Talk to Me

Those first moments and first conversations with Grandma...

God's Been Painting

"God's been painting."

~Elisabeth, 5, when she saw tonight's sunset

Sweet Rolls

Barring the Dark Gate of Ingratitude

"Ungratefulness can become a heart-hardening habit. First comes complaining, then bitterness, anger, then feeling victimized or entitled to things we're just not getting. Covetousness. That mindset stealthily lifts the latch and eases open the dark gate to all kinds of sin." 

~Ellen Vaughn

It's sobering to have God show you how quickly your heart will lift that latch on the dark gate of ingratitude. And when you open it, you might as well say, "C'mon in anger and covetousness. You join us, too. Let's visit for awhile."

One can be a list-maker while far from being a praise-giver. There are those days when you know there's much to be thankful for, but your heart just isn't in it. You see His mercies right before your eyes, but you still cling to thoughts of what isn't. Prayer and repentance, a bold begging of the Lord, are sure ways to warm a freezing, ungrateful heart. You're quickly reminded the joy in the thanks-giving, the desire to cry out to Him, the repentance, they're all of grace. His Spirit at work in you. What a mercy!

Thanks be to God for:

1) News that my Mom might be able to visit in April, oxygen tank and all.
I dream of the moment she'll hold Elijah.
2) A furnace that keeps us warm.
3) Just enough to meet our needs.
4) God's longsuffering nature...how quickly I'd be undone if I got what I deserved.
5) Children who keep me laughing.

6) A camera with which to capture those delightful moments of the everyday.

 Clairesy, who often laughs spontaneously and uncontrollably at dinner. We can't help but follow suit.

 This look in Elijah's eyes...the one that says, "I have everyone in this house completely wrapped around my sweet baby fingers."

 Precious Ella and her LOVE for reading aloud

 My little man Jedediah, who playfully lets me know he's not interested in indulging my Mamarazzi tendencies.

Remembering that life is short and that the time to get pictures with my children is always now.

 Jedediah's little hands holding Elijah's tiny ones.

 This grin and the dimples, too. The way those eyes light up when he sees me, the way his heart beats faster when he hears my voice.

 Sons who are so manly and yet so tender with the little ones.

 Luke's delight in making his Daddy breakfast.

 The assembly line method used to get the pantry organized quickly...or not. It doesn't matter. They had fun and worked cheerfully! Great idea, Emma!

"Gratitude, however, isn’t the fruit of happiness, but its root. When we give thanks, when we look at the world and our place in it realistically, remembering what we are due in ourselves, what we have, and all that we have been promised in Christ, we are astonished, overwhelmed.  And therefore overjoyed."
~R.C. Sproul, Jr.

With love,
Trisha

The Dense Wife and Mother

A dense wife destroys a situation by the very measures she takes to save it, denying her deepest needs by giving in to her destructive wants. Examples:

~A wife and mother needs a happily thriving home; but may want a career at any cost.

~A wife needs a husband who will be a man, who will lead--not just because she has to obey "another stupid Bible-thingie," but because she really needs it by created design; but she may want to control her husband, to force him to do things her way, no matter what it takes.

~A wife needs to be faithful to her marital covenant and work out her relationship with her husband; but she may want this other man, and thinks that he will meet her needs better than her husband is doing.

~A wife needs to use her tongue to help her husband, to convey God's Word, and not to destroy; but she may want to let her tongue loose cruelly, even though it may tear down her house.

In summary, then, how does she destroy her "house"? She can destroy her husband by betraying him, by degrading and shaming him, by defying him, by withholding her best from him, by unnerving him, by unmanning him, by picking at him until he loses his will to try, until he wants to be anywhere else in the world but with her.

She can destroy her children by neglecting their care in favor of a career, or by indulging and spoiling them (Prov. 29:15--"The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a lad let loose shames his mother" DJP), or by neglecting to teach them the Word by lesson and example.

In these active and passive ways, a dense woman can tear down her house with her own hands.

~Dan Phillips
God's Wisdom in Proverbs, p. 228

Chinny-chin-chins

Every baby needs a place to put his double chins.

Same Shoes, Different Fit

So I've decided to wear my blogging shoes again. The fit is a bit different this time, though.

There's not the discomfort that comes with having unrealistic expectations of posting a certain amount of time each week, even though I always had something to say. :)

As I can. When I can.

It was right and good to step away. It's what I was supposed to do at the time...stop completely, not just a bit. And in doing so, many things became clearer, and now, I can post here with a freedom that, in previous days, had started to slip away.

Much love,
Trisha


P.S. Here's Elijah now.

Because It's Time to Hang Up My Blogging Shoes

It's time to say "good-bye," my friends. I've been posting here four years, and it's been wonderful. I have a collection of memories saved in this spot that will bring me and my family joy for years to come. And I have made so many precious friends along the way.

I know we all want to know the "why" behind someone's decision to stop blogging,   but my "why" doesn't come in a tidy package that I can offer up here. I'm not tired of blogging, and there's a bit of sadness in walking away from this little place. Still, I need to obey, knowing my heart will eventually follow.

Thank you for reading and commenting and being a great source of
encouragement to me. Thank you for loving my family in word and deed. Thank you for your prayers!

Each of you has been a blessing beyond words, and I am truly grateful. I look forward to staying connected through e-mail or Facebook (at BenandTrisha Poff) or your blogs. (And snail mail is still a wonderful thing!)

Much love and many hugs,
Trisha

Delight-full