Beyond the gates of splendor January 29, 2007

You must see this documentary. Zac and I watched it last night and were truly blessed. Well I speak for myself, but I think it encouraged Zac too. There were no explosions, swordfights, or fistfights, and he managed to stay awake.

Anywho, this documents the story of the gospel coming to the Waodani people of the Amazon in Ecuador. Five missionary families moved to Ecuador from America to serve these people and in doing so, the five husbands were speared to death. Elizabeth Eliott and Rachel Saint (one of the men’s wife, and one the men’s sister(I think)) forgave the Waodani and moved to their village to share the gospel with them. There was an amazing turn around. This is just the big picture. There are many other stories within the story that are interesting and encouraging. Check it out.

Put your money where your heart is January 26, 2007

We live in a consumerist society (revelation). Although I don’t relish the fact, I understand that no matter what I do or say people are going to shop and spend (including me). One wise person once said “every dollar spent on a product is a vote in favor of their practices.” For many people, doing research on every product that enters their home is just not practical. This is my service to you today. What woman (or metrosexual man) doesn’t need a good tote bag to tote such things around as books, diapers, and the like.

Freesetbags is a business that is in the business of the gospel. They help young women in Calcutta who have been lured into prostitution for a host of different reasons to leave the world of prostitution while sharing the gospel and love of Christ with them. These women make these bags and an honest, living wage. So if you are in the market for a gift for someone or treat for yourself, order one of these.

My arrows January 24, 2007

Bless your heart . . . January 24, 2007

You got a speeding ticket for going 85 in a 55 zone on 280, bless your heart

You recked your favorite pair of shoes in a rain storm, bless your heart

You stubbed your toe for the third time today on that blasted toy, bless your heart

Your favorite patent leather purse got stolen at the mall, bless your heart

Your child looks more like your husband than you, bless your heart

Your child pointed to a picture of Dobby (from Harry Potter) and declared “MOMMY”, bless your heart

Your hair turned green after swimming in that hotel swimming pool, bless your heart

Your child hides your remotes again, bless your heart

Your newest child will not stop spitting up on you, bless your heart

The last movie you saw in the theater was Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, bless your heart

You poured sour milk on your milk this morning and took a huge bite before realizing it, bless your heart

This has been a tribute to all those Scarlett O’hara’s out there that are dear to my blessed little heart. For those of you from the North (Canada that is) ‘bless your heart’ is a common phrase used down here and I just thought I would give you a little sampling of ways in which it might be used. (I don’t know if Miss O’hara actually used this phrase but it does seem O’hara-esque).

Children a blessing, Part I January 23, 2007

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them!”

Psalm 127:3-5

Upon getting pregnant with our first blessing just three months after our wedding day a common response from Christian and non-Christian alike was “Are you crazy?” Shouldn’t we do the American status quo thing and just ‘enjoy each other without children’ for a few years. I guess children are only truly enjoyable after putting in a few years as a married couple. After announcing our second blessing just seven months after welcoming our first the response was speechlessness. People were kind enough to keep their thoughts to themselves.

Although many people enjoy the sight of children, and enjoy to play with them for a few minutes now and then, it seems that a lot of Americans silently view them as a hindrance to career advancement, and hence, self-fulfillment. In some families children merely just fit in to already busy and over scheduled life. For 70 percent of American women children are sacrificed for their careers and not vice versa. (disclaimer: I have much admiration for single mothers that have no other choice than to work jobs to support her children). Some pro-SAHM would argue that women must stay at home with their children to enjoy them, to be there for them when they need you, to give them the gold standard of childcare: a mother who loves them and will kiss all their wounds, give plenty of hugs and bake them fresh cookies. Although I think these are all good reasons, they are not the ultimate reason.

As Christians, our primary motivation is because God tells us that children are a blessing. He tells us to be workers at home. When we send them to daycare or to grandma’s or wherever we may send them day in and day out we send away the blessings that are reaped from having and caring for children. I am a new mother. I have only begun to taste these blessings, and sometimes they are difficult to bear, but I pray for more. The blessings are soul satisfying, sanctifying, and joyous. As Christians mothers we have been given the responsibility to nurture the eternal soul of another. We do this through discipline, teaching, example and a whole lot of love. To do it well we must deny ourselves, the very thing Christ came to teach us. We must examine our hearts and our habits and align them with what is pleasing to God so that we may pass on a legacy of godliness and a knowledge of the truth to our children. This is no small task. It is worthy of our very best labors and of our very precious time.

So it’s been a while January 16, 2007

My last post was a great inspiration and motivation to a more productive and joyful life. I did hit the ground running though as I had started on some of my goals before January 1st. For a while I was excelling in many of the goals I thought were probably too lofty. Simple they were, but difficult to achieve with two little ones underfoot and one husband in need of luv’n'care. I suppose the timing to set such goals was good. Ellie has been sleeping through the night. Both our girls have been enjoying good health.

I would suggest for anyone who has a tendency to procrastinate or who has desires but can’t quite seem to fulfill them to make a list of to-do’s. I always knew I wanted to finish Sophia’s quilt. But to have the thought that I will finish it and to write it down and to tell someone else that I will finish it, and soon, has caused me to work on the thing with determination. I even brought the thing in the car (as a passenger of course). We haven’t yet wasted a crust of bread. I have fallen short in a few areas, but tomorrow is a new day.

On another front, I must enlist all you prayer warriors out there to pray for us. Zac has applied to many programs for graduate school and now we play the waiting game. We would love to get in anywhere. Pray that we would. We would love to be able to afford it without borrowing any more money. Pray that we would receive a good funding package. Zac is applying for a scholorship. Pray that we would get it. We are eternally grateful to the LORD who already knows the outcome of this journey on which we will embark and who has our best interests in mind. Let us not have a moment of anxiety.

Happy new year January 2, 2007

Another blessed year and two blessedly healthy children are ours to celebrate with!

I have already accomplished one of my goals. To organize Sophia and Ellie’s room. This makes me extremely happy as the past few months have been wrought with procrastination and frustration at the lack of order in the room that most needs order. The first order of business was to make a place for everything. We picked up some clear bins in varying sizes at Lowe’s. Next was to purge the room all things that I perceived as garbage, and all things that need to be donated. The outcome was well worth the effort.

For lack of close relationships with godly women that I crave I have also made it a goal to read more books written by such women. Thanks to my amazon wish list and some willing buyers I have already started on this goal also. I have already devoured Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. I not only love the content but I love the language. I probably read it too quickly to profit from the riches of wisdom found therein, but I will read it again this year as time and Sophia and Ellie permit.

I also have to apologize. I promised to post some photos of the gifts I made but in my hastiness I have forgotten to take pictures! I made some aprons. Two halter-style aprons and one manly apron for Zac’s dad. Maybe one day I will be able to take some photos.

My husband has informed me that he is wasting away, so I must go and fix him something to eat.

UPDATE: I thought I would add just a few resolutions.

1. Waste less food

2. Pertains to #1 – Eat more leftovers before they go bad

3. Spend less money on things that get lost or broken (crayons for Sophia – not a good idea)

4. Read more substantive material (i.e. no more magazines)

5. Have a plan for every evening meal

6. Finish Sophia’s quilt

7. Make sure Ellie gets a bath at least every other day

8. Stop putting my foot in my mouth with extended family

9. Watch less television (three hours a week max. and I must be doing something productive, like working on Sophia’s quilt)
10. Be a better wife

11. Be a better mother

12. Be more patient

13. Memorize more scripture

14. Eat no sugar for the next four days (haven’t had any yet and it is almost 7pm-yay!)

15. Exercise more (not to lose weight but to be more fit and healthy)

16. Do all my daily chores, besides supper and laundry on Monday’s, before lunch

17. Learn to balance my checkbook

18. Make a few extra $ for our family

19. Do my work with “a happy heart” (Thanks for the motivation for this one Liz!)

20. Plant some flowers and have them bloom

21. Keep the clutter of the desk and table

22. Write more letters to friends and family

23. Commit more time to charity (I can’t really spend much time outside the home, but I can make things and donate them)

24. Write more letters to my Compassion child Louis

25. Keep the kitchen clean

26. Pray more

27. Practice more hospitality

So there it is. There are many more ways in which I can improve but those are between me and the LORD=)