Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Today, I celebrate LIFE!
Dear Logan,
You are such a Gift. I can't tell you, although I try, how much you've brought to my life and to everyone that meets you. You are truly, My Shining Star. Your smiles and giggle shine so bright, and you bring light with you everywhere you go. There's something so special about you, something unique about your joy-filled personality. It comes from God. You are gifted, I see it already. You are brilliant. You are special.
You give the best "Little Bear hugs" and the best "High Fives" in this world.
You keep us laughing at your "Big Muscles" that you continually show us on a regular basis. You're going to be "big and strong" as you grow up, in the Lord. You are a Warrior, a child of God; and He loves you. You are chosen, and you son, are highly favored. You are truly hilarious. You are magnificent. Glorious. Sweet child of mine.
your #1 Fan,
Mamma
You are such a Gift. I can't tell you, although I try, how much you've brought to my life and to everyone that meets you. You are truly, My Shining Star. Your smiles and giggle shine so bright, and you bring light with you everywhere you go. There's something so special about you, something unique about your joy-filled personality. It comes from God. You are gifted, I see it already. You are brilliant. You are special.
You give the best "Little Bear hugs" and the best "High Fives" in this world.
You keep us laughing at your "Big Muscles" that you continually show us on a regular basis. You're going to be "big and strong" as you grow up, in the Lord. You are a Warrior, a child of God; and He loves you. You are chosen, and you son, are highly favored. You are truly hilarious. You are magnificent. Glorious. Sweet child of mine.
your #1 Fan,
Mamma
Monday, April 4, 2011
I get to!
I've been identifying "Get to's" in my life this weekend.
I don't want what is really a privelage, to become an obligation. I'm choosing today, to have an attitude of gratitude.
I get to teach Logan how to be potty trained.
I get to wake up at 6am to the biggest "Little Bear" hug ever.
I get to come home and prepare dinner.
I get to grocery shop! Because the Lord provides.
I get to clean house while my son takes a nap.
I get to go to church with my family Sunday morning.
I get to teach him and discipline him, out of love.
As for me and my house, we are choosing to be thankful, and content. Because we get to.
I don't want what is really a privelage, to become an obligation. I'm choosing today, to have an attitude of gratitude.
I get to teach Logan how to be potty trained.
I get to wake up at 6am to the biggest "Little Bear" hug ever.
I get to come home and prepare dinner.
I get to grocery shop! Because the Lord provides.
I get to clean house while my son takes a nap.
I get to go to church with my family Sunday morning.
I get to teach him and discipline him, out of love.
As for me and my house, we are choosing to be thankful, and content. Because we get to.
Friday, April 1, 2011
unexpected blessings, 12 months apart
April 5th, 2011
2 years ago today, April 5th 2009 was the day I learned I was going to be a Mother. I was going to give birth to a child, bring forth a little person into this world.
I wish I could tell you that I was overjoyed, and that happiness filled my heart to the brim; but I wasn't, and it didn't. I wish I could tell you that I was calling up everyone I loved to share the good news, but I didn't. A part of me was, but that part was also heartbroken, shameful, unsure, and fearful. It was my dream to be a Mother. I longed to have children, to have a family. But why now ?
1 year ago today, I started a new job. I realized the date on the drive to work that morning and spent that day in awe of God's promises, and faithfulness. Before I left the office that day, I sat down and wrote out what God had done in our lives over the course of one year. I fought the tears until 5 o'clock and cried relentlessly on the drive to pick up Logan. "Thank you God", I kept saying. "You are faithful."
I had been in dentistry prior to my pregnancy, but knew when I received the phone call at the end of March 2010 I was being called to this place. This would not be an ordinary job. I remember that day, so well. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I asked those who are close to me, to pray. Come to think of it, I probably even asked a few strangers to pray! It became so evident that I was being called to this position at Fellowship Church. I had no experience whatsoever, and was accustomed to working chairside with dentists and oral surgeons. I am a Science "Guru", so this was going to be much different.
Quickly, my passion for women, children, and families began to grow immensely. My purpose began to unfold. I don't know exactly what my future holds, but I don't need to. My Father has fulfilled every desire of my heart to this point. I am the Mother to the most incredible little boy I've ever met. I have a beautiful loving family and loyal friends that you cannot put a price tag on. I have people in our life that want the best, Gods best, for us. I love my job, and it blesses me in a new way every single day.
God is faithful.
If you're ever doubting anything, any circumstance, situation, finances, relationship,your purpose, your dreams... take comfort in this verse.
God has created rivers in the dry wasteland!
Isaiah 43:19 says,
For I am about to do something new
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
2 years ago, I thought my life was coming to an end. Little did I know, it was just beginning. I needed to seek Him, and receive His provision and purpose for my life. He was about to do something NEW in my life.
And He will do the same in yours.
2 years ago today, April 5th 2009 was the day I learned I was going to be a Mother. I was going to give birth to a child, bring forth a little person into this world.
I wish I could tell you that I was overjoyed, and that happiness filled my heart to the brim; but I wasn't, and it didn't. I wish I could tell you that I was calling up everyone I loved to share the good news, but I didn't. A part of me was, but that part was also heartbroken, shameful, unsure, and fearful. It was my dream to be a Mother. I longed to have children, to have a family. But why now ?
1 year ago today, I started a new job. I realized the date on the drive to work that morning and spent that day in awe of God's promises, and faithfulness. Before I left the office that day, I sat down and wrote out what God had done in our lives over the course of one year. I fought the tears until 5 o'clock and cried relentlessly on the drive to pick up Logan. "Thank you God", I kept saying. "You are faithful."
I had been in dentistry prior to my pregnancy, but knew when I received the phone call at the end of March 2010 I was being called to this place. This would not be an ordinary job. I remember that day, so well. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I asked those who are close to me, to pray. Come to think of it, I probably even asked a few strangers to pray! It became so evident that I was being called to this position at Fellowship Church. I had no experience whatsoever, and was accustomed to working chairside with dentists and oral surgeons. I am a Science "Guru", so this was going to be much different.
Quickly, my passion for women, children, and families began to grow immensely. My purpose began to unfold. I don't know exactly what my future holds, but I don't need to. My Father has fulfilled every desire of my heart to this point. I am the Mother to the most incredible little boy I've ever met. I have a beautiful loving family and loyal friends that you cannot put a price tag on. I have people in our life that want the best, Gods best, for us. I love my job, and it blesses me in a new way every single day.
God is faithful.
If you're ever doubting anything, any circumstance, situation, finances, relationship,your purpose, your dreams... take comfort in this verse.
God has created rivers in the dry wasteland!
Isaiah 43:19 says,
For I am about to do something new
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
2 years ago, I thought my life was coming to an end. Little did I know, it was just beginning. I needed to seek Him, and receive His provision and purpose for my life. He was about to do something NEW in my life.
And He will do the same in yours.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
My Goal In Parenting- Steven Furtick
I have a simple goal in parenting.
When you read it you’ll probably yawn. You’ll wonder how it fits with a prayer I included in Sun Stand Still that I pray for Elijah and Graham almost every day:
“God, raise up my sons to be the greatest men of God of their generation.”
But it’s my goal for my children nonetheless. And it’s actually just as bold and audacious as my prayer for them.
My goal in parenting is to raise my kids to have a boring testimony.
In other words, to stay out of trouble and love Jesus all their lives.
Exciting, I know. But actually, it really should be exciting. I know that in the church we usually privilege and promote Christian horror stories where God brings someone back from the edge of doom. They’re compelling. Heart-tugging.
But they’re also heartbreaking. Trust me, the stories that bring an audience to tears brought far more tears to the parents who had to watch their kids live them. You don’t want that pain, for you or your kids. And while God can certainly turn our mistakes into miracles, I think He’d still prefer to turn our obedience into an opportunity. An opportunity to show that He’s not only worth coming back to, but also worth never leaving in the first place.
I still hold to what I said in Sun Stand Still. I don’t want to raise good boys and girls. I want to raise great men and women who will do great things for a great God. I’m not raising my kids to survive the world. I’m raising them to change it.
It’s just that I’d prefer that my kids change the world without having to have the world first change them. A person’s testimony doesn’t have to be spectacularly sinful to be significant.
I hope and pray my kids will have a boring testimony. I hope and pray the same thing for yours too.
We don’t have full control over whether it will happen. They will ultimately make their own choices. But with all of our power as parents, let’s work and live to see our goal realized.
Our kids will thank us. We’ll thank ourselves. And ultimately we’ll all thank God.
When you read it you’ll probably yawn. You’ll wonder how it fits with a prayer I included in Sun Stand Still that I pray for Elijah and Graham almost every day:
“God, raise up my sons to be the greatest men of God of their generation.”
But it’s my goal for my children nonetheless. And it’s actually just as bold and audacious as my prayer for them.
My goal in parenting is to raise my kids to have a boring testimony.
In other words, to stay out of trouble and love Jesus all their lives.
Exciting, I know. But actually, it really should be exciting. I know that in the church we usually privilege and promote Christian horror stories where God brings someone back from the edge of doom. They’re compelling. Heart-tugging.
But they’re also heartbreaking. Trust me, the stories that bring an audience to tears brought far more tears to the parents who had to watch their kids live them. You don’t want that pain, for you or your kids. And while God can certainly turn our mistakes into miracles, I think He’d still prefer to turn our obedience into an opportunity. An opportunity to show that He’s not only worth coming back to, but also worth never leaving in the first place.
I still hold to what I said in Sun Stand Still. I don’t want to raise good boys and girls. I want to raise great men and women who will do great things for a great God. I’m not raising my kids to survive the world. I’m raising them to change it.
It’s just that I’d prefer that my kids change the world without having to have the world first change them. A person’s testimony doesn’t have to be spectacularly sinful to be significant.
I hope and pray my kids will have a boring testimony. I hope and pray the same thing for yours too.
We don’t have full control over whether it will happen. They will ultimately make their own choices. But with all of our power as parents, let’s work and live to see our goal realized.
Our kids will thank us. We’ll thank ourselves. And ultimately we’ll all thank God.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Logan is proof, that God loves me
November 16th, 2009 at 3:15pm, I had living proof.
I was reading a blog this morning; one that I keep up with and enjoy reading because it's full of encouragement and insight on parenting, relationships, marriage, etc. This morning, that blog hit home.
For those of you that know me, know I say often, Logan showed me so many things that I desparately needed to know. Really, it's been my Creator who shows me through that little boy, all the time.
The night following Logans birth, I remember staying awake all night just holding him as his tiny body lay on my chest. I would close my eyes and listen to him breathing; those tiny breaths. I loved that child. Just as he was.
That night, God spoke to my heart. He said to me, " My child, I love you this much." That indescribable, unconditional love I had for Logan; my Father had for me. And even more. He showed me that through the birth of my son, I don't have to DO anything, I don't need to BE anything or anyone I'm not. He loves me. Just as I am, He loves me.
Logan doesn't have to DO anything, or BE anything other than who he is. I just love him. I always will, no matter what.
I was reading a blog this morning; one that I keep up with and enjoy reading because it's full of encouragement and insight on parenting, relationships, marriage, etc. This morning, that blog hit home.
For those of you that know me, know I say often, Logan showed me so many things that I desparately needed to know. Really, it's been my Creator who shows me through that little boy, all the time.
The night following Logans birth, I remember staying awake all night just holding him as his tiny body lay on my chest. I would close my eyes and listen to him breathing; those tiny breaths. I loved that child. Just as he was.
That night, God spoke to my heart. He said to me, " My child, I love you this much." That indescribable, unconditional love I had for Logan; my Father had for me. And even more. He showed me that through the birth of my son, I don't have to DO anything, I don't need to BE anything or anyone I'm not. He loves me. Just as I am, He loves me.
Logan doesn't have to DO anything, or BE anything other than who he is. I just love him. I always will, no matter what.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
praise journal
I started doing something Mothers Day 2010.
I was given a Praise Journal, so I began my journey of jotting down all the praises and blessings, at the end of the day.
I've been doing this every day, for nearly one year.
I recently started going through this book, reading what I've written so far.
I can't put enough words on paper, or type out this elaborate story of all the blessings, favor, and praise over the last 10 months- I can't do this because none of that would bring appropriate honor, glory, and praise to God.
I got choked up as I read some of the things I've written, to SEE and read how faithful God has been.
I love this book, and I'll keep it forever. When I run out of room, I'll buy another one, and continue keeping track. At the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is go to bed worrying about how I'll pay for this, or that. Or afraid of what tomorrow, next week, may bring. Personally, I choose to think on things that are GOOD, and remember that He has been faithful to us. And why would He stop now?
One day, I'll teach Logan this excercise. It's elementary, simple. But so very profound. And one day, Logan will read and SEE how faithful God was, and is.
I was given a Praise Journal, so I began my journey of jotting down all the praises and blessings, at the end of the day.
I've been doing this every day, for nearly one year.
I recently started going through this book, reading what I've written so far.
I can't put enough words on paper, or type out this elaborate story of all the blessings, favor, and praise over the last 10 months- I can't do this because none of that would bring appropriate honor, glory, and praise to God.
I got choked up as I read some of the things I've written, to SEE and read how faithful God has been.
I love this book, and I'll keep it forever. When I run out of room, I'll buy another one, and continue keeping track. At the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is go to bed worrying about how I'll pay for this, or that. Or afraid of what tomorrow, next week, may bring. Personally, I choose to think on things that are GOOD, and remember that He has been faithful to us. And why would He stop now?
One day, I'll teach Logan this excercise. It's elementary, simple. But so very profound. And one day, Logan will read and SEE how faithful God was, and is.
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