Think about your death

I just read these thoughts from Piper on dealing with an addiction to entertainment. With all the facebooking, tweeting, blogging, tv watching, tabloid reading and mindless surfing, I think it won't be hard to find people who could find this timely and helpful...I did.

And I think I found the last paragraph to be the most helpful. He seems to always get that little dagger in at the end when you're just expecting the normal wrap up.

Rumblings...

This is an excerpt from my journal on April 27th:

What an emotional day, Father! The Rescue event this past Saturday that continues for the children of war-torn Uganda; the orphanages in India where rows and rows of babies lay in their cribs unnamed because they die so young; M and L who just posted beautiful, precious pictures of their little J; J who was only in their arms for 5 hours because You took him to be with You; A who only held her AC for 2 hours before You took her; A who only held S for a few hours before you took her.

It's a lot to take, Lord. I know we are called to mourn with those who mourn, but is that all I can do, Lord? My heart feels torn open for these precious lives and I feel helpless to do anything.

And right now I'm distracted by....the "right answers" -- this happens because of sin, we're called to bear each other's burdens, etc....And at the end of the day I will end up knowing the truth, but when my heart feels ripped open at the pain and brokenness and fallenness of this world I just want to scream out, "WHY, LORD?!? WHY THE CHILDREN?!?"

But I do know a few things today:

--It makes me long for my home, and jerks my heart back into the reality that this place so filled with pain and death and suffering is not my home.

--I makes me sit at the edge of my seat, ready to sprint toward the call God puts in front of me; the hurting and the needy. I want to go! Send me, Lord!

--It reminds of Your promise to heal this earth, to make it new and to restore the years the locusts have eaten. It will be redeemed! All of it. Our suffering is not lost on You. It is only a means and, though the pain is real, it is worth it -- the reward will be far greater than the pain. You proved that to us on the cross.

So, Lord, speak to our hearts. Use our lives. Don't let them be wasted. Help me to use my days now, as a young mom with 2 little boys -- may my time spent feeding and disciplining and diapering and counting and tickling and kissing and reading and tucking in and cuddling be used to bring You great honor and glory.




In the month since this entry God has been speaking more clearly than I've heard Him in a long time. It's been a sweet, sweet season....and very exciting! He is confirming over and over that He hears, and that He has big plans! I can't wait to share more in the future! Please pray for direction and sensitivity for us as we continue to listen...that our hearts would line up with His and each other's.

My 12 year old

This was staff spirit week at Josh's school and today was "dress like a student" day.

He came home looking like this:

Apparently, all the boys wear their hair down in their eyes and walk around with a comb all day. Josh said he pulled his out and starting combing his hair down while the kids were taking a quiz...about 3 other boys started doing the same thing. I don't get it.

I asked him if the kids identified with him today and he said he was told that he looked exactly like at least 4 boys. Another kid wore the same outfit.

At some point I made a comment about feeling like a cougar and he made a comment about how this was like being in the Tom Hanks movie "Big."

I don't know what to make of this.

I'm still processing.

Stuff that made me chuckle today

3rd graders playing a game involving dice:

" Come on now! Daddy needs new shoes!"

Isaiah, showing me his new tatoo of Emily from the movie Cars:

"Mom! Look at my new too-tat! It's Emily!"


Josh, walking into the pantry looking for a snack after work:

"I love Jesus!"


Ok, so maybe it's only funny to me, but, you know....it's the little things sometimes. :)

Endeavors

What I did...

What I did it with...

The result...
(I don't like this picture because I think I did a decent job for the first time :)
Though I keep finding little scragglies that I missed)

And then there's Manny...

In the very middle of his head is the patch of
Original Hair...
That now gets combed across and greatly resembles
a toupe.
I don't know what to do with it so...

I love my boys but, for their sake, I pray that God will give me a girl one day.
I'm just itching to do hair things that make Josh extremely uncomfortable.

Apparently, we make our kids tired....

I know updates have been slow, but you're used to that by now so if I can keep your expectations low, you'll just be glad that I update at all, right? That's how I like to do things.

Low expectations.

Several weekends ago we went to the Rescue event for child soldiers in Uganda, and got to hang out with some good friends as well. It was really good to be a part of it even though we couldn't camp out with the hundreds of hard core and unattached young activists.
It, among other things, brought up more emotions about being overseas, sadness and grieving over the brokenness of our fallen world, dreaming of what God would have us do and much prayer about where we should position ourselves now.

I hope to write about that soon, but for now here are a few pictures (there are some really good ones at the Kovac's blog. Jason's talented and has a super cool camera ;) ).

Manny getting psyched up for the walk.

We left pictures of our family and circled in red those who had abducted themselves.
One of my favorite pictures. They will be taken to D.C. for the big rally in June.

Isaiah and his buddy Samuel in a Frisbee match with some college girls.
Yes, I read it.
And no, I don't like it.
(but they were very nice girls)

The end of Karis and Isaiah.

And for the past 3 years I have gotten to go with Josh and his teammates to their annual field trip to the zoo. This year was even more fun because there were more animals and Isaiah is really into animals right now...

Mr. Sea Lion has always been my favorite. After all, I did promise to become a marine biologist/dolphin trainer, and my dorm room in college was absolutely covered with dolphins.

Mr. Sea Lion, you are closest thing I have to a dolphin so, thank you for your time and attention to us. The dream lives on in my heart thanks to you.

His belly.
And if you time it right, they'll do all their cute tricks during feeding times.
That was great!

This is the closest they've ever come to us.
I think the bath warrants it.
(the elephants. not Josh and Manny)

Aaaand....out.

A little linky-linkage

And you're thinking, "What a clever title!" I know. I actually impress myself at times.

Just wanted to share a couple things that have really challenged and moved me recently.

1) Now, there is much out there regarding things husbands need to know about their wives, but I haven't found the same kind of hype surrounding wives really getting their husbands...and to be honest, I haven't been looking. I pretty much think that the issues or arguments in our marriage stem from him needing to understand and get me better. Sound familiar?

I think the Lord felt it necessary to deal with that in my heart and show me a little more of how he's created my husband and how directly I affect him. I listened to 3 podcasts from Focus on the Family (Shanti Feldhahn) that were maybe 30 mins each, and it's been changing how I think about Josh, and hopefully, how I relate to him. I'm starting to understand him more and it's really humbling to see how little I understood, even after 5 years of marriage. Anyway, it's a super easy listen in interview format so the time flies by. If you decide to listen, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

2) Invisible Children is raising awareness about the thousands of children who have been kidnapped by Joseph Kony's rebel soldiers and forced to carry guns almost their size....what's worse, use them. They kill and they die without most of the world even knowing, and most who know do nothing. This story has gripped my heart. They are hosting a huge event this Saturday in cities all over the country, including Charlotte. I'm working on the details to be a part of it. Btw, you can also read about it over at Shawnda's. If you're going, let me know! It's definitely not too late.

⁴⁰And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Will it work?

Spring Break....oh the excitement!

two sick babies

seeds started

the cute gardener built my first little 4x4 garden


And to get some much needed fresh air after living in a germ cloud,
the glorious memorial garden here in the big C....

And to quote Josh as we pulled into the drive way of our own lush paradise (boasting two tulips)...

"Memorial gardens what?"

Memory card unload

A few weekends ago, Josh and I took a weekend away and went to Charleston for one of the days. We took a Gullah tour, given by the father of the pastor who's church we've been visiting. It was pretty interesting and hard to absorb all the rich history crammed into two hours. One of the themes through the tour was the work of an artist who has fashioned wrought iron gates through out Charleston and all over the world, been invited to the White House by President Reagan, deemed a "National Treasure." You can see his work here. This is where he lived...

When asked if he was rich, Philip replied, "Of course I'm rich. Anyone who has Jesus is rich."

Philip moved to a retirement home about 1 1/2 yrs ago. His house and shop are in the process of becoming a national historic site.

For the record, he really has made a lot of money and has sent all of his grandchildren to college as well as many kids from his neighborhood in the projects.

This place is like an all day dessert buffet for your eyes.


We also went to a state park....

Yeah....I'm not sure.

I cannot tell you how much pride I fought in posting this picture. I assure you, I am extremely uncomfortable in a tree of any sort.

I think he's so handsome :)

An entrance to the Atalaya Castle. This is as far as we got because it cost $1 to get in and we had NO cash and there was NO place in the park to get cash...despite what the man at the front gate will tell you.


And the boys....

Manny's band is now decked out in surfer rub-ons.

I don't even know what to say...he's a character!