Wor[d] of th[e] Day

A New Season... A New Blog

2012-01-14T17:04:00.000-06:00

Switching things up folks. Find the new blog HERE.

This blog will still be here, in case you want to walk down memory lane but all new posting will be at the new site.

Farewell blogger, it's been fun.

Hanks' Adoption Auction

2011-09-16T12:49:00.002-05:00

My friends Kevin and Sarah Hanks are pursuing their first adoption and are having an auction to help with bringing their "Harvest" home.

Check out their blog for the auction HERE
Click on the tabs on the top of their blog to see who they are and their hearts for adoption.

If you don't want to do the auction but would rather donate a gift, they have a PayPal button on the sidebar.

Thanks for considering helping this family!

My sweetie, and natural parenting

2011-09-10T14:13:00.001-05:00

I must expound briefly on how much I love this little lady. :)

Some of the things I love about her (I loved this stuff about the boys also I believe):
*I love her squishy cheeks
*I love to kiss that spot right where the corner of her mouth meets her cheek
*I can't describe it fully but I seriously LOVE the smell of her breath. I think it's a breastfed baby thing. I love it, a lot. Except not the pukey smell, of course.
*I love breastfeeding. I love the bond and all the things that make it so special.
*I love her blue eyes
*I love that she sleeps about 8 hours straight at night, then eats, and goes back to sleep. I am a happier mama.
*I like that she's big. At six weeks she is 13 pounds. (Not that she started small either) Of course that is following in true Jacobson style. (Although if we did have seven kids or something that would put the last one at something like 13 pounds, that may not be so nice after all)
*She's so beautiful! (I'd love her if she were sort of awkward and weird looking too - but she's so pretty)

I love more things, but those were the ones on my mind.

I have been reading some blogs on "natural parenting". You can fall in many places on the continuum it seems.

I think I'm more of a natural parent than I realize and I wouldn't have thought I'd be here when I envisioned my life 10 years ago. So what makes me land on this continuum of natural parenting?
*I love natural childbirth and find it amazing (but understand many of the reasons people don't do it)
*I breastfeed my babies -and love it
*I use cloth diapers (75% of the time I'd say)
*I wear my baby in a wrap (mostly away from home)
*I want to homeschool my kids (I don't know if this actually counts)
*I desire to use more holistic routes of medicine and eating more natural and traditional foods

What doesn't make me a "natural parent"? The reasons are purely personal and I am not anti most of these things at all, they just don't work for me, and that's ok.
*I don't co-sleep with my kids.
Two reasons: Number one, we have a queen size bed and we're not little people. We are 6'5" and 5'11" and my kids are big. I also like to keep the marriage bed something we call our own (but the wee ones do come in in the early morning too). Number two: I just can't handle the noises of the baby. Don't get me wrong, I love the noises, I just can't sleep through them very well. My boys seem none the worse for having been in their cribs. But if sleeping with your kids floats your boat - go for it.
*I discipline and train my kids a particular way and believe it's biblical. This could be a post on its own so I'll leave it at that. Some of it is like the natural parenting and others not.
*I "go green" if possible, but it's not my goal to leave less of an eco footprint for humanistic reasons, it's just to save on money and waste. The whole going green thing is a topic for another day too.
*I sort of put my kids on a schedule. Not strictly, but some, and I don't nurse on demand. Not because I'm against it, but my babies seem to get fussier and gassier in their tummies if they have milk all the time any time. And based on the fact that my babes chunk up like the milk is going out of style says to me they are doing ok.

Additionally, I believe in Christ centered living and there is a divine order God created for the home and it's not humanistic, which is where some philosophies of natural parenting are rooted. But most of the bloggers I have read are not obviously Christians either, but just trying to do their best.

What I love about natural parenting is that at IHOP, it seems like some of this stuff is part of the culture, like breastfeeding and homeschooling and natural foods and herbs and cloth diapers too. Not everyone, but much more of a group of them than what I knew of back in MN. So it feels "natural" to do some of these things even though it may be counter culture in other places.

I didn't really intend on this post turning out the way it did, but hey, now you know I am not afraid of a little poo. Cloth diapers change your 'gross out' factor quickly.

Caleb's 4th Birthday Part 1

2011-09-05T15:05:00.002-05:00

My sweet Caleb boy turned four yesterday. Since this is likely the last birthday in Kansas City, and his golden birthday, we wanted to make it special. We decided on a Noah's Ark themed party. The following captions will explain the party.

We had a thunderstorm CD playing and the boys got excited pre-party and were looking in their Bibles at the story of Noah.

We picked up some moving boxes and there was a giant one we wouldn't have used, but that box, plus a few flat pieces came in handy for the creation of an Ark.

I am sporting the baby and explaining the game. They had to all find the 'food' aka peanuts-in-shell for the Ark. Whoever found the most peanuts won a prize.

Levi, Isaiah, and Ayanna hunting for food.

Birthday boy found a few.

Lewis found a dinosaur. That doesn't count.

Counting peanuts. Levi won with 20.

"Wow, this many little kids at your house is loud and crazy!"

They had a craft - making animal ear headbands. You know, because it's a Noah's Ark party and the ark needs some animals.

A "donkey". Perhaps he's grazing.

Then it was story time - of course the story of Noah.

All animals into the Ark, almost. I think everyone is showing - it's the best one of the bunch.

Noah

Dan drew a dragonfly (for the boys) and a butterfly (for the girls) for the kids to lay down and get pictures. It worked okay.

I can't figure out how to rotate this in blogger.

Blowing out the candle.

They had brownies!

Just for some cutie too. Smile!

Part Two of the birthday will continue today with the gifts from us and the grandmas. Previewed here (pre-assembly):

August 2011

2011-09-02T14:11:00.001-05:00

August 2011, a set on Flickr.

Oh for the love

2011-09-02T13:42:00.003-05:00

I love my babies- all 3 of them. But the youngest is now 5 1/2 weeks old. How quickly it is going. Two days ago, Aug 31st, she smiled for the first time (actually she smiled several times that day). No camera though. So sweet!

And my darling baby #2 has had some milestones this week too. Re-enter: toddler bed. There has been an improvement this time. The first day was similar to the last time we tried - lots of getting up both while trying to fall asleep, and in the night - so we weren't too hopeful. But the last couple days have been better, and halleluiah - he has slept through the night the last two nights! This transition to the bed is necessary like it or not right now.

First off, he is a heavyweight and the metal bars under the crib were bending from his jumping in the mornings. Yikes. And second, we plan to go to MN for several weeks after our house is sold and Faith needs the pack n play, and he's too big for it. Thus, a sleeping bag it will be and we aren't going to have his first time out of the crib be for that. Thankfully Dan is ultra helpful because it can get hairy putting Lew down and having Faith possibly cranky at that time. My husband is excellent (and not just because he is a stellar dad).

His second milestone this week was his first haircut. I know it has been a little over two years, but his hair just didn't grow as fast as Caleb's. Part of the prompting to do it was because the other two guys in the house got haircuts this week too. The only problem cutting Caleb's hair is he now is not only a giant in stature, but he looks older too. I keep saying, 'this is what he'll look like when he's six' except that he will only be bigger still at six.

Dan said his hair hasn't been this short on top for at least 10 years. I like it. All my boys with their ears lowered :)

So I don't forget

2011-08-29T09:48:00.000-05:00

I am mostly putting this here so I don't forget.

Two things Caleb has said that make me laugh:
"I just had to clear a mouse out of my throat." instead of the typical frog of course

While playing outside today, "hey Lewis, that tree needs a hug, so I'll go give it one." proceeding to hug the tree and say "that's better"
It is particularly funny because he knows nothing of the 'tree hugger'.

Side note, we started the big boy bed again with Lewis. Prayers appreciated!
Also, Faith slept 8 hours last night and then another 4...um...hallelujah!

Faith's Birth Story

2011-08-08T15:04:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in the previous post that I would do a segment on Faith's birth, so here we go.

I had a midwife appointment on Monday the 25th and I was 50% effaced and at 3cm (which is where I was at for the last two weeks while pregnant with Lewis) so I was happy about that.

I went to bed that night and woke up at about 3:40am with a small contraction - perhaps more of a cramp - so I didn't know if "this was it" or not. I tried to rest, and did so for maybe another hour. Then I thought - yes, I know "this is it". By 6am I called my midwife to tell her the contractions were about 4 mins apart and I could talk through them, but of course I didn't want to since that's easier.

We had been praying for pain-free labor b/c I know that is my inheritance as a Christian (read Supernatural Childbirth book). I guess I can't say it was pain-free, or necessarily super pain-ful, but it was manageable. I remember with Lewis a similar account but labor with him was just under 8 hours so I had more time to feel out what my body was doing. I knew when I went into transition with Lewis and could feel 'movement' like he was moving down, etc so I knew what to look for again with Faith.

Anyway, between 6 and 7am, I knew the contractions were picking up in intensity and there was that movement again where I knew transition was in progress and this was much faster than Lewis'. So at 7am I called my midwife to tell her we were coming in and she was going to meet us at the hospital. The last few contractions at home, I pushed just a teeny bit at the end of them and I remember thinking "was that really a 'push' or what am I feeling?"

So, we got in the van and Dan drove us to the hospital (a 15 minute drive that took almost twice as long because of morning traffic, ha). He got a wheelchair and wheeled me upstairs. The lady at the front desk was funny, kind of. She was taking her sweet time (at least it felt like that since I was in labor I guess) and had me sign this one form. I told her she probably wanted to hurry up because I am in transition here. I signed the form, then she said she'd have to ask if they were going to put me in a delivery room or just observe me - ha - I told her that they'd be keeping me :)

When we got in the room, I told Dan to go park the van because he left it at the pick up/drop off zone. He ran down. While he did, I sat in the wheelchair for another two contractions - also with the tiny-I-don't-know-if-I-am-really-pushing pushes. I got up and changed into a gown (Dan arrives back upstairs out of breath from running), then I went to go to the bathroom. I couldn't go, but then my water broke and I pushed for real. My midwife got there just after this, I went over to the bed, she checked me, and said I was fully ready to go and the baby didn't have far to come. Seriously?!

So I just pushed and 15 minutes later, Faith was born. I think both Dan and I were in shock. I wish I could have been checked at that "is this a push?" thing at home to see where I was at. So, we got to the hospital at about 7:40ish and she was born at 8:15am. It was actually kind of funny because I had maybe 5 people in the room aside from Dan and the sun was shining in. Which, if I had labored longer there (as I did with Lewis) it would have been Dan, my midwife, and one nurse with the dim lighting and curtains drawn. However, I basically got there, and started pushing, so they weren't exactly prepared you could say - but it's not like in the middle of pushing I really cared anyway that there were extra people there.

We had our daughter Faith Perazim at 8:15am after 4 1/2 hours of labor. She is our heavyweight at 9lbs 14.8oz, ranking middle in length at 22 1/4". She has pouty lips and a mega double chin - and we think she's a beauty. Changing a girl's diaper has been an adjustment - plumbing differences you know!

She has been the most easy going baby so far and it's awesome! She wakes up once in the middle of the night and once at about 6am (typically) and so I am getting more sleep than when I was pregnant - again, awesome!

(I will do another post sometime soon on why we named her what we did.)

Fam & Faith (1st 2 weeks)

2011-08-08T14:58:00.001-05:00

Fam & Faith (1st 2 weeks), a set on Flickr.

Faith is Born (plus a few)

2011-07-31T21:11:00.002-05:00

Faith is Born (plus a few), a set on Flickr.

Our sweet baby girl was born on July 26th. I will share details in another post. Here are some photos!

Faith Perazim Jacobson
9lbs 14.8oz
22 1/4" long
8:15am

The 2 Year Old

2011-07-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

We had some fun on Lewis' 2nd birthday. We had a few of our friends over to celebrate :) But Lewis knows and loves each of them, so he had fun too! Here are a few pics of the evening - we have a LONG video I can post sometime soon for the family far away to watch (because seriously, who else would watch the long birthday video except grandparents?).

Getting clean for his party

The Happy Birthday song made him proud.

I made cake balls for the party - a definite make again item for future parties.

Likely the last decent family photo before baby girl comes.

Happy Birthday Lewis!

2011-07-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

Born

1 yr old

(2yr pic to come)

My sweet, bold, loving warrior is TWO years old today! He brings such joy to our family - I have probably not laughed more than when he is around.

Here is a little video from before we watched some fireworks. We got some nachos/cheese with jalapenos. We gave him a jalapeno :)

3 weeks and counting...

2011-07-11T14:01:00.000-05:00

....until the baby girl makes her appearance. (And she WILL come on or before her due date! ha- like I can guarantee that!) We are so excited to welcome her into our family. The idea of pink and ponytails and dolls and all things girl is not so weird anymore and I am happy to embrace those things - to a point. You'd think because I am a girl those things wouldn't be odd at all, but it's the "I'm used to balls and trucks and burps and all things boy" around here. Nevertheless, we know she is a prophetic signpost in our lives, in this season, and we are happy to have her :)

And how unreal is it that this cutie will be 2 YEARS OLD on Wednesday?

I love everything about him! But I will try and post something on his special day. We don't plan on a kidfest of a party, but just our family.
Both Dan and I have decided we'd rather keep it simple with our kids as the standard, and if they get a big party with friends on occasion, that's fine. We'd rather set the bar at a manageable level and then raise it once in a while.

We will have friends over for Caleb's birthday this year though (pending our move to CA) because it's his golden birthday. 4yrs old on the 4th of September (why do we celebrate this as golden anyway?) So bring on the decorations and the loud kids and the food. But until then, simple.

New Photo Album setup

2011-06-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

I realize it has been *ahem* SIX months since I last uploaded a photo album. This is because I was contemplating switching the online photo source from Picasa to Flickr, which I have. The reason is because Picasa has a limited amount of storage and Flickr is a certain storage amount monthly (i.e. unlimited basically).

So, from here on out, all our online photo albums will be uploaded to Flickr and all our old albums will remain on Picasa. So in the left sidebar, you will see a link for our photo albums, as well as one for the old. Clear?

The below post is a random assortment of photos from the last six months. (Note, if you go to Flickr and view our "albums", they call them "sets" so that's how you'll find 'em.)

Also, for the consumed-with-their-grandkids grandmas (or anyone else I suppose) you can download the photos at a high quality from Flickr too.

January-June 2011

2011-06-29T16:07:00.001-05:00

January-June 2011, a set on Flickr.

Random pics from the first half of the year.

It WAS a cute green grasshopper

2011-06-22T14:20:00.000-05:00

This morning I went out in the backyard and found a newly hatched (if that's what they do?) green grasshopper hanging from the door on the kids' playhouse. Caleb was highly enthusiastic, which if you know him, is not the norm when it comes to bugs of any sort.

He really wanted to hold it or whatever, but Lewis also wanted it. It was brand 'new' and not hopping around which made it more exciting. So, I put it on a little stick and let Caleb carry it around. He was loving it.

Then we were going to put it up on the railing so they could watch it. Well, in about two seconds, Lewis reached up and squashed it with his hand - right in front of Caleb. Caleb cried, Lewis knew no different. Caleb didn't want the grasshopper to be dead and cried for a bit, but then played with something else.

My non-bug lover, loved a bug today - and my warrior? Smashed it. Such is life with toddlers.

And, as an update to the previous post: It has become clear that Lewis is not totally ready to be in the big boy bed. I would have preferred it different, but at this point, we are just sticking with the crib for a couple more months. We moved the crib into Caleb's room instead of the big boy bed and set up the pack and play with the bassinet in baby's room. It'll do for now.

What Can Happen When You're Raising a Warrior

2011-06-13T10:49:00.000-05:00

Lewis: "Renowned Warrior"

That's what I've got here folks. A warrior.

Currently, we have committed to transitioning him to a toddler bed before baby sister comes. He has been in there about a week now. And actually, it's going much better than the last time we tried about a month or two ago. However, last night he got out of bed a couple times (which is no big deal usually because we just put him back in the bed in his half-asleep-dazed state and he goes right back to sleep). This would not have been a problem, but he pulled the "I'm wide awake at 2am" thing (which happened the last time we tried to transition him).

Dan was gracious and got up at least half the time to put him back to bed and apply a gentle reminder to let him know he needed to stay there so I didn't need to hoist my 8-month pregnant self out of bed every time. Good man.

So after being up and down for about an hour, he falls back asleep. Amen!

But alas, he decided wake up after Dan finished his shower this morning at 5:30am. And that was it for the night.

Enter: Mama

There is no way were were going to make it smoothly and cleanly to nap time today with a warrior running full-steam at 5:40am right on through. So it's time to now have him lay in bed with me for at least the next 30-45 minutes. (Caleb too at this point)

Enter: Warrior boy

Let the screaming-full-on-tantrum begin. He does NOT want to be contained. This is the point where I'm either in this for the long haul, or I back out and nothing is accomplished for good aside from my momentary fleshly comfort of no screaming.

And so, I set the standard. He needed to lay still, peaceful, and have a happy heart for at least a few minutes with me before I let him go. He understood...he didn't like it.

I held him, and tightly because he is seriously strong, while he wailed and screamed and wriggled. After a while he gets all "I love you mama" and tries to simultaneously get his leg over me to get down. Sorry kiddo, the love appeal getaway move is not working.

Re-enter: tantrum

Fast forward the scene. This ensues for close to two hours.....yes - TWO hours. After a while I wondered if this was ok - but he was clearly having a major tantrum. This was not sad, or hurt or whatever, this was tantrum for not getting his way. So he finally turned in toward me, snuggled up, and rested well for probably five minutes. He was now free to go and none the worse for the battle - he left smiling and happy.

The point is not to give you the play by play of a challenging morning. The point is - when you are raising a warrior, he (or she I suppose) will either fight you (the authority) to the point where you are mastered and no longer the authority .... or you will win.

I chose to win this morning. This is not about winning for the sake of it or parental cruelty or some such nonsense. This was about maintaining the proper order of the home. Parents are the authority over the children and if I let him win through a tantrum or manipulation, he gets the message he won and the next time that ugly monster of the will shows itself, the battle will be bigger, longer, and more tiring.

This morning is that evidence. I have too often not chosen to win and maintain the proper Divine order in my home. Had I chosen to win every time, this battle may not have happened this morning, or it would likely have been much shorter.

Oh the brutal reality of consistency, or rather inconsistency. I am looking to 3, 5, 10, 15 years from now and if I decide that this battle NOW is worth it, I sacrifice fleshly convenience for the sake of having a happy-hearted, inwardly obedient (not just externally), confident, and secure child into the teen years+. I want to win his heart biblically, not in a worldly way or what satisfies my personal comfort zone. I want all my kids' hearts to be won over in love, Biblical love, that they would look unto Jesus and be won over in love for Him.

Welcome to my morning, my challenges, my goals and my delight. They are worth it!

Now to make a cup of french press :)

Boxy Pouch fun

2011-06-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

As a follow-up post to the previous one about the tote bag, I also whipped up a few of these little boxy pouches. They are super easy. It was my first attempt with using zippers - of which I was formerly afraid of using - but discovered it's a cinch. I used THIS tutorial.

After making three of the pouches (which were given away at the mom's gathering) I got smarter and used some ribbon on each side of the zipper for easier opening/closing. Dan thought they were cool and so I revamped the size and made one for him as a pencil pouch and then two others with some scrap fabric for the kids to put little toys in.

Tonight I have planned to put together an apron which was a small piece of "business" that I got from the sewing things I made for the mom's gathering. Cool. If this were to become something I do regularly for $, it would certainly have to be scheduled into my 'normal' routine of life. I love sewing, but I can be one of those people who set their minds to doing something and go at it, perhaps to the neglect of other things.

*and contrary to what it may look like, the blue pouch is not a bunch of bugs, they are owls - hoot.

Excellent Devotional Clip

2011-05-27T11:05:00.000-05:00

If you watch the prayer room, you can also watch archives. There is a tab on the top of the archive screen with 'highlights'. They are that, and most are excellent. But there is this one 45-min clip with Matt Gilman.... {gather the tissues now} I cry probably every time. It's just a great devo clip to usher you into the Presence.

I would embed the video if I could, but here's the LINK to watch for yourself. It may take a minute to load the player.

If you look at the other highlights on the page, one of the top ones is Misty Edwards/Rachel Faagutu. Rachel is a friend of mine, her and her husband Uelese are Hawaiian. In this set, they are singing through the Song of Solomon in Hawaiian for some of it. It's very tender and beautiful.

Wouldn't you want to win this...

2011-05-25T14:16:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow night is the last night of the IHOP Mom's Gatherings until the Fall. Following suit with last year, they are having a big giveaway night and other fun things to honor the moms.

I got the itch last minute to sew something. This was for two reasons.
#1: bless someone with a cool item.

#2: my current sewing machine has a timing problem after a mishap while sewing some aprons for Christmas gifts and I recently got a basically brand new, and better, machine on Craigslist for cheaper than what it would have cost to get mine fixed. Excellent.

So, what better reasons to whip something up?

At first I thought maybe about doing a nursing cover or some soft baby blanket. But then decided to diversify since there are not just new or expectant moms. I thought aprons, but after the Christmas whirlwind of doing them I passed on that.

So I landed with a purse/bag. I was in the mood for something un-plain. You can find great free tutorials online for bags. Most are your plain old tote bag and several are cute purses. I knew I didn't want a plain tote so I searched.

In addition to some great blog finds and websites with lots of cool tutorials, I wound up finding a way awesome bag.

Thank you, Warehouse Fabrics Inc. for your GREAT tutorial. HERE

Pleated Bag/Purse - big enough for moms, but not toooo big.

A close-up of the fabric.
Side note: this was my first encounter using fusible fleece (easy) and piping (the teal cord you see - more difficult, but zipper foot helped a lot).

The inside: with magnetic snap closure and a couple pockets.

I am tempted to keep it, but I can always make another one.

On My Mind...

2011-05-02T09:21:00.000-05:00

I will post a long story to follow up this statement very soon: We are planning on moving to California.

This has been in the works since last November, but really geared up in preparing since March. Basically it boils down to selling our house. We are contending for God to break in and pay it off, but that's another story too.

I was thinking about this one song, and remembered it comes from the movie Fireproof. I LOVE that movie! Two reasons to post today - I am waiting patiently on the Lord for our house to sell in His perfect timing. And since the song happened to be from Fireproof, it makes me think about how much I love my husband and that we just celebrated our 5 year anniversary on Friday.

All that we do we desire it to be for His glory! Even while we're waiting!

Made me laugh so...

2011-04-06T20:01:00.000-05:00

...I thought I'd repost it.
****

Random Thoughts of the Day

More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

There is a great need for sarcasm font.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent an aggressive driver from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from; this shouldn't be a problem....

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

When I meet a new person, I'm terrified of mentioning something they haven’t already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

I wonder if cops ever get annoyed at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

This one scene...

2011-04-05T13:25:00.000-05:00

A little while back Dan and I had a free rental for Red Box. We rarely watch movies and are typically pretty particular. But we heard that the animated movie Despicable Me was pretty okay. So we picked it up and gave it a go. It was cute, I have to admit it, but there is this one scene :)

That one scene had my husband instantly laughing so hard he was crying. I love it when that happens - because it is RARE. Anyway, the main character is a villain who is trying to steal the moon to be the biggest and best villain ever. He adopts these three orphan girls to help him get a shrink-ray gun from the next best villain. He initially doesn't like the girls but by the end they win him over and he's a softie. That is the most basic plot explanation.

So the scene is a bedtime story. And the part where Dan loses it is when he says, "Wow, this is garbage..." And so, that line has become kind of our tagline around here for our major spring cleaning episode, if you can call it that.

Here is the clip:

And just for fun.... because it's so fluffy.

Growing little green things!!

2011-03-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

OH SO EXCITING!!

SPROUTS!

I personally grew up on occasion having sprouts on my salads or sandwiches. When we hit up the salad bar somewhere, it was my favorite thing to put sprouts on my salad. Either my family didn't buy them much when I was growing up because we didn't frequent the use of salads or just because they were so seemingly expensive for this little plastic carton of green grassy-looking deliciousness.

Anyway, I have known for a while that you can sprout your own... sprouts, but I haven't given it a go until this last week.

What do I have to say?? WOO HOO!! I seriously love those little living greens and they are at my disposal for a fraction of the cost of those containers from the store.

It is also extremely easy and non-labor intensive. You can buy some sprouting systems and so forth, but I don't currently own any and it's not even really necessary.

I just put a tablespoon of alfalfa seeds into a quart mason jar. I used one of the metal ring lids and cut some of that plastic mesh craft stuff (like when you would practice sewing as a kid) to fit. Then you soak the seeds for 10-12 hours and rinse them off. The holes of the mesh stuff are a bit big, so I lost some of my seeds the first day or two, but not too many. Rinse them two or three times a day and let them just grow and grow until your desired length.

Today mine were long enough I couldn't wait any more and so I used some on a sandwich. Cheddar, hard salami, avocado and sprouts - delicious! It tasted good and made my lunch time happier - something about those little squiggly things!

However, Lewis did NOT think they tasted so good all by themselves :) I can't blame him, weird texture in your mouth if you don't know what it is - kind of like grass?

I have some mung beans sprouting too so we'll have some sprouted up salads around here, and some stir fry too!

Growing up.

2011-03-24T20:27:00.000-05:00

Wow, our boys are growing up! On many levels of course this is true, but sometimes I sit back and look at those darlings and wonder how they got so big. A mother's dilemma I suppose. The most recent thing is my dear Lewis. He is adventure boy to the max (at least max compared to Caleb). We started to transition him to a big boy bed in Caleb's room and a couple nights went ok, minus a few getting up in the middle of the night ordeals. But one night after laying him down it was like the bed was no big deal and up out of it he got.... um, probably 15 times. He ended up in the crib :)

But today, he came out of his room this morning - from his crib. Then three other times today at various points. He knows how to get out of the crib. Ahhh but mamas are smart. I told him to get out while I was watching. Lo and behold, he is using the changing table as leverage. Solution: move changing table. Result: He falls out and cries, but is ok, and then doesn't try again.

Looks like the big boy bed transition is inevitable very soon. How do I reign in the wild one and not go nutty with bed time routine? As long as I remember to laugh, then it'll be fine.

On another note: YAY we are having a baby girl! Due August 1st. What shall I do with the prospect of dollies and more pink than I can handle? It'll be fun though. Maybe the Lord will grace me with a fiery lover of God in a tender, obedient, and QUIET girl. The decibel level around here could go down a few notches I think. :)

I am rambling I suppose - but I loves me my kidlets.

Awesome Aurora Borealis Video

2011-03-24T10:35:00.001-05:00

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Going "Green"... I guess.

2011-03-10T16:37:00.004-06:00

Yes. Beloved Baking Soda.

As well as:
Together they create the dynamic duo of shampoo and conditioner. As well as a body wash and face wash. (Aside from all the other normal household uses they provide.)

Maybe two weeks ago now I took the "No Poo" plunge. For many reasons I decided to try it. One being, no more nasty chemicals on my scalp. Another being the cost effectiveness - crazy! The other being if we have some kind of major economic crash or some other catastrophe I will have plenty of the stuff to go around and not worry about not having my 'products.'

So basically when I'm in the shower, I take the baking soda and rub it into my scalp all over. Not so much on the overall hair, but the roots primarily, because it is a de-greaser and you don't want to dry out your hair too much.

Once you get over the fact that it doesn't foam up and feels a little gritty, it's not bad. Just because it feels different doesn't mean the hair isn't clean. Ok, then you wash it out.

Then I take about an ounce of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and dilute it in an 8oz bottle with warm shower water. Then I rinse it through my hair, let it set while I wash my body, and rinse it out. You may think the vinegar smell would remain but it doesn't, particularly once your hair is dry.

I was VERY skeptical about the ACV as a conditioner because the first time I used it, it didn't have the smooth silky feeling in my hair and I figured I'd be left with tangles innumerable. SURPRISE!! The feeling was totally deceptive. I could brush through my hair like it was regular ol' conditioner. Sweet. I think I was equally surprised the next time I did it because it still was the same ease of brushing.

The nice thing is, since I started doing this, I have washed my hair about every three or four days. I guess there is an acclimation period for people with this transition. Your hair freaks out for not having the chemicals I guess. I haven't experienced that. But if you use too much ACV, it can make your hair look greasy. Trial and error on the amounts I suppose.

And sorry Mary Kay, but the baking soda is a superior face wash, followed up by a light moisturizing of coconut oil. Anyone want to buy the rest of my Mary Kay? :)

I also have tried the baking soda as a body wash/scrub. Again no foam, but I feel clean. I may use a bar of soap in delicate areas followed by the baking soda and perhaps a rinse of the vinegar. Fresh and clean followed by a 'lotion' of coconut oil all over.

I feel natural - but not stinky in any way. Woo hoo! If only Sam's Club carried ACV, then I'd be set.

So don't be scared - take the plunge!

Two Giveaway's I Hope I Win!!

2011-02-22T13:45:00.002-06:00

Both come from the Kitchen Stewardship blog. It's a good REAL food blog and both giveaways are something I would love to get. Here's hoping huh?!

Nutrimill Grain Mill Giveaway

and

Get Cultured cultured food ecourse

I would actually really LOVE this Grain Mill (Value Package A
GrainMaker^® & Custom Clamp) b/c it's a hand mill, but it's pricey! Maybe sometime soon (like before March 15th before the price goes up!)! Anyone want to get me one, ha! But if I can win the one above, that'd suffice until the power goes out for weeks on end.

Jury Duty

2011-02-16T13:05:00.002-06:00

(So much for blogging regularly :/ )

Well, on my birthday I received the gift of having to appear for jury duty on Valentine's Day. Lotsa love from the government.

It was my first summons, and an interesting experience. They accidentally had way more people show up than is normal. The whole jury waiting room was full + some, as was the hallway outside it, plus a little more. I ended up sitting on a hallway bench between two heavyset women. Not a big deal but one had a less than desirable smell wafting and was falling asleep and thus leaning over onto.... me. I leaned forward.

I wasn't really bugged at all by having to be there, but let me tell you..... A LOT of people were very vocal about their disgust/distaste/hatred/*expletives* for having to be there. I have heard stories before, but to see it firsthand was quite another experience. Some people were just bummed, others irritated, and others nearly irate at times. All of which made me grieve so much over the need for them to know Christ. (Not that Christians don't complain ever, but we need Jesus to help us too)

So, I showed up seeing all the people and thought it was going to be pretty easy to get dismissed. Well, I was in the first panel of 45 chosen to be sifted into a jury for a civil case. We get in the courtroom and the attorneys ask the whole room questions to eliminate those who simply would not make good jurors.

What was their first question: Is there any reason why any of you don't want to be here today? Um, that's silly. But I sympathized with the mom of four/business owner whose kids were home with the flu. She didn't have to stay. There was not a question to be found that gave me a good reason to answer, thus bettering my chances of leaving.

Down to the final 30-minute wait to find out who the 13 chosen would be. (I know there are 12 jurors, but they pick extra) Well, I was chosen.

Thus, we went home for the day to return in the morning. The case was a small cafe owner being sued by the plaintiff who gave the owner $10,000 to say she was intentional about buying the business. The sticky part is, there is absolutely no paperwork besides a bank statement that shows the transaction happened. So, since the plaintiff decided she no longer wanted to buy, and the defendant did not return the money: enter lawsuit.

The attorney's were...interesting. And the case... unnecessary if there would be some smarts involved and some common decency. The outcome? We all went home at the end of yesterday because the plaintiff sued the defendant personally, and not the actual corporation which she had the issues with. The judge told them to go home and the plaintiff could refile if it is still within the time limit allowed and we all got to go home too.

In retrospect, it was a good experience and I'm just glad I wasn't chosen to be on the case that was expected to last 2 weeks.

December Photo Album

2011-01-24T08:50:00.000-06:00

December 2010

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T09:43:00.002-06:00

I am excited about the new year. There is much to look forward to, but for now, I am attempting to get some vision and goals laid out for this year. There are several things swirling around, but I just have to materialize them on paper, and then I'll post them here too. Some include spiritual vision things, also for my marriage, for my children, the home, and the food (REAL food i.e. Nourishing Traditions book) which I am way excited about.

One week from today, I turn 28. Wow, how did that happen? I'm not old, but I'm no teenager anymore. But I'm glad I am not younger, those teenage years were unkind to me and I sure thought I had life figured out. Ha! Then I became a 'grown-up' with a husband and a couple kids. I want to be young at heart, but the older I get the less I know, and the more I hunger for Jesus. It feels good actually.

So, welcome 2011 and I expect good things from you.

Advent

2010-11-30T10:37:00.002-06:00

Well, as much as I apologize almost every post for not blogging more, it seems I am still not blogging more :)

I am excited this year for Advent. We never celebrated it growing up, neither Dan or I, with the exception of one year I remember getting an advent calendar that each day you opened a flap had some new pair of cheapy earrings. I actually still have some of them!

So we are desiring to focus on Advent as a family this year and in years following. We are doing some Advent Scripture readings each day, that focus on His first coming and His second coming too. It has been good so far, especially just to focus on Him and not the week before Christmas or something.

For the kids..and us too.. we made a Jesse Tree. It's neat because you make a "tree" out of whatever you want, or get a branch or something. Every day there is a new verse(s) you read then the kids get to put a new ornament with a verse appropriate picture on it. If you've never heard of it, just Google it to find out more.

I had purchased posterboard and then had Caleb and Lewis get brown, then green paint on their hands and used handprints to make an evergreen tree. Lewis helped for one row of green, then he didn't like it anymore. I had to think of an idea for a 'tree' that we could travel with since we'll be in MN and town-to-town for the couple weeks before. This should work pretty good this year. And we can switch things up next year if we want to.

From the 10th of Dec through the new year, we will be quite busy traveling for the holidays, so you may not hear from me too much (not that it's anything new:) )

End of Sept/Oct/Nov Album

2010-11-15T15:18:00.001-06:00

Album highlights: camping, sewing, and brief time in MN

End of Sept/Oct/Nov

Aug/Sept 2010 Album

2010-09-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

Aug/Sept 2010

CA recap

2010-09-13T13:29:00.002-05:00

I find that sometimes I get caught up in reading blogs, I forget to write on my own, or I don't for lack of coherent thoughts of things to say.

However, blog I will.

We have been busy around here. Most recently, we took a trip to California for five days.

Our primary purpose in going was for TheCall Sacramento. It was a powerful time and I am so glad we went. It's amazing how the Lord has knit us to TheCall in too many ways that it would take a long time to explain. We wholeheartedly believe in the mandate that God has given Lou Engle during this season for TheCall and we are honored to partner with the vision, which is the Lord's.

photos from the sacramento bee paper

Then we took a flight down to Brea/Fullerton area in Northern Orange County to visit some dear friends who are planting a house of prayer there. We had an awesome time visiting them and also going on a little prophetic journey of our own. We went up into L.A. and stopped at some of the sites of the Azusa revival.
We went to the Bonnie Brae house where it started (which also has Kathryn Kuhlman's pulpit in it), to the site of the former Azusa Street warehouse where the revival was held for several years, and also to William Seymour's grave (one of the men God used mightily for the outpouring). We also went to Angelus Temple (we had been there before in 2003) where Aimee Semple McPherson preached and founded the FourSquare Church.
That may sound bland in writing to some, but much happened in the Spirit and I won't go into that detail here.

On the last day, our friends took us down to Corona Del Mar where Lonnie Frisbee (a key figure in the Jesus Movement, even though he fell into sin but later repented) baptized thousands in the ocean there. Lonnie was very influential in the Jesus movement. The picture of TheCall poster above has a girl standing in water, which was at the same cove. Below is a pic of Lonnie baptizing.

We are back in action here in KC, and continuing to press in for all the Lord wants to do. We are blessed to have gone to CA and would have loved more time there if we could have had it. Bless you FireHouse of Prayer and our dear friends.

Lewis' first steps

2010-08-06T10:03:00.003-05:00

Lewis took his first steps on Monday, the 1st of August. We took this video yesterday the 5th. It won't be long now, and boy is he ready to MOVE!

June/July Album

2010-08-05T20:22:00.001-05:00

Uploaded a new album from our summer.

June/July 2010

Back in the Swing of Things

2010-08-02T15:17:00.003-05:00

Well, we have been back from Minnesota for about a week. We have been trying to get caught up on things around here and prepare for Dan to re-enter IHOP as a full-time staff member. We diligently sought the Lord about the season that is upon us and for now, we remain here at IHOP prepared to give ourselves fully to what the Lord wants to do here and in us. People have asked us often of what's after IHOP, and though we know the general mandate on our lives, we don't know the specific assignment. But what we do know is we are listening and waiting and continuing to give ourselves wholeheartedly in the present time until. Whenever the Lord tells us to 'GO' we will do so, but there have been no clear green lights and why would we move without Him anyway? :)

So, Dan will be plugging away full time with IHOPU. He will be a Discipleship Coordinator and doing application reviews and some other stuff too that I don't know fully at the moment. That's primary, and he's really excited about it which I am so thankful for. He feels like this is his 'fit' right now until the Lord speaks otherwise and I am glad that the Lord is really lining us up for what He has for us. I am also thankful for how I can see that the Lord is going to use this time for Dan to shape and form areas of his skills and heart.

I am thankful too for the gift of being home with my children. They are, aside from Dan, the highest calling I have in ministry right now. Of course the Lord is doing things always on multi-levels and on many topics, but my home is my haven and my job and I am eternally grateful to the Lord for this time.

We both have so much anticipation for what the Lord is going to do in this next period of time, both personally and in ministry. God is Good!

MN

2010-07-20T15:59:00.002-05:00

No, my absence from the blog world was not intentional, but as a mother amongst our travels to MN, well, blogging is just not happening.

However, we are here and we are in Minnesota visiting friends, family, and asking God to release finances to us as we seek to raise more partners for our support team.

It has been so busy, and I think we need a vacation :) But this has been great for all it has held and we hope for all that it will hold during this last week.

Pray for us that we would be at rest and peace in the midst of working diligently to make contact with prospective partners.

See you back in a week or two, unless I am inspired sooner.

Wild vs. wise women

2010-06-05T14:24:00.003-05:00

I found this on someone's old blog and thought it was awesome and totally true!

21 points of contrast between "wild" women and "wise" women as laid out based on Biblical truths.

#1 Perspective:
Wild women are pre-occupied with outward appearance.
Wise women consider physical appearance secondary to spiritual condition.

#2 Modesty:
Wild women flaunt their bodies.
Wise women dress modestly.

#3 Feminity:
Wild women dress masculinely or sloppily.
Wise women dress femininely.

#4 Body Language:
Wild women are flirtatious, forward, suggestive, and shameless.
Wise women guard their dignity and do not use deceptive charm.

#5 Time & Energy
Wild women hang where she might attract men and lurk for prey.
Wise women are busy with their personal mission and are not concerned with catching men.

#6 Pursuit:
Wild women are aggressors in relationships.
Wise women win men over with pure, holy behavior.

#7 Propriety:
Wild women put themselves in potentially compromising situations.
Wise women stay away from potentially compromising situations.

#8 Influence:
Wild women are manipulative and scheming.
Wise women avoid trickery, craftiness, and manipulation.

#9 Speech Habits
Wild women use smooth talk, flattery, seduction, and gossip.
Wise women are judicious and wise with their words.

#10 Prominence:
Wild women are self-absorbed and clamor for attention.
Wise women are others-focused and happy to serve.

#11 Disposition:
Wild women are demanding, controlling, and demand their own way.
Wise women have a gentle disposition that defers to others.

#12 Honor:
Wild women are defiant, independent, rebellious, and resist following.
Wise women affirm, receive, and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men.

#13 Priorities:
Wild women despise their responsibilities.
Wise women have Godly priorities and joyfully fulfill their responsibilities.

#14 Contentment:
Wild women are discontented and always seek new thrills.
Wise women are contented and confident in God’s plan and provision.

#15 Desire:
Wild women think romance will satisfy their deepest heart longing.
Wise women understand that Christ is their “first pledge”.

#16 Morality:
Wild women compromise standards and justify sin.
Wise women keep themselves for marriage, and guard the purity and sacredness of the marriage bed.

#17 Sexuality:
Wild women use sex as a weapon or for self-gratification.
Wise women enjoy and invite sex, understanding it as an expression of profound spiritual truth.

#18 Values:
Wild women have adopted wordly values.
Wise women value what God values.

#19 Edification:
Wild women bash, destroy, and discard men.
Wise women respect and honor men in their attitude, speech, and behavior.

#20 Commitment:
Wild women can’t sustain relationships.
Wise women honor their commitments.

#21 Heart for God:
Wild women wear a mask of pseudo-religiosity.
Wise women have a relationship with God that makes a difference in the ways they relate to men.

Preparing..pt 2

2010-06-05T13:52:00.003-05:00

For my first post, click HERE.

After writing out the last post on preparing for marriage, I had a brief phone conversation with my mother-in-law about the topic, intermixed with wild screams while trying to bathe the boys. She is always so gracious to compliment the things I write about, but this time I got thinking about something she mentioned. How exactly would you go about telling this stuff to a single, or engaged young woman?

If coming from your mother, it may seem ok if you had a mom teaching you this stuff (however, in that case you may not need to hear it because it would already be normal). If coming from a future mother-in-law it could come off as meddling, or trying to make you like her, or any number of things.
If coming from an older woman who is just asking a young woman about her preparedness, or even offering up suggestions, that may come off as poking at her faults. Because let's face it, most young women are already so concerned about if they are good enough in 3 million different areas that don't even matter, so to bring up even a pure-hearted suggestion or comment may be received in a variety of different ways.
I know there are tons of angles to this and the above are merely some possibilities. So how do you teach the young women if that is not the norm for them? How do the older women begin teaching the young women? And not just the ones who are coming to the Bible study or sign up for the group that is advertising for older teaching younger.

If you have a group of young ladies in a Bible study, you have a guest speaker and start a series on preparing for example. Or if you are here like at IHOPU, you could separate the guys from the girls and again, possibly have a teaching series and then break up the groups of young women and partner them with young mom's doing the stuff or more seasoned moms so they can learn. Those to me are easy answers, but that's not really happening very much to my knowledge.

But what about the other young ladies? How do you reach them and begin to teach them if there is no predetermined, easy "in"? And how do you do it without coming off as proud, trying to point out faults, or attacking them, even if your tone is loving? To that, I am not quite sure. Toss them a book about it? Perhaps, but there are any number of older women just sitting around in the church circles with a bunch of women just their age having Bible studies and fellowship that could be connecting with them.

What we have here is a breach between the age groups, that must be bridged. It is older women thinking they have nothing to offer possibly because they feel they failed, or possibly because they think these young people have it more together and don't want to hear it, or other reasons. And you have young women who have grown up in the wake of feminism and a throwing off of traditional family values who may not even know they need to be taught Biblically, and then there are others who think they don't need to hear what the older ones have to say...or some other reasons for them too. Neither one thinks they need the other, or they think they do and don't know how to get there, or whatever. It's a quandary.

The one thing I can see is that there is "nothing new under the sun" and this has happened since Eve. Relationships are always attacked and so is marriage and family because the devil hates them. But I do know the Lord is redeeming it and there are those out there who are forerunners in the midst of all the 'confusion'. The older ones have held the line and passed it on, and the young ones have clung hard to Truth even in the midst of such a breakdown in this day and age.

I don't have the answers for all of this, but I will keep posting on preparedness in the next few posts despite no knowing how to bridge the age gap or reach the young ones who need to learn or the older ones who need to share. God cares so much for marriage, family, and community that He is redeeming all of these things as more and more women grab Truth and don't let go.

New pics.

2010-06-02T16:49:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the delay. I had these up a while ago, but forgot to add the link here.

April/May 2010

Who cares...

2010-06-02T16:48:00.001-05:00

The most exciting thing the news headline has to offer is that the former President Bush has gotten a Facebook account. Wooo hoo. Yet another reason why the news is not worth my time.

Preparing for marriage/motherhood

2010-05-18T21:47:00.003-05:00

Over the last several months, I have sporadically had thoughts about what it means to prepare for being married or being a mother for those single women out there who have one or both of those in their sights.

When I say sporadic, I do mean very irregularly, so this post is more of a get it out there thing. It's going to be raw. That said, here I go.

If someone had asked me as a single woman, or even as one in a relationship, how I was preparing to be a wife or mother, I think my eyes would have glazed over and I would have wondered what on earth they meant.

Now that I am in the season of 'wifehood' and motherhood, having had to learn (and continue to learn) what it means to fill both of those roles in a Biblical way, I SO wish someone would have CLUED ME IN when I was filling neither role.

Aside from some premarital sessions before getting married, nobody was talking about what it meant to fill the godly position of being a wife. Or if I heard comments by women about being married, they always had this little bit of a sarcastic tone to them that, to my ignorant mind, came off as a deeper level of woundedness or dissatisfaction with their own marriage. Yuck!

Finding myself later in love with a handsome man :) I still didn't know you should prepare for marriage... we just love each other right? Maybe people in my former church were talking about preparing for marriage to the single ones, but it certainly wasn't to me. Some of these things were totally easy, others harder. Mainly I am seeing a lack of preparedness in some young women I see and think they would benefit from, well, preparing.

Spiritual/relational matters are not even what I am talking about. That could be a post all on its own. I am talking practicals here. Maybe some of these things are normal for some young women and they just need to know it's not only for themselves, but UNTO being a helpmeet to a man later on...that's pretty easy. For others, a BIG switch.

I will list a few things that come to mind, even at the risk of sounding a bit 50's housewife-ish. Overall I am thinking about Titus 2:4-5 Biblical Womanhood.

*cleanliness. Take a shower. :) Seriously though, do you keep a clean living space? If tidy-ness and order do not characterize your life, will they suddenly be part of it when you get married and it's your job to be the keeper of the home? Not likely. Practice learning how to keep your space neat and tidy, and learn how to clean. ...regularly. It really matters, not just for you, but your man will appreciate it.

*learn to cook. Unless you marry a chef, you will be primarily responsible for nourishing your family. I am not talking gourmet, but at least two weeks worth of different, easy, healthful dinners to get started would be helpful. We're all guilty of serving up the box of mac and cheese, but we all know the nutrition is about as good as eating some cardboard.

*time management. You have to be a planner. This is a tough one unless you are naturally inclined to be amazingly self-disciplined. I know this ebbs and flows for me, especially if I lose sight of the vision for why I am doing this. But really, that healthful meal will be on the table if what's for dinner is not the question asked ten minutes beforehand.

We are called to serve others, and when you are married, the first one is your husband. The above things make a difference!

I know there are more, but it's getting late and my brain is tiring. I will write more on this and the mothering side of this soon.

All of us come with our strengths and weaknesses, I have my fair share of flaws like the next person. But I do know that if someone had talked to me about getting vision for what it means to be a wife, both spiritually/relationally and practically when I wasn't one, it would have helped me from having to figure this out in the crash course of hands on experience. If what you want is not what you are, it won't happen when you say "I do". That's where vision comes in, it helps you start doing those things now to prepare for then. (These are all spiritual principles that carry over into this, as you may have figured.)

Write the vision and make it plain! Hab 2:2

to be continued...

The potty, and love...not related

2010-05-04T20:24:00.004-05:00

My previous post was primarily dedicated to potty training. Delightful, right? Well, to update in case you were on the edge of your seat for more info, Caleb is doing awesome! Accidents are very few and far between if we make sure to remind him often enough. He is dry waking up from naps too. However, going #2 is a bit of a challenge. He's about 50/50 right now. I figure that's pretty good since we're only beginning. I just have to make sure and catch him right at the prefect time before sitting on the potty. This is an art I tell ya!

Last week, April 29th, was our 4th anniversary. Married four years already! It has been an utter delight to be married to my husband. He is the perfect match for me and I see the beauty and majesty of God when I sit and reflect on the gift I have been given in him. The reasons I love him are many of course, but right now the thing I most admire and cherish about him is how he has grown and matured in his love for God in the last few years. Truly the difference is amazing, and he is more in love with Jesus than ever. We both have changed so much. But I am honored to submit to this man and his leadership of our home. His life in God is provoking and I love that I get to run alongside him in this journey. Love you babe!

We didn't have major plans the night of our anniversary because of busyness and such, and we went out last minute that day. We went to Chipotle. Romantic? Well, it was neat because we got to the cashier and she asked if we wanted chips or soda and I casually replied, "not unless it's free because it's our anniversary. If not, then just water please." She hands the water glasses over and then proceeds to step in the back. A few moments later, she comes and exchanges our water cups for soda cups and then the manager come out. He said that the meal was on them because of our anniversary. Score!! Free dinner and then he later comes over and gives us a coupon card for a buy one get one free burrito next time we come in. How cool! Afterward we went to the Awakening service.

Lest Chipotle be too dull for an anniversary, we did go out again on Sunday evening. We spiced things up with a game of bowling...very overpriced bowling :( I won. 123. Pretty good for not bowling in over 4 years. After bowling we went to the Cheesecake Factory and had dessert. It was a delightful time.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Pee pee pee and more pee

2010-04-16T19:44:00.002-05:00

That's right folks. Potty training is the name of the game the last two days. You know, it's funny how I have barely begun, feel like it's been going on forever, and feel that it will most likely never end! Probably because it takes all my energy to remind Caleb to try and go potty every 15 minutes or I am cleaning up a puddle; all on top of the normal routine of two kids. I doubt I will ever leave the house again...haha, not true but it feels like it. At least his little buns look so cute in those undies :)

For a reprieve from discussing bodily fluids, we have had an amazing month!

After weeks of praying for God to open a door for our family to go to Boston for the last week of the 40-day fast, He did it. We were able to drive out there as a family, got to know some awesome people, got stretched doing hours of evangelism, and poured our hearts out in prayer for God to mightily break in with a Third Great Awakening. We were totally tired, but it was completely worth it! We will elaborate on our trip in our next newsletter.

Lewis started crawling while we were in Boston. We anticipated it, but boy is he cute! Sometimes he only uses his arms and looks like a little seal. Of course the crawling brings about the training. He has been so good already responding to our commands of 'no touch'. He looks up, smiles, and turns away to do something else. Oh Lord, let it be so easy as the days continue to go by!

My heart right now is full of hunger for God. Something happened on our trip to Boston, and/or during the 40-day fast that I couldn't see or really feel until now after it is over. I am feeling very hyper-sensitive to things that are not feeding my spirit. I have had very high convictions anyway, but this is unique for me. I am desiring such a purity and holiness. I know it is different for everyone, so I don't really want to elaborate on what I am feeling specifically but OH THERE IS A SUPERIOR PLEASURE TO ANY THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER..... FOR REAL.

A heart full yet so hungry for God combined with the *joy* of potty training :) Such is the life of a mother!

As promised, prophetic history notes on New England

2010-03-15T10:08:00.003-05:00

For those of you who do not receive our newsletter, we talked about the 40-day fast going on for God to break in in New England. There are many reasons why God is highlighting this region right now.

Here is a link to view our newsletter in Google Docs. It looks a little funny since it downsized our file, but you can read it anyway.

And below you can see four pages of prophetic history notes on why New England, why now? These are notes that Dan got in a practicum, so there are gaps where Dean Briggs talked about them, but you can get the idea. I also uploaded them to Google Docs, which you can find HERE if you prefer.

Click on each image below to make it bigger.

See these links for more information:

JHOP-Boston

IHOPU Boston Blog

Overdue for the photo album

2010-02-23T14:32:00.001-06:00

Old Summer pics/Onething/Jan-Feb 2010

Tebow

2010-02-04T12:48:00.003-06:00

I am not a football fan, but I like eating food with friends, so I will participate in the Super Bowl festivities. I would rather not see all the ads for beer, but I will stay around to watch an ad put out by Focus on the Family surrounding the player Tim Tebow. You can 'google' for yourself about this if you haven't heard about the 'controversy' surrounding this pending ad, but right now I am going to link to a Washington Post article written by a pro-choice woman.

The reason I like this article is because she represents a pro-choice stand, but is laying down some common sense that I wish some more pro-choice-ers would get.

The Article

FIRE

2010-01-27T12:56:00.002-06:00

I am currently reading:

It is stories of the youth from Azusa (as you can see from the book cover). To really sum it up. I am utterly provoked for more of God. The 'more' that comes from the revival I haven't seen yet with my eyes but know is coming and greater than that of Azusa and the 50's. Oh that we would have the kind of anointing that would cast out sickness and disease with a word.

We have the anointing in us, it's the Holy Spirit, but oh how we lack the power. I believe there are lots of reasons for that, but right now, I am going to just say that I am hungry for that of Azusa. I know the greater is coming, but right now, Azusa would be glory compared to what there isn't currently.

The Awakening here at IHOP is a great blessing and so many are being healed and delivered. I don't want to despise the days before the Awakening or now. It's the day of small beginnings that we are entrusted with so the Lord can give us the 'much'. Azusa started with people praying for revival, and here we are, contending for the same thing. Let this Awakening truly become a move of God that creates in us and those who are tuning in on the Webstream a place where the manifest Presence of God can dwell.

I will close now with an excerpt from the book: (p.92-93)

"A woman came into the meeting holding a staff. She could hardly breathe and looked like a skeleton. She only lived about two miles from Azusa and had started walking to Azusa about three in the afternoon but didn't reach Azusa until six in the evening. She literally took one baby step at a time, placing the staff in front of her then scooting her feet up to it and repeating the slow, tedious process until she reached the revival meeting. That evening at the Azusa, this woman was determined to get healed. She came in, and looked around as if she were studying the room. At some point, her eyes met Laura's (age 16) and she said, 'That's the woman I want to pray for me,' pointing to Sister Laura.

Sister Laura walked over to her and said, "Mother, what can I do for you?"

The next words the lady spoke were almost haunting. "I won't live through the night if God doesn't heal me; I'll die. Doctors say my lungs are ate up with cancer, and I can hardly breathe. I've been losing weight for about a year."

This dear, feeble, elderly woman weighed about 65 pounds, standing at about five fee, six inches tall. She was nothing but bones. Sister Laura laid hands on her and prayed for her. Immediately, she was able to breathe normally. In the next three hours she would gain about 40 pounds while at the meting, yet she ate nothing and only breathed in the Shekinah Glory. She said, "My lungs are not hurting; I can breathe like when I was young!"

... But that's not the end of the story. This lady went to her doctor -Thomas White, who later founded Wings of Healing. When she went to his office, he asked her if she had filled out the forms that first-time patients had to fill out- he did not recognize her. When she told him who she was, he could not believe she was the same person.

After running some tests and checking her out, he told her that her insides were just like new - lungs and all. In amazement, he told her, "There is no way you could have gained that much weight back since the last time I saw you. It is impossible!"

She boldly replied, "I know I couldn't, but God could."

The doctor exclaimed, "You're going down to that warehouse aren't you?"

After attending the revival with her, in a few months, he was no longer practicing traditional medicine! He founded Wings of Healing where he experienced miracles galore. ...."

Blog Updated

2010-01-09T21:51:00.002-06:00

I have made some changes to the look of the blog. The background is new as are the few pictures on the right sidebar.

However, I wanted to draw your attention to a new feature. I have added a PayPal button on the right sidebar as well so you have the option to donate to us and our ministry if you so desire. The gifts on paypal are not tax deductible though.

The address for a tax-deductible gift is listed below it.

Thanks for following me/us and our journey at the International House of Prayer. Your support is so encouraging!

Winter 2009 photo album

2010-01-07T15:13:00.001-06:00

Lewis 2009

Caleb 2007

click to view album (also on Facebook -w/captions)

Winter 2009

Stir yourself up!

2010-01-06T12:38:00.002-06:00

At the moment I am thinking about reality. Profound huh? What I mean is, the reality of what we are really created for and how we live so far short of what we are made for.

The living God, Holy Spirit, who bears witness of the Godhead lives within us and we are sitting around wasting our lives on things that don't really matter, and won't likely bear fruit in eternity. It's not some novel idea that we are made for a purpose in God and that everything we do matters, its real. The demonic realm is real, the heavenly realm is real and here we are, often stuck in the 'natural' completely unaware of anything spiritual, most of the time. There are exceptions of course, but most often we haven't a clue what the Holy Spirit is saying most of the time throughout the day. This goes for people working in the marketplace and those in ministry.

We must stir ourselves up in our most holy faith. We must look at the prophetic words spoken over our lives and those in the Bible of who we are made to be and get excited! What I was thinking about when I started this post was those men and women now and in the past who have had encounters with God. I'm talking about angelic visitations, third heaven experiences, encounters with Jesus, and the like. Now of course we don't take these things as though they were part of the Canon of Scripture in the way of their 'authority' but if each one lines up soundly with Scripture, then be encouraged by them.

So I was just thinking it's about time I picked up a good 'encounter' book and got stirred up for the supernatural possibilities that I am made for. I find this often in the Word, but at times, the encouragement of those, especially today, who have 'gone up' and stories of those messengers who have 'come down' are SO exciting and encouraging.

Some books that I have greatly appreciated:

-any book by Shawn Bolz, but I have read Keys to Heaven's Economy, and Throne Room Company

-Rick Joyner's The Final Quest, The Call, and The Torch and the Sword 'trilogy'

-I know there are others I have read, but can't think of at the moment

Random thoughts

2009-12-29T21:10:00.002-06:00

1. Every time we traveled to and fro over Christmas, bad weather looming, we always had fantastic roads. Praise the Lord!!

2. I am thinking a lot about the family of Derek Loux. To catch you up to speed, read THIS. His wife and ten children, Jesus! Oh how my heart grieves for all of them. There are no words for this and yet His leadership is perfect. Oh Jesus!

3. I want my unsaved family saved.

4. The amount of sugar I am consuming as a result of the RIDICULOUS amount of sugary items that made their way home with us from Christmas-time is bad.

5. When we got home from Christmas after a two week break, we found our fridge/freezer was not working. Stinky rotten meat and so forth. Ick! Kind and inexpensive handyman fixed it this morning. New starter...old one was charred. Handyman said he had never seen that before...hmmm....should I be concerned about that?!

6. Dryer still not working, handyman also checked that out. Not worth fixing. New dryer, gotta get on that.

7. Currently webstreaming the Onething conference (free, live, www.ihop.org folks) and glad to have the kidlets home and in bed and I get to enjoy it peacefully. However, being downtown is great too. Bring out the double stroller!

8. Was at Onething to pray in the healing rooms today. I love seeing people get ministered to by the Lord! Also got a sweet hookup with food b/c my hubs is an IHOPU-er.

9. I am chilly and my down comforter is beckoning me to come soon. Good night blogosphere, until later.

Forgiveness and Bitterness

2009-11-18T10:39:00.005-06:00

I have some thoughts popping about and thought I'd walk some of them through here. I find that blogging gives me a little outlet for tossing stuff out, so it can further develop later on, and at least I have gotten the thoughts going. Ok, on with it...

After praying consistently with people for a couple years, particularly in the healing rooms, and being involved in conversations here and there, I am shocked at the number of Christians dealing with unforgiveness issues. I am talking about people who know they should forgive, but don't think they can or are waiting for some kind of recompense for the original issue or don't even realize it's there. Oh the ways we can be offended and let that thing blossom into unforgiveness and bitterness!

Matthew 6:14-15 says "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Right here we have Jesus saying if you don't forgive people, My Father WILL NOT forgive you either. We have tons of opportunities to be offended and let unforgiveness enter. It's just about how we deal with those offenses. For example, has a family member done something you disagree with or are offended at that you now are bitter and have not forgiven them that offense?

Hebrews 12:14-15 says "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."

A root of bitterness can spring up and cause trouble, and defile you. Bitterness and unforgiveness go hand in hand. As Christians, it is not an option to let those things remain. You just can't. Ok, so someone did something you're offended at; ok, you were legitimately wronged; ok, your feelings got hurt and you feel like you deserved better; ok, you want control and don't want to do it another way.... being bitter and not forgiving feels pretty good right about now.....ok, let me tell you one thing: the Cross of Christ.

The fact that Jesus went to the cross and died is the VERY reason why those offenses cannot be allowed to take root. If we are holding unforgiveness or bitterness against ourselves, God or particularly others, we are saying that we deserve something, that in fact the cross of Christ does not matter or is not good enough for us in this regard.

I do understand though. Our flesh loves those feelings. We feel strong when we hold on to that because it makes us feel like we are getting something we deserve or are keeping our hearts safe from being really hurt and so forth. But you know, Jesus went to the lowest place and served those who wronged Him. We reject Jesus and His sacrifice for all that will ever be done to us when we say no to forgiving, making amends with someone, and letting bitterness grow. We must say that Jesus is enough, and that He is the one who will avenge us (if the wrongs have been legitimate) and lay it at His feet.

Forgiving does not mean forgetting or that the hurt goes right away. It means releasing them to the Lord and letting Him mend the hurt and also move in the other person's life.

That person who did something to hurt you that you won't forgive is desperately in need of your love and forgiveness because that is what Christ would do. Especially if you are a believer and they are not. They MUST see Jesus in us, and the love that He gave us must be demonstrated. If there are 'feuds' going on, how can we expect that person to see the fragrance of Christ leading to life upon us? It's so hard to let go and let Jesus have it... I've been there. But the truth is, in the laying down of our lives and our hearts and accepting the finished work of the cross as enough, and loving our brother (even if they are unbelievers), is the place of greatest freedom. It hurts for a moment to give up control, but it is given to the One who alone deserves it.

The point of this rambling on is that the Cross is sufficient, and by allowing bitterness and unforgiveness to take root, we are despising the cross and saying it is insufficient. That can remain head knowledge unless we take it to prayer regarding those issues and let the Lord touch us and reveal the Truth to our hearts where it will transform us. Really loving God is walking out the Word, and loving others. And we can't love others if we hold those offenses away from the cross.

So let's all examine today if there is bitterness or unforgiveness toward our family members, or friends, spouses or children. If so, we must humble ourselves and give our hearts and their hearts to the Lord and lay it down and ask for forgiveness, and also for the grace to make amends if need be. This is serious business. We aren't talking about gigantic signs and wonders here, but we are talking about the little things that really matter in a believer's life. It's also serious because unless we forgive, we can't be forgiven... the implications of that are intense. Christ bought it all for us at the Cross, let's receive it today.

Gotta go, baby cries.

Overdue Fall Album

2009-11-16T17:30:00.001-06:00

Fall 2009

Also on Facebook, with captions

Insightful

2009-10-29T11:10:00.002-05:00

One of the bloggers I follow put up a link to this Do/Don't list for dealing with a friend or someone who has experienced a miscarriage.

I know it happens to a lot of women and many in our midst here at the HOP, so I thought I'd link it for anyone who is interested.

Miscarriage Do/Don't

Reflections from college...

2009-10-27T14:59:00.003-05:00

... in my Islamic Societies class. As I mentioned in my last post, I actually had intended not to write about what I did, but rather on this class from college. So here I go:

In the midst of all the hub-ub(?) in America about various topics (economy, schools, homosexual agenda, abortion), there is an increase in the Church today on all those issues. We are starting to see more and more deviations from what has for decades been held as Truth. How? Some of the comments I have heard tossed about are to the effect of "how can people get swept up in this and actually believe it's true and that it's ok" and so forth about topics a, b, and c? Which leads me to my class.

I took this class called Islamic Societies so that I could learn a bit more about them. Practically, the class did a great job of informing me about different Islamic societies and their ways of life, but it did much more too. My professor did not practice Islam, but had lived in Iran (I believe) for some years and had traveled back and forth on occasion since then and she know a LOT about Islam. Anyway, when I was immersed in that class for that semester, I was constantly bombarded with all the theology of Islam and the roots of it and the like. However, as I learned more and more, I started to get a little soft on 'Jesus being the only way to Heaven' even though I knew He was. I mean, these Islamic folks are nice and they are devout and they "have a lot in common" with Christianity.

Those were some of my subtle thoughts. Mind you now, it wasn't overt or on the forefront of my mind at all, it was much more faint. It was merely being exposed several times a week to another religion and other "truths" where my heart started getting soft to the hard truth of the Gospel. Islam does not believe in Jesus as the Messiah and the way of salvation thus, they will not go to heaven...period.

What I am trying to convey here, is that we wonder how people in the body of Christ can get so "off" yet still be labeled Christian. There are LOTS of reasons, but I believe one is that they get exposed to some thought or 'new doctrine' that looks good and without searching it out then, get swept up in something that is a misinterpretation or a deviation of the Bible and think it's true. They do not know the Word of God and so they are tossed about by everything.

I considered myself a pretty strong Christian in college when I was taking that class. But somewhere toward the end of that class, I had to sit back and shake myself up and say "hold the phone sister and wake up, you are starting to get off course here". I KNEW Jesus was the only way, but somehow, Islam was ok too or kind of ok or something. Surely God still heard their prayers and they were going to go to Heaven too. Um, sound a little contradictory? I think so.

If the lines can blur on Truth so quickly concerning Islam, I can see how slapping on the label of "Jesus" and the "Bible" can blur the lines of what it really means to follow the Word of God and be a Christian. I mean, we have people who call themselves Christians and deny the deity of Christ? What is the deal with that? Subtle deception over time culminating in blatant heresy, that they don't think is deception or heresy, and then they think everybody else is 'religious' or heretical. Yikes.

We are perhaps in one of the most intense times in human history, but more so, a time when the Body of Christ today does NOT know the Bible. They do not know the Word of God because they read it and memorize it and pray and fast, but they 'know' it because of what is preached on Sundays and maybe a good quiet time here and there. They know more intimately what is happening on the latest sitcom than what's going on in the Word of God they claim is everything to them.

As the end of the age approaches, it is only going to increase. We have to be found firmly rooted and grounded in Him, and that's not just a nice idea, it's life or death, heaven or hell style. We can't rely on how strong we think we are to resist the enemy or deception. I'm preaching to myself here too. Let us be found on our faces in prayer before the Lord, knowing the Holy Spirit, and with our eyes glued to our Bibles instead of the TV or computer screen.

I think it really is that easy...

2009-10-14T11:01:00.002-05:00

Lewis was 3 months old yesterday. It really does go fast. He is a delight and my little sweetie #2. Love him, but that is not the purpose of this blog today.

I have had a lot of random thoughts lately that I have wanted to blog about, but when I try to remember what they were, I can't and so there have been no blogs. But I did remember one thing and will kind of spew my wonderings/thoughts about it.

I got saved in the Fall of 2002, but really 'soundly converted' in January of 2003. So that was the start of my sophomore year of college. It seriously changed my life, and everything about me (particularly in Jan). I lost friends, and the 'old man' lifestyle was instantly old to me. I didn't want to do the same things I did before. I had total distaste for secular music, most tv shows/movies, foul language, and so forth. It was the holiness and righteousness of God that got a hold of me and I knew that those things that had sin/sinful language in them couldn't stand in the face of God. My eye/ear gates were again sensitized to the heart of God after being seared by the world for the majority of my childhood/teen life. This "God thing" was so real and the Cross so in my face that my unsaved friends thought I was nutty I think. But I guess a real encounter with the Cross and the reality of Christ will mess a person up.

As a child, I had conviction of sin and a tenderness to the Holy Spirit, but over time it got cold and without salvation, lots of things happen. I remember too the place i was and who I was with the first time I ever said a swear word, or when I littered my gum wrapper. Stuff I 'knew' was inherently wrong or sinful as a child. It's amazing. It all came rushing back to me that Fall/Winter when I got saved for real. I just told my conversion story to a friend the other week and the goodness of God in that season was again touching my heart. I was lost. I was really lost.

I was an all out sinner. (As if that isn't the case with any unbeliever) But I sometimes look at the condition of old friends (from high school or earlier on facebook) and I wonder about them and when God will save them and if they will turn. I see some of them with the greatest talents and abilities and it is being used for the wrong people/reasons and oh who they could be in Christ. I sometimes wonder if it's possible or how it will be that they could leave all their friends (in part) and give themselves wholly to Christ.

Then I look at my story.

I was lost too, with lost friends. Then it just took one touch of God, one prompting to seek Him out and I was saved and all together different. My current status at the time had nothing to do with what I just encountered. I found Jesus and nothing else mattered, what people thought didn't matter because I found the Truth. So it can happen to any of the ones I wonder about in a moment. They can have a kiss from Heaven through any means and their lives can be radically different. Salvation really is that easy. Oh God, bring salvation to those ones who are lost!

Well, that is NOT at all what I was going to write about. Well, a preface to where I will go next then. My Islamic Societies class in college is the next topic. Until then...

Lewis' first laughs

2009-10-10T10:29:00.001-05:00

Lewis just started laughing on the 6th, so about a week before he is 3 months old. Sorry about the poor quality, I'll maybe upload it differently some time.

Slippers

2009-09-30T13:30:00.003-05:00

I set out to sew Caleb some slippers. He has big feet, and is kind of maxing these out. I needed to make them a little bigger, but for now, he is happy. He loves them because there are cars on them.

Added some more photos to this album.

Fam of 4 - pt.2

Fam of 4 - pt. 2 album

2009-09-07T22:15:00.001-05:00

Fam of 4 - pt.2

First wave feminism

2009-09-03T10:26:00.002-05:00

In my previous post I recommended a book. Near the beginning of the book, the author does a little history lesson on the different waves of feminism. The first wave of feminism, starting in the mid 1800s really kicked off with the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls NY. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the five main women who led it. Anyway, the author describes an interesting account of Stanton's life that directly displays the great void between feminism and biblical Christianity/womanhood.

p.37
"Stanton developed her atheistic beliefs as a young woman in reaction to the revival meetings of evangelist Charles Finney. After hearing Finney preach, Stanton was terrified of damnation: 'Fear of judgment seized my soul. Visions of the lost haunted my dreams. Mental anguish prostrated my health. Dethronement of my reason was apprehended by my friends...Returning at night, I often at night roused my father from his slumbers to pray for me, lest I should be cast into the bottomless pit before morning.'

But this conviction did not last long. Her family convinced her to ignore Finney's preaching and took her away on holiday to Niagara Falls in order to clear her mind. Following this vacation, she wrote: 'Thus, after many months of weary wandering in the intellectual labyrinth of 'The Fall of Man' 'Original Sin' 'Total Depravity' 'God's Wrath' 'Satan's Triumph' 'The Crucifixion' 'The Atonement' and 'Salvation by Faith,' I found my way out of the darkness into the clear sunlight of Truth. My religious superstitions gave place to rational ideas based on scientific facts, and in proportion, as I looked at everything from a new standpoint, I grew more and more happy, day by day...I view it as one of the greatest crimes to shadow the minds of the young with these gloomy superstitions, and with fears of the unknown and the unknowable to poison all their joy in life."

Yikes. She later went on to write "The Woman's Bible", a feminist recasting of the Scriptures. I am astounded how the conviction of the Holy Spirit, unacknowledged, can lead a person to find their comforts however they can to numb that voice that would lead them to true liberty and security. And how truly history is shaped on the shoulders of a few, rather than the masses; typically. And it can either be shaped for the good of God's kingdom or not.

It reminds me why I am here to pray. In our day and age, much has evolved in the way of feminism, but not just that alone. There are too many godless issues to count that are present in our time and God has asked those who love Him to choose His side and say no to the things of darkness that can easily ensnare us and to pray... literally until Kingdom come.

Oh that as women we could reclaim a generation for God and usher in His 2nd coming in glory and righteousness before Him having done all to stand for Truth...Biblically.

At first I thought....

2009-09-01T12:51:00.002-05:00

....this is the sweetest coffee mug and I must get myself one, it must feel delightful wrapping your hands around a toasty mug of coffee or hot cocoa...but then....

...I realized it looked like a little toilet bowl full of "you-know-what"...I think I'll pass.

WOW

2009-08-29T21:24:00.002-05:00

I am unashamedly and wholeheartedly recommending a book in this post. I am about halfway through this, but it is hands down one of the best books I have ever read regarding the breakdown of the position of a woman/homemaker/mother in our American society since its founding; based on the various roots of feminism.
The author does a fantastic job of incorporating Christian principles/history alongside the history of feminism in our nation. It's a MAJOR history lesson that every woman must read about whether single, married, or a mom. I am personally astounded because I have not previously been informed in such detail about this topic and just how much and in what ways the "demise" of what it means to be a woman has occurred.

Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley

Magnets?

2009-08-24T15:02:00.002-05:00

Fam of 4 pt 1 album

2009-08-21T09:09:00.001-05:00

Fam of 4 pt.1

Also on Facebook.

I love when...

2009-08-13T08:49:00.001-05:00

my beautiful Caleb prophesies and sings the oracle of God straight to my heart. It hasn't happened much, but in the last couple days, he's been singing straight where I need a touch and reminder from God.

There is a song, 'How He Loves Us' by John Mark McMillan from MorningStar Ministries. The chorus goes: He loves us, oh how he loves us.

Well Caleb's rendition is: He loves us so much, I love you so much....repeat many times :)

Well, just if I was having a hard moment Caleb would start singing it, and I was reminded by a kiss from God of how much I love Him and He loves me.

Caleb has also been praying prayers, some over me lately that are right from the heart of God. This morning he came in by me in bed and lay his hand on my head and prayed for God to fill and touch me.

Those are priceless moments and they are increasing. Praise the Lord!

Also, I think I actually may have gotten too much sleep last night :) Lewis slept for an 8-hour stretch and then was up to eat for 20 minutes and back to sleep for another 3 hours. Whoa.

Here's the song, but done by Kim Walker of Jesus Culture.

Lewis - the 1st 2 weeks

2009-07-30T16:33:00.001-05:00

Lewis - the first 2 weeks

Lewis David

2009-07-23T07:31:00.001-05:00

Our second son Lewis David Jacobson was born on July 13th at 9:17am. He weighed a whopping 9lbs 5.2oz and was 22in long.

It was about as perfect of a labor and delivery as I could have asked for in many ways and for many reasons. I was able to do it all naturally the day before they wanted to induce me - praise the LORD!

It lasted just shy of 8 hours (a major improvement from 31 with Caleb so I'm not complaining). I went into labor at 1:30am and we went to the hospital at 6am and they checked me 20 minutes later and I was at 8cm and 100% effaced. Wow - we were happy. And the rest progressed nicely and after 45 minutes of pushing, our big boy was here. It was a totally redemptive experience after the first birth. I was happy it turned out quicker and easier like everyone was telling me the second time usually was.

My two boys are the little darlings of my life and the transition is going very well. Caleb loves Lewis and "shares" his toys and bedtime comfort items with him. He gives him kisses and hasn't shown signs of jealousy, which is awesome. All of these things are answers to our prayers.

I know many have seen these photos already, but for those who are solely blog readers, the album is below:

Lewis David Jacobson 7/13/09

Amen sister.

2009-07-02T07:49:00.003-05:00

The conditions of this story are sad, but the woman judge has got the Malachi 4:6 attitude going on. To quote:

"I believe the United States and a host of Western democracies are engaged in an unintended campaign to diminish the importance of marriage and fatherhood. By refusing to do everything we can to stem the rising rate of divorce and unwed childbearing, our country often isolates fathers (and sometimes mothers) from their children and their families."

The rest of the article is HERE.

Diaper Bag

2009-06-30T08:30:00.003-05:00

So I am not much of a sewer. Actually, aside from the occassional mending and the curtains I made for Caleb's room, this is the most 'elaborate' project I have done. A couple sketchy times, but it ended up turning out. Diaper bag for two.

Fun in the Sun

2009-06-30T08:09:00.004-05:00

Caleb has been a water baby from the get go, but all the more so now that it is summer. Though some days have been outright too hot for such a preggo mama, but on the not so hot days, one thing they have in KC for us to enjoy are spray parks. Here are a few recent photos:

There is also a place called Deanna Rose Farmstead and it's a free farm for kids to come and see animals and play on the playground. Last week was our first time there and we had a lot of fun. One of the highlights was Dan imitating a turkey and the turkeys calling back.. Caleb loved it.

Trauma in the goat pen.

All these pictures and more are in the June 2009 album:

June 2009

Two weeks and counting

2009-06-24T13:33:00.001-05:00

I am admittedly quite ready for this boy to come out. Two weeks to go.

I think it's funny as I get to the end of this time, I look in the mirror and it's hard to remember what I looked like before being pregnant and hard to believe I won't always be like this. Yet in a day, there will be baby in arms not belly.

We are so excited to meet this guy and expand to a family of four.

I promise some more posts with pictures as soon as I get the pics loaded on this laptop from the other computer (which doesn't have internet right now).

An Innie

2009-06-06T09:39:00.002-05:00

I came across this article: Caring for Your Introvert through someone else's blog. I found it rather interesting. It is an opinion type article, but not entirely untrue.

I would consider myself an introvert by nature. There are many dimensions over the years that I have come to examine, not usually on purpose, for why I am the way I am. The parts of the article that I did relate to were the fact that an introvert isn't necessarily shy. I'm not. Likewise, I can get up in front of people without much trouble and I love long, deep conversations about real stuff.

But the "introvert" characteristic I have found to be the most difficult is that I really do have a hard time with small talk and large group settings. The kind of thing where you go into a small or large group setting and feel kind of socially retarded because I can ask a few questions and then quickly feel that I have run out of things to say. Get me talking about a topic with some depth or something and I can roll.

These characteristics are by no means an excuse or anything for not getting free in Christ where it has caused legitimate bondage over time, but it is also not necessary to try and be someone other than who God has made. Extroverts and Introverts alike have their places of need for God to set them free. I'm just an innie.

Wow

2009-05-27T19:23:00.001-05:00

I have been terrible at keeping up on the blog. Well, we just got back from MN on Sunday and had a great time.

Here is a photo album from April and our trip to MN.

April 2009-May2009

On this day...

2009-04-29T09:32:00.001-05:00

...three years ago, I married my best friend. He continues to be the greatest encouragement, strength and joy in my life next to God.

I will write more later I hope, not time now, but these have been the most tremendous three years of my life, and counting.

I love you Daniel.

Interesting

2009-04-28T19:24:00.001-05:00

Today I was looking at the news articles on our little ticker thing and one of them was discussing how tv networks can be fined if there are people on their shows who use too many swear words.

That's good I guess.

However, I find it a little odd though since they basically allow for their sitcoms to have sex scenes and violence to the max and are willing to get on people's cases for dropping one too many expletives since that can influence young people.

I think the ability to sensor the swear words went out after Ricky and Lucy started sleeping in the same bed back in the black and white days.

Oh the media.

WOW

2009-04-15T12:47:00.002-05:00

Perhaps you have seen this clip from Britain's Got Talent. Not something I have ever seen, mimics American Idol. I just perused some news articles and stumbled upon this bit.

The video won't let me embed it, but follow the link and let it load. I seriously cried, it's awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

ewww...

2009-04-08T18:57:00.001-05:00

Well, I just had my first stage up from gross, to very gross.
It was bathtime you see, and Caleb was enjoying himself to the max, when up came the bubbles from behind. Not so gross. However, a little red in the face later and I had a nice smeary poop on my hands.
"Gross, stand up and hold on to the bar." I exclaimed. As I then proceeded to empty the tub and refill it with clean water.

I pray those little moments are few and far between. Manageable, yes. Preferred, no.

On motherhood

2009-03-31T19:16:00.005-05:00

Yesterday and today I have been reflecting a bit on this journey of motherhood. I'm new to it, with only a 19 month old and one on the way, but the Lord has been so gracious and taught me so much during this short time.

Last Thursday there was the monthly mom's gathering here at IHOP and Dana Candler spoke. She said much that encouraged my heart, but one thing made me smile because I've seen it in me too. She said that when she looks back on who she was before she was a mom, she can't believe how sinful or unsanctified she was. I agree. Certainly time and age play a role in the maturing process, but I have found also that being a mom is a glorious way to die to myself and get sanctified (if I choose it) every day. I thought I never wanted to be a mom because I didn't like babysitting my siblings when I was growing up. I thought that if motherhood was like this, count me out. People always said it's different when it's your own child. "Yea right" was my internal response, but really it's the truth.

So I love my son, more than words can describe. Our computer has a picture slide show as the screen saver and I sat for about ten minutes and just watched the memories of Caleb's 19 month old life and was struck again with waves of love. But the real reason for this post is to share a few things that have so helped my journey to be more easy? or peaceful? or helpful? whichever.

First, was the little documentary/film called Dunstan Baby Language that we watched before Caleb was born. It talks about 5 cries that every baby has that you can understand so you know what they need. It works! I knew what Caleb was saying and it took so much guess work out of those early weeks and months for me as a new mom. I highly recommend it to new-to-be moms. We checked it out from the local library.

Second, I enjoyed the book Baby Wise ( I have also heard good things about the Baby Whisperer) because it talks about putting your baby on a schedule. Some folks demand feed and sleep with their babies and so on, and that is sooo fine. But for me, I prefer the bed to be for me and my husband and schedules just work so much better for me with stress level. I wasn't rigid about a schedule, but this was a great tool.

Third, the pacifier. :)

Fourth, anything by Michael and Debi Pearl (www.nogreaterjoy.org) on parenting. Particularly- To Train up a Child. They talk about training your child boundaries and what they can and can't do from the moment they are mobile. Some people are anti-spank stuff. But this is not (and I wouldn't say it's a book on spanking either, but more like a smidge of pain to reinforce your 'no'. The Bible says if you spare the rod you hate your child - ouch. So anyway, I love their approach because they have raised very godly children and I have found that it has been a wonderful thing for Caleb (he responds great) and for us. The key is consistency, which we do lack at times.

Fifth, blanket time. (Thank you Song) You lay a blanket on the floor with some toys and put your child on it. Then you tell them they have to stay on the blanket. If they get off, spank them a little on the hand (we use a wood spoon). And set them back on. Caleb caught on after two little reminders. Start off at 2 mins and work up from there every day. Caleb likes it and I see the improvement in his behavior when he can have a little down time with some boundaries. It's like it refreshes him. He can do 30 to 45 mins now and we've only been doing it semi-regularly for about a month.

Sorry this is getting very long. One more.

Sixth, praying with Caleb. I want to demonstrate a life in God and that he would see me praying. So I will take time to pray, and usually I pace slowly in the living room and pray both in the Spirit and not, and Caleb always wants to be held and just be with me. He can sense the Spirit, it's precious. Or sometimes he'll pace with me too or get out his Bible. Love it.

Ok, one more.

Seventh, the prayer wall. (Thank you Sarah) I actually just made it last night. Two poster boards with pictures of family members on one, and 'issues/big things' on the other backed with colorful construction paper. Caleb got up this morning and I explained what we do with the wall. He caught on quick. Even just after a day, He knows to go and lay his hand on a person, grandpa for example, and I help him to pray simple stuff like, Jesus - save. It's clear he really likes it. I am so blessed for this practical help to teach him how to pray.

I'm sure there's more, but those have been some of the majors so far in my boy's life. Anyone have any other great ideas? I'd love to hear them.

If you've stuck with me to the end of this long post. Good job.

E

It is amazing,

2009-03-26T12:25:00.001-05:00

to see how the Lord really is moving every single day. Understatement of course, since He always is, but when you can see it more, it's awesome.

Sorry for the lapse in blogs, but here I am.

God really has been doing so much in us as a family. It's almost hard to describe because so much of it has just been little heart and relationship things that are ongoing. Nevertheless, it's in those little things where we are seeing God's glory present itself more than any other place right now.

I am left speechless at how much the Lord is in our business as it pertains to details. It's like since this year started, there has been no reprieve of His hand moving in so many ways. Of course there never is a reprieve, but we are seeing it, and that's so wonderful.

We are being refined and challenged every day, and it's for eternity.

I know this was kind of a vague short update, but I wanted to let you know I am here, and that the Lord is on the move...it's tremendous.

We are falling in love at deeper levels with this incredible God.

So you think your kid story is bad?

2009-03-21T18:56:00.001-05:00

Well, I was at a training this weekend, and one lady was talking during a break and shared an awful story about her twins.
When they were two years old, they were taking a nap and she laid down too and fell asleep.

What she woke up to was a "slllllrrrrrrrr....clunk" noise time after time. She walked into the kitchen to find that her twins had opened, and dumped a whole gallon of vegetable oil, a bunch of peanut butter, and a container of Nestle quick powder on the floor. Where they proceeded to slide across the floor in it and bump into the wall on the other end (hence the noise she heard). ...NIGHTMARE!!!

She called her husband and told him to come home. He was on clothing removal and bath duty and she proceeded to clean the floor. It took five scrapings of the oil/washing with Dawn dishsoap to get it clean.

So next time we are tempted to cry over a little spilt milk...perhaps reconsider.

Ahhh...

2009-03-05T15:27:00.001-06:00

..I am currently sitting in our screen porch and enjoying every minute of the 75 degree breeze blowing through. Just thought I'd let you know. Sorry MN-tans.

We have the Passion for Jesus conference this weekend, and it should be good. Friend, Becky, from Duluth is here visiting. It's very good to see a familiar Duluth face, especially since she's an amazing woman of God.

Next week our mom's come for a visit. Hopefully we will be graced with some more great weather and some outdoor time.

Blessings!

panda

2009-02-26T13:00:00.001-06:00

Not to be all YouTube crazy, but I saw this from a friend and busted a gut laughing. It's a baby panda sneeze.

for a smile

2009-02-23T13:11:00.001-06:00

I have seen this before, don't know if I've posted it, but because it made me smile again, I'll put it here for you.

Jesus is your friend!

to follow up on the last post

2009-02-21T17:28:00.001-06:00

In response to what I said in the last post, I am a little unsettled. I think perhaps it's because I haven't really thought all these things through, and sometimes as I blog on certain things, I think I have to have some kind of grasp to really share it.

Perhaps so, but nevertheless, I just wanted to repeat that it is an ongoing thing I am pondering and you got the beginning rant.

So, I am continuing slowly to read the book by Rick Joyner "A prophetic vision for the 21st century". I just read this part talking basically about God getting His way in the Church and the strongholds (the major ones) that He will deal with and I thought it fitting in light of the previous post. So here's the little excerpt:
"There are many good traditions we should honor, but many traditions are substitutes for a living relationship with the Lord. One of the powers of a religious spirit is to cause people to honor the things that God has done in the past in order for them to justify their opposition to what He is presently doing.

The Pharisees (who love the Word of God and esteemed both the traditions and a hope in the coming Messiah) rejected and opposed Jesus more than anyone else when He came. They worshiped their traditions more than God, so when He came without having the same regard for those traditions, they could not receive Him. Those who put their security and faith more in their traditions than in the living God will oppose almost everything that He is doing. A huge portion of the church will attack any new movement that arises in the church. The more anointed a new movement is, the more these traditionalists will be threatened by it, and the more vehemently they will attack it."

Wow. That kind of sums up what I was trying to express before.

When God shows up....

2009-02-20T17:16:00.001-06:00

....what does it look like?

I have been pondering the Church at large. Catholic to Charismatic. Mind you, I am no theologian, nor one who knows a lot about 'revival' in the past, but I have been pondering.

Why do we believe in Christ? Well, He's the Savior right? But beyond that? What are our expectations? In church a lot we ask for God's presence to come and impact people and so on. But what does that look like? Or rather, what are the human ideas we put on what we think it should look like?

A sense of peace, a little vibrancy on our hearts, longing to be more like HIm...what?

But my eyes are going to look a little higher than a little feel good service or quiet time.

What does it look like when God shows up, for real? Seems to me it is a little more dramatic. I think of Ezekiel and the great whirlwind that sent him on his face, and John in the book of Revelation particularly - falling on his face as though he were dead because of the glory, etc.

When God shows up it is not just something barely noticeable and then leaves a little while later to barely be remembered. It's dramatic. It offends the mind, big time. We think we know how God 'should' show up, and how it would best make us feel, but what if He really comes? What if it looks offensive to everything we know - whether you are conservative or charismatic in faith expression? Can we be offended in our minds and know the truth that it's God in our hearts and then turn to Him in humility and embrace His move?

I want to think that we can, each one of us, but history proves differently. Looking at Scripture, it divided the people - disciples vs. pharisees, etc. Looking at revivals in the past - it divided the people and churches.

So we hunger for His presence and for revival to come, but what are we asking for really? First, repentance. You can't have God's presence and have darkness lurking in your heart for long. Either God will cause you to see the sin and repent, or the sin will feel better and you'll be offended and leave for something that is more comfortable allowing the sin and 'God' too.

Hmm...But then there's the glory. When the glory of God shows up there's no telling exactly what will happen. Are people going to be on the floor weeping, will they be laughing like crazy, will they be falling over and 'manifesting' shaking, etc? Who knows but God and what He wants to do.

Yet I know that the greatest struggle for many, myself included, is to get out of my earthly mind and see in the Spirit. How could that weird manifestation be God I ask myself? Then God replies, are you too proud and fearful that you can't see me and what I am doing? agh.

I guess my point in all of this rambling is that I don't want to be offended when God shows up and I struggle to know that many are and leave or despise a real move of God.

I want to be found hungry in the day of His visitation that I would shake and roll on the floor if God met me with the power of His Spirit in that way. I don't want to be found calloused and proud that God would resist me and I would build up all kinds of reasons why it's not God and why it's not happening in my life.

So if God shows up and it looks different than anything you know, will you be dull and unable to see, being offended...or will you not understand but see with the eyes of your heart to know if it is God?

I want to be the latter. And the way is removing the obstacles in my heart that hinder me from the Lord, and to seek Him with my whole heart and get a relationship with Him in the secret place so I can hear His voice, no matter what that looks like.

So help me God...I don't want to miss You when You come.

E

New Album

2009-02-19T12:47:00.001-06:00

Jan/mid-Feb 2009

Who's selfish?

2009-02-18T08:42:00.001-06:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7884138.stm?lss

Oh the Joy!

2009-02-16T16:38:00.001-06:00

Caleb loves to read....LOVES. Sometimes he wants to do it himself, and more and more he can sit through several short books at a time.

We were at Wal-Mart the other week and got him a kids Bible (the cardboard page kind). It's about 30 pages, more picture than writing, and he'll sit through the whole thing and then sit and look at it page by page for a total of about 45 minutes sometimes.

So today, as I was checking email, he was sitting on the floor by me and was 'reading' his Bible. He gets to the part where baby Jesus is born and the shepherds and wise men come and see Him.

Caleb sets the Bible down in his lap, puts his hands together in prayer and stays that way for about five seconds, then says amen, amen. And moves on to another page.

Come on! I love that. I don't feel like we do very much as parents to really foster his life with God, but we do some. And this was never in our regimen. So the little guy is getting a prayer life and a life in the Word at 17 months. It encourages my heart so much!

So I thought I would brag on my dear one a little.

side note: felt the little baby inside flutter here and there the last few days. 15 weeks now.

Always enough.

2009-02-01T15:21:00.001-06:00

Another quote from Rick Joyner's book:
"We will never fulfill our callings if we are focused on our own inadequacy. When Moses was told of his calling at the burning bush, he immediately began to protest that he was not adequate for such a task. The Lord did not commend him for this humility. Scripture says that 'the anger of the Lord burned against Moses' (Ex4:14). Such a mentality is not true humility. It is the devastating sin of self-centeredness and is actually a profound pride. By this, Moses inferred that his inadequacy was greater than God's adequacy. God does not call us because of our abilities or our inabilities but often because of our availability."

This struck me because often we think what we're called to is so small or insignificant that our hearts don't really go after it.

What if you are called to be a janitor your whole life? That is not a noble calling in the eyes of man at all really. But if you embrace it as the Lord's desire for you and you exercise excellence and do that work for the Lord, the reward in heaven is immense. Perhaps far greater than the man speaking on the platform who may not be stewarding what God has given him.

Billy Graham doesn't have a bigger reward than the person no one knew about. It's all about stewardship of the calling God has given us. Known or unknown, great in the eyes of man or not, God is looking at how we steward our hearts before Him.

By the way, our highest calling is knowing Jesus and knowing Him intimately. The outward expression or function we have is another form of 'calling' but not greater than the calling of the 'greatest commandment'.

We have NO excuses that are good enough for God that we can give for why we aren't living the greatest commandment, hearing His voice, and moving in what He is calling us to do...even if it's in the little things.

(That may have been a bit scattered. Hopefully you get the point.)

Heat Wave

2009-01-31T19:34:00.001-06:00

Can you believe it? It got up to 70 degrees here today! What kind of January is this?

We've had a few nice ones in the 60's but it always goes from 30 to 60 and back down at least 20 degrees the next day.

Although I am not in the deep freeze up north, those who are you have my deepest sympathy. :)

Bring on the spring time a couple months early! please.

A slave to who?

2009-01-29T16:50:00.001-06:00

I am reading Rick Joyner's book called, "A Prophetic Vision for the 21st Century". Someone was giving books away, and we grabbed this one because we respect Rick Joyner so much as a father of the faith and prophetic voice.

The book is very timely for today, at least the first 1/4 that I have read so far.

There is a short paragraph that I would like to quote here, and as you read it, keep the potential economic crisis in mind.
"The true bond servant is a slave. He does not own anything, but everything that he has belongs to his master. Even his time is not his own. Many claim this position, but few truly live it. A true bond servant cannot lose anything in the stock market, or in any other business, because he does not own anything. He may be a steward of much, but it is not his, and he does not treat anything as if it were his. Those who have become true bond servants (of Christ) have built their lives on the kingdom that cannot be shaken by an economic collapse, or any other disaster. Those who are true bondservants are being sealed in this hour, and they are protected. But Christians who have claimed this position and have gone on living their lives for themselves will fall with the kingdom of this world."

In this hour, we must examine every area of our lives and consider where our alliance and trust lies. If any area of our lives makes us anxious or uneasy at the thought of it being taken, or changing, and so on, it would be wise to surrender those places to Christ.

If we are in bondage to any area of our lives, we are not bonded to Christ in that place. Let us cast our cares upon Christ and the hope of the coming Kingdom and no matter what happens, we can REST in His truth - money or no money, home or no home, retirement plan or no retirement plan, job or no job - our livelihood is in Christ and He knows our need because He cares for us.

Bless God that we are merely pilgrims here. Our job security in the Kingdom is more secure than any earthly job. I know I am hungry to lay aside every weight that easily entangles and go BOLDLY before His throne of Grace and receive the immediate entrance into fullness that He has provided.

Mom's breaking free

2009-01-27T09:49:00.003-06:00

So I am in two mom's groups. One on Wed. nights which I love!!!

The other is on Tuesday nights, and has been hit and miss, but Jan-Mar we are doing a little 'series' every other week of meetings. It's on Freedom prayer. Anyway, a couple weeks ago we had our first night and we asked the Lord to reveal a major stronghold that is keeping us as moms from being all God wants us to be. The one that came up was that we are UNAWARE of how the Lord is being worshiped through what we do as mom's.

A prophetic picture was given of an angel standing by a woman saying, 'holy, holy, holy' and blowing a trumpet by her ear and she couldn't hear it. Symbolizing that we don't know how we worship in our lives as moms.

And with a stronghold, often there are 'four tent pegs' or lies and their associated behaviors that are holding it up. If we can tackle those, then the tent of being unaware will come down and we can see with proper perspective.

So we asked the Lord what four things contributed to this.

#1: We think we are UNPREPARED. The enemy tells us that we haven't done what we should have to be prepared as mom's to raise our kids. We think we can't do enough. The truth is that the Lord calls us victorious based on Jesus' blood and not any other expectations.

#2: FEAR. We feel isolated as moms and think there is no one to really turn to. The truth is we are never alone. We always have the Counselor, Holy Spirit.

#3: COMPARISON. We think other mom's have what they need to do the job, but we don't. They do it better, etc. God shows not partiality. "I did not get a bad deal in this thing." We have to put our 'blinders' on and run the race before God alone.

#4: INSIGNIFICANCE: We have no expectation that God wants to be miraculous in this setting of our homes and daily lives. We are like the disciples that asked, "What can we do with 5 loaves and 2 fish?" The truth is God is searching for someone to show Himself strong on their behalf, and that's us.

The enemy doesn't think what we do is insignificant, that's why he comes after mothers.
**

So that's what we talked about. I know it ministered to my heart, so I thought I'd put up a brief explanation. Bless you mom's today, and may you run hard after God and see the worship you give Him in the mundane of discipline and cleaning up mess and playing on the floor.

Wow, video

2009-01-27T09:47:00.001-06:00

Mike Bickle responding to Obama's Election

2009-01-24T14:07:00.003-06:00

On November 5th, Mike Bickle responded to the body at IHOP about how to properly carry our hearts in this hour. Below are two 9 minute videos you can watch to better understand our role as Christians toward our President. He prayed and gave understanding for this time in history. I thought it would be good to put up now as President Obama has been inaugurated.

The videos take a bit to load, so just push pause and wait a few minutes, then play.

A text synopsis:
How to Pray:
1. Ephesians 1:16-17, Psalm 43:3-4: ask for God to send forth light and truth, to lead His people and a nation into the holy place. Also for God to release the spirit of wisdom and revelation. This is our great weapon, we have been given the authority by God to open gates. No one else can do this but the praying church who is able to release God’s supernatural light, the only force that can drive darkness out of a human heart/a nation.
2. Pray for Obama’s blessing and prosperity, the multiplying of his strength, of Biden and all those in office. That’s our position, to lose light. Not to resist in carnal ways. We have the most powerful weapon, more powerful than all the armies of the earth. We have intercessory access to the throne of God to lose light to drive darkness off the planet. We know we win! We have the ultimate confidence of victory.

Response to the Elections:
1. Yesterday was a great and a terrible day. It was a great day that an African American president was elected. That is a massive blessing and statement of goodness about America. Not just for African Americans, but for America itself. That is a great day. For that I say Lord Jesus thank you.
2. But beloved it’s also a terrible day. I believe that yesterday marks on the calendar, a clear turn of our nation toward darkness. Now that turn has been present for some time but it documented it. It became officially recorded on earth and in heaven. It became official even in the courts of heaven in a way that’s important to recognize.
3. A great victory happened in California same sex marriage was banned. That is a great victory. But it’s only just the beginning. This is still going to be appealed. The war is on. (referring to proposition 8 )
4. The second battlefront is same sex marriage. Currently, from the legislation point of view good things are happening. But there’s ominous signs happening. Just the raising up of voices all over the land to challenge the sanctity of marriage. That will be destructive beyond anything we can imagine. That and blood guilt. For such a time as this the prayer movement has been raised up.
5. We now have a president who is fiercely pro-choice. That is a terrible thing for America. This doesn’t mean that this issue is over. It means that we have to take our place of authority. The battle is raging.
6. There are two great battlefronts from the Lord’s point of view. The issue of murder. The sword of bloodguilt over our nation is the most dangerous thing imaginable. Most of America even the church is not aware. It’s dangerous beyond anything we can understand. But the prayer movement is growing in America. I take a stand, claiming the blood of Jesus in the place of our own guilt. That battle is not over at all. We believe that this murdering of innocent children in the womb going to turn around, even if it takes until Jesus returns.
7. What pains my heart and makes me sober, is that 18-30 year olds, the power base that is emerging in America, voted pro-choice and they voted against the sanctity of marriage. Believers and unbelievers sided with darkness. Beloved now that’s troubling. Now that’s something that’s emerging for some time. But yesterday, this was documented in the courts of heaven. The voices in the church, the voices of deception, of demonic deception that stand alongside, that allow abortion and same sex marriage to go unchallenged is grievous to God. Many in the church (18-30 yr old crowd) are siding with darkness.

Encouragement:
1. I am encouraged rather than discouraged because we have the blood of Jesus, the throne of God. We have a human being on the throne whom we’re connected to. He desires to hear our voices, our cries. He has way more power than the power of darkness.
2. God is training us, working our prayer and faith muscles right now. There is coming a man who is far more evil, far more power than any man that has emerged in history, far more powerful than Obama. God is raising up on a global level an army in these early days to resist that man. That man will be overthrown in history openly before all by the praying church, under the leadership and in agreement with Jesus.
3. Our posture right now is Roman 13. We acknowledge that God has sets all authorities in place. Of course God sets men and woman in place of authority with the big picture in view always. Always honoring the free choice of the nation.
4. I look at this at the next 20, 40, 50 years if the Lord tarries and I ask what are you doing God? He says “I’m raising up an army to prevail against the ultimate darkness that will emerge in the earth”. I’m believing God for an America in the decades to follow that has found power in the Spirit to resist the antichrist as an entire nation. America’s in the balance. For some nations it’s clear where they will stand in the future. But America you look at the word of God I believe it’s silent. I believe the Lord’s answer to America is would you believe me in a nation that prevails against the antichrist even until my coming? To resist evil until the end? And my answer is yes.

5. Now we’re kingdom of God people first, and Americans second. We can determine the fate of our surroundings. We have authority in the spirit because we live here, God put us here in the will of God gives us legal access to shift things regionally and nationally. To contend w/ ultimate evil together as a nation. The Lord is looking down, he’s not troubled, He’s grieved in one way but He says, “I’m raising up a voice, I’m raising up an army. They will be strong and they will have many victories.” Rise up and stand and we’ll be transformed in that battle. Resolve to stand w/ God’s authority. We’re not going to get into a contentious spirit as things unfold. We don’t have to wrangle with men. We have all the money we need to get this thing done. The Lord doesn’t want to just turn a man, but to also raise up an army.

Points of Sobriety:
1. One of God’s terrifying ways throughout history is that He gives a nation a king after their own heart. He does that to let them face themselves. Nations all through history have cried out for kings, they always want kings after their own heart and not after God’s own heart. And the Lord in his wisdom and in the providence of his government He permits nations to have kings after their own heart. But then they will live with the consequences of that king. America has chosen a king after their own heart.

“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21: 36

a brief reprieve

2009-01-22T07:48:00.001-06:00

Today in Grandview it is a high of 61 degrees. Praise the Lord. That means on this long day at home I can take out the stroller and get some fresh air.

On another note, have you noticed how uncertainty and or crisis truly are the circumstances that provoke people to pray? No wonder the early church was filled with powerful people, they were persecuted by others and situations. They were knit to the Lord's heart in a unique way.

There are a TON of things swirling in my head this morning that kept me up after Dan left for the prayer room this morning. I can't divulge really, but the point is, I am again reminded that nothing is forever except God, the Word, and eternity with Him.

All things must be held loosely and surrendered to Him and the plans He has for us and our 'ideas'. Today I am brought back to Hebrews 11 that struck me months ago - we are pilgrims here. I must get out of the temporal and focus on the eternal. God is my rock and my salvation, my ever present help...

Why I love my son...

2009-01-21T11:45:00.003-06:00

I previously posted about 'mess' and it's implications on my heart. And my conclusion was that despite the mess, I love how proud Caleb is for feeding himself. Plus, he's so darn cute!

And also, one morning while getting ready for the day, Dan and I both thought the other was with Caleb. Wrong. He wandered into the bathroom and wet tub to have his own little "bath time."

He also loves to read, more than have me read to him at times. He prefers to hold the book and turn the pages at a much faster rate than the words on the page can be read aloud by me. So, he can read by himself all he wants if it makes him happy.

mess

2009-01-15T09:03:00.001-06:00

I can't handle mess very well. But that is specific. I don't mind toys all over the floor because they can be picked up at nap or bed time and thus a clean sanctuary remains. I also don't mind putting chunks of food on the highchair tray for Caleb to pick up and eat.

BUT the one thing I am noticing I have a difficult time overcoming is the messy food that is more, well, messy.

He should be proficient with utensils between 18-20 months 'they' say. Frankly, he just uses his hands when possible and then if it's spaghetti or yogurt, or something of a similar messy nature, we just feed him, which we don't mind doing.

However, I realize that if there is going to be 'utensil progress' I must resign myself to much more messiness than I could let myself handle normally.

So yesterday he ate mac and cheese with a fork...not really that messy. But this morning it was yogurt. Oh Lord help me. Honestly it isn't that big of a deal...a little washcloth and tossing the bib/towel in the laundry we're clean. What is my deal?

Actually, though the mess is making me bite my lip a little, I am so proud of Caleb. He does do a good job considering half of it is not in his mouth. More than that though is that he is SO proud to be able to do it himself. His yogurt covered face with that proud smile is worth all of the messes.

It's all about me letting go of control and being somewhat of a neat-freak in certain areas. God is teaching me and I want to be able to give it up. Someday Caleb will be as good at using a fork and spoon and drinking from a cup without a lid as we are - which isn't mess free all the time either.

Ahhh parenting...bring on the potty training - ha.