I saw this video a few weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. It is an issue dear to my heart, one that the Lord has radically altered my life in.
What we tell our students on our Beach Projects (where the Lord first convicted me of my immodesty) is very similar to this.
PS: the music at the beginning is Tedashii.....LOVE. Look him up!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Life Lessons
When I discovered I was pregnant for the 2nd time around this time last year, I started praying. Praying for a healthy baby, for a larger capacity, for preparation to mother 2...but mostly I prayed for a baby who sleeps. See, Miss E wasn't a huge fan of sleep. I'm talking very little sleeping went on for us for a good 8 months. It was brutal. The Lord used a really hard season of suffering through it to teach us a TON, but it was still very very (very very very) hard.
About a month before I went into labor with little man, I got really anxious. Not the normal mommy anxiousness about labor and the general scariness that comes with having a newborn, but anxious that it would happen again. And that I would have little memory, and little patience, and post-partum depression, and have to put life and ministry on hold until rest was possible.
Things were looking good with our little man. We started off with normal 3 hour cycles and got an occasional 6 hours straight. I felt amazing and concluded the 0-1 child transition was MUCH more difficult than the 1-2. But then ear infections happened, and antibiotics happened, and teething and belly aches happened. As it turns out, 6 months in, he doesn't sleep any better than Miss E did.
It's different this time for sure. By God's grace I haven't had signs of depression, I've had the capacity to chase around a 2 year old, and I have a husband who has fought the boy until he will take a bottle. But I am still utterly exhausted. Right now my 2 hour long college quiet times have dwindled to a few minutes reading a ready-made devotional (on a good day). I'm so thankful for the time I spent in the Word to store up my knowledge and understanding before these days hit.
A few days ago I was reading from Beth Moore's "To Live is Christ Day by Day" and the last line of Day 4 caught me. "He has gone ahead of you, too, to prepare you for the plans He's established for your life." Oh, foolish heart! My perspective can get so lost in the muck and mire of sin and circumstances that I cant see clearly. These are the plans He's established for me. Sometimes God's plans involve really great things, like marrying an amazing man and working for a super awesome college ministry. And sometimes His plans involve months of little sleep and much sickness.
My body may not be able to, but my heart can rest and rejoice. The God I serve is GOOD and He is sovereign. He knew my babies wouldn't sleep well long before I had them, and He still gave them to me. They are gifts, not just because they are my flesh and blood, but because they are the instruments of my sanctification. The Lord is so gracious to use them to teach me so much, so quickly.
"...we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame..."
Lord Jesus, may these long, exhausting days be producing great character in me. May it bring hope to my heart that will spill over into the lives of my husband and children. Thank you for your faithfulness in choosing to sanctify us, and in how you sanctify us. But most of all, may it bring you much glory for your gracious dealing with me and for your Fatherly wisdom in how to discipline my selfishness and lack of endurance.
About a month before I went into labor with little man, I got really anxious. Not the normal mommy anxiousness about labor and the general scariness that comes with having a newborn, but anxious that it would happen again. And that I would have little memory, and little patience, and post-partum depression, and have to put life and ministry on hold until rest was possible.
Things were looking good with our little man. We started off with normal 3 hour cycles and got an occasional 6 hours straight. I felt amazing and concluded the 0-1 child transition was MUCH more difficult than the 1-2. But then ear infections happened, and antibiotics happened, and teething and belly aches happened. As it turns out, 6 months in, he doesn't sleep any better than Miss E did.
It's different this time for sure. By God's grace I haven't had signs of depression, I've had the capacity to chase around a 2 year old, and I have a husband who has fought the boy until he will take a bottle. But I am still utterly exhausted. Right now my 2 hour long college quiet times have dwindled to a few minutes reading a ready-made devotional (on a good day). I'm so thankful for the time I spent in the Word to store up my knowledge and understanding before these days hit.
A few days ago I was reading from Beth Moore's "To Live is Christ Day by Day" and the last line of Day 4 caught me. "He has gone ahead of you, too, to prepare you for the plans He's established for your life." Oh, foolish heart! My perspective can get so lost in the muck and mire of sin and circumstances that I cant see clearly. These are the plans He's established for me. Sometimes God's plans involve really great things, like marrying an amazing man and working for a super awesome college ministry. And sometimes His plans involve months of little sleep and much sickness.
My body may not be able to, but my heart can rest and rejoice. The God I serve is GOOD and He is sovereign. He knew my babies wouldn't sleep well long before I had them, and He still gave them to me. They are gifts, not just because they are my flesh and blood, but because they are the instruments of my sanctification. The Lord is so gracious to use them to teach me so much, so quickly.
"...we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame..."
Lord Jesus, may these long, exhausting days be producing great character in me. May it bring hope to my heart that will spill over into the lives of my husband and children. Thank you for your faithfulness in choosing to sanctify us, and in how you sanctify us. But most of all, may it bring you much glory for your gracious dealing with me and for your Fatherly wisdom in how to discipline my selfishness and lack of endurance.
Things We Love...
Lately we have a new obsession in this house. It all started with my hubby going to CrossFit, which is a different post all together. As it turns out, when you are doing exercises made to make your heart all but explode, you need to drink more water. hmm.
I have been an avid water drinker since college, carrying around my trusty water bottle to class, gym, meetings etc. My husband, not so much. So since getting married I have been trying to get him to drink more water. Ive tried just about everything, with the only mildly successful things being 24 packs of disposable water bottles. And since I'm a little too "green" for that (and not willing to give up my fridge space to 2 dozen water bottles) I kept trying. Aluminum bottles, fail. Wide mouth bottles, fail.
So one day we went to Target and spent some ample time in the water bottle isle. And lo and behold, i Find this...
Stuck to the side is a little sticker that says people who drink out of a Camelbak Bite Valve drink 24% more water. So I bite the bullet and purchase 2. And believe it or not...IT WORKS! Clint and I have both been guzzling water since I bought them about a month back! The little bite valve is a bit addictive. Its easy to open, easy to drink out of (even in the car or while exercising), and no spill. Which especially comes in handy since our 2 year old all but claimed mine for herself. That is, until our sweet friends bought her her own kiddie Camelbak! So now we all have little matching hydration systems. Sweet.
We are avid Camelbak users now, and I have since convinced my aunt to buy one. Day one of using it she downed 2 whole bottles, which she never even gets close to! I'm a believer! Thanks for solving my 5 year dilemma, Camelbak!
I have been an avid water drinker since college, carrying around my trusty water bottle to class, gym, meetings etc. My husband, not so much. So since getting married I have been trying to get him to drink more water. Ive tried just about everything, with the only mildly successful things being 24 packs of disposable water bottles. And since I'm a little too "green" for that (and not willing to give up my fridge space to 2 dozen water bottles) I kept trying. Aluminum bottles, fail. Wide mouth bottles, fail.
So one day we went to Target and spent some ample time in the water bottle isle. And lo and behold, i Find this...
Stuck to the side is a little sticker that says people who drink out of a Camelbak Bite Valve drink 24% more water. So I bite the bullet and purchase 2. And believe it or not...IT WORKS! Clint and I have both been guzzling water since I bought them about a month back! The little bite valve is a bit addictive. Its easy to open, easy to drink out of (even in the car or while exercising), and no spill. Which especially comes in handy since our 2 year old all but claimed mine for herself. That is, until our sweet friends bought her her own kiddie Camelbak! So now we all have little matching hydration systems. Sweet.
We are avid Camelbak users now, and I have since convinced my aunt to buy one. Day one of using it she downed 2 whole bottles, which she never even gets close to! I'm a believer! Thanks for solving my 5 year dilemma, Camelbak!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Makin' it more homey
I have this internal game I play with myself. I hate spending money, but I have rather expensive taste. I LOVE Pottery Barn (and where I'm from, that's expensive) but refuse to pay $45 dollars for pillows. I like to call it "frugal," my husband likes to call it "cheap". Whatever you call it, its workin for me right now.
So when we moved in to this dream house of ours, I set my frugality on high and frequently visited my two favorite places to find little treasures. Ross and TJ Maxx. And boy did I hit the jackpot. The first wonderful find were these fabulous baskets! If you need baskets of any kind, go to Ross. They have some amazing ones! These were $8, $10, and $12! (please ignore the mass of toys coming out of them...).
I got home and found these in my Pottery Barn catalog. These cost $69-199. A PIECE! My Pottery Barn radar clearly went off :)
And then there was the floor. We had this little cheap rug we bought pre-babies. What you don't know about rugs before you have kids is that it really needs to be thick and large. It is no longer something to break up floor space. It is a play area, fall catching, movie watching, horsey-riding, grasshopper hopping area that must be comfortable!
So I went to TJ Maxx (not to buy a rug, but to entertain a cranky 2 year old) and I saw this ah-may-zing rug. A few of them actually. The price hurt my feelings a bit, but as any of you who have had to buy an area rug know, any good one is gonna cost you! So I went home and discussed it with hubby and brought him back to get a second opinion. And then it made its home with us. And we love it.
So, just out of curiosity, I flipped through my Pottery Barn catalog. And what do ya know?
Not bad, huh?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Happy Saturday!
Lately we haven't had many Saturdays to just be a home. Spring semester is usually pretty crazy for us. (Not to mention the addition of tons of sickness this year). Though the sickness isn't totally out of our house yet, most of us felt good enough to have a little family time last night.
I've had supplies to make Valentines suckers for a month now. But the week of Valentines I was too sick to do laundry..much less make (really messy) candy. So last night we took the opportunity to roll our sleeves up and make a lil sumthin' sumthin'.
Here's what you need: Some sucker sticks, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
I've had supplies to make Valentines suckers for a month now. But the week of Valentines I was too sick to do laundry..much less make (really messy) candy. So last night we took the opportunity to roll our sleeves up and make a lil sumthin' sumthin'.
Here's what you need: Some sucker sticks, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
1) Melt some chocolate. Place marshmallows on sticks (hold your breath) and dip.
2) Smack yourself for buying cream colored dining room chairs that the toddler uses to help you cook everyday
3) Gently shake off excess. Smack self again for chair purchase.
4) Place chocolatey marshmallow into cup of sprinkles. We used non-pareils.
5) Be aware that if Daddy is involved, you may have fewer suckers than you planned...
6) Explain to child what "a few" actually means.
7) Let set until hardened. And you will have these cute little guys to give to friends for Valentines day...or eh...February 27th!
8) Use ungodly amount of extra chocolate to make everything in your house a delightful treat. (Daddy made this very pretty graham cracker creation).
9) Enjoy! (and use every cleaner in house to clean off brown chocolate and red non-pareil stain from chair.)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Forgive me...
I have been on an unintentional blog hiatus. It isn't because nothing is going on with us. Quite the opposite actually. In the past four months I've battled bronchitis 3 times, gave birth, celebrated 3 birthdays and Christmas, traveled to who knows how many cities, counseled girls on relationships, learned that a long hard prayer had been answered, seen way too much brokenness, taught a 2 year old 10 letters, watched WAY TOO MUCH Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, witnessed my little man learn to roll over...both ways, joined a small group, loved a small group, nursed a sick baby...twice, and sat down a couple of times in between all that!
The Lord has been hard at work lately, expanding our capacities and teaching us a ton. I have much to say but little time to say it. Life has happened and I'm trying to keep up. But in the midst of craziness, it has been very very good.
And just to keep you checking in....
The Lord has been hard at work lately, expanding our capacities and teaching us a ton. I have much to say but little time to say it. Life has happened and I'm trying to keep up. But in the midst of craziness, it has been very very good.
And just to keep you checking in....
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