It is so neat knowing the Lord.
Hmmm...neat doesn't seem to be adequate enough. There are so many words I could use to describe what it is like knowing the Lord.
Humbling. Absolute Grace. Uplifting. Freeing. No condemnation. Rest. Wise. Amazing. But truly it is....indescribable!
It has been beneficial for me to see the Lord continue to shape my heart.
For me to see where He has brought me from.
What He has rescued me from.
The pit that He brought me out of.
The veil He removed from my eyes.
The chains and bondage He so gently removed.
For now I can look back and see that HE has shown me nothing but grace and that HE is the only One who can offer such life. I can close my eyes and imagine where my life would be without Him and it makes me shudder.
So seeing the Lord continually make me more like Him has been nothing short of a miracle and shown me His faithfulness and love and patience with His people. I have such a looonnggg way to go, but He doesn't give up on me.
What could be more neat than that??
Well, tonight I discovered something just as neat, if not more neat than that.
Seeing GOD slowly, but surely mold my little man's heart for the glory of GOD!
Tonight was special for Steve and I. We were in bed with the kids reading books and going over the catechism. Reviewing memory verses and catechism questions. And Noah had so many questions that just blew Steve and I away. His thoughts were amazing....you could just see the wheels turning in his head and he was trying so hard to grasp it all. And we were trying to explain and answer his questions the best we could. Our words fall short so often, though.
Tonight as we discussed 'Where is God?' Noah just couldn't believe God could be everywhere. He would say, "I can't see God and He can't see me because He is in Heaven above the Earth and the Earth is not open to Him." Hmmm....he's thinking. "And God can't be in the airplane when I go to Romania because He can't fit inside the plane. And He isn't in my bedroom because He stays outside."
Oh, we just loved listening to Him! It was so neat to be able to give TRUTH to Him of how much God knows about Noah and his thoughts about him and that HE truly is everywhere....in our bedroom, in the plane, in Africa, Romania, Georgia, Kentucky, Rhode Island and everywhere!
We tried explaining this by having him keep his eyes open and put his hands over his eyes. He said he couldn't see Steve, but he still knew Steve was there. That is how God is. We can't see Him, but we have so much knowledge and evidence that He is right there with us.
There were many more statements and thoughts, such as, "Does God have a house? Where is it? What is it like? How come God couldn't fix our car when that man crashed into daddy? God must not know how to do everything?" Yea....we were caught a little off guard by some of it, but it was a great conversation.
His prayer request tonight (none of this was prompted, just completely out of his heart): "I want to pray that I would know God more and that the people of Romania would know God more. We have to get there quick to tell them about Jesus so that they will know too! Do they have much money mom? Hey mom, do they have build-a- bear's there? I need to empty my piggy bank and give them some money and take them to build-a-bear with me. "
All I could say with tear filled eyes was, "that is an excellent idea Noah."
Nothing better than seeing the Lord move and stir and reveal Himself to our little guy. Amazing! I learn so much too and want to know God so much more!
*Paige was there too...but she was busy seeing how many times she could take off and put back on her pajamas! HA! Gotta love her!! :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tea & Crumpets
So today was precious....absolutely priceless.....
Paige finally opened her birthday present from us a week after her birthday...she could not have cared less about opening presents (if only this could last forever). Not sure how she has resisted this box wrapped in pink and purple floral paper....laid out in the living room for several days. Not even a temptation for her.
She finally opened it the other day...her first tea set
So today it happened....my first tea party with my girl and little man. SO MUCH FUN!
Paige finally opened her birthday present from us a week after her birthday...she could not have cared less about opening presents (if only this could last forever). Not sure how she has resisted this box wrapped in pink and purple floral paper....laid out in the living room for several days. Not even a temptation for her.
She finally opened it the other day...her first tea set
So today it happened....my first tea party with my girl and little man. SO MUCH FUN!
"apple" tea, watermelon, sun chips, candy corn :)
*note the little fingers snagging a chip in the top left*
Noah loved serving everyone tea & Paigey loved being served
We called daddy's office & cordially invited him to a tea
party @3:15. We were all so excited when he pulled in
the driveway 10 min. later!! One of the many benefits of
living right beside the church right now.
*pinkies out*
momma makes some good tea...we gotta work on those pinkies ;)
"Tea Time Tales with Noah"
(this one was about a dinosaur)
I hope for many more tea parties!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Paige's 2nd Birthday
WOW!
On October 6, 2008 Paige Amelia VanHorn entered our world!
Paige is TWO YEARS OLD today! It has truly gotten sweeter and sweeter.
If you don't know our history with Paige...let me fill you in.
We fell in love with her the minute we found out she was in my womb! We fell even more in love with her when we saw her for the first time two years ago. But, we quickly learned after bringing her home that she was completely different from Noah...in every way imaginable!
Paige cried a lot for the first long seven months of her life. During the day at first, but then after the first month or two...she cried for hours every night. Dr.'s told me over and over it was not reflux...it was not colic. Looking back, I beg to differ--something was wrong.
After 8 months, life began to be more enjoyable with her. She was happier and we were happier. She was sleeping more and we were sleeping more, which made me a much nicer person to my family!
She has changed so much over the last 16 months... for the better!
She has made all of our lives so much more enjoyable!
Her and Noah are best friends!
She is my little shadow..and i love it almost all of the time! She just wants to be with me and i am soaking it up!
She is definitely daddy's girl too and she just loves to snuggle with him and for him, or anyone for that matter, to tickle and give her kisses all day long if they will!
She is already such a nurturer. She consoles any child who crosses her path who may or may not be hurt or need help.
She "cleans" with me. She cooks with me.
Oh, I so hope these are things she wants to do with me 15 years from now!!
I am so thankful to God that HE chose to entrust her little life to me. And I am so thankful that HE answered my prayer that the bond her and I have would grow so much stronger this year! It definitely has!
I love you Paige! It has been an absolute delight raising you and you make it so easy to love you!
Happy Birthday Paigey Lu!
On October 6, 2008 Paige Amelia VanHorn entered our world!
Paige is TWO YEARS OLD today! It has truly gotten sweeter and sweeter.
If you don't know our history with Paige...let me fill you in.
We fell in love with her the minute we found out she was in my womb! We fell even more in love with her when we saw her for the first time two years ago. But, we quickly learned after bringing her home that she was completely different from Noah...in every way imaginable!
Paige cried a lot for the first long seven months of her life. During the day at first, but then after the first month or two...she cried for hours every night. Dr.'s told me over and over it was not reflux...it was not colic. Looking back, I beg to differ--something was wrong.
After 8 months, life began to be more enjoyable with her. She was happier and we were happier. She was sleeping more and we were sleeping more, which made me a much nicer person to my family!
She has changed so much over the last 16 months... for the better!
She has made all of our lives so much more enjoyable!
Her and Noah are best friends!
She is my little shadow..and i love it almost all of the time! She just wants to be with me and i am soaking it up!
She is definitely daddy's girl too and she just loves to snuggle with him and for him, or anyone for that matter, to tickle and give her kisses all day long if they will!
She is already such a nurturer. She consoles any child who crosses her path who may or may not be hurt or need help.
She "cleans" with me. She cooks with me.
Oh, I so hope these are things she wants to do with me 15 years from now!!
I am so thankful to God that HE chose to entrust her little life to me. And I am so thankful that HE answered my prayer that the bond her and I have would grow so much stronger this year! It definitely has!
I love you Paige! It has been an absolute delight raising you and you make it so easy to love you!
Happy Birthday Paigey Lu!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Race day
Today was a great day for me! Let me tell ya why.....
My birthday was Aug. 2 and on that day I made a few goals that I wanted to accomplish in the next year and a couple I wanted to complete by the end of this year. Today I completed a goal! I ran my first 5k today!! woo hoo!
Today was the first day that I ran 3.1 miles...i think. Up to this point I had only been running a little over two miles. I wasn't sure I could finish, but I did! I was so thankful for my sweet friend Mayra to run with me! THANK MAYRA!
I didn't so much care about my time, but that I finished!
In the past I have had a hard time with following through with a commitment and a couple of years ago it started really bothering me....I was seeing a trend that was rooted in deep insecurity and fear of not being liked or not pleasing people.
Thanks to my husband who encourages me to work through this... I am trying to make sure I follow through with commitments I make. And I am learning to say "no" a lot more. And I am learning to give myself some grace in some areas and the reality is....I am not going to be able to please everybody.
I made the commitment to a 5k intentionally...i wanted to test myself and follow through!
I followed what 1 Cor. 9:26 says I did not run without an aim....I wanted to finish...and finish well.
I didn't want to stop...and I didn't.
I wanted to condition my body, mind, heart and soul all at the same time.
Some days I still battle roots of insecurity and fear, but by God's grace I am learning more and more each day who I am in Christ and what freedom His Spirit gives me through Christ!
Reflect today. Have the Lord search your heart and reveal to you if there are any areas of your life rooted in lies...in sin...in anything not of Him! And rid yourself of it through the power of Christ.
This is also a little random, but the Lord gave me this verse tonight and I thought I would share.
"The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Last thing....(i promise).....today as I was running there was a family there with a girl in a wheelchair. They took turns pushing her as they ran! They finished before me! But, I thought it was such a sweet picture of love...of God's love for us...carrying us when we are too weak and frail to do it ourselves. It was beautiful. It was also a beautiful picture of the body carrying each other in times of deep need. Seeing this today made me especially thankful for two things:
1. That Christ died for me, bore my wrath and carries me still when I don't know the way, when I am way too powerless to do it on my own.
2. Very thankful for my health....my legs to move, my heart to pump blood through my body....so thankful to be able to experience exercise myself. I told my little Noah tonight....exercise and the movement of our arms and legs is such a gift from God and we are so blessed. Let's not take these "little" things for granted!
My birthday was Aug. 2 and on that day I made a few goals that I wanted to accomplish in the next year and a couple I wanted to complete by the end of this year. Today I completed a goal! I ran my first 5k today!! woo hoo!
Today was the first day that I ran 3.1 miles...i think. Up to this point I had only been running a little over two miles. I wasn't sure I could finish, but I did! I was so thankful for my sweet friend Mayra to run with me! THANK MAYRA!
I didn't so much care about my time, but that I finished!
In the past I have had a hard time with following through with a commitment and a couple of years ago it started really bothering me....I was seeing a trend that was rooted in deep insecurity and fear of not being liked or not pleasing people.
Thanks to my husband who encourages me to work through this... I am trying to make sure I follow through with commitments I make. And I am learning to say "no" a lot more. And I am learning to give myself some grace in some areas and the reality is....I am not going to be able to please everybody.
I made the commitment to a 5k intentionally...i wanted to test myself and follow through!
I followed what 1 Cor. 9:26 says I did not run without an aim....I wanted to finish...and finish well.
I didn't want to stop...and I didn't.
I wanted to condition my body, mind, heart and soul all at the same time.
Some days I still battle roots of insecurity and fear, but by God's grace I am learning more and more each day who I am in Christ and what freedom His Spirit gives me through Christ!
Reflect today. Have the Lord search your heart and reveal to you if there are any areas of your life rooted in lies...in sin...in anything not of Him! And rid yourself of it through the power of Christ.
This is also a little random, but the Lord gave me this verse tonight and I thought I would share.
"The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Last thing....(i promise).....today as I was running there was a family there with a girl in a wheelchair. They took turns pushing her as they ran! They finished before me! But, I thought it was such a sweet picture of love...of God's love for us...carrying us when we are too weak and frail to do it ourselves. It was beautiful. It was also a beautiful picture of the body carrying each other in times of deep need. Seeing this today made me especially thankful for two things:
1. That Christ died for me, bore my wrath and carries me still when I don't know the way, when I am way too powerless to do it on my own.
2. Very thankful for my health....my legs to move, my heart to pump blood through my body....so thankful to be able to experience exercise myself. I told my little Noah tonight....exercise and the movement of our arms and legs is such a gift from God and we are so blessed. Let's not take these "little" things for granted!
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