independence

Ah, yes, sunshine abounds! Oh glorious sunshine! The only reason I am indoors is because it's naptime. When nap is over, it's back out for more fun in the sun.

This week my brave little girl decided she still needed her mommy.
We went to the park for some good fun on the "side" (slide). E was all about the "big" ones. Last summer she loved the smaller ones, but not now. She is "big." So I let her adventure to the point of even climbing all the way up, sitting herself down and then taking off. She wanted to do it all herself, so I stood right behind her. But on one try down a big slide she didn't quite sit just right and bumped her lip. She cried and ran to mommy's "huggy" and decided the small slides might just be fun too.

It's hard on a mom to know how much independence to give. I don't want her to bump her lip, or bump anything else either. But she wants to do things herself, and sometimes the best way for her to know she's not quite ready is to let her try it on her own.

Aren't we the same? Sometimes God allows us to fall so that we can learn from our failures. Yet unlike an earthly parent, He knows the outcome before the beginning. He allows us to be put through the fire so that we can come out as gold.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jeus Christ. - I Peter 1:6-7

Courderoys

I have a favorite pair of pants.

Let me tell you about them.

I've had them since spring break, 1997. They are brown courderoy levi's that I bought in a thrift store in Orlando, FL along with a red T-shirt (I still own) that says "we're #1 - Palmetto Tigers". The T-shirt has reached unwearable status and will soon be turned into a pillow memoir. But the pants I just cannot seem to get rid of. I wear them constantly even though they are well worn, ripped and repaired numerous times and still look dirty even right out of the washing machine. But they've reached that soft, comfy stage and I just hate to part with them.

I no longer wear them to special outings, only on walks and trips to Wal*Mart. They fit just right. But I admit, they make me look poorer than dirt and like a teenage mom.

So if you see a woman who looks like a girl in worn out courderoys, take pity on her because they're like an old friend and it's difficult to part with an old friend.


I realise this post is meaningless and contains no uplifting spiritual content. I just wanted to do a tribute to such a great pair of pants. Hope you are amused!

Jehovah Jireh

There is a song that goes like this:
"Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficeint for me..."

I can't believe it's been almost a year since we left BC. Just a year ago I was fretting about where we would live, where my love would work and just what was going to happen next. Time and time again I just had to rest in that remembrance that "His grace is sufficeint." And remember Matthew 6:31-34:

"Do not worry saying 'what shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficeint for the day is its own trouble."

As I look back over the past 3 1/2 years that we've been married, I see God's hand in all our steps along the way. There were times when people thought we were jumping off the deep end, and at times they were justified in thinking so. But God brought us through many crazy things so that we could know truth...His Truth! He brought us to the point where we had to question everything we believed - and had to decide if we really believed it. But praise the Lord as Ephesians 2:9 says - He gave us the gift of true faith! And true faith cannot wander far because God is the one doing the work.

Romans 8:28 says "God causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose."

He has. He does. He will.

I'm off on a whim, here, but that reminds me of our Wed night Bible Study. God cannot lie, change His mind or repent. (Numbers 23:19).

If that were not true, Romans 8:28 couldn't be true! If God were shaky on what was going to happen in the future, we couldn't quote that verse with full assurance that we need not worry because HE is in control. But praise be to God - He IS in control and as Matthew 6 says, don't worry about tomorrow, rest in that. Rest in His provision.

Rest.

A year ago I was not resting, I was trying to, but failing utterly. I have learned much, but still need that daily reminder that HE is in control of ALL things, past, present and future. Amen.

It's Spiring!

If you know me, you know I never hear the weather predictions. I never know from one day to the next what the weather will bring. I like to be surprised, I guess. And when I wrote the last post I had no idea spring was just a day away!

Yesterday E and I went to the park and played on the swings (and in the mud!) for an hour, just soaking in the fresh air. The back of my jeans got all muddy and E decided to see if dirt doubled as chocolate, but we had a good time and slept well last night.

I have no idea how long the warm weather will last, it can snow in May around here, but rain or shine, I'm geared up to get outside!

Psalm 148:1-6
Praise the Lord!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
Praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him sun and moon,
Praise him all you shining stars!
Praise him you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the LORD!
For he commanded and they were created,
And he established them forever and ever;
He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away!

One of those days...

Yes, it's one of those days.
You know - those "it's been winter way to long, I'm ready to play outiside in the sunshine" type of days. I'm trying to be content no matter what - God gives us the weather and each day is a gift from Him. But sometimes it's a battle with my flesh. I'm ready to put on my capris, sandals and no jacket and just walk everywhere and anywhere. I'm ready to take E to the playground and go up and down the slide a zillion times. Ready to feed the "duts" and well...be warm.
Oh I am warm now. Our cozy cottage is a lovely 72 degrees right now and there is beautiful sunshine streaming through the window. But somehow it's not the same when I look out and see people Ice fishing. Yeah, not quite time for those capris yet.

Oh well. Content I will be to strap on my boots and bundle up as we head off to see "doggies", "suks", "caws", "soks" and "sooow" (trucks, cars, rocks and snow) with the little one after her nap. Spring will come. It always does, yet March seems to drag on and on sometimes in anticipation of emerging to the outdoors.

Part of looking forward to going outdoors is the projects there are to do. I'm going to hang at least one window box with petunias. Then there's all the plants the E's helped put in last fall - can't wait to see what they look like in full bloom! And I hope to at least plant some pots of tomatoes.

What are you planning to do this spring?

A comment worth posting

"Lord I give up all my plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my time, my all, utterly to Thee to be thine forever. Fill me and seal me with thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt, and send me where Thou wilt, work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now forever."

Betty Scott Stam

She and her husband were martyred in China by the Communists. Check out the story of their life www.us.omf.org

Wow, thanks so very much, Claudia. Thought that deserved more than just comment status.