Baby, it's cold outside...

...let's head somewhere warmer, sunnier...with palm trees...and sandcastles...

If you'd like to keep up with our escapades this week, you can follow my mobile posting where I'm the MomE and Loving It.

Happy 9th Anniversary!

HodgePodge Sleigh Bells Ring!

1. How will you spend 'the night before Christmas'?
I've tried to make it traditional to open one gift...new jammies...so people look cute early the next morning.
2.  What is one thing you are not?
I am not mathematically inclined...so I married Loverbrains...and he totally covers that area for us both!  Phew!

3.  Fudge-are you a fan?  Your favorite flavor?
YES!  Plain ordinary...no frills or added flavors.

4. Did you attend any craft/vendor fairs in the month of December?  Do you prefer homemade goodies or the more professional stalls? Are you giving any homemade gifts this year?
I did get to go to a few craft fairs with a close friend.  It was fun!  I really enjoy the upcycled booths...mostly cuz I like to steal their ideas and try them myself!  HA!

I did make several things this year per usual...and honestly, I've had it.  They take A LOT of time and aren't all that well received for the most part.  People are sort of jaded and would rather have something store bought they can regift I think.

I'm frankly feeling pretty Scroogie at the moment to the extent that I'm ready to quit buying presents for adults who don't need anything.  Not to mention saying it's all about Jesus and His birthday and then everyone else getting presents.  Yeah, I'm gonna give them a card that says I bought a goat for a family in Ethopia or somewhere, in their name.  I'm not kidding.

5. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering?
I love White Elephant parties.  We go to one at our friends' place every year.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  Okay, most of the time you lose.  BUT...You laugh a lot.  This year I got stuck with one that's so horridly awesome that it will be returning to that WE party next year!  We parted with a bright, pink bowling ball and an old, outdated Guinness Book of World Records.

6.  We're approaching a new year...what's going to be different in 2013?
I'm going to read through the Bible again.  I took a break from that this year.  I missed it.  Also...my baby will start Kindergarten.  I will be all alone...WHOOPIE!  I mean, *sniff sniff!  Truly a combination of feelings there!!

7. Share a favorite scripture, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to peace.
John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I was doing laundry today...sorting stinky little clothes...counting my blessings.  Thinking...if I lived close to those Mama's with broken hearts in Connecticut, I'd go to their houses and sort all their laundry and wash it...so they wouldn't have to cry over each wee stinky shirt.  Yeah, I had a little weepy prayer pow wow in my laundry room today.  So sad... A different perspective...an eternal perspective to everything!!

Where was God?

12/15/12

Where was God during yesterday’s terrible slaughter of innocent children and teachers?

Some will be asking this with a raging hatred in their hearts. They despise the idea that there could be a loving and all-powerful God who would allow such terrible things to happen. They shake their fists at the heavens and say, “God – you are the one who is ultimately guilty for this horror. You are not good...

and I reject you!”

But what is their alternative? A world without God - just the continuing natural processes guided by the laws of physics, chemistry and biology. A world where human beings are just another animal and are not guided by real choices – only by biochemical/genetic determination.

If they were right, any particular behavior would be pre-programmed by the natural processes of nature. It is not a moral evil, only another messy step in the impersonal evolutionary process that determines who passes on genetic information to succeeding generations. Male bears will kill and eat cubs. A mother mouse might cannibalize her naked nursing pups.

So why the rage? Why not shrug and say, “How unpleasant, but that is the way nature works?” Why would you expect there to be anything different? Life has no ultimate purpose. It exists. It ends. There is nothing more.

But some of us ask the question with pain and sorrow in our hearts. We believe that there is a loving and all-powerful God, and that he has allowed this terrible thing to happen.

But we also believe that it is because God is infinitely good that such human actions are truly evil. It is God who has said, “You shall not murder.” It is Jesus who promised eternal punishment for those who harm little children (Luke 17:1-2).

We believe that this life is not the whole story – that conscious existence continues after physical death – that God can and will execute perfect justice. He will sort out the guilty and the innocent. He will render eternal punishment to those who deserve it, and provide comfort and eternal life for those who accept it from him.

Where was God during yesterday’s terrible slaughter? He was comforting terrified and dying children. He was preparing wrath against another evil rebel. God is still on the throne and God will prevail.

Those who are raging are not really offended by a lack of God’s goodness. They are offended by the repeated proofs that man is not good without God.

 

Written by Pastor David Denny (my Dad) @ pastor d's thoughts

Eye openers!

This is what happens when you let Darren help with crafts.

For the very first time, Darren and I are in the same Bible Study. This has been a huge delight to us...and our marriage. He has joined me in my favorite Bible Study Fellowship...He goes to the Men's class on Tuesday nights...and I go as a Children's Leader on Mondays (and love the toddlers of Ladies on Tuesdays).

As we study Genesis together...I think it's a surprise to us both just how much JESUS is in Genesis! We have both learned some great EYE OPENING, heart changing things. Even in a book as fundamental and basic as Genesis...there is much to learn!

 Here's a few eye openers just from the last week in Genesis 13 and 14. Some are questions I've asked myself...and maybe they'll get you thinkin' too!

Do I ignore potential problems as long as it doesn't affect my peace? Or do I step forward in continual obedience?

Abram was ready for battle...Am I!? God's armor (2 Cor. 10, Eph. 6) is mobile protection...I can leave my fortresses in full safety! With the Sword of the Spirit I can whack any negative thoughts! The Word of God is the best missionary! It can be always ready in my mind if it's hidden in my heart!

A really cool thought...2 Cor. 2:14-15...God always leads us in VICTORY...we are captured but following in joy!

Battles aren't won and done! Obey in the next thing and the next and the next...

 Melchizadek...still a bit of mystery but an amazing picture of JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!! A priest forever on the throne. Zech. 6..."And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two." I'm gonna stop before I get started or I'll just keep going on and on. Bountiful fodder for another post!  

Oh Dear Lord,
 I want to follow as a joyful captive...seeing the fruit of any and all suffering....Doing each role--each task, for the reward from God alone. Speaking carefully, remembering You defend me! Content and waiting for Your perfect timing and promises!

Advent: SLOW DOWN...He's coming!

With my Sweet Boobahs (a term that has expanded to more than my own two precious babes) we have been using an Advent Activity Calendar from Lifeway.

Today, we read the ten commandments in Duet.5...put our name on a card and chose a commandment that's most difficult for us. We talked about how we could try to keep it all day long.

Right away, they noted that they couldn't keep the commandment they'd chosen (Obey your parents, Don't covet stuff).

I wrote JESUS over the top...and Romans 3:23, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."  You should pray for me...it's all I can do to not blubber like an idiot when I explain these truths to those that haven't heard them.

As the calendar says, "Thank God for His wondrous, amazing grace...that He takes what was written on tablets of stone and fulfills it perfectly, writing our names on the palm of His hands.

Isaiah 49:16, "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me." 

This morning was awesome.  I saw little lights come on...but I must remind myself...I'm planting seeds, I'm watering seeds...and even if I never see the harvest...that's okay!  I want to be faithful!!

My first quilt for ME!

I've made several baby quilts and lap quilts for friends...and a quilt top for my Aunt Bev...but this is the first one that I'm going to bind and keep for me! I must say I was DELIGHTED to get these pictures today. (And before you ask...yes, the squares are supposed to be wonky! It's called Topsy Turvy!)

My friend, Susan of Snowflake Quilts, quilted this on her handy dandy machine...and she and her husband hand delivered it to my Mother (cuz they know I'm afraid of things that take THAT MUCH TIME getting lost in the mail)...SO, I probably won't get to see it in person until after Christmas.  

They felt bad for me so took these pictures for me! AW!!

Squirrel!!

Pity it took me so long to really embrace my role (and calling) as a Mom.  When we step out in obedience it's amazing the little golden nuggets that gleam in an ordinary day.  I take the opportunities I'm given. 

 

This little incident gave me quite an opportunity to talk about life and death.  And, it's not just my own kids.  I'm the block Mom...which I'm just loving!  I'm really the only Mom not working...but I'm sure on duty! 

Some of you are thinking it's just a dead squirrel.  But...it was traumatic...and all sorts of questions were asked.  I kind of jumped the do squirrels go to heaven question with where do we go when we die?  How can we know?

I keep coming back to it...the BIBLE...God's TRUE WORD...

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Wise (little) man!

Caleb: "Mom! Where'd the Wisemen go? I thought we had them??"

Mom: "They are across the room...by the clock on the bookshelf."

Caleb: "Um, why aren't they by the manger?"

Mom: "The Bible tell us in Matthew that they came a few years after he was born...and visited them at their home, when Jesus was a little kid.  They saw the star when he was born...but they were from the East and it took a few years to travel to Bethlehem.  MomE's sort of a stickler for such things...so, I put them across the room!

Caleb: So...you're saying it takes 3 YEARS to move from the bookshelf to the piano? *sotto voce*  Just so ya know...they don't really move!

Mom: Right, yes, I do know that!   But we are using them to remind everyone what the Bible does say...so, I want it to be as close as possible. So...yes...we pretend it takes 3 years to get from the bookshelf to the piano...IF they were REAL, of course!

Sigh...Dear God, please help me teach Christmas!! Amen! *chuckle chuckle* Sigh!

Guess ya had to be there!

 

Someone has coined the phrase, "maintaining the collective memory."  I guess that's kind of what I want my blogs to be.  I don't want them to be a money making job or a contest of comparison.  I want to maintain the collective memory for my children and our family...and share with those we love.

Yes, I have been experiencing blogger angst.  Anguish...anxiety.  Should I keep both, should I make one, should I quit entirely!  Should I share this info...or not share...who's reading this?  Why am I doing this?!  

I generally view blogging as cathartic...at least this blog where I post my deeper thoughts.  Yes, I have them...I saw those eyes roll!! But lately, it's felt more like a chore.  And those well meaning people who've asked where the pictures are...have rubbed me wrong.  I've felt nagged.  And, that alone has been a good lesson.  It helped me realize that when I use it with my sweet Loverbrains...it is likely to achieve opposite results.  Sometimes it's hard to receive missed ya as love ya!

But, here I am...again.  Deciding that I need to make my new technology work for me.  Figuring out remote posting (thanks Dad!)...and trying to continue maintaining the collective memory...because just looking back through my posts is precious!  My babies grow and our family changes...and I am truly a MomE & Loving It...not just naming a blog so it'll promote the thought!  And, here where I'm Blogging Along...I see God's faithfulness...in growing me as I take steps of obedience with Him.

So, rather than saying..."guess ya had to be there"....I will try to post more frequently.  Anything should be an improvement, right!?  FYI:  taking pictures of sunsets while driving is dangerous...and a bummer.  The pictures never look as good as the real thing!!

*SPLASH* wake up!!

Photo Source

Autumn Leaves for Aunt Cindy

I had wanted to dip leaves in wax and overnight them to my dear Aunt who's battling breast cancer...but between getting sick and rainy days...well...this is what I could create! Add some crunchy sounds and smells...and a lot of prayer!

Raising Cain?

I'd never really considered this before...but I have set judgements against certain Bible characters.  Negative judgements.  I've dealt with some of these...aka. Eve.

It's all about being honest about myself.  It's about realizing my sin is just as bad as his and hers and theirs....we are all sinners.

In my favorite Bible Study we are studying Genesis...and I've dissected the story of Cain in ways I never have before.  I'll admit that I don't have much sympathy for Cain...he is a BAD guy after all...the first murderer.  He's notorious....nobody wants to be like him.

But I was so touched by how God dealt with him.  Not at all how I think I might parent such a child.  So, I took note...because He is the Perfect Parent.

When Cain brought the wrong offering...God doesn't excuse his wrong behavior...but He does give him another chance.  The rules were clear, obedience was expected!  He tells Cain that if he does what is right he will be accepted.  He gently and firmly warns him that sin is just waiting for him....waiting to eat him up...encouraging him to rule over the sin before it dominates him!

But...if you've heard this story...Cain just gets madder...and in his anger towards God, he goes out into the field and kills his brother Abel.

Now, here's where I'm just amazed by God's patience.  When God questions Cain, He already knows what he's done, and Cain acts like a smart alec!  Ooooo...talk about cruisin for a bruisin!

And when that punishment does come crashing down...cuz God is the Perfect Judge after all...The rules were clear and the consequences sure!  Then Cain WHINES about it!  Oh, I just hate whining!  But God responds with a certain measure of mercy!  Can you believe it!?  WOW...he protects him from death by marking him.

But...like I said...when I really look at myself...

How often do I go whining to God?...dissatisfied, discontent, ungrateful?...but every time...EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. that I come to God, He receives me!  He isn't sick of me!

There are consequences for sin...but I have no reason to ever question my God's love!

Confession of sin and repentance of sin are necessary for forgiveness of sin!  Don't leave it for later. Get rid of the YUCK now!

Oh Dear Lord, 

Oh, how I want everything I do to be eternally focused and completely in Your plan for me!  I know that all that stuff I do that's independent of You has no eternal value.  I was created for obedience...help me to obey immediately, completely, sweetly...whatever I do let it be for Your glory!  

Amen.

On the mend...

After a harrowing experience with a lovely Autumn cold...we seem to all be on the mend.  For those of you who've noticed my hiatus from the blogosphere (gill)...thanks for your concern and prayers. 

Yes, as is so often the case, MomE was hit the hardest...I have pneumonia and a BIG sinus infection.  There is definitely a life lesson in here somewhere...

...if you keep hearing God say, "SLOW DOWN"...don't keep rationalizing that all the things you are doing are good things for God...yeah....it's just better to SLOW DOWN and listen to God! 

Eph. 2:8-10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

The buck usually stops with realizing that I'm working to please PEOPLE a whole lot more than I'm trying to focus on what pleases GOD.  There are LOTS of good things that I could be doing...and I'm quite capable when I'm not flat on my back sick....but God should control the timing and extent of all of these good things.  I'd like to say I've learned my lesson once and for all...but...for TODAY I do get the point.  SLOW DOWN!

Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us;  The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Lubbyville...or...BoxBoyopolis?

When dreams come true!

I am so blessed...I have a little girl to do dishes with me! *sigh*

I wash....she dries!

A Pink Sunrise for Emma

ARRR Matey Museum Day!

Wednesday was National Talk Like A Pirate Day....don't ask me who comes up with this stuff.  Anyhew...the Children's Museum of Indy got into the action...and so did we!

MomE and Emma got our faces painted...with glitter glitter everywhere...which you can't see from this picture but trust me...is going to be all over for a looonnnggg while!

This is what we call a back seat driver!  HAHA!

Caleb LOVES the shipwreck of Captain Kidd!

Gotta ride the Carousel!  Too fun!!  Noticed for the first time that all the horses have REAL horsehair tails!

Man, she's getting some seriously BIG FEET!

and...she's a pretty good sketch artist!

Cutest Pirate I ever saw...hehehe!  I mean...ARRRRR