Today I am Thankful for...

...God moments. He provided me with an amazing opportunity to speak and then lead two Bible study groups in prayer and communion. It happened in a way that only God could have orchestrated.

...healing. God has healed me. I am no longer taking any medications, except an occasional allergy medication. I blogged here about a month and a half ago about the process of blood work and doctor's appointments. After 3-4 years of not sleeping, I am finally sleeping (without any sleep aid) and my energy level is so greatly improved. As I look back over the past month, I realize that God did indeed heal me, what else could have caused my thyroid to go from off the charts hypo to me being over medicated?! He is so good!!!! Through this experience I am learning again about how faithful He is to me and that His love for me is oh so personal-He cares about the details of my life.

Seek with your whole heart...

Over the past few weeks, our sermons at church have been focused in the book of Deuteronomy. I didn't realize that I had so many verses underlined in this book of the Bible until we started studying it. Needless to say I am realizing that I LOVE this Old Testament book.


One of the verses that has been "rolling around" in my mind (even prior to this sermon series) has been one that is seen in various places throughout scripture. The first time though that this concept is stated is in Deuteronomy 4:29, "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." There are many places in the Bible that we are given the promise that if we seek God with our whole heart, we will find Him.

I love this promise. But it comes with a stipulation: I must seek Him to find Him. So how does that look on a practical level? What does seeking Him with my whole heart really mean?

I love these verses just a few chapters later (I think they help to answer the questions above.). "...what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"

Seeking God means taking the time and energy needed to learn his commands so that I can obey. It means searching to find just exactly who He is so that I can fear Him with reverence and awe. Seeking God means loving Him. When we love someone it is reflected in our thoughts, words and actions. True love also gives priority to the object of one's affections. Seeking God also means that everything I do should be done as an act of service to Him. And if it's not going to bring Him glory, then it's not worth doing.

Seeking God requires me to surrender and sacrifice some of my own ideas thus putting myself in a place where He is my focus. It may not always be easy or pleasant, but as long as I am striving to be obedient, then He will be glorified and honored and I will find Him. Seeking God means less of me and more of Him. And on top of that, I know that He will reward those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He always fulfills His promises.

Built In

I have had a front loading washer and dryer now for 5 years. I love them. I have always wanted a custom built in top and shelf for them. I FINALLY got around to telling Aaron that I would really like one.

Within a week this is what he did for me...

As you can see it matched the already existing wall mounted shelves and provides an amazing space for folding, placing the laundry baskets, and other uses I have yet to discover.

I am so blessed to have a husband that desires to make my wishes and dreams a reality and to make my life easier. He often teases me that one of these days he is going to stop spoiling me. I hope that day never comes. While I am spoiled by my husband, it is one of the things that grows my love for him. Not because he gives me what I want, but because he is selfless and giving, the reality is that he often thinks of my needs and meets them before I even realize it.

Today I am Thankful for...

...relationship.

With friends...

with family...

with my kids...

with my husband...

with my God.

Thought for the day

Well, God is once again stirring the fires of change in our hearts and lives. While there is nothing definite to share, we are fervently seeking God's direction and will. However if you remember this post or this follow up post you will realize that we have been praying for quite a while without clear direction, just knowing that God has been preparing us for some changes.



I am struggling between wanting to know the outcome RIGHT NOW! and resting in the fact that He ALREADY KNOWS. It seems that the changes He may be asking us to make are getting closer. We know that all we can do is be obedient when He speaks to us. We also know that the journey to the point of obedience is to allow us to grow and mature in our relationship with Him and He will not call us until He knows we are ready.



I am asking those of you who know and love us to please join with us in prayer. Pray for wisdom, for clarity (God would have to work mightily and miraculously to bring this change), and for peace with whatever the outcome of this situation. I will let you know what is happening when there is something more definite to share. (But as noted above by past posts, it could take months.)

Roller Coaster--WHEEEEE

Well our family is once again having a CRAZY week. And it's not the normal kind. (Can crazy actually ever be normal?)

I have ridden an emotional roller coaster this week, and I am happy to say that I survived, and I currently feel such great peace. God is good.

I have been praying for the past 3-4 weeks about some decisions that could bring change to our family. (These are good changes...) On Sunday night I had a dream and when I woke up I knew that God had just spoken to me in regards to what I had been praying about. I was stoked...and by that time it was Monday morning. (Monday morning and being wound up don't usually go hand in hand for me.)

I got to work on Monday, still prayerful about the specifics of proceeding with what God had told me to do. Then it happened...I got blindsided. (Then it truly felt like Monday.) However, it only proceeded to get worse from there.

In the middle of the roller coaster ride, I called Aaron to talk to him about the craziness. (I love how God has time and time again used Aaron to be the voice of the Holy Spirit in my life. Again, God is good.) Aaron gently and lovingly reminded me that God still expected me to be obedient to what He had told me to do and that I wasn't responsible for others correct or incorrect behavior.

So I continued with my day. And as I said, it got worse...I cried, I vented, I prayed, I got MAD, I cried, I talked it out, I prayed it out, and I cried.

By the end of the day I was able to look at everything without the emotional baggage (I was too exhausted at that point), and while I was still hurting I could trust that God had me on this journey for a reason. And He obviously had a different plan than what I thought it might be. Not only that, but He gave me my answer in His perfect timing and He was not at all surprised by what I found out the next morning.

Now it is Thursday and I feel good. I have a meeting on Tuesday of next week that will hopefully bring about answers, but it will also allow me to be obedient-and that is the most important part of that meeting for me.

I generally like amusement park roller coasters, but not so much the emotional roller coasters we sometimes have to ride. However, the best part is when you get off. The thrill, the rush is over and while the adrenaline may still be pumping, you are once again on sure footing. God is that sure foundation and while there are times my life feels like it is up and down and upside down, I know the One who has me firmly planted in His hand. I am safe.

Pictures (Easter and Alex)

Below are pictures from Easter. The kids looked good and the weather was great. Emma sported her first up-do which didn't last through the Egg hunt and wind, but she still looked so cute.

And here he is...Alex with his new glasses. He is proud of the fact that they are blue and gold, just like the Eisenhower Eagles. He is also enjoying the fact that he can now see clearly.

Today I am Thankful for...

...the thunderstorm last night. I LOVE thunderstorms. Even though we were under a tornado watch for the evening and there were moments that the storm was intense, I still LOVED it. Storms for me are a tangible reminder of my AWESOME God. His power and restraint, His majesty and beauty are all displayed in a thunderstorm.

...the chance to get away for a day this week with my family. We are headed to Chicago to go to one of the museums and hopefully to spend some time with family up there. I am looking forward to this day away and excited to watch my kids as they are awed and amazed by God's creation (even if the museum misses it).

...insurance. Aaron's new company has some great benefits and one of them is their eye insurance. And today we had to use it for Alex. He is now the proud owner of a pair of glasses. (Pictures to follow.) He was so funny when we left the office this morning. He kept looking over the top of the glasses and then through them comparing the blurry to the clear. He was astounded by the way they corrected his vision. For me, I was just sorry we didn't know sooner that he needed the glasses in the first place.

...my sister and brother-in-law. They have helped us out tremendously with the older boys this week. It is Spring Break week and since we don't do a week long vacation we needed a place for the boys. (Stephen and Emma are able to go to their normal sitter for the week.) John and Laura have been amazing in helping us. THANKS!!!

Spring

Well the past week has been CRAZY! We have had a stomach bug that hasn't really given anyone much more than stomach cramps. I would much rather have a 24 hour bug where we get sick and then are over it. This is a "hangin' on" bug. AHHHH! This came on the heels of one of the worst 3 day migraines that I have ever had.

Needless to say it has been a rough week. But we truly enjoyed celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord with our friends and family. It is fun to listen to the kids talk about the fact that "He is alive!" with such wonder and awe.

We also have loved the "Madness" of basketball (especially the championship game) and Opening Day for MLB. As a sports loving family it was a great weekend for sports. In honor of Opening Day we have a family tradition of grilling hot dogs. It's like officially recognizing spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Play Ball!

Spring is my favorite time of year. I love watching the trees bud, the grass turn green, hearing the birds, and being able to get outside. I love the fresh air. It does wonders for the body and soul. I love how the cobwebs of winter get blown away and everything becomes new again.

Not only does the Earth get a "do-over" this time of year, but with Easter we are reminded of the second chances we get. God sent his Son to pay the price and give us the chance to live, not just eternal life but also a spiritual rebirth to live here on Earth. God came to give us life. Because of His death I live. I love this verse: "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (I Corinthians 15:22)

There is such hope with the arrival of spring. But there is even greater hope in the death of Christ. You see, it wasn't nails that kept Jesus on the cross, it was his immeasurable love for you and me. His love for us kept Him there, it allowed death to overtake His body. I am always amazed by the fact that He could have ended it at any time, He could have come down off that cross. He had proven during His ministry that with a word He could command nature, He could heal, He could raise the dead. With one word, He could have summoned angels, He could have said "Enough". But His love was demonstrated in His death. "There is no greater love than laying down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

As we enjoy the spring time weather and all the activities it brings, let us also be mindful of the death that gave us life, and not just life, but life abundant. (John 10:10) Enjoy the abundance of color, the abundance of noises (from birds to frogs to crickets to kids playing), the abundance of new life, but more than any of that I hope that you enjoy the life you have been called to in Him. While we have been given life because of His death, He didn't stay in that tomb, He rose and is alive. This fact brings us an even greater hope. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) We have nothing to fear. We have life to the full with no need to fear death. His death took care of it, for you see the hope is this, even when our mortal bodies give out we still have life.