Far More Abundantly

Ephesians 3:20-21 says Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


When Carl and I got married I dreamed of what our children would be like and of course how many.  In my mind since I was one of 5 and Carl was one of 6, I thought we would have about that many.  That was my plan.
Andrew's delivery was a nightmare.  I told Carl that this was it!!! No more children for us!
But God had other plans and He put the desire in my heart for more children and we had Kaitlin and John.  After I had John my OB strongly suggested that we have no more children.  He said that I had so much internal damage that I might not make it through another delivery and that my children needed a mother more than a brother or a sister.
Devastation was what I felt.
This was not my plan.
Carl would find me rocking John and crying.  Sweet Carl would ask what is wrong and I would say that I want a baby and he would gently say that you have a new baby and I would cry and say but I want another baby.  I have read that no matter how many children you have when you have the desire for another and that desire is not fulfilled there is a deep hurt.
The last firsts were hard but through God I was at peace.
The hardest age with John was age 5 because that is how old Andrew was when John was born and that was truly a door shutting to me.
My favorite age with my children is teenager to adult.  I loved my babies and I think yours are darling but I am not a random baby holder/cooer/kissthem/etc.
Someone recently asked how Carl and I came to open our home to young adults and I honestly don't know but if finally dawned on me that God is giving me all those children that I wanted and He is giving them to me as adults- the very age that I dearly love.
I was blown away when I realized this. Like fall on my face, with tears in my eyes and a heart so overwhelmed blown away.  He is fulfilling my desire in a way Far More Abundantly than I could even imagine.
Below is my latest child.  I don't know what number she is.  She is pictured with my 2nd child, Kaitlin.
Her name is Beth.
Her boyfriend is Robert.
Robert's sister is Marisa who is married to my 3rd child, John. So we are somewhat related!
Beth is in PT school and she is doing her different rotations now so some weeks she has class and some weeks she is with a PT.  After her last rotation ended she needed a spot for a few weeks and she picked our house.
We are so glad.
She fits right in here.
We may not let her go!
God, You are so awesome!!!!

A Privilege I Have

Every Wednesday I go to the Classical School in Little Rock and read to these wonderful children.

What a blessing it is to me.

I love reading.  I love reading out loud- I think I have a little actress in me- very little :-)  I now spend time in the children's section at the library and online researching books that are good to be read out loud.  Here are a few of our favorites so far-
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Drummer Hoff
Baby Brains by James
Chewie Louie by Schneider

These books are too old or not appropriate or we just haven't gotten to yet for me to read at the classical school but still good.
Captain Abdul's Pirate School by McNaughton- when I got to the part about teaching spitting and pirate swear words I thought mmmm maybe better not read this so that they don't go home and ask mama about swear words but it was a fun read.
The Carpenter's Gift by Rubel.  I may read this in December.  Beautiful pictures and great story.  Did you know that the Christmas tree from Rockefeller Square was donated to Habitat for Humanity??  I learned that from this book.
Boys of Steel by Nobleman.  I never knew who the inventors of Superman were (two shy guys with glasses) and when it started (During the Depression).  Really interesting book.

My own collection of children's literature is swelling as I read good books and then feel the need to have them on my shelves at home.

Enjoy your privileges today!!!

A Christmas Carol, The amazing Race and you

From the book of Genesis we know that we are made in the image of God.  Because of this 'imprint' that we have we see the redemptive story all around us- movies, books and TV shows to name a few.  One such movie is A Christmas Carol- I love all the different renditions. Why is that movie so popular? It is a picture of me and you.  I once was lost but now am found!

I've recently been watching one of Andrew's favorite TV shows and to me it is a picture- veiled and through a mirror dimly-of our Christian life.

The show is called The Amazing Race.  11 teams of two, race around the world in competition with the other teams.  The Teams travel to and within multiple countries in a variety of transportation modes.  Clues are provided in each leg that lead the teams to their next destination or direct them to perform a task.  These challenges are related in some manner to the country wherein they are located.  Contestants strive to arrive first at the end of each leg to win prizes but also the team that arrives last has the possibility of being eliminated..

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

I Corinthians 9:24  Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

We are in an Amazing Race!!  What is our goal?  To love the Lord thy God with all my heart, soul and mind and for me to love you as much as I love me!  The Catechism's first question is What is man's chief end?  Man's chief end is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  One day we will see Jesus!  One day we will BE with Jesus!!  What a prize we have set before us!

Just like in the TV show as we travel through life we encounter Challenges, Road blocks, and Detours.

The teams we enjoy the most are those that take the time to realize that they are traveling in a place or doing an activity that they never would have done before and may never do it again.  A book that encourages us to do this in our lives is Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts . Her premise is to be thankful for the things that are right here right now.  She wants us to be very present with our gratitude. Life is hard but in the thankfulness of the moment I reset my eyes to the prize that is set before me and that helps me endure/ succeed/continue on with the tasks that are set before me.

I recently saw this on a blog/web site I follow.  Christy Jordan is The Southern Plate.  I feel like I know her.  I enjoy all that she writes because she is so encouraging.  This past summer as she was on her family vacation in of all places- Arkansas, she was thrown off a horse and broke both her legs.  Let me make sure you read that right- Broke BOTH her legs.  Oh my!!!  I wondered if she would still be her encouraging self during all of this.  I was not disappointed.  One day she wrote about all those things that we do for our children that we really shouldn't but it is just easier, well, she had to say to her children that mama can't help you today because I've got two broken legs!!!  Also at the beginning of school when the school is begging for volunteers she had to tell them that she couldn't help because she had two broken legs!!  She was able to find humor and thankfulness in a very hard situation.

The other characteristic that we enjoy seeing on the TV show is when the teams encourage their teammates.  They tell them that they can do it!  Keep your eyes on the prize!!

The apostle Paul gives us encouragement for keeping our eyes on the prize-

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

II Cor 4:17  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison   

Do you think that what you undergo is more than slight momentary affliction?  Listen from II Corinthians 11 what slight momentary affliction Paul went through- 5 times of 40 lashes less 1, 3 times beaten by rods, once stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, a night and day adrift at sea, frequent journeys in danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship through many sleepless nights, in hunger and in thirst often without food, in cold and exposure.  And apart from other things there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  I would say that he knows a little about affliction!

How can we see this on our amazing race?  When we come along side of each other as we go through the challenges and tasks of life.

My friend, Linda, broke her hip a few months before her youngest child, a daughter, got married.  I took a meal to her and found her in the midst of flurry of activity as she sat in a chair and directed, as others did tasks that she physically couldn't do.  Her friends came along side her so that she could finish the challenge that was set before her and not get bogged down.  I was so encouraged by them.

My friend, Faith, delivered a son at 20 weeks.  His name was Alex.  I was on the phone with Faith as she was in the hospital getting ready for the delivery.  I was helping her get her other two children situated.  As we were nearing the end of our conversation, I was at a loss.  I could tell my friend that I loved her and that I was praying for her but I couldn't relate to the exact feelings she was feeling.  Before we hung up someone came into her room, it was a another friend from church, Renee.  I heard such relief in Faith's voice because Renee could offer the comfort I couldn't.  Renee has lost several children and could offer words and hugs that ministered greatly to Faith.  How that ministered to me also!!

Life is hard.  We are faced with tasks, challenges, road blocks and detours that can be overwhelming.  Failed marriages, wayward children, death of a loved one, loss of a friendship, car wreck and just the general busyness of life.

So today on your Amazing Race

1- Look around for those you can cheer on to completion, those you can encourage
2- Be thankful for your challenges and in them name things that you are thankful for
3- Realize that this is 'slight momentary affliction' and we are being prepared for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison!

Your task at hand is not the end, Seeing Jesus is!!!

Beach, Family and Low Tide

 Carl and I recently went to Hilton Head Island.  Wow!!!  It is beautiful. I hope we can go back again.  We went at this time because my brother, John, and his wife, Elaine, were there for a few days and they invited us.

Above is an artistic shot for Kaitlin.

Carl and I relaxing.

 Andrew and Taylor joined us.  We rented chairs and an umbrella.  It was windy and sunny.

 Carl and Andrew are pointing to our condo.

 On Saturday night my brother, Charles, joined us.  We ordered supper from a local seafood place and Carl and Andrew brought it to our condo so we could eat and watch football.

 We brought in the TV from a bedroom so we wouldn't miss any of the action.

 The Seafood was outstanding.  Here are John and Carl getting after their supper.

 One of the cool things about Hilton Head is how far the tide comes in at high tide.  In the picture below notice the dark sand and the lighter sand.  The dark sand is high tide.  We didn't stay on the beach long enough to see it come in but I would like to next time.  The dark sand is packed down.  John rides his bike on it.

 This was my view.  I am still stunned by how far out low tide is.

 I loved all the tidal pools the tide created.  The picture below was taken standing in ankle deep water and look how tiny the chairs look.

 A very nice stranger took a picture of our whole group. She took lots of pictures with my camera and Elaine's. I am sorry this photo doesn't have sound.  You would hear John commented loudly on the coolness of the water.  Notice his body language, he is ready to jump out of the picture and out of the water the second the picture taking is over.  We are all laughing!!!

 My brothers and me.

What a great time we had that weekend.  I enjoyed the time to just sit and look at the beach and the time to visit.

AUBURN, family, and Mr Wonderful

 What do Saturdays look like in your house?  Here is what has been going on with us.  A water table now lives at my house and it was a big hit!!!  Atticus was soaking wet and had a laughing good time.

 Above Atticus is looking at Aunt Fairest and wondering why in the world she has that on her head?!?  Below- Atticus has a new word "Cheeeeeese"  He then likes looking at his picture.  This Bubbles doesn't mind that at all.

 Above was a two TV football day.

 Atticus and Uncle Rico

 Mr Wonderful needed/wanted something out of my purse.  Who could deny him anything???? Not me.  When he found the chap stick, I thought he wouldn't be able to get the top off, silly me!!!!!  Please notice that the chap stick goes on his tongue and it must really be chapped!  Now, that is his chap stick!!

 Atticus wanted a picture with his daddy!

 He needed another picture of himself!

 Bubbles with Mr Wonderful!

 Toys or books or busy board oh, my!

I love our Saturdays during football season.  Family is such a gift.

Labor Day fun

 Labor Day Weekend included lots of family for us.  My brother, Charles, and his wife, Frances, came from Atlanta. Jennifer's husband was out of town and she joined our party. (Kyle, you'll have to join us to watch football soon!) John, Marisa, Atticus, Kaelyn and Noelle came from their house.  Robert and Beth joined us from Conway.  We watched lots of football, laughed and visited.  It was a great family time.  Uncle Charles and Aunt Frances hadn't met Mr. Wonderful and they got to on Saturday afternoon.

 I made Atticus a book with pictures of him with lots of family members.  The first time he saw it, he cried and was so sad.  Marisa thinks he couldn't believe that all those he loved were with some strange baby.  I keep putting current photos in it of him.  Now we call it his happy book and he often gets it and looks at the pictures.  Below, Marisa is showing him, himself as a baby.

 We all enjoyed the hamburgers and chicken that Carl grilled.

 Gpapa took Atticus outside, per Atticus request, and he smelled like a stinky boy when he came back in.  Gpapa helped out Marisa by giving him a bath.  They both enjoyed it.

 Beth got to join our holiday festivities and had a great time.  She is a great addition.  She has family that went to the other school- alabama  and has cheered for them for years.  She handled our cheering for the other team well.

 Our group.  Family.  Near and Far. Related by blood and by choice.

 Kaitlin had to work and she wore an undercover AUBURN sweater she got from Loft.  Jennifer has on a shirt that her husband's company designed.

 We had Sunday lunch at Taziki's after church.

 John recently celebrated his 26th birthday.  Uncle Charles was at the hospital the day John was born.  He called our brother John to tell him that they had a new nephew named John.  Here is that baby with his son.  Where does the time go?!?!

Thank you Charles and Frances for coming to see us.  It really means a lot.

For all the electrical engineers and those that love power

 Carl works in the power industry and when he travels he takes pictures of power poles.  I now know to expect this and enjoy hearing about all that he sees in pictures like these that just look like power poles to my untrained eye.

Do you have any questions?  Ask Carl!