Summer.

A few pictures of our summer fun...

Popsicles with cousins...Trips to the pool...Baking with Nana...

Lots of bike riding...David meeting sand...and loving it!

Fun times at the beach...

Jack turns 4...
Grams & Granddaddy came for a visit

Fun times with friends...

Mommy joined the 30's... Amazing women I am blessed to call friends (still on my bday)...

Our little guy growing up & getting around...

The Supplier

"Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." Psalm 102:1-2


So, I'm doing a study on the book of Ruth this summer. And I'm slowly also reading through the Psalms with my church. I jokingly said to some family members this weekend, "I'm not sure you know, but I love the Bible!" It's true. I'm such a nerd (i think they know)! But I think it's so cool how it's truly God's living word. I mean who knew that the Psalms and Ruth had anything to do with each other? But today I found a connection that God gave me for this point in time that relates to my life. So cool! Anyway, I won't go into too much detail, but basically in the study we were talking about Boaz providing for Ruth so that she could in turn provide for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Then the author described how Jesus is our supplier...of everything. She referenced the story of Jesus feeding the four thousand (Matthew 15:29-37) as concrete example:

"It may be something this concrete (like bread & fish), but many times it's a supply of patience, forgiveness, love, wisdom, or comfort that we desperately need from Him so we can pour it out on someone else..." (Kelly Minter).

Then I was reading Psalm 102 and it hit me. We are always asking for a supply of something. How often are we just desperate for filling...we need help to do something, to talk to somebody, to remember to do something (esp when your mommy brain cells are like mine and dwindling by the minute), to love someone, to get out of or through or just endure a difficult circumstance. We may not all ask God for help right off, but we are all desperate for help so often in this life, just like the psalmist I quoted above. We need help! It's a matter of who we look to to help us. And who we TRUST. Later in that psalm it says this:

"But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come." Ps. 102:12-13

This speaks to me and says, GOD is on his throne. Hallelujah!!! We don't have to do it ourselves. We can do all things by His strength (Phil 4:13). I know this seems obvious to many Christians, but do we really live our lives this way? Do I live my life this way? When I'm exhausted and can't seem to muster up strength to get through the evening hours of playing, feeding, bathing, dressing, reading, praying my kids to bed...do I look to my Supplier, or do I just "get through it" by my own strength (or try to)? When I need to really work on loving someone in my life better, and the situation seems difficult, do I look to Him to supply me with that love and have the hope to believe He will? I'm preaching to myself here really. I want to be that person. I want to live that way. May I, Lord. Fill me, Lord. Guide me, Lord. I believe you will do it. Even when I can't seem to hear you or see you working, you always are. Amen.

Going public...

Ok, so I've entertained this blog thing for almost a week now. I know that might seem silly, but I really wanted to make sure that this was a wise decision, and something that God wanted me to do. I'm not a writer...I'm not the only person in the world with 3 wild little boys...I don't have a bunch of great innovative ideas that will make your life easier or more organized (but I wish I did!)...and I'm not even all that funny! I am just me. Hoping to share our little piece of this world with a few others. Hoping to bless someone, someday with something I have to say...or really something the Lord chooses to say through me. As the title says, it's all for His glory.

Right now, as I post this, the boys are talking about blowing each other up...I better go see what that's all about ;)

Struggling

The past couple days I've been struggling. And I've been frustrated. Sometimes I just wonder if everything I'm doing is for naught. Do you have days like that? I have been following Christ for most of my life. But still I have days where I ask the Lord, "Do I just not get it? Why is it not clicking from my head to my heart? Where's the fruit? What's the deal?!" I want to live an honorable life. I want to please the Lord. I want to lead my boys to the Lord. Yet I fail time and time again. I lose patience with my kids. I miscommunicate with a friend or family member. I lose patience again. I yell (did i say that?). Ugh! I just want to see fruit. I want to put off the old and put on the new, for good! I want to be filled continually with God's Spirit, so much so that it just flows over onto every situation and every person I encounter....that Jesus water.

But I think it's in these moments that I realize God is ever so patiently here guiding me, teaching me in every moment, and LOVEing me. Last night our youngest son crawled into the laundry room and was playing in the dog water yet again. Splashing and carrying on, all while I was changing a dirty diaper on our middle son, and could not get up to remedy the situation. When I went to finally get him, he was wet from head to toe and continued to grab at the bowls as I scooped him up and abruptly set him down in the other room after washing his hands so that I could put away the dirty diaper and wash mine. Then he cried, well, screamed actually. He was very offended. I hurt his feelings. I felt bad, but I admit that I was just frustrated, so part of me thought, "Fine. Maybe then he'll learn not to go in there anymore." (He's only 9 months old, probably not going to happen yet!) After I finished, I sat down on the floor just frustrated by the day and put my head in my hands. Then my little one proceeded to crawl over to me, after he stopped crying, put his hands on my back and laid his head down on me, as if to say, "it's ok mommy. i forgive you. i love you." I melted as I felt the grace and love he was extending me, and ultimately felt God was speaking to me through his little soul.

The thing is, God knows we have frustrating days. He knows. He sees every detail. In the past 24 hours since that encounter, there have been more frustrating moments, moments where I fail miserably, but there have also been many moments of encouragement. Messages it seems that God is sending directly to me, through words I read or hear, saying "it's ok. i'm here. i forgive you (every time). i love you with an unfailing love." He is faithful. He is gracious. He is good.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:23

Us

Here we are... Tom & me. We've been married almost 7 years. I'm so thankful for this man of God and how he blesses me every day. Our firstborn son...loves life, loves to laugh, eager to learn, cautious at times, freely gives hugs ;)
The middle guy...loves an adventure, protective in spirit, loves being with his brothers, can always get us laughing!
Our "baby" (for now!)...he's so sweet, a cuddler, loves his mommy, & he's always moving!!
These brothers may not get along all the time, but they do love each other fiercely. It's a beautiful thing. God made them for each other.

Entering "the world"...

Why blog? My goodness, I can't believe I'm doing this. In fact, right now I'm secretly writing this post, not telling even my husband that I'm considering starting this blog...yet. I guess I really question my motives. I don't want to become prideful, using the blog to "show off" the latest that my kids have done...but I do want to share with extended family and friends some of the latest moments of these growing little ones. They really are growing up too fast, and I am afraid I'm not doing a great job of documenting it (hence the 100's of pictures i still need to download & the baby books that haven't been started). I don't want to be a preacher...but I do want to share what God is doing in our lives, and hopefully spill over some Truth that might just affect someone's day. Ultimately, I just want to give glory where it is due...and I believe that is only to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

My main calling in life right now is "wife & mommy" to 3 energetic boys & 1 amazing husband. I am humbled continually on this journey. Longing to draw closer to God, longing to lead our kids to Him. Failing all the time, and getting back up again. For the glory due his name. We're raising up warriors, in this world that is often full of deception where we don't even realize, we long to raise our boys up to fight for Truth--in the Lord's army. To love all people, even their enemies. To trust in a holy & soveriegn God. To know their need for a Savior. Despite the fact that it sometimes may seem countercultural or too in your face for some, living for Jesus is the way. The only way. That is what we believe, that is what we strive to live out in the day to day. Though we are human and will never reach perfection on this earth, we have a God who is bigger than any circumstance we could ever face. I pray for strength to trust in that every day. So, here it goes. I'm officially a 'blogger.' Weird! For the glory due His name!