Kicking off 2011

We spent our first days in 2011 just the four of us having fun on our new Wii, and doing other more important and substantial things like discussing how we can live more "radically" for Christ, things we desire to do and sell, and spending quality time together in the outdoors.

We found some frozen lakes and the boys hiked 480 ft. straight up to a gazebo that was built ages ago by the CCC and it was a nice overlook. They boys poking out from the tree is a fun memory because they always like to run ahead when we hike and then pop out and "scare" us. Sometimes Jonas pretends he is hunting them and they like that too!

I have just finished reading David Platt's book Radical. If you want to read a book that will revolutionize your life, how you pray, what you spend money on, what you think about your church, and how you look at the world then this is the book. You can read the first chapter here: They will email you a pdf of the first chapter and I know you will be convicted, moved, and challenged to keep reading. Warning: Don't read this book unless you are ready to do some serious reckoning with God that includes life change. One resource that I plan to use for my own prayers and so the kids can understand the need for Jesus and missionaries in other parts of the world is We started last night praying for the people of Madagascar. This organization has it set up so that you can choose a country or region, see what God is doing there, how you can pray for persecuted Christians, and lost souls that live there. I love my church and I think that we do a ton of things right by focusing on saving lost souls in our community, worshiping authentically, and my kids learn a ton about loving the Lord there. However, it is unlike a more traditional church in that we don't hear much about God's work globally or missionaries. So, another way I am hoping to fill that gap is that our family has partnered with this organization to pray, give, and connect with missionaries in the world . I must say that praying for missionaries and lost souls in other countries has been a major shortcoming in my spiritual walk in the past few years. Hoping to change that in 2011. Jonas and I are also hoping to find a place to go and serve in the next year or so!

From the book:
In Radical, David Platt invites you to encounter what Jesus actually said about being his disciple, and then obey what you have heard. He challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated a God-centered gospel to fit our human-centered preferences. With passionate storytelling and convicting biblical analysis, Platt calls into question a host of comfortable notions that are common among Christ's followers today. Then he proposes a radical response: live the gospel in ways that are true, filled with promise, and ultimately world changing.

Also, from the operation world website they have a great link to articles and ebooks about prayer that are free. I loved the article on Dog and Cat prayers! Cats are basically saying, “Dear Lord, we come boldly before
You and ask You to help us build our kingdom. ”Dogs boldly come before God as well, but they say, “Lord,we’re here with great faith because we need things from You to
help advance Your kingdom. We want to make You famous. We know You will answer our prayers.” I think that sometimes I do and we all do get stuck just praying for our own needs and those around us...not so much focusing on what is God's will and what will bring Glory to HIM. Whew ...praying is tough in a world so busy and with a brain so overloaded with things to do and places to be.

Christmas 2010

Besides that Caleb and I got step throat Christmas was good this year. It was great to hear what gift folks are going to give Jesus this year and what they are thankful to the Lord for from this past year. God's provision in each person's life was amazing. So much to be thankful for! James 1:17--
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Jeb got a 4-wheeler and I don't know who was happier Daddy or Jeb. It brought J so much joy to ride with his son. They were both smiling much of our time together outside! Caleb is content since he got a tractor from Nana Mac and Papa D to ride. He rides out through the pasture like his Power Wheels are gasoline engines. It is funny to watch him. We had a great steak dinner and family time Christmas Eve at Nana Mac's and lots of presents were opened and exchanged. Caleb loved his tractor and his tools, including a welder. Later at my family's Christmas he got even more tools and his own air compressor and that made him proud! Jeb is loving his Wii and Jonas is also enjoying hunting games with Jeb on the Wii. I am reliving my childhood playing Super Mario Brothers. We had fun with all the cousins riding dirt bikes and 4 -wheelers and with our neighbors and family ATV's we were rolling to the tune of about 8 ATV's/dirt bikes out and about. It looked like Moto-cross around here. The snow was as extra-special blessing this year and Jeb proudly reported that he did his first doughnut on the four-wheeler --yikes. It is crazy to have so many kids around, but it is also so much fun. Every year there is less fighting and more fun! The little girls are such a sweet addition to our family the past few years!

I have included an old pic of my dad in this blog, so that for the record folks can see that Jeb looks just like the man. Amazing.

Going to try to trust God for even more in 2011. It seems like each year I say that and I do better letting go in one area while holding more tightly to another. This world is so crazy and uncertain and runs so differently than how a believer should live that each day is another day to wage the war of trusting God instead of leaning on myself. Every day is a struggle to trust God for our finances, to fight greed/materialism, to give of our time/money/talents/comfort/convince to bless others, to do the tough work of parenting/discipline, to make healthy choices for me and my family, to be a wife that blesses my husband, to be patient and wait on God, to be self-controlled, to keep priorities straight...I could go on and on...
Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

I am one chapter short of finishing the book Radical by David Platt. If you want a book that completely revolutionizes how you think about your faith, what it means to be a "christian", your finances, your time, your church--READ THIS BOOK. It is by far the most convicting book I have ever read. It has really challenged me to re-vamp some things, but also encouraged me in some areas. I HIGHLY recommend it if you are ready for some serious reckoning with God.

Wasn't going to blog this week...until I saw this...

My boy's idea of a perfect winter morning. He got a new "Old Yeller" DVD for an early Christmas from Nana Mac and Papa D and he HAS TO HAVE "his dog" snuggled down with him for watching. When I came through from the laundry room this site took my breath away. There is not much more "little boy" than a 2 year-old and his pup. I never knew when I had his first bday "puppy" party that this pup would become his best buddy. I included some flashbacks to almost two years ago of the pair. Jonas and I have discussed getting her wrapped in some sort of bionic bubble wrap for protection. I know that some folks don't have pets for their kids b/c of the trouble of it...but they are SO worth it.

So much for no dogs on the couch!

Jill and I had a good time making gingerbread boys with our boys recently. They requested to make them since they had gingerbread boy silly bands.


Jeb has been learning about gun safety---even if if is suction cup darts--see paper...if you can't read it is says, "I will not shoot people." Old school discipline folks. Caleb took a dart to the eye this week...YIKES. Still, the love to chase each other with the dart guns...I've been hit...it doesn't hurt that bad...unless it is in the eye, of course.

Thoughts from the Purpose of Christmas and of course other random thoughts

THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS…

Have you ever read the entire Serenity Prayer? …I don’t think I had….

God, Grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change ; The courage, to change the things I can; And the wisdom, to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.
Reinhold Niebuhr


THOUGHTS ON THE RICK WARREN BOOK (The Purpose of Christmas) I’VE READ THIS MONTH THAT REALLY MOVED ME…
What are you most thankful to God for this year?
What gift will you give Jesus for his birthday?

--Am I devoting my life to living for significance? Everyone lives life at three levels: survival, success, and significance.

--justified means “just as if I never sinned” WOW!

--Salvation means FREEDOM—God did not intend for us to live independently of him and try to “work things out” on our own…He allows us problems so that we can depend on him…

“actually he had the solution to your problem in mind long before you even knew it was a problem. He’s been waiting for you to stop trying and start trusting.”

--The more your pray, the less you panic.

--The more your worship, the less you worry. ..which reminds me of when I asked the kids at Thanksgiving how we can be thankful to God and Jeb's answer: "worship" --yes, Foothills Community Church, worship!

--Blessed are the peacemakers--peace has to be MADE...you can love it, need it, want it, be peaceable...but to be a peacemaker that involves WORK.

--forgiving and trusting are two different things: forgiveness should be instant and unconditional while building back trust takes a long time and much work...

Salvation is freedom from the expectations of others—“The fear of human opinion disables.”

Love liberates. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn't have perfect love.
When Jesus met people his first words were usually…”what do you want me to do for you?”

Christmas should be a CELEBRATION!! Your capacity for enjoyment is evidence of God’s love for you …The Bible says that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

New International Version (©1984)
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Gotta love the Message version of the scripture...
Galatians 5:19 (The Message)

19-21 " It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom."

In other news:

Caleb is eating that toothpaste in his bathroom...disgusting...I told him it would hurt his tummy and he replied, "it's nice."

Then, while I was sweeping the kitchen just now he told me that he wanted some "pencils that you can eat."...took me a minute...pretzels.


We had a blast caroling with friends. Caleb ran up front and center for most houses and looked just adorable standing there and attempting to sing. Made my heart so happy!

When Santa arrived the kids were spellbound. Seeing their faces as he handed out the gifts was toooooo cute!

Caleb was recently wrapped up in a blanket in our living room when he announced ...."look I am baby Jesus!"

We also had a fun cook out with friends recently...the men/cavemen enjoyed making fire with sticks (notice Caleb was right in the thick of it), the gals enjoyed chatting and laughing, we all enjoyed smores, and all the kids enjoyed wrestling and wii-ing when the weather outside was too "frightful"!

Ollis Strikes Again...

Ollis Strikes Again...

Caleb and Jeb have discovered the movie "Old Yeller" and while Jeb likes it...Caleb is mildly obsessed with it. He embodies the character of Ollis with all his ideas and shenanigans he gets into around the farm. He is an independent spirit and a free-thinker for sure!

Today I thought that since it was so frigid and windy and Cay wanted to "play outside", "let Sarah in", and "ride my bike" that I thought I would back out the van and let them play in the garage while I cook supper. Oh boy! I went out there once and Ollis had her tucked in her bed again.(He recently took Sarah to his room and put her "night -night" by force. I busted her out.)Then, I went back out and he had come up with his solution to me not letting Sarah in b/c she stunk. He had that poor dog in the sink in ice cold water lathered up with hand soap. Sadly, she was just sitting there shivering...I took her and cleaned her and dried her off. She is now clean and smelling like Bath and Body.

This boy has dug up plants, been lost on the farm, befriended a rooster, pushes around Great Pyrenees dogs three times his size and goats with giant horns as well, rides horses alone (or desires to), and is obsessed with mastering my salad spinner...I just never know what he will be into next. Most of our doors have his "signature" on them and if he gets near scissors--watch out! He loves guns, "buns" dogs, and tools and has announced that he wants a "real tractor" and "chicks" for his next birthday. He prays every night "thank you Dod for de shop." He thinks that the shop is a wonderland. He has strong opinons about WHO he likes and dislikes and he is often up before 6am wreaking havoc around our home!

This is sticky. Kyler's new pet...and Ollis can't quite figure out if he likes reptiles.

Jeb is six now and I can't believe how kind, compassionate, smart, loving, and snuggly he is! I am also so proud that he has asked Jesus to come into his life. We are praying about when to do a Baptism b/c we want him to remember it and he HATES for people to look at him! He is a walking Bible encyclopedia and I just hope that the rest of his life he can apply all the wisdom from God's word like he already is. Jeb--you are our dream come true--we adore you.