So, can I do this?

Well, here I sit for a moment after checking my e-mail, hoping that Samuel stays asleep for just a bit longer. I need to be cleaning the kitchen, putting away the mounds of laundry, eating breakfast (huh?) and getting the list ready to go grocery shopping. Nonetheless, I felt like I needed to stop for a moment and re-evaluate my days. Yesterday morning, I went to BSF and was touched by the lineage of Jesus. Yes, those first few verses in the book of Matthew where they tell you about the line of Jesus from Abraham. Well, if you notice there are five women listed, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah), and Mary. I could not remove my eyes from the testimony of the first four. Tamar-a prostitute, gentile, who fought (somewhat dishonestly) to stay in the family of God. Rahab- another prostitute, gentile, who made a declaration of the Lord in heaven based solely on the testimony of his actions. Ruth- the woman who lost her husband of ten years (John and I are getting close to that) and chose to stay with her mother-in-law because she wanted so badly to be in the family of God. Bathsheba- well we all know about her adulteress acts, but she also lost her first child, and birthed Solomon, the king who built the temple of the Lord. I mean, really, it's amazing to me that the Lord has such value for women and mothers in the kingdom of God. I am praying that through every struggle and mishap in my days, I am consistently crying out to the Father. He is made strong in my weakness. At every moment, every day, when I am weak and broken before him, he is using my weakness to sanctify me. To make me more like him. If that's what being a mother and a woman are about, then let me in. I love the ride.

Well, here's to the firsts

This week has been a collection of firsts. I love how my friend Candace looks for something valuable in every day, blogging forces us to sit back and really evaluate what we spend our time doing. Well, today we went to the IHOP community picnic. Once a year, the whole group attempts to get together at a park for lunch, games, and fellowship. It's hard in a place like this where every other activity tends to be focused on a prayer room, where you can't talk. Hmmmm. However, today was fun. John was on his way home from Kentucky where he has been teaching this weekend, and Andrew (from the basement) went with me and the boys to the gathering. It was great fun and Benjamin had his first encounter with a drum circle. We watched for a while, left to play on the playground, but when we came back by he had to stop. When given the chance, he jumped on it and drummed and danced for quite some time. I'm reminded of the heart the Lord has given Benjamin for music and I can't wait to see how that grows in his precious spirit.

Now, Samuel has not had many posts (poor second child) and for that I apologize. Though this may be old news to some of you we have mastered the art of sitting. He loves to be on the floor, preferably close to his brother, with some toys at hand and he will sit and play for quite some time. It's a great stage and he has so much fun being able to see everything. He is still fighting against sleeping, but this too shall pass. He is such a fiery little one, I know it will only be one of many things that he and I will disagree about. Nonetheless, he will speak the heart of God with passion and fire and I can't wait to see that!

Another Sunday. . .

Well, here I sit for a moment while my youngest is happily sleeping (thank the Lord) and my oldest is playing outside with one of the guys that live in out basement. I was thinking today as we all sat around and ate lunch about how much of my life growing up was spent around other college and high school students from church. I have many memories with older people, talking, laughing, playing and learning about the heart of God from them. It's amazing to see that now my own children are in about the same place. Benjamin loves to play downstairs in the basement, so much in fact that I have to restrict his time! "No honey, 7:15 in the morning is too early to go downstairs. They are all still asleep." (As are most 21-25 year old men on a Saturday) Nonetheless, any opportunity he gets he will take it and enjoy it. The Lord uses community, marriage, family, and friends to teach us about himself. I am sure that when he collected the nation of Israel together and then into tribes, it wasn't just for organizational sakes. It was to show them how to love and care for eachother through all things. There is real merit to needing "a village" to raise your kids. I guess we'll just make one for ourselves out here on the acres! By the way, this is a picture of Benjamin and our Canadian friend who loves Jesus in the night hours- Andrew Steinke!

Preschool already?

So, if I could get my wonderful world of technology to do what it is supposed to do, (it worked!) I would show you a picture of my baby, the three-year old who went to preschool this week for the first time. I realized that I was one of those silly women who stood at the door and waved longingly to her eldest child as he crossed into another threshold. After a moment, I felt quite silly and tried to evaluate my emotions. I am not one to miss the time we spend together during the days. I still have him at home all day the other three days of the week. Besides, do you know how much one can get done in 5 hours with only one child? It was very productive. However, I did realize that my sadness comes in recognizing how big my sweet baby has gotten, what he can do for himself, who he can meet, and eventually the man of God that he will become. I know, he's only three and a long way from being a man. I guess this was just one step in the process (immediately after peeing and pooping on the potty). The process that the Lord uses to change our itty bitty boys into the men that he has made them to be. Won't it be a sight? Praise the Lord-