Tiny Talk with Lydia

Lydia came in holding her baby close. Sweetie Pie had been MIA for over a month now, I found her over that weekend on Chris' top bunk... AKA the hidden toy chest:)

Me: Are you taking good care of Sweetie Pie.

Lydia (4 yrs) : It's Sarah, not Fweetie Pie! [shaking head her] No one knows her right name. You and Daddy keep calling her Fweetie Pie!

LOL.... it's getting harder to keep up with everyone's dolls and their names;)

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We had a sweet church member pass away last week! It's been a hard summer :/

After the family meal Sunday afternoon, Lydia was talking to me...

Lydia: Everyone is sad about Mr Jule, but I'm not sad he died?

Me: really, why? (her words kind of surprised me by I tried to not be too surprised so I could understand what she was trying to tell me!)

Lydia: Mr Jule was sick and now he's in heaven. And heaven is a better place to be. His family is sad because they miss him, but they should be happy that he's in heaven.

Oh.... the sweet, simple, trusting faith of children!!

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and the kids' favorite phrase this week....

You've got to be kidding me!

Usually said after I give them an assignment they think is really easy (Chris practicing his math facts!) or that they don't want to do (like wipe off the kitchen table) !

The Brevity of Life

With the news of Josh's illness and then his death, I have spent many moments in PRAYer, in tears, and in thought. Knowing of the death of a child that you know and you know has struggled.... really has caused me to "pause" (as much as life can pause) and reflect.

First, I have been reminded to pray over and over throughout the last few days for this sweet family. They are doing well and have a great network of support with family and friends. But when the busyness of funerals and visiting family/friends is over they will need time to reflect, remember and grieve.

Second, I am reminded of the brevity of life!! Here was a 5 yr old little boy who teachers thought looked fine on Tuesday. None of us is guaranteed any amount of time!! We need to be thankful for each moment and be ready to face eternity at any time.

Are we thankful? Even in the midst of the minor challenges of life... the fussy kids, the housework, the extra tasks of preparing for Christmas, lost coupons.... do these inconveniences cause us to not be grateful for ALL we are blessed with, yes, even the stinky bottoms (found at my house)? And are we settled in our faith and secure in our eternal destiny? Do we know Christ and rest in the Lord's promises from the Bible?

Third, I am reminded of the short amount of time we have with our children.... our moments with them are not guaranteed either. I have really started to look at my time to see if I am giving the "best" of me to my children. And whether, I am being faithful to the task of mothering them and guiding them to know the Lord!!! Do I let the mundane tasks get in the way? Or am I distracted?

Even though the time I have known Josh has been very short, his sickness and now death has been a constant reminder of how fragile and brief life can be. And to live life it to the fullest!! I am reminded of his 5th birthday party and all the kids running around playing.... and Josh and his brother climbing up into the tree (yes, an actual tree) fort that their Dad made them. All of us moms on the ground watching all of our monkeys follow the pair and stand there with our arms ready to catch anyone... LOL!! You would have never known Josh was as fragile as he was just by looking at him.

At an Awana meeting before Thanksgiving, the teacher asked the kids if anyone had any prayer requests. Anna told me this week that Josh raised his hand and said, "Pray for me because I am very sick." Anna kind of chuckled when she told me and responded, "Mommy, that was silly because he doesn't look sick at all." But now we can look back and see the simple child-like faith and knowledge this sweet little boy had.

Please, Continue to pray for this family. Visitation is tonight and services are tomorrow.

Resurrection Sunday

The 1st Resurrection Sunday:

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” (NLT, Luke 24:1-5)

The exchange between Thomas and Jesus has always touched me. I am moved to realize that His hands and feet were scarred for ME. But "doubting" Thomas was told to touch him, know him and believe!

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came.They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (NLT, John 20:24-29)

Here is the song that has been running through my head this week in my "heart preparation" for Easter. It's called Forever My LOve/Nails in Your Hands!! It was such a powerful song in my life in college and still touchs me!!



May we be thankful for his sacrifice!! In awe in his power over death!! Ready to live out our faith in Him!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

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Above photo was found at http://www.scripturepics.org/index.php?option=com_ponygallery&Itemid=56&func=detail&id=77#ponyimg

The YOu Tube video of Forever of My LOve can be accessed here, too!

Our Week of THANKFULNESS

I was thinking that in the spirit of being thankful this week.... each post will be about the things that we are thankful for:) I've tried to encourage the kids last week and will continue to encourage them this week to look around and be thankful for all the big and little things we have and are given:)

So my first thing to be thankful for is God. I praise the Lord for bringing me to Him at a young age and for keeping my close through the years. I know I was tempted and made mistakes and so I also thank the Lord for his mercy and forgiveness!! And my prayer is that my children would also know the Lord early in life and to have His love and steady guidance, like I have had!!

It was very fitting that last week the kids learned the verse :

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1