Sunday, December 25, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Multitude Mondays #581-595
Our rush to the ER and the following sickness that is still lingering in our home really have depleted me this past week. I went to bed last night, my body aching with exhaustion. Right now, I would rather be back in my bed. But, the boys are awake, neglected housework is smugly grinning in triumph and I really need to figure out what we are going to eat this week.
Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts says that Thanksgiving always precedes the miracle. I could use a miracle today. So here we go:
581) sleep, sleep, sleep
582) no vomiting in the last 24 hours
583) a soft and clean bed to sleep in
584) new Christmas ornament with a picture of Max on it that makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it
585) Michi is home
586) being able to go to the grocery store
587) Skype calls with Mom and Dad
588) Skype calls with Andrea and Clemens
589) Joey's incredible hard work
590) Joey being rewarded for his hard work
591) heat in the house
592) wine from Austria
593) English Muffins with butter and hot tea
594) time to write with a specific event in mind
595) Will wearing underwear over his pajamas
Ann Voskamp in One Thousand Gifts says that Thanksgiving always precedes the miracle. I could use a miracle today. So here we go:
581) sleep, sleep, sleep
582) no vomiting in the last 24 hours
583) a soft and clean bed to sleep in
584) new Christmas ornament with a picture of Max on it that makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it
585) Michi is home
586) being able to go to the grocery store
587) Skype calls with Mom and Dad
588) Skype calls with Andrea and Clemens
589) Joey's incredible hard work
590) Joey being rewarded for his hard work
591) heat in the house
592) wine from Austria
593) English Muffins with butter and hot tea
594) time to write with a specific event in mind
595) Will wearing underwear over his pajamas
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Gratitude #570-580
570) grace that the cut was not worse
571) that Joey was already on his way home
572) for hospitals, doctors and nurses only 15 minutes away
573) for 7 stitches that bind the wound together
574) for restful nights
575) for Max's appetite coming back
576) for prayer for Max going to the Lord from many different people
577) praying with Joey for our family
578) that God's grace really is sufficient in need
579) being able to walk boldly into today knowing that God will supply all things
580) for help waiting for Joey last night - a burden lifted.
571) that Joey was already on his way home
572) for hospitals, doctors and nurses only 15 minutes away
573) for 7 stitches that bind the wound together
574) for restful nights
575) for Max's appetite coming back
576) for prayer for Max going to the Lord from many different people
577) praying with Joey for our family
578) that God's grace really is sufficient in need
579) being able to walk boldly into today knowing that God will supply all things
580) for help waiting for Joey last night - a burden lifted.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Advent 2011
So far Advent this year hasn't been quietly meditative. Honestly, I just have a lot of questions about a lot of different things. So this picture is a good representation of where we are as a family. Max is missing because of sickness and injury. The table is not cleared, but remnants from the day before still wait to be put away. It's a simple meal, but provided from the hand of God. The picture isn't even straight.
So Advent hasn't been romantic or idyllic or even clean. But God can handle the messy, right?
I am choosing to believe that God can handle my questions. He can handle my mouth that can spew venom. He can hold my heart that is broken at the sight of my son. He knows my tiredness at the thought of a possible rough night and my overwhelmed mind with its to-do lists.
So maybe it is in the messy that I can pray most authentically, "Oh come, oh come Immanuel." Maybe Advent isn't really supposed to be romantic after all. Maybe Advent is a desperate cry; a clinging to the goodness of God; and the watchful wait for our hope to become sight.
So Advent hasn't been romantic or idyllic or even clean. But God can handle the messy, right?
I am choosing to believe that God can handle my questions. He can handle my mouth that can spew venom. He can hold my heart that is broken at the sight of my son. He knows my tiredness at the thought of a possible rough night and my overwhelmed mind with its to-do lists.
So maybe it is in the messy that I can pray most authentically, "Oh come, oh come Immanuel." Maybe Advent isn't really supposed to be romantic after all. Maybe Advent is a desperate cry; a clinging to the goodness of God; and the watchful wait for our hope to become sight.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Multitude Mondays #559- 569
559) my book club
560) your patience, oh Lord, in me opening my hand to your will and timing of my writing
561) that God loves on me even when I don't choose to see it
562) forgiveness
563) belly laughter of anticipation coming from William
564) the aroma of a newly opened box of peppermint tea
565) this computer
566) our church- God's grace to us
567) little boys with home-made light sabers
568) Will's dimples
569) reading The Horse and His Boy to Max at nap time
560) your patience, oh Lord, in me opening my hand to your will and timing of my writing
561) that God loves on me even when I don't choose to see it
562) forgiveness
563) belly laughter of anticipation coming from William
564) the aroma of a newly opened box of peppermint tea
565) this computer
566) our church- God's grace to us
567) little boys with home-made light sabers
568) Will's dimples
569) reading The Horse and His Boy to Max at nap time
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Having a Four-Year-Old
Four years old. He is growing up so fast. I can hardly keep up. More and more of his personality is showing and I am in awe of who God has made him to be. I pray with all my heart that Joey and I raise him to look to God in all things and for all things.
In the meantime, I'll enjoy the superhero adventures we have together, the nap time readings of Charlotte's Web or some book from Narnia, the really weird humor that comes with his age, the dandelions he picks for me to put into my hair (that later fall out of my hair and freak me out because they feel like bugs), the burping followed by gales of laughter, and the endless questions.
And when I forget to enjoy because of a cluttered kitchen, or an empty fridge that needs to be stocked, or a floor that needs to be swept, I hope that I am reminded that love is always patient first. Patient to see what the true need is. Patient enough to put my own to-do list aside. Patient to be the best Super Woman I can be (which does not involve any of the tasks mentioned above, but rather fighting imaginary bad guys and following my four-year-old Spiderman's lead.)
In the meantime, I'll enjoy the superhero adventures we have together, the nap time readings of Charlotte's Web or some book from Narnia, the really weird humor that comes with his age, the dandelions he picks for me to put into my hair (that later fall out of my hair and freak me out because they feel like bugs), the burping followed by gales of laughter, and the endless questions.
And when I forget to enjoy because of a cluttered kitchen, or an empty fridge that needs to be stocked, or a floor that needs to be swept, I hope that I am reminded that love is always patient first. Patient to see what the true need is. Patient enough to put my own to-do list aside. Patient to be the best Super Woman I can be (which does not involve any of the tasks mentioned above, but rather fighting imaginary bad guys and following my four-year-old Spiderman's lead.)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Clean and Folded!
Just thought I would share an accomplishment of the day. Clean and folded laundry. You gotta celebrate the small things when tomorrow there will probably be another Mt. Everest of laundry avalanching onto my floor.
Hurray for getting something done during nap time!
Hurray for getting something done during nap time!
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