...and I didn't get around to writing and posting a Das Not Funny! Friday for you all. Luke and I just spent the last 6 hours packing for a week long trip to Arkansas for Christmas. We leave bright and early in the morning (I'm writing this on Thursday night, you see. Actually, it's a little past midnight so it is technically Friday, but I'm gonna be all sneaky like and pick 8:30am as the publish time. Oh, I'm just so tech savvy).
Thankfully, our great friends will be taking care of our firstborn doghter and our home while we are away (that's for all you burglars, thieves and schemers planning on robbing us! Our house is protected! Protected by the Lawd! Away from us you evildoers!).
(Was that too much? Oh well, moderation was never my strong point.)
So, by the time you read this we will (hopefully) be a few hours down the road. Blissfully on our way with a van load of quiet kids who are happily entertained by gadgets and coloring books and movies.
Okay, so maybe we will just be on our way.
Either way, happy Friday. See you on the flip side.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Honk if you're delirious
Whew! With all the heavy emotion around here associated with those last two posts I feel the need to write something light and airy.
Not to discount the importance or the reality of the last two posts (and if you haven't seen my update on "L" please click here) but I'm one of those people who begins laughing at funerals because too much sadness makes me so uncomfortable that I can't control myself.
I'm serious. At my step-mom's funeral back in June I almost burst out laughing during the service. Not because I think death is funny but because I think God made my brain too small to process the emotions involved with death and eternity and so I go to what I'm comfortable with...stupidity.
Sad, but true.
Anyway, I had to tell you guys about my day yesterday because it is too hysterical not to share and besides if anyone who lives in my Mom's neighborhood actually reads this blog, it might explain my behavior yesterday around 2:00pm.
You see, a couple months ago our fabulous babysitter Amanda (that's a different Amanda than my BFF. Not that babysitter Amanda couldn't be my BFF it's just that she's not the same person and I didn't want to confuse you.) got in a tiny accident (that was totally not her fault) in our Big Red Beast. Basically, it broke the passenger side mirror and we've been waiting and waiting and stalling to get it fixed.
So yesterday Big Red was in the shop. Since I had a check up OB appointment yesterday as well (where I BARELY passed my 1 hour glucose test...thankyouJesus) I borrowed my parents' truck for the day while awesome babysitter Amanda kept the kids at the house. I'd been driving my parents' truck all over town without one hint of a problem (and apparently without making many left turns).
In fact, it wasn't until I started thinking about how well their truck was driving for having over 213,000 miles on it did the hilarity begin.
I turn off the interstate to head toward their neighborhood when suddenly someone pulls up very closely behind me and begins LAYING on the horn. REALLY honking I'm telling you, without letting up. I check the mirrors only to find that there is NO ONE around me.
I turn down the radio and realize that it is the sound of my own horn I'm hearing pulsing in my ears. Confused, I press on the center of the steering wheel. No dice. HORN STILL A BLAZIN' I tell ya.
I drive another mile or so with the horn never ceasing. Then, I make a right hand turn into my parents' neighborhood. The horn stops.
At this point, I start to chuckle. "Wow. That was funny." I think to myself.
I turn left onto another street.
On goes the horn. Honking without even a hint of a pause.
I smack the horn with my hand and it jolts off for about .0001 second then begins again.
I turn left onto my parents' street.
It continues as I drive all the way down my parents' street and as I turn into their driveway. Horn is STILL honking a single LONG honk. Uncontrollably.
Unable to contain my laughter I burst and my bladder threatens to do the same. I slam on the steering wheel and the horn stops.
I open the truck door to climb out and the horn starts.
I hit the wheel again and the horn stops.
I continue climbing out of the car and the horn starts again. At this point I'm certain that I'm going to pee my pants to I whack the wheel one last time and the horn shuts off. I do the pee-pee dance into my parents' house certain that I will hear the horn the entire time I'm inside.
I go back outside to wait on my Mom who is meeting me there in the next few minutes. I crank up the truck again and the horn begins to wail once more.
I smack the steering wheels and off it goes. Only to blare again a moment or two later.
This continues for the next 5 minutes.
As my Mom climbs into the truck and we drive to retrieve the Big Red Beast I recant to her the last 20 minutes of my life. We both laugh hysterically and the truck remains silent.
Apparently, my step-dad dropped a quarter down into the steering column a while back. When it bumps the wires, the horn honks uncontrollably.
For me, it happened every. single. time I made a left hand turn.
Imagine me, driving into my parents' neighborhood with the horn honking full blast and me inside, laughing uncontrollably and beating the steering wheel like nobody's business.
Yeah, I'm laughing now too. Or at least I hope you are 'cause I don't care who you are, that's funny.
Not to discount the importance or the reality of the last two posts (and if you haven't seen my update on "L" please click here) but I'm one of those people who begins laughing at funerals because too much sadness makes me so uncomfortable that I can't control myself.
I'm serious. At my step-mom's funeral back in June I almost burst out laughing during the service. Not because I think death is funny but because I think God made my brain too small to process the emotions involved with death and eternity and so I go to what I'm comfortable with...stupidity.
Sad, but true.
Anyway, I had to tell you guys about my day yesterday because it is too hysterical not to share and besides if anyone who lives in my Mom's neighborhood actually reads this blog, it might explain my behavior yesterday around 2:00pm.
You see, a couple months ago our fabulous babysitter Amanda (that's a different Amanda than my BFF. Not that babysitter Amanda couldn't be my BFF it's just that she's not the same person and I didn't want to confuse you.) got in a tiny accident (that was totally not her fault) in our Big Red Beast. Basically, it broke the passenger side mirror and we've been waiting and waiting and stalling to get it fixed.
So yesterday Big Red was in the shop. Since I had a check up OB appointment yesterday as well (where I BARELY passed my 1 hour glucose test...thankyouJesus) I borrowed my parents' truck for the day while awesome babysitter Amanda kept the kids at the house. I'd been driving my parents' truck all over town without one hint of a problem (and apparently without making many left turns).
In fact, it wasn't until I started thinking about how well their truck was driving for having over 213,000 miles on it did the hilarity begin.
I turn off the interstate to head toward their neighborhood when suddenly someone pulls up very closely behind me and begins LAYING on the horn. REALLY honking I'm telling you, without letting up. I check the mirrors only to find that there is NO ONE around me.
I turn down the radio and realize that it is the sound of my own horn I'm hearing pulsing in my ears. Confused, I press on the center of the steering wheel. No dice. HORN STILL A BLAZIN' I tell ya.
I drive another mile or so with the horn never ceasing. Then, I make a right hand turn into my parents' neighborhood. The horn stops.
At this point, I start to chuckle. "Wow. That was funny." I think to myself.
I turn left onto another street.
On goes the horn. Honking without even a hint of a pause.
I smack the horn with my hand and it jolts off for about .0001 second then begins again.
I turn left onto my parents' street.
It continues as I drive all the way down my parents' street and as I turn into their driveway. Horn is STILL honking a single LONG honk. Uncontrollably.
Unable to contain my laughter I burst and my bladder threatens to do the same. I slam on the steering wheel and the horn stops.
I open the truck door to climb out and the horn starts.
I hit the wheel again and the horn stops.
I continue climbing out of the car and the horn starts again. At this point I'm certain that I'm going to pee my pants to I whack the wheel one last time and the horn shuts off. I do the pee-pee dance into my parents' house certain that I will hear the horn the entire time I'm inside.
I go back outside to wait on my Mom who is meeting me there in the next few minutes. I crank up the truck again and the horn begins to wail once more.
I smack the steering wheels and off it goes. Only to blare again a moment or two later.
This continues for the next 5 minutes.
As my Mom climbs into the truck and we drive to retrieve the Big Red Beast I recant to her the last 20 minutes of my life. We both laugh hysterically and the truck remains silent.
Apparently, my step-dad dropped a quarter down into the steering column a while back. When it bumps the wires, the horn honks uncontrollably.
For me, it happened every. single. time I made a left hand turn.
Imagine me, driving into my parents' neighborhood with the horn honking full blast and me inside, laughing uncontrollably and beating the steering wheel like nobody's business.
Yeah, I'm laughing now too. Or at least I hope you are 'cause I don't care who you are, that's funny.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Heavy Heart: UPDATE
**Update**
I didn't feel it was my place before to post more information than necessary about "L." Since then, my BFF Amanda has posted about it on her blog. She is the "very, very close friend" I referenced in my original post. Please visit Amanda's blog to see how you can specifically pray for "L."
Thanks prayer warriors. I am so encouraged by your willingness to pray for someone you may never know this side of heaven.
Original post:
Despite the light and airy post below, (which I actually wrote on Saturday and scheduled to post today) I have a heavy heart today. This post will be full of vague details but I ask, that if you feel led, please offer up prayers anyway. God knows who you are praying for and what it is that she needs. And, since I just recently did this post on prayer, I figured it's time to put into practice what I know to be true. God hears our prayers and loves us immensely. He desires to comfort us and give us peace that surpasses our understanding.
A very, very close friend called me on Saturday night with some heartbreaking news. There is a young woman, who I will call "L" who is about 4 months pregnant. On Saturday she tragically and unexpectedly lost her husband. L and her husband have only been married a short time.
Now, L is faced with raising a baby who will never know his or her father, a Christmas without her husband and, most importantly, a tragedy she may never understand.
Again, I know these details are vague and often it is hard to know how to pray for someone you know nothing about. Still, I beg you to please be in prayer for this young woman, her family and the family of her husband.
Thanks friends.
I didn't feel it was my place before to post more information than necessary about "L." Since then, my BFF Amanda has posted about it on her blog. She is the "very, very close friend" I referenced in my original post. Please visit Amanda's blog to see how you can specifically pray for "L."
Thanks prayer warriors. I am so encouraged by your willingness to pray for someone you may never know this side of heaven.
Original post:
Despite the light and airy post below, (which I actually wrote on Saturday and scheduled to post today) I have a heavy heart today. This post will be full of vague details but I ask, that if you feel led, please offer up prayers anyway. God knows who you are praying for and what it is that she needs. And, since I just recently did this post on prayer, I figured it's time to put into practice what I know to be true. God hears our prayers and loves us immensely. He desires to comfort us and give us peace that surpasses our understanding.
A very, very close friend called me on Saturday night with some heartbreaking news. There is a young woman, who I will call "L" who is about 4 months pregnant. On Saturday she tragically and unexpectedly lost her husband. L and her husband have only been married a short time.
Now, L is faced with raising a baby who will never know his or her father, a Christmas without her husband and, most importantly, a tragedy she may never understand.
Again, I know these details are vague and often it is hard to know how to pray for someone you know nothing about. Still, I beg you to please be in prayer for this young woman, her family and the family of her husband.
Thanks friends.
That girl, this woman
First of all, thanks for all the comments, emails, texts and prayers you offered up on "L's" behalf. I do not know her personally, but through a very close friend. I know that your prayers have not gone unheard. I appreciate it so much more than y'all know. Once more, you guys have blessed me.
It's 11:27pm as I sit here and write this. Baby #6 is doing somersaults in my belly and I have pulled my shirt up to watch my stretch-marked skin roll and jump. Although I never show off my belly to anyone other than my husband and I often look at it with disgust and disdain, tonight I am loving watching this Baby move.
And, it's made me wonder...
I am so quick to hate this body of mine. I hate these stretch marks more than just about anything. I joke around and say that I look like a cat has sharpened his claws all over the front of my body. Seriously, from my boobs to my mid-thigh I have stretch marks and scars from the three children I've carried in my womb.
And what about this extra weight I'm carrying? I mean, I played volleyball on scholarship in college. I was a student-athlete. I'm not claiming to have been the world's best volleyball player and I was certainly not good enough to venture into a Division 1 gym and hold my own. But still, I was decent and I had a pretty good body back in the day.
I worked out for about 3 hours a day, how could I not have been in great shape?
And now, motherhood has moved in and taken up residence in place of the girl I once knew. I weigh a good 40 lbs more than I did in college (that's pre-pregnancy people). My face is beginning to show signs that I'm no longer a 20-something. I can't remember the last time I put on a pair of jeans and thought..."dang, I look good."
I've never been one to care much about wearing make up but now I look at myself and think, "maybe just a touch of something so I don't look quite so bad."
And I wonder...
What is the alternative? What's the opposite side of this coin? Because of what I'm evolving into, does that mean I desire my life to be something else? Am I less than what I could have been because I've succumbed to the life of "just a Mom?"
What could I have been like or what could I have done if I had remained the girl I once was?
Sure, I love being with my kids. I love watching Elizabeth get up from her spelling, walk across the room, hug Baby Girl and then come back to her writing tablet as if it's completely normal for a 5.5 year old to love a 14 month old that much. And I love that Baby Girl follows her back to the table just so she can play on the floor near her oldest sister.
I love to hear Lucas and Ashlee have an in-depth conversation on whether a pig could actually bite a person. I love the looks on their faces when I affirm that a pig can, in fact, bite a person. And, just yesterday, I loved the debate that ensued as they discussed whether or not a pig could ever eat a person and how many bites it might take.
I love watching Aaron dance to any music that he hears. Be it the hum of his siblings, the start up jingle on the computer or that stupid dog that someonewhoshallremainnameless got us that never shuts up and squeals "Hug me AGAIN!" just when I think he has lost interest.
I love it all.
But I look at myself in the mirror and I wonder where the Me is that used to live behind this face. I wonder what happened to the girl who loved riding down the road, wind in her hair, belting out her favorite song. I wonder what happened to the girl with awesome weekend plans involving new and exciting adventures. I wonder what happened to the Me who had few responsibilities and hardly any cares. I wonder where the Me went that could pick up and go and live on little plans and not worry about what we were eating for dinner tonight.
And somehow, I think that girl is still alive somewhere within me. But, she's grown up quite a bit. She's traded wind in her hair and her favorite song for a passenger van's air conditioning on her face and her favorite kids in the back seat(s) singing the same song for the 18th time.
That girl has traded weekend adventures for backyard fun, soccer games at 9am and morning cartoons, cuddled with her favorite people.
That girl has gained responsibilities a many but blessings that abound. She's traded ever-ready for ready-whenever-I-finish-changing-this-diaper.
And you know what? I think if I had shown that girl the life that this woman now has, she would have been blown away. She would have looked at it and laughed wondering how in the heck this life could even compare to that one.
That girl would wonder how this woman could possibly love diapers and dishwashers and Dora. That girl would dread the days that this woman looks forward to.
That girl would always wonder if this was her last day of freedom while this woman knows that real freedom is in what she already has.
And I realize that God doesn't give us glimpses into our far reaching futures for a reason. Because sometimes, the blessings He has in store for this girl might just scare her out of becoming that woman she never even knew she wanted to be.
It's 11:27pm as I sit here and write this. Baby #6 is doing somersaults in my belly and I have pulled my shirt up to watch my stretch-marked skin roll and jump. Although I never show off my belly to anyone other than my husband and I often look at it with disgust and disdain, tonight I am loving watching this Baby move.
And, it's made me wonder...
I am so quick to hate this body of mine. I hate these stretch marks more than just about anything. I joke around and say that I look like a cat has sharpened his claws all over the front of my body. Seriously, from my boobs to my mid-thigh I have stretch marks and scars from the three children I've carried in my womb.
And what about this extra weight I'm carrying? I mean, I played volleyball on scholarship in college. I was a student-athlete. I'm not claiming to have been the world's best volleyball player and I was certainly not good enough to venture into a Division 1 gym and hold my own. But still, I was decent and I had a pretty good body back in the day.
I worked out for about 3 hours a day, how could I not have been in great shape?
And now, motherhood has moved in and taken up residence in place of the girl I once knew. I weigh a good 40 lbs more than I did in college (that's pre-pregnancy people). My face is beginning to show signs that I'm no longer a 20-something. I can't remember the last time I put on a pair of jeans and thought..."dang, I look good."
I've never been one to care much about wearing make up but now I look at myself and think, "maybe just a touch of something so I don't look quite so bad."
And I wonder...
What is the alternative? What's the opposite side of this coin? Because of what I'm evolving into, does that mean I desire my life to be something else? Am I less than what I could have been because I've succumbed to the life of "just a Mom?"
What could I have been like or what could I have done if I had remained the girl I once was?
Sure, I love being with my kids. I love watching Elizabeth get up from her spelling, walk across the room, hug Baby Girl and then come back to her writing tablet as if it's completely normal for a 5.5 year old to love a 14 month old that much. And I love that Baby Girl follows her back to the table just so she can play on the floor near her oldest sister.
I love to hear Lucas and Ashlee have an in-depth conversation on whether a pig could actually bite a person. I love the looks on their faces when I affirm that a pig can, in fact, bite a person. And, just yesterday, I loved the debate that ensued as they discussed whether or not a pig could ever eat a person and how many bites it might take.
I love watching Aaron dance to any music that he hears. Be it the hum of his siblings, the start up jingle on the computer or that stupid dog that someonewhoshallremainnameless got us that never shuts up and squeals "Hug me AGAIN!" just when I think he has lost interest.
I love it all.
But I look at myself in the mirror and I wonder where the Me is that used to live behind this face. I wonder what happened to the girl who loved riding down the road, wind in her hair, belting out her favorite song. I wonder what happened to the girl with awesome weekend plans involving new and exciting adventures. I wonder what happened to the Me who had few responsibilities and hardly any cares. I wonder where the Me went that could pick up and go and live on little plans and not worry about what we were eating for dinner tonight.
And somehow, I think that girl is still alive somewhere within me. But, she's grown up quite a bit. She's traded wind in her hair and her favorite song for a passenger van's air conditioning on her face and her favorite kids in the back seat(s) singing the same song for the 18th time.
That girl has traded weekend adventures for backyard fun, soccer games at 9am and morning cartoons, cuddled with her favorite people.
That girl has gained responsibilities a many but blessings that abound. She's traded ever-ready for ready-whenever-I-finish-changing-this-diaper.
And you know what? I think if I had shown that girl the life that this woman now has, she would have been blown away. She would have looked at it and laughed wondering how in the heck this life could even compare to that one.
That girl would wonder how this woman could possibly love diapers and dishwashers and Dora. That girl would dread the days that this woman looks forward to.
That girl would always wonder if this was her last day of freedom while this woman knows that real freedom is in what she already has.
And I realize that God doesn't give us glimpses into our far reaching futures for a reason. Because sometimes, the blessings He has in store for this girl might just scare her out of becoming that woman she never even knew she wanted to be.
Monday, December 14, 2009
To get you in the Christmas spirit...
...how about a couple Beaver family music videos? First up, for my southern fray-unds, some kuntry music....
Of course, for all you Hip Hop fans out there I offer the following, because my man knows how to shake his groove thang.
May your days be merry and bright. Merry Christmas!
(If you just followed that aforementioned link, be sure to just fast forward the video to end. Luke may be slightly upset at me linking to it, but I figured all of creation has seen it by now anyway, so thereyougo.)
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Of course, for all you Hip Hop fans out there I offer the following, because my man knows how to shake his groove thang.
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
May your days be merry and bright. Merry Christmas!
(If you just followed that aforementioned link, be sure to just fast forward the video to end. Luke may be slightly upset at me linking to it, but I figured all of creation has seen it by now anyway, so thereyougo.)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Das Not Funny! Friday: The one where I use big, BOLD letters. Frequently.
As I write this post, my sweet Baby #6 is flip-flopping in my stomach, causing my tummy to shift and become lumpy. I seriously love this time of pregnancy. Did you know that I'm less than 3 months away from my due date? Holy moly. I can't even begin to think that after Christmas is here and gone (which will happen in the blink of an eye) we'll be two months away. WOWZERS.
At any rate, it's Friday again. So, that means it's time for Das Not Funny! Friday. Are you ready? I sure hope so.
Last night we were sitting around the dinner table and each of the big kids was telling about an adventure they had been on. An imagination adventure anyway. The girls' stories were pretty funny with Ashlee encountering a "crotchadile" and Elizabeth getting followed by a BIG, stinky bear that ended up being friendly. But Lucas' story...well.....
"I was walkin' fru da woods and all da sudden I heared somefin'. It was a BIG, HUE, GIANT......Rookster!"
I asked him he was planning on making his big, hue, giant rookster into fries. He looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
-------
Sometimes I wish I could just capture in my mind the looks on Ashlee's face when she's trying to be funny. Earlier this week was one of those times. We were singing a song the kids learned at Community Bible Study. It talks about obeying God and goes something like....
"Obey, obey, obey.
Obey, obey, obey.
Obey, obey, obey.
Obey God."
At the end, Ashlee added her own stroke of....um, er.....talent and screeches at the top of her lungs,
"OOOOOOOObbbbbbeeeeeey GAWD!"
All the while pointing to the ceiling with one, scrawny index finger and rolling her eyes back in her head.
Maybe you had to be there. I'm sure my story would be better if I had a photo of my darling drama queen screeching like a spider monkey. But I don't. So just imagine.
--------
My Mom and Grandma took Lucas to eat at Denny's on Tuesday night (it's kids eat free night) when, apparently, Lucas announces proudly, "My peenus is getting BIG!" I wonder how many people were within ear shot? I wonder what their faces looked like? I wonder how it would have felt for my water to come out of my nose, had I been there?
The world may never know. Or, at least I may not.
-------
So, how was your week? Anything hilarious happen? If so, please play along and tell me your funnies. It's simple really. Just write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post and then enter your info into MckLinky.
Y'all have a supremely, fabulous, AWESOME weekend.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Phenomenal Cosmic Power!!...itty bitty living space
A while back I emailed a friend to see how she was doing. Unfortunately, the email I received back was heartbreaking. She has experienced a loss recently. The first line of her email to me read,
"I have actually thought a lot about you lately, because you are definitely a great person to go to for prayers."
Wow. Really? Me? Surely not. Still, she's not the first person to say something of this nature to me. In fact, about a year ago another friend called me asking me to pray for someone we mutually knew because that person was experiencing the loss of her unborn baby. Again, my friend said,
"Will you pray for her because I know you are tight with the Big Guy."
I know that it's not a secret that I love me some Jesus. But, both of these comments got me to thinking about prayer and whether or not my prayers are more or less effective than anyone else's prayers.
Here's a secret for you. I don't think they are. But still, I've been wondering...how powerful are my prayers? Are certain people more effective prayer warriors? Do certain people get more prayers answered than others.
The truth is, I didn't know. So, I went to the authority on all things prayer. God's word.
James 5:16 says this about prayer, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Humm...so being righteous = powerful and effective prayers. Got it.
That pretty much counts me out then. Because, and I'm gonna admit something here people, based on my own actions, I'm FAR from righteous. If righteousness were the east then...
Hello, my name is West. Nicetomeetyou.
But wait, the first line of that verse says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other..."
It doesn't say, "Confess your sins ONLY to righteous people" now does it? No, it says confess your sins to each other so you may be healed.
Psalm 34 also addresses prayer and righteousness. Verse 15 specifically says that "the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry."
Humm...sounds like I need a sack full of righteousness in order for my prayers to be heard OR effective, doesn't it? "So," you might ask, "how can I become righteous or is that even possible?"
Well, let me introduce you to my little friend called Romans Chapter 3. (I have linked Romans 3 using The Message version, but my favorite version is the English Standard Version. For some reason though, on Bible Gateway, the ESV has a lot of references and I find it annoying to read around them. You can certainly change it by choosing English Standard or New Living or whatever tickles your fancy, if you don't enjoy The Message.)
Romans Chapter 3 pretty much outlines the righteousness of God. You see, according to God's perfect character He MUST be righteous. Because of His perfection, He cannot allow Himself in the presence of sin.
I represent sin. Therefore, me = unrighteousness = cannot go before God. Prayer = going before God.
Yesterday, when I got ticked at Luke for drinking his milk too loud....yep, me = unrighteous. And last week when I was utterly livid that my dear, charming, wonderful husband forgot to take out our bathroom trash....me = unrighteous.
(I could go on, but I think you're getting the picture. Apparently my sin and my hormones are playing some seriously hilarious tricks on me.)
(Too bad my sense of humor hasn't caught up.)
(I'm just sayin'. That milk drinking was L.O.U.D. You shoulda been here.)
So if I'm so stinkin' unrighteous how in the heck am I suppose to pray and ever expect those prayers to be heard, much less answered?
Insert, JESUS. (Please don't tune me out because I dropped the J*bomb. Hear me out, mmmkay?) I love that in The Message version, verses 21-31 are subtitled as
God has set things right
Oh yes-sir-ee, He sure has. You see Jesus is the righteousness that I can never possess. In the Old Testament (also known as the Torah for the Jews - which is who Paul is referencing when he says "us." Paul was Jewish. When he says, "them" he is talking about Gentiles. Gentiles are non-Jewish people. Thatwouldbeme.) the Jewish people were required to live out the letter of the law(s) to be considered righteous. They are considered God's chosen people and often, Jewish people believed that they were more righteous than Gentiles because of their chosen status.
Whew. Still there? Good.
If we recognize the laws as our ticket to righteousness then we would constantly be seeing where we are falling short.
But Jesus, He made us ALL righteous. You see, Jesus was blameless. He never got ticked at His Mom for drinking her milk too loud or because His brother forgot to take the trash out. Jesus never uttered ugly words under His holy breath or disobeyed His parents or even told a tiny, little white lie.
Never. Let me tell you how hard it is for me to grasp that concept. VERY HARD.
(Often, I think about what it must have been like to be Jesus' Mom and have a blameless son. Then my head explodes and I remember that I have 5 kids, all of which take after their mother and are SIN-NERS.)
Still, even though He was blameless He took the blame, all of it. He took the blame for my anger at my husband, my short-temper with my kids, my impatience with the car in front of me who's been sitting at a green light for a sweet forever. Jesushelpmenow.
All of it. Gone in God's eyes. As long as I believe (and follow) Jesus. So, lemme break this down for you real quick-like.
Me + sin = unrighteous
BUT....
Me + sin + JESUS = righteous
It's simple math really.
I could go on and on and on about prayer and how I think that God uses our prayers to mold us rather than to put in our requests to Him, but that's a whole 'nother post. For now, I hope that if I've shed any light on a topic that was (for me) hard to understand that you'll pray earnestly and without hesitation to the God of all things.
And pray knowing, that if you have Jesus covering your righteousness, your prayers will be heard as if you are a righteous man who prays with power and effectiveness. And you know what, if you ask me to pray for or with you, I will. Because my prayers are powerful and effective as well. Can you just imagine what God does when one righteous person prays, much less two? Holy Dinah.
It kinda makes me think of my favorite Disney movie of all time, Aladdin. At the end, the Genie turns Jafar into an all-powerful Genie promising him "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWER!" with an "itty, bitty living space."
I think prayer is the same way. Sometimes you've just got to release this phenomenal power within your soul and realize that the key to that door resides in the tiniest of living spaces, your heart.
But, don't take my word for it, go read it for yourself.
"I have actually thought a lot about you lately, because you are definitely a great person to go to for prayers."
Wow. Really? Me? Surely not. Still, she's not the first person to say something of this nature to me. In fact, about a year ago another friend called me asking me to pray for someone we mutually knew because that person was experiencing the loss of her unborn baby. Again, my friend said,
"Will you pray for her because I know you are tight with the Big Guy."
I know that it's not a secret that I love me some Jesus. But, both of these comments got me to thinking about prayer and whether or not my prayers are more or less effective than anyone else's prayers.
Here's a secret for you. I don't think they are. But still, I've been wondering...how powerful are my prayers? Are certain people more effective prayer warriors? Do certain people get more prayers answered than others.
The truth is, I didn't know. So, I went to the authority on all things prayer. God's word.
James 5:16 says this about prayer, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Humm...so being righteous = powerful and effective prayers. Got it.
That pretty much counts me out then. Because, and I'm gonna admit something here people, based on my own actions, I'm FAR from righteous. If righteousness were the east then...
Hello, my name is West. Nicetomeetyou.
But wait, the first line of that verse says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other..."
It doesn't say, "Confess your sins ONLY to righteous people" now does it? No, it says confess your sins to each other so you may be healed.
Psalm 34 also addresses prayer and righteousness. Verse 15 specifically says that "the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry."
Humm...sounds like I need a sack full of righteousness in order for my prayers to be heard OR effective, doesn't it? "So," you might ask, "how can I become righteous or is that even possible?"
Well, let me introduce you to my little friend called Romans Chapter 3. (I have linked Romans 3 using The Message version, but my favorite version is the English Standard Version. For some reason though, on Bible Gateway, the ESV has a lot of references and I find it annoying to read around them. You can certainly change it by choosing English Standard or New Living or whatever tickles your fancy, if you don't enjoy The Message.)
Romans Chapter 3 pretty much outlines the righteousness of God. You see, according to God's perfect character He MUST be righteous. Because of His perfection, He cannot allow Himself in the presence of sin.
I represent sin. Therefore, me = unrighteousness = cannot go before God. Prayer = going before God.
Yesterday, when I got ticked at Luke for drinking his milk too loud....yep, me = unrighteous. And last week when I was utterly livid that my dear, charming, wonderful husband forgot to take out our bathroom trash....me = unrighteous.
(I could go on, but I think you're getting the picture. Apparently my sin and my hormones are playing some seriously hilarious tricks on me.)
(Too bad my sense of humor hasn't caught up.)
(I'm just sayin'. That milk drinking was L.O.U.D. You shoulda been here.)
So if I'm so stinkin' unrighteous how in the heck am I suppose to pray and ever expect those prayers to be heard, much less answered?
Insert, JESUS. (Please don't tune me out because I dropped the J*bomb. Hear me out, mmmkay?) I love that in The Message version, verses 21-31 are subtitled as
God has set things right
Oh yes-sir-ee, He sure has. You see Jesus is the righteousness that I can never possess. In the Old Testament (also known as the Torah for the Jews - which is who Paul is referencing when he says "us." Paul was Jewish. When he says, "them" he is talking about Gentiles. Gentiles are non-Jewish people. Thatwouldbeme.) the Jewish people were required to live out the letter of the law(s) to be considered righteous. They are considered God's chosen people and often, Jewish people believed that they were more righteous than Gentiles because of their chosen status.
Whew. Still there? Good.
If we recognize the laws as our ticket to righteousness then we would constantly be seeing where we are falling short.
But Jesus, He made us ALL righteous. You see, Jesus was blameless. He never got ticked at His Mom for drinking her milk too loud or because His brother forgot to take the trash out. Jesus never uttered ugly words under His holy breath or disobeyed His parents or even told a tiny, little white lie.
Never. Let me tell you how hard it is for me to grasp that concept. VERY HARD.
(Often, I think about what it must have been like to be Jesus' Mom and have a blameless son. Then my head explodes and I remember that I have 5 kids, all of which take after their mother and are SIN-NERS.)
Still, even though He was blameless He took the blame, all of it. He took the blame for my anger at my husband, my short-temper with my kids, my impatience with the car in front of me who's been sitting at a green light for a sweet forever. Jesushelpmenow.
All of it. Gone in God's eyes. As long as I believe (and follow) Jesus. So, lemme break this down for you real quick-like.
Me + sin = unrighteous
BUT....
Me + sin + JESUS = righteous
It's simple math really.
I could go on and on and on about prayer and how I think that God uses our prayers to mold us rather than to put in our requests to Him, but that's a whole 'nother post. For now, I hope that if I've shed any light on a topic that was (for me) hard to understand that you'll pray earnestly and without hesitation to the God of all things.
And pray knowing, that if you have Jesus covering your righteousness, your prayers will be heard as if you are a righteous man who prays with power and effectiveness. And you know what, if you ask me to pray for or with you, I will. Because my prayers are powerful and effective as well. Can you just imagine what God does when one righteous person prays, much less two? Holy Dinah.
It kinda makes me think of my favorite Disney movie of all time, Aladdin. At the end, the Genie turns Jafar into an all-powerful Genie promising him "PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWER!" with an "itty, bitty living space."
I think prayer is the same way. Sometimes you've just got to release this phenomenal power within your soul and realize that the key to that door resides in the tiniest of living spaces, your heart.
But, don't take my word for it, go read it for yourself.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Daraja kind of thankful
I know, I know. Thanksgiving is over. So this thanksgiving post is a little late, huh? Well, not exactly.
Recently we had the privilege of hosting 3 amazing children in our home for 3 glorious nights. The Daraja Children's Choir of Africa came to our church and host homes were needed to house the children and chaperons. Last year we were out of town, this year we were all in.
Yes, we added 3 more children and 1 more adult around our dining table. Yes we added those same numbers to our cooking requirements. Yes, we had the time of our lives.
The day that they left, I was actually more than thankful for the abundance of dishes in my sink. I was thankful that we ate our cereal out of plastic bowls with plastic spoons because every single bowl and spoon in our house was sitting dirty in my sink.
And more than ever I'm thankful for my 5 little children and how they love on other people. I do believe that Lucas fell in love for the very first time.
He warmed up to Monica and never cooled off. I think he kissed her 4,397 times over the course of two days. It was so precious. I'm pretty sure he'll be talking about Monica for the next few years.
Elizabeth adored Betty to pieces. Elizabeth literally cried the morning they left and she stated boldly, "Mom, let's just go to Africa. We will have our new friends there and we already know Chris and Lindy. So let's just go to Africa and meet everyone else."
Sweetie, if I can have a thousand more pictures like this one, we so will go.
Monica and Betty are certainly some special girls. They loved on our children in a way that I cannot understand, especially given the circumstances they've come from. But it was sweet Eunice that really stole my heart.
Eunice is mostly quiet and reserved. Don't get me wrong, she was silly and she and Elizabeth had an awesome tickle party their last night here. But something about this usually soft spoken, quiet girl just stole the breath right out of me. I'm sure it was her smile and the way it made the whole room beam with joy.
Joy.
Just sheer joy on the face of this little girl. You couldn't help but smile along with her.
We miss these girls so much and they have been the topic of several conversations every day since they left. And, I'm sure they will continue to be the topic of conversations in our home for a very, very, very long time.
L to R: Lucas, Courtney (the chaperon), Ashlee, Monica, Eunice, Aaron, Baby Girl, Betty and Elizabeth
At the Zoo.
How much would I love to send this photo out as our family photo this year? About a bazillion much, that's how much.
Recently we had the privilege of hosting 3 amazing children in our home for 3 glorious nights. The Daraja Children's Choir of Africa came to our church and host homes were needed to house the children and chaperons. Last year we were out of town, this year we were all in.
Yes, we added 3 more children and 1 more adult around our dining table. Yes we added those same numbers to our cooking requirements. Yes, we had the time of our lives.
The day that they left, I was actually more than thankful for the abundance of dishes in my sink. I was thankful that we ate our cereal out of plastic bowls with plastic spoons because every single bowl and spoon in our house was sitting dirty in my sink.
And more than ever I'm thankful for my 5 little children and how they love on other people. I do believe that Lucas fell in love for the very first time.
He warmed up to Monica and never cooled off. I think he kissed her 4,397 times over the course of two days. It was so precious. I'm pretty sure he'll be talking about Monica for the next few years.Elizabeth adored Betty to pieces. Elizabeth literally cried the morning they left and she stated boldly, "Mom, let's just go to Africa. We will have our new friends there and we already know Chris and Lindy. So let's just go to Africa and meet everyone else."
Sweetie, if I can have a thousand more pictures like this one, we so will go.
Monica and Betty are certainly some special girls. They loved on our children in a way that I cannot understand, especially given the circumstances they've come from. But it was sweet Eunice that really stole my heart.Eunice is mostly quiet and reserved. Don't get me wrong, she was silly and she and Elizabeth had an awesome tickle party their last night here. But something about this usually soft spoken, quiet girl just stole the breath right out of me. I'm sure it was her smile and the way it made the whole room beam with joy.
Joy.Just sheer joy on the face of this little girl. You couldn't help but smile along with her.
We miss these girls so much and they have been the topic of several conversations every day since they left. And, I'm sure they will continue to be the topic of conversations in our home for a very, very, very long time.
L to R: Lucas, Courtney (the chaperon), Ashlee, Monica, Eunice, Aaron, Baby Girl, Betty and Elizabeth
At the Zoo.
How much would I love to send this photo out as our family photo this year? About a bazillion much, that's how much.Friday, December 4, 2009
Das Not Funny! Friday: Workin' for the weekend
Helllllllloooooooo Friday! Welcome back. I knew I should have written this post last night when the world's biggest wiggle worm was making a playpen of my uterus. Next time I'll know not to eat 4 or 11 Reese Cups an hour before bed. Baby + Sugar = No sleep for Momma. As I laid on my side, I think the Baby was using the bed for leverage to push himself off and bang into my ribs.
Fun.
I thought several times about dragging myself out of bed and writing this post so it would be all sparkly and ready for your eyes this morning, but that would have required effort and, quite frankly, I enjoy laying in the bed way too much.
So, here is this week's Das Not Funny! Friday for you. I sure hope it is all you ever dreamed it would be or at least half of that.
Before Thanksgiving, my step-dad and I took the kids to eat at a restaurant in town. It just so happens that our amazingly, remarkable, college aged babysitter works at said restaurant. When I told the kids that we were going to Miss Amanda's work to have dinner it sparked 72 kinds of squeals and hand clapping. But, Elizabeth's comments took the cake.
"Mom? Why are we going to there? I thought you made money when you worked?"
"You do honey, " I responded, "and Miss Amanda works there and makes money there."
"She works at the restaurant? For money? I thought that she worked in a box office and didn't do anything all day just like Daddy does."
--------
Earlier this week, during nap...
Lucas (standing outside his door, whispering): "Mom! Come here!"
Me (whispering in an agitated tone): "Yes Buddy?"
Lucas (whispering, still): "Turn dat wite on!"
Me (turning on the hall light and growing increasingly frustrated): "What do you need Bud?"
Lucas (pulling down his pants and continuing to whisper): "Wook at my peenus Mom! It's...."(insert decsriptive language about his body that I should probably not share with the internet).
Me (almost speechless at his very precise description): "Lucas, pull your pants up and go lay down and go to sleep."
Lucas (still whispering): "I was sweepin' Momma."
Me (stifling giggles): "Based on what you just told me, I don't think your eyes were closed in there. Now go!"
-------
Lucas was playing in his room one afternoon quite peacefully. I see Ashlee walk over to the doorway of his room and I hear the following conversation.
"Woocus say, 'Ashwee you wanna come pway wif me?'" Ashlee asserts.
"Ashwee, you wanna come pway wit me?" Lucas says obediently.
"No kanks," Ashlee responds, "I'm weal we busy wif my toys."
--------
Yesterday, we were leaving Community Bible Study and I asked all 3 big kids if anyone needed to go potty. Naturally the answer was a choral "No!"
I knew better.
Not 5 minutes down the road Elizabeth states that she needs to pee "right at this moment."
"I'm sorry honey. Can you hold it until we get home? I can't stop and take you all in to the bathroom."
"Nooooooooooo! I'm gonna pee now!" she wails.
I pull over and find an alternate solution. Not the side of the road or a Quick Mart. A size 4 Luvs diaper securely placed on the bottom of my 5.5 year old. Relief for us both came quickly, as did the giggles that she was using a diaper.
Well, that's it. If you'd like to play along, simply write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post, then enter your info in MckLinky. Super easy. Y'all have a great weekend. I'm praying our Christmas tree makes an appearance this weekend but I'm not holding my breath. Instead, I'm going to go find that bag of Reese Cups and see if I can't polish them off before tonight. I think setting attainable goals for yourself is so important.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Water
Dear God,
Today I would like to thank you for water. I know, it's something simple to be thankful for and you totally created it in about .00001 seconds on the second day of Creation. Still, having clean, running and totally available water at my tap made me excessively thankful today.
When Lucas somehow smeared his poop all over the bathroom floor, sink, counter and toilet paper roller it was water (and some bleach) that helped my bathroom sparkle like a new, non-poop-stained penny.
When Aaron woke up this morning with a blistered bottom and screamed with shrieks of pain as I wiped him, it was water that helped heal his bottom as he soaked in a sink full of bubbles.
When Elizabeth was thirsty and requested something to drink, water filled her cup.
As I dumped a sink full of dishes into my empty kitchen sink and sighed at them all accumulating before breakfast had even finished, it was water I ran over them in the hopes that they would look clean and I wouldn't have to really wash them.
When Baby Girl decided it would be a good idea to barf onto the kitchen floor, soap and water cleaned up milk puke in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to water, I got to slowly sip a nice, hot cup of creamy, sweet coffee this morning and I will enjoy and ice cold glass of sweet tea later.
I'm sure tomorrow water will be something I take for granted. But for today, God, thanks for making water. And thanks for placing me in a country where water is relatively free, easily accessible and, most of all, clean.
You're pretty cool you know that God? Pretty darn cool.
Amen.
-----
Here's some other people who think water is pretty cool...
Wine to Water
Advent Conspiracy
Samaritan's Purse
Today I would like to thank you for water. I know, it's something simple to be thankful for and you totally created it in about .00001 seconds on the second day of Creation. Still, having clean, running and totally available water at my tap made me excessively thankful today.
When Lucas somehow smeared his poop all over the bathroom floor, sink, counter and toilet paper roller it was water (and some bleach) that helped my bathroom sparkle like a new, non-poop-stained penny.
When Aaron woke up this morning with a blistered bottom and screamed with shrieks of pain as I wiped him, it was water that helped heal his bottom as he soaked in a sink full of bubbles.
When Elizabeth was thirsty and requested something to drink, water filled her cup.
As I dumped a sink full of dishes into my empty kitchen sink and sighed at them all accumulating before breakfast had even finished, it was water I ran over them in the hopes that they would look clean and I wouldn't have to really wash them.
When Baby Girl decided it would be a good idea to barf onto the kitchen floor, soap and water cleaned up milk puke in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to water, I got to slowly sip a nice, hot cup of creamy, sweet coffee this morning and I will enjoy and ice cold glass of sweet tea later.
I'm sure tomorrow water will be something I take for granted. But for today, God, thanks for making water. And thanks for placing me in a country where water is relatively free, easily accessible and, most of all, clean.
You're pretty cool you know that God? Pretty darn cool.
Amen.
-----
Here's some other people who think water is pretty cool...
Wine to Water
Advent Conspiracy
Samaritan's Purse
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Babies don't keep
The good days in my house make the bad ones seem so trivial. Today, all 5 kids are in a great mood. Lucas is being a polite, little gentleman to his sisters. The girls are using their manners, saying please and thank you. The big kids were incredibly obedient while Baby Girl received her weekly, in home physical therapy this morning. We ate at a lunch table abounding with laughter.
Elizabeth told me she likes it when I call her "My love" and then she proceeded to write the following spelling words without any help from her teacher (that would be me): top, six, red, my, and & cat.
Today, I feel like the best Mom in the world. My sink is full of dishes, my laundry room has exploded into the hallway once more and my kitchen is a wreck but my kids and I have had an awesome day. One full of smiles and laughter, giggles, hugs and kisses.
It reminds me of this poem by Ruth Hamilton:
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Ruth is right, babies surely don't keep. See....
And to think. This little baby wrote out six spelling words all by herself today. Crap, where did I put those kleenex?
(Just to clarify, the above photo is of Elizabeth, all of 2 days old. Babies don't keep, not one bit.)
Elizabeth told me she likes it when I call her "My love" and then she proceeded to write the following spelling words without any help from her teacher (that would be me): top, six, red, my, and & cat.
Today, I feel like the best Mom in the world. My sink is full of dishes, my laundry room has exploded into the hallway once more and my kitchen is a wreck but my kids and I have had an awesome day. One full of smiles and laughter, giggles, hugs and kisses.
It reminds me of this poem by Ruth Hamilton:
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
Ruth is right, babies surely don't keep. See....
And to think. This little baby wrote out six spelling words all by herself today. Crap, where did I put those kleenex?(Just to clarify, the above photo is of Elizabeth, all of 2 days old. Babies don't keep, not one bit.)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Extreme Family Makeover: Rwanda Edition
My good friend Emily and her family have been in the process of adopting from Rwanda for over two years. On Monday they officially passed court in Rwanda making their newly referred daughter legally theirs. Travel dates were being thrown around like rice at a wedding as they tried to figure out when, how and what is needed for 5 people to fly to Rwanda (that's 5 people because they are taking their 3 children with them. Cool, huh?).
Hope was looking defeated as they thought it would be January before they would travel to bring home their youngest family member. Imagine living your days knowing that one of your children was half way around the world and there is nothing you can do about it? I can't even think of the gut wrenching misery that would overcome my body.
God moved some pretty serious mountains yesterday when they got the call that they could leave for Rwanda on FRIDAY. Friday people, as in the day after tomorrow.
Holy moly.
Bags are being packed, prescriptions filled, errands ran and final arrangements made in 48 hours. These things usually transpire over the course of two weeks and they are throwing it all together over a holiday.
Please be in prayer with me for this sweet family as they travel across the globe to meet a daughter and sister that they've been praying for for two years. Here are some specific requests:
1) Travel, travel, travel. Please pray that all documents needed will be remembered as they hastily pack for 5 people going to Rwanda and 6 coming home. Also pray that packing will not be stressful. Finally, that tummy troubles will not rear their ugly heads as new foods and cultures are experienced.
2) That sweet Sonia will embrace her new family and that her adjustment to her new family will go smoothly. I'm sure I'd be a little terrified if 5 strangers showed up and began calling my name and wanting to hug me. Imagine being less than 2 years old and it happening.
3) Emily's family has a history of migraines. She gets them, her husband, her daughter and one of her sons also gets them regularly. Please pray that migraines stay far, far away from them for the duration of the trip (or forever).
4) That God would continue to be evident in every way as they complete this leg of their journey of obedience through adoption.
You know, even in the midst of all of my doubt it's so clear how God orchestrated the adoption and travel for this family. Thank you God for making yourself known in such a big way.
Bowers, I love you all so very much. Be safe, have fun and enjoy every second loving on that sweet girl!
-----
If you'd like to follow the Bowers' journey to Rwanda via twitter, click here.
Hope was looking defeated as they thought it would be January before they would travel to bring home their youngest family member. Imagine living your days knowing that one of your children was half way around the world and there is nothing you can do about it? I can't even think of the gut wrenching misery that would overcome my body.
God moved some pretty serious mountains yesterday when they got the call that they could leave for Rwanda on FRIDAY. Friday people, as in the day after tomorrow.
Holy moly.
Bags are being packed, prescriptions filled, errands ran and final arrangements made in 48 hours. These things usually transpire over the course of two weeks and they are throwing it all together over a holiday.
Please be in prayer with me for this sweet family as they travel across the globe to meet a daughter and sister that they've been praying for for two years. Here are some specific requests:
1) Travel, travel, travel. Please pray that all documents needed will be remembered as they hastily pack for 5 people going to Rwanda and 6 coming home. Also pray that packing will not be stressful. Finally, that tummy troubles will not rear their ugly heads as new foods and cultures are experienced.
2) That sweet Sonia will embrace her new family and that her adjustment to her new family will go smoothly. I'm sure I'd be a little terrified if 5 strangers showed up and began calling my name and wanting to hug me. Imagine being less than 2 years old and it happening.
3) Emily's family has a history of migraines. She gets them, her husband, her daughter and one of her sons also gets them regularly. Please pray that migraines stay far, far away from them for the duration of the trip (or forever).
4) That God would continue to be evident in every way as they complete this leg of their journey of obedience through adoption.
You know, even in the midst of all of my doubt it's so clear how God orchestrated the adoption and travel for this family. Thank you God for making yourself known in such a big way.
Bowers, I love you all so very much. Be safe, have fun and enjoy every second loving on that sweet girl!
-----
If you'd like to follow the Bowers' journey to Rwanda via twitter, click here.
Monday, November 23, 2009
No one tells you
There's something I noticed about my kids a year or so ago. They were all playing quietly and out of no where someone began to wail. As I investigated the screams I soon discovered their cause. One of the kids had a huge bite mark. The other child stood frozen, eyes fixed upon me, knowing that (s)he had done wrong.
What I realized was that no one had taught my children to bite or hit or kick or punch. They just did it. They pulled that ability from the recesses of their sinful selves and did what felt necessary at the moment. But they'd never seen me or Luke bite, kick or punch someone when we didn't get our way.
My point is, it wasn't a learned behavior. It was something they knew how to do from the moment they figured out a little something about self-expression. Aaron has yet to begin biting out of spite, but he will hit his little sister when she tries to play with one of "his" toys.
Again, this isn't something we taught him to do. He's a normal 18 month old little boy. My guess is, if you have kids, you see some of their behaviors and think to yourself, "Where in the world did they learn to do that?"
I know that unacceptable behavior is not something I've taught my kids to do but rather something I'm attempting to train them to refrain from.
I think doubt is the same way.
No one teaches you to have doubt. In fact, before you ever decide to turn your life over Christ and become a follower you are filled with doubt. Sort of like that toddler who is filled with the desire to hit or bite his siblings.
Then, something miraculous happens.
You meet this Man. And slowly, yet dramatically, He changes you. But there's something that they never prepare you for. They never tell you about the doubt you will continue to have. They never tell you that it starts as small doubt and moves into the big areas of your life.
One of my girlfriends and I were talking about childbirth this weekend. She said, "I expected the pain and the soreness after delivery but no one prepared me for when the nurse came in and smashed on my stomach every hour for the next day. That hurt worse than anything!"
She's right. No one prepares you for the hurtful side of being a follower of Christ. No one tells you upfront that it will still hurt, often worse, when you are walking this new road. No one prepares you for the doubt that creeps in, then seemingly takes over your spirit.
No one prepares you for the times when you so desperately want to be close to the Lord yet with every page of your Bible or every Christian book you read, you'll want to snap it shut and fling it across the room from pure disgust.
Disgust at yourself. Disgust from the doubting.
No one tells you that these seasons can last for months at a time. No one tells you how to pull yourself out or how to cry out for help or how to allow the One who knows your thoughts to begin to work this all out for His glory.
No one tells you that through all of it you still know He is there, but you wonder why on earth He isn't speaking in your direction.
No one tells you how lonely it feels or how bad it hurts or how much you question Him and yourself and you wonder if you have this whole Jesus thing as figured out as you thought you did.
No one tells you how you will one day deal with the pride in your heart and how the consequences of that pride will have doubt casting a shadow on all areas of your soul.
It's cold in those shadows people. Very cold.
No one tells you how your heart can't even begin to worship to your favorite song, even when it's played in an amazing worship service where everyone around you is seemingly filled with the Spirit.
No one tells you what it feels like to glance over at your husband on a Sunday morning and see him deep in prayer and hope to God that he's praying for you because you know you can't pray for yourself.
These are the thing that no one tells you about being a lover of Christ. So, in case there are people out there wondering why no one else has told you. Here I am. I'm telling you.
Sometimes loving the Lord hurts. Sometimes you are filled with doubt. Sometimes it makes you lay awake at night and wonder why it's been months since you've felt His presence. Sometimes you won't want to open your Bible. Sometimes you won't want to talk to your best friend about it. Sometimes you wonder if you really believe what you say you believe.
But.
He's still there. He still loves me. He still did it all just for me.
And always, that's enough.
What I realized was that no one had taught my children to bite or hit or kick or punch. They just did it. They pulled that ability from the recesses of their sinful selves and did what felt necessary at the moment. But they'd never seen me or Luke bite, kick or punch someone when we didn't get our way.
My point is, it wasn't a learned behavior. It was something they knew how to do from the moment they figured out a little something about self-expression. Aaron has yet to begin biting out of spite, but he will hit his little sister when she tries to play with one of "his" toys.
Again, this isn't something we taught him to do. He's a normal 18 month old little boy. My guess is, if you have kids, you see some of their behaviors and think to yourself, "Where in the world did they learn to do that?"
I know that unacceptable behavior is not something I've taught my kids to do but rather something I'm attempting to train them to refrain from.
I think doubt is the same way.
No one teaches you to have doubt. In fact, before you ever decide to turn your life over Christ and become a follower you are filled with doubt. Sort of like that toddler who is filled with the desire to hit or bite his siblings.
Then, something miraculous happens.
You meet this Man. And slowly, yet dramatically, He changes you. But there's something that they never prepare you for. They never tell you about the doubt you will continue to have. They never tell you that it starts as small doubt and moves into the big areas of your life.
One of my girlfriends and I were talking about childbirth this weekend. She said, "I expected the pain and the soreness after delivery but no one prepared me for when the nurse came in and smashed on my stomach every hour for the next day. That hurt worse than anything!"
She's right. No one prepares you for the hurtful side of being a follower of Christ. No one tells you upfront that it will still hurt, often worse, when you are walking this new road. No one prepares you for the doubt that creeps in, then seemingly takes over your spirit.
No one prepares you for the times when you so desperately want to be close to the Lord yet with every page of your Bible or every Christian book you read, you'll want to snap it shut and fling it across the room from pure disgust.
Disgust at yourself. Disgust from the doubting.
No one tells you that these seasons can last for months at a time. No one tells you how to pull yourself out or how to cry out for help or how to allow the One who knows your thoughts to begin to work this all out for His glory.
No one tells you that through all of it you still know He is there, but you wonder why on earth He isn't speaking in your direction.
No one tells you how lonely it feels or how bad it hurts or how much you question Him and yourself and you wonder if you have this whole Jesus thing as figured out as you thought you did.
No one tells you how you will one day deal with the pride in your heart and how the consequences of that pride will have doubt casting a shadow on all areas of your soul.
It's cold in those shadows people. Very cold.
No one tells you how your heart can't even begin to worship to your favorite song, even when it's played in an amazing worship service where everyone around you is seemingly filled with the Spirit.
No one tells you what it feels like to glance over at your husband on a Sunday morning and see him deep in prayer and hope to God that he's praying for you because you know you can't pray for yourself.
These are the thing that no one tells you about being a lover of Christ. So, in case there are people out there wondering why no one else has told you. Here I am. I'm telling you.
Sometimes loving the Lord hurts. Sometimes you are filled with doubt. Sometimes it makes you lay awake at night and wonder why it's been months since you've felt His presence. Sometimes you won't want to open your Bible. Sometimes you won't want to talk to your best friend about it. Sometimes you wonder if you really believe what you say you believe.
But.
He's still there. He still loves me. He still did it all just for me.
And always, that's enough.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Das Not Funny! Friday: Conversationally speaking
Friday is here once more. This week our house was full of interesting conversations. I use the term "interesting" very loosely here people. Verrrry loosely. Nonetheless, I hope y'all enjoy this week's edition of Das Not Funny! Friday.
It's bedtime and once again our bedroom door creeps open after all our precious ones should be tucked away for the night.
"Mom?" Ashlee says softly.
"Yes?" I reply.
"Um. Wizabets went poop in our bafroom and she needs you to come wipe her."
"Ashlee, please tell Elizabeth that she is big enough to wipe herself and to wipe and go to bed."
"Okay," Ashlee replies.
Less than a minute later....
"Momma?" Ashlee says again quietly.
"Yes Ashlee."
"Wizabets says she needs you to come do one scoop on her butt then she will do da west."
"Ashlee, repeat after me, okay?" I say, "Elizabeth..."
"Wizabets..."
"Mommy said to wipe your bottom..."
"Mommy said to wipe you buttum..."
"and get in the bed right now."
"and get in da bed wite now."
"Thanks Ash. Now go tell Elizabeth," I direct.
"Okay."
The door shuts.
The door opens.
"Mom?"
"Yes Ashlee?"
"I wuv you."
"I love you too."
-------
Driving home after dark one night (which doesn't say much because it gets dark here at, like, 5:45pm) Luke and I spot an opossum running from the road.
"What was that?" I ask my brave, fearless husband.
"I think it was a opossum," brave, fearless husband replied.
"What's a p0sst-um?" Ashlee asks.
"It kind of looks like a really, big rat," I say.
"And it's the size of a raccoon," brave, fearless husband adds.
"O0000," says Ashlee. "I don't wike wats."
"Good choice Ash," I say.
"Kank you!" exclaims non-rat loving Ashlee proudly.
-------
"Okay Buddy, let's get your undies and pants on so we can go," I say to Lucas.
"Put your foot in...." I begin.
"No Mom! Wait! Turn my undies awound. I wanna see da Batmans!"
"You know that is the back of your underwear, right?" I ask.
"Yep. I wike dem dat way," he says, matter-of-factly.
-------
"Mom and Dad?"
"Yes Elizabeth?" Luke responds.
"Why do policemens have such big jobs and such little cars?"
Luke, looking confused and glancing in my direction..."Um. So that when they need to drive fast their car won't tip over."
"Oh. Because if they drove a big van like ours then they would get in a bad wreck?" she asks.
"That's right baby. That's why Daddy doesn't drive fast in our big van," Luke continues.
"Yeah, and then our big van would get all scratched up and I would be sad," Elizabeth noted.
"Yeah! And den it would catch on fire and we could wide it and it would be SO! MUCH! FUN!" Ashlee added.
Glad she lives in the land of excitement and joy, even when it pertains to perceived disaster.
Don't you want to join me this week for Das Not Funny! Friday? It's simple, really. All you have to do is write your own Das Not Funny! Friday post. Then, link it right back here. Finally, enter your info into MckLinky so that my blog will link back to yours and we can all enjoy your funnies.
Y'all have a conversationally awesome weekend. Happy Friday!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tell 'em what they've won...
Well, I was all excited about using Random.org to generate a fancy, schmantsy list of 5 random entries.
But, there was no need. That's because, in all, there were only 5 different people who entered the giveaway! (Although I would have sworn there were 6, but my list shows differently. So #6, if I left you off the list below, email me and I'll send you one as well. I love how my brain works SO efficiently when I'm pregnant).
Anyway, here are the winners in no particular order:
Wendi
Vonda
The Hall Family
Lady Araujo (I love that her plug for R4R was bilingual! I just wish I could understand the rest of her blog!)
The Caldwells
Congratulations!
For those of you to whom it applies, please email me your mailing address at: beaverbunch (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll try to pop your Bible in the mail early next week!
Oh, and #6, if I really did omit your entry somehow, please email me also. I just knew there were six people but......
But, there was no need. That's because, in all, there were only 5 different people who entered the giveaway! (Although I would have sworn there were 6, but my list shows differently. So #6, if I left you off the list below, email me and I'll send you one as well. I love how my brain works SO efficiently when I'm pregnant).
Anyway, here are the winners in no particular order:
Wendi
Vonda
The Hall Family
Lady Araujo (I love that her plug for R4R was bilingual! I just wish I could understand the rest of her blog!)
The Caldwells
Congratulations!
For those of you to whom it applies, please email me your mailing address at: beaverbunch (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll try to pop your Bible in the mail early next week!
Oh, and #6, if I really did omit your entry somehow, please email me also. I just knew there were six people but......
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Giveaway! Giveaway! Last day to enter!
Today is the LAST day to enter my giveaway for your own copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible! The contest closes tonight at 11:59pm EST.
Check out this post to see how YOU can enter. It's easy and painless and I PROMISE you won't be disappointed if you win.
I'll announce the winners (hopefully) tomorrow!
Y'all have a great Wednesday!
Check out this post to see how YOU can enter. It's easy and painless and I PROMISE you won't be disappointed if you win.
I'll announce the winners (hopefully) tomorrow!
Y'all have a great Wednesday!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Adoption Update on Baby Girl
For the last several weeks (actually since my trip to Arkansas in October) I've been holding my breath and praying for God to move Baby Girl's adoption along, quickly.
While I was sleeping in one morning, our social worker (not Baby Girl's original social worker or her new, adoption social worker...that's #3 are you keeping count?) called and gave us some news that if Baby Girl's adoption was not official before the birth of Baby #6 that there could be a problem. Ideally, we were hoping and praying that Baby Girl's adoption would be final and then Luke and I could voluntarily terminate our foster parent license. If that couldn't happen (because Baby Girl was not legally adopted) then our County office would have to appeal the state for a license waiver. The waiver would be to allow us to be a licensed foster home with 6 children rather than 5. Our state law is that foster homes can only be licenses for up to 5 children.
You still with me? However, since Baby Girl is legally in the custody of the state, they could say "No" to our appeal and remove her from our home. Needless to say I was quite worried. Still, I knew that if God's plans were to remove Baby Girl then all my worrying wouldn't do much to change that.
So I began to pray and I asked others to pray. God has heard those prayers and answered them in a BIG way.
I spoke with Baby Girl's adoption worker today. The BEST news is that Baby Girl's birth mother did NOT appeal the TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) order!! She had until yesterday at 5:00pm to appeal and as of 10:30am today the attorney's office had NOT received an appeal! WHOOOOOPIE!!!
Today our case should be taken to adoption committee where we would be deemed an adoptive placement for Baby Girl!
Once we are considered an adoptive placement and the placement is written on paper IT DOESN'T MATTER if Baby #6 gets here before her adoption is final! Our adoption worker told us that the only difference is that we would be considered strictly an adoptive placement and not a foster home. Once a child is placed with an adoptive family, the adoptive family does NOT have to be licensed.
In short, SHE'S HERE TO STAY!! Praise God!
There is still some other paperwork that has to be written, signed by a judge and filed. The legal father's TPR date was in early November so we are waiting on that order to be written, signed and his 30 days appeal period to lapse. But, I'm TOTALLY not worried about any of that because to date they've been unable to contact the legal father so I doubt he'd appear now and appeal his TPR.
Whew! Y'all still there?
God is so good. I would hope that we'd have Baby Girl's adoption final by mid-to-end January. But, they are moving and retraining a new county attorney so that may not happen as swiftly as we'd like.
Thank you all for praying along side us with the adoption of our children! God is just so very, very good!
While I was sleeping in one morning, our social worker (not Baby Girl's original social worker or her new, adoption social worker...that's #3 are you keeping count?) called and gave us some news that if Baby Girl's adoption was not official before the birth of Baby #6 that there could be a problem. Ideally, we were hoping and praying that Baby Girl's adoption would be final and then Luke and I could voluntarily terminate our foster parent license. If that couldn't happen (because Baby Girl was not legally adopted) then our County office would have to appeal the state for a license waiver. The waiver would be to allow us to be a licensed foster home with 6 children rather than 5. Our state law is that foster homes can only be licenses for up to 5 children.
You still with me? However, since Baby Girl is legally in the custody of the state, they could say "No" to our appeal and remove her from our home. Needless to say I was quite worried. Still, I knew that if God's plans were to remove Baby Girl then all my worrying wouldn't do much to change that.
So I began to pray and I asked others to pray. God has heard those prayers and answered them in a BIG way.
I spoke with Baby Girl's adoption worker today. The BEST news is that Baby Girl's birth mother did NOT appeal the TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) order!! She had until yesterday at 5:00pm to appeal and as of 10:30am today the attorney's office had NOT received an appeal! WHOOOOOPIE!!!
Today our case should be taken to adoption committee where we would be deemed an adoptive placement for Baby Girl!
Once we are considered an adoptive placement and the placement is written on paper IT DOESN'T MATTER if Baby #6 gets here before her adoption is final! Our adoption worker told us that the only difference is that we would be considered strictly an adoptive placement and not a foster home. Once a child is placed with an adoptive family, the adoptive family does NOT have to be licensed.
In short, SHE'S HERE TO STAY!! Praise God!
There is still some other paperwork that has to be written, signed by a judge and filed. The legal father's TPR date was in early November so we are waiting on that order to be written, signed and his 30 days appeal period to lapse. But, I'm TOTALLY not worried about any of that because to date they've been unable to contact the legal father so I doubt he'd appear now and appeal his TPR.
Whew! Y'all still there?
God is so good. I would hope that we'd have Baby Girl's adoption final by mid-to-end January. But, they are moving and retraining a new county attorney so that may not happen as swiftly as we'd like.
Thank you all for praying along side us with the adoption of our children! God is just so very, very good!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Never did I ever
As a Mom there are often things that I say to my children that shock me. Often, it makes logical sense and goes directly with the flow of conversation between myself and either a three or five year old. However, most of these are things that I never, ever thought I'd be saying outloud (or even in my head for that matter).
"What did you just eat off your foot?"
"Please stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about."
"No, you may not eat your food while you go poop."
"Yes, you can put your sword in the refrigerator if it will help you focus on eating your lunch."
"No. We cannot have grass for lunch.....I don't care if that's what elephants eat for lunch, we do not eat grass."
"Please do not put things you pick off of your body into your mouth."
"I think I can wipe myself, thank you......I am a grown up."
"Because I'm a mean mother and I don't let my children eat candy for breakfast."
"No, when the baby gets here you cannot drink breast milk like a baby."
"Because showing someone your penis is not nice."
"We do not eat out of the trash can! Ever. Even if it is laying right on top."
"Please get your finger out of your sister's nose."
"Please do not bite your toenails."
"Because gum that's on the bottom of your shoe is nasty and doesn't need to be chewed."
"No. I will not name the baby Alligator Beaver....Yes, it does sound silly."
"What you just did made Jesus very, very sad....No, I'm sure He is sad and not asleep."
"Please do not lick the toilet."
What are some of the things you never thought you'd say?
"What did you just eat off your foot?"
"Please stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about."
"No, you may not eat your food while you go poop."
"Yes, you can put your sword in the refrigerator if it will help you focus on eating your lunch."
"No. We cannot have grass for lunch.....I don't care if that's what elephants eat for lunch, we do not eat grass."
"Please do not put things you pick off of your body into your mouth."
"I think I can wipe myself, thank you......I am a grown up."
"Because I'm a mean mother and I don't let my children eat candy for breakfast."
"No, when the baby gets here you cannot drink breast milk like a baby."
"Because showing someone your penis is not nice."
"We do not eat out of the trash can! Ever. Even if it is laying right on top."
"Please get your finger out of your sister's nose."
"Please do not bite your toenails."
"Because gum that's on the bottom of your shoe is nasty and doesn't need to be chewed."
"No. I will not name the baby Alligator Beaver....Yes, it does sound silly."
"What you just did made Jesus very, very sad....No, I'm sure He is sad and not asleep."
"Please do not lick the toilet."
What are some of the things you never thought you'd say?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Giveaway! Giveaway! Read all about it...
What's that?
You didn't know you could win something? Shame on you! Here are the quick details....
I'm hosting a SUPER, AWESOME, FABULOUS giveaway. Click here to read about how YOU can win 1 of 5 copies of the Jesus Storybook Bible!
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, November 18th. Go! Click HERE now! Um.....you know, please.
You didn't know you could win something? Shame on you! Here are the quick details....
I'm hosting a SUPER, AWESOME, FABULOUS giveaway. Click here to read about how YOU can win 1 of 5 copies of the Jesus Storybook Bible!
Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, November 18th. Go! Click HERE now! Um.....you know, please.
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