kids

Today was the day for kids club at the youth center in the city.  Usually Matt goes, because someone has to stay home with Micah.  We decided to switch it up a little this time, and I took the three oldest kids.  It was such a neat time!  Watching my firstborn take complete charge and get the club started and then to watch Cam and Ali take over their parts was just amazing.  I expected to be proud of my kids, I didn't expect to have my heart touched the way it was watching and interacting with the kids at the club.  One little boy, just made my  heart melt.  He had a prayer request- he had a wiggly tooth.  Then he had a praise- his wiggly tooth was going to come out soon!  (Cameron prayed for all the requests and thanked God that this boy had teeth- so hard not to laugh!) Then, when Brianna asked the kids what the best news they've ever had was, This same boy said. "Not that Jesus died, but that he came alive again!"  He continued to answer questions and participate in the most precious little boy way.  He seemed so excited to talk about Jesus.  I was so thankful for the chance he has to be at this youth center and to hear about God's love for him.  He doesn't have the best of circumstances at home.  Then there was the sweet girl who is having trouble at school.   I will be praying for her this week.  Just sitting on the side, watching my own kids pour their hearts into this club and watching the kids there take it all in was priceless.  Wow.   

I could hardly take my eyes off of that one little boy.  I think of the many little kids like him that have it rough at home.  I was amazed at how much he just loves Jesus as best he knows how.  At times I got teary watching him- and the others.  The bigger boys were more reserved and I kept thinking how much I hope this little guy never gets that way.  I hope that he will always be sensitive to God and want to follow His ways.  Maybe he won't forget the truths that he learns at the Bible club and maybe he'll always remember that God loved him enough to send Jesus so that he doesn't have to be separated from God forever.  It's not hard for me to see why Jesus loved the children so much when He was here on earth.  They really are so precious~

missions conference

What a great weekend we had when we were at EBC's missions conference.  Matt was asked months ago if our family would be a part of the conference and we gladly said yes.  We went completely with the intention of being an encouragement to others.  We were totally surprised to find that WE were the ones who were encouraged!  We spent time with absolutely wonderful people, were treated like royalty, and left the conference feeling so full.  We don't have a team of people around us in the western part of MA and sometimes the loneliness (ministry-wise) is discouraging.  Feeling like we had people rallying behind us in support, prayer, and encouragement really made us feel "full".  

One kind of funny thing that happened was on the Saturday of the conference.  We had to be at the church early but I instructed Brianna to let Leah sleep as much as she could (she was getting over being sick) and then take her to the church when she was ready.  Matt and I were in the middle of our first seminar when I heard a child crying.  I could tell it was Leah so I left to find out what the problem was.  It turns out that when she and Brianna came into the church, a man greeted them at the door and told Leah that there was a real live Indian in one of the classrooms.  When Brianna brought her to the classroom and Leah saw the Indian, she burst into tears and grabbed onto Brianna for dear life.  There was a children's conference going on at the same time and "Chief Straight Arrow" was the main speaker.  He is the pastor of the church, but Leah didn't realize that and was terrified!  I calmed her down, explained that he was really very nice and was just dressed up in an Indian costume, and sat in the class with her.  She held me so tightly for the first half hour at least, but by the end of the weekend she said she actually liked him!  I explained to Chief Straight Arrow that our family just may have watched a little too much Daniel Boone :)

We had a welcome basket waiting for us when we walked into the ministry house we stayed at.  One of the ladies from the church had made little blankets for the kids.  Leah LOVED hers.  She even now takes it with her everywhere!  This is at the playground at the church.

 It snowed while we were there. This is Micah's reaction when he found a patch of it.

We are so thankful for the part that we could have at the missions conference and for the people who brought us so much encouragement~

running to win

Today we are all healthy.

I am so thankful!  It has been such a physically and emotionally draining nine months of one sickness after the next.  But even though there was sickness, life still had to go on.  Meals had to be cooked, school had to get done, kids had to get bathed, clothes had to be washed, we had church, soccer, CC, CEF stuff.....  It has not been easy.  

One of the verses I put to memory this year is, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."  I wish I could say that I was running to win every single day.  That my eyes were on the prize.  Not really.  Many days I was completely overwhelmed and as soon as I woke up every morning, my mind was already writing my to-do list for the day.  I am ashamed to admit how many times I would focus on my list of things to get accomplished and overlook the goal of life- to bring glory to God.  I forgot that "the mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."  (Proverbs 16:9)  I would get frustrated when my plans weren't going well because of interruptions and not realize that it was part of God's directing my steps.  He would point me in a different direction ("Leah needs you to stop folding laundry and cuddle with her", or "Andrew needs you to take time to do his math with him.  He is feeling insecure about his abilities", or "I know you hate shopping, but Brianna could really use some time with you" or "Why don't you stop worrying about the house and just play a game with the kids", or "Take some time to ask Matt about how he's doing with summer ministry plans".....)  So many times I would keep looking at my list and as I got interrupted, I would get frustrated.  I would see the clock ticking closer to the end of the day and my list had way too many things left undone.  I would tell myself I would get up earlier the next morning to get a jump start- and I would.  But, by the middle of the day I'd be SO TIRED and.....a little edgy. :/  Guilt followed.  I sure wish I hadn't been so snappy.  

RUN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU MAY WIN

Win what?  The Good Housekeeping Award?  The Mother-of-the-Smartest-Kids Award?  The Best-Loved-by-Others Award? The Best Cook Award?

Win what?

"they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable"

Clean house, good food, perfect organization, thin body.....perishable.

Investment in the lives of my husband and children, time with the Lord, going His way and not my own....imperishable.

Time for a priority check.

Sometimes God gives me all the strength I need to enjoy the walk....

                                 ....Sometimes I need to enjoy the times in His arms as He carries me.

Scripture Memory Challenge- 8

Philippians 2:16
Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Scripture Memory Challenge- 7

I forgot to post the verse I've been working on memorizing and applying since the beginning of the month.  I am taking it as a challenge.  Am I, as a representative of my generation, praising God and His works to the generation of my children?  I am determined to be intentional about that.  Judges 2:10 tells the sad truth that "there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel"  If another generation arises after mine that does not know the Lord and the amazing things He has done, I will not let it be because I did not declare Him and His works.  It takes being intentional but by His grace I will be!

clouds and rainbows

Still hard to see the silver lining in the clouds we've been experiencing.  We have 5 sick kids in the house now.  Here, Leah and Caleb are sick but I thought some fresh air would do them some good.  Sunday afternoon we hiked Wilbraham Mountain again. Caleb was coughing insanely all the way, but I think it may have loosened things up which I'm pretty sure will decrease his chances for this horrible chest cold turning into pneumonia.  Leah went up and down in the backpack.  I actually took her out so she could walk a short distance, but I couldn't let her walk too long since I needed to keep her asthma under control.  It was good to get to the top.

On the way down, I fell twice with Leah on my back.  I will be feeling it tomorrow I am sure.  Cameron took her down the rest of the way in the backpack. 

Matt knew how tired and overwhelmed I was and treated us all to a dinner made by him!  It was a welcome treat.

Then..... a reminder I needed.......

~Thankful for God's promises~

sickness, cabin fever, disappointment, refreshment

Once again weekend plans we were looking forward to were canceled due to sickness.  I had to leave CC early yesterday (another mom volunteered to fill in for me) when Caleb came down with a fever.  Leah (sick) was already at home with Brianna (who was sick also) and Micah (who was not sick).  Alissa felt pretty lousy too with a headache and sore throat.

Andrew has been restless and Micah relentless.  Baby boy just follows me around the house crying.  I decided I needed to do something.  We needed to get out.  I found the backpack my sister got me last year for Micah and decided to give it a try.  I took Micah, Drew, and Cameron and we hiked a trail on Wilbraham Mountain.   Apparently I am old and out of shape- it was no cake walk!  But it was well worth it.  The fresh air felt so good and we even stopped to listen to the quiet.  Amazing.  

On our way home we stopped at the bank so Cam could deposit a check. And, since it is Friday, the bank gives out free popcorn!    What a great morning.  We were only gone for less than an hour so it didn't interrupt the whole day.  When I got home Caleb's fever was 102.  Back to reality.  I am thankful though for God's creation.  It is so refreshing!