Thought

Was skimming through a magazine and this book title caught my eye, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat."

My two reactions to that statement?

• Ain't that the truth!
• If I know and believe that to be true, why can't I seem to get at least one leg...or even a foot......out of the boat?

Chance and Believing

Been praying for a miracle for a while now. A miracle is what I believed I needed. For God to reach down from heaven, lightening bolts flashing and thunder crashing.

So, when God answered my prayers with something other than a miracle. Well, let's just say it wasn't pretty. I immediately questioned, "Why?!". "Why aren't you listening to me?" (isn't' it all about me?) "Why did this happen?"

It took a few minutes, but I soon realized that God had answered my prayer. Not with a miracle. No, but He did it in exactly the way I had prayed and prayed that He would. He left no room for me to question my path. Scary how quickly I am deceived. Even after I saw how the Lord had kept His promises (as He always does)....there was still a little bitty voice in my head trying to chalk up the answered prayer to coincidence. I do not believe in coincidence.

And it's so cool to see how He continues to confirm that truth as the days have passed. Why is it such a struggle sometimes to truly believe the promises in His word and truly find rest in those promises?

Truly believing leads me to the, "Believing" portion of my post. Little Man has had a rough couple of mornings getting up early and returning to his normal schedule. When we got to YCare this morning I realized how hard I had been on him for the choices that he'd made that morning which had led to lots of frustration on both of our parts.

So before we got out of the van I told him, "You know I believe in you and I know you can make better choices."

To which he very seriously replied, "Do you believe in Jesus mommy?"

Wow, was my first thought! Little Man and I had a pretty lengthy talk the other night about Jesus and going to heaven as he is asking questions. When he asked me if I believed I was touched at how Jesus must really be heavy on his heart and mind to ask. On the other hand.....shouldn't he already know by my life, that I believe? I was touched and sorely convicted all at the same time.

Kids are so awesome. I love the way they love the Lord. Untainted, innocent, and without question.

Washed by the Water

Amazing how the words of a song can mean so much. I love this song by NeedtoBreathe...I love the truth in these lyrics....especially the chorus.

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

...

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me

Disco Balls & Dry Ice & Daddy

The state of our family this last week has been one with lots of snot, coughing, and general YUCK-i-ness. But last night, had you been a fly on the wall in our living room, you'd have never known.

I spent the first half of the evening in bed (sick of course) and managed to drag myself out while my fabulous hubby was giving the girls a bath. Earlier that evening we had gotten a package from my Uncle. He periodically sends us these wonderful packages via the Omaha Steak company containing Filet Mignon, lobster tails, and all kinds of goodies. To keep the meats cold and fresh en route the containers have dry ice in them......(this is pertinent...you'll see why in a bit.)

So one of our kiddo's favorite things to do before bed is turn on our disco-ball (yes...I did say disco-ball), crank the music up, and DANCE! They LOVE this. I remember when hubby bought the disco-ball years ago and I thought to myself...is this one of those purchases that will never get used....Nope!

So last night they got to dance and it was an even more special treat because my crafty hubby decided to use the dry ice to make smoke! I wish now that I had taken some pictures. We always turn all of the lights off, the disco-ball was going, music cranked up...and dry ice bubbling from a pan on a cooler in the corner of the living room. The kids thought this was the coolest thing ever!

When little man and I were saying prayers...he was so cute, twice he said, "and thank you that we had such a fun evening.".......

My hubby is such a fun father. It's one of things I love most about him. :)

"Where are my nuts?" and a Prayer Request

I think I tend to ramble a bit so I'll try to keep this quick and concise. Bear with me all the way through because it's all good. :)

Prayer Request
God has blessed me beyond my wildest expectations by giving me the chance to work for my church. I love my job and I love the men that God has leading our church. These 6 guys consistently go way above and beyond as they serve the Lord. Their hearts for people and genuine love for people are moving and contagious.

Please pray for God's hand of protection over each of them as they're on their way to Atlanta this morning. Pray for their safety as they travel and for protection from all of the ways we know the Enemy will try to make this trip ineffective. Pray for their wives and families as they go through the week without their husbands and fathers.

Now, on to, "Where are my nuts?"
Saturday afternoon we took the kids to this really cool park that we've gone to a few times in the past. We went and had a picnic and then spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the little pond there, playing hide and seek in the pretend town (it's so cool), and swingin' and slidin' on the play equipment. As we walked around the pond towards the swings the kids began to pick up little nuts off the ground. Sorry, don't know what kind they were, only that the squirrels were lovin' these nuts. The kids thought they were so cool! They were each carrying around 2 or 3 in each hand. But hubby and I got a kick out of some of the things Little Man was saying with regard to his "nuts". Here are 2 examples:

Hubby had taken Little Man to use the toilet. As Little Man prepared to head into the stall he had to stop and ask Daddy, "Daddy, will you hold my nuts?"

Hubby had to pause for a sec....as that just didn't sound quite right. Nonetheless, we got a kick out of it....Little Man didn't quite know what was so funny!

Yesterday on the way home from picking up the kids.....out of the blue Little Man says, "Mommy, I wish I knew where my nuts went. Do you know where my nuts are?"

I just chuckled. Gotta love them kiddo's.

Fun with Daddy

So, I was in the kitchen fixing dinner while listening to the joyous sounds of laughter and giggling coming from my kiddo's playing in the back yard. Daddy had gone out a few minutes earlier and gotten on the trampoline....after which..they all piled in and the craziness ensued.

It's these moments, the ones where everything seems right with the world. A beautiful day, a cool breeze, cookies baking in the oven (yummy ones too), dinner cooking on the stove, and the sounds of kids laughing as they play with their daddy. I LOVE IT!

As I stood there languishing in my moment I heard a noise, more like 4 voices, in unison shouting, "MomMY! ....MomMY!......MomMY!"

I knew Daddy wanted me to come take some pics.....so I did.

1 out of 4

So, about a year and a half ago God led me to this really cool gal....with a really cool non-profit organization that you can check out here.

Through Gateway of Hope I got to know its founder and am now blessed to be a part of the Christian Care Coalition. Simply put, God has given me an awesome chance to serve Him in exactly the way I feel called to serve and I am excited! But.......the statistics are staggering and the faces and stories behind "1 out of 4" are heart-breaking, I know from personal experience.

• Conservative statistics reveal that one in four girls will be sexually abused before age 18.
• Related statistics reveal that 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
• Similar statistics reveal that one in four teen age girls and adult women will be physically abused by their boyfriend, partner, or spouse.
• One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape.

As I sit in church on Sunday, stand in line at the grocery store, drive down the streets of my neighborhood, and watch my girls play...I find myself thinking about those "1 in 4".

1 out of 4 means that when my precious girls are having a playdate with their 2 girlfriends, 2 of them will, at some point in their lives be traumitized and violated (statistically thinking).

1 out of 4 means that at church on Sunday.......depending on the number of people there, one can assume that at least a quarter of the women/men there are being, or have been abused at some point in their lives.

1 out of 4 means that when I'm hanging out with a few of my dear girlfriends.....and there are 4 or more gathered, at least one of us has suffered some form of abuse during our lives.

It seems so daunting....so discouraging. After praying that the Lord help me to see the people of this world with His eyes and to love them as He loves them....
...as He so often does....
...He answered my prayer.

My heart hurts. As each day passes......I find myself stumbling to find the answer to the question He keeps asking me, "How are you going to serve me? What are you going to do for those that are suffering so that they can KNOW and BELIEVE that there is HOPE in me? This is why I have left you here."

In the time it's taken me to write this post:
An estimated 60 children have been sold into sex slavery.