Thursday, February 26, 2009
pics for you
The stairs are so 2 days ago-
sneaking in some cuddling time.
He's almost edible donchya think?
My little princesMonday, February 23, 2009
So it is...so be it.
Billy Grahams prayer for our nation as heard on the Paul Harvey show:
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics.. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tabernacle
Before you read this entry- go to my playlist on the side and click on the song entitled GLORY by Selah.
ready? ;)
This week ends the bible study on the Tabernacle that I began in September. I really enjoy having a "study" to do - it helps to have something to focus on to be studying. And I have enjoyed the way Beth Moore teaches- she is so passionate about wanting us to know God and his word.
The funny thing about "doing a Bible study" is that I think I at least get trapped in the "what's in it for me" mode. I want each sentence to have SOMETHING to do with ME and MY LIFE. Granted, studying God's word DOES have a lot to do with me and my life but we can't get stuck there. Sometimes studying the Bible is just about GOD. (imagine that!) Studying his Word can be solely about deepening our knowledge of the Holy One. (which will bring about plenty of personal application if we allow it too)
That was my challenge and thrill about this study. The nuggets I did take away for personal application were very deep (to me at least) but I think the greater essence of this study for me was learning more about God's character- his holiness, his precision, his creativity, his instructions and his glory. I have experienced a small glimpse of his glory by studying his temple. The symbolism of the pieces he had the Israelites construct and how they were made manifest in Jesus Christ still gives me chills. I have had some quiet times lately where I have no words to express my absolute awe of our great God - sometimes words just are not necessary and certainly not enough. I heard this song on a friends blog (thanks, Richelle!) and it has served to speak my thoughts about experiencing, enjoying and expecting God's awesome glory- take a listen.
ready? ;)
This week ends the bible study on the Tabernacle that I began in September. I really enjoy having a "study" to do - it helps to have something to focus on to be studying. And I have enjoyed the way Beth Moore teaches- she is so passionate about wanting us to know God and his word.
The funny thing about "doing a Bible study" is that I think I at least get trapped in the "what's in it for me" mode. I want each sentence to have SOMETHING to do with ME and MY LIFE. Granted, studying God's word DOES have a lot to do with me and my life but we can't get stuck there. Sometimes studying the Bible is just about GOD. (imagine that!) Studying his Word can be solely about deepening our knowledge of the Holy One. (which will bring about plenty of personal application if we allow it too)
That was my challenge and thrill about this study. The nuggets I did take away for personal application were very deep (to me at least) but I think the greater essence of this study for me was learning more about God's character- his holiness, his precision, his creativity, his instructions and his glory. I have experienced a small glimpse of his glory by studying his temple. The symbolism of the pieces he had the Israelites construct and how they were made manifest in Jesus Christ still gives me chills. I have had some quiet times lately where I have no words to express my absolute awe of our great God - sometimes words just are not necessary and certainly not enough. I heard this song on a friends blog (thanks, Richelle!) and it has served to speak my thoughts about experiencing, enjoying and expecting God's awesome glory- take a listen.
"One day eyes that are blind will see you clearly.
One day all who deny will finally believe.
One day hearts made of stone will break in pieces.
One day chains once unbroken will fall down at your feet.
So we wait...
for that One day
Come quickly
We want to see your glory
When every knees falls down before Thee
every tongue offers you praise
with every hand raised
Singing glory
to you and to you only
We'll sing Glory to your name.
One day voices that lie will all be silenced.
One day all that divided will be made whole again
One day death will retreat and wave it's white flag
One day love will defeat the strongest enemy
So we wait...
for that one day
Come quickly
We want to see your glory..."
Friday, February 13, 2009
My little helper
This morning I was folding laundry and asked Seth if he could go to his room and find me "as many hangers as you can!" What excitement and elation as he kept finding more and more....
Note to self- be specific with toddlers! ;)
and more hangers.
I was puzzled because I was pretty sure there were only about 5 or 6 empty hangers.
Then I remembered I hadn't exactly said the hangers had to already BE empty. 
Note to self- be specific with toddlers! ;)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Just a tease
Ok so I know that 60 degrees in February is NOT normal - nor does it last. But we sure had fun while it lasted!
The boys were very anxious to get out their water boots and pounce in the puddles and discover all the forgotten about toys in the outside toy box. I enjoyed the long walk we were able to go on. I think Jaedon and I decided he was being David Link Hood with all this accessories. (David with the slingshot, Link (from Zelda) with the sword, and Hood as in Robin with the bow). =)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Update on Life
Well-January is over (FINALLY!). That was a long month. Not bad. Just long. =) I think I've mentioned that already.
So and update on the goings on in our household. Hang on to your seats- it's flippin' exciting ;)
Brad-
He is in full swing working on his thesis now. Ok he's going to kill me but I DON'T know exactly the terminology for what his thesis is exactly- so basically (and in laymen terms) he is researching how students evaluate their peer performances vs. how "professionals" evaluate the same performance. Soooo he went to a Solo and Ensemble this past Saturday and recorded lots of kids from all over West MI doing their thing on their instrument. This is stage one of his data gathering. He then plans on having local students evaluate these performances, then have local professionals (aka other band teachers in the area) evaluate, compare the results and write a really long very THRILLING 50 some page paper about it all. I told him I would be MORE than glad to read it via osmosis. ;-)
He just had a recorder (aka plastic tubes of death) and 5th grade band concert which went....as well as those types of concerts ever go! ;)
We are doing a dinner and theatre trip with the middle school band/choir towards the end of March. Lion King (the broadway version) is coming to Michigan State. We just decided that we're going to take Jaedon with us too. I think he'll love it!
Jaedon-
After his bout with Pnuemonia and 2 weeks of "I can't hear you, Mom" (which was SOOOO frustrating!) I think he may FINALLY be hearing better (altho LISTENING is an all together different matter ;).
His teacher encouraged us last fall to have Jaedon's reading tested which they did and completed around Christmas time. She knew he was able to read well but she also didn't know what things she could be sending home for him that may challenge him more than the sight words that he just blew thru. They assessed him at somewhere around a 3rd grade reading level right now and 2nd grade cognitive level. So other than having a paper in his file that he is an "Accelerated learner" I don't know what else this information means. Altho, his teacher, bless her, is SO great! Instead of sending home the sight word flip charts, she has been sending home some reading level books. After she discovered his reading level she "uped" the reading level books and today she sent home a chapter book that was Star Wars!!! (She included a note saying she thought Jaedon would enjoy this one ;) He, of course, went ballistic and sat down to read/look at it for next 30 minutes.
It's really fun to see his personality keep emerging. Him and I are quite a bit alike (except he's got his daddy's smarts ;) I enjoy conversing with him during the day and his memory just blows me away.
Seth-
Oh I think the "3"s are going to be more challenging than the "2"s were for this one. He is very independent ("I do it" is his mantra) which is fine with me (most times) although is constant mind-changing is something we're really trying to work on with him. He likes to say the opposite of what he really wants then proceeds to pitch a fit about it.
He is VERY imaginative. He will go off by himself with a pirate figure and a Mr. Incredible toy and pretend they are (fill in the blank of favorite character of the day...usually someone star wars thank you big brother ;) and he will play like that for.... a long time!
Potty training is just stalled. I have him sitting on the potty everyday and he'll tell you "yeah..I go poo in the rahree (potty)" buutt....it's more of an idea to him than an actual happening. The sticker chart and candy really have no lure on him. Nor does the idea that he could have his very own Star Wars (or Superman or WHATEVER) underware if he goes to the potty. His impression of that is "huh. cool. where did I put my pirate?"
He has his first dentist appointment coming up in a few weeks. It should be interesting!
Owenator-
What a little sirolin he is. I love baby chunk! He is crawling (albeit still army style) all over the place. Still puts EVERYTHING in his mouth (and no teeth yet!) He still reminds me a lot of Jaedon as a baby as far as his easy going personality and he's so attentive to his surroundings. Altho his beefy-ness reminds me of Seth ;-) too cute. Last night the older 2 were SO tired and we were just pushing thru our nighttime routine to get them to bed - I came out in the living room after kissing 2 crying little boys and Owen's just started giggling and smiling and rolling over... what a joy he is!
And me-
I'm fine.
=)
OH ok... I'm ramble on more- because if you've made it to this point you're either 1. REEEALLY bored or 2. my mom.
Have I mentioned it being a long month? ;) Not bad but the four walls get pretty closed in after awhile. But I have a great husband who knows I need some fresh air every now and then (even if it is just running errands by myself).
I'm enjoying the bible study I'm in altho sad that it's almost over. I like getting up in the mornings to do my study - unfortunately it seems I can never get up early enough and there are a lot of mornings that 2 little boys are up with me and it's not a study I can do while they need me...but I can read Brad's message bible (SO neat to re read some familiar passages in the contemporary text!) so that's my standby a lot of mornings. I've been very challenged in my faith lately (like the past 3 years) and my latest challenge is how am I living out my faith? Do I hide in bible study's and safe christian circles or am I reaching out to people God puts in my path every day? The other day I gave a lady a ride home from the library- way out of my comfort zone b/c I tend to be scared of people (and with good right in our culture- have you read the paper lately?) but it was one of those 3 degree evenings and she was planning on walking the mile to her apartment. Now, I didn't end up sharing the gospel with her but God can use anything we give for his end.
I am going to be taking a class at our church over the next two weeks that helps you discover what your spiritual gifts are and how you can best use them. I'm looking forward to it. I have always been "involved" in DOING for the church but it was usually just something that needed to be done. I'm looking forward to discovering what passions God has wired me with and seeing how I can use them.
So I'm reading thru this book called "the Shofar Blew"- by Francine Rivers. She's one of my favorite authors(ress?) anyway, this book is really frustrating to me. I won't go into it in detail but basically it's about a pastor and his family who get "called" to a small church in suburbia and how he plans to "build himself a church" - meanwhile his marriage and family are totally being obliterated which just infuriates me (ok down, K itty it's just fiction!) I don't know why but God has given me a passion when it comes to marriage and family- I'm interested to see if that comes up in the class I'm taking.
Ok- I've been on this computer way too long.
Hope you've enjoyed the update!!! =) oh...and I'm not doing spellcheck so deal with it! ;)
So and update on the goings on in our household. Hang on to your seats- it's flippin' exciting ;)
Brad-
He is in full swing working on his thesis now. Ok he's going to kill me but I DON'T know exactly the terminology for what his thesis is exactly- so basically (and in laymen terms) he is researching how students evaluate their peer performances vs. how "professionals" evaluate the same performance. Soooo he went to a Solo and Ensemble this past Saturday and recorded lots of kids from all over West MI doing their thing on their instrument. This is stage one of his data gathering. He then plans on having local students evaluate these performances, then have local professionals (aka other band teachers in the area) evaluate, compare the results and write a really long very THRILLING 50 some page paper about it all. I told him I would be MORE than glad to read it via osmosis. ;-)
He just had a recorder (aka plastic tubes of death) and 5th grade band concert which went....as well as those types of concerts ever go! ;)
We are doing a dinner and theatre trip with the middle school band/choir towards the end of March. Lion King (the broadway version) is coming to Michigan State. We just decided that we're going to take Jaedon with us too. I think he'll love it!
Jaedon-
After his bout with Pnuemonia and 2 weeks of "I can't hear you, Mom" (which was SOOOO frustrating!) I think he may FINALLY be hearing better (altho LISTENING is an all together different matter ;).
His teacher encouraged us last fall to have Jaedon's reading tested which they did and completed around Christmas time. She knew he was able to read well but she also didn't know what things she could be sending home for him that may challenge him more than the sight words that he just blew thru. They assessed him at somewhere around a 3rd grade reading level right now and 2nd grade cognitive level. So other than having a paper in his file that he is an "Accelerated learner" I don't know what else this information means. Altho, his teacher, bless her, is SO great! Instead of sending home the sight word flip charts, she has been sending home some reading level books. After she discovered his reading level she "uped" the reading level books and today she sent home a chapter book that was Star Wars!!! (She included a note saying she thought Jaedon would enjoy this one ;) He, of course, went ballistic and sat down to read/look at it for next 30 minutes.
It's really fun to see his personality keep emerging. Him and I are quite a bit alike (except he's got his daddy's smarts ;) I enjoy conversing with him during the day and his memory just blows me away.
Seth-
Oh I think the "3"s are going to be more challenging than the "2"s were for this one. He is very independent ("I do it" is his mantra) which is fine with me (most times) although is constant mind-changing is something we're really trying to work on with him. He likes to say the opposite of what he really wants then proceeds to pitch a fit about it.
He is VERY imaginative. He will go off by himself with a pirate figure and a Mr. Incredible toy and pretend they are (fill in the blank of favorite character of the day...usually someone star wars thank you big brother ;) and he will play like that for.... a long time!
Potty training is just stalled. I have him sitting on the potty everyday and he'll tell you "yeah..I go poo in the rahree (potty)" buutt....it's more of an idea to him than an actual happening. The sticker chart and candy really have no lure on him. Nor does the idea that he could have his very own Star Wars (or Superman or WHATEVER) underware if he goes to the potty. His impression of that is "huh. cool. where did I put my pirate?"
He has his first dentist appointment coming up in a few weeks. It should be interesting!
Owenator-
What a little sirolin he is. I love baby chunk! He is crawling (albeit still army style) all over the place. Still puts EVERYTHING in his mouth (and no teeth yet!) He still reminds me a lot of Jaedon as a baby as far as his easy going personality and he's so attentive to his surroundings. Altho his beefy-ness reminds me of Seth ;-) too cute. Last night the older 2 were SO tired and we were just pushing thru our nighttime routine to get them to bed - I came out in the living room after kissing 2 crying little boys and Owen's just started giggling and smiling and rolling over... what a joy he is!
And me-
I'm fine.
=)
OH ok... I'm ramble on more- because if you've made it to this point you're either 1. REEEALLY bored or 2. my mom.
Have I mentioned it being a long month? ;) Not bad but the four walls get pretty closed in after awhile. But I have a great husband who knows I need some fresh air every now and then (even if it is just running errands by myself).
I'm enjoying the bible study I'm in altho sad that it's almost over. I like getting up in the mornings to do my study - unfortunately it seems I can never get up early enough and there are a lot of mornings that 2 little boys are up with me and it's not a study I can do while they need me...but I can read Brad's message bible (SO neat to re read some familiar passages in the contemporary text!) so that's my standby a lot of mornings. I've been very challenged in my faith lately (like the past 3 years) and my latest challenge is how am I living out my faith? Do I hide in bible study's and safe christian circles or am I reaching out to people God puts in my path every day? The other day I gave a lady a ride home from the library- way out of my comfort zone b/c I tend to be scared of people (and with good right in our culture- have you read the paper lately?) but it was one of those 3 degree evenings and she was planning on walking the mile to her apartment. Now, I didn't end up sharing the gospel with her but God can use anything we give for his end.
I am going to be taking a class at our church over the next two weeks that helps you discover what your spiritual gifts are and how you can best use them. I'm looking forward to it. I have always been "involved" in DOING for the church but it was usually just something that needed to be done. I'm looking forward to discovering what passions God has wired me with and seeing how I can use them.
So I'm reading thru this book called "the Shofar Blew"- by Francine Rivers. She's one of my favorite authors(ress?) anyway, this book is really frustrating to me. I won't go into it in detail but basically it's about a pastor and his family who get "called" to a small church in suburbia and how he plans to "build himself a church" - meanwhile his marriage and family are totally being obliterated which just infuriates me (ok down, K itty it's just fiction!) I don't know why but God has given me a passion when it comes to marriage and family- I'm interested to see if that comes up in the class I'm taking.
Ok- I've been on this computer way too long.
Hope you've enjoyed the update!!! =) oh...and I'm not doing spellcheck so deal with it! ;)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Owen's Dedication
Today was a very meaningful day to me. We particpated in a child dedication service in our church and had Owen dedicated to the Lord. There is nothing magical about doing this - it doesn't gain him a spot in heaven or guarentee he will be a "perfect little christian boy" (what is that anyway?!!?) It does, however, reflect Brad and my desire and commitement to raise our precious boys in the knowledge of the One who made them. To teach them about our faith in Christ when we get up in the morning, when we run errands, when we meet new people, go to school, make cookies and go to bed at night. Our prayers are that these little people will become godly men that love Christ with ALL of their hearts and ALL of their souls and ALL of their minds.
And today was made extra special because we were able to express this commitment with our very best of friends standing by our side!
A walk in the snow
It's been a COOOOOLLLLD winter! I really don't mind the snow (too much) but I really don't like the COLD! It's just been too cold to go outside. Well, yesterday I think we hit all of 27 degrees (that global warming for you) so we made the most of it and went for a walk/sled ride/huge-snow-mound-climb. It was awesome!
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