Season's Change

I can't believe how long it's been since my last post! I have failed miserably at this blog! It seems I have no time with a four 1/2 year old. She keeps me extremely busy.

We did start homeschooling this year. Pre-K is going wonderfully! I know without a shadow of a doubt, this is what God wants us to do. I love my school time with her, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I feel privileged God is allowing me to stay home with my sweet girl. She is excelling too! She is reading! It's been so fun to see her learn. I can't imagine missing it....







Ben has started what's called "DC Day". (Daddy, Chloe Day) He had shirts made for himself and Chloe that proudly display DC Day. Sometimes the days are planned and sometimes "spur of the moment". Chloe loves it! It's something I know she'll not forget as she gets older.



There is a certain peace that has settled over our household that only God could have provided.

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." It really put things in perspective. It's referring to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. John Macarthur writes..."These people of faith didn't know when they would inherit the promise. They had a life in the land, but did not possess it." "Their faith was patient and endured great hardships because they believed God had something better."



It's been a good summer, looking forward to fall to see what God has for us in this season.....

Hopefully, I'll do a little better posting... :)

Chapel

Five years ago Ben took the position of Chaplain at Northwest Regional Hospital. He preaches every Sunday morning there. It's an extremely "unglorified" ministry. Sometimes the patients are coherent, sometimes not. But Ben has excelled at this ministry. I can count on one hand the times he's missed. All the patients LOVE him. He knows every one of them by name. We have grown to love them as well. I have always enjoyed going with him. Since Chloe came along though, we thought it really important for her to be in Sunday School. I miss him on Sunday's mornings now, I miss having that "corporate" worship time with him. I know though, this ministry is important to him.

We had Hannah and Lauren this past Sunday. It's unusual because we typically don't have them on Sundays. They really didn't want to go to our church because they don't know anyone. They are both pretty shy around new people. We gave them the option of going to chapel with their daddy. They decided they wanted to do that, so Chloe and I decided we should go too. Ben and I were really glad they chose to go with him. I think it's important for them to see something other than all the "pretty" people at your typical church. I want them to know their daddy has done and is doing a ministry that has NO recognition. It's a position that people are not fighting to get. As a matter of fact, most people would not want to do it. You have to shake hands with people who might not be so clean. You are usually interrupted during the sermon. As one gentleman once told Ben, "You have to pray with one eye open". Alot of these patients are forgotten about by society. We really want all of our girls to have a heart for people, regardless of what race, age or socioeconomic status.

Lauren and Chloe ended up singing Amazing Grace, Hannah read scripture. They had a wonderful time. It was a great day.....

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:13-14

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40

I'll probably be in trouble when Ben reads this, he hates it when I draw attention to him....but oh well.... :D

The message of the cross....

Chloe got a beautiful piece of jewelry today! It is a beautiful 14k gold cross, her first. Her Nana called and said she had a special surprise in her surprise box. My mother has a little "gift" box that, every time Chloe comes over, she puts a special treat in. Sometimes it's a banana, sometimes, gum, it's always something different. Today it was something extra special. She was really excited. I hope she will one day realize how special the Cross is.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1Corinthians 1:18

Roly Poly

nothing else, just Roly Poly....

Painting Eggs

Hannah, Lauren and Chloe all painted eggs last night. I started the tradition Easter of 2000 before Ben and I were even married. I remember Hannah and Lauren being so little that first time decorating eggs. We have done it every year since. I know they enjoy it and even look forward to it each year. They are all so creative in their own special way.

Hannah kept it with simple vibrant colors....It's amazing how each of their easter eggs reflect their own personality so much. Hannah is so patient... To have eggs this bright you have to leave them in the vinegar mixture for some time....

Lauren loved the wrap around "sleeves"...you have to color them, then place them back in the boiling water for the "sleeve" to adhere to the egg... She loved writing on them, making each egg a little masterpiece...

Chloe, I suppose because she's the youngest, is the least patient in the trio...She would drop her egg in the cup then quickly bring it back out. She loved "mixing" her eggs...She would put it in yellow, then change it to blue...This went on and on with each egg, so hers came out not really any one color... She dropped several of hers on the floor. But she was actually just thrilled to be coloring eggs with her sisters.

Lauren even decorated one for Ben....(He's already eaten it...)

We think they did a great job! Kaci and Margaret came over for the "event"...It was a fabulous time!

My heart melts...

Last night, Chloe had her big Cherub Choir performance. I rushed into the sanctuary after my bible study to find Ben had gotten us great seats up front. His parents were there too, so Chloe was excited to show off her singing talent. As the cherub's took their places on stage, she saw us almost instantly. She raised her hand, a big smile came across her face and she started waving like crazy. Of course, we were all waving back to let her know all of our eyes were on her.

Then, it happened, my heart started melting. I wanted to, once again, bottle this moment. She's at the age where she doesn't care who's watching, she's going to wave at her momma and daddy.

Ben and I talked about it when we got home. I asked him if his heart melted too. He said it did, then he started waving at me, hoping it would bring the same effect. (It didn't)...I love him to death! But it came no where close...

Then I started asking myself, Am I supposed to be so in love with this child? Is it right? The bible is clear, that I'm supposed to love God first, then Ben and our girls. I have to really keep myself in check sometimes. It's a hard thing to do.

"He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:37

Last night in our bible study class, we studied Hannah. She must have been a woman of great strength. She wept and cried out to the Lord in anguish because she had no children. She made a vow to the Lord if he would give her a male child, that she would give him back. That's exactly what she did. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 1. She had prayed and prayed for her child, then after he was weaned she carried him up to the temple to offer him back to the Lord. Can you imagine? I can't...But it's what we are called to do.

Ben often says, be prepared, the Lord may have something big planned for Chloe. He might call her into the mission field to go back to China. Let me just say, this scares me to death when he says it. I don't even want to think about it! How would I ever have as much faith as Hannah?

Thankfully, I don't have to worry for a while! For now, we'll just stick with the Cherub Choir....

Happy Spring

Ok, I'm a little last posting this. But it's hard posting everyday.

The first day of spring(March 20) Chloe and I went to the Clock Tower to stand eggs on end. We had a great time. Chloe got some expert egg standing advice from a local artist here in Rome, Susan Gilbert Harvey.



I was skeptical about standing an egg on it's end, but it did really work!


It's supposed to have something to do with the Vernal Equinox...Webster's says of the Equinox~
The time when the sun crosses the equator, making night and day of equal length in all parts of the earth...


Of course we know who set this all in motion...
"Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;" Genesis 1:14

Ancient Paths for Modern Women

I'm so excited about the new bible study offered at my church. It's a small group of devout Christian Women. It's a four part study, each being 7 or 8 weeks. I actually didn't do the first two. I don't know why because after going last night, I realized what I've been missing. This third part is called ~Walking as Mothers and Homemakers. I'm anticipating what God is going to teach me. Chapter one is, Love Your Children, Doing all that I can do to ensure God's blessing in the lives of my children.

"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers..." Titus 2:3-5

I know God has been preparing me for this. It's perfect how I can look back and see how God has lead me. As I've watched Chloe flourish at church, just over the past few months, it completely amazes me! She's turned into a little evangelist. She's asked her Nana, point blank, if she has Jesus in her heart. She's been asking whether or not every member of our family has Jesus in their heart. She's been so interested in heaven. Every time we get into our car, she says "turn it on Praise You in this storm". She sings it at the top of her lungs. Every time the song mentions heaven, she says, "Momma, that's where we're going".

From the moment we brought Chloe home, I have always thought, she was OUR responsibility. I didn't want to send her to daycare, I didn't want someone else to raise her. I want to raise her. Ben and I have been so blessed by two mother's who are willing and able to keep Chloe on the two days a week I do work. They will never know what it has meant to me. I'm not being judgemental about parents who send their children to daycare, because I think God calls us to different things. It's just my calling to raise my daughter.

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all."
1 Corinthians 12:4-6

I want to marry daddy...

We had a wonderful meal last night. Ben's mother prepared his father a fabulous birthday dinner. I wonder when I'm going to be able to cook as good as my mother and mother in law. I'm just not quiet there yet. (I'm really not anywhere close)...

Anyway, on the way, in the car last night we got into a discussion about our girls one day marrying. It's a tough subject for Ben. Honestly, I know he wants them to one day marry Godly men. We pray daily for their future mates. It's weird sometimes praying for that, but we think it's very important. Of course, it would be fine if they waited until they are forty something before tying the knot! We are realist though, and know it will more than likely be much sooner than that. Chloe was really trying to understand this whole marriage thing. She said she wanted to marry her daddy. I told her, "your daddy is my husband, you'll have a different husband, but I'm sure your daddy would love to help you pick one out." (I thought of the movie "Fireproof" because the little girl in the story wanted to marry her daddy too.) Chloe seemed to be satisfied with that answer and said if she couldn't marry her daddy then she wants one just like him. It was a sweet moment. I pray they do find a Godly man like their daddy. He's such a great husband and father. He strives daily to be the man God wants him to be. He reads his bible daily and has strong convictions. He lives out his faith. I sometimes look around and realize how very blessed I am.

The pictures pretty much speak for themselves.....

"To everything there is a season..."Ecclesiastes 3:1

You Need to Thank God

Tonight as we were working on Chloe's weekly bible verse for Cubbies, the instructions had us get a picture of her when she was a baby to glue into her Awana's book. As I'm looking through the China photos, I really didn't want to give any of them up. I kept looking and finally found one that we could place in the book. I had this overwhelming feeling of love for her. I looked at her and said, "Chloe, I'm so glad God let me be your Momma", she responded, "You need to thank God for making me!" She always reminds me who, by some great miracle, made this all happen. I do thank God for her!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

It's my turn

I was sadly reminded tonight of what a mean cruel place the world can be. Ok, it might not be that bad, but my heart was broken for my little girl. There were two other girls in Chloe's gymnastics class tonight. It was working out just fine until they discovered there were two small bean bags to play with. Hmmm, two bean bags, three girls. It should have worked out perfectly, two could play with the bean bags while one girl took her turn practicing her cartwheel, or on the beam. When it was Chloe's turn, both little girls got to play with a bean bag. When Chloe's turn was over one of the other little girls was up. She should have handed the bean bag she was playing with to Chloe, however, she handed it to the other girl to "hold" while she did her turn. I was horrified watching from the bleachers seeing my little precious angel wanting to play with the bean bag, while the other girl playfully dangled it in front of her face. My heart started racing, I was getting so angry. This went on and on for the rest of the class. I've always taught Chloe how important it is to share. I didn't know what to do. After the class on the way home, Chloe and I talked about the incident. She said, "Momma, I want you to get on to that girl." I said, "Chloe, I won't always be around to defend you. Sometimes you'll have to stick up for yourself." "The important thing is that YOU shared. And I'm very proud of you for that!"
I wish all the world was rosey, especially for my little angel, but sadly, it won't always be...The world is a mean place sometimes...This makes me think of the verse,

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

The Fortress

This is the fort Chloe and I built today. She was so excited. I remember building such forts at home when I was little. All it takes is sheets and chairs. It's easy and cheap entertainment. And brings joy for hours....



Chloe watching a movie in the Fort with her cabbage patch doll...



Raggedy Anne also joined in the fun...





"In you, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress of defense to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name's sake,
Lead me and guide me."
Psalm 31:1-3

Chloe's Way With Words....

I absolutely love talking to my daughter these days. She is saying/has said, the cutest things. I've written down most in her baby book, but wanted to share some...Some are current, some are not

Frosty Returns (the movie) = Frosty take turns ~She actually says it right now :(
Computer = Compuyer
Bottom = Ba yum
First = Firsh
Part = Park
(Ben and I use Chloe's version of words in our vocabulary when we are talking to each other...)

Chloe's signature quote..."I will miss you tomorrow". She always tells her Nana & Mimi this on days she is with them.
Margaret actually told Ben she and Larry use her signature quote often to each other. I remember Hannah and Lauren calling covers~cubbers, we STILL say cubbers.

What will I do when she starts pronouncing everything right? I know, Ben and I will still use her version so I'll never forget....

Yesterday...

It's true, I love to reminisce....

This is one of the first moments Ben held Chloe, it's my favorite picture....I wouldn't take a million dollars for it!





Ben and I in Tian'an Men Square..it was completely AWESOME




us at the Great Wall



Chloe meeting her sisters for the first time at the airport....

I can't believe how time has flown! It seems just like yesterday...

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him."

1 Samuel 1:27

Random Acts of Sweetness

I was just blown away at my precious 4 year old. Ok, it doesn't take much for me to think she's wonderful....but this is really sweet! We had just gotten in the car to drive Hannah and Lauren back to their mom's. The car was unusually quiet. It's often mass chaos in our car going places. Everyone seems to be talking at once, but today for some reason it was so quiet. OUT OF THE BLUE, I hear my little precious 4 year old tell Lauren, "I love you". I looked in my rear view mirror because I was kinda shocked and really not sure who had said it, Lauren or Chloe. As I looked in the mirror, I saw Chloe looking at Lauren and Lauren looking at Chloe, then I heard Lauren say, "I love you too." It brings tears to my eyes. It was such a random thing...Like out of nowhere. What a precious thing...I'm glad I was there.



First gymnastics injury....

Yesterday we had our first gymnastics injury. Chloe was running on the floor at gymnastics practice and lost her footing. She slipped and fell and scraped her little nose across the floor. She cried and her daddy went down to check on her. He hugged her and she was fine. She's a tuff cookie! Below is the picture of her injury, complete with cookie crumbs on the lips!

Do you want to be free?

I had an incredible time this morning in my bible. Ben always brings Chloe to our bed when he leaves for work. I enjoy this time, she's usually still asleep and I can get some good reading time in. Our Associate Pastor has challenged our church to read through the bible in a year. Of course I'm always up for a good challenge and have never read all the way through it so I thought, I SHOULD do this! I would love to say I've read every word. It's been wonderful! I'm in Numbers and Mark. I'm supposed to read old testament in the morning and new testament in the evening but I always end up reading it at one time. I have recently been loving my Casting Crowns Cd also. I love the song Set Me Free and have never really listened to the lyrics. When I opened my Cd case yesterday I read what that song was about. It's so powerful. The song follows the account of the man with demons...that is...until he meets Jesus!
My reading in Mark this morning was that story! Mark 5:13
God's timing is so perfect! It was just strange/perfect how I just read about that song last night then that was my reading for today.

I've just got to post the lyrics....

"It hasn't always been this way / I remember brighter days / Before the dark ones came / Stole my mind / Wrapped my soul in chains

Now I live among the dead / Fighting voices in my head / Hoping someone hears me crying in the night / And carries me away

Set me free of the chains holding me / Is anybody out there hearing me? / Set me free

Morning breaks another day / Finds me crying in the rain / All alone with my demons I am / Who is this man that comes my way? / The dark ones shriek / They scream His name / Is this the One they say will set the captives free? / Jesus, rescue me

As the God man passes by / He looks straight through my eyes / And darkness cannot hide

Do you want to be free? / Lift your chains / I hold the key / All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me

You are free / You are free / You are free"

The man with demons was a desperate man, the scripture says...

"When he saw Jesus from afar, he RAN and worshiped Him." Mark 5:6

"For He said to him, Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Mark 5:8



I'm so thankful for this gift of being "Free"....


Wow, I'm in a deep kinda mood.....

The song Set Me Free is below in my playlist if you want to listen....

Heaven

We had a great, in depth talk tonight on the way home from church. I can't even remember how the conversation got started. I would give anything to have had a recorder in the car so I could forever remember this converstation with my daughter. I was telling Chloe that Jesus lives inside of us. We ask him to come live inside of us and he does! She was listening intently and I could tell she was interested. I told her one day when she's old enough, she can ask Jesus into her heart too! I told her if you do, you will live in heaven for eternity. She got a little worried and started asking all kinds of questions. "Would Santa Clause be in heaven?", "Did Daddy ask Jesus into his heart?", "Will we take our van?", she was holding back tears to ask..."What if i forget my vest?"(her cubbie vest)...I realized, however selfish it may sound, that my number one priority on this earth is to see this sweet little innocent girl become a child of God. I love her so much! I explained the best I could to her about heaven and decided I need to study more myself about this wonderful place we will spend eternity.

The Crayola Marker of a Good Man

Last night Ben and I watched the movie Fireproof. We rented it and after watching it decided we want to own it ourselves! Chloe was so good during the movie. Of course it took us about three hours to get through the entire movie because she would make her way into the den and want to chit-chat, so we would hit the pause button and do a little chit-chat with her, then restart the movie. She kept coming in wanting to do "homework". Ben promised her when the movie was over he would help her do "homework". This child LOVES anything to do with learning! Anyway, after the movie, it was Chloe's "turn". Ben got down in the floor and they did some work out of her "homework" book. After they had finished, Chloe was feeling artistic and needed to "create" something. Ben had the great idea of letting Chloe draw a picture on his belly. She was so excited! It's something he's let all three of his children do. It's kind of funny.

The work in progress....

She said this is (from left to right) her daddy, herself and me at the airport coming home from China....The finished canvas....

He's the best father I know.....

The Ant and the Grasshopper

A couple of nights ago, my best friend (my husband) was reading, as he often does, right before bedtime. He said "sit down, I want to read you something". I thought, oh no...I'm in trouble about something....He starts reading from his book...

"The Ant and the Grasshopper gives us a splendid analogy for viewing the reciprocal relationship of SJ to SP. In the fable, the Ant is industriously and dutifully transporting large crumbs of bread from the site to storage while the Grasshopper reclines on a blade of grass near Ant's path, playing the fiddle, chewing tobacco, and singing "The world owes me a living." Ant, without losing stride in his burdensome work, scolds Grasshopper for not preparing for the upcoming winter months. "Join me," urges Ant, "and we will together fill the storehouse, thus ensuring that none will suffer cold or hunger." Grasshopper replies, "And if you keep up this feverish pace, you won't make it to winter, succumbing to ulcer, high blood pressure, or colitis. Join me on my blade of grass, and we will enjoy together the warm summer, the food that abounds, and celebrate the world's debt to us in song." Each of course, ignores the other's request and goes on his own merry or tedious way. When it turns out to be a long, cold, hungry winter, Grasshopper must knock at Ant's door and stand there frostbitten and starving; Ant, snug in his storehouse of goodies, can only let Grasshopper in. And so it is with SJs and SPs~ They marry each other with high frequency and play out this eternal drama."


He said, "who does that sound like?" We both agreed and had a great laugh. He's obviously the Ant and I'm obviously the Grasshopper. We could both imagine me standing at his door, knocking to come in, "I'm cold, I'm hungry"..."Let me in" And of course he would let me in!
That's why I love him!

Pre-Team & Braces

More exciting news this week, Chloe has been asked to join the Pre-team class at the gymnastics center. It's by coach invitation only...so it's pretty exciting! She is really so good, her back bend blows my mind! I'm sure she gets her flexibilty from her daddy! Ha! She will now practice two days a week for one hour instead of just one day. The pre-team class is designed to prepare her to be on the gymnastics competition team! I think she's the youngest one in there. Her daddy and I are so very proud of her!

Also very exciting, Lauren got her braces last week. She is doing great and we think she's absolutely gorgeous in them. She was a little uncomfortable for a couple of days but she's been a real trooper!

This has been a really exciting week in our Household! Little Miss Chloe has earned the prestigious honor of owning a Cubbie Vest! Last week in AWANA's she was given the challenge to learn two bible verses in a week. We came home and she was eager to start that night! We worked on the two verses all week, they were "All have sinned." Romans 3:23 and "While we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. I couldn't wait for Wednesday night to roll around to see if she would get her vest. Of course I knew she could do it, I just wasn't sure she would say the verses to her teachers. We practiced on the way to church that night and I knew she knew them.

I would give anything to bottle the moment of picking her up that night from Cubbie's class....As I was coming down the hall, I could see her standing in the doorway proudly wearing that cubbie vest! She was so proud of herself and of course I had, what I'm sure was, the biggest grin. We called everyone we knew on the phone that night on the way home! I've never seen her so excited! I hope God was smiling too, I'm sure He was....