Oh, look at those toes.
A gift in and of themselves, all ten of them.
I'm sure her mama counted them on ultrasound some 12 months and 20 weeks ago when she found out this baby, a baby girl(!) would be entering her life.
And then again one year ago as she came into this world and their journey began as a family of three.
I've loved getting to know Emma, her sweet mama and her dad, too. I can't believe it's been a year!
"Live Fully Right Where You Are" is the dare on the front of 1,000 gifts.
This weekend, I dared Zach that we do just that. Much of our life these days looks like the photo above. He and I are all smiles, Jonah is throwing a fit, and Georgia is crying. But, isn't this what we always dreamed of as we drove with a quiet, empty back seat void of these precious children in our lives? That's why we can be all smiles in the midst of parental chaos.
I recalled to Zach all the discontentment in my days passed that led me up to the contentment I find today. Much of the unrest had to do with my relationship with him. Throughout high school, I spent much of my time wondering what I'd do if he broke up with me. That didn't happen. Throughout our college days I missed many moments in the present while I was with him worrying about the week ahead without him. When we were together, we'd dream about what it would be like to be married instead of enjoying life in our late teens early twenties. Once we got married, I worried about my career and if it would eventually work out with the kind of mom I wanted to be. I what if'ed myself to no end and look how that turned out. I would worry that once we decided to have kids, I'd miscarry or be infertile. That didn't happen. I fretted about childbirth most of my life. That turned out o.k. When we had Jonah, I had all the first time mother fears that I wouldn't do everything right. I rushed through his milestones just for validation. We worried about the world he was being brought up in and started seeking God on how to make that world a better place. In the process we found a passion for ministry, so much ministry that we almost got back into a whole other bag of 'where should we go and what should we do and where should we send them to school?' worms. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks!
ahhhhh...the time has come to rest in Him and trust God for all those things He's been faithful through since our beginning. Jonah is 2.5 and Georgia is 8 weeks. Let them be little. God will work out the rest. He's proven Himself already.
I told Zach, on our drive last weekend, "Look in the back seat, it's the one we've been dreaming of since the late 1990's." It's full, with kids and all the sights and sounds that come with that. My SUV runneth over with LIFE and I'm ready to live it fully right where I am! And all that serving Him I've been seeking, a new phase of ministry has fallen right into my lap. It came to me, just like everything He's ever blessed me with before. He's given me several women who want to meet with me for the sole purpose of growing closer to Jesus.
Life, it's never forced, when you live with hands wide open ready to receive all He has to offer. I'm ready to enjoy this moment, this minute, this hour, this day, this week, and the rest of this year, Lord willing, right where I am. I'm not promised more than a moment, a heartbeat, a breath.
They are right here. Life growing right before my very eyes. I don't want to miss it.
So excited about answered prayers that have come to fruition in all aspects of my life.
Here's to new beginnings in faith, family, friendship, ministry inside and outside the church walls, and photography.
My week at a glance this fall. So excited about the plans God has for us the rest of this year. Can't wait for the blessings He'll show me through each one of these outlets. This is how I've structured my week to use the most of my life for His glory while ministering to my children as we go like Deuteronomy says. There is room for many teachable moments as we go about our daily tasks in between.
Monday - Rest Day/Middle School Discipleship Group in our home with my children present
Tuesday - Photography Work/Tuesday Night Disciples in Action Adult Group
Wedesday - Playdate with a Purpose (discipleship focused) in our home, children play while moms talk about the things of the Lord with the purpose of reproducing other similar groups.
Thursday - MOMS at Bellevue - Really excited to take on a leadership role this year in my small group assisting my friend Dorie who will be our group facilitator. I'm excited about the opportunity to get to know her more and glean from her wisdom. Georgia will be joining me and Jonah gets to play with kids his age while I meet with other moms.
Friday - Photography Work
Saturday - Family Day
Sunday - Worship at Bellevue and Family Time, Grocery Day (until Georgia gets older)
Live fully and keep your eyes on the prize,
Emily
Philippians 3:13
I'm having a hard day. You ever have one of those? The overcast skies kind of reflected my mood. I don't have many days like this since I typically have a sunny disposition, so when I do it's hard to swallow. I never lost my joy as I reflected on His goodness throughout the day. Each time tears would well up in my eyes, I'd kiss their cheeks and tell them I loved them.
Both of my Grandmothers are sick. I can't visit either because of having a newborn in the house and it's a heavy burden. I pray when I think of them which is often. And this time of year is starting to remind me of last year when everything was fine as I planned out my fall events, but didn't pencil in 2 unexpected deaths. I can't believe it's almost been a year.
It's caused me to reflect on my own life and the lives of my children and the brevity of it all. I want to 'spend' my time well. The time God's given me to 'spend.' I want to be a good steward of that account. I want to 'spend' it on things eternal, especially the eternal ones He's allowed me borrow. I want to do that job well. I want to be a mother worthy of His high calling. Striving won't do. Rule making won't do. A life lived out loud for them to see for the sole purpose of His glory is the only thing that will do not expecting anything from them in return. They'll see through anything else. I am their missionary. I am their disciple maker. They see what you do not. They see me for who I am in the flesh and who I am surrendered to His Spirit.
It's not always pretty.
He's made me aware of my sin nature today and reminded me of my need for a Savior.
It's His work to do not mine.
I must proclaim. He must transform. All for His glory not my expectations.
Obedience is what He requires.
So, I ran to my Bible this afternoon, since we were with my cousin this morning, to seek what He had to say to me today in my daily reading. Oh what a comfort it was and validation for the path I've chosen to take that at times feels like I'm swimming upstream.
These could have been my words to Him. A-MA-ZING!
Psalm 71:1-24
The Message (MSG)
"I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.
"Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue."
Hands fresh from God's knitting and hands etched by a life full of God.
Hands at the start of life and hands at the 'jumping off point.'
Her hands held mine when they were that small and now she's holding my daughter's the very same way.
A seamstress of heirlooms and hearts, those hands sewed my church clothes the way her words mended my heart and fashioned the foundation of my faith.
Like a Simplicity pattern, I've patterned my life after her's.
When she wasn't physically holding my hand, her testimony and example held my hand throughout my life in decisions I made and trials I endured.
Her foundation, His word. Her words, His words.
Those 'living and active' words are pouring out of her mouth, pouring out of her life.
She never fails to give a testimony of just where her joy comes from.
Her 'joy comes from the Lord.'
Her own mother passed on the baton of faith to those hands in 1981, the year I was born and she's continued preparing our hands to run the race for the prize for generations to come.
I'm proud to be one of her many Timothy's.
Life or death ? Blessing or curse?
She chose life and to make that life a blessing to the Lord and in turn she is a blessing to me and mine.
May her Great Granddaugther and those she'll never know reap what she's sewn and live in peace.
More pics...
God is Love.
God Speaks (Vertical Line)
God Acts (Horizontal Line)
(This is a symbol from our Chronilogical Bible Storying symbol chart at church. The theme throughout each of the eras of scripture is God Speaks (a promise, a command, etc.) and God Acts (or reveals the way to the promise).
Today, I was coming off of the mountaintop experience I had yesterday at CBD traning at Bellevue. I have been a participant in the Chronilogical Bible Storying study since 2008 and even led or helped lead 4 groups of my own with this material, but I'd never been fully trained on how to implement it as a leader. So, I signed up for a 9-4:30 course on how to teach the material and how to train others how to teach it. I came out of the doors of my church ready to conquer the world, starting with my town, for Christ through this method of discipleship. I was SO excited.
But, I came home exhausted from the full day of learning and had my household duties ahead of me. By the time I had time to download the information to Zach, the night was over and it was time to rest up for the day ahead of me.
I got up this morning discouraged because I didn't have anyone to share this info with today while it was fresh on my mind. So, I took the kids to Walmart (which by the way almost led me to a sob fest on aisle one until my friend Cissy rescued me and helped me get the kids situated in the sling and buggy. Walmart alone with a newborn and a 2 year old is not for the faint of heart. Thanks, Cis, for being my angel today!) for some school supplies that I'd been needing for Jonah's homeschool box. By the time we came home it was lunch and nap and snack again. I tidied up as Jonah ate his pop tart and milk and got his school supplies arranged for a lesson. I had no idea how God would use my training yesterday to disciple Jonah!
I pulled out the letter "L" of a pack of Crayola dry erase flashcards because I'd been told by my friend yesterday that her preschool works on "L" first because of the ease of writing it. Two lines make a letter. Lo and behold, there were "2" arrows on that letter "L," so I wrote out God is love and told him making the letter "L" it would remind him of God. God speaks (a line straight from heaven above) and God acts (a line straight accross our path).
It was as if God was saying to me, "I've got this, Emily. I told you to share my word everyday and I will reveal that person to you if you'll just be looking. Your heart was prepared with My knowledge so you were ready to reveal Me to My child."
Discipleship is not forced. The key is to prepare your heart with the knowledge of the holy and be ready for all those He sends across your path. Deeper relationships will hopefully form as others see Jesus in you and want to duplicate that quality in themselves.
Parenting is the highest calling of discipleship. If I don't win Jonah and Georgia for Christ, I won't win the world either.
All of this to say, the desire of my heart is to educate Jonah with a biblical worldview. I actually thought that would start when he got in school. Today, I was excited to know I have the ability to start now teaching him about God through everything we learn at home. You just have to think biblically yourself, pray God opens your eyes to capture every oportunity and the chances will be numerous to point them back to Him.
Thank you Lord for this day You have made. I will rejoice because I taught someone to be glad in You.
Thankful for the sweet sound of my little boy joyfully singng "Grace, grace God's grace" in the next room as I type this. I'm also thankful for grace.
Thankful he's feeling better after 3 hard days of a fever and virus and thankful for a God who listens to my requests for protection for my youngest. May He continue to heal Jonah.
Thankful we may be getting back to the way this week started out on Sunday very soon.
A reminder of a gift I was given 10 yesrs ago by my then boyfriend, now husband--a promise ring. A promise to always be my friend. A promise to love me just the way I am. A promise to one day upgrade this ring into a forever ring, a forever promise.
Today, I decided instead of just keeping the house presentable, I'd make myself presentable, too. After finishing my hair and makeup I pilfered theough my jewelry box and this stood out for some reason. I haven't picked it up in years.
Lord, I'm so thankful that my husband has known me since I was six and loves me in spite of it. I'm thankful that he was the only person in childhood, outside my family, who truly liked me for who I was from the inside out. And thankfully he grew to love me, too. Thank you Lord for our friendship. Thank you Lord for his faithfulness to me from then until now. Thank you for the laughter we share and the life we share. No matter where I am with him it feels like home.
The book 1,000 gifts has me exploring how many gifts I can spot in the moment during a given day. You'll start to see me journaling these through pictures in the coming days, weeks, and months. Here are gifts one, two, and three at the start of this experiment.
A brother who loves to hold his sister's hand and a sister who is starting to be more alert and react to sights and sounds that surround her. God thank you for love, family, my children's vision, and their hearing. I don't take them for granted and I see Your blessings through these channels.
Greatful for time to fix supper for my family without being in a rush and enjoying the moment of cutting up fruit for the nourishment of my family. Thankful for tastey in season produce and the faces that sit around my table that enjoyed it with smiles on their faces. Thankful for time off to do nothing but love on my babies and focus on being a housewife, yes I said housewife not stay at home mom. God made me to be a wife and a mother. Thank you Lord for showing me who You created me to be. Thank You for Your provisions of food and your creation of fruit both physical and spirtual. Thank You for allowing me to serve my family and for each of us to be healthy and nourished with your goodness. We know many in this world are hungry for You and for food. May we not forget them and teach our children to be a blessing as You have blessed us.
So blessed by Kid 2.5 who helps his daddy water the yard each night and sweats to his heart's content riding on every ride-on toy we own and playing in the waterhose. Love hearing him come in and say, "It's hot outside." with his matted down hair and little boy smell. Love discovering each day what it's like to have a little boy around and not much of a baby boy any more. Thankful he is growing. Thankful he is healthy. Thankful he told me last Sunday he wanted to go to his church with his friends. Thankful he loves the book of Samuel. How ironic since Hannah, Samuel's mom, was on my mind much of my pregnancy with him. Lord thank you for sweaty little southern boys. Thank You for the great man you set apart for me that is such a great Dad to him. Thank You for Jonah's love for church and friends, family and music. I pray that he will grow to want to know You more each day and that he will spend his life not playing hide and seek with You but playing seek and find as you chase after him. May he learn to hear Your voice and obey Your word so when he grows up and leaves me (like in his favorite story the 3 little pigs), He will build his home out of bricks on Your solid rock and stand firm for what he believes in not because we told him so, but because He loves You so.
