it's spring-ing!

we have rain today!  not snow, not freezing drizzle.  honest-to-goodness rain.

i love it!  as colin and i were jumping in puddles through the parking lot at the store,

i was sharing with him that spring is almost here.

grass will be greening, plants and flowers will shoot up through the ground,

trees will be showing off their new green.

signs of life and new beginnings.

i'm ready.

loser.

have you ever tried to update your blog and then logout as quickly as possible so you can see if your blog page ends up on the dashboard update?

just asking.

no worries

matthew 6:25-34

been chewing on this passage for a bit.  i read it, i've heard messages on it in the past, i understand the logic of it (i think), i am convicted by it, i am moved by it, i questions some things about this world because of it, i wrestle with it, i am comforted by it.

this passage reminds us that God takes care of everything in this world.  the birds of the air, the lilies of the field...down to the smallest of His creation, it's His to care for.  if He can clothe a lily, He will have no difficulties clothing us.  if He can provide a meal for a sparrow, He will do it for us.  we need to trust in His provision, not becoming self-reliant trying to take it all into our own hands, leaving Him out of the equation. things may be different than what we considered or different than what our preferences are or may be different than what our expectations of 'provision' are, but He will provide and protect and care for.  we don't need to worry because of who He is.

it's a reminder to me of our vanity and how we quickly forget that we are taken care of.  (even though we are wearing something that is dated or driving something that isn't the latest and greatest and we aren't dining at the poshest eatery on a friday night.) in the passage, the people who chase after those things are called pagans. ouch.  it's a reminder that what the world values is so different than how God operates.  this passage is to help us regain some perspective and recognize what we should truly value and place our trust in.

i love the last verse in this passage:  "do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  each day has enough trouble of its own."  look outside your front door, watch the news and surf the internet and see all that is going on in the world--plenty to worry about!  but it is just a reminder to me to take things one step at a time, trusting Him each step of the journey.

i hate to quote bobby mcferrin because it drove me absolutely nuts as they played the song over and over and over...but maybe the lyrics were inspired from this passage: 'don't worry, be happy now.'

soon

been reading some quotable things lately...will need to share soon.

expectations

we expect many things in life and many expect things of us.  some things exceed our expectations and others leave us disappointed.  we may surprise others as we surpass their expectations or we may leave them flat on their face as we don't live up to what they had wanted from or out of us.

i've pondered that a lot lately.  i've corresponded with some friends of days long ago recently and i remember all the promise and anticipation we shared together.  we were going to do big things in the world--changing it in incredible ways.  have we done it?  is the world different now because we've been out living in it?  

i know that my perspective is different now than it was years ago.  back then, before i let God into my life, i thought i would have the impact...that i would do something that would make a difference, that i could do something that could help make the world a better place.  now i know that i can do a little, but if i choose to let God use me...well, that's a whole different story!  i don't understand fully how He wants to use me, i just know that i need to be available and expect God to move.  my expectations have shifted from myself to God.  i know that He will always, always exceed any expectation i may have.

i'm not the same person i was then.  some of my dreams are the same, some have faded as my perpective and expectations have grown and changed.  new thoughts and desires and dreams are growing.  i know that i am small in the world's eyes, but i know that God loves me in the deepest way and has expectations for me as i go living life for Him.  we can change the world--it just may be different than we expected.

in the middle of mommydom

today is one of those days where i feel like the only thing i can intelligently speak on is my three-year-old and his not wanting to fully give in to being potty trained.  we've had three (yes, three) potty-training faux paus and it is just after two o'clock in the afternoon.

we've gotten some errands done this morning and have been cleaning house for all the company coming this weekend.  but the focus has been on potty training (or the lack thereof) and scattered three-year-old level conversations--trying to figure out how to get him to understand.

i'm praying that something will click soon because it feels like seventy-five percent of my conversation involves asking about potty, poopy, debating pull-ups versus big boy undies, feeling dry and comfy versus wet and icky and stinky...

then, we'll move on to whatever the next step of growing up will be for him :)

making a difference

our family sponsors a sweet girl in brazil through compassion international.

recently, compassion sent fifteen bloggers to uganda to share their experiences with all of us.  i have enjoyed and been moved reading the blogs and seeing what God is doing there and through compassion worldwide.  what i didn't expect were the tears and heartache that would consume me while reading and watching the video posts.

shaun shared a video speaking to poppy--a former compassion-sponsored child, now grown and attending university.  i wiped the tears off my cheeks as i heard her share what God has done in her life through her sponsor from minnesota.  the cycle of poverty truly was broken.  poppy has a future in opening her own business.  she has hope and most importantly she has eternal life.

i think the blogs i have been reading have been a reminder that my small actions of giving thirty-two dollars a month and sharing letters and photos and small gifts make a difference in someone else's life.  our micaelly has hope--becuase through compassion, she has gotten to hear of God's love for her and her family.  there are some basic needs that are met and she knows that someone in an entirely different part of the world thinks often of her, prays for her and loves her.

how humbling to know that God can take our small actions and change lives.

speechless

i stand in awe at how God can work in our lives.

He speaks through His Word.

He uses events in our lives.

He provides and takes away.

He uses our family and friends to encourage, to hold accountable, to love, to test...

He brings strangers in our lives for us to reflect Jesus by living His teachings out.

He brings different things to our attention and opens our eyes to things beyond ourselves.

He can take things that have happened over years and bring them together in a moment and reveal something about Himself.

He can put a passion or desire in our hearts and fan it to something that only He can control and use for His glory.

He will always, always have our best in mind--even when we don't see or understand what is taking place around us.

He will never foresake us, because He always keeps His promises.

i'm just sitting in awe.

nine-year-old humor

carter's out of school today. (presidents day/teacher planning day--really, i just think the teachers needed a break and they needed to decontaminate the classrooms from all the sickness going around lately.)

it's been fun with both boys--they've played well together while i was at work. we had a picnic lunch in our family room. (they 'cooked' for their webkinz and they joined us for the picnic too.) helped carter with some homework...

but today, i've been reminded that nine-year-olds have a very different sense of humor than well...the rest of the world. saying the same nonsense syllable over and over and over and over and over is funny. asking to watch a movie (high school musical two) and then covering your eyes and plugging your ears for the 'girly' moments (which is pretty much most of the movie) is funny. asking the same question when i've said 'no' over and over and over and over and over is funny. looking over your mom's shoulder why she is blogging and correcting typos is funny, singing goofy songs while getting between my eyes and the computer monitor is funny. oh...the list could go on and on and on... (we won't even go into bodily functions at this point.)

observation of the day: nine-year-olds are a breed all unto themselves.

change of plans

today and for the next few days, we had a TON of things that were on the calendar.

out-of-town guests, out-of-town visits to do, supper guests, meetings, games,

church activities, playdates...

one phone call came this morning and changed about half of our to-do's.

so, instead of all things we were going to do, we've done all kinds of other things.

was sad some things didn't happen, but was glad to have the liberty to add a few other things.

tonight, we're doing a change of plans too.  a book series that carter has enjoyed for about a year or so came out on the big screen.  think we'll surprise the boys and go see a movie tonight.

change of plans can be good :)

reflecting a Good Thing

just got home from visiting a dear friend. i am humbled by her wisdom and in awe of her joy. it's contagious. she has been fighting through acute bronchitis and you can see the exhaustion that has taken a toll on her body, but she opened her apartment door and radiated joy.

after our visit and her sharing pieces of candy for my boys, i walked out of the building thinking a couple things: she radiates joy because she's loved and trusted Jesus her whole life--decades of love for Him can be seen in her face and demeanor. i pray that fifty to sixty years from now, those who visit me will see the love of Jesus in my words and behavior and demeanor. what a heritage that would be.

as we talked, i saw the happy wrinkles permenantly creased by her eyes and around her mouth. that's my other wish--that there has been so much joy in the years of my life that it is permenantly etched on my face. people do all kinds of things to get rid of wrinkles--creams and surgeries and injections. wrinkles are little trophies of the life we have had the privilege to live out. i think it would be wonderful to have happy ones because they are a reflection of the good things we've experienced and enjoyed in this life.

our visit was brief and the goal was to bring a smile to her face.
i walked out with my heart smiling, thankful of the days ahead.

victory and cassanova

carter (my nine year old) had a good day yesterday!  their basketball team had a victory (our first this season!) that was simply because they figured out how to play as a team.  it was encouraging on so many levels.  all the kids played well, but they played well together.  carter had several great assists, some rebounds, a steal or two, several shot attempts and (drumroll please) made two-points! (i think his dad and i were almost as proud that he played aggressive enough to get a foul...we've been wanting him to really get in there and he did this game!!!)  it was encouraging to see some boundaries stretched, some confidence gained, a new-found reliance on each other instead of just on their one stellar player, and to see a bunch of sweaty boys giving high-fives to each other with smiles spread from ear to ear.  we are looking forward to this next week!

colin (my three year old) is a charmer.  he loves to hug and to give kisses and can say just the right thing.  (we're keeping a close eye on him with the ladies...)  this morning, he said to me 'can you hug with me?' and i replied 'yes, i'd love to give you a hug.' and he corrected me 'no...you need to hug with me so we both get to hug.'  too sweet.  of course shortly after that, he let out a nice burp and then asked if i could do that with him too.

man enough to wear pink

in the school lineup this morning and saw something that made my heart smile.

a dad was walking his daughter to school.

she was maybe first grade or so at the oldest.

he works construction or something along those lines.

they walked hand in hand, talking about something together.

as they walked past my car in the lineup,

i noticed something that not every dad or man would do--

he was carrying her pink fairies backpack on his shoulder.

sweet picture.

what did we do before?

what did the world do before facebook?  as i've been connecting with friends from afar lately, i've had to ponder over what we did before?

i have to admit, i think i'm a better friend with facebook than without.  before facebook (bf), i would have called every so often, but it probably would have been later than sooner.  i would have written, but not as often or written as many trivial details.  (like what office or grey's anatomy character i would be)  i would have sent a birthday card, but it may have gotten there a day or two late.

after facebook (af), i can send cupcakes and wishes and personality quizzes with one little click.

on the flipside, i know that some of it can be annoying--there are requests to do comparisons and share details and things i probably would never do in person.  i have to admit, i think i superpoke way too much.  (part of that is because my son loves to help me choose superpokes to send to his aunt and others...but i digress.)

the biggest perk is the daily reminder to keep in touch with folks you know and love.  it's important and now convenient to send an encouragement, to keep in touch, to make someone laugh, to let someone know that you care.  i like life af.

new addition to the family

our latest thing to ponder--what does one do with an oversized stuffed iguana?

carter won one in a raffle at school today. i think we're happy about this. at least he is.

it's seriously five feet long and in colors that you can't miss.

he already has a name and the cat is laying on him.

guess he's a part of the family now.

stomped

i felt so bad... carter's basketball game yesterday was a rough one. got beat by thirty points--these kids were seriously at least a head taller than our tallest kid--all of them. we were struggling with the idea of team--same two kids kept running the same play over and over--the other team picked up on that about the second time (in the first quarter). then, for icing on the cake, carter got nailed in the shoulder and a ball planted smack on his eye. rough game. :(
luckily, he doesn't want to quit--he said it's a new game next week.
i'm hoping they are shorter.