Daniel's New Bike

Daniel got a new bike from Babu and Soso as a early birthday present. He is very excited about it. In the words of Daniel "Thank you Babu Soso bike me!"

Pregnancy

Grace

I was reading a article tonight by John Feinberg, a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His article was about facing the evil that we all have to face in this world. He starts out explaining his own experiences. When he met his wife, her mother was in a mental hospital. They both asked why she was there and no answers were given. His wife was tested for any genetic diseases that she might have before they decided to get married. Nothing showed up. Then when they decided to have children they did the same thing, again nothing. But it was not long after they had their third child that his wife started to get a twitching in her shoulder. She went to the doctor when it got worse, and was then diagnosed with Huntington's Disease. Come to find out that before they were married, her mother had already been diagnosed with this disease, but they were not informed of it. They were both very distraught. How could this have happened? The is a chance that their children could also have this disease since it is genetic. Throughout the article Feinberg goes through how God gave him peace in this time of trouble. I could go into more detail, but mainly I just wanted to give a brief summary of this article to give a little background to a quote of his that really struck me. He said "I don't need to know tomorrow's evil, because I don't yet have tomorrow's grace."

Hungry (Falling on my Knees)

Hungry, I come to you
For I know you satisfy
I am empty, but I know
Your love does not run dry
And so I wait for You
So I wait for you

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You're all
This heart is living for

Broken, I run to you
For Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know your touch
Restores my life
And so I wait for you
So I wait for you

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for

Blessed

I am very blessed. I have a wonderful family. The Lord has given me a wonderful husband. He is the love of my life. I could not imagine my life without him. He has given me a beautiful son. I could not imagine life without him either. And I have a daughter growing inside of me, who I can feel kicking and squirming around. I praise the Lord for my family. He has been good to me.

It's a girl!!!

Caught in the ropes...

What is the sin that so easily entangles? What exactly does that mean? Is it a big sin, or a little is? Is there really a difference? What does it mean when the bible says that throw off the sin that so easily entangles?

This has been the focus of our studies the last couple Sundays at church. Every day I find myself pondering what it is about our culture that is robbing us for a full relationship with Christ. I see it over and over again. We are convinced it is okay to over indulge in everything.

Why is it that people think that you have to own your own house by the ripe old age of 22? Why is it that people find it acceptable to over eat all the time? Why is it acceptable to watch movies where women are showing their breasts, or the scenes that take sex, which is a beautiful thing in context, and turn it into a show that causes people to ponder if they are missing something? How is it that we find it okay to watch hour upon hour of television, or play hour upon hour on the video game system?

Why is it okay for Christians to sit around and complain that they are to busy for God? Is that really possible? If one is to busy for God I would have to wonder how valuable the Lord is to this person? The Lord who gave up everything he had for us, and we are all of a sudden to busy for him! Shame on us!

I wonder how it is that so many families don't want to take the time to have their children grow up in a spiritual environment and yet they some how expect them to grow up and follow Christ. Families who do not want their kids to be "to saved" so to speak. Families where the parents want the kids to know about Christ only enough to save them from hell but that is it. Anything beyond that is just to much work. Is it really possible to act this way? Is it really possible to be saved and not care enough about Christ to grow your relationship with him? Is possible to go through your whole life knowing of all the sacrifices that Christ made, knowing of the grace of God, and yet not caring enough to grow a relationship with him?

Why is it that we are offered to have a relationship with the creator of this universe and yet we prefer to ignore Him? Maybe because it is easier that way. If I do not get to close than there will be little conviction for what I am doing? Maybe if I just sit back and ride through life I can do whatever I want to still go to heaven. Maybe we can. But isn't part of being a Christian having the desire to following Christ? If that desire is over ran by all the desires of the world, than aren't we missing something? It is amazing how we can work so hard to get a house, to have new cars, to go on vacations, to have brand new stuff in our house... and yet it is to much work to grow our relationship with Christ. Shame on us!!!!

What is the sin that so easily entangles???? Maybe laziness, lack of motivation, overworking, selfishness, watching to much television, over eating to fill a emotional "whole".??? What is it??? I have been pondering these questions a lot latley as I search for my sin. I have been convicted about so many things. I do not want to be one of those Christians who find it to much work to get out of bed on Sunday morning, or find it to hard to pray every day. I do not want to be a parent whose kids see right through the hypocrisy and decide they would rather just abandon faith all together than to live a lie. I do not want my kids to see me as a phony. I want to truly love and desire Christ. I want to raise my children to see the love of Christ and for them to experience a full relationship with him. I want to fully experience Christ. I want to get rid of this sin that so easily entangles so that I can run the race with perseverance. I want to fill this high calling... to run the course in the pattern of Christ.

Hymn- I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I'd rather be led by his nail-pierced hands.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause,
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I'd rather be true to His holy name.
Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Why is it that we work so hard?

In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.

All life requires a rhythm of rest. There is a rhythm in our waking activity and the body's need for sleep. There is a rhythm in the way day dissolves into night, and night into morning. There is a rhythm as the active growth of spring and summer is quieted by the necessary dormancy of fall and winter. There is a tidal rhythm, a deep, eternal conversation between the land and the great sea. In our bodies, the heart perceptibly rests after each life-giving beat; the lungs rest between the exhale and the inhale.

We have lost this essential rhythm. Our culture invariably supposes that action and accomplishment is better than rest, that doing something- anything- is better than nothing. Because of our desire to succeed, to meet these ever growing expectations, we do not rest. Because we do not rest, we lose our way. We miss the compass points that would show us where to go. We bypass the nourishment that would give us succor. We miss the quiet that would give us wisdom. We miss the joy and the love born in effortless delight. Poisoned by this hypnotic belief that good things come only through unceasing determination and tireless effort, we can never truly rest. And for want of rest, or lives are in danger. (Wayne Muller, Sabbath, 1).

Daniel Sledding

This was Daniel's first time sledding.

Big boy helper!

Today I was holding the baby that I babysit everyday. That boy has quick hands, and grabbed my water and spilt it all over the table. I asked Daniel to please get mommy a towel. He ran in the kitchen but I soon realized that he was having trouble because it was taking him so long. I kept saying "hurry Daniel just grab the one that is hanging on the stove!" He soon ran back to me with a paper towel... well sort of! Thank you my big boy helper!

Daniel Sings the BIBLE

He kind of knows the words

Daniel Sings "Read Your Bible"

He kind of knows the Words

Daniel's Campout!

Daniel got to sleep in his Thomas train tent last night. He was so excited. It is funny how the little things in life are such a big deal to kids.

Daniel on the phone

They say that kids mimick their parents on the phone. Do we really do this?

Daniel at the door

I let Daniel out on the balcony to play in the snow, and he didn't last out there very long.

Daniel Enjoying his present

It is funny how sometimes the simple gifts are the greatest gifts. Daniel's Aunt Andrea gave him a Thomas the Train shaving kit for Christmas. Daniel LOVES it! Tonight I put him in the bath and left for a second. I heard him playing with the can of "shaving cream". I came back in in find that he was having a really good time "shaving". He has played with this every bath since Christmas. Tonight he finished off the rest of his shaving cream. Looks like we need to get some more!

My Savior My God

Aaron Shust - My Savior My God
From the album Anything Worth Saying

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x’s)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

Chorus (2x’s)

(Instrumental)

Chorus: (2x’s)

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

Daniel Building a Snowman

Gangsta

Making a snowman with Daddy

Puddle Hopping!

Puddle hopping is one of a child's rights. I feel that every child should play in the rain as long as it is not freezing cold outside. This week we have had beautiful weather. It has been in the 60s all week. The sad part of it all is that we are going to be getting a cold front and all the rain is turning into snow!

When I was a kid I remember playing in the rain all the time. I loved going outside and playing in all the puddles. We had a fairly large back yard that ran at a slight slant. When it rained the water would run down our backyard and fill up in puddles at the bottom of the
yard. It was the perfect place to puddle hop! I also loved when mom would let us go outside the gate. There was a ditch right outside our yard that was dug out to help drain rain water. It would rain down past our house and two of our neighbors houses. I remember putting sticks in the "stream" (as a kid you have no concept of city drainage it was just a stream to us) and racing Andrea's stick down to the end where it would dump into a huge receptical before going underground (to go under a road) only to emerge again on the other side of the street. I used to always be
scared because this receptical was a good 10 feet deep with swirling water. I knew better than to get to close. But up by my house I am sure the water never got more than 2-3 feet deep. Most of the time it was not more than 6 inches to a foot.

It was always a big deal when it would rain so much that the stream overflowed. I loved running out there and talking about how much water there was. My mom was always so much fun letting us run all around in the rain. I also remember that my mom and dad had a rain gauge and they would always measure how much rain had fallen. Most of the time there was less than a inch in there but sometimes there was one to two inches. It was always a big deal on who got to dump out the gauge. Andrea and I would fight about that.

On really rainy days when the sun would go down my mom would set a fire in the fireplace. I loved laying on the floor in front of the fire. Of course one of the things about having a fireplace means that you have to have firewood. Andrea and I had a job to make sure that there was always enough firewood in the storage beside the fireplace. We would go outside and see how many pieces we could carry in at one time. I remember standing outside and saying "Andrea load me up!" She would stack 4-5 pieces on my arms and I would run inside trying not to drop any. I knew that if I did drop them I would get in trouble for tracking dirt all over the floor. Sometimes if we did not get enough wood in before it rained the wood would get all wet and muddy. Then when we put it in the fire it would make really loud cracking sounds. I thought it sounded cool, but mom and dad did not think it was very cool. I think mainly because sparks would fly out of the fireplace and land on the rug, burning a hole in the rug.

One of my favorite things to do with the firewood was to play outside on it. I would climb on the pile of wood. I would also take the wood and make an outline of a house in the grass. I would have a kitchen, bedrooms, and even a bathroom. I used to drag all kinds of toys, pillows and things out to "my house". I would get mad at Andrea because she liked to "walk through the walls" instead of using the "clearly" marked doors. I would play in there for hours. I always found that it was unfair that at the end of the day mom would make us clean up all the firewood. I would get my house just like I wanted it and then I would have to clean it all up and rebuild it again the next day. I did not realize that by leaving the firewood out on the grass it would kill the grass. I just thought mom was being mean! KIDS!

I also remember that we would pooper scoop the yard and the pile of poo was always near the big wood pile in the back. It was really stinky back there! I often would find termite holes back there. I loved when mom and dad would pour kerosene down the termite holes and set them on fire. That was always a highlight. I could go on and on with childhood memories but I will save that for another blog. In the meantime enjoy the pictures of Daniel jumping in the rain.

Thanksgiving Blessings

This thanksgiving we did not have the chance to be with family. It is just to far to drive 12 hours for 4 days. I am thankful that we will get to go there for Christmas though. We did get invited over to a friends house for thanksgiving. The friends that invited us were more than hospitable. They treated us like family and we were there all afternoon. I am thankful for friends like these. It was a real blessing for our family to share this holiday with this
family. I am not sure if they will ever know how much it meant to us. Before we went to their house on thanksgiving Daniel wanted to paint a picture. Here are a few pictures of him painting. I put him in is chair and then went to take a shower. I asked Brandon to watch him for me. When I got out of the shower Daniel was drinking the paint water! Brandon's response was "sometimes he likes to remind us that he is two!" MEN! Gotta love um!

Uncle Randall

There are some looks that Daniel gives that look so much like his Uncle it is amazing. Here is a good example. This afternoon I went in to tell Daniel it was now time for nap and found him in his toy box. Looking back at this picture I think that he looks like Uncle Randall. I am not sure what about this picture makes me think that. You can tell me if I am totally off!

Handsome Boy

Family

Family is such a blessing from God. Here is Daniel and his Great Grandpa Jones. I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed Daniel some time to get to know Grandpa.

Daddy

I am so lucky to be married to such a good man. Brandon is such a good husband and father. I love these two pictures of Daniel and Brandon. I am amazing watching the two of them together. I know that in the future there will be many ball game watched together, and many daddy Daniel moments. I love having a boy. Daniel is a such a blessing. I cannot believe how fast he is growing up!

School Days

I know that it has been a LONG time since I updated. Sometimes I feel that what I have to say cannot be all the intresting. When I am in the mood to write I am usually not home. I am really struggling lately with being a working mom. I had a bad day at work a couple of days ago. To top it off I went to ask Abby (Daniel's




teacher) a question. Daniel saw me and ran over to me and wanted me to take him back to my class. I was so stressed out so I told him not right now. He is crying "Mommy me me me" I hate that. I just started crying. I want to be Daniel's mommy not anyone elses caregiver. I just wanted to hold my baby take him home and be his mommy. I am not sure how much Daniel would like that though. He LOVES going to "school" Everyday he gets so excited when we drive up to the daycare he yells "MY SCHOOL!" He throws a fit every day because he does not want to come home. He is learning so much and is able to do so many things. He paints and does art almost everyday. He is learning songs and doing circle time. When I think of the positive things about the job it doesn't seem so bad. I am glad that tomorrow is Friday. I am looking forward to next wednesday because I have 4 days off. Of course that will make it harder to get my butt out of bed and go to work. Well at the request of Aunt Andrea here is a much needed update and picture of my dear sweet Daniel.

Happy Halloween

Daniel is all dressed up as Thomas the Tank Engine. Happy Halloween to all of you! Isn't he so cute!

Daniel's Daycare

I decided that it was time to post pictures of Daniel's classroom at his school. He loves going to school everyday. He has so much fun with his friends. He has 12 friends enrolled in his class but most days there are 8-9 of them there. One of Daniel's favorite things to do at school is play dress up. Here is Daniel playing dress up with his friend Alisia.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my
strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights
of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when
strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in
the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took
on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of
love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to
save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath
of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the
ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He
rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's
curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is
mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of
Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of
man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He
returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ
I'll stand

Apartment Drama

This past Sunday I decided to do some cleaning behind my fidge and stove. I had no idea what I was getting into. When I pulled out my stove I cried. It had not been cleaned since the last tenants. It was sooo gross. It took Brandon and I hours to clean up this mess. We thought that all of our apartment drama was over. We were wrong of course. Last night we had friends over for dinner. When I walked in the kitched I saw a HUGE bubble in my ceiling. I had to second guess myself on whether it had been there this whole time or not. Brandon got up on a chair and touched it and it was full of water. We called the apartment manager and he said that he could not send anyone out that night be we had to wait until morning. Two hours later the spot at doubled in size and we slowly spreading all over the ceiling. The last thing I wanted was for that thing to bust and for that nasty water to be all over my stuff. So Brandon and I decided to pop it. Oh boy was that fun! Enjoy the pictures!

I'm dreaming of a white Halloween?????

Okay when I moved to Michigan I was not expecting that I would have to deal with snow this early in October. It snowed over an inch today. The kids at the daycare loved it but I thought that it was a bit obnoxious. Although I have been told that this is rare for around here. I guess it does not alway snow in October which is good news for me. I feel like I did not even have a fall. Today this girl at the daycare came in and was very upeset. When I asked her what was wrong she said " I thought that Haloween was before Christmas." I thought that was really cute.

Well I know that I am bad about blogging. When I think about blogging I am usually so tired I cannot think. Which is where I am at right now.

Joys of worship through song

There is one song that when I hear it whether it be on the radio or in church that I cannot hear without getting teary. It has the same effect on me everytime. I just love the truth that rings through each line. When I hear it I think through my life, and the lives of my family members and it brings me to a point of humble prayer. Here are the lyrics for those who may not know this song. Even just reading them is powerful to me.

Blessed be your name.

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

I have been thinking about this song since we sang it at church this morning. It is funny how songs can bring out so many diffrent emotions. There is a hymn that everytime I hear it is hard to sing it without remembering Kenya. I can just hear the kenyan people singing it and it is hard for me to sing without wanting to do so in a kenyan accent. And when I think of the words again am thrown back into a state of humble prayer. This time for the Kenyan people and for my parents as they try to raise support to go back and continue thier ministry there.

There Is A Fountain

1. There is fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

2. The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

3. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
’Til all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more.

4. E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be ’til I die.

5. When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.

Music is such a wonderful way to worship the Lord. I had been thinking about these songs since our worship service this morning. I always enjoy worshiping our Lord through music.