Robby has decided on his own that he wants to be potty trained. Right now. Well, as of early last week. This came to as quite the surprise, as I assumed he wasn't ready and wouldn't be until he was 2 1/2-3. Just goes to show that trying to plan anything around children is down-right laughable.
So far, Rob is doing fairly well. He's definitely grasped the concept of going on the potty and he's getting better at letting us know he has to go before it's too late, but he's not staying 100% dry yet. We bought the spiffy Pull-Ups with Cool Alert (they get cold when wet). I never wanted to use Pull-Ups, but I'm strapped for cash right now and can't afford to do that much laundry right now. With Matt being on vacation all next week, it should be easier to stay on top of his training. I can't tell you how excited I am at the aspect of not changing one set of diapers! We're getting very close! Still trying to figure out how to keep him dry overnight. Tips welcome.
By the way, the potty shown here is the potty chair we bought Robby. Him, Daddy, and Brother went to Walmart Monday night to pick one out. I thought it was really cute because it matches the boys' bathroom. =)
Unplanned Potty Training
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
My brother-in-law came to visit and have me do his senior photos this last weekend. It was a very short visit - only a little over 24 hours, really. Way too short, but we made the best of it.
Nathaniel flew in on Saturday morning. A couple hours after getting here, him and I left to go do his senior shoot. It was a little awkward being out with my husband's brother alone, but we ended up having a really fun time - mostly laughing at each other. He can be quite ornery; much like his older brother. He very much enjoyed having his nephews all to himself and let Robby get away with murder. "But he's so cute," he told us. "How can I tell him 'no'?" All I can say about that is turnabout's fair play, Nate. Just wait until you have kids. :)
Sunday, we went to church, went to Sunday School, came home, ate lunch, and then Matt drove back up to Boise so Nate could catch his flight back to Denver. He was here so briefly, that it seemed like he wasn't here at all, now. But we accomplished what we set out to do and my in-laws were extremely pleased with the results. I admit I was slightly worried again; even more-so than I was with Emily's shoot. Everyone wants to try and impress their in-laws. I'm no different. I was worried about what they'd think about my photography style, since art is so very objective. Thankfully, they were very impressed and paid me many kind compliments. So many, in fact, I felt almost uncomfortable.
I'm no award-winning, pro photographer. Just blessed by God's good gifts that are used to bless others. He gets ALL the glory and credit for the work my meager hands produce. I am so grateful and undeserving of His kindness.
Nathaniel - Twin Falls, Idaho - 2010, originally uploaded by The Shutterbugette.
You can view more of Nate's senior photos by going here. A huge thank you to my in-laws for taking a chance and flying their son by himself on his first plane ride so I could do his photos. I'm deeply humbled and honored.
Friday, October 8, 2010
No smiles from this little guy today. Thanks to my step-mom's diagnosis over the phone, we figured out that Drew has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. He has been absolutely miserable and screams in pain more often than not due to the sore throat and lesions in his mouth. He did have a mild fever yesterday and the night before, but thanks to some Infant Motrin, his fever broke sometime last night. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done. All we can do is comfort him, help ease his pain with pain-relievers, and let it run it's course. Please pray for his comfort and recovery and for our endurance and extra patience.
On the flip-side of things, both boys are up-to-date on their shots and Drew had a check-up on Monday. He received the cleanest bill of health to date (this was prior to his HFMD episode) and now measures 27.8 inches long and weighs 19.4 pounds. He is a BIG BOY. To give you a comparison, Robby measures about 36 inches and is about 29 pounds. Not looking forward to these two hitting puberty.
Also, I have a couple other prayer requests. My father-in-law lost his job yesterday due to company-wide layoffs. Please pray for God's provision and for Dad's peace of mind as he looks for employment to support their family.
Matt applied for a different position within the company and had an interview yesterday. The interview went well, but they decided to choose another candidate who had seniority and experience. Matt will be looking into other employment or possibly going back to school to provide for our family in the very near future. Please pray for guidance and discernment on the matter, as he leads his family.
Somewhat related to my first prayer request, I have another shoot tomorrow. My brother-in-law is flying up from Denver for me to do his senior shoot. He'll only be here for a little over a day and a half, so we're kind of crunched for time. Please pray for ease of nerves and clarity of mind for me, as it's only my second senior shoot. We're looking forward to seeing him, though.
Thank you for your prayers.
On the flip-side of things, both boys are up-to-date on their shots and Drew had a check-up on Monday. He received the cleanest bill of health to date (this was prior to his HFMD episode) and now measures 27.8 inches long and weighs 19.4 pounds. He is a BIG BOY. To give you a comparison, Robby measures about 36 inches and is about 29 pounds. Not looking forward to these two hitting puberty.
Also, I have a couple other prayer requests. My father-in-law lost his job yesterday due to company-wide layoffs. Please pray for God's provision and for Dad's peace of mind as he looks for employment to support their family.
Matt applied for a different position within the company and had an interview yesterday. The interview went well, but they decided to choose another candidate who had seniority and experience. Matt will be looking into other employment or possibly going back to school to provide for our family in the very near future. Please pray for guidance and discernment on the matter, as he leads his family.
Somewhat related to my first prayer request, I have another shoot tomorrow. My brother-in-law is flying up from Denver for me to do his senior shoot. He'll only be here for a little over a day and a half, so we're kind of crunched for time. Please pray for ease of nerves and clarity of mind for me, as it's only my second senior shoot. We're looking forward to seeing him, though.
Thank you for your prayers.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Awhile back, we had a pizza at Gertie's called the Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Surprisingly, we fell in love with it, but then our love affair ended there. Then, we got a Buffalo Wild Wings in town and our love for hot sauce was suddenly rekindled. I swear we put hot sauce on everything, now! We now make our own version of Buffalo Wild Wing's Traditional Wings with Medium Sauce thanks to an online recipe we found. Naturally, the next step was to make our own Buffalo Chicken Pizza, but (and I may be biased when saying this) I think our version turned out better than Gertie's!
Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza
Crust
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110° F)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Buffalo Sauce
1 cup Frank’s cayenne pepper sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
*Note: You won't have to use the full amount this makes. Add to taste.
Ranch Sauce
1 16 oz. container sour cream
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
Other
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
shredded mozzarella cheese, to taste
1. Mix together ingredients for Buffalo Sauce and set aside.
2. Mix together ingredients for Ranch Sauce and set aside.
3. Cube chicken. Season with salt and pepper and cook in a skillet with hot oil until browned. Toss chicken in Buffalo Sauce until thoroughly covering. Set aside.
4. Preheat oven to 450° F. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
5. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
6. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal.
7. Spread on Ranch Sauce. Layer mozzarella cheese, Buffalo Chicken, and some more cheese. Optional: Dash Frank's Red Hot on top, depending on taste.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is bubbling.
Buffalo Chicken Ranch Pizza
Crust
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110° F)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Buffalo Sauce
1 cup Frank’s cayenne pepper sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
*Note: You won't have to use the full amount this makes. Add to taste.
Ranch Sauce
1 16 oz. container sour cream
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dip
Other
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
shredded mozzarella cheese, to taste
1. Mix together ingredients for Buffalo Sauce and set aside.
2. Mix together ingredients for Ranch Sauce and set aside.
3. Cube chicken. Season with salt and pepper and cook in a skillet with hot oil until browned. Toss chicken in Buffalo Sauce until thoroughly covering. Set aside.
4. Preheat oven to 450° F. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
5. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
6. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal.
7. Spread on Ranch Sauce. Layer mozzarella cheese, Buffalo Chicken, and some more cheese. Optional: Dash Frank's Red Hot on top, depending on taste.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is bubbling.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Happy six months, Booger!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Grandma's Visit
We were blessed by a special visit by my step-mom, Kathy, this last week. She flew down on Saturday and left today. It's never a long enough visit, it seems. We always love having them here (even though it was just her this time - my dad had to work, unfortunately) and are always incredibly sad to see them go. It was hard dropping her off at the airport and even harder when Robby called out, "Grandma! Grandma!" when we got home. I really wish we all lived closer. We cherish the time we do get and pray for time together again soon.
Last night, we enjoyed the beautiful weather from the porch, watching the boys play while Matt was at AWANA. I snapped some photos - something I always forget or chicken out of when they're here. I never want to be a burden or bossy photographer, but always kick myself for missing memories. Kathy was kind enough to take this one of me and the boys. I love it.
Kathy, as usual, was a huge help with Drew, who has been quite cranky the past few days. We later discovered that he's frustrated by his immobility and that he now loves his walker and being outside.
This is the happiest I've seen him in days! Grandma sure has the magic touch!
Robby playing with his soccer ball. This kid is constant motion, now. It's incredibly hard to catch a shot of him sitting still!
Lots of loves from Grandma.
A little girl and her mom from our complex came to join us as we were sitting outside. Robby, always eager to entertain and amuse, was playing peek-a-boo with her. She was cracking up!
This was taken the next day. I felt bad that I was able to get so many of Kathy and Drew together, but not her and Rob. We made sure to fix that before her flight.
It was a great visit. Quiet, but full of laughter and good conversation. I sure miss her already. I hate good-byes.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
YUM.
That's all I have to say about this recipe. I found it in a free e-book from Gooseberry Patch.There's another chocolate chip cookie recipe in there that calls for instant vanilla pudding, which will make them incredibly soft.
Devilishly Good Chocolate Chip Cookies
By Gooseberry Patch
18-1/2 oz. pkg. devil’s food cake mix
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mix dry cake mix and remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks. Makes 3-1/2 dozen.
ALSO - we found a very tasty way to cook corn on the cob tonight. Just throw the ears into a 350° oven, husks and all, for 30 minutes. The corn comes out tender, full of flavor, and makes the house smell like popcorn as it's cooking. =)
That's all I have to say about this recipe. I found it in a free e-book from Gooseberry Patch.There's another chocolate chip cookie recipe in there that calls for instant vanilla pudding, which will make them incredibly soft.
Devilishly Good Chocolate Chip Cookies
By Gooseberry Patch
18-1/2 oz. pkg. devil’s food cake mix
1/2 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mix dry cake mix and remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks. Makes 3-1/2 dozen.
ALSO - we found a very tasty way to cook corn on the cob tonight. Just throw the ears into a 350° oven, husks and all, for 30 minutes. The corn comes out tender, full of flavor, and makes the house smell like popcorn as it's cooking. =)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
I love Our Best Bites! They have the best recipes! We had these this morning and they were simple, delicious, and filling. I left out the Tabasco, but later we dashed a little Frank's Red Hot on top, which made it even better (I'm getting very brave about spicy food).
English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas
Recipe by Our Best Bites
6 whole wheat English muffins at room temperature
4 eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
About 10 dashes Tabasco sauce
12 thin deli slices of ham or 10-12 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
3/4-1 c. shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
Optional: Chopped vegetables like green onions, tomatoes, sliced olives, mushrooms, green peppers, etc.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray liberally with non-stick cooking spray or brush with oil or melted butter. Set aside.
In a pie plate, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and Tabasco sauce. Gently pull apart each English muffin and soak each side (like you would for French toast) in the egg mixture--you want the egg mixture to soak into the bread, but you don't want the English muffin to be completely falling apart. Place the muffin, cut side up, on the baking sheet.
If using ham, slice the ham into thin strips and then place on top of the English muffins. If using bacon, just sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top. Add any additional desired toppings and then sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 15 minutes and serve immediately.
FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS: After baking, loosen them from the baking sheet with a spatula and then allow them to cool completely. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer. When the pizzas are solid, transfer them to a large Ziploc freezer bag. To reheat, place on a plate and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes at a time until the pizza is heated through (actual time will depend on how powerful your microwave is).
English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas
Recipe by Our Best Bites
6 whole wheat English muffins at room temperature
4 eggs, at room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
About 10 dashes Tabasco sauce
12 thin deli slices of ham or 10-12 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
3/4-1 c. shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese
Optional: Chopped vegetables like green onions, tomatoes, sliced olives, mushrooms, green peppers, etc.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray liberally with non-stick cooking spray or brush with oil or melted butter. Set aside.
In a pie plate, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and Tabasco sauce. Gently pull apart each English muffin and soak each side (like you would for French toast) in the egg mixture--you want the egg mixture to soak into the bread, but you don't want the English muffin to be completely falling apart. Place the muffin, cut side up, on the baking sheet.
If using ham, slice the ham into thin strips and then place on top of the English muffins. If using bacon, just sprinkle the crumbled bacon on top. Add any additional desired toppings and then sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 15 minutes and serve immediately.
FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS: After baking, loosen them from the baking sheet with a spatula and then allow them to cool completely. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer. When the pizzas are solid, transfer them to a large Ziploc freezer bag. To reheat, place on a plate and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes at a time until the pizza is heated through (actual time will depend on how powerful your microwave is).
Monday, September 13, 2010
No one really believes just how big Drew is. Here's a picture to put it into perspective for you. Here, he's wearing 9-month-old sized pj's. It gets better. Robby was finally able to wear these when he was 7 months old. Drew's just shy of 5 1/2 months old.
Yeah, I think Rob's going to regret thumping on his little brother someday...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I can't believe fair time has came and went. Where has the year gone? Matt spent most of his three day weekend working the church booth and evangelizing to passing fair-goers. He got into some interesting conversations, as usual. You never know what you're going to come across, but please be praying for those seeds that were sown. We went to the fair twice this year as a family, but the first time wasn't the best. By the time we made it out the door, it was almost the boys' naptime. Not a good time to do ANYTHING. So, we went again another day, AFTER naptime. It was a much better time! Here's Rob sitting on the back of a front-end loader. He was very brave!
We were so happy Robby could ride the rides this year. Last year he was too young (barely a year), so this year was a lot more fun. We chose a mild ride to start with because we didn't know how he'd react (even though this carousel was a lot faster than it looks) and Matt rode with him. Rob had an absolute blast and came running to me, proudly saying, "Rode horse! Rode horse!"
The second he went on he got to "drive" a firetruck all by himself! Well, he had a few passengers, but none of them got sick or started crying, so he must have drove well. He did great!
Obviously Drew didn't do any rides, but he was content to watch the rides and people go by.
The second car he drove. Again, all by himself! He didn't cry or freak out at all. We were very surprised and proud of him!
Matt loves the draft horses, so we spent some time in the draft horse barn, of course. I'm in awe of their incredible mass!
We splurged a little and bought a cup of food at the petting zoo. Robby thought the tickling tongues on his hand were a riot until he realized that his new friends had left quite a bit of drool. This kid HATES having his hands dirty for too long!
Matt and both entered five photos this year. Matt got a blue and red and I got a red and two whites. We ended up looking very patriotic. The judging seemed a lot tougher this year, so we were happy to get anything!
As usual, the fair was a lot of fun to attend and enter our hard work in, but I'm so glad it's over. I've definitely had my fill for a year. I'm happy to have my husband back - for now, until AWANA and Bible study starts up again. All for His glory!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I have inadvertently spearheaded a ministry. I know. Like I need more on my plate, but maybe you, my dear reader, can help me.
I stumbled across an organization called Caps for Good, where you knit or crochet baby hats for babies in third-world countries. I liked the premise, but it lacked the all-important gospel. There's no point in doing good for people if it lacks the message of salvation. "Just makes the world a nicer place to go to Hell from," as my husband says. So, I searched and searched for a "Christian version", but to no avail. I prayed for God to send me an opportunity, if it was His will for me to serve Him in this way.
The next day, Kathy, my step-mom, contacted me and said that I could send over goods (hats, mittens, scarves, blankets, etc.) with her when she goes back to Africa with The Luke Commission (details below) in February. Yes, believe it or not, it does get cold in Africa! She told me that they use whatever warmth they can find, as their homes are not heated, nor are they very well-insulated (most live in shacks or huts). I thanked her profusely and started "recruiting" as many of my "yarnie" friends as I could think of. So far, I have a couple ladies from my church who are interested, but I'm sure we could use a lot more.
If anyone is interested in donating your time and talent to help our cause, please comment and I can give you the needed information. Warm, good-quality crocheted or knitted goods infant to adult size are needed. Even if you're interested in donating yarn, that will be a blessing, too! It will be a wonderful way to help spread the gospel and help the people of Swaziland!
I stumbled across an organization called Caps for Good, where you knit or crochet baby hats for babies in third-world countries. I liked the premise, but it lacked the all-important gospel. There's no point in doing good for people if it lacks the message of salvation. "Just makes the world a nicer place to go to Hell from," as my husband says. So, I searched and searched for a "Christian version", but to no avail. I prayed for God to send me an opportunity, if it was His will for me to serve Him in this way.
The next day, Kathy, my step-mom, contacted me and said that I could send over goods (hats, mittens, scarves, blankets, etc.) with her when she goes back to Africa with The Luke Commission (details below) in February. Yes, believe it or not, it does get cold in Africa! She told me that they use whatever warmth they can find, as their homes are not heated, nor are they very well-insulated (most live in shacks or huts). I thanked her profusely and started "recruiting" as many of my "yarnie" friends as I could think of. So far, I have a couple ladies from my church who are interested, but I'm sure we could use a lot more.
If anyone is interested in donating your time and talent to help our cause, please comment and I can give you the needed information. Warm, good-quality crocheted or knitted goods infant to adult size are needed. Even if you're interested in donating yarn, that will be a blessing, too! It will be a wonderful way to help spread the gospel and help the people of Swaziland!
About The Luke Commission: (From their website) "The Luke Commission is a Christian medical mission serving remote regions in southern Africa. We take our mobile medical clinic to rural villages, schools, churches, chief's kraals, and orphan care points and offer free medical care, medications, HIV testing and counseling, vision care, eyeglasses, Bibles and the Hope of the Gospel. Current efforts are concentrated in the bush of Swaziland, a tiny country with the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world."
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." -Matthew 28:19-20
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Guess who's turning five months on Monday? =)
He's a pretty happy little guy these days, but still has his moments. We see him slowly, but surely growing out of it, though.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I've been pondering this lately. Not out of disbelief, but as a way of "quizzing" myself to make sure I'm walking the correct path. As a believer, I could probably rattle off a brief description of my Lord, and although my answer wouldn't cover it all, I know my answers would be "biblically-sound". There are so many people out there that claim to know Christ, but really don't know a single thing about who He really is. Some say a prophet, some say Michael the Archangel, some say the spirit brother of Lucifer, and others - just a nice guy who shared his lunch and knew some pretty nifty party tricks. God's Word doesn't refer to Him as any of these things. It's vital to know the "real Jesus" in order to be saved. As the Bible says:
Or for you KJV only-ers:
I know Christmas is still a little ways away, but that's where Jesus' story (as most people know it) "begins". I came across this great article by Pastor John MacArthur, a man I deeply respect and trust when it comes to all things biblical. Are you following the correct Jesus? You better make sure - your eternity depends on it.
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12 ESV
Or for you KJV only-ers:
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11-12 KJV
I know Christmas is still a little ways away, but that's where Jesus' story (as most people know it) "begins". I came across this great article by Pastor John MacArthur, a man I deeply respect and trust when it comes to all things biblical. Are you following the correct Jesus? You better make sure - your eternity depends on it.
---
Why did Jesus come to Earth?
Who was that child in the manger? God. We see that clearly now. But why would God become a man, be born in such a lowly manner, and let men treat Him the way they did? Why would Jesus, while existing "before all things" (Colossians 1:17) and holding "first place in everything" (v. 18), agree to come to earth as a baby, suffer the abuse He suffered, and die such a painful death? The apostle Paul is clear: "It was the Father's good pleasure ... through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (vv. 19-20).
He did it to make peace between God and man. God is justifiably angry at humanity's sin. All of us have sinned--and done so repeatedly. Yet He loves sinners enough that He gave His own Son to live on earth, die on a cross, and bear sin in His own body, suffering the full weight of God's wrath--wrath deserved by sinners. He paid the penalty to restore peace between God and sinners. It could not have been done any other way.
So Christmas is primarily a celebration of God's love toward mankind. The babe in a manger is more than just a tender child. He is the express image of God. He took on a body of human flesh so He could bear in that body the sins of the world. He made possible the gift of God--eternal life (Romans 6:23). That is the sum of the Christmas message.
Don't get lost in the wide scope of it all. The incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is nothing if it is not personal. This is the message of Christmas for you: He who entered this world and took on human flesh died on a cross to bear sin, to pay the penalty for iniquity, to remove guilt.
That pardon from guilt He offers to you. Jesus came to forgive sinners and bring them into His presence by virtue of His own sacrificial death. Do you desire His forgiveness and long to know God's loving embrace?
You must respond.
Specifically, God calls you to respond in faith. Turn from your sin to follow Him. Believe He has forgiven your sin and trust Him with your life (John 3:18, 36). Follow Him without reservation. Jesus Christ must take His rightful place as Lord--first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). Submit to Him and He who created everything will make you a new creature, remolded in His image, with new desires and a new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Should you respond to God's offer of forgiveness in Christ, this Christmas will truly be a time to celebrate, for you will have the greatest gift you can ever receive, "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
Pastor John MacArthur
Grace To You
Source
He did it to make peace between God and man. God is justifiably angry at humanity's sin. All of us have sinned--and done so repeatedly. Yet He loves sinners enough that He gave His own Son to live on earth, die on a cross, and bear sin in His own body, suffering the full weight of God's wrath--wrath deserved by sinners. He paid the penalty to restore peace between God and sinners. It could not have been done any other way.
So Christmas is primarily a celebration of God's love toward mankind. The babe in a manger is more than just a tender child. He is the express image of God. He took on a body of human flesh so He could bear in that body the sins of the world. He made possible the gift of God--eternal life (Romans 6:23). That is the sum of the Christmas message.
Don't get lost in the wide scope of it all. The incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is nothing if it is not personal. This is the message of Christmas for you: He who entered this world and took on human flesh died on a cross to bear sin, to pay the penalty for iniquity, to remove guilt.
That pardon from guilt He offers to you. Jesus came to forgive sinners and bring them into His presence by virtue of His own sacrificial death. Do you desire His forgiveness and long to know God's loving embrace?
You must respond.
Specifically, God calls you to respond in faith. Turn from your sin to follow Him. Believe He has forgiven your sin and trust Him with your life (John 3:18, 36). Follow Him without reservation. Jesus Christ must take His rightful place as Lord--first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). Submit to Him and He who created everything will make you a new creature, remolded in His image, with new desires and a new heart (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Should you respond to God's offer of forgiveness in Christ, this Christmas will truly be a time to celebrate, for you will have the greatest gift you can ever receive, "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
Pastor John MacArthur
Grace To You
Source
Biblical Parenting
Don’t just teach your children external self-control; train them to understand temptation and resist it. Don’t just teach them manners; teach them why pride is sinful and why greed, lust, selfishness, and covetousness dishonor God. Punish t...hem for external offenses, but teach them that the root issue is always a deeper problem – corruption in their hearts. When you correct them, don’t do it merely to satisfy you as the offended, irritated, frustrated parent. That’s anger; it’s vengeance. But when you correct them help them to see that it is first of all God who has been offended and that He offers reconciliation through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
John MacArthur
Spiritual Depression
Would you like to be rid of this spiritual depression? The first thing you have to do is to say farewell now once and for ever to your past. Realize that it has been covered and blotted out in Christ. Never look back at your sins again. Say: “It is finished; it is covered by the Blood of Christ.” That is your first step. Take that and finish with yourself and all this talk about goodness, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only then that true happiness and joy are possible for you. What you need is not to make resolutions to live a better life, to start fasting and sweating and praying. No! You just begin to say: “I rest my faith on Him alone who died for my transgressions to atone.”
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Spiritual Depression – Its Causes and its Cures
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Today we made a robot! We talked about colors and shapes as I cut them out. Rob's really loving these little projects we're doing together. He's so proud to hang his work up on the fridge every day.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Things have not being going as well as we'd like. We're definitely in the midst of trial. Raising and just tending to the boys has been more challenging than ever before, as both demand more and more of our attention, energy, and patience. It's taken it's toll on us individually and as a couple, but by the grace of God, we stumble through. I can definitely see it's effects on myself. I'm gaining weight like no tomorrow, my hair is falling out in clumps, and I've been struggling with my depression on a daily basis. This is definitely the hardest thing I've had to do in my entire life. Yet, I still praise God. I know that this is His purpose for me at this time and that He will give me strength and faith to endure. This time is so fleeting, despite it's seemingly dragging pace right now. We will someday look back at this time and thank God for getting us through and for making us better because of it. I'm realizing now that God has sent me these boys not only to care for and raise to be righteous men, but to refine me as a person and servant to Him as well. Never see yourself as "not that bad". God sees that as a challenge and will show you otherwise! I am more impatient and selfish than I thought before and I have proven it over and over again lately! It's as if God sent me two little mirrors to show me the true me. Scary. Some days I feel as if I'm struggling just to stay afloat, but lo and behold - I survived another day. I don't want to merely "survive", though. I want to rejoice in being allowed another day on Earth with my little family! But sadly, the flesh doesn't always see it that way. God's still working on me.
That aside, we've been keeping busy as usual. I had the pleasure and honor of shooting my "baby" cousin's senior photos a couple weeks ago. It went great and we got some good shots that her mom and herself were very pleased with. Shortly after, our photography finally turned into a business. Yep, that's right! Marshall Photography is now a legit business! We're very blessed and very thankful to God for allowing our passion to turn into something more. We're going very slow for right now, but it will be interesting to see where the Lord takes us from here. We hope to save up to buy a camera for Matt and a new computer, since our desktop is definitely showing it's age as of late. It's sad to think that four years is old in computer years, but we've maxed it to it's capacity with upgrades and it's getting worse and worse. In due time. We need a minivan first. Come on tax time! Other than that, we all fell victim to a nasty stomach flu that was circulating our church family. A friend of ours coined it the "Amazon Flu" because our VBS (rainforest-themed) kids brought it upon us. I
Where did this year go? Is it really almost school time again? It seems as if I just blinked and POOF! It's August! Crazy. Well, that's all I have for you right now. Really just to say "we're alive and we need prayer". We covet those prayers if you think of us. It's been increasingly more difficult as the days progress, but I know that only God can get us through it. He has never failed to take care of this little family. Until next time.
Monday, August 2, 2010
It was suggested to me that Robby might be starting to get bored, so in order to stimulate that little brain of his, I decided to start doing a craft or activity (just him and I) each day. Today we made a Robby collage. I dug out some parenting magazines, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, and some card stock and let him pick out pictures of things he liked (lots of food, you'll notice) and I pasted them onto the paper for him. It was fun at first, but two poopie diapers, a two-year-old's short attention span, and one screaming baby brother later, it went from fun to stressful. I think he still had a good time doing a craft with me, though. That's all that matters. I have a lot more craft ideas, so I hope to keep this up. I just hope future mornings aren't as nightmarish as this morning was.
Also, I'm late on Drew's four-month picture. Four months! Crazy, no?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I would have never guessed this in a million years! We're definitely a Calvinist household. That's why I found this so interesting! The text reads:
Calvin and Hobbes
"John Calvin (1509-1564) was a French theologian during the Protestant Reformation and was a central developer of Calvinism - an approach to the Christian life that emphasizes God's sovereignty in all things. The system is perhaps best known for it's doctrines of predestination and total depravity, the fallen state of man as a result of the general condition of sinfulness into which human beings are born.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was an English philosopher, today best remembered for his work on political philosophy. Hobbes's account of human nature as self-interested cooperation has proved to be an enduring theory in the field of philosophical anthropology.
Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the antics of an imaginative six-year-old boy and his sardonic - albeit stuffed - tiger. The pair are named after John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes."
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