I have to share...

My mom sent me the following story yesterday and it is so amazing that I just have to share it:

Malachi 3:3 says: He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Isn't that so cool?! I began to think about the journey I have been on with God over the past year. I have asked Him many times "Why?", "Show me just a glimpse of your purpose in this.","I don't understand." I had asked God a number of years ago to not reveal certain issues to me unless it could bring Him glory. He has now walked me straight into those issues and then seemed to have been silent as to the purpose. As I thought about the story and verse above as well as my situation, along with my heart's desire to be like Christ, I realized "What greater glory could I see in this situation, than a relfection of God in me?" I may not be out of the fire yet, but I know that His eyes are always intently upon me and that His desire is purity and refinement so that it is clear His relfection can be seen.

It's Been Awhile

It has been awhile since I have posted anything. We have been dealing with some tough issues in our household.

Alex is struggling with school. His grades have drastically dropped in the past two months. He has not been completing work or bringing it home. We have caught him in many lies. We have taken privileges away until his grades improve. He really wants to play Pee Wee Football this year and to play he knows that his grades as well as his behavior have to improve. It is hard to believe the change that has come over him in the past few months. First quarter he made High Honor Roll and then last time he got one "B" so he was on the Honor Roll. Now he is not getting any "A's" at all and even is close to failing in a class. We have increased his ADHD medicine recently and are just at a loss as to how to help him. God has gifted Alex with such amazing smarts and abilities. It is hard to see him not using those gifts. We are praying that Alex will find a motivation or a change in habits that propels him forward. If you have any advice or ideas that may help-please feel free to pass those along.

Another hardship in our household has been the continuation of my depression. It has been close to a year that this has been going on and I am very ready to be at a point where I could walk out of this heaviness. God has revealed many truths to me over the past year, but it continues to be a struggle to even function some days. I am on a medicine that as I continue on it hopefully will bring some help. I am also going to be seeing a counselor to talk through some issues that have come to the surface within the past few months. I believe that God is sovereign and that He knows exactly what I need and can handle right now. However, most days I feel like it is too much, but that is precisely why I am not God. :-)

Emma has also been having night terrors about two to three times a week. This of course causes a disruption in everyone's sleep. This morning she was up at 5:30. Of course, that meant that I was up too. She would not give in and go back to sleep. She is a stubborn one. (I have no idea where she gets that--must be her daddy.) Hopefully she will nap well at daycare and come home in a better mood.

Jackson and Stephen are doing well. They are both enjoying school and being with all their friends. Stephen had been going through a phase where he didn't want to be anywhere but with us. That seems to have passed and he is enjoying school, daycare, and church again. Thankfully!

Pictures from the weekend (and misc.)

Here are some pictures from the weekend. We celebrated Stephen's 5th birthday with lots of family and friends. We had so much fun enjoying everyone's company. We definetly are going to be needing a bigger space to keep celebrating these birthdays. Either that or warmer weather in January so the kids can run around outside.

Stephen wanted a giraffe cake, so I planned to make a giraffe cake. Originally I was going to shape the cake like a giraffe and everything, but then realized the stress of that was going to ruin the fun of the weekend. So I had a local bakery make the cake and just ice it with the white frosting. I then decorated it with the giraffe. When I finished and Emma knew what it was I figured it wasn't too bad, and of course when Stephen saw it and was excited-that was all that mattered. The giraffe theme carried on into the gifts. He got two stuffed giraffes and Aunt Laura and Uncle John gave him framed pictures of giraffes to hang in his room. He is thrilled.

Another big hit was his very own remote controlled car. Now all of the boys have one and they can now race each other around the yard and driveway. (Mom and Dad just have to find the chargers before spring.) :-)

Another theme for Stephen this year was art. He received a number of gifts that were art themed including an easel. Hailey and Emma were thrilled. They spent quite a bit of time at the easel and ended up with quite a bit of color on themselves as well. Thankfully they were washable markers.

The one gift that I don't have a picture of that was truly his favorite was from Daddy. It was a whoopie cushion. I rolled my eyes and thought it would be a "dud" however I had to admit it was a good idea. Such a good idea that Sunday morning it ended up popping due to over use. Prior to it popping it sure did provide a lot of laughter.

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Here are a few pictures I just had to share. Emma got a Cinderella dress up outfit for Christmas and she loves it. She already knows she is a princess so this was right up her alley.
Emma also got her big girl bed around Christmas and for Christmas got new bedding. She looks lost in this bed but she loves it.