Grace in the Midst

1607. A care package straight from GiGi's heart 1608. Avonlea blowing kisses 1609. Petting a camel 1610. Evening strolls in down town belfast 1611. Blake and Cole throwing sticks for a cute dog named Una 1612. Pink clouds 1613. Ice cream cones filled with animal feed 1614. Cole's expression each time he shouted "he eat it mamma, he eat it" (referring to the goat he was feeding) 1615. Chicken on the grill 1616. Avonlea in the sand box 1617. The boys running from their dad (who happened to have a hose in his hand) 1618. Reading lessons with the boys ("The ordinary parents guide to teaching reading") 1619. Close calls in the water - so thankful for God's protection 1620. Kids piled up in a small car 1621. Daily rides to Seth's (our mechanic) - luckily he lives on our street :) 1622. Cole making Avonlea laugh on a regular basis 1623. Blake counting down the days to things he is looking forward to - the latest, "my cousin's house...

1589. A change of plans (thought I was staying home with the kids and end up having a family adventure) 1590. Tricycles cruising down the mini mall halls (where the sign shop is) 1591. A very sweet and encouraging note from a sister in Christ 1592. Blake, Cole and Daddy playing their first round of Hungry, Hungry, Hippos 1593. Broccoli slaw - I never knew it existed 1594. Cole's constant affection towards his sister 1595. Blake counting down until his cousin's dance 1596. All three kids sitting through and enjoying the entire dance - for 3 hours :) 1597. Little and big dancers with beautiful smiles 1598. Avonlea dancing right along 1599. An unexpected dinner invitation 1600. Chatting with old friends until wee hours of the night - while their children entertained ours 1601. The sound of Blake's laugh as he jumped on a trampoline 1602. Learning to look forward to Christ's return - on good days and bad 1603. Encouraging words from a father figure 1604. Good...

1576. Heat lightning 1577. Last minute adventures 1578. An incredibly generous husband 1579. Blake excitedly running up our sidewalk with a bouquet of flowers for his mommy 1580. A wonderful Mother's day spent with my mom, my grandmother, my mother in law and of course Matt and the kids 1580. Stumbling across a restaurant in Boothbay where Moms eat free for Mother's day 1581. Curtain shopping 1582. Spending almost an entire day with just my grandma 1583. Seeing a dear friend who lives an hour and a half away two days in a row (the second day being a total surprise) 1584. Riding the trolly in Bath with 6 tow headed kids (ok, well maybe 5 considering the newest one is totally bald) and two wonderful gals 1585. God's unconditional love and grace 1586. The world's cutest apron - made even cuter because of who bought it for me. 1587. Cole's great grandmother buying him a stuffed owl without even knowing he loves owls 1588. Blake organizing the shoes in our m...

1567. Tiny braids 1568. Ticklish hands 1569. Drop in visitors 1570. A side of hot fudge 1571. "School time" and how excited Blake gets about it 1572. Accountability in prayer 1573. Christ's sacrifice 1574. Counting down days with my kids (Grandma and GiGi are coming in 5 days) 1575. New mercies every morning

1551. Morning kicks and laughs from a baby girl SO EXCITED to see her mommy :) 1552. The boys playing together more and arguing less 1553. The look on Blake's face when he saw his birthday cake (diggers and dumpers). 1554. A baby doll bed complete with home made sheets, pillow & blanket - made for Avonlea with love by her grammy. 1555. Red polka dot pajamas on a fluffy haired baby girl. 1556. Morning snuggles with my FOUR YEAR OLD! 1557. Fixing my computer with a simple google search 1558. Avonlea saying "more" in sign language 1559. Remembering Cole dancing to Easter morning worship 1560. Playing frisbee with my boys 1561. Avonlea playing in the sandbox 1562. Friends that pray for us 1563 An adorable surgery patient 1564. Looking at my daughter - and her looking directly back 1565. Chubby hands running under cool water (Avonlea's, not mine :) ) 1566. Boys picking flowers for mommy

1538. A new home for my computer (upstairs off the beaten path) 1539. Two boys giggling, laughing and quite thrilled tossing balls around 1540. Cleaning our mudroom 1541. Organizing my desk 1542. The way Avi looks at her brothers 1543. Getting a second opinion (the same) about Avonlea's eyes (infantile esotropia) - surgery would be a hard decision if there were varying opinions. 1544. The Lord's prayer 1545. A sweet email from my dad 1546. The boys in full winter gear playing in the sandbox 1547. Knowing that won't be necessary too much longer (the winter gear) 1548. A daily walk with the Creator of the universe 1549. A very unexpected compliment from someone I'm pretty insecure around (perhaps God's trying to tell me something) 1550. The fact that God communicates with His people - and that somehow, I'm one of His people :)

Those of you who know me well (ok, even just a little) know I have a tendency to beat myself up.  I often think things like, if I was a really a Christian I wouldn't have such a strong battle with sin.  I have always felt like my sin nature was beating my new nature.  But last night a good friend said something so wonderfully freeing and encouraging.  She said your battle is not against your sin nature - you don't have a sin nature.  It is against your flesh.  At first I didn't really understand the difference...even as Matt and I were driving home I still didn't get it.  I pondered it as I fell asleep and when I woke up this morning it just hit me.  Yes, I was born with a sin nature - we all are!  But the moment I accepted Christ as my Savior I was (and am) a new creation.  Where does that leave me though?  I still struggle with sin. Who cares whether we call it "a sin nature" or "flesh".  I was praying about that very thing a...

1514. Seven turkeys in our front yard - two thrilled boys. 1515. A week of incredibly rejuvenating weather and thankfulness for all seasons 1516. II Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”   1517. Being encouraged by the struggles and weaknesses of fellow mommies this weekend - remembering that I am not alone, parenting is challenging for all and God is glorified in our weaknesses as they lead us to His throne. 1518. Holding Matt's hand 1519. The sacrificial love of a dear family who watched, played with, loved on and encouraged our three kiddos this weekend 1520. Spending time with friends I've missed - even those who only live a few miles away 1521. Feeling the prayers of a friend 1522. Jesus is ENOUGH -  http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/ (highly recommend reading Katie's incredible journey - she's given up, and therefor gained, everything for the Lord, and yet it is still in her weakness (and honesty...

1500. Chunky baby legs 1501. Compassion where there was once anger 1502. Tricycles on the Belfast bridge 1503. Praying with Matt 1504. Christ's blood that covers me 1505. The book Because He loves me , and the friend who gave it to me 1506. The song "His banner over me is love" which keeps running through my mind 1507. The promise that "He who begins a good work in me will be faithful to complete it" 1508. A faith family that lovingly, encouragingly accepts us even when we are making difficult decisions 1509. Friends who not only pray for me, but ask for prayer 1510. Avonlea's bottom two teeth which I can almost always see - because of the HUGE grin that she wears constantly 1511. Singing boys 1512. Hymns - and pandora 1513. Family, both immediate and extended, that love me no matter what.

Blessings 1486. Matt encouraging me (and himself) to go to bed by 9:00 - and me doing so with a really good attitude (ok, the last part is an exaggeration  lie ;P) 1487. Feeling so much better physically and emotionally because of more sleep and less sugar (both, thanks to Matt) 1488. Blake and Cole playing hide and seek - and cracking up every time they find each other 1489. Avonlea's pig tails  1490. A weekend just around the corner 1491. An encouraging "chat" then phone call from a friend I haven't spent much time with lately 1492. A grocery store run/parking lot chat with a "bosom buddy" 1493. Blake 1494. Cole 1495. Avonlea Blessings in the word ( Ephesians 4:25-32) 1496. The following examples of the "Putting off/Putting on"concept  - Put off FALSEHOOD - Put on SPEAKING THE TRUTH   - Put off STEALING - Put on WORK/SHARING  - Put off UNWHOLESOME TALK - Put on BUILDING OTHERS UP  - Put off BITTERNESS, RAGE, A...

Blessings 1470. Matt hiding all the sweets in the house from me - and me not going on a massive sweet hunt (YES, this is a blessing :-P) 1471. Cole "alright, LETS GO" - his enthusiastic reply to just about everything these days 1472. Blake giving Cole potty lessons 1473. Matt swinging by the grocery store just about every afternoon - and with a good attitude 1474. Hope that one of these days I'll get our meal plan and shopping days organized 1475. A God who loves me despite my imperfections 1476. A tough conversation with friends turning out just fine 1477. Friends Blessings in the word 1478. MUST - leaves no doubts 1479. the LIFE OF GOD 1480. The reminder not to HARDEN my HEART 1481. the WAY OF LIFE I learned when I HEARD ABOUT CHRIST 1482. TRUTH IS IN JESUS 1483. The concept of PUTTING OFF and PUTTING ON 1484. The hope of BEing made new (and knowing way down deep that even though it doesn't feel like it some days, this has already begun and will be a...

Blessings 1454. Not feeling like reading the word, doing it anyway - feeling rejuvenated 1455. 3 construction paper/glitter snowmen on our fridge (made by daddy, blake & cole) 1456. the X song (the boys singing "I get an X" every time they say, please, thank you, or yes mommy - even though half the time they never actually add their Xs) 1457. Matt making me go to bed early despite my arguments against it - and him being right, it definitely feels better in the morning 1458. An incredibly fun and busy week, followed by a week of catch up...enjoying both (well, most of the time) 1459. Cole waking up from his nap and singing "happy day to you" - remembering we were heading to a birthday party 1460. Visiting old friends and being encouraged by new ones 1461. Being late (like getting somewhere halfway through), but still being welcomed and loved 1462. Superbowl parties, or as our church called it a "large screen viewing event" 1463. Avonlea asleep...

Blessings 1441. Cole and Avonlea falling asleep with me on the couch (different times but on the same day)...and the fact that I am truly treasuring these moments, as I know how quickly they will pass 1442. Looking over at Blake during Sunday's worship service and seeing him with a confused look on his face and his hand in the air (imitating members of the worship team)...what a wonderful teachable moment :) 1443. Avonlea imitating my smile over and over as the praise team sang 1444. Telling a friend who was starting a bible study that leaving my house regularly with my 3 little ones is just too tiring to commit to - and the next thing I new the bible study was in my living room 1445. Cole singing "Jesus loves me" as I type out ways that he loves me 1446. Daddy, Blake and Cole making snow forts for hours 1447. A thought provoking  sermon by Matt Chandler (who I've actually never heard of, but enjoyed the sermon because of a friend's recommendation) 1448. ...

Blessings 1435. Blake's giggles as he watched Daddy put tool stickers above his bed 1436. Realizing that when "I" go for a walk, there's 4 of us.  Sounds silly, but it just kinda hit me as I ventured down the street "by myself". 1437. Holding Avi close 1438. Telling stories to my potty training boy...and the memories it brings of my "big boy". 1439. A friend who has set up a two day adventure for my kids and I (babysitting and all) 1440. Turning to the word of God for confidence when I am feeling insecure Scriptural Blessings 1441. I am a receiver of THE CALLING 1442. Knowing that though I will never BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE & PATIENT, that God is at work in me in all of those areas - and will continue to refine me (as I allow Him to) until the day I am by His side 1443. There is  Unity of the Spirit  - no matter how many doctrinal differences believers have - we all have the incredible gift of Jesus Christ - and the ability (if...

Blessings  1420. The electricity going off just in time for a candle lit dinner - and coming back just on time for clean up 1421. Catching up with a friend that I've really been missing 1422. Praying for a conversation that Matt needed to have with a friend, and God blessing the conversation abundantly 1423. The boys asking for more chores (so they could enter another X on the computer) 1424. Blake singing (at this very moment) "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" 1425. The ability to pray to the God of all creation - with all of my heart, mind and soul - that He will work in Blake and through Blake and truly allows His light to shine Scriptural Blessings 1426. We can KNEEL BEFORE THE FATHER 1427. He is sovereign over EVERY FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH 1428. He is GLORIOUSLY RICH 1429. He STRENGTHEN'S us WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT 1430. He offers his LOVE 1431. The love He offers is WIDER, LONGER, HIGHER and DEEPER than we could eve...

Blessings 1403. An evening walk 1404. 3 happy kids on a couch - and one proud daddy taking pictures 1405. An encouraging magazine 1406. A motivated hubby - fixing up old gym equipment with the hopes of using it 1408. Babysitting Grace and Titus 1409. The boys loving their "toy time" - they play separately by themselves for a half an hour each day...and they actually like it 1410. A fun "chat" with a good friend  who was trusting God in her husbands hospital room 1411. They were discharged 1412. The strength of another friend who was in the hospital all night with her little boy 1413. They are home too Scriptural Blessings 1414. The GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE 1415. HIS POWER 1416. HIS BOUNDLESS RICHES 1417. CREATION 1418. The WISDOM OF GOD 1419. The ability to APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE Ephesians 3:7-13 7  I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power .  8  Although I am less than t...

Blessings 1389. Avonlea is rolling over every time I put her on her belly (after not even being interested in rolling over for months) 1390. Lately, I'm not just talking/preaching to myself  about God's grace, I am genuinely feeling it 1391. The movie Courageous - and a hubby who brought it home and watched it with me 1392. The fact that Matt is such a good dad that I didn't even feel like he would need to sign a "resolution" as suggested on Courageous, he already lives that way 1393. Getting a little bit of tax prep done 1394. Google docs 1395. A writer's analogy comparing parenting with climbing Mt Everest - its amazing, wonderful, SOOO worth it - but sometimes its just hard...and thats ok! 1396. The fact that at this exact moment, I am enjoying the view Scriptural Blessings 1397. I HAVE HEARD about GOD's GRACE 1398. The MYSTERY OF CHRIST 1399. I am an HEIR 1400. Not by works, but THROUGH THE GOSPEL 1401. I am a MEMBER of ONE BODY 1402. We (if you are a...

Blessings 1375. Avonlea's cough is gone 1376. I believe God healed her (the fact that I believe this is a blessing in and of itself - even if it was actually just coincidence - I often and usually have doubts in the area of God as a healer...though His word makes it clear that He is) 1377. The sweetness of Avonlea's "talking" voice 1378. An unexpected sleepover (kids and all) with a dear friend 1379. Late night conversations 1380. Friends and their spouses that love the word of God  1381. Matt helping me take care of sick kids in the middle of the night - without even being asked 1382. Matt doing all the laundry caused by the sick kids 1383. The million and one other things I'd love to write down right now Scriptural Blessings 1384. I am not a FOREIGNER or a STRANGER to God 1385. I am a FELLOW CITIZEN with God's people 1386. I am a MEMBER OF HIS HOUSEHOLD 1387. My works (or lack thereof) are not the cornerstone of HIS HOUSEHOLD - but CHRIST JES...

Pondering: I am often tempted to fall into the false belief that if I do my absolute best for God, life will go smoother and I will find more rest.  Lately I feel Him calling me to do the opposite (or at least in the opposite order).   He seems to be whispering - Rest IN ME that I may do my best in you.  Living with guilt, feelings of failure, and an "if I just try harder" mentality is SO far from what He has for us.  And yet, for me, it is SO easy to fall into.  So today, if/when those feelings of failure creep in (which more than likely are directly from the enemy), I am going to ask Him to teach me how to Rest IN HIM that He might do His best in Me. 1372. The  January Joy Dare  suggestions: January 15 - one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared...           My bath robe           My heart - first to my God, then to my husband           My thoughts...