1 Peter

• Blessings cannot be destroyed and are kept in heaven
• Faith is shown pure in troubles
• Before we know we follow evil ways; now tat we know, we must live a holy life
• As babies want milk, want the teachings; Jesus is the cornerstone
• Live for God, obey authority
• Respect our spouse; wives be holy to influence; not influential by clothes and/or jewelry
• Suffer for doing right = blessed
• Respect Christ, be ready to explain your hope with gentleness and respect
• Strengthen yourself as Christ did to withstand evil desires
• Love will cause sins to be forgiven
• Suffering because a Christian trust and faith gets you through
• Watch over your people humbly as an example not as a ruler
• Give your worries to God

Colossians

• Paul writes to the people of Colossee wishing grace and peace and thanking them for their faith, hope and love
• Christ is first; all things are created through Him and for Him; Christ first rose from the dead and made us friends with God again
• Christ is our only hope for glory; so we share all God's teachings with other people to bring everyone to God
• Paul in body is away from them, but with them in heart
• Be strong in faith as taught and thankful
• Don't be fooled by human teaching
• Don't follow rules of people about eating, drinking, feats; hold tight to Christ - the rules don't really control sinful desires as they aim to
• Paul tells of how you should live with your new life in Christ: think only of heaven, stop evil things for doing them is like serving a false God, forgive, love, everything you do, do for the Lord
• Treat other people well
• Always be kind and pleasant with talking with others
• Paul tells of the people whit him and who he sends to the people
• Share the letter with the church

A New Years Eve to Remember

For the past few years we've enjoyed hosting some of our local friends for New Years Eve.  We play games, eat great food and talk the night away.  This year was no different, except that around 10:30PM there was a loud pop, and the house went DARK!

The wind had been howling terribly for much of the night, so it really wasn't super surprising, until we looked outside and all but 1 other house around us still had power. 

Candles were lit immediately, Caden was EXCITED and on top of that part.  And Keith got the generator hooked up and plugged in some work lights from the garage to light up the dinning room and turn the TV on for the ball drop. 

We all gathered around the TV minutes before the ball drop, and the crowd of kids were on the floor near the power strip and extension cords running power from the generator, when one of the girls fell to the side as the 10 second count down begin and knocked the power out, again!

We laughed and celebrated anyway.  And the fun continued until about 2AM.

The girls went to bed hesitantly just after midnight, not loving the dark.  Ruth fell asleep in my lap and Elinore slept in our bed. 

By morning, both girls were in our bed scared of the dark, and the power didn't return until about 9AM new years day.

Our friends were great and text us that morning with offers of bathrooms and showers and power if needed, but fortunately it was restored for us. 

Table

Earlier this year, during the winter that last into spring, we bought a new kitchen table.  I've wanted a new kitchen table for years.  However, at our old place, we didn't have room for anything bigger.  So after 9 months or so in the new place, we bought on a table.  It wasn't even planned!

My mom and I were out one day and happened to stop in a furniture store that had a boutique within.  While I checked out the boutique, my mom was checking the furniture bargain section, saw a table, that led to me calling Keith to meet me there and we bought a table!

It's big too, with 2 leaves in it to make it even bigger!

We didn't need to the leaves in it for our family dinner at home, so we had kept them stored within the table (neat feature).  But after having a mother's day cookout at our place, we'd put the leaves in and are keeping them in.  Now I think, our table is big and always ready should be have someone stop by or have folks for dinner. 

To me, it's a sign that our table is ready for guests, and I need to remember that hospitality mindset.

Friends

There was a time in my life when I was in search of friends.  I need my people, who supported me, loved me and where close and accessible. 

Don't get my wrong I have had friends over the years, but life changes impact friends as do moves, and I had a lot going on, didn't have a lot of time, and needed people.

Every time I met a new gal I'd think, could she me by friend?  She seems nice?  How can I extend an invitation to start a friendship?  And I was always thinking this way, looking for friends, trying to build friendships to carry me and my family on our adventures.  I knew I needed people. 

I distinctly remember on of the first time I realized I had been somewhat successful at this.  My family had been sick; and a 2nd cousin of my and some folks from the church brought my family dinner.  It was left from a SOUP meal they had served at the church that night, but they thought of us and brought of a warm home cooked meal.  The left that food for us an I remember telling Keith, "we have people!"  And I meant so much with that; we had people who loved us, thought of us and cared for us in a way that I'd been looking for in friendships. 

That was a starting point for us, and I think we've done a wonderful job of connecting to people and building a community of friends for each of us individually, but as a family too.  We have people.  They're people from church; they're family, and a few good friends I've known for many years now.  I believe God wants us to live in community with people who loves us, and we've built that.  Friendships and relationships take time and forgiveness and communication and we've done that.  And I couldn't be happier!  Thank you Lord for these people! 

I've always wanted our home to be a place for people to gather, and I think I tried to push that too hard early on after we've bought our own place, but naturally it has happened over time and we welcome groups of friends, family, friends families, and our kid's friends into the home often.  This past summer, our first summer at our new home, was the epitome of that, and I'm not sure we'll have a summer like that again, but we were able to gather people from all our different areas together celebrating and enjoying each other and introducing our people to each other and it was a beautiful thing. 

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In the last few months I've had this realization; I still think like I did when I was searching for friends when I meet new people.  Maybe I'm misguided, maybe I'm ignorant, but I realized I don't need to do this anymore.  It's not that I'm not open to meeting new people and developing relationships, but I don't have to search so hard for more people.  Quality of quantity right?  I already have my people.  Sure that will change with time and life with change, but I will adapt, our family will adapt.  If I keep searching for more friends now; I need more time for each of those friendships, and I don't want that to take away from the current friendships!  I don't want those to suffer because I feel the need to keep searching for more, more, more. 

These are the days of...

These are the days of:

• Pre-teen angst
• Potty training
• Busy work schedules
• Ballet
• Swim lessons
• Cub Scouts
• ROCK Group
• Sunday morning church
• Family time
• Family movies nights
• Family game nights
• Adventures with older kids and toddler with grandma
• Reading books
• Working out

Job - Thoughts

As I've been reading through the Bible I take two different kinds of notes.  The main page, or the page on the right side of the composition book I'm using is my notes on what's happening; the story, what I'm reading.  On the back of the other page, or the left side I write things I'm thinking or that drive points in the Bible home, or things I ponder on more.  These are the left page notes from Job.

• Job didn't blame God when bad things happened. - How quick am I to blame God?
• Satan appeared with the angels, twice.
• I want to be a friend like Job's friends that come and sit with him for days just to be with him.  (Not the part where they go on to give him bad advice!)
• Job suffered because he'd been strong in his faith; lean in to Jesus when it gets hard.
• Job 8:7 "where you began will seem unimportant because you future will be so successful." (Bildad speaking)
• The book of Job is a long conversation between friends about God.
• Job & those speaking to him are seemingly getting tired of these long speeches and debates, but they continue.
• Job sees God as the cause of his pain; his friends see sin as the cause of his pain.
• Wisdom/understanding comes from the spirit, not age.
• Job's friends give bad advise & blame his sin for his suffering, but God is growing and testing Job.

One of those doors is you

My kids have introduced me to some families through school that I wouldn't normally have gotten to know, and for that I am thankful. 

However, there are some situations where I feel inadequate to help fill the gap.  I'd been struggling with that for awhile, but last night on the drive home, after one of these evenings, I had a realization.

I will never be adequate.  I am not meant to be adequate to fill the gap.  That is Jesus work.  And suddenly, I feel a little lighter. 

This morning on the drive to work I heard the song "With Every Act of Love" by Jason Gray again.  I've heard it several times, and have always enjoyed it, but this morning it connected directly to this thing happening right now in my life.

"God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you
I said, God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you

Oh, we bring the kingdom come
Oh, with every act of love
Jesus, help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the kingdom"

For the Love

I just finished reading Jen Hatmaker's For the Love book.  It was a great read!  I felt like it was a pep-talk from a good friend.  There was a page in there (p.164) that I loved so much I took a photo of a text to a friend, this is me!  It was uplifting, validating and full of permission I didn't need to be who I am and be loved for it.

Old Friends

Over the weekend I was able to head out to the childhood home of a dear friend of mine.  Her mom and brother still live there and we were friends growing up.  Molly lives across the country now, and has for awhile now!  But I am glad I get to see her every few years when she's back in town. 

We've grown apart and back together a few times over the years and we certainly haven't been close all those years, but we've always been friends.  Email has brought us a little closer together again than we have been in awhile, and for that I'm grateful.  I admire what she's done over the years and what she's doing with her little family now.  You're doing well my dear!

It was so sweet to see my little girls and her little girls playing together in the yard.  And I hope to see you again in time!

A Weekend Away

I've been so proud of my girls lately. 

The girls and I took our first solo road trip this weekend to visit a friend of mind just over 5 hours from home. 

Those girls were troopers for the drive; had a great time, and loved every minute of it!

The car ride there went smoothly; and the girls did so well on it.  They fit right in with my friends little boys and played.  Their manners were great, their moods, even better, and Elinore, well she stole the show.

She picked up toys without being asked, she said her prayers, talked up the adults and tried new things.  She got to walk the pony, feed the pony and kitties, hang out at the barn to watch them and she jumped in for all of it! 

This weekend with a friend was a much needed rest for this mom.  We had no scheduled plans, and just hung out together with out kiddos and caught up and rested.  It was relaxing and just what I needed before jumping back into the chaos that is our everyday. 

Elinore being a good big sister walking Ruth from a rest area.

Feeding the pony.

Sitting on a pony! :)

Ruth loved the park. 



Elinore sat like a mermaid on a rock in the front yard.  Her mermaid rock she called it.  This is how mermaids sit she said!

People

There is a large portion of my life where I've felt like an outsider.  I've rarely felt truely connected to other people would who have my back through challenges and happy times.  It's something I always wanted though.  It was a comfort, a community and a support system. 

 

Don't get me wrong through those many years that was the overarching theme, but there were people for periods that were there for me.  I can think of a few standout ones, even if we're not close now. 

 

The last few years though, I've seen that change in my life.  We have a community; my family has people.  People who love us and care for us and help us out.  People who aren't family, but care anyway. 

 

Much of this comes from our church family.  And I'm so grateful we've found them, and they us.  I've learned a lot of about showing other people we care, and I try to exercise it.  I pray for them and share with them. 

 

For the first time in my life these last few years I've felt like I've belonged.  I've found my home.

 

I also don't think it's a coincidence that this has coincided with my faith.  I grew up in the church; I've known the stories of the Bible for years, but it's only been the last couple years where I've leanred what it really meant to be a follower of Jesus.  I've only started to grasp the greatness of his sacrifice and the beauty of our relationshp with God. 

 

We are never turely along when we have God.  He is our person always and forever. 

 

James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."