Spring is in the Air

Getting closer

Today for the first time Riley started saying "Ma" when she wants me. It seriously brought tears to my eyes. I thought she would never start saying it. She always says Daddy when I try to get her to say Mama and then laughs. So we are making progress. Maybe by the time she turns 2 she will be calling me Mama! :)

Thoughts

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and glory.
Because you love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for the jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
(Psalm 63)

I have been reading a book by several different authors entitled "A Woman and Her God". Each chapter is by a different author. In this first chapter the psalm I have included at the top is written. Talk about really making me stop and think. Let's look at the first 6 words -"O God you are my God". Is that something we can say? Have any of us encountered him in a way that he has become our refuge and strength? Think about the intimacy we are to enjoy with God! I confess that I am not real good about reading my bible everyday and studying his Word as I should. It is something that I am trying to do- make it into a habit, a discipline. There are many things that we can make into a discipline- bible study, exercise, eating healthier, praying, watching less TV, more time with the kids, and the list could go on. Doing these things even when you are completely exhausted is discipline. But the everyday longing that we should have to be with our Lord- that thirsting is given to us from the Holy Spirit and we should desire it more than life. Do we? I confess, yet again, that there are days I don't. It doesn't mean that that longing is not there, I have just pushed it out of the way and tried to fill it with other things, but not the one thing that matters. God wants us to come to a point in our relationship with Him where we can say " You are number one in my life Lord. You trump every other love in my life, every other experience, every other purpose and goal. YOU ARE MY LIFE!! Not just when I need you, your comfort, your help- 24/7 you are my life." We were meant to devote ourselves wholly to Him. This is something that I struggle with. I probably shouldn't, maybe it shows where I am in my walk with Him. I want to do better. The days that I feel that emptiness and longing, instead of filling it with the Lord, I try other, worldly things: food, the kids, blogging, trying to be the best mom I can be without loosing my patience, and anything else. It will not work unless I not only turn it over to God, but fully concentrate on Him. I want to love him with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. Lord willing, He will teach me how to get there.

With a heavy heart

I found out tonight that some friends of our received bad news. We knew the Bradford's back while we were in school and attended the same church until their move to TX a few years back. They have struggled with infertility for a long time, trying various methods to conceive. They decided to go with adoption and were placed with a family back in the fall. This last week they drove to a Iowa to await the birth of their son. The due date passed and there was no progress. Then yesterday they found out that the birth parents decided to keep the child. There are no words to describe what sadness and anger they are feeling at this moment. Please say a prayer for them. That the Lord will wrap them in His arms and give them peace and comfort that only He can provide. Pray that they will not be discouraged and will know that there is a better plan out there for them. Thank you for lifting them up before the Lord.

Task #1- Completed!

Last night I mailed off my application for a TN teaching license. It was pretty exciting. It took me a while to get all the information together. Hopefully I will not have any additional classes or tests that I will have to take to obtain it. When I graduated (6 years ago) TN was a reciprocal state with AR, and I am hoping that it still is. The next step is to apply for a job in the county. So far I have seen a few special ed jobs listed, so hopefully there will be one open (preferably in middle school or high school!) If you will, say a prayer for smooth sailing here on out- more specifically for the license to come through, to be hired by the county and to find a job in the grade level I would like. I'll even take 2 of the 3! Thanks for your prayers!

Web Drawings

It was time for the kids to take a nap, or in Caleb's case have a rest time, and I split the boys up. Caleb in their room and Ian in ours. Now in the past this has worked to my advantage- Ian has goten a much needed nap and Caleb rested or slept. I put Ian in our bed, moved all the books, pens, water, tissues, and anything that could possibly cause damage to the room or harm to Ian. Thinking I had put them in a safe spot, left the room. About 1 1/2 hours later Ian comes downstairs and I notice that his veins are looking rather dark and large. As he gets closer I notice that there are different color lines on his body. Apparently I didn't place the pens in a high enough area and he decided that he would be spider man and make his own suit. I go upstairs, cannot find the pens anywhere, thankful that there are no pen marks on the walls, sheets, furniture (see previous posts) and then notice there are tissues everywhere, books scattered and the laundry basket overturned by the bookcase. My inventive child ..... ;) One day I am sure I will find a way to put things where my climbers cannot reach them.

oh by the way, I found the pens and a neatly scribbled upon book in my dresser drawer this morning.

Love Bugs

The kids and I were just wrestling on the floor and once we stopped the boys both started picking at my arms and cheeks. I asked them why they were pinching me. Caleb told me they were love bugs and Ian added that I was getting love bug kisses. They then both proceeded to tell me that they loved me and I was their favorite! I am sure I will no longer be the favorite once Daddy gets home, but it was music to this mamas ears!

A Zoo Trip with Friends

We were so blessed to spend the day with the Tomlinson Family at the zoo. We loaded everyone up in the van and headed out about mid morning. The zoo was crazy!! There were cars parked on the grass almost to the entrance. I really thought that we would have to park back there, but there were several spaces up in the parking lot. We found one and decided to eat on the grass since we were unsure of how many picnic tables would be available. It was actually a lot of fun. The kids dug in the dirt while we got cleaned up and everything put away. Then we
headed in. We could hear the monkeys the moment we got out of the car so that had to be the first stop. They were actually right on the edge, by the water. Then we headed over to the elephants and giraffes. They were really close. From there we saw the cats and the alligators. One of the pictures on the side is Ian with the meerkats. They cam running up to the glass and were watching the kids. One tried to scratch it's way out. Kind of freaked all the kids out. The meerkats are always Riley's favorite. I was amazed that all the animals were out, moving and interested in the people! I
got this cute picture of the 3 boys watching the baby alligators at Alligator Cove. It was a great trip. They did amazingly well till right before we left. They started getting tired, cranky and whiny. Riley was not complaining at all. It was a little after 3 and she hadn't slept at all. So I was pretty amazed at her demeanor. On the way home the boys talked and played. Next time I think we will go when the Daddy's can go too. And we will make sure to hit the awesome jungle playground they have there.

Wounds

Since visiting new churches, Riley has had to deal with some battle wounds. On our first Sunday at Community, she was bit on the toe. On our last visit a young lady (baby) was trying to hug her. Now Riley isn't one to really cuddle or stand there for you to hug her. So as hard as the little lady tried, she couldn't hug Riley. I am thinking that she flapped her hands in frustration and was a little to close to Riley's face. As you can see, she got nicked pretty good on her nose. She whimpered a little when we got her after church. But she is fine. Maybe soon she will learn it is ok to hug, and will stop getting beat up for it! :)

Finally!

I finally completed the Patriarchs study. I was sad to end it, but am excited that I may get to do another one. Hermitage Church of the Nazarene (down the street) is starting "When Godly People do UnGodly Things". If the price is right (and it has to be right with 3 kids in childcare!) then I think I will try and do that one. It will also give me a chance to get to know some ladies in the area that we live in. Who knows maybe I will see Holly (the lady half of the couple we bought the house from!)

Praying God's Word

I have been reading "Praying God's Word" by Beth Moore. Many of you already know that I am a huge fan of Beth's. Not a groupie, mind you, but a fan of her methods of teaching and the way she teaches. She is wonderful at it, and the Lord has blessed her tremendously. Anyway, I began reading this about 3 months ago and then I lost the book and have recently found it. I try to read through a chapter and mark the prayers that are significant at that moment. Them before I go to bed, I pray them. They have really opened my eyes, not only to myself and my thoughts and actions, but to the outside world as well. I can more readily see things that I might not have before. Last night I read the chapter on Pride. I don't consider myself prideful, but there in lies the problem. Does anyone consider themselves prideful? Am I being prideful by not thinking I am? Now I understand why pride is so difficult to discern. I wanted to leave you with a few excerpts from the book:

*Father, you led your children, the Israelites, all the way in the desert for forty years, to humble them and to test them in order to know what was in their hearts, whether or not they would keep your commandments. (Deut.8:2) Help me to understand that sometimes You lead me on certain paths to humble me also and to see what is in my heart. purify my heart, Lord, so that You will take joy in what you find

*Like the apostle Paul, help me to serve You, Lord, with great humility and with tears, even when I am severely tested (acts 20:19)

*O, God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. (Titus 3:2)


*Father, You have told me to do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider other better than myself. (Phil. 2:3) Right at this moment, I confess all selfish ambition and vain conceit to You. Forgive me for so often considering myself better than others. Help me to look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. Please give me an attitude as that of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:4-5)

* Under conviction of worldliness, many well meaning persons have simply transferred their huge egos from the world to the church. Beware of spiritual ambition. We are most useful to God when poured free of self and full of Christ.

A church hunting we will go...

Who knew that it would take SO long to find a place to call "home". We have almost been in Nashville a year now. Crazy to say that. It really has not felt like a year. We have visited many churches. Ones we walked in and knew they were not fir us, others we have visited for a while and never quite fit in. We are not alone in our quest for a church home. There are friends of ours that have been here longer than us that are still struggling to find a place of Worship. How can that be in a town as large as Nashville and with so many places to visit? Certainly we could find one that not only "fits" us, but one where we can be welcomed at! Maybe it is the fact that there are so many to choose from.

We have been visiting the last 3 weeks at Community Church of Hendersonville. It has been an amazing experience. The classes are wonderful and the people are as friendly as we have yet to meet! I think the first day there we met at least 20 people. Yesterday as we walked into the Sanctuary, imagine our surprise to look on the front pew and see none other than Lynne Lawson! Now for those of you who do not attend Levy, Lynn is one of the most amazing women you will ever meet. She is one of those women that loves you no matter what, is truly interested in your life and invests herself in you. You are her family (and she has a ton of real family right there!). She was as surprised to see us. I had not made the connection before, but her son, Kevin, is the worship leader at Community. After I but two and two together, he certainly looks like his mom! It was so refreshing to see a familiar face. It was also wonderful to visit with her and get caught up on the family. She introduced us to her grandchildren (2 of which I remember talking to her after they were born) and her son and daughter in law. She and Tom sure did raise some wonderful children.

Last night we attended a home group for the first time. They have them once a month, so we were blessed to meet many families there. It was exciting and interesting. There was such diversity there. They are doing the Nooma series. It was quite interesting. One of the neatest things about Community is that we have been able to "re-kindle" so to speak a relationship with Jason and Lea. We knew them in college and it has been amazing to re-connect. Maybe we have found a church home. Maybe not, the Lord will reveal it soon (hopefully).

Interesting blogs

I wanted to let you know of a couple blogs that have had some really good discussions latley. Over on Lisa's blog there is a post about Leah. One of my favorite stories has become that of Jacob and Esau, Leah and Rachael and their children. On another blog, Trey Morgan has begun a discussion about sexual misconduct and church leaders. With so many churches (either in the public eye or in private) struggling with this issue, how to we as a church begin to heal or solve these issues? Neva had a wonderful post on Dropping Rocks- go readit. If it doesn't hit you I'm not sure what will! :)

These are just a few that I have been reading and posting on and thought that you all might enjoy joining in on the discussions. Have a wonderful and blessed Friday!

The newest Ensor

Katy Jace Ensor was born this morning. She is so pretty. We haven't seen her in person yet (who in their right minds would take 3 kids to a hospital!?!?), but there are pictures and stats on their website: http://www.bundleofjoys.com/sites/vailblue/index.php

Pigtails!!

Yes- Riley has enough hair for pigtails! I was so excited 1. that she actually let me try yesterday and this morning and 2. that they actually stay in. I got the idea when we picked her up from Bible class on Sunday. She wouldn't leave her barrette in so someone had put the front part of her hair in a ponytail to keep it out of her eyes. Matt and I got a kick out of it. So we tried the double ponies. They look so cute and it just makes her look so much older! They are not to even- I'll have to work on that- but you try to get them in with a 15 month old wiggling around! :)

What not to Wear?

Ok, so you'll have to turn your head to take a look at the first one. Every now and then I miss turning one around. Sorry! They kids were outside playing while the weather has been SO nice here. Ian had such an interesting outfit on that I had to show you. He and Caleb both had on frog boots, but Ian also had on his spider man costume. They had a ton of fun on their skateboards and Ian was trying to bust some Spider Man moves on it. He almost did a kick flip and got over excited and fell off. Caleb likes to just get on his belly or knees and roll away. He will do some tricks but only if he knows he can do it. (a little perfectionist on my hands!)

A young lady and her baby

Riley has just begun playing with the baby doll set that her Aunt Heather and Uncle Scott got her for Christmas. She loves to carry the "bebe" around and play with her. The baby is not always right side up or set down too gently but she has a lot of fun with her.

Times when you need a friend

Caleb was placed in timeout the other morning for hitting. I walked out of the office for a second to get something. Right when I returned I see Riley walk over to him, pat him on the head and then nestle herself right beside him. She looked at me, nodded and then put her hand on Caleb's leg. I guess he looked so upset she wanted to comfort him. Next thing I know Ian is on the other side telling me that he will sit in time out too until Caleb gets up.

Happy Birthday Laura!

Today is Laura's Birthday! I have known Laura since my freshman year at Harding when I pledged Chio's. I was a pledge and learning every ones name and getting use to seeing them out of context (pledging stuff). And of all places I had just walked into the bathroom and as Laura was walking out she asked if I knew her name....!!! I knew her face and knew it started with an L. Luckily she took pity on me and reminded me what her name was. I got to know Laura better the following year, along with the 2 Christy's and rediscovered an old friend in Jen. She has been a wonderful friend over the last several years. We were in each others weddings and had a lot of fun times together. One of the things I loved best about our friendship is how comfortable we are. I can completely be nyself around her- quirks and all. She intoduced me to contemporary christian music, instant and powerful prayers, big bear hugs filled with love, and most important, a true servant heart. For all of those things I am thankful. For those of you who don't know (but most of you do) she and her family are over in Cochabamba, Bolivia as part of a mission team. She has been an inspiration to me since I met her and has helped me grow not only as a Christian but as a woman of God. Happy Birthday my friend! Hope you are having a blessed time at your conference and I hope this is a wonderful day for you!

Petite Lady

Well Riley had her 15 month check up yesterday. Riley is 29cm tall and weighs 20 lbs. I have a feeling that we will be in size 3 diapers for a while. I was a little worried about her height and weight, but the Dr. reassured me everything was fine. Even though she has only gained 1 lb in the last 3 months she is still on her growth curve and she actually has grown a few cm. She will just be petite. I wish I had my camera with me though. After they got all her measurements they had me wait in the common area for a room to open up. So they gave her a yellow snap shirt. It only went right to the top of her diaper, and she had on they pink and white sparkley plaid knee socks (that were Emma's). They nurses got a kick out of her running around the halls with that get up. She did have to get 2 shots. The nurse LaConna, came in and gave them to her. Later Riley saw her in the hall, stopped dead in her tracks frowned at her while shaking her head and pointing at her. LaConna laughed and said "your not going to smile at me" and Riley frowned and shook her head no. So I guess my little lady will have the memory of an elephant!