Cardboard stories

I just watched a video that had me in tears. For those of you that know Jay and I, you know that we would LOVE to be missionaries in Africa. Jay has been several times and he and I have been together in January 08 on short term mission trips. We prayed for a long time about possibly doing a 2 year ISC program and even completed most of the 3 step paperwork application (that usually takes a full year), but we had some financial hiccups along the way and we decided that it just wasn't God's timing for us...for now. I would not be surprised if we ended up there at some point, and yes, we would take all of our kids there...to Africa...without hesitation.

In fact, I would almost rather raise children in Africa than in America...but that is another story I won't get in to unless you ask.

One of our favorite things to do while in Africa was to talk to all the missionaries and hear their "stories" of how they ended up on the mission field, the ways they have seen God work miracles in their lives and how God has used them on the field. One thing is for certain...God uses ordinary folks. Like. Us. Growing up I always imagined missionaries to be perfect people with long skirts on every day of their life with Bible in hand. But most of them are just ordinary folks that were building a life in America until God totally changed the direction for them and they sold literally everything they have to move overseas...and every one we have talked to wouldn't change a thing.

This video hit home. Maybe it is just me. Isn't this what this life is all about??? Let me know what you think.

http://www.gowestafrica.org/cardboard/

I have had 2 showers today...

It is only 11:00 and I have already had 2 showers today...one of water and one of SWEET POTATOES! :)

Houston, we have a problem...

Landon is mobile! He is not officially "crawling" yet but can "scoot" anywhere (Yah Landon!). He can get anything he wants to get now. Including...

Ax's toes...

Things under the table...

But don't worry, Ax can get what he wants too! Just grab and pull!

I DON'T, but I DO...

In my time with the Lord, I have been studying through the life of Christ as He journeyed through this Earth. I am learning so much about His life, the Jewish culture and why He did the things that He did. Having been to Israel twice (lots of posts here in April 2008), I have walked where He walked and seen the traditions/culture in action and KNOW that for Jews, Jesus permeated EVERYTHING they did. Judaism was not just a label to identify where they went to church, but it was a way of life for them that permeated every part of their life. Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:4-9...

"⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^{a]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} ⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

And I am sure that is exactly what the Israelites did...literally. Although because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice I DON'T think we are required to follow the law anymore, I DO believe that Jesus still requires this of us, just not as literally as He meant here. I DO think He wants us to love Him with everything we have, everything we do and everything we are. I DO think He wants us to bind them on our hearts, impress them on our children, and talk about Him all throughout the day. I DON'T think He wants us to wear Bible verses on our foreheads but figuratively, I DO think He means that when people talk to us, they should see Jesus all over our countenance and our actions because we have been with Him. I DON'T think He requires that we write them on the doorframes of our house and our gate, but I DO think He means that His presence should permeate every room in our home. Although I might take that literally because I like the idea....

However, I have been challenged in this. I desire to please Him and love Him with everything I am.

I DON'T believe that you should take my word for it. I DO believe He can speak through His word to you too. Give Him a try...

Yummy

Look at what is for dinner tonight...SUSHI! It is one of our favorites and we don't get to eat it very often. I always get the same thing because I can't have shellfish, so I get the smoked salmon nigiri and Jay always is the one to branch out and try all kinds. SOOOO yummy!

Look at my new trick!!!!

Lucy has started blowing raspberries on command here lately and it is so cute! She especially likes to do it with her daddy. Of course she always does it best when the camera is not in her face but this is just a small shot of her attempting it. This is for those grandparents out there....

Yep we are still alive :)

I know it is not like me to only post once in a week...but honestly there hasn't been alot this week to blog about. We are doing great just nothing too exciting. The rain has kept us inside and we all were having cabin fever bad! We did go to a HUGE neighborhood sale yesterday but didn't find much. Today has been such a wonderful day...we went to church this morning and then had an awesome time with our small group at our house complete with yummy spaghetti, garlic bread, multiple desserts (and yes I tried 2 out of 3), coffee, great fellowship, good friends, and a challenging word/accountability from our pastor. Did I mention that I LOVE small group??? Well, because I DO! Then after they left early afternoon, I took a LONG nap which I haven't done in a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Tonight has been so relaxing hanging out with the hubby. The laundry will wait until tomorrow so I have relaxed the afternoon away!

Maybe this coming week will be more eventful.... :)

Lucy's 4 month doctor's visit/shots

Tonight Lucy got the dreaded shots at her 4 month checkup. She is doing great and doc says she is very healthy and just "perfect!"

Her WEIGHT is as follows:

Born-9 lbs. 2 oz.

2 week-9 lbs. 13 oz. 89%

2 months-11 lb. 8 oz. 68%

4 months-13 lbs. 10 oz. 42 %

Her HEIGHT is as follows:

Born-21 in.

2 weeks-21.5 in. 87%

2 months-22.5 in. 56% (I think this was off a tad)

4 months-25.5 in. 84%

Lolli met us there and got some snuggles while we waited...

Doc checking her development...

Me and my sweet pea

Just relaxin'...

Doc..look at what I can do!

She has done great since her shots..no fever and not even a fuss!

God doesn't make junk!

I want to start by saying that Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week. I love going to church and celebrating in worship with my church family about what God has done in my life that week. The Lord always stirs in my heart and speaks to me in an incredible way. Our pastor is starting a series on The Basics of Life and we watched this video as an intro to the sermon. IT ROCKED MY WORLD! I was in tears throughout the video at how real it was and the Lord reminded me that He doesn't make junk! You see God desires for us to live a life in communion with Him and he knows that we can't do this thing called life alone. Yes God disciplines those he loves just as a father disciplines his son...because he loves them. The Lord gives and He takes away and it isn't because He doesn't understand us or our situation or doesn't care about us, but because He loves us and He does indeed, discipline those He loves. I think we have all been guilty at times of buying into the lie that when we turned over our lives to Christ, life would be easier. The Truth is that it isn't, it is HARDER. And we must understand that God pre-assigns our portion and our cup and EVERYTHING He pre-assigns is GOOD. He does indeed find favor in us and we ARE His original masterpiece. Because God doesn't make no junk!

Tummy Time

When you can't find your paci, your arm will do!

Say what mom?

Please, mom please!

I like to watch football with my daddy! (She really was watching the football game here...ha)

Peas and Carrots, Carrots and Peas

Today (at 4 months, 2 days) Lucy ate baby food for the first time...not too sure she was as excited about it as I was. She did great although she gagged with just about every bite but she got better as time went on. Just not sure she knows what to do with this foreign substance!

We began with peas and she ate a portion of a jar then I decided to try carrots and see how she reacted to each of them. While I fed her, Jay tooks pics and Karis and Brayden were her cheerleaders. Ha!

She ate more of the carrots than peas but we will try them both again tomorrow.

Yea...gagging. Not exactly the reaction you hope for.

Here is a video of her first bite...bad quality (I had to reduce size just to get it to upload), but you get the idea....

Lucy is 4 months old!

I can't believe my baby is already 4 months old! How can this be???

Lucy you have been such a blessing to us and we are thrilled that the Lord gave you to us! You add so much joy to our home!

You CONSTANTLY are putting your hands in your mouth or trying to put your paci in your mouth. But when you can't get your paci, you use your hand.

My babies: Karis 4 (will be 5 next month), Brayden (3) and Lucy (4 months today)

My girls

Lucy is finally starting to fill out the swing...

Me and Lulu

At 4 months you:

• sleep 8-5, then eat at 8, 11, 2, 5 and 8
• still nurse great and I haven't had to supplement with formula at all
• smile at EVERYONE and ALL the time; VERY happy baby
• are sleeping in your crib in your room
• are rolling over from stomach to back (constantly) but can't roll from your back to stomach...this is a problem!!!!
• haven't started baby food yet but will in the next few days!
• are laughing out loud
• love bathtime
• have eczema pretty bad on legs; poor thing gets it honest
• love your paci especially when going to sleep
• stop to grin at mommy when nursing all the time; it melts my heart!
• other than runny nose, haven't been sick yet
• we love you very much!

9-9-09

It is 9-9-09. I read this at CF Husband this morning:

9 is a very unique number...check this out...

Today is 9.9.9.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Wednesday has 9 letters.

September has 9 letters.

It's the 252 day of the year...2 + 5 + 2 = 9.

Strange huh?

Uninvited Guest

Jay found remnants of an uninvited guest in our flower bed this morning. It was almost as tall as me! Ok, I know I am not tall, but the snake skin was almost 5 ft.! I hope we don't see him again!

Zoo Member night

Tonight the Zoo had member night and we, along with the rest of the city, went. The kids enjoyed swimming, tram rides, and seeing the animals.

Brayden said the music was too loud!

Go Redbirds!

We hung out at the Redbirds game tonight...a blast as always. Good news and bad news...we didn't see Rocky the Redbird. Brayden likes him...from a distance!

The kids made some friends and played with them for a long time. The grandmother had brought her TEN grandkids to the game...brave woman!

Calm My Anxious Heart

We are starting a women's Bible study at church where we are reading Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow and I am very excited about it. I have actually read the book before several years ago and the Lord did incredible things in my life through it. I look forward to doing it again corporately with some accountability. As a control freak perfectionist, I will definitely admit I am VERY anxious and such a worry wart! It's on Thursday nights at 6 if you are local and want to join us!

We're just using our imaginations...

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, (I update twitter which automatically updates my facebook), you know that last night my kids were entertaining themselves with a cardboard box. It is amazing that with all the toys they have, they choose to entertain themselves with other things. Anyhow, I digress.

They are still playing with that cardboard box and it has been many things. This morning it is a dog house, Jackson's dog house (our OUTSIDE black lab). Karis even drew a picture to put on the outside so we would know whose it was! They have taken turns being the dog. Notice in this first picture, Karis is stroking Brayden's head. Yes, that is because, he is Jackson at the moment and was even yelping like a dog. Yea.

Is there a resemblance??

Yep. Looks just like our black lab! (If it was little, red, cute, quiet or still) But other than that, yep, just like him!

Maybe we should have named him Clifford.

Mid morning snack

While the babies are napping, Karis and Brayden and I like to do "big kid" stuff that we can't do when the babies are up. So today Karis wanted to make her favorite snack in the whole world (her words). It is a cheap treat and not as bad for you as other sweet snacks. We just put (natural) peanut butter on saltines and then add a large marshmallow to each and cook it on 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (I broil it the last minute or so). EXCEPT I didn't put pb on Brayden's since he is allergic (just saltines and marshmallow). It is strange I know but we love it here and it is fun for the kids. Of course, I had to have some coffee with it and I won't even tell you how many I have had already today! Hey what the heck...it's Friday and I am living on the edge! haha

Yes, they are both drinking coffee too!

I have created a monster in my little "mini me." Karis told me, "Mom let's take a picture and mom, hold up your coffee cup!"

And, of course, I GLADLY obliged. :)

Just an ordinary girl...

Aren't you glad God uses ordinary people like you and I to do EXTRAORDINARY things? I sure am. Because if He chose the talented, wise and special to use, I certainly wouldn't be one of them!

Sunday in our services and small group, the Lord used Galatians 6:14 to teach me a very important lesson. "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." What do I TRULY boast about? Do I brag on my own accomplishments? What do I talk about? Do I share what the Lord has done in my life or do I keep it to myself? It brought me a realization. If I DON'T boast in the Lord, I am boasting about other things. Those THINGS are clearly an idol if it comes before my LORD. It has me thinking.

Since Sunday, my times with the Lord have reiterated the same principle. I have been studying the life of Jesus' mother Mary and how God used just an ordinary girl and did something extraordinary. It let me to this scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (New International Version)

²⁶Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Then I came across Jeremiah 9:23-34.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (New International Version)

²³ This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,

²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.

I sure am glad we serve a God who delights in kindness, justice and righteousness. Aren't you? AND even when we fail Him, He still loves us and uses us for His kingdom.

Because I, like Mary, am just ordinary. But HE makes the ordinary EXTRAORDINARY.

I must boast only in HIM, because He is worthy of all of the praise. Period.

Family candids

Tonight we were headed to the Memphis Funeral Home (refer to this post) so we decided to take advantage of us all being dressed up and take some pictures...y'all know me!Here are some of our favs...

After all of that smiling "sweet" we had to get one of him being himself. THIS is so typical of his personality. He is definitely the "personality plus" of our family!