Thursday, February 28, 2008

Eli's baptism

Just a quick post to link to the video of Eli's baptism.


Sunday, February 17, 2008

Gratitude Journal

I missed my blessing post yesterday. We had a busy day and I didn't get on the computer.

Today I am thankful for our church. I missed services again this morning. Joshua is running a fever. He says his throat hurts but it really doesn't seem to be slowing him down much. He is a little grouchier than normal. But the reason I am thankful is this I have missed a lot of church already this year. I have been sick and the boys have been sick so I have had to stay home with them. I know that this wouldn't be acceptable in some churches. I know that there are places where I would have felt obligated to medicate my children and go to church whether it was the best thing for them or not. I called friends and they came and picked up Graham and Eli. Tim spoke at the military academy this morning for their chapel services so he couldn't take the boys. I am just so thankful that we have a community of believers that support us and love us. It makes me incredibly happy.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Attitude of Gratitude

A friend on a board I am on suggested taking the next 30 days to blog about gratitude.

One of my favorite quotes is from TW Hunt "What if tomorrows blessing were dependent upon our thankfulness today?"

When I read that it makes me stop and think. Sometimes it is easier to just complain about all the little things in life rather than find the joy and happiness in life.

Today I am so thankful that the boys are healthy. Will and I have a cold but other than that we are healthy.

I am also thankful that I don't live in the 1800's. Stay with me a minute on this. Our heat is out at the house so we are surviving with electric space heaters. It reminds me that I am glad we don't live in a time when our heat and warmth would be dependent on wood heat. Also when our heat went out we have had several friends offer for us to stay with them. (This is huge with four small children.)

If I take a few minutes it is so easy to find things to be thankful for. We are so blessed.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

We have had an eventful day here. Our heater went out last night and so we woke up to a 50 deg house. We have called a person to come look at it but they haven't come out yet so we are now rounding up space heaters to help warm it up tonight.

Really Valentine's Day has been pretty uneventful for us. I got a new watch from Tim which I love and he got a new George Foreman grill from me. We were supposed to go to a homeschool V' Day party today, but Will is still sick with a runny nose and a little cough and Josh is coughing again. I decided we would hibernate today and hopefully the boys will be well this weekend and we can go to church.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Ministry

Well a little background, Tim and I have been in ministry all our lives. Both of our fathers are pastors. Then my maternal grandfather and Tim's paternal grandfather were pastors.

Just some interesting family lore. My grandfather became a Christian one Sunday. When he got to church that night the pastor handed him his Bible and told him to preach. Tim's grandfather and several other men were saved that night.

Tim's grandfather became a pastor and all three of his sons became pastors. My grandfather was a pastor/church planter and his only son became a pastor and two of his daughters married pastors.

Tim's brother and cousin are pastors. So when I say that we have been in ministry all our lives, we really have. I joke that I married a pastor because I didn't know you could do anything else.

Even though I joke about it I love being in ministry. Tim and I share a partnership in marriage and ministry, we both feel called. I can't imagine our life doing anything else. Sure there are times when it seems like it is so hard. But when I try to imagine us doing something different, I am reminded of the call God placed on our lives. When things get really difficult I am reminded that Jesus said we would have trouble in this world. He told us that as his disciples we would be hated.

I feel so blessed that God has chosen to bless us and use us in ministry. I know that the decision my grandfather made so many years ago changed not just his life but the lives of his family. He had a profound influence on so many others. We will never know the true scope of his influence in this lifetime.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Love without Boundaries

It has been a while since I posted. I got an email from dear friends of our and I wanted to share about an incredible organizaion.

Love Without Boundaries is an organization of volunteers that offer medical, nutrition and education support for orphans in China.

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

We became aware of this organizion when our friends adopted twin girls from China. These baby girls were born with mirror image cleft plates. Before they were adopted LWB begin the corrective surgeries on the girls.

What impressed me was the selfless nature of the individuals and organization itself. There were doctors and nurses who gave freely of their time and resources to help some of the helpless children in China.

They have made a huge difference in the plight of China's orphans. They now are involved in not just medical but also nutrition and educational needs.

If you are interested in a great humanitarian organization to support I would encourage you to check out Love Without Boundaries.