Photo Shoot Fail

 I know I'm handsome. At least that's what I hear every day. I'd even go as far as saying that if you looked up the word "handsome" in the dictionary, you'd see my picture. And I wouldn't be out of line to say my Mom probably took the picture.

If you've known my Mom for any amount of time, you know that she comes with a camera. It's part of her. An appendage.

So, of course, when I picked the blue vest and khakis to wear to church last week, my Mom just haaaad to have a picture. But I wasn't in the mood for a photo shoot.

Photos shoots have, well, lost their charm.

I tried to get away.

But, my parents' bed is kinda high.

As I considered the fall, I decided to reluctantly let my sister take a picture.

Can't you see here how unhappy I am. Find another GQ guinea pig, I say. Haven't we all seen handsome baby boys in blue vests before?

My persistent sister even followed me outside. I would have run away, but I can't run, yet.

They then thought they'd try the "natural" pose of sitting me on the deck rail. Yeah. 'Cause that's where 15 month babies tend to hang out during the day.

Finally, I let her get the "big picture." Of course, it didn't include my handsome face. But she left me alone after this.

Yes, life is much harder for a baby in this digital age. We can't just look good in peace. Photo-happy Mamas have to record that we looked good. Then, they have to share with the world that we look good. 

And you know, you have a part in this, too. Because as soon as you tell my Mama how cute these pictures are, well.....you're just encouraging this torturous practice.

I'm done ranting now. 

I'm gonna go see if I can look throw my ball and maybe even eat a cookie.....without hearing the click of the camera a few hundred times.

MIchele Update #1

Your kindness in praying for Michele is such a blessing. I'll be posting updates as often as I have new information.

I talked with Michele for quite a bit yesterday, and she sounds really good. She had a strong sense of peace when she checked into the hospital (YAY!!), and her first chemotherapy treatment went smoothly.

She and David spent time recounting God's many blessings and miracles throughout this trial. Is not this the work of grace in the heart that my dear cousin, after all she's been through, can sing the praises of the LORD? It's a most beautiful conversation to have with someone!

Michele has never had this specific type of chemotherapy before. Please pray specifically that God would hold back these two common complications:

~severe mouth sores
~burning sensation in hands and feet that actually results in the peeling of the skin

Her children and sister and mom will be joining her in a couple of days! How wonderful that she'll have the support of their presence.

The stem cell is scheduled for Friday. Please pray that it would be God's instrument in putting Michele back into remission.

May God richly bless you for the gift of your prayers!

"Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to heart the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
~Andrew Murray


With love,

24

Twenty-four years ago today, a bratty young woman married the man of her dreams. Little did she know that marriages aren't made of fairy tales but instead are wholly dependent on the grace of God.

Little did she know that true love does not seek its own. Instead,true love covers a multitude of sins. It's not pouty or selfish. It's others-focused.

It slays SELF daily and serves with joy. It hopes when there seems to be no hope. It gives kind words in the midst of anger. 

True love remembers its vows, in sickness or in health, in hard times and in good. True love doesn't walk away.  It says "yes" when it wants to say "no." It keeps going when it wants to quit. 

True love has staying power.

True love grows in the soil of affliction. It gets stronger roots with every offense forgiven and every mercy poured out from God. It strengthens with every thanks-giving.

True love keeps its eyes fixed on Christ and not the circumstances.

These past 24 years of married life are a magnificent display of God's mercies and His grace. Where would we be if God had given us what we deserve? 

Instead God humbled us with a deeper love for Him, a deeper love for each other, and eleven (eight here with us) precious blessings. 

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.."

Psalm 27:1

May God bless us with many more years of growing in love and His grace!

When Circumstances Seem Against Us

It's so easy to speak of God's providence when life makes sense to us. When things go as planned. When evil is recompensed and goodness is blessed.

But life doesn't normally go as we plan it. We endure hard providences that sometimes leave us questioning what's going on behind the scenes. Is Someone still directing, or are we left to ourselves?

Praise God that even though we can't always answer the "whys" behind God's plans for us, we can know at least these things....

~He's working it for our good.

~He will never leave us or forsake us.

~He's making us more like Christ.

~His ways are beyond our understanding, and that even if we knew the "why", we'd still be tempted to put His wisdom on trial.

~Our trust muscles grow and bulge under the weight of affliction.

~Every affliction is an opportunity for God to display His glory and power and provision and for us to learn to sing His praises better and better.

~He is full of compassion and mercy and grace. He is trustworthy and faithful.

~You can have a thankful heart and peace in the midst of your trial. By His grace.

~We store up Ebenezers. We tell of God's mighty deeds to our children and their children.

All we have to do is search the Scriptures to think of many things we CAN KNOW when we feel like we know nothing but heartache and disappointment.

Those of you who know my cousin, Michele, know that she has battled multiple myeloma for over eight years. You've prayed for her as she has been preparing for her fourth stem cell transplant. You prayed for her husband,David ,as he suffered from pancreatitis and was hospitalized for over four months. You prayed for me as I recently made a trip to Utah, where she's getting treatment, to help them out while they were BOTH hospitalized.

If you know of my cousin, you know I love that girl. You know she's like a sister to me.

God did amazing things on that trip, and now, after receiving the most unexpected news, we beg Him for another miracle.

Michele was just told that she is VERY high risk for this transplant. The chemotherapy has damaged her heart, and of course, she has continuing kidney issues. Doctors love statistics, of course, and Michele's been told she has a 50/50 chance of surviving this. If she does survive, she might experience many complications.

Her other option is to return home and live out the rest of her life.

They tell her that would only be a couple of months.

Michele is going through with the transplant. We already see evidences of God's amazing provision, and we're asking Him to get Michele through this procedure and put her in remission.

We're asking you to pray with us. Pray with faith, not wavering, remembering that nothing is impossible with God.

And please pray for a heart that surrenders to God's will, no matter what that might be. Pray for peace and calm and a strong sense of Christ's presence. Pray for a deep and sweet communion with the LORD. Pray for increased faith.

With tear-filled eyes that are fixed on Jesus and heavy hearts that remember His faithfulness, we thank you in advance for the sacrifice of your prayers.

"If we do not believe God when circumstances seem to be against us, we do not believe Him at all."
~C.H. Spurgeon

With love,

Will You Know Me in Heaven?

(picture of the evening sky, taken by Emma)

~For my Mama and all the other hearts that are missing someone.....

"I have heard of a good woman, who asked her husband, when she was dying, "My dear, do you think you will know me when you and I get to heaven?" "Will I know you?" he said, "why, I have always known you while I have been here, and do you think I will know less when I get to heaven?" I think it was a very good answer. If we have known one another here, we will know one another there.

I have dear departed friends up there, and it is always a sweet thought to me, that when I will put my foot, as I hope I may, into the doorway of heaven, there will come my sisters and brothers to hold me by the hand and say, "Yes, you loved one, you are here." Dear relatives that have been separated, you will meet again in heaven. One of you has lost a mother--she is gone above; and if you follow the way of Jesus, you shall meet her there.

I think I see yet another coming to meet you at the door of paradise; and though the ties of natural affection may be somewhat forgotten--I may be allowed to use a figure--how blessed would she be as she turned to God, and said, "Here I am, and the children that you have given to me." We will recognize our friends:--husbands, you will know your wife again. Mother, you will know those dear babes of yours--you noted their features when they were panting and gasping for breath as they lay dying. You know how you hung over their graves when the cold dirt was sprinkled over them, and it was said, "Earth to earth, dust to dust, and ashes to ashes."

But you will hear those loved voices again: you will hear those sweet voices once more; you will yet know that those whom you loved have been loved by God. Wouldn't it be a dreary heaven for us to inhabit, where we would all look the same and we would not know anyone or be known by any? I wouldn't care to go to such a heaven as that. I believe that heaven is a fellowship of the saints, and that we will know one another there. I have often thought I should love to see Isaiah; and, as soon as I get to heaven, I think, I would ask for him, because he spoke more of Jesus Christ than all the rest. I am sure I should want to find that good George Whitefield--he who so continually preached to the people, and wore himself out with angelic zeal. O yes! we will have some choice company in heaven when we get there."
~C.H. Spurgeon


With love,

Morning Catechism

We want our crystal balls. Christianized versions, of course.

We obsess over what God wants us to do with our lives. We'd love the plan to be set clearly before us so we never have to wonder about God's providence.

Meanwhile we ignore what He sets before us in His Word. We're enamored with receiving earth-shattering revelations, but we're bored with obedience.

Imagine, though, starting our days with two things in mind. One...Whose day it really is, and two...what we're supposed to do with it.

I teach this to my Littles, but it's a good reminder no matter how big or small you are.

Q. Who made this day?
A. God did.

Q. What does He tell us to do?
A. Rejoice and be glad in it.

How different our days are when we remind ourselves of these truths right from the beginning.

With love,

Fruitful Seasons and Settled Hearts

You could see the signs of spring outside our window as she bounded in the room.

"What season is it?" little Ella asked.
"It's spring." "
Oh, I wish it was summer."
"Well, don't wish the season away. Enjoy what God has given us right now," I encouraged her.

But wishing the seasons away is what we often do.

When we're little girls, we can't wait to be mommies.
When we're the mothers of babies, we can't wait for toddlers.
When we're single, we can't wait to be married.
And when we're in the midst of a hard providence, we just want relief.

As I consider that tomorrow marks another autumn, one of my favorite seasons, it's hard to believe summer is gone. For the past few months it's felt like the dead of winter, and it's tempting to say I "missed" having a summer at all.

But as we grow in grace, we're more mindful of His sovereign appointing of our seasons. We remember that each season has a unique purpose.

He gives us seasons of loneliness that we might learn Christ is our all.
He gives us seasons of sadness to teach us that He is our joy.
He gives us seasons of prosperity so we can learn to be generous to others.
He gives us seasons of want so we can learn to trust Him with the smallest of details.

And He gives us dark, mid-winter seasons, that we might long for deeper communion with Him.

Less of ourselves. More of Him.

I don't have summer pictures to share this year.

No children playing at the beach.
No vegetables from a garden.
No vacation souvenirs.

But I do have pictures in my mind and heart of a God, my God, who has repeatedly amazed me with His kindness and mercy. I have pictures on my heart of sweet communion with my Savior. Communion that only comes when we're weary and heartbroken and bewildered.

I have pictures of a heart that's been taught contentment and surrender.

Because only God can make things grow in the dead of winter. 

Whatever season He has you in, don't waste it by simply longing for deliverance. Pray for a settled heart that is pliable and eager to be fashioned to His will. Pray for a heart that is faithful and fruitful, no matter the season.

With love,

I Could Smell You Coming From a Mile Away and Other Home Adventures

The Mountain Men had a great weekend of shooting and throwing and sittin' around the fire. I told my Beloved that I knew they were home just by the smell. :) But they didn't return empty handed.

The spoils included a powder horn, walking stick,  tomahawk, a gun sling, pistol cleaner, knives, sheepskin, cookware, and even trinkets for the girls.

Back at the fort, we forced ourselves to have tea and scones, read together, clean, and create. I would never describe myself as creative, and yet, I'm thankful for that God-given desire to make things.

We started first with the essential childhood ingredient....play dough. Don't you love this pink bubble gum color?

Here's our favorite inedible version. 

(Because surely you've eaten the peanut butter kind. :))

2 c. flour

2 c. water

1 c. salt

2 T. veg. oil

1 T. cream of tartar

Mix together and cook over low heat. Remove from pan and knead on wax paper. This keeps for quite awhile when kept in a container.

We also indulged in our favorite scone recipe. My lovely Emma set out my grandmother's sugar bowl and creamer. I've been thinking of giving these away as I try to eliminate "stuff," but now I'm glad I haven't. They were an elegant touch to our table, and I loved my daughter's enthusiasm for using them.

We managed to fit in some laughter, too.

While many are well into their new school year, we're on break, preparing to start in October. I immersed myself in Binder Bliss and managed to get six done. Only three more to go! Little Clairesy saw the excitement of her siblings when I was done with their binders, and now she wants one, too.

Last, but definitely not least, I gave my calendar area a makeover.

This is my brain tacked to a wall.

Here's my new improved brain, and I LOVE IT! Those pockets are perfect for dry erase markers. So, I have a calendar in the upper left corner. I keep the week's recipes in the pocket to the right.  In the middle section are the directions to my house (so the children have it if they ever need to explain it to someone...) as well as phone numbers. The large pocket is for anything outgoing, such as mail or papers to give to someone.  The small pocket to the right holds the dry erase marker and two pens.  Then there are four bottom folder areas. I use one for grocery sale papers, and the other three I'm still working on.

My cousin is responsible for telling me about this genius of an idea. You can read more about it at her Thirty One page.  This wasn't cheap, but it was worth every cent, and even my sons are impressed with my new brain.

Ok, so surely one of these things qualifies me to link up with Petra's World of Work Wednesday. 

I'm tired now.

With love,

The Fusion of a Warm Heart and a Good Matter

I watch him breathe, and I'm unaffected. I see him play sports without that marked breathlessness, and I take it for granted.

Last week marked a year since our oldest son had major surgery. As we listened to the doctor's good words at the one year check-up, I was reminded of my forgetful heart.

All these things that I prayed so hard over the days leading up to the surgery have now become so normal that I easily lose the wonder of it all. Is it not true that when we're waiting on an answer to prayer, the answer seems so BIG, but too often when the answer comes, our minds slowly minimize the grandness of it all?

God poured out on us so many blessings during that time.

There were no complications or infections.
Our pastor stayed with us the entire day and visited every day thereafter.
Friends came with good words and smiles and gifts and prayers.

And Ink was such a good patient. Not complaining or demanding. He took everything like a man. A strong, brave man. I couldn't help but think that he's going to make a great husband to a very blessed bride one day.

Even more impressive to me was his complete trust in the LORD through all of this. What a difference it makes when we are taught from the earliest of our days that God is faithful and sovereign and has a purpose for every path He sets before us. It's a mistake to want to protect our children from trials because it's in the fire that their faith grows, and they learn to call Him, with even firmer conviction, "My God."

We watched Ink heal completely and break free from all medications after the surgery. We marked God's provision with a Rejoicing Feast.

But this journey isn't done. Ink still has two more years to go before the final procedure. Even in this change of plans, this waiting longer for everything to be done, I watch Ink submit, and I'm blessed.

His one year check-up was another Ebenezer to add to our growing pile. It takes us back to God's provision a year ago, and it reminds us to never grow slothful in giving thanks.

I want to be like David, when he expressed in Psalm 71, that desire to magnify the LORD more and more. Let me never settle for my current thanks-giving ability, but ask for the grace to be increasingly skilled at playing my harp with uninterrupted songs of gratitude.

"It is a sad thing with the heart is cold with a good matter, and worse when it is warm with a bad matter, but incomparably well when a warm heart and a good matter meet together. O that we may offer to God an acceptable minchah, a sweet oblation fresh from the pan of hearts warmed with gratitude and admiration."
~C. H. Spurgeon

How's your thanks-giving? Have you grown cold toward the great gift of your salvation? Have you glossed over the many answers God has given to your prayers? May God give us the grace to thank Him most fervently and continuously.

With love,