabin.