Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Whole Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

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After dinner one evening, I put together a bag. It contained "the props" to help demonstrate the Whole Armor of God.

Elijah and Fiamma REALLY got into it. As I read scripture, we would then take the time to place on the piece of armor.

As you can see, we put on the whole armor of God.

Cowboy Tricks

Elijah has an obsession.

He love doing cowboy tricks.

He has a special rope.100_3060 He ties everything.100_3071 Everything but his sisters.

And occasionally, he gets in the way. 100_3069 "ow, mom."

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

What have we been up to

with out Tim, you might be asking? Well, here is just a glance of our fun filled days thus far. We started off with a fabulous first night of carving freaky pumpkins with James and Rebecca. Look carefully at Elijah's facial expressions....

 

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Finished result, Fiamma's is on the left and the other scary one is Elijah's.

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Monday was a marvelous day. Brenda, our dear friend, most graciously came over that morning. She swept the kiddos off their moon boots, as she always does. She then returned that evening, to woo us again with her magical powers and great reading skills.

We then had a thrilling Tuesday full of tea and truly wonderful painting with our tease-able Grandma Luella....paint paint paint!

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Can you tell who the serious kid is? Fiamma get's in a zone when she has a brush in hand..beware! She is on a mission and does it quite well. That's my girl.

As of today, Wednesday, we willfully jumped in wonderfully made piles of warm maple leaves at the train park. I have no pictures, as of now, to show for it but when we got home Elijah had a load o' fun playing in the sun...yes, in October. We had a Wednesday o' water day.

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Oh, it was fun. Look at the water gush! Shortly there after we enjoyed the company of Uncle James once more and blasted off on our hill, popped some wheelies on our bikes and raced around the circle. We had a great end to a wild and wacky Wednesday!

It's not over yet.....

It's been long enough

Mom, where's dad? Is he downstairs making a fire? Elijah asked me that this morning as we were waking up. I smiled, and had to say no. He wasn't downstairs making a fire. He's on a trip for work with Uncle Martin. It's Wednesday night and in 24 hours he will be home. Home. Our home is definitely not the same with out him. Our home isn't a home with out him. We miss him terribly. Today I was so excited because I was able to tell the kids that  "guess who comes home tomorrow? Daddy!" This has been our first encounter with a "dadless" week.

I am in no way complaining, Lord. I am praising you. Praising you for the wonderful man that you have blessed us with. A wonderful husband and father. The past 5 days have been good for us. I have always appreciated and loved him but it's made me realize how blessed and how much God truly loves us and takes care of us. It's helped me realize that community is so important. Not only a husband to commune with but when said husband is gone, family and wonderful friends step in to ease the intensity of his absence. To keep us going, to make the 5 days seem like 5 hours. Thank you Lord.

To Tim. You are more than loved. Love you like crazy.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Navale...I think it's French for naval. We will be painting it on our walls soon.

Finally, we have come to a place where we are going to be putting some effort into fixin' up "mom and dad's room". Finally. It has totally been worth the wait. I am getting so excited. AHHhh!! The color is called Navale, by Mythic paints. We went this afternoon to the Ecohaus store that they now have in Bellevue, right off of Northup Way. This time we only had one child, so we had more of a chance to look and kinda wander or meander if you will. I was really excited to be there. There are so many, better for you and everyone, alternatives out there. And what is sooo stinking crazy, is that the alternatives are no more expensive. Did you hear me. I know that is what stops people from even considering it. Some even cheaper. For example their Green Fiber insulation made from recycled paper. Cheaper than your typical fiber glass insulation, who knew? It makes me want to shout it from the roof tops. I try not too, but I think it naturally permeates from deep down with in my soul. Just do it.

environmentalhomecenter.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Who am I going to marry?

Many of you have heard the response Fiamma gives when presented with that question. Who are you going to marry Fiamma? "Daddy tell me" is her response. I am sure some of you think that is cute, but unrealistic and depending on how well you know me might not realize I am not being cute or joking. I/we are being very very serious. By the grace of God, daddy plans to never leave his baby girls. I will always be speaking into there lives and I wonder why so many are taken back by the fact I expect to be part of this decision. The best example any of us have on how to be a father is from God and he is not silent on any decision let alone whom we are to marry.

So tonight, as I was tucking Fiamma in, getting ready to pray for her I noticed she is getting so big. She is only two, but I was so aware in that moment that she is every day by the grace of God closer to getting a husband. So Fiamma and I did what we should do... we prayed for her and her husband. We prayed he would be a Godly man above reproach and that he would lead her well toward and in the Lord.

I figure at this rate if Fiamma is praying for her husband every night the first question she will ask about a boy is, is this the boy God has prepared for me? I want her, fifteen years down the road, when some idiot boy comes up to her asking her out, to load both barrels and fire. Always knowing God, a lot of times through daddy, will protect and take care of her.

So who is she going to marry? I guess ultimately God will tell her... through his word and mommy and daddy, the stewards God has given her too. May He keep her path straight.

My ladies are getting so big. There is so little time. God give me the grace to be diligent in preparing them for a life lived for your glory.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Cloth diapers.

Love them. They are a life saver. Really. I think of how much it would cost us to have the kids in diapers right now and all that comes to mind is second mortgage on the house. AHHH! Not really, but it does save so much. Granted Elijah is potty trained and Fiamma is too. She still wears em to bed but if I had Gratia in disposables all day and night,wowsers, that would have a definite impact on our bank account. I remember when I first researched cloth diapering. I had an arrogance about it all, really. That I was above it. I was beyond it all. It was inconceivable for me to even really consider it. I am glad that the birth of our Gratia made us think about some changes. The change took place after I had read a book, a book by Dr. Greene on Raising your baby green. I saw an advertisement for it in a "green" magazine called Kiwi at the Dr.'s office. Great book. I recommend it or any other like it. Hence why we bought new mattresses, and started painting with NO VOC paint. Yo Lo to be exact. Great paint. Same price. Mattresses were no more expensive either than the popular ones on the market.  If you really looked into what you slept on you might consider doing the same. So really, it came down to what do we want to expose ourselves to? Not just ourselves, but mainly the little ones that we were bringing in and up in our home. Now when we renovate a little bit here or a big bit there, we consider things like where things come from, are they locally harvested, and the fumes they will emit during application and over time. Even down to the caulk we are going to use to re-caulk our shower.  And I might add, there are tons of great uses for vinegar and baking soda. If I only knew that clorox or 409 are sooo unnecessary.

That's how we came to the decision of using cloth diapers. And a load of other choices. We consider everything now, not just the cost of something, but where did it come from, what is it made of, who made it, can I buy it second hand, is it REALLY necessary, really?!? There are tons of things that I can have, but I know now that a simpler life is a fuller life. A steward like life. I am not only trying to do what is in our best interests, but also keeping in mind that right now I have 6 eyes watching me at all times. Not just listening to what I say and how I say it, they are really good at repeating you, but also watching the importance that I put on "things" and having said "things". I want them to take away what is really important. Not necessarily cloth diapers, but taking the responsibility of being biblical stewards and applying that to every aspect of their lives as they grow and get older. It's not ours, it's God's.

I am a steward. A steward of everything in my life. My children, our family, the creation....it's all God's. I am just a steward of it for the moment.

To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Friday, October 10, 2008

truly, the most blessed mother in the world.

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Shepherd the Flock of God

1 Peter

5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, [1] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; [2] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

re-toastin' crackers

So my mother has always been very good at keeping family traditions alive and passing them on. With that said, the kids and I, on a cold and rainy day this week, practiced a tradition that my mom was taught by her Grandmother Roxie (yes that is her full name..awesome I know) We re-toasted our stale crackers AND tortilla chips. It was the most liberating, fabulous, invigorating, life changing moment I have had in the kitchen in a long time. All those times when I had chucked the wee bit of leftovers at the bottom of the bag or in the end of the cracker tray. No more my friend. No more my friend. I say re-toast those babies. Part of the reason this was spurred on was because Tim asked me if we could make it until the 14th to go grocery shopping. Like a major grocery trip. For anything other than milk and eggs kinda trip. I looked at my cupboards, they honestly looked pretty bare. I thought the chances were slim to none. I told him I will try my best. Since then, we have re-toasted crackers, made some kick butt spaghetti sauce, almond butter cookies, banana bread, and chicken stock. And our cupboards are full. Oh, and I have a spaghetti squash cooked and ready to make some spaghetti squash pancakes. I have no idea what the outcome will be, but it's what we have and what is in season, so I am trying to be as creative and yummy as possible-all at once.

Proverbs 31. Love it and trying to live it.

Monday, October 6, 2008

I'm talking to God, Dad.

No God wait, come back, I have one more thing to tell you. Mom, can I play tea party with God? No He doesn't want to play tea party. I think He wants to play blocks. No God just told me He wants to play race cars. Yea, we are going to play race cars. I was startled. Not scared. Heavens no. I was just waiting. Anxiously waiting. Waiting for the moment when he would just start chatting with God. He knows He is everywhere, because He is. He is. And I am so thankful for that. I hope God was smiling. Getting a good chuckle.

Elijah was pretty serious. They had just had a conversation at great length, about God staying and playing with Him. He was in his room just having quiet time, reading some books and Tim over heard him talking, talking loudly. Tim peaked in, and instantaneously Elijah said, Dad I am talking to God. You can go now. Tim quietly shut the door. Who wants to disturb a conversation with God? I then came up to just stand at the door so I could too witness this. Every mom wants this for their children. It's pretty amazing. Witnessing the innocence of it. So sweet and organic. Yes, I said organic. I hadn't asked him to pray. We weren't having any prior moments of chaos. He did it on his own. Knowing that He would be there to listen.

I pray that he never stops talking to God. Including Him in his every day stuff. Even the times when he plays race cars. Or blocks or a tea party.

The possibilities are endless. God is always there; listening.

Friday, October 3, 2008

My sweet boy. I pray you become a man of God.

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Days go by but then I am quickly reminded that he will continue to grow. That he won't always be 3. I am loving this stage. I am loving him. He surprises me every day with new ideas, new words that I have never heard of, new ways of reasoning, new expressions. Ways in which he needs to protect his sister. He was being disciplined for hitting his sister and I told him that his hands were made for protecting his sister. Well, he said. I need a gun if I am going to be able to protect her. That's pretty easy to figure out. Then tonight we had a guest over and he had poked him in the eye, everything is in tact no worries. He was disciplined for it. Tim told him that we are not to poke peoples eyes. He said, I obeyed, I didn't poke him in the eyes. I poked him in the eye. Really? Wow. I am so glad that it was Tim and not me. I sometimes have a hard time holding my composure. Tim is much better at it then I am. Other than his reasoning skills he has mad skills in tying his rope to everything. He ties everything. Or he hooks it to his rescue helicopter. And rescues it. There really is never a dull moment in our house. I love it. And he will continue to grow and change. Eventually he will not be 3 anymore. He'll be using ropes for different things. I don't have the capacity to exactly know what the future holds for him. What I know is this, that what I do now and how we go about that will definitely have an impact on the man he is to become.

Lord equip my hands. Help me. This is about glorifying you. It's not about me being great and a glorified momma. It's about you.

I am your vessel.

Dddadadadaaaaaaaaaa.

9 months goes by stinking quick. Gratia is now nine months old. She is a doll. She is growing by leaps and bounds. Trying to keep up with her brother and sister as always. She does this rather excited kick when she sees them. She gets so excited. She loves it when Elijah comes into her room in the mornings to greet her. I hear can her loud and clear and she is so thrilled. He sits so patiently waiting until his sisters wake up. Oh I hear Gratia mom, can I go get her? He loves being a big brother to them. But the latest for Gratia is talking. She has been saying mumm mum mumma and nighnighhnigh they may mean what they sound like, but the newest today was daddadadaa. She finally started repeating it over and over again right before bed, to her dad of course. Precious. Just precious. Her eyes radiate as though sometimes they are all you see when looking at her. She has the sweetest facial expressions. My favorite is when Tim goes in for a kiss and she sticks out her tongue over her upper lip. She often just puts her hand up in the air like she is praising Jesus or maybe just saying hi. She is really good at crinkling her nose up too. She is just a ball.

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Other than the latest facial expressions and words, she goes and is everywhere. Crawling definitely for the past couple months now but pulling herself up on everything and walking around. Stairs are a breeze, going up that is. We are still working on going down the correct way, but I have this great gate. His name is Elijah. He loves being a gate for his sis. Ok mom. I've got her. As I turn around I see him grabbing her by the ankles pulling her away. She is in stitches. Or he'll pick her up and carry her to his room. Either way it's adorable. And then I realize that God not only blesses us as parents with wonderful children but he blesses them with each other. I think the best gift I could give my kids would be more siblings. I am not opposed to it at all. It melts my heart to see them love each other. Thank you Jesus for our babes.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.