Oh the Bliss!

Julie once told me when I have writers block or whatever that I should at least post pictures of kids. Noted! Gross. Isn't that one of Ben so disturbing?? Did you notice the shadow profile? I love that. LOVE YOU JULIE!!!

Yum.

Our new house is fantabulous. I am loving living here! It's nothing fancy, but I think that's what I like most about it. We are not a fancy family, so we fit right in. Our little neighborhood was built with the intention of being part of Leisure World, which pretty much surrounds us. I'm not sure why it didn't make the cut, but it was left with all the special little features of an old folks home. Like no gas. And light switches that are super low - like Mia low. And ramps for wheelchairs, which makes for some excellent scooter riding. You know what else living in a highly concentrated city of elderly people makes for? Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally slooooooooow check out lines at the grocery store. But it also makes for a surplus of grannies chomping at the (toothless) bit to ooo and ahhh over my kiddies while I wait (eons) in said lines. And it give us a chance to practice patience, graciousness, and honoring our elders. Our house has a lovely breeze and lots of beautiful flowe...

I struggle with one of my children who's heart has hardened in some areas. It scares me to see a hardened heart at such a young age! The sin of pride is such a difficult one to uproot and remove, and it breaks my heart to see my little one battling it already. Sometimes the breaking of pride can be very, very painful, and who likes to see their child experience pain? Isaiah 66:2 "... But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." I wish I could make my child tremble at the word of God! Sometimes it can be so frustrating to say the same thing, over and over again, obviously not getting to the root of the problem. It is my tendency to respond with, "Look at all you have! You are so well provided for! You want for nothing, you have no needs, you are lavishly loved, and all I ask in return is that you trust and obey. Why is that so difficult? Why won't you let me lead you?" I have cried over this many t...

I believe one of Satan's most effective tools to disable The Body is guilt. So frequently I hear people (mom's mostly) mention at some point in the conversation how they're feeling guilty about something. I did a very quick word search in my Bible today of the word 'guilt' and skimmed over every passage that uses that word and my general feeling after I was done was that the guilt of the Bible is not the guilt that people feel when they say things like, "I feel so guilty because I took a shower while my baby sat in the crib and cried." What I gathered, and this is largely the reason why I want to dig in deeper and read more about the topic of guilt, is that the guilt in the Bible is a result of sin. And the guilt one might feel for leaving a crying baby in a crib is not so much guilt as it is a feeling of remorse. BUT, like I said, the search I did on this was very quick and I'm excited to find out more. Here's what I know, and please correct me ...

She REALLY loves me. Love might be an understatement. Obsession comes to mind. So does leech. I know this is a phase, I know it - I know it - I know it. But COME ON girl! I decided to document parts of her day, and by "her" I mean "our". I needed to fold laundry, so she had to sit over here. But got closer. ... and closer VICTORY! (hers, not mine, I know that.) One time I removed her and ran, and came back to this... which she thought was hilarious. I know the right thing to do; the girl needs some hardcore heart training. If another mother came to me with this attachment problem I'd have buckets full of sound, even biblical , advise to nip this baby in the bud. But when it comes to me, and my Mia, it is SO DIFFICULT. I have my reasons (cough cough - excuses - cough cough) but the truth is this little mini-me has me wrapped around her finger. Cus she's just so cute. "...For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the L...

I am sorry about the break from my blog, I didn't mean to make it so long, I didn't mean for there to be a break at all, actually. It's not for lack of material, as I have kids to constantly provide something right? But here's the truth, the honest truth of why I haven't written. I have a friend who just spent 10 days in Uganda with her husband working with Katie Davis and Amazima and spending time with the least of the least. They were bombarded with emotions - and I can't help wondering how they're going to come home and process it all. How does one come back to Orange County and pick up right back where they left off and carry on? Or maybe they won't, maybe they'll be completely different and they'll pack their bags and move to Africa before any of us can say, "How was your trip?" How can I even ask her that question?? Where will she begin? So I haven't been able to write because for nearly two weeks my brain and my heart and ...