101 update

Some of you have been asking so I thought I'd post an update on day one of the Marriage 101 class. It was last night and our kiddos had been off of meds for almost 2 days (as in no fevers etc...) so we felt it was ok to put them in their classrooms during Saturday night church.
The contact person from the class told us that only 2 couples had signed up. I, however, was determined that God was going to exceed our expectations- although I'm not really sure what my expectations were in the first place.
We had 2 couples come. Not even the two that signed up! =)
And honestly I was a bit discouraged.
I started doubting if this was what God wanted us to be doing, doubting the choice of material, any abilities that we may have - you name it.

Lately I've really been struck with the reality of spiritual warfare. It's not a new idea to me- but maybe it is. Maybe since I haven't addressed it - when I do it does seem a bit novel. Our memory verse is about putting on the armor of God because we are warriors engaged in battle- regardless of how ignorant we choose to be about it. I've noticed that since I have started addressing it in my personal life, my family's life and some others close to me- well, the more I notice it the more I'm noticing it!
Last night was no exception. I was discouraged and I am certain that is exactly what the enemy was trying to get me to be.
And today I'm choosing to think that if Satan and his cronies think I'm worth their time to discourage and dishearten...then I just might be doing something that upsets them a bit.
And I'm ok with that.

Operation: applesauce

Brad called me on Tuesday last week to let me know that his school was going to be closed for the rest of the week. My first thought: I'll get to do my applesauce!!!! sad huh? ;)

The next day I got sick.
However- before the sick week was out- we did manage to get our 2 bushel done. I did 2 1/2 bushel of Macintosh and 1/2 Cortland this year. The little boys helped some. They liked when I asked which of them wanted to be "cranky". Brad was a big help- even if he was only amusing Owen at the time. Owen was no help whatsoever (except taste testing) but he sure is cute.
We ended up with almost 40 quarts - which will barely get us thru until next October.
A days worth of work for a years worth of enjoyment!

A tree in our house

The latest art project - 'Our Thanksgiving Tree'I was thinking a little tree to hang on our pantry door- well, with the boys help this tree is larger than some outdoor ones. We had to post it in the stairway!
We are all filling out what we are thankful for on some "leaves" each night . I know- leaves are suppose to be falling OFF the trees right now... so far the boys haven't noted that oddity as of yet (so no tipping them off, Jodi ;0)
Anyway, I think it'll be fun to see what it looks like when it's the end of November- (which is, of course, when we can all stop being thankful ;-)
Jaedon wrote the words (painstakingly so) to Psalm 100. I think he did a great job.

Armor of God

We decided to memorize the Armor of God passage this month mainly because (as our translation puts it) the "spiritual forces of evil" are more...uh...noticeable this month than others. (?) Anyway- I found this cute little craft that the boys both had fun doing today.

http://www.dltk-bible.com/crafts/armor/mpaperarmor.htm

A quiz of sorts

I found this in a devotional book I was reading yesterday. It brought on some interesting thoughts and discussion between Brad and I- see what you think.
Fill in the blanks:

I would be more successful if...
I would be more significant if....
I would be more fulfilled if...
I would be more satisfied if...
I would be happier if...
I would have more fun if...
I would be more secure if...
I would have more peace if...

"How you just finished the above statements reflects your present belief system."
ouch.
So- if my beliefs motivate my actions and behavior- what is my core made up of really?
Thought provoking to me at least- thought I'd share!

And round and round and round and round and round...

Feel like a chicken tonight

Jaedon got to choose our Family Nite activity this week. We, being the not-so-creative persons we aren't bought a little $2 book called "1001 Family Fun Ideas". I gave Jaedon the book on Monday to skim through and see if anything sounded like fun. He landed on a "Chicken Night" idea. We modified it a bit and had a blast.

We dyed some eggs using some leftover Easter goodies, did the chicken dance while we waited for the eggs to color, went on an egg hunt and did about 3 different versions of eggs with spoons games which eventually turned into tag- as do most games around here. =)
Brad read the Suess book "Scrambled Eggs Super" - which, if you haven't had the privilege of reading it yet- I would recommend banging your head against some concrete first- it's more fun. (Altho, I did just hear via storybag tape the book Fox and Socks by Suess and that one is decisively worse!)
ANYWAY- we ended up having a picnic in the basement with some chicken nuggets, chicken pizza and watching Chicken Little.
Oh- and we can't forget a very popular saying today compliments of my sister in law:
"Guess what?
Chicken butt!"
This was utterly amusing (to two little boys) EVERY time it was said (and it was said A LOT!)

The Edge

http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-church-mixes-gospel-and-hip-hop,0,4231448.story


Our church recently celebrated it's 30th anniversary. Amid MANY pastoral changes that are happening right now it was great to see the consistency of the churches mission not wavering. Their motto "To Reach out and Raise Up." - evangelize and disciple. One of their priorities is to plant churches. Now I don't quite understand how you need to plant churches in a city with "a church on every corner" but it has been effective as each church seems to be reaching the neighborhood they are designed to reach. The link above is the newest church plant called "The Edge" - located well, not all that far from us, and designed to reach out to the "Hip Hop culture" right where they're located. Before the first "session" (what they call their meeting times) took place- over 100 people had already come to faith in Christ. They began only 4 weeks ago!! Isn't that so stinking cool??? Check out the link....

Owen's walking- sortof.

Getting used to being used

We are quickly approaching the start of the "Marriage 101" class (as it has been deemed). Brad and I have been previewing the curriculum in the evenings (which has actually been kinda fun). We've decided to use Les and Leslie Parrots "Saving Your Marriage Before (and after) It Starts" DVD series. I was so overwhelmed trying to think about what marriage issues we should zone in on for a 5 week class!! There are so many things to cover- and seriously you could spend the entire 5 weeks on one or two topics. This book is great though- The first week, for example, is about exposing the myths of marriage and realizing your expectations of your roles in your marriage. (i.e. who was responsible for paying the bills, taking garbage out, making dinner, gassing up the car in your home growing up? well, surprise...that's probably who you'll expect to be doing it in your marriage too) It's some "well, duh" stuff but unless it's not pointed out -
well, DUH!
Anyway- I'm excited about it.
And getting very nervous.
I'm not a teacher. Brad is- I mean actually- by profession- but we're not teaching how to play a flute here. I'm thankful that we are not TEACHING it -( what do we know anyway?! =) but still the LEADING of it-truthfully- has me a bit scared. I so appreciated the message Pastor Wayne shared yesterday. Reminding me, yet again, that this big, HUGE Creator God wants to -and is fully able to- infuse me with his energy to accomplish any task he has for me. Today that means allowing God to use me to be the best mommy I can be- the best wife- the best friend. But these are roles that I've had for a while now- this class thing is new territory. So I'm choosing to believe that God will use me and Brad next Saturday evening- that couples marriages will be strengthened and that God will get ALL the credit.
Even still- if you think of it- pray for us k?

ArtPrize

For the past 2 weeks there has been an art competition in downtown GR called ArtPrize. (I'm writing that for out-of-town-ers sake b/c all of us West Michiganders are just about SICK of hearing about it!)

As much of an artist as I am NOT- this was really cool. All over downtown there were displays of "art" - some certainly needed the quotation marks to qualify as art and some were actually very cool. I think there were over 250 different pieces.
We finally went last night-sporting our rain gear and tempering the huge LACK of parking.
Jaedon particularly got a kick out of it. He wanted me to take his picture by everything. The collage is different things we saw- a huge garbage bag baby, trees sculpted as people playing instruments, a giant moose made of nails, a "what is your dream" wall, a HUGE table and chairs placed on TOP of a bridge, and Jaedon's favorite were the two uh...creature thingys. He said: "those were totally awesome but they almost had me freaked out."
Then there was "Nessie" the ...well, the Grand River monster I guess since he wasn't at sea...
Yea- I'm still working on perfecting stick figures. =)

Theory and Reality

I had the privilege of attending a Hearts at Home conference for the first time this past weekend. I had heard about this conference from some friends but this is the first year I took the plunge and signed up for it - by myself! It was a bit intimidating going but I was able to meet up with about 8 other ladies from my church so I didn't feel like such a fish out of water. (Not to mention they ALL escorted me to the car garage at 11:30 pm and fit ALL of them into my carseat loaded van so I could drop them off at their hotel!! Oh yes- one sat in Owen's car seat!!)

We had a main session Saturday morning with Jill Savage- who I was not familiar with but greatly impressed by. Then we chose our own workshops to attend for the remaining part of the day (until 4) Dr. Kevin Leman was the guest speaker at the end of the day on Saturday. I loved my workshops (which I might elaborate more on later), I was challenged, prodded, encouraged and refreshed. I came home energized and excited - my mind brimming with ideas and thoughts.

Then it was Sunday. No more speakers to talk about life in theory or give me good ideas. It was rubber meets the road time- what did I learn and how was I going to apply it? You know what?
I got frustrated about something - impatient over it happening and yelled.
Great. $80 registration fee down the tubes.
I mean- I attended a session about respecting my husband and what do I do the VERY next day? Argue with him IN FRONT OF THE KIDS! Yeah- I'm pretty sure THAT did NOT make my "to do" list notes in that workshop!
Another session was about learning to discipline with love so that you can reach the heart of your child even when they are difficult to love. What do I do? Yell to get him moving... showing my impatience. Uh-huh. Yep- got those lessons learned real well don't I??

Then as Brad took the 2 older boys away I had a few moments to reflect (and write this) and I'm starting to smile. Isn't this just exactly what the enemy of our souls- the enemy of our marriages- the enemy of our families wants to do in us? To discourage, to blame, pass guilt... He wants me to say "oh well- I guess if I can't learn something from an all weekend seminar then I guess I'll just give up." Ooo... He's so sneaky and boy do I have news for him and his cronies. T'aint workin'. Granted I am befuddled that I can be so gung ho one moment and so swung low the next but greater is HE that is in ME than he that is in the world!

Now, I'm going to go apologize for my stupidity - not dwell in it- and team up with his Spirit for a new-every-morning type of evening.
Thank you, Jesus.