Confirmed in Christ

Bobo had a beautiful confirmation ceremony on January 18, 2014. She's always been a spiritually minded child (preaching to the children in the ball pit of the Fargo McDonald's as a preschooler is more than enough proof), but it was obvious in her Statement of Faith that she truly has come so far in her walk with the Lord.

    

13

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, loving, helpful, and brilliant daughter - who today becomes a teenager!

We are so proud of who you are and who you are still becoming. We look forward to all God has in store for your teen years. I am so excited that you and I are headed to Honduras together for a mission trip in the not too distant future. You've always had a servant's heart and I can't wait to see how God will use you in the days and years to come.

We thank the Lord you're living your "namesake" verse: "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom {sophia} is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her (Proverbs 8:11).

We love you, Bobo! Happy 13th...

One of the many special notes you've written over the years,
this one a few weeks ago for my 40th birthday.

Grace Upon Grace

Meet my beautiful goddaughter, Eliza. 

We are so blessed and honored to pray for this precious little one's life in the Lord. The spiritual blessings between our two families are numerous: her mother's parents were great mentors to me during college - hosting amazing holiday celebrations full of very spirited discussions with students of all sorts, believers and non believers alike. Her mother and I prayed Hubby right into the Kingdom (along with Craig Parker, the Navigators, and it goes without saying, the Holy Spirit). Her father's stalwart, faithful witness in the very secular and hostile academic world is an inspiration and source of great encouragement to many. Both her parents are my second daughter's godparents and now we are hers.  Praising God for "working all things for good for those who love Him and and care called according to His purposes" Romans 8:28.

Here's to Elizabeth and Eliza, may God truly be their oath (as their names declare).

"For from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace" John 1:16

Glory, Glory Hallelujah! (4th of July Recap)

We re-vamped our 4th of July plans this year as friends moved off the UA parade route therein denying us our choice huge-van parking spot. You know who you are. (And we still love you!)

Turns out the Dublin parade actually throws candy to the children, so mine were quite pleased with the switch.

We hosted a little neighborhood get together as well in the afternoon. Despite the rain, it was a very enjoyable 4th and I had the opportunity to talk to some of the neighborhood moms I don't see often, all of whom stayed into the wee hours while the husbands took the little people to the fireworks.

We met with one of our church's small groups last night for dinner and their faithfulness in prayer truly encouraged us and must have inspired Hubby -- a great sermon this morning on Psalm 98. Find it tomorrow here.

And yes, we sang the old standard 4th of July hymn at the end, "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!" Sometimes I despair that His Truth doesn't seem to be marching on at all. And yet, this:

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
² The Lord has made known his salvation;
    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

⁴ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
⁵ Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody!
⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

⁷ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    the world and those who dwell in it!
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands;
    let the hills sing for joy together
⁹ before the Lord, for he comes
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
    and the peoples with equity.

He ALONE will judge the world with righteousness. I'll just leave it all in His capable hands.

Summer Lovin'

We've had quite a month. Emotional reserves: gone. Tensions: high. Patience: nonexistent.

Except there's more. More of Him when there was so much less of me.

"My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Thank you, Jesus.

My theme song on my more-than-usual long runs:
Desperate for changing. Starving for truth. I'm closer to where I started, chasing after You.
I'm falling even more in love with You, letting go of all I've held on to.
I'm standing here until You make me move, I'm hanging by a moment here with You...

Forgetting all I'm lacking, completely incomplete,
I'll take Your invitation, You take all of me...

There is nothing else.

(Lifehouse "Hanging by a Moment")

Thank you for bringing the joy back and reminding us that you've got all of it already wrapped up in your perfect plan. And really, there is nothing else.

Not to mention summer is my absolute favorite time of year. School books be gone (except math, I'm that kind of teacher), pool's open, VBS just around the corner, and neighborhood craziness in full swing. In my backyard. Sigh. You can't win 'em all.

Started the summer with a Dad + 5 kid camping trip:

"Like the ceiling can't hold us!"

Pool's open!

At the Poolapalooza Pirate Party

Jungle Jack's Landing and Zoombezi Bay

(Much more Jungle Jack's considering it was 59 degrees that day!)

Summer reading on the back deck:

And our first attempt at a Summer Bowling Pass.

This could be interesting. Right Hand Man prefers Connect Four. 

Good thing because taking six kids bowling is not really that fun. Trust me.

On Spiritual Milestones and other non-Superbowl Stuff

My second daughter took her First Communion today and I actually got to sit next to my Hubby during a church service - a banner day for the Waters family.  Other than the normal "my throat is burning" comments made by many first communicants (mine included), it was a great service all around.

I was hoping to post something super-spiritual in light of this memorable milestone, but my doorbell keeps ringing and more and more neighborhood children keep arriving for Superbowl festivities. This appears to be my life story  at the moment, but I know that this too shall pass so I better enjoy it while I can.

I'll close with my almost six year old's latest proclamation of faith: "Mom, I love Skylanders and Jesus!" The order may not be right but at least Jesus makes his top two list. Happy Superbowl, everyone.

The Lord Doth Provide

What a difference a week makes! I trusted it could only get better and He was faithful...

Hubby and a friend started this week by taking 10 children on a road trip to Fort Meigs on Memorial Day. That left us wives almost completely free for the day (Right Hand Man stayed back of course). We had lunch out and then a cookout for the returning party. A great day!

Elbow did beautifully at her violin recital. Another check off the "end of year" to do list. 

All girls in this household got much needed haircuts in preparation 

for our upcoming big, huge, exciting, DREAM vacation!

I got to spend a day with girlfriends on the golf course watching the likes of 

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods (and enjoying some refreshments).

And last, but certainly not least, Right Hand Man is 12 weeks today! 

God provided there too - he had to be at least 12 weeks to go on the 

DREAM vacation I mentioned above. 

He was 3 weeks early so it certainly wasn't guaranteed.

 Jehovah Jirah (The Lord provides Genesis 22).

At The End Of The Week

It's been a long, trying week. This isn't the place I dwell on the difficulties; it's a spot for looking back at the faces that made me laugh out loud, the words that made me feel just maybe (please, Lord!) we're headed in the right direction... it's the journal of our journey doing life, love, learning and everything else all together.

Tomorrow is a new day - and a new week - and I trust "His mercies will be new in the morning" because they always are. Until then, these are the moments I'm holding on to:

Headed to the Hamptons, anyone?
He chose this one all by himself

Lunch out after her National Piano Playing Auditions.
She went for the International program this year,
so she had to memorize 10 pieces.
All our ears are happy she never
has to play those again!

Playing Cake Boss

"Studying" like the big kids. 

When all else fails, go out for ice cream

Yes, The Patriot is hurt once again. This time he found out
his face and the the cement aren't the best of friends.

At a neighbor's one year old birthday this afternoon.

Coming to a Close

We're getting close to the end of the year. Tonight was the big finish for AWANA. The boys got book awards for finishing their books, the girls went above and beyond and gathered up 5 trophies between them and took home the 2nd and 3rd place awards for most verses memorized in a year. Elbow learned 205 this year and completed two books; Bobo 311 verses and three books. The first place prize went to one of their friends and fellow homeschoolers. One of the great benefits of doing school at home is the extra time it allows for things like memorizing hundreds of bible verses!

Speaking of bible time, check out this picture from morning devotions yesterday. When I saw what a motley crew we were (Toddzilla feeding the baby, Elbow and Crockett half asleep, The Patriot playing with his Ben 10 watch) I knew I had to capture the moment!

Oh, How He Loves Us

Good Friday.

I went running in the rain. We dyed eggs. My husband brought me flowers. My son wrote me a note that said, "Mom you are like a bag of flowers."

I scurried frantically around the church in high heels hauling props and getting everything ready for an onslaught of preschoolers coming to learn about Jesus' last week on earth. We waved palm branches, wrapped ourselves in linen cloths and laid in the tomb, rolled the stone away, washed feet, tasted communion bread, and saw how Jesus washed our sins away this day, so very long ago.

It was a good Friday.


My littles ones are tucked in tight. Hubby is extinguishing the last light at his Tenebrae service. All is well with the world because He loves us. Oh, how He loves us...

"I don't have time to maintain these regrets 

when I think about the way he loves us... 

Oh, how he loves us." 

God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Here, There, and Everywhere (Reader Beware!)

Lots of ups and downs this week - maybe more downs than ups - but I'd rather document the good moments than the bad. And yet...

In many ways this is a trying season for me: my baby is turning two in just a few weeks and there is no baby on the way. I've never had a two year old without a baby coming and it just feels different. (The Christmas story is oh-so-hard without a babe in arms or one on the way when that's all you've known for a decade.  There is obviously power there regardless of one's motherhood status; yet Mary's hopes and fears for all the years are heard differently when rocking your own sweet child, not knowing what the future holds). I should have posted at length on how the Lord ministered to me so tenderly in the late hours of Christmas Eve, alone at the foot of our tree. It seems too late now, but just recalling it here will keep it alive somehow, if only for me.

We've also moved every three years - almost to the day - and (thankfully!) there is no new change of location in our sights right now even though we have just passed our three year mark. The short version of this little digression is that it just feels like the cadences are all off and I can't quite get my footing.

I did say I wanted to focus on the good parts, though, didn't I?

My no-longer-a-baby-little-big-man

Sweet notes passed between siblings after a short separation

Silly sister moments after Tae Kwon Do

Becoming quite proficient with those Lego instructions

Crafting away the winter blues

A colonial themed birthday party for one of Bobo's friends

Not Exactly Traditional...

But it's what we're studying for our Advent devotions. We're finding verses from Proverbs about what makes a person a "fool" in God's eyes, and what makes him "wise." These almost life size guys are adorning our kitchen walls, waiting for their verse for the day.

On Submission

"Submit yourselves to one another out of reverence to Christ" Ephesians 5:21

God is so faithful.

Sometimes - especially when you're in the midst of one battle or another - it's easy to lose sight of that.

Hubby and I have been going back and forth over an issue for a few weeks. He wanted one thing, I wanted another. Generally speaking, that's exactly when God calls the wife to submit. I realize this is an unpopular sentiment, but surely everyone agrees that when two are at loggerheads, someone must give in. It just so happens that God chose the wife. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had to submit in our almost 14 year marriage. Hard as it was at the time (I'm fairly strong minded; I'm sure you never knew!), I still feel the benefits of at least one of these situations many, many years later. Disaster would have ensued had I pursued my course. I have come to trust that God knows what he's doing.

But in our current situation, what Hubby wanted was going to put a strain on our family for quite some time. After talking it through, he laid it down and pursued the course of action I was hoping for. The next day he brought me these roses - one for each in my family - to show me there were no hard feelings.

But God had already changed my heart (even before I knew about the flowers!), pushing me to lay my wishes down as well and figure out a way we could make it work. What a joy it is to experience the "profound mystery" of marriage with my best friend.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

Heading into the week...

Things to remember about this weekend:

The boys inherited a huge amount of Rescue Hero toys from one of Toddzilla's friends. This has kept the whole gang busy most of the weekend. They especially get a kick out of the one of the main guys, Warren Waters, whom they're sure is a part of our family.

My oldest has always been very interested in spiritual matters. When she was two, she used to "preach" in the ball pit at McDonalds. She loves to write poetry, and most of it is religious. It's been encouraging to see how she wants to grow in her relationship with God. Last week she had to wait for Hubby at church while he had a short meeting. He found her later in the sanctuary, "praying to be closer to God." The next day, she said she had a dream about it, and recorded it like this:

Elbow finished Little House in the Big Woods, her longest book to date. She donned a prairie girl outfit to read the last pages.

Something to forget about this weekend:

Getting out of church is always a struggle. I've got all five charges, it's a huge building, with a ton of people going this way and that. My husband is one of the pastors, so there's always people wanting to chat about this or that. Today, as I was holding a squirmy, tired baby (not to mention a big diaper bag) I was in one such conversation when all my other children went missing. I find out later Crockett decided to head right out of the building, into the parking lot. This forced the other three to follow him, chasing the little deserter all over. Someone I didn't recognize came up and told me my children were chasing after their brother in the parking lot. Fabulous. It turned out to be the sidewalk and playground next to the church, but still.

Child of God, Inheritor of Eternal Life

Jonathan Thomas was brought into the family of God this morning. The promised pictures - all but these - will have to wait. I forgot that my own camera would go largely untouched during the service, considering I had plenty of other things (and little ones) to attend to. 

It was a perfect day and all went well. My poor younger daughter is covered in poison ivy - face included. She handled it like a champ though, standing up in front of all the church despite her discomfort.  

His little suit has been worn by my brother, my parent's god son, my nephew, and all three of my boys. (Do I have that right, Nana?) The bib is a special form of Norwegian embroidery called hardunger. It was made by a sweet older woman in our internship parish.  

Praising God for the saving waters of baptism...

 

He Makes All Things New

When The Patriot came home from the hospital, he was greeted by this sign made by his oldest sister:

A new beginning indeed. It's been two weeks now, and we're still marveling at our newest little bundle, and adjusting to life with a baby again. Thank God for new life - through Christ - for all of us.

Two Weeks New.