Pox or no Pox? That is the question.

Night before last Mandi screams down the stairs that Emma has chickenpox. "I seriously don't believe so," I said. Until I looked at all the red bumps with a little white center that dotted Emma's shoulder, leg and chest. So... I kept Emma home from school yesterday. She spent the entire day playing Wii and didn't act sick one bit.

Now a day later nothing has changed. No new bumps and they don't even itch. Maybe they aren't pox. Maybe she's just the victim of bed bugs. EWWW!!! I can't even think of such yucky things. So I have stripped the sheets and washed twice her bedding in hot water in hopes to kill any nasty critters that might have lurked in her bed. I have also called the clinic because I don't think a perfectly healthy child should be home playing the wii all day long.

I know what your thinking... I think?.... Give that girl something else to do. Well, I have tried. I have bribed her to read a book. $5.00 is the price I am willing to pay her to read a book. She hates to read with a passion. Why, I really don't know. I love to get lost in a book and I can't really comprehend that someone may not enjoy that. She did do three other things yesterday besides sit in front of Mario Bros. wii game. One, she sharpened 25 pencils. Two, she made my bed. Yes sirree my bed was made for the first time in who knows how long. I thought Michael did it but seriously it looked too neatly made to be the work of my husband. I found out later that it was Emma. Third, she read Joshua three books, and helped him with his reading homework. I guess she doesn't mind reading out loud to her brother.

This morning it is back to the wii, but for a time limit. I have to leave her to go get Josh from Kindergarten and I am hiding the game and giving her another job to do. How about cleaning my room! If she is going to be home and act healthy at least my house can get clean.

We should know by tonight what those awful bumps are, hopefully. She has ski day with her school on Friday and doesn't want to miss it.

Pray that this isn't chickenpox so she can go back to school tomorrow!

I am signing off to go play wii with Emma before picking up Josh.

It's kind of addicting.

Graven: Impressed, Carved, Firmly Fixed

"Isaiah XLIX 16" by Justin Ulmer Christian Modern Art

"I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."

Isaiah 49:16

The image I get when I read this verse is when I have gripped something too tight I have an impression of that object in my hand. This impression eventually fades but to engrave takes it even further. It takes it to eternity. Yes, God has engraven you and I into his hands for eternity. You are not just written, but marked out, inscribed into his palms.

Fear. Fear is something we all experience. As a mother, I fear for my child's safety when they are not in my presence. As a wife, I fear that my husband will leave this life before me. I fear that my cancer will come back while I am still young and my children and husband have to carry on without me. Fear. It is a part of our daily life, but God doesn't want us to live this way. He wants us to surrender our fears and anxious ways to Him. I struggle with this daily. There is something so terribly hard about letting go and letting God. I don't know why- It sounds so simple, but tends to be so hard.

"That's not so hard to do ," you say, but what about when our greatest fears come true. Where is God then? Where is He in the mist of the Haitian disastrous earthquake. Where is He when sickness takes over a healthy body, or a spouse that you love deeply wants a diviorce. You name the situation, the list is long and we have all had our share of life altering pain. Has God forsaken us or them? NO! Nothing could be further from the truth.

This particular passage is written to the Israelites to remind them that God did not forsake them in their time of trouble, but this same truth is applicable for us today. He is the Creator, the Creator of everything- every nation, tribe and tongue. He also sent His only son, Jesus who took our sins upon himself who knew no sin so that we could spend eternity with Him if we accept His free gift of salvation. Jesus' nail pierced hands are phyical proof that He loves us so very much. John 10:28 says, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me."

Even in the mist of disaster, God is there ready to pick the country of Haiti up and bring beauty out of the ashes. I marvel at some of the images I have seen of Haitian people lifting their hands in praise to God. Even in the worst devestation those who know God recognize that He does indeed love them and will not forsake them.

He's there to pick you up and hold onto you tightly while you are going through the toughest of times. He is holding tightly, so tight that you are indeed graven in the palm of His hand. He will never let go. NEVER!

Charles Spurgeon wrote this-

No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold," is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God's favoured people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should make us blush; He cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth; He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert.

"Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of His hands. "I have graven thee."It does not say, "Thy name." The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee." See the fullness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when He has graven thee upon His own palms?

Happy 14th Birthday Mandi!!!

I can't explain how bitter sweet it was yesterday celebrating my oldest daughter's 14th birthday. On one hand it is so sad to say goodbye to the younger, needing mommy age but wonderfully sweet to see how God is growing my beautiful Amanda. She is lovely in every single way and a huge blessing to me.

I think I cried several times yesterday thinking over all the milestones in her 14 years of life. They were tears of happiness over the most wonderful memories. I love revisiting the past, but am so excited to think of the future and the places she'll go and the things she'll do for God. I know that He has an amazing plan for her.

My prayer is that I will be the loving, listening, encouraging mother that she needs as she goes through these last few years at home. I want to be a safe place for her, someone she can always talk to no matter what. I want to nag less about the little things that aren't that important.

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Happy Birthday Sweet Mandi! You are so beautiful both inside and out. Your inner beauty is truly a reflection of God's great love. You shine sweet lady and I hope you keep that contagious smile going. It brightens my day, every day!! Keep Jesus first in your life. Let Him be your constant when the world and friends and even parents and siblings may not. Your are the princess of the Most High King. He created you and fashioned you so perfect.

There is not a detail in your life that God will not help you with. Commit all your ways to Him. God has a definite set of plans for your life and He is the One who will guide you every single step of the way. The Bible is full of verses that proclaim this truth! Here are some of those wonderful scriptures to dwell upon.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ... "(Psalm 37:23)

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:33)


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5)

"Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." (Isaiah 48:17)

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass ... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:4,7)

Thank you for bringing your father and I and so many other people Joy by how you live your life. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Happy Birthday!

All my Love,
Mommy

Joshy's 6th Birthday!

It's kinda sad that Joshy's b-day is a couple days after Christmas. No matter how hard I try to plan for it, it is still not quite the celebration I would like to give him. He's yet to have a friends birthday party. I wanted to get it together this year but strep throat kept it from happening. I guess it's never too late to have a party. I think a half birthday party in June would be a blast. It always seems easier to have such events at a park instead of the house.

Joshua's big day was special. We went to church. We were going to skip it because Mandi and Jeff were a bit tired still from having strep. But, Joshua begged us all to go anyway. I am always so happy my children love church and don't want to play hooky from it. After church we ate out at Izzy's Buffet. This was a huge treat for us. To go to Izzy's as a family is very spendy. I am so excited to tell stories of how God blesses. And the way we got to Izzy's is one of those stories.

Two days before Christmas, Michael and the kids and I went to Bend to finish our shopping. On the way home Jeff asked if we could eat out at Izzy's. We said no, but he persisted in asking along with the rest of the kids. The kids probably hear more than they should that famous phrase, "we can't afford it right now". Both Michael and I hate using that but for a family of 6 we really don't go out to eat much. Jeff, being the sweetheart that he is offered to pay for the meal with his own money. He seriously would have spent the $50.00 to treat us all to dinner. Money isn't something he holds onto or spends. Does that make sense? What I am saying is that he doesn't usually spend it on himself but will easily give it away to others.

We sincerely thanked Jeff for his generosity but suggested that we get Abby's pizza instead which was on sale and go to the market and get some fun ice cream. The kids were a bit disappointed but happy with the alternative. When we got home with our pizza and ice cream I remembered that a friend had dropped off a Christmas card under my mat. As we were eating, I opened the card and low and behold there was a gift card of $50 in it to Izzy's!! We were all pretty shocked and very thankful that we didn't give into our desire to go to Izzy's that night. It would not have been as much fun to get that if we had already gone.

The part that humbles me is that I know this gift was a huge sacrifice for this family.

So back to Joshy's birthday! Izzy's was so much fun and we got stuffed. We practically rolled out of there.

After eating we stopped of at our adoptive grandparents house. They were suppose to join us for Christmas but we had to cancel due to the strep sickness. We spend and hour visiting them before heading to the theatre where each kids chipped in their part for the cost of the movie. We saw "The Princess and the Frog". It was a cute Disney movie but I was rather disappointed with how much evil stuff they put in there. If I was a kids of 6 I am sure I would be scared to death. We had a wonderful discussion on evil afterward. It was a great teaching moment about how God wants us to protect our eyes and ears from evil things and how Satan delights in evil and wants to distract us from it.

After the movie it was back to the house to open presents and eat cupcakes and ice cream. It was a very fun, full day and I think Joshua went to bed a happy 6 year old.

Here are some pics of the new 6 year old on hes birthday and of the rest of the family.

Knit 1, Purl 2!!

I wasn't sure what to say when my 11 year son came to me at Christmas break and told me he wanted to learn how to knit. I kind of chuckled inside but would never do that out loud so he would hear. Honestly, I have never seen a boy or man knit. That doesn't mean they don't, just haven't seen it. I told him that the best place to learn how to knit was at Mum's house ( my mom). She knits! I don't!

So...when we got to Mum's house, the first thing Jeff asked her was to teach him how to knit. His goal- to knit me a scarf by the time break was over.

Off to Michael's Craft Store we went to find some choice yarn and knitting needles. It's more expensive than I thought. I was thinking that I could buy myself a pretty little scarf for the same price. Jeff picked out a pretty brown, soft yarn. From that time on he has been busy knitting!

Two days into vacation I was so surprised to see that my son was sticking to it. Calm, peaceful are the words I think of to describe this kids when he knits. Which is almost amazing since I don't usually choose such words for him. (This is the kids who I had doctors telling me that he might have ADD and wanted to give him drugs.) At one point Jeff noticed this in himself and proclaimed that he found his inner peace. (Don't read too much into that comment. Jeff knows that Jesus is truly his inner peace.)

So for five days straight anytime I saw Jeff, he was knitting. I had to force the kid to do something else. Like, take a shower!! Eat! Sleep! There was no fighting with him and his siblings. And most of all...he wasn't bored.

I think he started the scarf over several times. With my mother's help Jeff learned how to cast on, purl, knit and cast off. She was so patient with him. It was definitely great bonding time for Mum and grandson.

At one point he asked me and Mum if it was weird that he was knitting. "Not at all" was her reply. "I've heard of football players who knit." That was all Jeff needed to hear to make it ok.

Now Jeff is dreaming of all the stuff he could knit for people. So... get in line if you want a scarf. He thinks he can make a business out of this. Or at least make them for gifts. I told him that might get a bit expensive. So he is working on his knitting skills, to get good enough to sell them.

My scarf is almost done. He worked all day yesterday to try and finish it. At the last moment something went wrong. The sad thing is that I can't help him. Where's my mom? She needs to live closer so he can seek her help. Any knitters close by who can help this boy? I'm afraid there won't be any peace for me until this scarf is done!

Jeff's famous knitting words:

"Don't mess with me, I'm purling."

"you better watch out or I'll purl you."

This was in the car ride home from Salem. I think Josh was starting to bug Jeff and this was his reply! We laughed and laughed.

Happy knitting Jeff!