Well I finally got struck with a stomach bug yesterday....no matter how hard I tried I was unable to avoid it. It was 15 long hours of torture, but I am finally on the mend and actually feeling rather rested.
Eric was the true hero yesterday - since it started at 6:30am he had to do the morning routine of getting the kids off to school and my carpool partner was kind enough to take Court home for the day after school....thank you Patti!
All I had to do was text Skills and he would come running up to help me with whatever I needed - TV - Gatorade - socks. He took such good care of me and I am so grateful to have such an amazing husband.
I love you skills!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Picture of Jesus
So I'm part of a Bible Study that is going thru the book "Strong Women, Soft Heart". I joined mostly because I had two people who I was making friends with and I wanted to spend more quality time with them. Little did I know how pertinent to my life this perticular book would be. I'm sure God new...he..he...
This morning our chapter was on Trust - something I don't particularly put in many and struggle with all the time. Our leader brought a giant framed picture of Jesus with a lap full of children. At first glance its just like any other picture you've seen of Jesus and a bunch of kids....but she asked us to study it and talk about it.
The center of the picture is Jesus with an amuzed, excited look on his face. A beautiful dark haired girl standing behind him with her arms drapped over his shoulders. Two boys sitting on his lap - one giggling and one contemplating something making him smile while one of his Saviours arms is wrapped around him. Another energetic little boy holding the other hand is being pulled up from the ground. And that last one is a little boy looking at and playing with Jesus' leg. I'm sure each of us women came up with something a little different that we took from the picture, something that will shape how we view ourselves and our children and the relationship that we have with Christ.
I was so comforted by the little boy looking playing with his leg. It made me picture Andrew and more what his relationship with Christ looks like. Not the cliimb in your lap or play with you kind of relationship; but the just want to hang around and be with you kind. The enjoy your company and explore my world around you kind. It was a visual I needed and now I have to figure out which one of those little children is me.....
This morning our chapter was on Trust - something I don't particularly put in many and struggle with all the time. Our leader brought a giant framed picture of Jesus with a lap full of children. At first glance its just like any other picture you've seen of Jesus and a bunch of kids....but she asked us to study it and talk about it.
The center of the picture is Jesus with an amuzed, excited look on his face. A beautiful dark haired girl standing behind him with her arms drapped over his shoulders. Two boys sitting on his lap - one giggling and one contemplating something making him smile while one of his Saviours arms is wrapped around him. Another energetic little boy holding the other hand is being pulled up from the ground. And that last one is a little boy looking at and playing with Jesus' leg. I'm sure each of us women came up with something a little different that we took from the picture, something that will shape how we view ourselves and our children and the relationship that we have with Christ.
I was so comforted by the little boy looking playing with his leg. It made me picture Andrew and more what his relationship with Christ looks like. Not the cliimb in your lap or play with you kind of relationship; but the just want to hang around and be with you kind. The enjoy your company and explore my world around you kind. It was a visual I needed and now I have to figure out which one of those little children is me.....
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Hab 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Can I Change My Name
Today I was asked by Courtney if she could change her name. I was trying not to be offended since I gave her that name and asked her what name she would choose if she could change it. She decided she wanted her name to be "Hannah". I said "But I gave you your name, you don't want it?" She said "Well, when I'm done with Hannah I take back Courtney." So, do I call her Courtney or Hannah?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Living Church Out There
A song starts and there is a very large line of people lined up out the back door of the stage. Thie first woman walks to the front of the stage holding a large piece of cardboard. The side facing us says "Who others want me to be" she flips the cardboard over and reveals "Who God wants me to be". Another steps forward - "Lost Alcoholic" flipping the cardboard to say "Saved and Sober -17 Years". A young teenage boy steps forward "Buddhist...Lost" flipped to say "Found...Saved". One by one 17 different people stepped forward revealing a past of sin or pain and flipped their cardboard to reveal a mighty work of God in their life. It ended with the last few people flipping their cardboard thru clapping and cheering and we celebrated the amazing feats that God had accomplished in their lives. I doubt there was one person sitting in that sanctuary who did not have someone on that stage that they where able to associate with.
The Pastor steps up to start the message and as he nears the end he asks us to participate. He says someone is going to come up and sing the Untitled Hymn and that each chorus has a different statement, and he asks you to stand when the chorus that you most identify with is sung.
The first chorus started "Come to Jesus" and a handfull of people stand. The second chorus began "Sing to Jesus" and another group stands. Next was "Fall on Jesus" and I stood with this group of people. Next "Cry to Jesus", "Dance for Jesus" and "Fly to Jesus" with all similar results until the entire congregation was standing. There where more people crying than not. I can't explain what an amazing feeling it was to be a part of that form of worship. Jesus was honored that morning, he was worshiped, and we were able to be a part of it.
The end of every service has a reminder from our pastor - We are the Living Church Out There!
The Pastor steps up to start the message and as he nears the end he asks us to participate. He says someone is going to come up and sing the Untitled Hymn and that each chorus has a different statement, and he asks you to stand when the chorus that you most identify with is sung.
The first chorus started "Come to Jesus" and a handfull of people stand. The second chorus began "Sing to Jesus" and another group stands. Next was "Fall on Jesus" and I stood with this group of people. Next "Cry to Jesus", "Dance for Jesus" and "Fly to Jesus" with all similar results until the entire congregation was standing. There where more people crying than not. I can't explain what an amazing feeling it was to be a part of that form of worship. Jesus was honored that morning, he was worshiped, and we were able to be a part of it.
The end of every service has a reminder from our pastor - We are the Living Church Out There!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Florida's Adventures
We have very much enjoyed a week of warm weather and relaxation...while kinda relaxation. But I won't complain - I'm sucking up all the vitamin D I can get before I return to antarctic temperatures of Minnesota.
Our journey started with a flight to Ft Myers and a few hours later piled in the van and headed to towards Orlando. Here are a few comments from that trip....
Courtney says, "Mom, is that Disney World?" as we pass a juvinile detention center.
Ten minutes later...."Mom, why are we driving to the middle of nowhere?"
There were more most hilarous comments I just didn't write them down. We had a really great day the next day at the Magic Kingdom and I'm sure it will be a memory the kids will cherish for many years to come. I was actually so impressed by Disney - we were able to get a special needs pass which allowed us access to the rides through the handicap lines and even had a restarant that served GFCF food making feeding Andrew so easy. We felt very blessed to have our trip there go so smoothly.
We returned back to Ft Myers that night and have spent the last several days with friends - at the beach - orange picking - and tons of swimming. Courtney has finally learned to swim without assistance and we are so excited to see them growing and maturing.
Though we look forward to celebrating Christmas with our families - I am trying to prepare myself for the arctic temps that we shall be re-entering in a couple days. We'll try and bring back some warmer weather....and thank you to those of you who lifted up our vacation in your prayers. Andrew has truly done well despite all the things that could have created some bad situations. May you all have a great Christmas and may you be drawn closer to your Saviour this season.
Our journey started with a flight to Ft Myers and a few hours later piled in the van and headed to towards Orlando. Here are a few comments from that trip....
Courtney says, "Mom, is that Disney World?" as we pass a juvinile detention center.
Ten minutes later...."Mom, why are we driving to the middle of nowhere?"
There were more most hilarous comments I just didn't write them down. We had a really great day the next day at the Magic Kingdom and I'm sure it will be a memory the kids will cherish for many years to come. I was actually so impressed by Disney - we were able to get a special needs pass which allowed us access to the rides through the handicap lines and even had a restarant that served GFCF food making feeding Andrew so easy. We felt very blessed to have our trip there go so smoothly.
We returned back to Ft Myers that night and have spent the last several days with friends - at the beach - orange picking - and tons of swimming. Courtney has finally learned to swim without assistance and we are so excited to see them growing and maturing.
Though we look forward to celebrating Christmas with our families - I am trying to prepare myself for the arctic temps that we shall be re-entering in a couple days. We'll try and bring back some warmer weather....and thank you to those of you who lifted up our vacation in your prayers. Andrew has truly done well despite all the things that could have created some bad situations. May you all have a great Christmas and may you be drawn closer to your Saviour this season.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
What is this?
So we had an interesting end to a very wonderful evening this fine Sunday. We were blessed with some great tickets to the Go Fish concert this evening and had a wonderful time seeing friends and listening to a really great concert.
Andy and Jason....what can I say....you guys truly have a gift and I am so proud of you for giving up all the things "you could have" for all the little lives and families that you are sharing Christ and his message with.
Anyway, back to the story. After the concert we packed up the van and headed thru the parking ramp - eric decided instead of waiting in line to leave on 9th St, he would circle back around and hit the down ramp to 394. When we got to it, it was closed so back in line we went....the end of the line. We got off 35W in Burnsville and headed down CR13. We were stopped at a stoplight waiting to turn left to take home my sis Katy and when the light turned green we started moving. This particular stoplight has two lanes and a large black SUV flew by in the left lane and headed around the corner right next to a white car in our lane. Both Eric and I cringed as we thought the SUV may lose it and smack the white car. No such luck - all was well - so we thought. It is only one block to the next light where we - and most the other cars - were turning right. The large SUV decided at the last minute that it too wanted to join the line for the right turn and Eric graciously obliged. We made our turn and within one block - the SUV had stopped in the right lane - completley stopped and the white car was half in both lanes stopped slighly behind the SUV. A rather large African American man stepped out of the SUV and approached the white car which we had suddenly decided we did not want to be next to during this particular event. We never did figure out what exactly happened - or why the large man in the SUV decided to stop his car in the middle of the street, needed to get out in the chilling stout wind and snow to approach mister white car driver. But it did create a bit more drama to our fun filled evening.
Again thank you to the Selness family and we enjoyed the concert immensly.
Andy and Jason....what can I say....you guys truly have a gift and I am so proud of you for giving up all the things "you could have" for all the little lives and families that you are sharing Christ and his message with.
Anyway, back to the story. After the concert we packed up the van and headed thru the parking ramp - eric decided instead of waiting in line to leave on 9th St, he would circle back around and hit the down ramp to 394. When we got to it, it was closed so back in line we went....the end of the line. We got off 35W in Burnsville and headed down CR13. We were stopped at a stoplight waiting to turn left to take home my sis Katy and when the light turned green we started moving. This particular stoplight has two lanes and a large black SUV flew by in the left lane and headed around the corner right next to a white car in our lane. Both Eric and I cringed as we thought the SUV may lose it and smack the white car. No such luck - all was well - so we thought. It is only one block to the next light where we - and most the other cars - were turning right. The large SUV decided at the last minute that it too wanted to join the line for the right turn and Eric graciously obliged. We made our turn and within one block - the SUV had stopped in the right lane - completley stopped and the white car was half in both lanes stopped slighly behind the SUV. A rather large African American man stepped out of the SUV and approached the white car which we had suddenly decided we did not want to be next to during this particular event. We never did figure out what exactly happened - or why the large man in the SUV decided to stop his car in the middle of the street, needed to get out in the chilling stout wind and snow to approach mister white car driver. But it did create a bit more drama to our fun filled evening.
Again thank you to the Selness family and we enjoyed the concert immensly.
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