God is so incredibly amazing!
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so special, something beyond myself and even my family. At a local level, David and I were able to be part of the Unexpected Christmas Store by providing gifts for a family in need, but also by helping out at the store, wrapping gifts.
And collectively, as a church, we were able to give in an incredible way. Check out these videos.
Unexpected Christmas Store from Ridge Church on Vimeo.
This last video was shown at our Christmas Eve service. I didn't see a dry eye in the place.
What a beautiful thing.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas: the short version; more to come at a later date
It's been a little crazy at my house this week. :)
We were gone from Friday until Monday, enjoying Christmas at Mimi and Papa's house on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then at Grandpa and Grandma's house Sunday and Monday.
We went straight to church from Grandma's on Monday evening. Came home and went straight to bed so Santa could come.
Woke up on Tuesday morning (at 9:15! Thanks for the Christmas present, kids!) and enjoyed the bounty. :)
Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt B came over later that afternoon to see what Santa had brought.
I worked yesterday. I'm working today.
Xander has a stomach bug. :(
I haven't even had time to upload my pictures to my computer. And by my computer, I mean any computer, but especially my brand new MacBook Pro. Yippee!! What a surprise that was!
One day I'll have a chance to sit down and look at that thing...and upload pictures.
But until then, enjoy this one picture I happened to take with my phone.
My little boy was thrilled to have his very own rideable, Lightning McQueen.
Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Stop
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A while back, Xander and I were making words with his letter cookies. I was so proud of him!
And then I started thinking about this particular word on a deeper level.
Stop.
Stop and think about your son sitting before you.
Stop and think about all the blessings God has given.
Stop and remember the greatest gift of all - Jesus.
Stop.
Just stop and listen.
Enjoy the moment.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Teachable spirit
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This has been on my heart over the past few days. This is what I strive for. I've heard this so many times, especially in certain sermons at Ridge church where we always talk about partnering with parents. And how important it is for us, as parents, to teach our children.
I know that I want my children to be teachable. I want them to love to learn. I want them to be humble and open and awestruck at the things they're learning.
And then it hits me. Something I've known and maybe...forgot?
They will only be teachable if I am teachable.
I'm their model right now. That scares me to death on most days, but there's no point in hiding from reality. The truth is that David and I have the most influence on our children right now. And since I'm home with them for basically all but 20ish hours per week -
I really am their biggest influence.
Wow. Soak that up for a minute.
This won't always be the case, so I want to make the most of the time I have to influence my kids.
Here are some things I've been doing with my kids - they're not a list of what you should or shouldn't be doing, they're just things I do. And I'm sure there are many other opportunities I'm missing to live out Christ with my kids. If you have any suggestions, please share!
*I pray with them whenever we get in the car. Just about the day or about something heavy on my heart or a prayer of thanksgiving for something really cool that happened. The fact is, I talk to God with my kids. And in the car, they're a captive audience. :)
*Xander, David and I pray together each night. We each take a turn. I can hear mine and David's words coming out in Xander's little boy speech. It's so sweet. And teaches me how small-minded and narrowly focused my views can be sometimes. :)
*I pray over Amelia Jayne, especially at nap and bedtimes.
*We pray together before meals. Just one more place to fit in prayers with my kiddos.
*I serve at church on Sundays and beyond. This is something I want my kids to learn. It's important that we serve others and live out our love for the Creator of the universe. I want to be a good example for them when it comes to my actions, as well as my words.
*I take my kids to church on a regular basis. Enough said.
*I send my kids to a Christ-centered preschool/daycare.
*I leave my kids with a babysitter every Wednesday night so that David and I can attend a small group. I know it sounds weird to say that I do this "with" my kids, when really I guess I do this for my kids. I think it shows them that time spent in fellowship with other Christians, studying God's word and learning more about Him is important. Xander uses "Bible study" and "small group" as part of his normal vocabulary now. :)
What things do you do with your kids to teach them to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength?"
Proverbs 22:6
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This has been on my heart over the past few days. This is what I strive for. I've heard this so many times, especially in certain sermons at Ridge church where we always talk about partnering with parents. And how important it is for us, as parents, to teach our children.
I know that I want my children to be teachable. I want them to love to learn. I want them to be humble and open and awestruck at the things they're learning.
And then it hits me. Something I've known and maybe...forgot?
They will only be teachable if I am teachable.
I'm their model right now. That scares me to death on most days, but there's no point in hiding from reality. The truth is that David and I have the most influence on our children right now. And since I'm home with them for basically all but 20ish hours per week -
I really am their biggest influence.
Wow. Soak that up for a minute.
This won't always be the case, so I want to make the most of the time I have to influence my kids.
Here are some things I've been doing with my kids - they're not a list of what you should or shouldn't be doing, they're just things I do. And I'm sure there are many other opportunities I'm missing to live out Christ with my kids. If you have any suggestions, please share!
*I pray with them whenever we get in the car. Just about the day or about something heavy on my heart or a prayer of thanksgiving for something really cool that happened. The fact is, I talk to God with my kids. And in the car, they're a captive audience. :)
*Xander, David and I pray together each night. We each take a turn. I can hear mine and David's words coming out in Xander's little boy speech. It's so sweet. And teaches me how small-minded and narrowly focused my views can be sometimes. :)
*I pray over Amelia Jayne, especially at nap and bedtimes.
*We pray together before meals. Just one more place to fit in prayers with my kiddos.
*I serve at church on Sundays and beyond. This is something I want my kids to learn. It's important that we serve others and live out our love for the Creator of the universe. I want to be a good example for them when it comes to my actions, as well as my words.
*I take my kids to church on a regular basis. Enough said.
*I send my kids to a Christ-centered preschool/daycare.
*I leave my kids with a babysitter every Wednesday night so that David and I can attend a small group. I know it sounds weird to say that I do this "with" my kids, when really I guess I do this for my kids. I think it shows them that time spent in fellowship with other Christians, studying God's word and learning more about Him is important. Xander uses "Bible study" and "small group" as part of his normal vocabulary now. :)
What things do you do with your kids to teach them to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength?"
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Littlest Angel
Xander and David went to see The Littlest Angel with Xander's preschool class last Thursday morning. They had a great time! I was working, but a nice thing about working at ImaginOn - I got to sneak in the theatre and watch my little man sit on the front row, enthralled with the happenings on the stage. My little angel is growing up so fast! I can't believe he's already going to plays and being such a big boy. One of the great things about his school being uptown is that they were able to walk from school to ImaginOn. It was great! I think my boys had a blast. :)
Heavy heart
My heart has been heavy regarding the recent shooting in Connecticut.
I don't really know what to say about it, but I can't get it off my mind and heart.
Those children were just babies.
I've been thinking about it ever since I found out.
On Saturday when I dropped my son off at a birthday party.
That morning while I was working at our "Unexpected Christmas" event at church.
While I was helping clean up after the event and on into the night so that we could have our first service in the new building.
On Sunday while I was sitting in the new building, listening to the worship band and praising Jesus.
While I was serving little children in our Waumba environment.
While I was driving my own children to our hometown church so they could watch Grandma and Ee-oo sing in the cantata.
Yesterday as I dropped my own sweet, innocent babies off at preschool.
Then when I picked them up.
As I got up and snuggled my baby girl this morning and then drove off to work.
Every activity I go through seems to remind me of how precious life is and the kind of world we live in.
You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. James 4:14
Some of my friends said some things much better than I could articulate any of my own thoughts, so I'll let their words speak to you, as they did to me.
http://thejudyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/home.html
http://tashavia.blogspot.com/2012/12/dont-choose-fear.html
The Voice paid tribute to the victims with this beautiful rendition of "Hallelujah"
I don't really know what to say about it, but I can't get it off my mind and heart.
Those children were just babies.
I've been thinking about it ever since I found out.
On Saturday when I dropped my son off at a birthday party.
That morning while I was working at our "Unexpected Christmas" event at church.
While I was helping clean up after the event and on into the night so that we could have our first service in the new building.
On Sunday while I was sitting in the new building, listening to the worship band and praising Jesus.
While I was serving little children in our Waumba environment.
While I was driving my own children to our hometown church so they could watch Grandma and Ee-oo sing in the cantata.
Yesterday as I dropped my own sweet, innocent babies off at preschool.
Then when I picked them up.
As I got up and snuggled my baby girl this morning and then drove off to work.
Every activity I go through seems to remind me of how precious life is and the kind of world we live in.
You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. James 4:14
Some of my friends said some things much better than I could articulate any of my own thoughts, so I'll let their words speak to you, as they did to me.
http://thejudyjourney.blogspot.com/2012/12/home.html
http://tashavia.blogspot.com/2012/12/dont-choose-fear.html
The Voice paid tribute to the victims with this beautiful rendition of "Hallelujah"
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