Taking advice from "Zee French Peas"

We've been watching a few different Veggie Tales movies in our house lately. And we've been learning about Josh and the walls of Jericho, and David and his fight with Goliath, for instance. They have reminded me about how God sometimes uses people who seem unlikely choices for the job at hand, and this has been a welcome reminder. Especially lately, as I wrestle with decisions and opportunities that have been presented to me.

In deciding how to spend specific moments of my time, which opportunities are gifts, and which opportunities are distractions, it's quick to dismiss those opportunities that seem to be out of character, or out of what seems to be my set of abilities. In these moments, I'm reminded that just because I think I can't do something, doesn't mean God has not given me the ability. Just because it's the unlikely choice, doesn't mean it's not the right choice. And just because it may be difficult, doesn't mean it can't be done.

Obviously, quitting my job didn't seem like the easy decision. And I never thought that I had the personality to be a stay-at-home mom. But here I am! It works. And we love it! How can I doubt the God that created me to be who I am?

These are principles I want to be sure to teach my kids. It's especially crucial in these early years when I hear a lot of "I can't," and "I'm too little," and "it's too hard." It's encouraging to be able to speak about people from the Bible who have shown that being too little, or having a job that seems too hard, hasn't stopped God from doing miraculous things.

I know personally, that if I wait patiently, and ask God to present His will for me in the decisions I face lately, my choices should become clear. (I'm still waiting for that certain feeling...) In the meantime, I have been praying. Praying about whether the uncertainties I feel are because the timing is incorrect, or whether it's just my human fears and doubt. And I've been opening myself to those times when I might be wrong in thinking that I'm not the right person for the job. I mean, David seemed an unlikely choice against Goliath, right? And the French Peas thought Josh could keep walking, and the wall would never fall.

God has a purpose in all of this. And He will give me the ability to fulfill His plans for me, whatever they may be. So if you're like me, join me in taking the advice of the French Peas and "Just keep walking." And don't forget to ask God to reveal His plans for you.

To my husband

Dear Husband:

I'm hiding in the bathroom to write you this note because I have three children singing "clean up" in their bedrooms in anticipation of the "get dressed, have breakfast, and go outside" rush. (I have less than five minutes before one of them realizes I'm gone and they call come searching for me.)

So, in five minutes or less:

For the long days you spend at work and the nights you spend working on projects from home, thank you for providing for us.
For the evenings when you stop at the grocery store quickly to grab items I forgot and absolutely need in order to serve our meal, thank you for saving dinner.
For the days when our children question beyond "How does this work," and I have to answer "hmmm... I'm not sure, but Dad knows," thanks for giving all the technical answers.
For the evenings and weekends when you juggle planting and tending a garden, thank you feeding us while cutting down on the mowing.
For the evenings and weekends when you juggle the roles of Mr. Fix It and Mr. Build it, thank you for making and bettering our home.
For the nights when you read the Bible to our children while I clean up from dinner, thank you for helping our children learn to obey God.
For the nights when you ask our children to give you "a BIG kiss," a hug, and sometimes a high-five, before tucking them in their beds, thank you for being a loving father.

For all these things AND MORE that you do while being a partner to me, thank you for choosing me as your bride more than eight years ago. I can't think of a person I would have rather had at my side when having each of our beautiful children. And I can't imagine another person at my side for the rest of our lives.

I pray for you, and thank God for you. Happy Father's Day.

Love,
Wife

I failed miserably...

Let me first start by saying I've never made Puppy Chow in my life (I'm not talking about dog food here, people). But I've seen even the worst cooks of the world make this stuff, and I'm going to just step out and say-- I'm a pretty good cook. I've never really messed up a recipe, and I've never had anyone refuse the things I've prepared (well, with the exception of the time my husband was appalled by the liver and onions on his dinner plate).

But, today, I failed miserably.... with PUPPY CHOW.

In the first place, I didn't ever plan I'd make Puppy Chow. Have you ever seen the ingredients list for this recipe? But, in cleaning out my cupboards, I found a box of Rice Chex that my kids have refused to eat to this day. Waste not, want not. Right? I thought we'd give Puppy Chow a try, and then take a looooong walk.

I used my new "Evernote Food" app to search for a recipe, and was excited to find a "Healthy Puppy Chow" recipe without all the sugar. (You've already spotted my error, correct?) Simple ingredients: Chex, peanut butter, and cocoa powder.

The result: Chalky, chunky, cocoa flavored cereal.
Having seen this, I resolved to roll the mixture in powdered sugar to save it, but instead of saving it, I ended up with chunks of soggy, chalky, chunky, SUGAR-flavored sugar.

Feeling rather defeated and frustrated, I turned to my three sous chefs to apologize for ruining what they recognized as Puppy Chow (remind me later to ask who introduced my children to puppy chow). And I was quickly reminded that children don't care about gourmet. Cue the "Nom nom nom"s.

So there you have it. One of many reasons I love my children is that they love me even through my errors and faults. Come to think of it, so does God. And what a blessing to have both.

Now, I need a glass of milk. And probably a long jog. Seriously, did you think I didn't taste some?

My demonstration of servitude

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” Acts 9:35-38

By faith, my parents baptized me as an infant, and I am grateful for their desire to commit me to the Lord. I have since learned from the Bible that Jesus was baptized as an adult, and his disciples were baptized also, as an act of obedience --as a showing of a personal acceptance of Jesus Christ and a decision to personally follow Him. 

My mother started growing in faith while I was in Junior High/High School. During those years, I made the decision to accept Christ into my heart. But truthfully, I never made faith and servitude a priority. I never gained a personal relationship with Jesus because I didn’t make the time, and wasn’t serious in my effort. But over the past year, my responsibility for my children, as well as my responsibility for my own personal salvation, has made clear to me that just saying that I believe in Jesus Christ isn’t enough. I want Him to change me. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11

Two Sundays ago, I was baptized in our church. I wanted to be baptized in order to outwardly show my growth and commitment to Christ. My commitment is not only to follow and obey, but to teach my children, to spread the Word to anyone and everyone (this is what we are all called to do). I also wanted to show my children what true obedience is. That there’s nothing more important in this world than truly knowing the one person who can change you and prepare you for the eternal life that is promised all of us through Jesus Christ.

There was a specific time within the last year when I made a decision to listen and obey a command God was giving me and my family (I'll tell you about this another time). Since then, I've seen changes in myself. And I’ve seen my family changed. My children are changed; our relationship is changed. And my relationship with my husband is changed. I have been blessed immensely since making the decision to follow Christ with my full heart and mind.

I continue to work on myself -- God is working on me. I now realize that the only way I can be a “good Mom” and a “good Wife” is to be a servant of Christ, to ask forgiveness every day for my shortcomings and the errors I make. I thank God every day for my Salvation, and I pray through some means, that if God has not already shown Himself so wonderfully to you, that you will seek His presence in your life as well.

The end of my "vacation"...

Most people schedule vacations to take a break from their full time jobs. When you have three children, six years and younger, many times your full time job acts as your vacation. Each day, I was able to get away and "relax" in my chair at work, staring at my computer and conversing with adults. In many ways, I vacationed every day from 7:30am - 4:30pm. 

Recently, my daily "vacations" ended. 

The proceeding posts will be those of a recently proclaimed "stay-at-home mom." Trading in my corporate desk job for three little faces, six messy hands, laundry and dishes for 24 hours per day (14 hours if they stay asleep at night), will prove to be the hardest job I've ever attempted. And the largest blessing I've received since the birth of each of my beautiful children.