AG

Lee & I were ready to have a 'regular' babysitter. But we wanted someone who would love our family. Someone who would want to linger. Someone who would love my kids, not just tolerate them.

And we prayed for someone.

And a random resume came to my inbox as they so often do. I had never called one of those people before but this girl was a Young Life leader & I do love a Young Life leader.

And we gave it shot.

It was a match made in Heaven.

AG loved us & we loved her.

She walked into our house, we made introductions & she made it clear that she wasn't a fan of stickers & corrected my big girl when she didn't address me with a "yes, Ma'am," and she made up amazing stories to tell them & played hide & seek....& she loved them so well.

And she was a part of us. The person who could just come over & spend the day. The person who let you know that absolutely you can wear those red shoes with the black dress.

She was my friend & Lee's friend & a fun sister type of person to my kids.

And she moved.

And we miss her.

And I am feeling a little like Shel Silverstein with all of my short little choppy sentences.

But she comes back & visits & today we had her for the afternoon & she saved the day by tucking the babes in bed for us tonight.

She's our super special friend & she made our day today.

Come back AG!

being the body

I love David Eldridge & the message he delivers about living out the plans that God has for each of us. Most of his sermons point back to this idea, but the "wine & wineskins" series really helped me, as did some friends who could tell me the truth about what they saw in me that God had planted there.

It's a grace that God gives - the way He made each of us & the passions He placed in each heart.

I am constantly amazed as I watch people responding to the overwhelming love from our Heavenly Father. When it really comes into focus. That we cannot pay Him back. We cannot do anything to earn our way.
Not people who are emotionallay manipulated into something.
Not guilted into caring for something.
Not following the crowd.
But the genuine reponse to Him.

Just loving Him back.

Because almost everyone I know is passionate about something.

-some have lost loved ones to diseases - and if everyone in the world would give a little maybe we could erradicate that particular disease.

-some are passionate about getting people off the street & if we would all put our time & resources together we could help people get jobs & earning a living with dignity.

-for many, myself included, it's the orphan crisis in this world - children w/o families for so many different reasons & if we would all stand up & welcome someone into our home or equip those childrens' families with the resources they need we could "fix" it

-and for some it is walking with the elderly - and if we would all give of our time & reach out we could be a friend & hear the stories of a generation that in some cases is being left behind.

-recognizing the need for high school students to understand clearly how valuable they are in the eyes of God when they are faced with everything around them telling them they're not. And if we would each take some time & be intentional to know these kids then they would see their value & know that they are loved by the God of the universe.

And it's not solely about linking arms with the people who agree with our heartbeat & leaving the others behind - I believe it's about encouraging one another in these works.

And it's not about fixing the problem - because if we could fix it then we would have no need for a Savior.
And it can't be out of guilted obligation because then we're no better than the pharisee believing that we can be good enough to earn His approval.
I believe it's simply about responding to Him, to His love, and watching the loving face of God paint His picture of redemption through His people.

And here's the guarantee - when you respond to the purpose He has for your life it will mean saying no to many other really great things.

It is so good to share our passions. And it is so good to encourage one another.
But it would be against God's beautiful design to encourage someone to walk a path that God never laid out for them to begin with.

I love seeing people live out those purposes. I am so energized when I see people moving forward in their call.
Not trying to make it the call for everyone else.
But embracing their God-given journey, walking with others placed in the path beside them & shouting encouraging words towards those placed along other paths.

It's being the body of Christ.

wink

how often to you catch a guy mid-wink?

I just like the pic.....he'll be so pumped that I shared it with you. :)

Honey, if you're reading....I love you ;)

mercy

Lee & I were out together recently. I have no idea where we were, but we were sans kiddos, which is rare these days and anyway, he asked me a question.

Something along the lines of - "what's a word that you hope people use to describe you?"

Hmmm.

He's a good question-asker that husband o mine.

And my answer left me feeling pretty convicted. Like a punch in the stomach.

Compassionate.

That's the answer.

The truth is that I am so incredibly aware that I am willing to give compassion to those whom I choose to give compassion to. Children without families, people without food, families who have lost a child, a friend in need, the friend of a friend whom I happen to have nuggets of information to make it personal enough for me to be truly compassionate, people without, I will stand up & shout from the box of 'social justice'....you get the picture. I'm just being honest. The people that are 'easy' to be compassionate for.
But the people who disagree with me.
The people who don't see the world through my eyes.
The people who don't pull the weight I think they should.
People who misrepresent the Gospel.
People who are not generous to help others.
People who I may stamp as "selfish"
Friends who have treated me unfairly.
People who have talked behind my back.
Just simply the people I choose to not have compassion for.

And I was reading along in Mark. "...and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you..."

I'm not comfortable with that.
What measure do I use?
Because any measure I use is enough to convict me.
And I thought of Jesus hanging on the cross - betrayed. beaten. dying.

and innocent.

And He asked the Father to forgive them.

What measure is that?

It's one that understands the big picture.
How can I place myself so prominently central in a story that is not about me?
Or even about the things I see as important.
If I truly lived my life as one who "got it" - compassion would come easy.
And the great God in all His grace & mercy....is gently showing me this yucky part of myself & I will let the Great Physician do His work.

What's your word?

the dynamic duo

I love these 2.

She's totally a mother hen & he's totally getting tired of it.

But then we have moments like this.

I'm thankful they have one another.

I pray each night that they will be the best of friends - that they will spur one another along in their walk with the Lord. That they will encourage one another to do the right thing. That they will be for each other.

I remember the night he was born. We didn't know there was a big old boy growing & when we learned that indeed he was....Lee said he was thankful to break up the drama :).

He's the boy that though forced to wear the tu-tu in the in-home dance recital prefers to simply announce the dances. In a cowboy hat. I didn't grow up with boys & I'm loving this.

I'm loving the brother sister dynamic.

I'm loving their dynamic.

I never could have imagined it would be this amazing. Being their mother.

But God always did.

why not Ethiopia?

I grabbed this from Emily.

more snow

Just because i think she's adorable...and it won't be too long before she will actually fit into those gloves......why is time flying by so fast?

snowjam pics

I was so excited about the snow coming.
I actually don't really like snow.
Unless I'm skiing & even then I prefer it to be super sunny.
And powdery.

And in Colorado.
I'm a little high maintenance when it comes to things of the weather.
And it's not really that I don't like the snow - I just prefer to not be in it.
I'd rather be inside.

By a fire.
With a cup of hot cocoa in my hands.
With whipped cream on top.
Not marshmallows.
And I like to snuggle under blankets with my man & my babies & watch movies.
With the hot chocolate & some popcorn would be nice.

Anyway....moving along.
I was excited for the kids to see the snow & I even wanted them to stay up to see it begin to cover the ground, but they were crying to be put in the beds.....
So as soon as we all woke up I had them gather the snow for the snowcream that, you know, we had for breakfast.
Notice the PJs and lack of wintery clothes...
WE. LIVE. IN. THE. SOUTH. FOR. A. REASON.
I get why we don't have the snow plows.
It's the same reason I have not invested in big fluffy down coats.
For any of us.

The stuff is good....sort of.....the idea of snowcream is better than the actual snowcream.
Or maybe I need to play with the recipe.
The chocolate syrup was a plus - it always is, right?

These are the things I do well in the snow.
I do the inside stuff well.
And I'm comfortable with that part of me.

More to come. I'm on a strict bedtime these days.

Gotta run.

Dube Bute

Emily has been kind to talk me through a few things over this past year+ & though I am watching her life from afar, like so many others, I am amazed with the passion that the Lord has placed on their family's heart. They brought home Abe to be their son & then Eyasu.....& they have recently begun a project to help improve the conditions of the village where Eyasu lived for the first 2 years of his life. His family & community will be loved & changed by the outstretched arm of the Body of Christ.
AND to top it all off....the raffle is super awesome & you are going to want to be a part of it ANYWAY.
So....GO HERE & learn all about it.

On a totally unrelated note.....I have been without the computer....borrowing the husband's right now....hoping to get mine back soon with pictures all in tact ready to post some fun memories of these past few months. I have missed this bloggy thing & hope to see you real soon :).