Great Expectations

Lessons from the Shunammite Woman Part 2

2012-01-19T14:42:00.000-08:00

I learned a lot from the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 (see previous post), but then I discovered that she makes headlines again in 2 Kings 8. Here it is in NIV…

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.” ²The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.

³At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to the king to beg for her house and land. ⁴The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” ⁵Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to beg the king for her house and land.

Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” ⁶The king asked the woman about it, and she told him.

Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.”

I was so excited when I read this! That horrible experience that the Shunammite woman went through was more than just a heart check. God redeemed that tragic incident in her life and used it for her good—to bless her and her family abundantly at just the right time! I guess I knew that, but to see it played out in Scripture reminded me of God’s love and goodness and grace.

To the God of grace who redeems our broken dreams and is working in ways we can not even fathom, to Him be all the glory and honor and praise forever, Amen!

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Lessons from the Shunammite Woman Part 1

2012-01-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

I recently read through 2 Kings for my Bible study. I was excited to revisit the story of the Shunammite woman that was first brought to my attention by Phil Vischer creator of Veggie Tales in his autobiography Me, Myself & Bob.

2 Kings 4:8-37 tells the story of a woman from the Biblical city of Shunem. We know that she was “well-to-do” with a knack for hospitality. Upon recognizing that Elisha was a “holy man of God,” she and her aged husband built a room on their roof for the prophet to stay whenever he came.

To thank the woman, Elisha announced that she would have a son. The woman objected, not because she didn’t want a child, but because she did not want to get her hopes up. She had given up this dream years ago.

Fast forward one year and, just as Elisha said, the woman was holding a newborn son in her arms. Her dream had come true. Now, fast forward a few more years… the child goes out to his father in the field and tells him that he has a headache. He is taken to his mother and ends up dying in her arms.

Was this some sort of cruel joke? Why would God allow her dream of having a child to come true and then snatch her dream away? This is the question Veggie Tales creator Phil Vischer was asking in Me, Myself & Bob. God had given him a big dream. He wanted to do big things for God through media. He aspired to be the Christian Walt Disney. It looked like he was on his way to achieving this dream. God was doing amazing things as Veggie Tales exploded in popularity. Then it all fell apart. Eventually, Phil Vischer lost everything. His company went bankrupt and all he had worked so hard for was gone. What was God doing?

We know that God does not look at what man looks at. God looks at the heart. Perhaps God was looking into the hearts of the Shunammite woman and Phil Vischer to determine who or what they loved the most—God or their dream? When we suffer the loss of a dream, we have the opportunity to declare our allegiance. Who or what matters most to us? Will we cling to our dreams or will we hold fast to our God?

So, how does the story end? As Phil Vischer suggests, sometimes God gives us our dream back and sometimes he doesn’t… and that’s okay. The Shunammite quickly heads out to find Elisha who returns to Shunem with the woman and does a miracle. The boy’s life is restored. As for Phil Vischer, Big Idea and Veggie Tales are gone, but he is currently creating for his new company Jellyfish Labs. Perhaps God is giving him new dreams. The lesson we can learn in all this is that God plus nothing is enough. There is no dream, no ministry, no achievement that can add to who God is in our lives. He is enough… He is everything!

As important as this lesson has been in my life, I am so excited about what God taught me a few chapters later through this same woman. I’ll post again soon with the amazing sequel of the Shunammite’s story!

2011 in Review (my 100th post!)

2011-12-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

January 1^st, 12:01am

I rung in the new year reading Phil Vischer’s book Me, Myself & Bob. It was all about our hopes and dreams and what happens when we lose them. If you want the Cliff’s Notes version check out Phil Vischer speaking on iTunesU.

January 5^th

Our first appointment with a fertility doctor. We spent 2 hours with the doctor reviewing our history and determining a plan, which included several tests and possible treatment.

February

Interview and accept a position with the Mom’s Day Out program at the church to begin the next school year.

February 12^th

Brandon organizes an amazing conference for teens and their parents called Uncomplicated.

February 23^rd

Positive pregnancy test.

March

Attend Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Chicago. Brandon did a great job as a presenter and I learned a ton at the many sessions I was able to attend.

April

Lots of doctor appointments and not feeling well at all.

May 10^th

Voted in as PTO secretary for Owen’s school.

May 18^th

Move up to high school ministry after 11 years serving in junior high. No more sitting on the floor!

June

Head to Kentucky for the junior high missions trip. VBS was all about the Bible this year.

July 3^rd

Miles turns 4! We partied with our family and cousins at Monkey Joes.

July 6^th

Head to Galena with my friend Jessi to kick off a new Bible study that will take us through the entire

Bible.

July 22^nd

Memorial service for Grandma Schmidt in Celina. Brandon led the outdoor service.

July 25^th

My first official job event for MDO. I organized a workshop in which my mom was the featured speaker. She did great!

July 30^th

Brandon officiates his first wedding for the Carlsons. It was a beautiful day!

August 6-13^th

Family vacation in Door County. We rented a cottage on Lake Michigan for the week. The boys loved playing on the beach even if there were dead fish everywhere!

August 24^th

Owen starts 1^st grade with Mrs. Welden who was also his kindergarten teacher.

September 10^th

Head to Lake Geneva for a day with my mom and grandma along with Jody and June. We took a boat ride and went out for lunch.

October 2^nd

Brandon speaks at Walk to Remember, a special memorial for families who have lost children through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death.

October 21-23^rd

Senior High fall retreat in Lake Geneva. I was able to go for the day on Saturday.

October 26^th

Samuel Brandon Early born at 3:46pm weighing 7lbs 13oz and 21 inches long. I ended up having an emergency c-section.

November 23-26^th

Head to Ohio for Thanksgiving. It was quite an interesting car trip with our family of 5!

November 24^th

Owen turns 7! He had chosen a birthday dinner at JMK Nippon a few days earlier.

December

Christmas parties and lots of family time. The boys enjoyed reading Jotham’s Journey for advent this year. We also made our birthday cake for Jesus. I think Samuel enjoyed his first Christmas!

Big, Fat Squirrel

2011-11-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

As I was driving home the other day, I spotted a big, fat squirrel sitting under a tree having a nice little snack. What a lazy little guy I thought. Must be nice to just sit around all day and eat. Then I realized that this fat squirrel was not so lazy after all. He was simply preparing for what was sure to come... winter.

Although here in the Midwest we are all preparing for another winter, we are each experiencing different seasons in our own lives. Some are rejoicing in God's provisions and blessings while others mourn the tragedies that break our hearts in this fallen world. Unlike the fairly predictable weather patterns that occur each year, the seasons of our lives have no such routine. There is no way of knowing what each new day will bring.

It is easy to feel like sitting around and devoting time to Bible study and prayer is a waste of time and not very productive. I need to take notes from that big, fat squirrel and realize the importance of storing up for whatever lies around the corner. I believe it was Beth Moore who made the statement that you will never waste a minute in God's word.

Thank you God for your provision and thank you for those seasons in our lives where we can store up what we need to weather the harshest winters.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

Brotherly Love

2011-11-16T19:04:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is Awana night for Owen. In addition to having a great time at church, Owen enjoys getting to stay up a little later. He has become a master of dragging out his bedtime routine as long as possible. Tonight, as Owen was getting ready for bed, he came in to kiss his new baby brother one last time. After a last round of snuggles and hugs, I told Owen that Samuel has a really great big brother. As Owen walked out of the room to head to bed, he said, "I can't wait until Samuel asks Jesus into his heart."

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5

I Trust You

2011-10-30T18:59:00.001-07:00

It is kind of a weird feeling going to bed knowing that you will wake up the next morning and head to the hospital to have a baby. I think I got a little sleep, but of course my mind was busy wondering if I had everything packed and ready to go and what the next day would hold.

A routine induction had been scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, 2011, but it would wind up being anything but routine. We arrived at Swedes a few minutes after 6am. We were checked in and nurse Kelly got things going. I was given pitocin a few hours later in hopes that it would speed up the irregular contractions I had been having the last few weeks of the pregnancy. Throughout the morning we heard reports from some of the nurses that the labor and delivery floor was becoming a very busy place.

Just before noon my nurse Chelly came in and said that we were going to go ahead with the epidural because the anesthesiologist was on the floor and they weren’t sure when he’d be back. Sounded like a very good idea to me! I think it was around 2:30-3:00pm when my doctor came in and broke my water. This was the final step in getting this labor into full swing. This is when things got exciting.

Almost immediately after having my water broken, I began experiencing horrible pains with each contraction. This was strange since I had an epidural and had been doing really well with pain all morning. Contractions were coming closer and closer together and the pain was getting more intense each time. I was at the point of tears, so an anesthesiologist was called back to the room to adjust my medications.

The next minutes were a bit blurry. It went from my nurse and the anesthesiologist in my room to about 8 more people in the room. I vaguely remember hearing the very slow beeps on the baby’s heart rate monitor in the midst of all the conversations amongst medical personnel. Later we learned that the baby’s heart rate had dropped to 60 beats per minute and he was not responding to any of the doctor’s and nurse’s attempts to restore his heart rate to normal. I looked at Brandon and mouthed the word… PRAY! In the flurry of activity, I was asked to get on my hands and knees… no easy feat for a woman with no feeling in the bottom half of her body! The next thing I remember is being unhooked and unplugged and rushed out of the room leaving Brandon in the dust.

After this point, I heard voices and listened in on several different conversations happening all at once. They were looking for records, finding the right equipment, asking for permission, pressing an oxygen mask on my face, preparing me for an emergency c-section. One conversation was about my heart rate. There was a concern that it was low, but then it was determined that I was just remaining calm. If they only knew… You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3).

I had been here before. I had a choice. Life was happening and the situation was far beyond my control. What would I do? Who would I trust? I chose to trust the one who is always faithful. I’ve learned to trust Him in a new way. I don’t trust that He will make everything go the way I want it to go. I don’t trust that everything will have the happy ending I might desire. I don’t trust that the end result will make sense.

I do trust that the One in control is completely faithful. I trust that He has a hope and a future for me. I trust that His heart is good and His love is strong. I trust Him with everything… including my precious baby. As I was lying there, strapped to that table in the operation room, waiting to be completely put under anesthesia, I whispered a prayer… “Jesus, I trust you Jesus.” I wondered what kind of news would await me when I woke up.

It was over. I was hearing voices, some familiar, some strange. I couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt someone holding my hand. “He’s beautiful Keri. Everything is fine. He’s beautiful.” It was my friend Beth who also happened to be a nurse at the hospital. Over the next hour I slowly came out of the anesthesia and learned that Samuel Brandon Early had arrived at 3:46pm. (It was 9 minutes between the time it was decided I need a c-section and the time Samuel was born.) He weighed in at 7lbs 13 oz, was 20 inches long, and he was fine. My nurse Chelly said she can not recall a situation where so many things just perfectly fell into place to make this special delivery happen so quickly. I think I said the words “He’s here and he’s fine” about 20 times that night. He was here. He was finally here. And he was fine.

We are thrilled to have Samuel home with us now. It has been a very long journey and the Lord has been faithful to lead and guide us along each step. Samuel’s name is very special. Like Samuel’s mother Hannah in the Bible, I too had asked the Lord for this child (1 Samuel 1:20, 27). After going through 3 miscarriages, I knew there were no guarantees, but I knew that God wanted me to be honest with him, so I honestly shared with Him this desire to have a child knowing that He was ultimately in control. Along each step of the journey, including this last big leap, I yielded my hopes and dreams to Him knowing that His plan for me was the best. He is faithful and now we praise Him for the joy He has brought to our lives through this new little life. As I continue on this journey with Jesus, I pray that I will always put my trust in the one who continuously proves Himself faithful.

Waiting in Expectation

2011-10-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3

You are teaching me to wait upon you day by day with great expectation. Thank you for your great patience and kindness to me. You are a God who is with me always. You never let go of me. My desire is to follow hard after you all the days of my life. It is only by your grace this can be accomplished. Guide me and lead me in your truths Lord. You are faithful and I will put my trust in you.

Showered with Blessings

2011-10-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

When I woke up this morning, I had no idea the blessing that awaited me today. Earlier in the week, my friend Jessi had sent me a somewhat cryptic message saying she was planning some last minute pre-baby adventuring in Rockford. This invitation included something about low-impact walking and reservations. I put off committing to this intriguing offer not knowing if I’d be up for any activity or if my parents would be up for more babysitting. On Thursday or Friday, my parents informed me that they would pick up the boys and take them Saturday morning so I could rest up a bit. Great news! I guess Jessi and I were on!

Long story short, I very unexpectedly walked into a surprise baby shower! I had absolutely no idea that all this planning and sneaking around had been going on for some time now. For my own remembrance of this very special day, I want to share a few snapshots of the morning…

Jessi’s sister Bethany traveled all the way from Lake Geneva to help with the decorations. It was unbelievable! From lights and etsy-worthy baby items strung from the ceiling to sunflowers in pale blue painted jars and a burlap table cloth, I could barely take it all in.

I began looking through the crowd… my mom, Junior and Senior High staff women (Katie, Dara, Chelsey, Rachael, Gayle, Jenny, Laura, Maria, Cherice), some of my Bible study girls (Rose, Laura, Tona), my mentor Pam, my good friend Laura, a new friend Bethany and of course my friend and head schemer Jessi.

The food layout was just as impressive. Many of the women had contributed a variety of delicious breakfast foods: fruit, egg casseroles, French toast, pigs in a blanket with yummy pecans (thanks mom!) and pastries! At the table we each had these cute little glass jars filled with orange juice. So fancy!

My mom stepped out of her comfort zone and offered a beautiful prayer to start our meal. We all enjoyed some wonderful food and conversation. Then came the announcement. Jessi introduced my mentor Pam MacRae to share a message with us. This might not be a traditional baby shower agenda item, but it was perfect for me! I love hearing from Pam and always gain so much from her teaching.

Pam shared the story of Hannah and her long awaited Samuel from 1 Samuel. The main verse she had been impressed to share was 1 Samuel 1:27, “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” Many of us commented the only thing missing was paper and pen to take notes on this amazing message from God’s word. Pam encouraged all of us to remember that our purpose (and our children’s purpose) is to love God and serve Him with our whole lives. The world emphasizes that childhood should be a time of fun and safety. As Christians, we know that childhood is a time to prepare our children for the spiritual battles that loom. At the age of three, we see Samuel worshipping God at the temple. Hannah was doing something right!

Next, Jessi shared the story about a special song that Miles and I would often sing at bedtime… “There’s Something About that Name.” Cherice and Maria played and sang the song for us and then we all joined in singing the song together. What sweet memories I have of rocking Miles to bed as a baby while singing this song and later listening to Miles sing the song all by himself.

We ended our time together with a special time of sharing. Jessi had asked each woman to share a passage of Scripture along with their thoughts/encouragements for me. Yes, there was a fair amount of crying throughout this portion of the shower, but there was laughter as well. I think I will post the different Scriptures that the women chose to share in another post. It was a wonderful gift and encouragement to me.

Another fantastic element of this shower was the theme: diapers! Knowing that we have many of the needed baby items stowed away from use with Owen and Miles, Jessi asked the women to shower me with diapers! Target is losing out on some major business from the Early family for baby’s first few months!

I can not even find the right words to express how blessed I feel after today. I don’t think I could have dreamed up such a perfect morning. I have spent a lot of time praising God in the storm and am now remembering the importance of praising him in times of joy as well.

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

What's New?

2011-09-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Brandon-My incredible shrinking husband! Brandon has lost quite a bit of weight in the last year or so. Our family has learned to love Subway and Tuesday night Panini night as we try to eat a little healthier. Brandon writes about technology for a popular youth ministry magazine and is doing an amazing job forming a student leadership team with the students at church. He keeps getting better and better at being a dad. Just a few weekends ago, Brandon took both boys into downtown Chicago for an overnight. What a blessing to have such a loyal, devoted and fun husband!

Owen-He has started 1^st grade, which means… homework! Owen and I are both getting into the routine of doing a little homework each night. He has also started doing Awana on Wednesday night at church. He came home the first night with most of John 3:16 memorized and some crazy stories about the hilarious puppets that throw toilet paper. Although we have our moments, Owen is a super sweet kid. He is great at sharing and helping, now if we can just add listening to the list…

Miles-Miles has started preschool at Mom’s Day Out again this year. Just today he was showing me the faces he makes at school to make all the girls laugh. Miles has turned a corner in the behavior department. He is really catching on to “immediate obedience” and he will actually clean up after himself without crying! Miles definitely has his dad’s creativity gene as evidenced by the gum necklace he attempted to make yesterday. Let’s just say Curly Early lost a few curls that day. Most of all, Miles is still my “lovey.” He loves to cuddle and snuggle with me and tell me he loves me.

“Ricardo”- The littlest Early boy is set to make his appearance in a little over a month. At our last appointment, we learned that Little Buddy weighs about 5lbs 2oz and at this rate most likely won’t follow in his big brother’s footsteps as a 10lb newborn! Everything looks good, except this little guy is doing summersaults. We are hoping he will complete the cycle and get into position before our next appointment. Otherwise, we are all ready for this little guy. The boys have taken their sibling class, Brandon has done the muscle work of setting up the nursery, and I am feeding this child apple cider and pumpkin donuts every chance I get!

Me-The word I chose as my theme for the year is “move.” Pretty sure I am living up to this concept. I have “moved” up to high school ministry after 11 years in junior high. Although I miss junior high, I am enjoying the opportunity to go deeper with high school students. I have “moved” into a new job. As the Assistant Director at Mom’s Day Out, I am able to do what I love (plan, organize, think, research) and I get to openly share the love of Jesus with those around me. The next big “move” we are looking forward to is being a family of 5. It has been a long journey and we are so looking forward to welcoming this new little boy into the world.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:3

Count your Blessings . . .

2011-09-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Sleepless nights
Indigestion
Swollen ankles
Forgetfulness
Sore hips
Shrinking wardrobe
Breathlessness

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God has done!

Baby Boy

2011-08-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Baby Boy,

You are loved. You have a name. We are starting to get things ready for when you come. Here are a few things you need to know . . .

You were kept a secret for a long time, not because we didn’t want others to know, but because mommy’s heart has been through a lot and she was trying to protect it. That is pretty silly, because God is in control and He can be trusted with all that we have and all that we are. God has taught me so much, but I still have a lot left to learn. I can’t wait to teach you all about God and how much He loves you. You are a precious gift from Him. He created you and is with you always. He loves you the most of everyone, even me! I don’t even know how that is possible, but it’s true! Oh, and you will also learn about weird stuff like vocabulary, grammatical morphemes, and prepositions from me. Sorry about that.

Owen and Miles are excited to meet you. When daddy and I showed them a picture of you in my belly, they thought you were a baby dinosaur! I’ll show you the picture someday and you can see for yourself. Owen loves babies and has been asking for a baby at our house. He is helping Miles learn how to be a big brother. They put on their capes and do big brother training. One more thing, for now your brothers have named you “Ricardo,” but don’t worry because that’s not going to be your real name!

You are so lucky to have daddy for your daddy. He is so fun and crazy and he will swing you around and make mommy really nervous. Daddy will take you to Starbucks and even teach you how to make his coffee. Also, be ready, because daddy likes to record everything and put it on the internet. He will make you the star of the show! Daddy will also teach you how to pray. He will pray with you before bed each night and then maybe throw in a puppet show if you’re good!

Oh, I just saw my belly move! You are becoming quite the mover and shaker. That makes me so happy and excited when I feel you moving. You move a lot at night and also when I eat. You seem to like hand-dipped ice cream like Baskin Robbins, or maybe that’s just me. Keep kicking baby. We will keep getting things ready for you here, you just relax and grow a little more each day. You are loved.

Mom

written July 7, 2011

All Things Miles . . .

2011-07-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

-I love the way he comes in my room in the morning and whispers, “Mom, I gotta tell you something—I love you.”

-This boy has about a million different facial expressions—happy, silly, mean, mad—he is so animated and is constantly making people laugh.

-As a speech pathologist, I thought any sort of articulation errors in my own children would drive me mad, but I’ve come to yove Miles’ yittle “l” sound.

-We always end our bedtime routine by singing “Jesus Loves Me.” Miles closes his eyes and smiles as I sing the last few words.

-Miles is all boy. He loves swords, guns and now his new light saber. I’m trying to channel that into raising a warrior for the Lord!

-Sometimes when he is tired, I catch him twirling his curls with his fingers.

-Whereas Owen could care less about being in timeout, Miles always cries his loudest cry when he is sent to the naughty spot.

-This is kind of gross, but we are talking all things Miles . . . the kid leaves a trail of boogies (aka boogers) wherever he goes. We are working on this.

-The boy is a pack rat. Everything belongs to his “collection.” You would not believe the weird stuff I found while cleaning out his room the other day.

-Miles for sure loves his dad, but he is definitely a mama’s boy. He loves to sit by me and hold my hand. I know it won’t last forever, so I’m enjoying every minute of it now!

“Miles Lee Early, I love you. Miles Lee Early it’s all true. Miles Lee Early what a joy! Miles Lee Early you’re my boy.”

1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Spring is Coming

2011-06-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Back in February (notice the huge snow drifts in the window), Owen secretly set out to brighten my day by dragging out his Crayola floor pad and some markers and making a special picture just for me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget what he said when he gave it to me . . . “Mama, this is for you to remind you spring is coming.”

My eyes filled with tears as I wrapped him up in a mom-sized hug. What a blessing that the Lord had used my sweet 6 year old to encouraged me in such a deep and meaningful way.

Steven Curtis Chapman’s Beauty Will Rise CD has a song entitled “Spring is Coming.” This song begins with seeds being planted “while the tears of our grief soaked the ground.” Winter takes its toll, yet beneath the ground the seed is beginning to rise and there is a hope that tells us “spring is coming.” Eventually, new life breaks through and we know that “it won’t be long now, it’s just about here.”

When Owen gave that picture to me in February, the ice was already beginning to melt away. God has been so faithful to give me continual signs of spring—not only as I look forward to eternity, but also as I see new life springing forth here on earth in so many ways.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Walking on Water

2011-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

If my life were set to music, I’m pretty sure Steven Curtis Chapman songs would pop up at the most significant moments. Just the other day, I was going about my business and heading off to work. I hopped in the car and bam . . . “I’m diving in, I’m going deep. In over my head I wanna be . . . so sink or swim I’m diving in.”

Just a few months earlier I had sat in that same car and wildly sung that same song as a declaration to my Lord. In January, I even chose the word “move” to represent my spiritual desire for the new year. I was ready to follow God wherever He chose to lead me. Now here I was a few months later, feeling like I was drowning. What happened?

Immediately, I visualized Peter stepping out of that boat. Maybe timidly at first, maybe completely confident, he was walking on water. Then, in an instant, it all fell apart.

Matthew 14:30-33

³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³²And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

This weekend, I saw the wind. Things were moving too fast. Life was becoming too uncertain. I was losing control and I was afraid. I floundered and flailed about for a good day or two before crying out to the Lord to rescue me. His saving grace was immediate and I believe those words first spoken to Peter were now meant for me. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The winds have died down and my view of Jesus has again been brought into sharper focus. When my eyes are fixed on Him, the cares of this world fade away. When my mind is stayed on Him, I am in perfect peace. When I am moving toward my Savior as He calls me to come, I am walking on the water of His grace and mercy, even in the midst of life’s storms.

Journeys

2011-04-21T14:57:00.000-07:00

For the past 2 years, I have had the privilege of discipling 14 Jr High girls through our church's small group ministry. Although difficult at times, it has been a joy to walk alongside these girls through the many ups and downs of Jr High. Below is a portion of a letter I am writing to them. I decided to post it because as much as this is for them, I know this has been an important lesson in my life as well.

The other day, I began thinking about 2 very different journeys described in the Bible. The first journey was that of Abraham. At the end of Genesis 11, we get a quick intro about who Abraham is and then bam . . . Gen 12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” How would you respond to that? How did Abraham respond? The answer comes quickly in Gen 12:4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him . . .

Now, if you read through Genesis 12-25 you will find that Abraham’s journey was not always easy. He didn’t always make the best choices and he really blew it sometimes. Things were not always great. However, one thing you will see is Abraham’s faith and obedience. God called him on some pretty difficult journeys. He had to move away to a new land. He had to wait a long time to see God begin to fulfill His promises (and Abraham didn’t even see the promises completely fulfilled in his lifetime)! Abraham also had to choose to believe and obey God when he was asked to give up his one and only son Isaac. In the end, Abraham was blessed for his faith and became known as the Father of Nations.

The other journey that came to mind was that of the Israelites. They had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years when God told Pharaoh “let my people go.” The Israelites watched the Egyptians suffer through the 10 plagues. They saw with their own eyes the power of their God. They were finally set free from slavery and Moses led them out of Egypt. This was just the beginning of their journey. The Israelites faced many obstacles. The first major problem was crossing the Red Sea. Things were looking bad and instead of trusting God to provide for them on this journey they freaked out. They told Moses he should have left them in Egypt. Then they watched the miracle of the Red Sea parting before their very eyes. God had called the Israelites to this journey. Of course he would provide for them. Unfortunately, the Israelites did not get this.

As they continued on their journey they began to complain. “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3) What was their deal? The Israelites did not trust God. They did not believe that He really was taking them to the Promised Land. Instead, they were stuck in the past. By the way, they were stuck in a past that didn’t exist. They were remembering things way better than they ever were in Egypt. The people were oppressed and beaten. They had no freedom. God brought them on a journey to freedom. He loved them. They were His people. He wanted to bring them into the Promised Land—a land flowing with milk and honey.

The Israelites continued to blow it. They continually looked around at other nations and looked back at their past. When their journey was nearly complete, they blew it again. Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan to report on the land. The spies confirmed that Canaan was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. However, they also reported that there were giants in the land and many powerful people and large, fortified cities. Two of the spies (Joshua and Caleb) wanted go and take possession of the land. They trusted God when He said He would give it to them. The other ten spies and the rest of the Israelites were afraid. They wept and even wanted to pick a new leader to take them back to Egypt. God was very displeased. As a result, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to eventually enter the Promised Land. The Israelites lack of trust and obedience resulted in missing out on the blessings and the abundant life that God had for them.

So, why the mini-sermon? You are each on a journey—your own journey. Not one of you will walk the same exact path. Along the way, you will experience unique joys and hardships, but God also has special blessings and an abundant life planned especially for you. The question . . . how will you journey? Will you be like Abraham and embrace the journey God has for you? Will you trust him even when the road seems long and hard? Will you believe him even when you don’t understand and will you praise him for moving you along? Or will you be like the Israelites? Will you continually look back and complain that life was better before? Will you look around and compare your journey to those around you? Will you look ahead with fear and not trust God to always be with you?

My prayer for each one of you is that you will embrace the journey God has for you. I pray that you will allow God to continually lead you, guide you, and shape you into the woman he has created you to be. From my own journey, I can tell you that He is completely faithful and so worthy of your trust.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust Jesus

2011-03-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

Our family has been so blessed by the ministry of The Haven Network here in Rockford. A friend of mine from church works with this amazing organization which provides support and care for families experiencing the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death. The Haven provided us with numerous resources, helped with funeral arrangements, and gave us the incredible gift of some beautiful pictures to remember our sweet baby. Last fall, I was asked to share our story for their quarterly newsletter. Below is our story . . .

August 17, 2010

Sitting on a crowded bus, elbow to elbow with strangers, I gaze out the window, forehead pressed to the cool glass. Tears slowly fill my eyes. I shouldn’t be here right now. I should not be here. Arriving at our destination, I take my children by the hand and carefully exit the bus. My husband follows closely behind with the strollers. Music, smiles, greetings, laughter . . . I should not be here. Glancing around, I see people looking up. Hands to forehead, shading their eyes from the sun, they point and squint to see. I look, I see too. Letters . . . there are letters in the sky. I see the small plane slowly and steadily plotting its course. This tiny plane has a message. The message is for me. T . . . R . . . U . . . S . . . T. The plane continues to release it’s smoky directive as I walk toward the gate. I smile at the woman who searches my bag and warmly greet the man who takes my ticket. Do they realize I should not be here? I have arrived. I lift my eyes to the heavens. My message is complete. T . . . R . . . U . . . S . . . T . . . J . . . E . . . S . . . U . . . S.

March 24, 2010

I knew the drill. Sign in, confirm my information, give a sample, wait. Over the course of two full-term pregnancies and two late first trimester miscarriages, I had the routine down. We were 12 weeks into this pregnancy. My tech savy husband played with his new iPad while I looked around trying to keep my mind from pondering all the possible outcomes of our visit. I need my Bible. I grab my purse and pull my Bible out to search for a verse. I need to find the verse about how God is always with us. I flip to Isaiah and scan . . . there it is Isaiah 43:2-3, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” We hear the heartbeat that week and the next and the next. We hear our baby’s heartbeat at 16 weeks. I finally agree to go public with our pregnancy. My worries begin to subside and we decide the weekly office visits are no longer necessary.

May 13, 2010

I have always thought I would be a mom of boys. Our sons, 5 and 2 at the time, were excited about being big brothers. As my husband and I sat in the waiting room, we talked about purchasing a bunk bed to prepare for this new addition to our family. The big question on my mind was what would we need to purchase for the nursery. Would we keep it as is with trucks and trains or would we need a make-over which might include some purple or maybe yellow. I remember walking back to the room. I’m sure everything is fine. I haven’t really felt any movement, but maybe I did and just didn’t realize it. The ultrasound tech asked if we wanted to know the gender . . . absolutely. Then I saw the look on her face. The searching, the concern. “I need to find a doctor.” I knew. Somewhere around 16 weeks, our baby had slipped into eternity. Why was this happening again?

The next moments are vivid, unwanted memories. A doctor holding my hands and telling me what I already knew. Waiting in a room for my doctor to be called in to talk to me. A million things going through my mind. Who needs to be called? My parents will have to keep the boys. Everyone is waiting to hear pink or blue. I need to choose names. Why? Why is this happening again? Is this really happening? This can’t be happening again. I don’t want this to be happening again.

My options are explained. We will need to deliver our baby and we will deliver tonight. I am wheeled through a series of underground passageways that lead to the hospital. My room is on the maternity floor, I am taken to the end of the hall where it will be quiet. “Can we go to Disney” I ask my husband as I lay in the bed awaiting the pains of labor. “Sure” he answers. Later, I am alone. The room is quiet, just the buzz of machinery. I need my Bible. I turn to Job. What did he do when it all fell apart? My answer came quickly in Job 1:20, “Then he fell to the ground in worship . . .” I raise my hands in worship, tears streaming down my face. “Lord, I trust you. I don’t want to be here, I don’t understand, but Lord I trust you.”

Summer 2010

In the following days, weeks, and months, I accepted, I questioned, I hoped and I wrestled . . . all the while trusting God. Is it really possible to trust through all the sorrow and doubts and questions? I think it is. As the waves of grief continue to come in and go out, God has been so faithful and so gracious to love me through it all. Whether it is a kind word of encouragement from someone who has been there, a Bible verse that brings peace in the midst of pain, or even skywriting at Disney World, God is giving me the strength and courage to trust Him.

November 2010

We have been so blessed to have the love and support of our family, friends and church family along with The Haven. We thank our family for caring for us, our friends for crying with us, and our church family for supporting us. We thank The Haven for walking beside us in acknowledgement that our baby is precious and that our grief is real. God has been so good to provide us with these wonderful people in our lives to be his hands and feet, but his grace does not stop here. God has given us the precious and unexplicable gift of peace in this difficult season. He has given us a hope that is sure, an anchor for our souls. Although we do not understand, we trust.

There is a Steven Curtis Chapman song that has been very special to me throughout this time of grieving. The song is called “Faithful” and the bridge at the end of the song says this, “Though I can not have the answer, that I’m wanting to demand, I’ll remember you are God and everything is in Your hand. In Your hands you hold the sun, the moon, the stars up in the sky. For the sake of love, You hung Your own Son on the cross to die.” This is the God we serve. He is a God who knows our sorrows and knows our pain. He wants us to trust him with all that we have and all that we are. He loves us, He has a plan for us. I’ve chosen to trust Him.

T-Rex Temptation

2011-02-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Sunday night is pizza night for the Early family. Last night as we drove to Giordano’s, the subject of stranger danger came up. Brandon and I took turns giving Owen different scenarios that could be dangerous.

What if someone asked you to get in their car because they have some candy?

What if someone asked you to help him look for his lost puppy?

What if someone told you they were going to take you to your mom and dad?

Owen was passing all our tests with flying colors. He knew the right answer . . . say no, run away and tell a trusted adult. Brandon decided to throw in one last test of Owen’s resolve.

What if someone said they were going to take you to see a real live t-rex dinosaur?

A short pause . . . “grrrrrrrr.” In an extremely sad and dejected voice Owen replied, “I would say no . . . but I would really want to see the live t-rex!”

I know it was really hard for Owen to say no. Unfortunately, we have a crafty enemy who is able to tempt us right where it hurts. That is why I am so thankful for the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Seeking

2011-02-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

Today the boys and I did a devotion about Elijah helping a widow. I asked Owen if he knew what a widow was. He didn’t. I explained that a widow is a woman whose husband has died. He pondered this for a moment and then asked, “Since Joshua was the son of “none” does that mean he was a widow boy?” After explaining that Nun was actually the name of Joshua’s father, I gave Owen a big hug and thanked him for asking such a great question. This little guy is a thinker! I love that my kids think about what they are learning and ask really good questions. Their good questions not only spur me on to continue growing and learning, but also remind me that I need to be seeking after God with all my heart.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

One Word

2011-01-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

One word. I like this option over a New Year's resolution. The first time I ever heard this idea was from a friend at my church. She decided to choose one word as her own personal spiritual theme for the year. Now, the Christian radio station I listen to is following suite. What is one word that encompasses my desire for this new year? Although I've pondered it for a few weeks, there is really only one word that has come to mind. Move. Spiritually speaking, I want to move. I want to have the courage and boldness to do what God asks me to do. I want to accomplish the good works he has prepared in advance for me to do. I want to put feet to my faith. Move.

I know there is a season for everything. Right now, I believe I'm exiting a season of mourning. I flipped to Ecclesiastes in my Bible to find the verses that express this truth. Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 pairs the various seasons by placing opposites together. So as I depart my mourning, where am I headed? Dancing. If you look up the definition of dancing, guess what word you will find? Move. Dictionary.com defines dancing like this: to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, esp. to the accompaniment of music. I can just picture Jesus smiling at me, extending his hand, and saying, "May I have this dance?"

God, move my feet, move my body, direct my steps all for your great glory. Amen.

"Me, Myself, & Bob"

2011-01-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have gained a real appreciation for biographies and autobiographies lately. Knowing this, my mom purchased "Me, Myself, & Bob" by Phil Vischer as a Christmas gift for me. I loved this book! While reading it, I was constantly telling anyone who would listen everything I was learning. I wish I could sum it all up or give you a quick summary, but I can't. All I can say is that I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone.

This Little Light of Mine . . .

2010-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

I recently began volunteering in Owen's kindergarten classroom. I head to the school once a week for about an hour. I love getting to see his teacher in action and meeting the other kids in his class.

The teacher was giving the students some instructions today so I had a few minutes to look around the room. I noticed a large piece of paper hanging on the wall. The top of the paper said . . . "Ways that baby animals are the same . . ." Under this heading, the teacher had written the responses given by each student in the classroom. I scanned the page and found Owen's name and response . . . "With the help of Jesus."

Owen is shining the light of Jesus in a place that I can not shine. As his mom I am proud of him and humbled at the same time. How am I doing? Do I shine where God has me? I pray that "with the help of Jesus" I can shine like my 5 year old did today.

One Sentence Updates

2010-10-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Too busy living life to write it all down. Here are the highlights . . .

Brandon: The fun dad with lots of youth ministry plans.

Owen: The inquisitive learner who likes to talk a lot.

Miles: The potty-trained boy who makes us laugh.

Me: The blessed mom who is trying to take it all in.

More Random Pictures

2010-08-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to visit GGs (Great Grandparents). Yes, it is still summertime in the Midwest. Probably reached high 80s this particular day. I believe he kept all this on for most of the 1-hour van ride.

There has got to be a better way to slice boneless chicken breasts in half. I was actually laughing out loud in the kitchen as I butchered these poor things.

We visited Madison zoo this week. I was hoping to show the boys a camel. We are getting ready to talk about the Israelites in Egypt during our devotion time. A camel would have been a great object lesson. Unfortunately, the camels were in the middle of the construction zone. Are penguins in the Bible anywhere?

When asked what he was most excited to see at the zoo, Miles said "dinosaurs!" Fortunately, there was a little dinosaur graveyard in the play area. That seemed to please the little guy!

This picture cracks me up!

We weren't able to see any camels, but the boys did get a mini-lesson on giraffes. We discussed how they fit into the ark!

We talked about Jacob's 12 sons this week. This will come in handy for future lessons as we talk about the 12 tribes and the Israelites. We didn't discuss the multiple mother situation at this point. We'll save that for another time:-)

Owen absolutely loves his Joseph coat. He wore it to Giordano's Pizza the other day and modeled it for the garbage man as well!

Me and the hubs heading off to a wedding. We will be celebrating 10 years of marriage on August 12th!

Training

2010-07-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of training going on at our house these days. Miles is at the tail end of potty training. You might even consider him newly trained. Owen is in training to be a better listener. He is attending Kindercamp at our church this week and gets a little encouragement and reminder each day to listen to the teachers. So far, he has gotten really good reports. I am training my body. I’m training my body to get up early, to exercise, to eat better, and to go to sleep on time.

Twelve days ago, I committed to doing an exercise DVD that challenged me to exercise for 30 days in a row. The first challenge was starting. You would not believe the excuses I threw out there to avoid beginning this venture. As I sat and encouraged a good friend to do some training in another area, I was convicted to take my own and advice and just do it!

The first few days went smoothly. I could barely move, but I didn’t mind because I knew it was working. Then on days six and seven I faced some crossroads. My regular training routine and schedule had been interrupted. How would I handle it? Would I give up or would I press on and honor the commitment I had made? I chose to stick with it and find a way to keep going.

Yesterday, I noticed that my pants weren’t quite so tight. Although I don’t look forward to or enjoy my early morning workouts, I do delight in the results. I’ve recently been put through some pretty tough training. I didn’t want to be put through this training and there was not any part of it that I enjoyed. However, with my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, I am beginning to recognize some of the results; a deeper faith, a greater joy, and a peace beyond understanding. Thanks be to the skilled trainer who has taken me on with grace, mercy, and compassion to shape me into the woman He has called me to be.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

Random Pictures

2010-07-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

In April, Brandon and I headed south to Cancun, Mexico for an early celebration of our 10 year wedding anniversary coming up in August. This picture was taken at Chichen Itza.

Brandon and I were taking pictures as we walked along with our tour group. We were in the middle of the Mexican jungle and it was HOT!
This is where I spent most of my mornings. I spent my time reading a missionary biography and working on a Bible study about prayer.
My friend Rose got married in June. These are most of the girls from my Bible study group. Rose was the last one to get married. Our other Bible study buddy Erin wasn't in the picture because she was on her honeymoon!
Owen played soccer for the first time this year. He was part of AYSO which is all about having fun and learning. He had a great coach and his team improved very much over the 10 weeks!
Owen was so excited about receiving his first ever trophy!
On July 3rd, we celebrated Miles' golden birthday! We had a Diego party, excelente!
My friend Tona and I lead a small group of Jr High girls. We really enjoy spending time with the girls and getting to know them better.
To celebrate Brandon's return from a week long missions trip to Chicago, we made a trip to Volcano Falls for a little mini-golf. Miles insisted on using the putting technique Grammy taught him for croquet!

Spiritual Homeschooling

2010-07-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

I’m sending my oldest off to Kindergarten this fall. As I look forward to helping him with school assignments and projects, I realize that one subject won’t be taught in his public school--the Bible. Over the past 5 years, I’ve fallen in love with the Bible. The more I study this incredible book, the more I depend on it to survive.

Brandon and I take primary responsibility for the spiritual development of our children. We read the Bible together, we talk about God, we pray. We are supported in this endeavor by our church and it’s various ministries. With the recent implementation of a family routine, devotional time has been an important addition to our schedule.

The boys love The Beginner’s Bible. Each received this Bible as a gift on their 3rd birthday. Owen and I have read through the Bible multiple times. Miles is showing more and more interest in the stories and pictures presented. I want to nurture this interest and model a growing and vibrant relationship with the Lord.

After getting dressed and eating breakfast each morning, the boys know it will be devotional time. They grab a special chair to sit in or plop down on a pillow. Sometimes we sit at the kitchen table. We begin by patting the Bible and singing a special song they learned at church. Next, we say our verse of the week. We all open our Bibles to the story for the day. We are starting at the beginning and going straight through. Between creativity from the Lord and some google searches, I look for coloring pages, mazes, experiments, crafts, etc. to go along with the Bible story. We finish with a prayer/thankfulness time and a few songs. We all really enjoy this time. Throughout the week, I seek out teachable moments to apply the lessons we are learning to everyday life.

This all takes a bit of creativity and planning ahead, but the investment is so worth it. I am finding the planning to be fun and I am even learning things as I seek to pull out important precepts to teach my children.

Below are two pictures from the days we talked about Noah's Ark. We focused on the story of Noah's Ark the first day and rainbows the second day. The boy's and I really got into our rainbow experiment using milk, food coloring, and soap. The last two pictures were a snack we had the day we talked about Adam and Eve. We used apple slices to make a mouth. This snack idea was in one of Owen's High Five magazines.

Routine

2010-06-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

I love to plan and organize! In the past few years, I have discovered my gifting in this area and have used it in ministry to women and teens. I’m not sure why it has taken so long, but I am finally realizing that I can and should be using this gifting to love and serve my family.

Recently, I have become frustrated with myself. My children are overly “busy”. Our home is cluttered and disorganized. The kitchen is collecting dust from lack of use. I am a few pounds away from having to buy a brand new wardrobe. All the while, I am running in circles trying to figure out what to fix first.

As a dear friend reminded me, I have been through a lot in the past year. I have been caught in a cycle of morning sickness and grief. With that in mind, I am not going to beat myself up about the mess I now find myself in. God is doing a beautiful work inside of me and I am grateful for that. As a matter of fact, I believe this renewed passion to love and serve my family has developed out of the internal construction God is doing in my life.

Sunday night I sat down at the computer and developed a daily routine for our family. I thought through what I wanted our day to be like. I considered different priorities and things I wanted my children to experience. We are only three days into this grand experiment, but I am thrilled with the results so far! I am enjoying my boys and accomplishing more. Our “firmly flexible” routine includes daily chores, devotional time, plenty of bathroom breaks, rest time and much more. As I prepare to send Owen to kindergarten in the fall, I am looking forward to enjoying the rest of the summer with my family.

Offering

2010-06-10T22:53:00.000-07:00

Each summer our church sends a group of 7th and 8th grade students to the hills and hollers of Kentucky. On Saturday, I will head south with a great group of students and adult leaders with the purpose of serving others. As I pack and prepare for this trip, I wonder if I have anything to offer.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

He Does

2010-05-31T12:55:00.000-07:00

The neighbor smiles and waves hello.
He doesn’t realize what today is.

The barista greets me and serves with a smile.
She doesn’t see the pain in my heart.

The boys run and laugh and climb on their dad.
They don’t grasp the weight of the day.

The banker politely nods and says good-bye.
She doesn’t understand where we’ll soon go.

The drive-thru girl smiles and says have a nice day.
She doesn’t know what my day holds.

The man crossing the street looks into the car.
He doesn’t care that there are tears in my eyes.

The man in the suit asks if we are the family.
He doesn’t participate in our last moments.

The man who is working shovels dirt into the grave.
He doesn’t weep as he does his job.

The God of the universe looks down from above.
He realizes
He sees
He grasps
He understands
He knows
He cares
He participates
He weeps

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Written Friday, May 28, 2010

Christian

2010-05-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 4:12-19

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Notes from "The Bible Knowledge Commentary" on 1 Peter 4:16:

There is no shame if one suffer(s) as a Christian rather than as a criminal. On the contrary, that name should be a source of praise to God for it identifies the bearer with the blessings of salvation. The term “Christian” (Christianos) occurs only three times in the Bible

A Time to Laugh

2010-05-24T18:31:00.001-07:00

Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. This is a conversation I had with Owen last night while he was in the bathroom. . .

Owen: Mom, can you wipe me?

Me: No, that's your job.

Owen: Will you pay me for it?

(Brandon and I laughing hysterically)

Me: I don't think I can do that.

Owen: I think you can.

(More laughter)

Ecclesiastes 3:4 . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh . . .

My Psalm

2010-05-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Born Still
May 14, 2010

Too tired to sleep
Don’t want to think
Can’t get the images out of my mind

A lifeless body
Silence persists
This just can’t be happening again

Prepped and prepared
Feeling so scared
I’m not ready to say goodbye

Crying out to my King
Maker of everything
Hold me now Lord, I need you tonight

Quietly you came
We gave you a name
This moment I’ll never forget

Your tiny form
You had been born
Straight into the Father’s embrace

I love you little one
Your life has truly begun
It won’t be long until we’re together again

For now I must stay
I will glorify and praise
The God who has provided a way

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

In this world . . . (orginally posted Sept 2009)

2010-05-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is an old post of mine from September, it's a good reminder for me right now.

The Bible clearly tells us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble. How do you deal with heartache? Nat King Cole would tell you to:

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Yep, that’s about the best the world has to offer. When life gets hard and sorrow comes your way, smile and hope for the best. Although I’ve taken this theory for a test drive, it always seems to come up short. God has shown me a better way and given me a new song to sing:

Cry when your heart is aching
Seek God especially when its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, ask Him why
If you search God’s word through your fear and sorrow
Trust Him and I assure you tomorrow
You’ll see the Son come shining through for you

We live in a fallen world tainted by sin. This guarantees us some pain and sorrow along the way. God doesn't expect us to smile through our grief and sorrow. As a matter of fact, He counts our tears and weeps along with us. So where do we go from here? If we seek Him, we will find Him. Don't be afraid to bring your sorrows, your fears, and your questions to God. Wrestle through your heartaches with the One who can bring hope and healing. Allow the Bible to speak truth into your life. When your emotions are running wild, allow God's truth to penetrate your heart. He loves you, He cares for you, He will never leave you. God has a plan for our lives and nothing that happens has not first been sifted through His loving hands. So, the next time you are faced with heartache, turn off the radio and tune into the One who has overcome the world.

. . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37

"Faithful"

2010-05-14T23:48:00.000-07:00

A portion of the song "Faithful" by Steven Curtis Chapman . . .

I am waiting for the rescue
that I know is sure to come,
cuz You are faithful.
Yes You are faithful.
I've dropped anchor in Your promises,
and I am holding on,
cuz You are faithful.
God You are faithful.

I will proclaim it to the world.
I will declare it to my heart
And sing it when the sun is shining.
I will scream it in the dark.

You are faithful!
You are faithful!
When you give and when You take away,
even then still Your name
is faithful!
You are faithful!
And with everything inside of me,
I am choosing to believe You're faithful.

So faithful...

Though I cannot have the answer
that I'm wanting to demand,
I'll remember You are God
and everything is in Your hand.
In Your hands you hold the sun, the moon,
the stars up in the sky,
for the sake of Love, You hung Your own Son
on the cross...to die...

You are faithful...
Yes, You are faithful...
When you give and when You take away,
even then, great is Your faithfulness!
Great is Your faithfulness!

Expecting

2010-04-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Brandon announced to the congregation that we are expecting. As he continued with his greeting and prayer, my mind couldn’t get that word out of my head. Expecting. When a couple announces they are expecting, one can reasonably assume they are referring to a new baby. What does the word expect really mean?

Expect (verb)
1.to look forward to; regard as likely to happen; anticipate the occurrence or the coming of
2.to look for with reason or justification
3.to suppose or surmise; guess
4.to anticipate the birth of (one’s child)

Brandon and I have been “expecting” five times now. Five times we have looked forward to and anticipated the coming of a baby. However, our expectations have only been met twice. We are praying for a third such occasion right now.

When we experienced our miscarriages, our expectations were not met. I would go so far as to say our expectations were crushed. All that we had looked forward to and anticipated did not come to be.

The title of my blog is “Great Expectations.” My journey through the crushing pain of unfulfilled expectations has left me a bit timid. I have been afraid to expect too much. When you allow yourself to have great expectations, you open yourself to the possibility of great pain. I’d rather just lower my expectations and be pleasantly surprised if things go well or that when things do come crashing down, at least I am not buried in the rubble.

I don’t believe that this is how God wants me to live. He has given me a hope that is secure, an anchor for my soul (Heb 4:19). I can eagerly await and anticipate eternity in heaven with my Lord and Savior--an existence absent of death, mourning, crying and pain (Rev 21:4). Although this world is full of trials and tribulations, I can live in great expectation. I can live in a state of looking forward to something that is SURE to happen. I don’t have to suppose, surmise, or guess what the outcome will be.

Maybe this security of a sure expectation will allow me to open my heart to expect great things here and now. Maybe the disappointments and hurts sure to be experienced here on earth will be softened by the knowledge that this is not how it will always be. It is like taking a huge leap knowing that although I may get some bumps and bruises along the way down, I am assured of a soft landing in my Father’s strong and secure arms. I might have my eyes closed, but I think I’m ready to jump.

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Easter Highlights:

Our family has been gearing up for Easter for the past 40 days. Things were kicked off with a prayer calendar put together by our church. As a family, we enjoyed turning a page each day, reading Scripture and quotes, and following specific prayer ideas.

One month before Easter, I broke out the Resurrection Eggs. The boys enjoyed looking inside each egg and learning about the events of Holy Week.

A few days before Palm Sunday, Owen and Miles put on a little puppet show. Owen was Brae the donkey and Miles was a palm branch. Owen told the story of Brae, the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, in great detail. Miles waved that branch like nobody's business!

On Good Friday, Owen informed me that it was "not good for Jesus, but good for us because He died on the cross for our sins." We spent the day with my mom's side of the family. My favorite moment was when Miles kept taking candy-filled eggs to my Grandpa. Miles needed help opening the eggs and he knew Mom had said no more candy. Grandpa GG was more than willing to open the eggs, so Miles was more than willing to split the booty with him. It was really cute!

Today was the big day. We got all dressed up in our Easter best and headed to church. I was scolded by Owen for driving with no hands because I was too busy singing my heart out. Owen's Sunday School teacher informed me that he had accidently kicked a little boy in the face while reenacting how the guards at Jesus' tomb fell over like dead men. We enjoyed the rest of the day with family.

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice and thank you God for giving us victory over death!

Family Update

2010-03-24T19:29:00.000-07:00

Early Family Updates . . .

Brandon is breathing a little easier at work. We recently hired a great guy to take over Jr High. Luke and his fiance Jessi are great and we are so excited they are here. Brandon is "fun dad" but also firm and loving. Owen invited his dad to Special Friends day at school. He was so excited to show his dad off. Miles has been trained to state on command, "I am daddy's boy!"

Owen is my helper. He loves to help, he loves to love his brother, he loves to say sweet things. He is very thoughtful and kind. He knows no strangers and especially loves babies. I also recently learned that he likes the New Testament better than the Old Testament. That kid knows his Bible! Now, we do have our not so sweet moments. We are currently going through the "I think it is more fun to be bad" stage. At least I'm hoping this is just a stage!

Miles is a hoot. He has so many different faces and voices. When he knows he is in trouble, he smiles this big smile where his eye are all squinted shut. We are half-heartedly working on potty training. I'm in no hurry. Miles is learning to pedal his tricycle. He has a pretty solid bed time routine that he has come up with. It includes a kiss, a buzzer, a hug, and three blankets.

I am doing good. I am enjoying the warmer weather and looking forward to an early anniversary trip with Brandon next month. This summer we will celebrate 10 years of marriage. That is crazy!!! I was thrilled to learn that I will still have my job next year. I also continue to be involved at church with women's ministries and Jr High.

The Sickies

2010-02-13T19:02:00.001-08:00

Ugh. Sickness has hit our home in full force. Owen got things going with a nasty stomach flu one night. Miles, not wanting to be left out, chimed in with a horrible cough and cold. Brandon seemed to then come down with a touch of whatever Owen had. Just when things were finally looking up, I started in with a nasty cold. Now, Owen is well on his way to a cold too. We have all been a bit grouchy and tired which doesn’t play out well. None of us are very hungry so we end up eating stuff that probably isn’t helping the situation. In summary, the Early home is not at its best these days.

In spite of all these sickies floating around, we do manage to have a good time. Owen entertains us with his very logical 5-year-old brain. In the car today, Brandon was naming various animals that we could have as a pet. Some examples were: a mosquito, an eagle, and a tree. Bless his little heart, Owen very calmly and logically explained to his dad why each of those options simply would not work. Owen’s final conclusion was that we needed a hamster. I explained that we have a pet dog named Daisy who just happens to live at Grammy and Grampy’s house. That seemed to work for the moment.

Miles is finally perking up a bit as well. That kid makes the most hilarious faces. Some of them, such as the Soccer Monster, are mean, scary faces, but even they are funny. He is so animated and has such a great vocabulary. It is quite entertaining. Today he told Grampy that “I’m big enough to do it myself” when given a bag of fruit snacks (aka juicies).

I look forward to having toys instead of tissues strewn around our house, but for the time being, we are trying to make the best of a not so great situation. A big shout out to Grammy and Grampy for risking their own health and sanity to give Brandon and I a break from time to time.

Birthday Week Festivities

2010-01-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

What a great birthday week! I have rung in 32 with style. Here is a glimpse of my week:

Tues 19th-Mom and dad treated us to dinner at Texas Roadhouse

Wed 20th-Brandon and I took the boys to JMK Nippon’s for lunch. Owen kept trying to address the hostess, chef and wait staff to tell them it was my birthday so they would sing to me. His wish came true when the staff came out with my pineapple bowl complete with candle. He enjoyed the attention much more than I did! Church was cancelled this night due to ice, so I had a nice quiet evening with Brandon.

Thurs 21st-Well, this day was not so great. Poor Brandon woke up with a really bad case of vertigo. Anytime he would lift or turn his head he became dizzy and nauseous. He was pretty much bed-ridden all day. I stayed home from bible study to look after him. I love bible study and missed my group, but enjoyed some quiet time at home to read and study.

Fri 22nd-After work, mom and I headed up to Madison, Wisconsin to see Little House on the Prairie the Musical starring Melissa Gilbert. I have loved Little House since I was a little girl. I know every television episode forward and backward and even read some of the books. I own a Laura collector’s doll and an 8x10 of the Ingalls family. Hey, we all have our stuff. When we got to the theater, we learned that our tickets were in the front row! I’m pretty sure we had the best seats in the entire house. It was wonderful! I even got a little teary when the music started playing. In my head I started to think . . . this is heaven! However, I became even more overwhelmed by the fact that Heaven is going be (insert biggest number possible here) better than even Little House! Now that is something to look forward to!

Sat 23rd-Today is my really good friend Tona’s birthday. This is our third annual Tona-Keri birthday event. Year one we saw Brian Regan at the Coronado. Year two we went to an Ice Hogs hockey game. Year three (today) we had a spa day! Oh my was it wonderful. I have never had a facial or massage and received “mini” ones today. We also had a pedicure which was wonderful. After that, we grabbed lunch. It was such a fun way to celebrate and it is becoming something we both look forward to.

Sun 24th-Tomorrow I will attend week 3 of the Sunday School class I helped organize. I have been learning a lot from the class taught by Pam MacRae. After church, I get to spend a few hours with some of my favorite 7th grade girls. We have a great time together. After d-groups, I have BSB with a few good friends. We are reading Forgotten God by Francis Chan and I can’t wait to discuss what we are learning!

Object Lesson: Priorities

2010-01-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

I am all about object lessons. As a visual learner, seeing things helps me better understand and remember information. Several years ago, my good friend Tona did an object lesson for the Jr High small group we were leading together. Little did I know that day how much that lesson would impact my life.

The lesson materials included a large glass vase, 3 or 4 ornament-size balls, a bag of small pebbles and some sand. Tona demonstrated what happened when she first filled the vase with the sand and then the rocks. The balls did not fit. She started the process again. This time, Tona placed the large balls in the vase first. She then added the pebbles, followed by the sand. Guess what? It all fit! The lesson . . . when we daily put the "big things" in our lives first, everything else falls into place.

What a great lesson! I began thinking about what those "big things" needed to be in my life. I eventually figured out that having quiet time with God, living a healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise), and keeping a clean home were the "big things" I needed to put first in my life. This is where my Tresolution (3 year plan) came into play.

How does it all work? My quiet times with God have given me perspective on life. I am reminded of who God is and His plans for me. Living a healthier lifestyle has increased my energy and strength to live out what God has called me to do. My hope is that decluttering and organizing my home will eliminate some of the distractions that material possessions can cause and allow our family to be better stewards of what we are given. As an added bonus, improvements in each of these areas has great potential to positively impact my family.

I want to serve God with all that I am and all that I have. When my day begins to fall apart, I remember that object lesson and ask myself the question . . . What's in my vase?

Top 10 for 2010

2010-01-01T20:19:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Things I'm Looking Forward to in 2010 (in no particular order). . .

1. Little House on the Prairie the Musical (22 more days!)

2. Two new nephews due to arrive this month

3. Group's Simply Youth Ministry Conference in February

4. Jr High missions trip to Kentucky in June

5. Two good friends getting married

6. Celebrating 10 years of marriage in August

7. Sending Owen to Kindergarten in August (he'll love it, I'll probably cry)

8. Being a diaper free house (hopefully sooner rather than later)

9. Decluttering my home, the Salvation Army is my new best friend!

10.Continuing to study God's word, cook, and exercise

New Year's Resolution Update (Tresolutions II)

2009-12-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

I was reading though my blog the other day. For all intents and purposes, it is my journal. While perusing the various entries, I was reminded of my New Year's "Tresolution". This is my post from Dec 29, 2008:

As 2009 approaches, I am entering year two of my new Tresolution plan. This past year has been focused on developing a more consistent quiet time for bible study and prayer. 2009 will be focused on taking care of my body. I decided to get a head start and am already finishing up week 3 of an exercise plan a friend of mine developed for me. In true Tresolution fashion, I will be continuing to focus on my quiet times as well. Specifically, I'm hoping to work on scripture memorization during my time on the treadmill. Multitasking at it's finest! Year three is really going to be exciting-decluttering! Check back in December 2010 to see my progress!

So, how is that body of mine shaping up? I just mentioned to my mom the other day that something really weird is happening. All of my pants are simultaneously shrinking, imagine that! I may be putting on a pound here or there, but overall, I have developed some healthier habits this year. Beginning in January, I played in a women's soccer league for a few months. I could hardly walk the first few weeks, but I survived. It was fun being on a team (even though it was a losing team), but I think my soccer playing days are now officially over.

Somewhere around March I fell off the exercising train. Although I wasn't regularly exercising, I did discover a great service to assist me in the kitchen. I blogged this year about Menu for the Week. Each week, I receive 5 dinner recipes, 1 dessert and 1 breakfast recipe via email. These menus also come with a complete shopping list. We have been eating at home very consistently now. Of course, we still enjoy dinner out from time to time, but how wonderful to be able to provide home cooked meals for my family. Eating home is much healthier for all of us and saves money too! I am learning a ton about food and cooking. Can't say I love it yet, but I'm gaining some confidence and not dreading dinnertime.

I just completed my 7th week of consistent exercise. I'm using the same plan I did last year. My friend Tona developed two different exercise plans for me. I just finished the first and will start the second one on Wednesday morning. It combines using the treadmill and elliptical for cardio along with abdominal exercises and some weights. I have used my time on the treadmill to work on memorizing the books of the Bible along with their keywords as well as reviewing my memory verses. Using a simple plan I read about on Beth Moore's blog, I have memorized 20 verses already this year!

2010 is year 3 of my Tresolution . . . decluttering. I have a strong desire to do this. The biggest obstacle is simply knowing how to accomplish this seemingly huge task. I'm sure this year will be another adventure. I will again continue to find new ways to grow in my quiet times with God. I'd really like to further develop my prayer life. We have been learning about the Lord's prayer in church and this is definitely an area that I can grow in. I'm hoping to persevere in my fitness routine and eating habits. I'm sure there will continue to be ups and downs, but I'm ready to give it a go.

Turkeys, A Ham, and Advent, Oh My!

2009-11-30T19:14:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 22
At 3:00pm, I undertook the enormous task of baking and decorating 90 turkey cupcakes. In honor of Owen’s 5th birthday, I volunteered to provide a dessert for the Mom’s Day Out Thanksgiving Feast, which involved 3 different classrooms. Somewhere around 6:00pm, I enlisted the help of my mom and Brandon in the turkey cupcake-decorating marathon. Mom was on frosting duty, Brandon was on eye duty, and I was on gobbler, wings, and feather duty. We finished up around 10:30pm. Who knew making turkey cupcakes was a full time job! Brandon and my mom loaded up the little turkeys and took them to church so they would be ready in the morning. Things I learned from this experience . . . 90 turkey cupcakes is a huge undertaking, my mom is not a great eye maker, you need 2 boxes of mini cupcakes to make that many turkeys. Everything turned out just great and all the little pilgrims and Indians had a delicious special treat at their Thanksgiving feast.

Friday, November 27
We spent Thanksgiving with Brandon’s family in Van Wert, Ohio. This week was jam packed with celebrations. On Wednesday we celebrated Owen’s birthday, on Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving, and on Friday we celebrated Christmas. There were about 25 of us in the living room at my in-law’s home. Brandon’s Aunt Lorie was busy taking some pictures of the gathering. Miles was making the rounds and saying thank you for his Christmas gifts. Aunt Lorie wanted a quick picture of Miles. She said, “Miles, say cheeseburger for me!” He quickly responded by saying “Cheeseburger, for you!” The entire room erupted in laughter. What a ham!

Sunday, November 29
This past summer, I did a bible study called Feast. I learned about the feasts of the Bible and how these feasts helped people remember important events. This made me think about my own family and our lack of traditions. With this in mind, I began researching ideas to make Christmas a more meaningful celebration for our family. One of the major ways we will remember the reason for this season is through Advent. Advent means “to come” and is a great way for us to remember that we are celebrating how God came to earth as a baby and that we are now waiting for him to come again! Sunday is pizza night at our house. This week we sat at the dining room table and lit our first candle, the Prophecy candle. I talked about what prophecy means and Brandon read from the Bible. After our meal, we watched the new Veggie Tales movie “Saint Nicholas” which further explained the real meaning of Christmas. I hope that this new tradition will become a meaningful part of our family’s celebration in years to come!

Tantrums

2009-11-21T13:19:00.001-08:00

Naptime is a happy time in my house. I get a break, the kids get some rest, and all is well in the world. The hour after naptime, however, is a different story. A typical after-nap scene in my home involves crying, screaming, and tantrums of all shapes and sizes compliments of my sweet little Miles. Recently, I’ve noticed a particular occurrence during this specific period of time. In the midst of all the crying, screaming, and tantruming, Miles wants to be held.

Now, there are a few non-negotiable demands related to the little guy’s request. First and foremost, not just any arms will do. Mom’s arms are apparently the only ones qualified enough to do the job. Secondly, the request to be held must be fulfilled on demand. No matter what is going on and how impossible it may be, an immediate response is expected. Lastly, it simply will not do to stoop down and hold the little guy in an embrace. He expects and demands to be lifted up.

Are these demands always fulfilled? Absolutely not! Does that mean I don’t love my child? Absolutely not! One evening, as I stooped down to give my tearful little guy a big hug I was struck by how much I am like him. How often do I expect God to answer my requests in a particular way, at a particular time, and in a particular manner.

How often do we miss out on his plans, his timing, and his comfort because we are too busy demanding our own way. Throughout Scripture, God assures us of his love and that his plans for us are good. Let’s not throw a tantrum and miss out on all God has for us!

Legacy

2009-11-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I hopped a plane to Denver, Colorado. I stayed just north of Denver with my Aunt and Uncle. While there I had many adventures, but none as special as my time with Grandma. Growing up, I always lived near my Grandpa and Grandma Schmidt. I enjoyed watching television on the big screen and seeing what treats they had stocked in the fridge. Grandma often treated me to lunch and shared stories of her life. While I was in college, Grandma began showing signs of dementia and Grandpa was struggling with his health. In 2006, Grandpa died and Grandma moved away to live with my Aunt and Uncle.

Grandma currently lives in an assisted living home near my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Colorado. As I began to make plans for a visit, I realized Grandma might not recognize me. Still, I felt compelled to make the trip. It really didn’t matter if Grandma recognized me or not, she is my Grandma and I love her. I didn’t want to arrive empty handed, so I asked my Aunt for some gift suggestions. Along with some pictures of my family, I brought a bag of chocolates and a journal with a kitten on it. Grandma enjoyed the gifts, especially the chocolate, and hopefully the company.

While visiting with Grandma, she constantly told each of us how pretty we were. At times, she would lean over and give me a kiss. The women working at the home described Grandma as sweet. Here is one story of a conversation Grandma had with one of the women working at the home:

Grandma: I love Jesus!

Worker: He loves you too!

Grandma: Oh, good!

What a testimony! Despite physical and mental illnesses where part of her is stripped away, Grandma’s faith, hope and love remain. Now that’s a legacy!

Grandma showing off a picture of her great-grandson Owen.

My cousin Sarah, the trip photographer, took these pictures from the van while we were in Estes Park, Colorado.

My Aunt Lynette, me and Sarah in front of The Stanley Hotel. Apparently, this is the hotel that appears in Stephen King's movie "The Shining".

This is me in Rocky Mountain National Park. If this picture had been taken 5 seconds earlier you would have seen me nervously looking around for elk, deer, moose or bears!

Ingenuity

2009-10-05T19:05:00.001-07:00

We are blessed to have some great neighbors. A few doors down there are the sweetest 10 year old twin girls. They were part of the neighborhood circus I blogged about a few weeks ago. Anyway, one of the girls came down to play with the boys while we were outside tonight. Owen and Miles were thrilled and immediately bombarded her with hugs and game requests. They drew pictures with the sidewalk chalk, ran a few quick races and played a game of tag. Then it happened. Owen wanted to play hide and seek and Miles wanted to play Ring Around the Rosie. What a quandary! Well, this little 10 year old handled the situation with the wit and wisdom of a seasoned mom. "Ok Owen, you go hide. Miles and I will count while playing Ring around the Rosie!" Now that is ingenuity. Owen was happy, Miles was happy, I was happy!

Here are some pictures of the happy boys at a recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

In this world . . .

2009-09-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Bible clearly tells us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble. How do you deal with heartache? Nat King Cole would tell you to:

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Yep, that’s about the best the world has to offer. When life gets hard and sorrow comes your way, smile and hope for the best. Although I’ve taken this theory for a test drive, it always seems to come up short. God has shown me a better way and given me a new song to sing:

Cry when your heart is aching

Seek God especially when its breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, ask Him why

If you search God’s word through your fear and sorrow

Trust Him and I assure you tomorrow

You’ll see the Son come shining through for you

We live in a fallen world tainted by sin. This guarantees us some pain and sorrow along the way. God doesn't expect us to smile through our grief and sorrow. As a matter of fact, He counts our tears and weeps along with us. So where do we go from here? If we seek Him, we will find Him. Don't be afraid to bring your sorrows, your fears, and your questions to God. Wrestle through your heartaches with the One who can bring hope and healing. Allow the Bible to speak truth into your life. When your emotions are running wild, allow God's truth to penetrate your heart. He loves you, He cares for you, He will never leave you. God has a plan for our lives and nothing that happens has not first been sifted through His loving hands. So, the next time you are faced with heartache, turn off the radio and tune into the One who has overcome the world.

. . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

A Fond Farewell!

2009-08-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today pretty much marked the end of summer vacation. We had a very full and very fun day!

Day Out with Thomas
This morning we got up bright and early and headed to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois. We arrived when the gates opened at 9am and headed straight for . . . the porta-potties of course! Owen was a little freaked out, but we survived. Once inside we found the main attraction himself . . . Thomas the Tank Engine. We took a few pictures then marched over to see Sir Topham Hatt. I thought Miles would be afraid of the very large-headed, puffy man, but he did just great! The boys rode on little push-poll wagons and jumped in a bouncy cage. Then it was time for our turn on the Thomas train! The boys loved waving at all the people. Owen sat mesmerized by the entire experience. After our 20 minute ride, we grabbed some lunch, checked out a few of the entertainment tents, let Owen pick out a toy with the money he had saved, and called it a day!

Neighborhood Circus
About a week ago, one of the neighbor girls invited us to a circus. A few of the neighborhood kids had gotten together and decided to entertain the whole block! They have been practicing for the past 2 weeks and tonight was the big show. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loaded up the boys in the wagon and headed down the street. To my surprise, there was a big crowd! The kids did a great job with the circus. There was music, bike riding, pogo-sticking, bunnies, comedy, water dumping and treats at the end! The boys absolutely loved it! After the big event, all the neighbors stuck around and got to know one another. I met 2 moms with young kids and am hoping we can set up some playdates in the future. It was a lot of fun getting to know the neighbors and catching up with a a few I haven't seen in awhile. All this is thanks to a few little girls who wanted to put on a circus.

What a great end to our summer. Let Fall begin!

Owen's Joke

2009-08-07T17:43:00.001-07:00

Owen: What does a skeleton drink from?

Me: A bone.

Owen: No . . . an M&M, ha ha ha ha ha!

Me: Why is that funny?

Owen: Because its a joke!

Summer Slowdown

2009-07-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying a summer with not a lot to do! You would think that would mean more time for blogging, but it really means I don't have a lot to blog about! So, what am I accomplishing this summer?

BSB Study
-We are working our way through the Feast study. I hosted our last get together. We discussed Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. I think most of us are really enjoying the study and getting some great things out of it. Personally, I am loving it and gaining a better "big picture" understanding of God's plan for man.

Mark of the Lion Series
-I just started the 2nd book in this amazing series by Francine Rivers. The fictional books are set in the Roman empire not long after Christ's death and resurrection. I don't think I have ever gotten through a book so quickly. I just can't put them down!

Book Editing
-I'm plugging away at Greg Speck's devotional for teens. I've gotten through the first few days and it is great! The study is on James and I am learning so much as I do some editing. This is something new to me, so I don't even know if I'm doing it right, but I really appreciate the opportunity to try!

How to Make a Decision

2009-06-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

A fork in the road . . . sometimes exciting, sometimes terrifying. So, what do we do when faced with 2 very different choices? Freak out? A quick game of eenie, meenie, minie, moe? Remain frozen with indecision? I've tried all of these options and none have worked too well. Although I definitely do not have decision making down to a science, I have learned a lot about facing various crossroads in my life.

1. Know that God has a plan for my life . . .a plan to give me hope and a future!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

2. Trust God with all my heart, he will make my way straight.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

3. Don't be anxious! With prayers and petitions ask God for wisdom.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

4. Start walking down a path in the light of God's word.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

5. Allow God to direct my steps. He's the one with the plan remember!
A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24

6. Embrace his plans for my life.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,a whob have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Kentucky or Bust!

2009-06-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

In less than 48 hours, I will be on a church van with a bunch of wild Jr Highers and having a blast I’m sure! After a 5 year hiatus, I am returning to Kentucky for the annual Jr High mission trip. This is a great trip. I love to work with our students and help them prepare. My favorite part is working with the students who volunteer to teach the main lesson each day. These students do a great job being creative and bringing passion to their lesson. During the trip, I am always amazed at how our students step up and become leaders. They love on the children who attend the VBS and do a great job sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this year is “John 3:16.” Each day focuses on part of this verse. We are going to have a lot of fun learning about a God who loves us and His son who sacrificed so much for us. If you think of it, say a little prayer for me. The hills and hollers don’t do much for my motion sickness and I will be missing my boys something fierce! More when I get back!

Feast

2009-05-31T19:56:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share about the new study my BSB (Bible Study Buddies) group is doing this summer . . .

Feast
This study is written by Kevin Leman and published by Lifeway. Feast is a 6 week study on several of the feasts mentioned in the Bible. There are 6 of us doing the study and we are each assigned a feast. On our week, we will be able to recreate certain elements of the feast. My feast is the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. I've studied ahead and here are a few of the things I have planned . . .

-I will ask each girl to either wear new clothes or wear a feshly laundered outfit to go along with the freshness associated with this feast.
-Each girl will be asked to select a Scripture verse or passage that has been meaningful in their life and share it with the group. It is believed that the 10 Commandments were also given to Moses during this time, so Scripture is studied all night long on Pentecost to remember the giving of the Law.
-The book of Ruth will also be incorporated into the feast. Ruth is associated with the Feast of Weeks because both take place during the wheat harvest.
-Decorations will include greenery and fresh cut flowers, candles and white table linens again reminding us of the harvest time.
-Fresh bread will be baked. The Jews were given specific instructions to offer two loaves of bread as a first-fruits offering to God.
-Dairy products such as cheesecake or cheese blintzes will be served to signify the spiritual milk of God's word and Israel's title of the land of milk and honey.

Our study begins this week with Passover. I bought some Jerusalem-baked matza bread for the big day. My friend Beth is hosting, but I was so excited to find the matza bread that I told her I would bring it for our meal. Shortly after I bought it, I sent her a text saying "Gatza the Matza!" My nerdiness shines again!

Happy 1/2 Birthday!

2009-05-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

Grammy: Owen, today you are 4 1/2! It is your half birthday!

Owen: I just want to be 4.

Menu for the Week Update

2009-05-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it through the week . . . kind of! I made 4 of the 5 meals this week. I was all set to make the final recipe when I realized I had thawed pork instead of chicken. Oops! We'll try it again another day. The recipes included:

Chicken Pesto Pasta-This was awesome! I substituted sun-dried tomato pesto for basil pesto and it turned out great! My mom and I ate some leftovers the next day. She thought it was excellent. Later in the week, a friend of mine stopped by for lunch. I offered her the end of the leftover pasta. Her comment, "I feel like I should pay you for eating this!" Score! I will definitely make this again! The real kicker . . . it was sooooo easy!

Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin-This was yummy! Owen helped me get everything into the crock pot during Miles' morning nap. He even turned the crock pot on for me. Yep, that simple :-) About 30 minutes before dinner, I made some mashed potatoes and green beans. The pork was very well seasoned and tender. Miles kept saying, "More ticken pease." I didn't correct him, it was too cute!

Updside Down Pizza-Another winner! My mom and dad watch the boys while Brandon and I are at church on Wednesday nights. We have gotten into the routine of having dinner together. Typically, it is frozen pizza. This was a huge improvement! My favorite part is the crescent roll crust on top. Everyone enjoyed this recipe and I'm sure we'll make this again soon!

Tostados-Oh, you mean a Mexican pizza! I have eaten Mexican pizzas at Taco Bell for years. I had no idea those were tostados. I need to get out more! Anyway, Miles was the only one who wasn't a big fan. He did like the "big chip" and cheese. This was a nice simple meal. A nice alternative to tacos.

I had leftovers for lunch every day this week! As I said, I even feed leftovers to my guests. It was great! I also noticed that I didn't waste as much food. I only bought what I needed for the recipes and then I used it all. The most thrilling thing is that we ate at home every night this week. Wait, maybe even more thrilling than that is the recipes were so easy that Owen was able to help me each night :-)

After talking it over with Brandon, we decided to take the plunge. Every Friday I will receive a new menu and grocery list. In addition to this, I will have access to all the past menus. If you want to see the full recipes for any of the above dinners, check out menufortheweek.com and click on free week. If you want to try the entire week, the grocery list is provided as well! And if you're in the neighborhood, stop by, leftovers are in the fridge!

Menu for the Week

2009-05-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

As much as I love to plan and organize, these skills have yet to carry over in my home! Lately, I have been making more of an effort to plan our meals for the week. Last night as I was trying to figure out what we would eat this week and what I would need at the grocery store, I had an idea. Maybe someone has already done the work for me. I turned to my old friend Google and she did not disappoint! (I'm guessing Google is of the female persuasion because like any true female she has a lot of words!) Anyway, I think I may have stumbled upon something wonderful!

The website is www.menufortheweek.com. This is not a free service, but the site does offer a free sample week. I've decided to give it a try. I just hit print and out popped 5 dinner recipes, 1 dessert recipe, 1 breakfast recipe and the real kicker . . . a complete shopping list for the week! The recipes are designed to be kid friendly and each week offers 2 chicken recipes, 2 beef recipes, and one pork or meatless recipe. In addition, there is typically one crock-pot recipe offered each week. If the week goes well, the cost is $25 for six months of weekly menus and shopping lists. I believe the sight said this also includes access to all their recipes. For me, this would be absolutely worth it! The biggest savings would come from us eating at home during the week instead of going out.

So far, the shopping went great this morning. The only thing I had trouble finding was sesame seeds and prepared basil pesto. With a little help, I was able to find everything on the list and was pleasantly surprised that my total bill was comparible to any other week. The recipes look yummy and easy!!! I am only planning to make the five dinners. The shopping lists for the dessert and breakfast were separate, so it was easy to shop for just the dinners. We will see. I'll try and report back at the end of the week.

Shoe Box Memories

2009-05-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

When you fall in love, or even just in like, something happens. You become very aware of the other person's presence. A wave or smile becomes the highlight of your day. A note or gift turns into a treasured possession. When I was dating Brandon, I had a shoe box to collect all the odds and ends that reminded me of the words and moments that we shared. An uninformed party might mistake this collection for meaningless, valueless rubbish. To me, this box represents a vibrant, growing relationship that I want to remember from the very start.

I think I need to start another shoe box. As I grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ, I am finding His words and the moments we spend together to be more and more precious. Although many of the moments we share are intangible, He loves to throw in some tangible reminders of our relationship from time to time.

Tonight, I was sifting through a large dish of change to reward Owen for doing his chores. I pulled out a coin that was unique. I noticed Hebrew writing and the word Israel on the coin! Woo Hoo! Israel! That's where "my guy" is from! I was so excited! I ran to tell Brandon. Turns out the coin was his. He had found it while working the dime pitch game at Cedar Point many years ago. He noticed it was not a dime and had kept it all these years. It had somehow gotten mixed into the change dish for me to find. I love it! That coin would have meant very little to me even a few years ago. Today, it was a highlight! Thanks God for loving me. I will treasure this reminder of your love!

Miles' New Joke

2009-05-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Miles is already catching on that our family places a high value on humor. Both boys enjoy making us laugh. Here is Miles' new joke:

Miles: Knock, Knock

Me: Who's there?

Miles: Dog, ha ha ha

Yep, that's it! Makes me laugh everytime :-)

Compassion

2009-05-04T13:31:00.001-07:00

I am overwhelmed! God is so gracious, it just blows my mind. Let me give you the long version of the story.

Back in March, Owen’s Mom’s Day Out program sent little banks home with each of the children to collect money for a feeding program for kids around the world. Owen loved putting his change and even some dollar bills into his “feed the children bank” as we called it.

On Easter Sunday, the boys had an Easter egg hunt at my mom and dad’s house. There were lots of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and even a few dollar bills in the eggs. When we got home, Owen was given the choice of putting his money in his piggy bank or his feed the children bank. He chose to feed the children. I don’t know how much he understands the concept of money and where it goes and who gets it, but I thought it was neat that he was excited about helping kids around the world.

This got me thinking . . . how can we continue teaching Owen about the issues of poverty and how it affects kids all over the world. I brought this matter to the Lord and pondered the thought for several days. I remembered sponsoring a child through World Vision while I was in college. I also remembered hearing about Compassion, a similar program with the motto “Releasing Children from Poverty in Jesus’ Name.” I checked out the Compassion website and continued praying. A few days later, I was reading a blog that I frequently check. One of the writers was preparing to leave for a Compassion sponsored trip to India.

In the meantime, I talked with Brandon about the possibility of sponsoring a child. He quickly agreed that it would be a great idea for our family to do this. I began searching for a special child that our family could sponsor. I wanted to find a little boy around Owen’s age. I read many profiles and did many searches. I began focusing my search on children with a mental or physical impairment. My original intent was to sponsor a child with a speech impairment. I’m a speech-language pathologist, so I thought this would be a good fit. As I searched, I found a little guy from Indonesia (see the map below) named Tinus. Although he didn’t have a speech impairment, he does receive regular medical care for a vision impairment. What drew me to Tinus? In his profile, it was listed that he liked to tell stories, ride his bike and play hide and seek. Sounds just like Owen, especially the storytelling part! However, I didn’t take the step to sponsor Tinus just yet.

Later that night, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Tinus’ little six-year-old face kept popping into my head. I knew that this is what God was calling me to do. He had led me to this place and guided my steps . . . now it was up to me to act. This is the part where I often get stuck. I over think things or put things off or just wimp out. The next day, I finally made the choice to obey. I went to the website, found the picture of Tinus and just did it! I was so excited!

Fast forward to today. This is the overwhelming part! The boys and I went out to the mailbox. Our sponsorship packet was in the mail! We went inside and opened it immediately. It was fun to see the picture of Tinus and some information about his family and where he lived. After the boys left the kitchen, I began opening the rest of the mail. We received two separate checks with our tax returns. I didn’t think much of it. The last thing I opened was a large envelope from the Nielson Company. This is the group that compiles the television ratings. We have kept track of our television viewing habits for them in the past and they had called to ask if we would do it again.

So what is the big deal? In return for filling out the television diaries, the Nielson Company sends cash . . . this time it was $30. I was so excited!!!! This almost completely covered our first month of sponsorship! How cool that we received our sponsor packet and the first months payment on the very same day! I called Owen into the kitchen and shared the exciting news with him! He wanted to put the cash in an envelope and send it off right away. I gave a pretty poor explanation of credit card payments and banks and how all that works. Anyway, I was about to leave the table when I realized something. I pulled out a calculator and did a little figuring. One of our tax return checks plus the thirty dollars in cash was almost exactly the amount of money it cost to sponsor Tinus for one year! When I say exactly, I mean within $4!

God honors obedience. He doesn’t wait until we have it all together and are living a perfect life. He doesn’t wait until we have all our issues dealt with and under control. He doesn’t even mark us down for taking a little longer than we should have to do the right thing. God honors our obedience, period.

Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Disney Photopass Pics

2009-05-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures from our Disney vacation. Disney offers a service called Photopass. Photographers are scattered throughout each of the parks. All of the photos taken are linked to a Photopass card. You may view your photos online and decide if you want to purchase some or all of the pictures. We were able to get lots of great family photos this way. If we had it to do all over again, we would have taken more pictures and gotten a little more creative with our poses. Brandon had a great idea one day. We attempted to have a picture with the just the boys. The boys were not very cooperative, but at least we made the effort. Here are a few of my favorite!

Early Family Update

2009-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

Miles: This little guy is chatty! The other day my mom quoted him as saying, "I knock it down." The speech-language pathologist in me is thrilled! He is still pretty attached to mom, but is finally appreciating the funness of dad. Miles is in that independent stage. He wants to do everything by himself, but he can't quite pull off many of the tasks. He is becoming a picky eater and would stick to a not-so-healthy diet of dinner rolls, bananas, pickles and suckers if I let him. Miles has the funniest faces I have ever seen. And when I say funny, I mean sassy. It is so hard to keep a straight face when he scrunches up his whole face up and sticks out that lower lip. Relations with his big brother are coming along. He still does not appreciate all the "love" that Owen tries to lavish on him, but the boys have been caught playing together from time to time.

Owen: On a good day, Owen is the sweetest, kindest, most caring little boy. On a bad day . . . he is still pretty cute. Owen loves babies and is always cooing over any baby he comes across. Owen is great at sharing, especially at the dinner table. That kid is willing to share almost anything he is eating, even if it is his special treat. Now, toys are a different story. Don't mess with his train tracks or cars. He might be willing to share, but a little negotiation may be required. Speaking of Owen's train tracks . . . he is an amazing little engineer. He is always putting together different tracks. I love to see how each track is built so uniquely. I'm thinking that Owen's love language is quality time. He just wants you to be right there with him, watching and listening. I can't count how many times he directs my gaze with a gentle touch of his hand to my face each day.

Brandon: This man does it all! He works really hard at the church and then comes home to be superdad. Brandon pitches in around the house and makes sure I can get out with friends or do something fun. He cooks the best "Dadbelly" sandwiches around and the boys adore his eggs for breakfast. Daddy makes life fun by shuttling us all out to the Belvidere Oasis and Rock Cut State Park. He also makes really cool slide shows and videos of our family. The boys love wrestling and playing "I don't think so" with daddy. Brandon still makes me laugh whether its his silly McDonalds order or honking at the deer in the State Park. He keeps us all on our toes! Brandon will be off to the Ukraine this summer for a missions trip with the Senior High students. He has faithfully served at the church and has seen God do amazing things! He spoke at GROUP's national youth ministry conference this year and has even had a tech idea published in their magazine.

Me: First, I must admit, I have fallen off the exercising bandwagon. I need to get back on. I will. Planning and organizing events is still a hobby of mine. I loved planning our family vacation and already asked Brandon where we can go next. Even if it is another year or two, I can still start thinking and dreaming! Sometimes I wonder if I should have been a travel agent. With retreat being finished, I am moving into the area of connection within women's ministires. This is an area that needs to be developed so again, lots of dreaming. Another project I've started is editing a book. I'm not an official editor. A man from our church has written a devotional book for teens and has asked if I can look over the book. This is something totally new and different for me! I am looking forward to the summer. Hopefully, the boys and I can have some fun adventures. I see parks, pools and zoos in our future!

Easter

2009-04-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

Some time ago, I posted a poem I had written during a time where I was faced with the reality of death. A dear friend had lost a young daughter several months prior, my grandfather had just passed away, and in a few months I would lose a child to miscarriage. Strangely enough, the comfort and hope I received during that season of death was rooted in the death of another. On this Easter Eve, my thoughts turn to my comfort, my hope, my Jesus. Tomorrow I will celebrate the one who was raised from the dead to die no more. He is the author and perfecter of life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Our Disney Vacation

2009-03-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

We did it! We survived and you might even say thrived at Disney World! Here are some highlights from our trip:

Thursday-Owen comes into my room and informs me that we can go to Disney without him. He will stay home with Grammy. Turns out he was a little concerned about the flight. After some very smooth mom-talk, Owen had a change of heart and decided this was going to be a great trip! We arrived at the Caribbean Beach Resort in time for dinner and some exploring.

Friday-We learned that our family loves Epcot! Who would have thunk it! The boys had a blast at The Seas with Nemo Pavillion. Turtle Talk with Crush was a big hit. Daddy enjoyed tasting all the international sodas at Club Cool. We had lunch at The Coral Reef and dinner at The Garden Grille. The boys got to meet Chip, Dale, Pluto and Mickey himself! We ended the night with a brisk walk around the World Showcase.

Saturday-We were off to The Magic Kingdom. The day started off a bit rocky when all three men decided the Dumbo ride looked a little too threatening. We changed plans and headed to Mickey's Philharmagic . . . not my best idea. I think it was the combination of the dark theater, creepy 3D glasses, and water shooting out of the seats that sent both boys into hysterics. From that point on, the boys were quite leery of entering any sort of theater building. We recovered with a boat ride at Small World and really pleased the little guys at Pooh's Playful Spot, a little play area. Just before lunch at Tony's Town Square, we headed over to the Harmony Barber Shop. Owen went first and did a great job sitting still for Mr. Rex. Next, Miles stepped up to the plate for his very first haircut! He was given his very own Mickey ears with "First Haircut" stitched in the back . . . too cute! After some down time at the resort we returned to the Magic Kingdom for a quick dinner and a ride on the Jungle Cruise and a train ride.

Sunday-The day began with a mad rush to Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios. Unfortunately, everyone at the park seemed to have the same idea. This ride must be amazing, but we will never know. The highlights from this day include seeing the PlayHouse Disney show, JoJo and Goliath and Leo and June at Play N Dine, Lightening McQueen and Mater (Owen was delighted), the Block Party Bash and finally finishing our day with dinner at the 50s Prime Time Cafe. Brandon got a stern talking to from our waitress . . . she was great!

Monday-A slightly rainy day--perfect for the Animal Kingdom! We began the day with Kilimanjaro Safaris. This was amazing! The animals were out and about and soooo close! The boys loved this ride! After a trek on one of the trails we boarded a train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. Owen and Miles loved the petting zoo. Those goats and sheep received some tender loving care from my boys that day! I believe today was the day that we stopped at DinoLand for some carnival games. Owen won "Alphabet Snake" (he came up with the name) and a little stuffed bat which he gave to Miles. Fun times!

Tuesday-Back to the Magic Kingdom! We hit the Indy Cars, Monster Floor Laugh Inc and Mickey's ToonTown. Again, the little play area was a favorite for Owen and Miles. We ate at Cosmic Rays and headed back to the resort for some down time (we did this almost every day). We returned to the park for dinner at the Crystal Palace. We met Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore. After dinner, Daddy saved us a great spot for the SpectroMagic Parade while the boys and I took a train ride. The parade was awesome and probably one of my favorite things!

Wednesday-Our last day! We began the day at Epcot. Owen ended up enjoying "Living with the Land" boat ride after initially screaming and yelling "I think this is gonna freak me out!" He also had a chance to see Turtle Talk with Crush again. This time, Crush talked to Owen and Daddy! Very cool! We headed over to the World Showcase for a boat ride at Mexico and then off to lunch at Rose and Crown Pub. While waiting, Owen loved the hedge maze at United Kingdom. We had a special surprise at Rose and Crown. The boys were the first youngsters at the restuarant as we had reservations right at opening. They received crowns and special certificates in a little ceremony at the entrance to the pub. That evening we headed back to Animal Kingdom. We used some Fast Passes from the Conniff's to ride Kilimanjaro Safaris again. We ended the evening with The Lion King performance which was amazing! The monkeys were the best!

Thursday-We were picked up from our room at 6:30am! The Magical Express took us to the airport at 7:30am to catch our 12:30pm flight. After a long day, Grammy and Grampy picked us up at OHare airport and delivered us safely home. What a great week!

The Potty Process

2009-03-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

I received a text from my sister-in-law the other day saying that my sweet little niece Maggie went on the potty for the first time. How exciting! Maggie is a few weeks younger than Miles so it is natural to compare a bit. Where is Miles in the potty process? Well, he loves to wipe . . . while fully clothed! It's really quite hilarious. That kid brings a smile to my face on a daily basis. Keep wiping Miles, at some point it will be a very useful skill :-)

Early's Kingdom

2009-03-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Received a fun link to this website from one of my Jr High girls. Too funny! Thanks Bethany!

Without Blemish

2009-02-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Col 1:22-23a

Oh, how I long for the day when I will be presented to God without blemish! Can I just get real with you . . . I am currently sporting the most ginourmous zit I have ever had in my entire life, seriously!!!! It is taking residence on the lower half of my chin. It is a sight to see. I have to admit, it does make me chuckle every time I look in the mirror. Why a chuckle? Let me share.

As a teen, I was very prone to breakouts. Now, I'm not talking about a zit or two, I mean all out warfare happening on my face. I distinctly remember being jealous of girls who would fret over just one zit. "Lord, that would be so great if I could have just one zit!" You know the saying be careful what you ask for! From time to time, I get exactely what I asked for--just one zit. When I see one coming, I say "Thanks Lord, you are faithful to answer. Next time I'll aim my requests a bit higher!" It's kinda like an inside joke between the Lord and I.

I think this particular zit has a message for us. God hears our prayers and he answers them-- in BIG ways!!!! Let's shoot for the stars with our prayers. Ask God for big things and expect big things to happen. He is more than able!

Bibles for Kids

2009-02-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

We love these Bibles! Both of the boys have enjoyed Baby's First Bible. Miles loves the handle, clasp, and cut-outs. He requests his "babu" daily. The boys have also learned to treat the Bible with special respect by patting the Bible. This is part of the routine every Sunday morning at Sunday School. Owen enjoys his Beginner's Bible. I love it too! The pictures are great and the authors do a great job of picking out the important precepts. In my opinion, the Beginner's Bible is a great resource for adults too! Although not pictured, I am slowly working through a chronological bible. I'm only in Genesis, but I can't wait to see how God's word unfolds in the order it actually occured.

Countdown to Disney!

2009-02-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

In a little over a month, we will be heading down to Disney World. I am having a blast planning our trip. Today, we received our luggage tags and itineraries in the mail. I'm pretty much living in retreat world right now, but as soon as I get back, I'll be diving into the details of our trip. Let me know if you have any tips!

Discipling a 4 Year Old

2009-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

I just did a google search for "discipling a 4 year old." Can you guess the results . . . "Did you mean disciplining a 4 year old?" I had to chuckle because at this age a lot of that is going on. However, I now have the distinct joy and pleasure of discipling my son.

The boys and I were sitting in the minivan outside of the church. We were waiting for Brandon to join us for a quick lunch at the mall. While waiting, Owen declared that he had asked Jesus into his heart again. How awesome is that! He is loving having Jesus in his heart so much, that he wants some more! I happily explained that you only have to ask Jesus into your heart one time. I was able to assure Owen that Jesus would never leave him. He would always be in his heart. The discussion continued on for awhile.

Brandon hopped into the car and I shared the conversation I had just had with our son. As we pulled out of the church parking lot, we heard Owen say "No one can serve two masters." Owen attends Mom's Day Out at church and his class is learning a bible verse for each letter of the alphabet. They must be up to "N." So, what is it gonna take to disciple a 4 year old? I am not an expert, but right now my plan is to pray for both of my children and continue to grow in my relationship with the Lord so my life can be an example.

As for little Miles, he is a hoot and a half these days. I love his crazy curly hair and his scrunched up nose. He is saying lots of words, although some are in code. He still loves his mom, but thinks dad is more fun! We did reach a special "miles"tone this morning. Miles finally let me use the nail clippers to clip all ten fingers and all ten toes! What a great day!

Time Out!

2009-01-30T18:31:00.000-08:00

I am on my own with the boys this weekend as Brandon is speaking at a retreat in Michigan. Dinner time is always a little crazy when I'm outnumbered. Owen and I were negotiating how much food he had to eat before he earned a special treat. Feeling generous I offered 3 bites. A few mintues later, I asked Owen if he'd had his 3 bites yet. He said he had. After a thorough investigation of his plate it was obvious that no bites had been taken. Time out!

Owen took the walk of shame to his time out corner with minimal resistance. I set the timer and got busy clearing the table. I didn't think much of it, but I could hear Owen talking. Eventually, I stopped to listen to his monologue . . . help me to not lock the door, help me not be afraid because you are right beside me, help me be brave. The timer interrupted this fascinating exchange and Owen returned to the kitchen.

When I asked the little guy what he had been saying he let me know he had been praying to God. When asked what he prayed about he said he wanted to be brave and strong like Samson . . . and kill a lot of Philistines. I gave that boy a bear hug, some encouragement to continue talking to God and a quick lesson on the evils of murder. All in a day's work!

Seriously though, it is so cool for me to already see the influence of the Holy Spirit in this 4 year old's life. I see a change! Although there are still plenty of tantrums and time outs, God is doing a work in this little boy's heart. What a great reminder that the same God working in Owen's life is also at work in each of us. He can change us if we are willing . . . even in the midst of a time out!

Happy Birthday Owen!

2009-01-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

No, Owen is not turning 5 yet. Actually, he is not even 1 day old! Today, I had the privilege of praying with my little guy as he decided to ask Jesus to live in his heart. Happy Spiritual Birthday my sweetheart!

01/30/09 Just wanted to add how this all came about, more for myself and Owen to be able to look back and remember this special day. Over the past few months, Owen would randomly make a comment or ask a question about God or heaven. Many conversations started out as the one below, but when asked if he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart the response was usually no, not right now, or a total change in topic. On this particular day, I was in the kitchen with the boys. Owen was sitting in his seat and although I don't remember the exact words, this was the gist of it . . .

Owen: I think we're gonna see Jesus tonight.
Me: Where will we see Jesus
Owen: In heaven
Me: Cool! You know, Jesus is in my heart so he is with me all the time. Isn't that neat!
Owen: Is Jesus in my heart?
Me: Remember we said that mommy and daddy can't decide if Jesus comes into your heart. That is a decision that you have to make. Are you ready to make that decision?
Owen: Yes
Me: Are you deciding that you want Jesus to come and live in your heart?
Owen: Yes
Me: That is so awesome Owen! Let's pray. You can say what I say and you can tell Jesus that you are sorry for the bad things you do and that you believe in him and want him to live in your heart. Do you want to do that?
Owen: (Nods head yes)
Me and Owen: Dear Jesus, I love you and want you to come into my heart. I am sorry for the bad things I do. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I believe in you and I want you to live in my heart. I love you! Amen.
Me: Wow Owen! This is so awesome! Jesus lives in your heart now! We need to party. Did you know that the angels in heaven are having a party right now! Let's call your daddy, he will be so happy!

Great Expectations

2009-01-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

A faithful blog reader (my mom) recently brought it to my attention that I have never told the story of how my blog recieved it's name. There is a story and it all began about a year ago . . .

A few posts ago, I talked about coordinating the annual women's retreat at our church. As much as I enjoy this ministry, it has left me a bit "unretreated." My mind is so focused on the details of the retreat, that I am not able to wholly focus on seeking God during that time. A few months before last year's retreat, I began to pray for some time away, a personal retreat of sorts. I didn’t really know what that would look like, but I persisted in my prayers. God eventually led me to Colorado Springs for a Women’s Ministry Conference and Beth Moore Event. You have probably noticed that I like to plan and organize, but as this trip began coming together, I felt very at peace about allowing God to take care of the details. In the end, I went on the trip alone. I left on a Wednesday morning and returned late Saturday night. While in Colorado Springs, I sat under many great speakers, learned so much about women’s ministry and was fed like crazy from the word! Everything I learned was amazing and God is using many of the things I learned in my life, but when I look back on this trip, I think the biggest thing I learned is what can happen when I come to God with "Great Expectations."

From the moment I booked the plane and reserved the hotel room, I began to dream of what God would do. An entire weekend, just Him and I. What would I learn, who would I meet, how would I be changed? While sitting at OHare airport waiting to board my plane, I got out a small spiral notebook. I turned to the back page and wrote: "Cool Things God Did." Before my journey even got off the ground, I was expecting God to work and move in a mighty way. From that moment on, it was one thing after another. I praised God for an entire row of seats on the airplane all to myself, a great time of fellowship with my cousin Ashleigh and her family, the opportunity to talk with Beth Moore and even a ride home from the airport on the "party" bus! I filled that entire page easily. What if I entered each new day, each new hour, each new minute with such "Great Expectations."

Great Expectations
by Stephen Curtis Chapman

The morning finds me here at heavens door
A place I've been so many times before
Familiar thoughts and phrases start to flow
And carry me to places that I know so well
But dare I go where I don't understand
And do I dare remember where I am
I stand before the great eternal throne
The one that God himself is seated on
And I I've been invited as a son
Oh I I've been invited to come and

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord I come with great expectations

So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul
Stir the fire inside and make it glow
I'm trusting in a love that has no end
The savior of this world has called me friend
And I I've been invited with the son
Oh I I've been invited to come and

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord we come with great expectations

Birthday Wishes from Owen

2009-01-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Owen: Happy Birthday Mom! You get to go whereever you want to eat for your birthday . . . like Chuck E. Cheese . . . or someplace that has pizza! Chuck E. Cheese has pizza. I just like pizza mommy.

Kissing the Boo-Boos Away

2009-01-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

Lately, Owen is all about kissing the boo-boos away. With all the crazy weather patterns swirling around, my head has been hurting. I mentioned to Owen that I had a headache. He wanted to know where it hurt. Not thinking much of his question, I pointed to a spot near the front of my head. He walked over to me, cupped my face in his hands, and planted a big kiss right on that spot.

The very next day, I was letting it be known that I was sore. I played a little soccer the other night and am now being reminded that my body is not what it used to be. Here is the conversation between Owen and myself . . .

Me: My body hurts!

Owen: Where?

Me: All over!

Owen: I can't kiss that many!

Deep down, below the growling, stomping and yelling, my little Owen has a very tender, sweet and compassionate heart. I thank God for him and the blessing he is in my life!

Women's Retreat 2009

2009-01-06T13:55:00.001-08:00

Some women scrapbook, some women knit, some women bake . . . I plan and organize! My current project is the annual women's retreat at our church. I love the entire process from dreaming up ideas to leading retreat meetings to meeting new women. The theme for this year's retreat is IGNITE! and the verse is:

Jeremiah 20:9 And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!

I love this verse! It gets me so "fired-up" everytime I read it! I love researching our theme and the topic of fire has been fascinating. It should come as no surprise that everything in our world can teach us about the author of life! This should be a great weekend as we learn about lighting the fire, fanning the flame and fueling the future!

Tresolutions

2008-12-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again . . . the end of the year. In my teen years, I was quite infamous for my New Year's resolutions. I guess the resolutions themselves were not so outrageous, but the fact that I actually carried them out to completion was what piqued the interest of others. My resolutions came in threes. You've heard of the Triple Crown and a Three-peat, well I had a Tresolution!

Year One: Pop
It all began with pop. Now, I'd never been a huge fan of carbonated beverages, but I'd have an Orange Crush or Sprite every now and again. One December, I thought it would be fun to attempt an entire year with absolutely no pop entering my body. The task ended up being a little tougher than I thought. I was always the only kid at a party bypassing all the shiny cans of bubbly beverages and wandering into the kitchen to ask for a glass of water. Even so, the year passed quickly and I had kept my resolution!

Year Two: Pop and Chocolate
Year one had been successful, but I needed a bigger challenge. What would be a true test of my will power? Chocolate! Oh yes, I went there. Giving up chocolate was tough. The absolute worst was any time my mom's side of the family would get together. I'm not sure how other families spend their time together, but we play board games and eat chocolate. That's it! This particular resolution did force me to broaden my dessert horizons, but chocolate will always be at the top of my list.

Year Three: Pop, Chocolate and Potato Chips
After successfully completing an entire year without chocolate, I was unstoppable! Why not go for one more year. Although nothing could top the no chocolate resolution, potato chips did run a close second. My biggest weakness was BBQ. Well, the year went off without a hitch. I specifically remember New Year's Day that next year. I'm pretty sure I ate enough chocolate to make up for the two years I had gone without!

As 2009 approaches, I am entering year two of my new Tresolution plan. This past year has been focused on developing a more consistent quiet time for bible study and prayer. 2009 will be focused on taking care of my body. I decided to get a head start and am already finishing up week 3 of an exercise plan a friend of mine developed for me. In true Tresolution fashion, I will be continuing to focus on my quiet times as well. Specifically, I'm hoping to work on scripture memorization during my time on the treadmill. Multitasking at it's finest! Year three is really going to be exciting-decluttering! Check back in December 2010 to see my progress!

Brotherly Love

2008-12-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

Does it get any better than this?!?

Cookie Exchange

2008-12-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

Miles and I attended our last Kindermusik class today. The instructor had organized a cookie exchange for the three moms in the class. Guess what . . . we all brought the same kind of cookies! How does that happen?!? Oh well, at least we all like what we got!

Tis the Season?

2008-12-12T12:45:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does the cold, harsh winter turn children against their parents? Lately, my boys are just not showing me the love. Yesterday, I went into Miles' room to get him up from his nap. I flung my arms wide and said "Give mama a hug!" Well, my little momma's boy just wasn't in the mood. His response, "No." He plopped himself down in the crib and just shook his head. After some begging and pleading, Miles did offer me some knuckles (you know, where you hit your fists together). Never did get that hug.

A few hours later, Owen decided to get in on the action. I don't even remember what he did or what I said. I do, however, clearly remember his crossed arms, pouty face and sassy comment . . . "I'm going to throw you into the lion's den!" Whoa! Although I am thrilled that Owen is learning some biblical truth, I was not expecting it to be used in quite this fashion.

Winter can be a cold and dreary time here in the Midwest. It is so easy to become depressed and lethargic during this season. We have to endure some cold, hard winters spiritually speaking as well. You know those times when you just feel stuck in your relationship with God and you just don't feel the love? Maybe you feel like God has abandoned you or that He isn't really on your side. Could it be that you just don't have the energy to reach out to Him?

So, how do you survive a cold, hard winter? You begin walking in the hope that spring is right around the corner. The bible tells us that in this world we will have trouble, but that we can take heart as we face the winters in our lives because Christ has overcome the world. Just as surely as I know that the snow will one day melt and the sun will shine again, I know that Jesus Christ is living and active in my life today and that one day, just around the corner, I will be with Him in a garden paradise where night (and hopefully winter) will not come.

Go Fish!

2008-12-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

We had a blast at the "Go Fish" concert at church today. Owen wiggled and danced to some great songs and heard a great message about Jesus--the real reason for the season. The "Go Fish" guys bill themselves as "Great music for kids that won't drive parents bonkers!" Well guys, mission accomplished!

Bathroom Conversations

2008-12-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

[Owen sitting on potty, Mom sitting on edge of tub]

Owen: Where does God live?

Mom: In heaven . . . well, actually He lives everywhere. He even lives in my heart.

Owen: He lives in my heart too!

Mom: He does! When did you ask God to live in your heart?

Owen: Just now.

Mom: That's so awesome! Do you know what it means to have Jesus in your heart?

At this point, Owen was off on another topic. Only God truly knows the condition of this little guy's heart, but what a joy to sit in the bathroom and talk about Jesus with my son. I know the toilet is often affectionately called "the throne", but yesterday it looked a lot more like an altar.

The Girls

2008-11-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

Once a month, I gather together with 5 friends to share a meal and study God's word. All of us work with the youth at our church (so we're all a tinge crazy) and each of us brings a unique perspective to whatever topic we discuss. I love these girls!!! Let me take a moment to share who they are with you:

Tona-Thoughtful and full of brilliant questions. Tona knows how to cut through the small talk and get to the real point of any discussion. Most people with this ability are loud and pushy. Tona somehow speaks her mighty words in a gentle, caring voice. Tona is such a dear friend and true partner in ministry. She is always teaching me with her life!

Beth-A no nonsense sorta girl, with a truly tender heart. A newlywed and a nurse, she cares for others with great skill and compassion. Although I haven't known Beth very long, I can see that she loves others deep and hard. She lives to please the Lord and longs to serve Him with her whole life. Oh, and she loves the rodeo too!

Erin-Passionate and giving. Erin loves with everything she's got. I've watched as she pours her life into family, friends and youth. She is an all-in kinda girl. This kind of intense passion can sometimes lead to deep pain and disappointment. Erin has faced trials with grit and grace. Her perseverance is building a genuine faith and character in her life. She is a joy to me!

Rose-Authentic to the bone! This Itailian knows who she is. Striving to live a life of integrity, Rose openly shares her struggles and victories in a way that gives God all the glory. Rose is funny, strong, opinionated and gives the best hugs! Rose has a heart for missions and is a prayer warrior in the making. I can't wait to see how God will continue working in her life!

Laura-A wonderful mix of . . . everything! There are so many things I love about Laura, but the most striking is her love for the church and her passion for the lost. She cares for people and loves them where they are at. She utilizes her planning and organizational skills to bring people together in hopes that relationships with one another might lead to a relationship with God. I am strengthened and encouraged through her example.

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Ecc 4:10

October in Review . . .

2008-10-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Visited the Pumpkin Patch with the fam

Went to High School Musical 3 with a crowd full of giggly girls

Attended the Gifted to Lead conference through Willow Creek Association

Saw Hairspray at the Coronado with my mom and some friends

Got 2 new stoves (long story)

Had a Mommy and Miles lunch date at Chipotle

Added 3 new students to my caseload at school

Had a blast with my sister-in-law Nikki at the EWomen conference

Ordered a picture of Owen's Mom's Day Out class, he is the one hugging the kid next to him!

Attended a Circle meeting with some of the older women from my church

Raced around Rockford for a scavenger hunt with my Jr High d-group

Changed approximately 140 diapers

Went on a date with my husband

Visited the Belvidere Oasis with the fam (several times)

Ate chili with cinammon in it (thanks Erin!)

Watched 3 of my Jr High girls perform their hearts out in the musical Annie

Took Miles to his 15 month check-up

Finished a Bible study on the Psalms of Ascent and began a study on Paul

Led a wild and crazy retreat meeting

To sum it up, October was super busy, but super exciting! I am looking forward to November when by little buddy will turn 4 and I get to eat GG's stuffing and some broccoli souffle for Thanksgiving!

Brandon

2008-09-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

I love my husband! He loves me in such wonderful ways. From writing chalk messages on our driveway to watching the boys for the night so I can spend time with the girls . . . he is wonderful!

A Magnificent Monday for Mommy and Miles

2008-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

My little Miley is a mama's boy! He loves his dad, he tolerates his brother, he adores his grammy and grampy, but he is especially attached to me. You will often find him crying at my feet, wanting to be lifted high into my arms. As the second child, Miles does not have the pleasure of my undivided attention. I do feel bad about this at times so I often oblige his requests for some up close and personal time with mommy.

Another way I've attempted to assuage my guilty conscience is to devote a chunck of each Monday to my little Miles. Every Monday morning, I drop Owen off at Mom's Day Out. When Miles wakes up from his nap, we head off to a Kindermusik class. Miles and I love going to class together. He dances, sings, plays instruments and smiles at the teacher, the moms and the other kids. He is such a hoot! After class, I have the pleasure of eating lunch with my youngest. Today, daddy joined us at Potbellys. After lunch, it is time to pick up Owen from church.

Although the rest of the day is spent with the entire Early clan, there are still some special moments between just the two of us. Miles and I still find time for a dance or two in the kitchen. He lets me lead and often lays his sweet head on my shoulder. Even though he's one year old, I still let him drink from a bottle while I cradle him in my arms and stare into his blue-green eyes. Bathtime has also become a cherished mommy and Miles routine. My favorite part is watching him ditch the lion towel and run through the house wearing only a smile! Tonight, Miles threw in one extra special moment. As I was wrestling him into his pajamas, he pointed to something on the rocking chair in his room. "Babu." "Babu." I turned to see what he was talking about. On the chair lay his "Babu", his Bible.

Oh Miles, you are learning and growing so much each day. I love you to pieces and am so blessed to be your mommy. I look forward to walking with you throughout each new class, each new dance and each new word. You will always be my favorite Miles!

Silly Prayers

2008-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know that silly prayers even exist, but recently I've felt like I've prayed some that were just that . . . silly. A few months ago, I attended back to back women's conferences in Colorado Springs. The first was a leadership conference and the second was a Beth Moore Living Proof Live event. Friday was a big day. I would spend the morning at the hotel finishing up the leadership conference, then later that evening I would attend a huge arena for the Beth Moore event.

As I stood in the bathroom getting ready for the day, I looked in the mirror and prayed. "Lord, I know this is silly, but it would be so cool if I could talk with Beth Moore today." I attended the morning sessions at the leadership conference and headed to the main session room for lunch. We had an unannounced, surprise speaker . . . Beth Moore! To make a long story short, there was a question and answer time and I was able to ask the last question.

After Beth Moore had left the room, I looked at the two women sitting next to me. "This is really silly, but this morning I prayed that I could talk to Beth Moore today." Well, get out the kleenex, these two women laughed and cried and were amazed at how God worked. One of the women, another Beth, said that my prayer was not at all silly and that God knew that I would talk to Beth Moore that day. She believed that God had prompted me to pray, knowing that He would provide. Wow, never thought of it like that!

A few days ago, I prayed another prayer that I would categorize as silly. Owen and I love to walk out to the mailbox together and get the mail. He likes to open the mailbox and carry the mail inside. Recently, he wanted a little more involvement. He wanted mail! Very sweetly he asked, "Mom, is there any mail for me today?" My heart was breaking! "Lord, that would be so great if Owen could get some mail of his own." I had it all figured out, I would send him some mail in the next couple of days. Then I remembered, God is in the business of answering prayer--even silly prayers! The very next day, Owen got mail! I don't know why these things continue to surprise me, but they do. Then, as if the postcard from his Mom's Day Out teacher was not enough, the day after that he received more mail, a thank you note from a friend of mine. Wow! Talk about pouring out blessings and giving good gifts!

I am so thankful that I serve a God who cares about every detail of my life. He knows me. He knows what I want, He knows what I need, He knows what is best for me. He loves to give good gifts to me, but He wants me to ask. It doesn't matter if His response is yes, no or not right now, I know He has my best interests at heart.

The Olympics

2008-08-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

I am loving the Olympics! Whether it is swimming, running, volleyball, gymnastics or even wrestling, I will watch any and every competition with great enthusiasm. Why is it that every two years I am suddenly passionate about sports?

Maybe it is because the stakes are so high. This is a competition that only comes around every four years. Athletes have trained their entire lives for this one moment. The thrill of victory is so sweet and the agony of defeat is excruciating.

Show me the . . . medals! This event is not about money. There are no trades, no injury lists, no strikes. These athletes compete for the honor of receiving a gold, silver or bronze medal for their beloved country.

Possibly the biggest reason I enjoy watching the Olympics is because I know all my friends, family and neighbors are cheering for the same team. How often does that ever happen! I love going to Facebook and seeing friends in California, Tennessee and even Rockford, Illinois cheering on the same athlete, the same team, the same country.

Well, off I go to see who wins the men's marathon. Although the United States is not a top contender I'm still glued to the screen anticipating the thrill of victory and cheering on the world!

Leadership

2008-08-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

I love coordinating our church's annual women's retreat. As the retreat coordinator, I lead a team of about 20 women. We have a great team and it is a joy to serve. A few weeks ago, the women's ministry director at our church gave me a book to read. The book is "Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands: Lessons in Non-Linear Leadership" by Nancy Ortberg. I'm a little over halfway through the book and have already learned so much. Two statements have hugely impacted me.

1. Have the conversation.
-I avoid conflict at all costs. As a leader, I do not have that luxury. It is my job to deal with any issues or problems that arise. I know that this statement will be popping into my head when my heart wants to turn and run the other way. If I allow God to lead through me and deal with difficult situations in a loving and compassionate way, our team and ministry will be healthier and stronger.

2. The intersection of vision and reality may be one of the greatest tests of leadership.
-This portion of the book really hit me hard. I love to dream. I love to hope for the best. I love to see what could be. Unfortunately, I can't live in this world. I need to dream, I need to hope, I need to see what could be, but I also need to live in reality. Nancy Ortberg says this, "It is having sober eyes and an optimistic spirit, and refusing to chose between the two. It is the good news--bad news moment when you cannot allow one to dismiss the other. They are both true--where we are heading and where we are--but we have to walk through reality in order to move toward the vision. Without that, vision becomes a simple addiction to the emotional high of an imagined future."

Coming this Fall

2008-08-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

It's August! My brain hurts a little thinking about all the upcoming changes and new routines in our lives. I was talking to someone on the phone today about my schedule. I told her that there is a lot going on, but it's great! In a few weeks, our schedule will look a little like this . . .

-Mom's Day Out for Owen on Monday and Friday

-Kindermusik for Miles (and mommy) on Monday

-Work on Tuesday and Friday

-Heartbeat (Jr High) on Wednesday

-Bible Study on Thursday

-Church and Jr High Small Groups on Sunday

-Retreat planning sprinkled throughout

Weeds

2008-07-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

This morning, Brandon, Owen and I decided to do some yard work while Miles was napping. Brandon and Owen worked on removing a dead tree while I did some weeding. Here is what I learned:

1. The right plant in the wrong place is just another weed.
2. It takes time and skill to pull up a root.
3. Sometimes you have to dig up some of the good to get to the root.
4. Any unfilled space usually fills itself with weeds.
5. Weeds are hard to spot when they're growing among the grass.
6. When you go digging, you will find more problems than you bargained for.
7. Even if you think you've finished, if you look harder you'll probably see more weeds.
8. Sometimes the gloves gotta come off and you need to get a little dirty!

God spoke to me through the weeds today! Each of these points is so true on a spiritual level. The sins or weeds in our lives are varied, inconvenient, difficult to remove and just plain dirty. We need to be on guard against the weeds taking root in our hearts and trust the skillful hands of God, the Master Gardener, to skillfully remove those sins all the way down to their roots.

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Beetlemania

2008-07-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

We are under attack! The dreaded Japanese beetles have descended upon our neighborhood in full force. Yesterday, I tried to set up our little swimming pool for the boys. I put the pool under the birtch tree in our backyard. My first clue that there was a problem--bugs dive-bombing me. If any of the neighbors were watching, I looked like a crazy lady jumping around and swatting at the air. Next, I went up on our deck to get some toys for the pool. Our deck box was totally covered in beetle droppings, gross!!! Later that day, I was driving through our neighborhood and noticed the infamous green and yellow "beetle bags." The bags are equipped with a special scent that attracts the beetles and lures them into the bag. You could just see dozens of beetles swarming around the different bags.

Brandon has been on a mission to buy a beetle bag for our backyard. He was unable to find any of the disposable beetle bags because they were completely sold out! This morning, he stopped in at Farm and Fleet and shelled out $20 for a non-disposable beetle container. The good news--you can use it forever and just refill the scent pack once a year. The bad news--you have to empty the container yourself. Brandon is totally in charge of the entire process. He has already emptied the bag twice today. I can not even describe the horror of seeing a plastic bag full of creepy crawly Japanese beetles. He brought it in the house to show Owen. I tried to be a brave mom and put a positive spin on the situation. "Hey, those bugs are having a big party. Let's thank dad for saving our tree!" As soon as Owen turned his back, I mouthed to Brandon, "Get those things out of here, that's so disgusting!" I hope this beetlemania ends soon.

The Wristband

2008-07-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

Every morning and afternoon, Owen and I cuddle up on the couch in the basement and read from "The Beginner's Bible." This kid-friendly bible does a great job of introducing young children to various bible stories using simplified language and cartoonish pictures. We have read through the entire book several times. One of the featured stories is about twin boys named Jacob and Esau. Esau was the older brother and a hairy man.

This morning, I was sitting in the living room with the boys. Owen found one of Brandon's wristbands on the floor. He put the fuzzy, red wristband on his arm. "Mom, I'm like Esau!" Children are constantly watching, listening, and learning. What a great privilege and responsibility to work with children. I am so thankful for the nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, Mom's Day Out teachers and the many other men and women who take the time to build into our children.

Garage Sale

2008-07-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I are having our very first garage sale this weekend. The sale has not yet begun and I am already exhausted. I spent the majority of the day organizing and pricing items. I actually enjoyed the organizing part, but the pricing was just not my thing. After lunch today, Owen wandered out into the garage. He sweetly commented "It's beautiful!" Let's just hope the greater Rockford area feels the same!

One Year

2008-07-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

What a difference a year makes! One year ago today, I was sitting at my computer typing the following blog . . .

July 2, 2007 - Monday

Waiting

Well, I've entered my 10th month of pregnancy. Not a goal I ever hoped to achieve! We see the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully, he'll have some insight into when this baby might be ready to make an appearance.

Brandon and I aren't the only ones eagerly awaiting this baby boy's arrival. The other day we were finishing up a nice dinner at home. Out of the blue, Owen asked if he could pray. Brandon and I were a little puzzled by Owen's request. Whenever we pray before our meals, Owen typically wants mommy or daddy to say the blessing. We all closed our eyes and joined hands.

Here is Owen's special prayer . . .
"Dear Jesus, Thank you for this day. Thank you for this food. Please help my baby brover to come soon. Amen."

It is exactely one year later and I am thrilled to say that God indeed answered that prayer. Miles Lee Early arrived the very next night, July 3, 2007. As we prepare to celebrate Miles' first birthday, I can't help but be amazed at God's great blessings. Miles is a joy to our family. He is my "Smiley Miley," Daddy's "Milo," Owen's "My Baby," and Grammy and Grampy's "Little Guy." He is the spitting image of his earthly father and I pray that one day he will be a reflection of his Heavenly Father. This is my prayer for Miles . . .

"All good gifts come from you Father. Thank you for your gift of our sweet baby Miles. I pray that he will know your love at an early age and that he will grow into a man who loves you with all his heart. Amen."

Heaven

2008-06-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today my thoughts turn toward Heaven. It's a place I often close my eyes and attempt to visualize. Kirsten, Grandpa, Baby, Mel & Berneice--you are greatly missed, yet your lives reminds me daily of the great hope I have in Christ.

Death was not intended.
God intended life.
Sin entered the world;
Death followed--
A horrible, yet just price.
God surveyed the scene,
Had mercy on our plight.
A solution then He offered,
His Son would pay the price.
Death was not intended,
Yet Jesus Christ succumbed.
To give us life eternal
And bring his children home.
Now He’s gone before us
He’s prepared a heavenly space.
We must accept the invitation
To see His holy face.

Ecc 3:11 . . . He has also set eternity in the hearts of men . . .

Smiley Miley

2008-06-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

My last two posts have been a little Owen focused, so I thought it would be fun to spend a little time documenting a day in the life of our sweet baby Miles. Here are a few tidbits . . .

-As a family, we typically pray before eating lunch each day. Generally, Miles becomes a bit agitated during this time because he is hungry and ready to eat. There was an odd silence during our time of prayer the other day. When I looked up, I saw Miles sitting quietly in his high chair, hands folded in prayer.

-Miles is a hit in the nursery at church. Each week I get a report of how happy and smiley he was for the workers.

-Miles is loved by his big brother Owen. Let's just say that sometimes . . . love hurts. I joke that while I was pregnant with Miles I prayed for Owen to love his little brother. Unfortunately, I didn't think to pray for our new baby to love his big brother. I'm working to correct that!

-Miles loves teddy bears. There is one bear in particular that Brandon gave me while we were dating. It is about the size of Miles! Anyway, he lays on top of the bear and just gives him the biggest squeeze. It is the cutest thing!

-Miles is a loud crawler. Sometimes you hear him coming down the hallway just grunting uhuhuhuhuhuh. I wonder how that will translate into words someday!

-Miles has several nicknames: Miles Diles, Milo, Mi Mi, Little Guy, Miley, Smiles, Smiley Miley. He has truly earned the name Smiley Miley. He can melt your heart with his toothy grin. I just love that kid!!!!

Family Fun Day

2008-06-19T19:45:00.001-07:00

There is an event in our family called "Daddy-Owen Fun Day". The tradition began when Brandon and Owen would spend Fridays together while I was at work. The boys have had some pretty fun and exciting experiences during DOFD. One adventure is even posted somewhere out in Youtube land.

Since Brandon is in Kentucky this week, I thought we needed to have a "Mommy-Owen-Miles-Daisy Fun Day". After dinner, I announced the big event. "Owen, go potty and get your shoes on. We are having MOMDFD!" I was running around the house getting myself and Miles ready. A few minutes later I checked on Owen. He was in the process of putting on his shoes, but they weren't just any old shoes. He was lacing up his "shiny shoes" from a wedding he was in last year. My response "No, not your shiny shoes. Put on your light up shoes." As you can see, I am clearly a novice at MOMDFD. This day was all about fun and to Owen, shiny shoes were fun. So, we headed to the mini-van shiny shoes in tow. With Daisy the wonder dachshound riding shotgun and the boys strapped into their carseats, we were ready to go. Now . . . what to do.

Owen is practically obsessed with the highway. Anytime we drive over or near the interstate he asks if we can join the mad dash of cars and trucks streaming up and down I-90. With gas prices up over $4 and tolls doubling every other minute, we don't often joyride up and down I-90 at the request of our toddler. However, today was MOMDFD. Highway, here we come! Before leaving the lowway (as Owen calls any road that is not a highway), we made a quick stop at one of Owen's favorite hangouts--Starbucks. His drink of choice--chocolate organic milk. With a tall double chocolaty chip blended creme frappachino and a chocolate organic milk box in hand, we headed for the highway.

We arrived at our destination. As we merged into traffic at the State Street entrance, we were delighted to be passed by a UPS semi-truck with a double trailor. Does is get any better than that? It sure does! Not only did we see bulldozers, steam rollers and dump trucks, we saw a huge digger actually digging! All this excitement occurred during the 5 glorious minutes we were on the highway. As we exited at Route 173, Owen could only say . . . "I wanna go back on the highway." Sadly enough, this was not possible. We had one last stop to make.

I'm not quite sure how this fits into MOMDFD, but I learned that if you drum up enough enthusiasm, anything can be considered fun. We stopped by my mom and dad's house to water the plants. We were able to turn on the big, green hose and use the watering can . . . yahoo!?! We talked about how much fun it is to be part of a family and to be able to help each other. I know this might be a bit of a stretch for inclusion in MOMDFD, but like I said, it's all in the presentation.

Well, that was my attempt at MOMDFD. It's amazing what a fun day looks like to a child. I can learn a thing or two from my three year old who finds pleasure in the simple things in life as long as he's with mommy or daddy. God has created a big, beautiful world for us to enjoy if we simply take the time to explore. So, when you have a chance, gather up your loved ones, put on your best shiny shoes and hit the road!

Happy Mother's Day Dad!

2008-06-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Early clan celebrated Father's Day a little early this year. Brandon will be in Kentucky with the Jr Highers for the week and will miss his big day. Since Brandon will be out of state for Father's Day, I thought it would be fun to give him a fancy smancy card that records your voice and plays a little song. Cheesy, but fun! Owen and I practiced his big line a few times before I hit record. Here is what was said . . .

Me: Ok, say "Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you!"

Owen: "Happy Mother's Day Dad!"

Me: "No, it's Father's Day, not Mother's Day silly goose! Try it again!"

Owen: "Happy Mother's Day Dad!"

Me: "Owen, say Father's Day."

Owen: "Father's Day."

Me: "Okay, now say Happy Father's Day Dad, I love you!"

Owen: "Happy Mother's Day Dad, I love you!"

At that point, I gave up! The card was delivered a few hours later and Dad of course loved it!

Facebook

2008-06-06T21:13:00.001-07:00

Well, just made a Facebook page. Hope it will be a good way to stay connected with people from all different parts of my life.