New Pictures

I just loaded a bunch of new pictures on facebook from the last few weeks! Click here to see them. Here's a preview...it's my favorite! I think it's the cutest one I have of Gabriel so far!

My Easter Sunday

Here we are this afternoon...














I hope you had a very blessed Easter!

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sin; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 NIV

What I learned last night...

Last night I was a sub in the boys Truth and Training class during AWANA. The age group for this class is 3rd through 6th grade.

I learned something important.

I do not like boys in 3rd through 6th grade.

Lord, help me when Caleb is this age.

A year ago today...

April 8th was on a Tuesday last year. I was all excited about traveling to Dayton, OH with my mom so I could watch the WGI Championships with her. It was my sister's last year with the Missouri State winterguard before her age-out, so I just knew it would be a great experience to share with her.

But...I wasn't feeling that great on Monday. And to be blunt...I knew I had missed my period. I thought to myself, "Really, God? Now? Could it be?"

It was.

I took a home pregnancy test, and it came back positive. So on April 8th, I found out we would be having baby number 3! I wish I could say I was excited, but honestly, I was just dumbfounded. I remember crying. We had finally gotten all our finances in order after being introduced to Dave Ramsey. We were cutting back. We were paying off debt. We were on our way to financial peace! :o) Would another child veer us off track? And I feel a bit guilty saying it, but I had actually come to a place where I was very content with two kids. It took me this long to FINALLY adjust to being a stay-at-home mom. I finally had my act in order. My heart felt like it was maxed out in the "love for children" department.

But you know what...God knows what He's doing.

I fell in love with this baby boy when I first saw him. We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl. We kept the name a secret. I was so excited when I first got to call him Gabriel! I remember Dr. Cunningham asking me, "So, what's his name?" and I got to say it out loud to someone other than Josh for the first time!

And while there are still days when I think, "Wow, having two was sure easy!" Josh reminded me that I probably wouldn't know that if I still just had two! :o)

So I'm remembering this day. A day when I was worried about the future, but God has shown me so much about His timing through it all.

And I am blessed.

"Behold, children are a gift from the LORD..." Psalm 127:3

Oh...and by the way...the rest of the story about my trip to Dayton: I was sick and miserable the entire time, and tried to just play it off as some bug I must have had. I didn't want to take away from my sister's big week, so I just tried my best to pretend like I was ok and didn't reveal what I had just found out! We went to Starbucks several times on that trip, and I still can't smell coffee now without feeling a bit ill as I remember how I felt back then! ;o)

Rethinking the Rod

A few years ago, I read an article that truly made me rethink an age-old theory about sparing the rod. You can read it by clicking here.

The timing couldn't have been better when I found it. I had been battling the idea for a while, especially when there was a time when I spanked Caleb out of anger when he was about two. I began to think, if in Psalm 23 it says, "Thy rod and thy staff, they COMFORT me" how did the idea of the rod become hit = discipline?

The author of the article explains it much better than me! Take a moment to read it. :o)

**I am not saying that we have NEVER spanked Caleb since reading this article. Josh and I often discuss what a spankable offense is or would be. But I am not one who would see an unruly child who consistently is disobediant and think, "Boy, he needs a good spanking!" like I've heard people say. How would one good spanking fix a lifetime of inconsistent discipline? Anyway, just thought I'd post that article. I found it to be helpful.

Important Day

Josh always helps me get the kids ready for church on Sunday mornings. I was sitting in our recliner, nursing Gabriel, and I could hear the water going down the drain as he finished the baths for Caleb and Sarah.

As he was drying off Caleb, I could hear him say, "Caleb, today is a very important day!" I smiled. I was so delighted that my husband would know what the day was and explain to Caleb the significance of Palm Sunday to us as followers of Christ! I listened with anticipation as Josh would talk to Caleb about this.

Then I heard...

"It's opening day of baseball season!"

I just rolled my eyes...then I laughed. Josh heard me as I chuckled, and he asked me why I thought it was funny. I told him what I expected him to say, and then he had a good laugh, too.

It's made for a good story to share with friends! :o)

What a blessing...

When we first arrived at the Ladies Retreat, I noticed that many of the girls had already signed in. I think I was number 25 or so, and not everyone had gotten there yet! So...that means there were going to be far more in attendance than I originally thought (or mentally prepared for)! I remember looking at the list at the end of the night...there were 40 women!

I put on a name tag and headed downstairs with the two girls I rode with. We all picked up our little goody bags and found a place to sit. And before it all got underway, Kathy took a quick snap shot of me and my dear friend, Sarah H.













I was the third one to share her testimony that night. Many tears were shed while listening to the first two girls speak! They told us of very trying times, giving examples of answered prayer. When I stood up to start talking, Jeanette asked Sarah H to pray for me (she always had someone pray before each lady spoke). I was immediately humbled as Sarah could barely speak. Through her tears, she asked for God to give me the words to say, and thanked Him for me. What a sweet friend I have!

I shared how God had answered my prayers, giving examples of "yes," "no," "wait," and "My grace is sufficient." One of those that stands out so clearly is when my greatest heart's desire was to move back to Owensville. I wanted more than anything to live in my home town again. Josh was getting ready to graduate from SBU in the spring of 2003, but he had to pass his Praxis exam before SBU would let him student teach. We knew that there was a math opening at Owensville, so I was VERY excited that this would perhaps give us the chance to move back home! But...as we listened to the score over the phone, I heard in an automated voice: "Your score is 135, a 136 is needed to pass." I was devistated. This was how God said, "No." I didn't understand why. But now, looking back, I am so thankful for the road He led us down. I would not know any of the dear, wonderful people I know now here in St. James!

Since the retreat was about prayer, Jeanette also asked us to share current prayer needs in our lives. I cannot tell you how much it means to know a group of 40 women are praying just for me! I've had a few ladies since Friday night speak with me either at church or via email and say they understand where I'm at in my life (since I'm a young mother with young children and these women are ones with children already grown). They are so encouraging.

The one thing that happened, though, that had nothing to do with me speaking about myself happened before my testimony. If you've been reading my blog, you know I've talked about the gift of discernment. I'm often asking God about it! :o) When the lady before me shared her testimony, she spoke of a lifelong battle with depression. She said she could easily put on a mask, and often could hide from church because of the position her husband has (he goes from church to church...so if she's not in our service, we just assume she's somewhere else). I could just feel my mouth drop as she told of her struggle...but not because I was shocked...

A year ago I was in a small Bible study with her. Each time we met, I just felt God telling me to pray for her. I felt overwhelmingly that she was struggling, but all I knew about her was who's wife she was! Surely someone like her has it all together! But she didn't...and hearing her share this was a way for God to reaffirm to me a gift I'm still trying to understand.

The Ladies Retreat was a huge blessing! I love these girls! :o) Looking forward to next year!

P.S. Thank you, Sarah C, for encouraging me earlier in the day on Friday when I really needed it.

I'll be speaking tonight...

Today has finally arrived...the day when I will be giving my testimony at the ladies' retreat. I will be speaking to approximately 20-25 women from my church, all of which I've gotten to know in some way or another over the two years I've been involved at FBC.

I'm not really nervous...maybe I will be when I get there! I started by writing out what God had done for me from salvation (age 6) through my senior year of high school. When I read it, it all sounds fine. I just haven't continued through my college years, getting married, having kids, etc. I just stopped writing altogether, reconsidering if I should write it word for word. Would speaking from memory (what I recall as it comes to mind) be better, or would I forget something?

And...at first...being told to speak for 20 minutes seemed like a lot. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that trying to fit everything God has done for me, all 29 of my years into 20 minutes...I'm not sure anyone could really fit a life of blessings into 20 minutes? :o) So I'm picking out the highlights, the parts that were so very evident of His presence. I'm also including the scriptures that have carried me through. The ones that have given direction and given encouragement.

While my blog verse is 1 Peter 5:7 (which has become what I call my "mommy verse") my life verse since I was about 18 has been Psalm 62:1&2...

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Praying that God will be glorified tonight.

Everywhere I Go

Ever since we've had Noggin again, the kids have found new favorite shows. But my favorite part about Noggin is that there are no commercials, and the little tidbits between shows are songs or educational clips. I also love Moose A. Moose. I really do! And we all love to hear him sing Everywhere I Go. When it comes on, the kids will start exclaiming, "MOMMY, IT'S OUR SONG!" So...here it is...



I always smile when the kids get excited...it's so great that we have a song that's ours! :o)

Mommies just don't notice...

Last night, our family went grocery shopping for a few days worth of food to hold us over until payday. We piled up items in one cart, Caleb walked along side of me, and Sarah and Gabriel rode in another cart that was pushed through the aisles by daddy! This has become sort of the norm for our family. While it would be easier for me to go on my own, I really don't mind the extra effort of us all going!

As we were checking out, the lady behind the counter noticed Gabriel in his seat. "He's so cute. How old is he? Oh, I have a grandchild that same age." You know...just polite small talk. And then she asked...

Is that a birth mark?

I wasn't really paying attention because I was loading up the groceries in the cart, but I could hear Josh respond, "Well, sort of...the doctor said it would probably go away." Then I realized what she had asked.

What's interesting to me, is that I don't even notice the discoloration on Gabriel. It is only when someone else points it out or sometimes when I look through pictures that I can tell it's a little red between his eyebrows. I even called my sister last night asking her if it's something she's noticed. "Well, yes...sometimes I think it comes and goes."














I always wondered how I would react if I had a child with something "cosmetically" wrong. While I realize Gabriel's "birthmark" is quite minor, I also realize that mommies just don't notice this sort of thing. We love our children unconditionally. What I see is his adorable smiles. I hear his sweet giggles. I feel his soft skin. He has brought me so much joy. He has given our family a new dynamic. A birthmark certainly isn't going to change any of that.

Thank you, Gabriel, for being such a blessing in my life.

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:27&28