Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Wont let Satan woosh it out.... Im going to let it shine...

You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

I lost my patience yesterday…
Kayden and Michael were acting like they were, well, 5 and 3 (go figure)… After my morning of rounds through the house, they wrestled with a bottle of lemon ginger soda (sprite), the boys lost… Doogie the dog won, and I was left with a dog prancing sticky foot prints all throughout the house…
The couch was the first target, next came the patio, then the bedroom, my bed, the boys room, and finally the bathroom…. Footprints everywhere…. And after he hit the patio, he was not only tracking soda, but dirt too… Yuck….
If you know me well… You know I LOVE a clean home… I am not certain if it stems from my upbringing, or if I am just an obsessively clean person, but dirt and sticky make my skin crawl… literally….
As the fumes surfaced and fire came from my mouth… I saw Kayden get small… His beautiful blue eyes got big; I could hear his heart break….
Kayden is tender…. The type of child that really only needs a strict word of disappointment to put him on the right track… He is gentle…. He is pure… He was the brunt of my anger…
“What in the world are you thinking? Get a towel… No, Kayden….. A dry towel… first you need to clean up the mess… then we clean up the floor…. Faster Kayden… Doogie is playing in it now…. KAYDEN SCOTT, do you see my face… The dog playing in this mess is NOT funny…. Move your tail!”
By the time he made it to me… He was so disappointed in himself… With every demand to move… every demand to pick up…. Every demand…. He politely answered, with his head down...
“Yes, Ma’am”
His heart was so broken… As the tears welled in his eyes, I realized how I had overreacted…
No, they shouldn’t have been playing with their drink…. No he shouldn’t have lolly-gagged around in the process of pick-up...
My list of should haves grew…… I should have remembered that he is only 5; I should have been calm and rational in my punishment… I should have rebuked with love……
I often think to myself “Why are they not getting this… I have told them 20 times!” I often forget about my own sinful desires… I forget my own mistakes… The things that I did… fully knowing in my heart that they were not right….. Things my parents told me more than 20 times… I have to remind myself that my kids are not saved; they don’t have the light of God living inside them… They are battling with their flesh…. The sinful desire that makes them want to wrestle with a soda knowing full well that it probably isn’t a good idea… Until God lives in them, the light that they see will be through me… through Mike…… through the love of God that they see at church, and through friends who love the Lord… I pray that my light will shine brightly enough for them to follow the path to salvation…
Yesterday, my light was dim…
Thankfully I have a forgiving son and a forgiving Father!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Rainy days are for puddles....


Deuteronomy 32:2-4 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. 3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 4 He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.
We have been walking, talking, and growing... The days have been filled with moments of sunshine, hours of downpour, and times of learning God's faithfulness....
With rain, comes food for plants and animals... It settles dust, calms my home, and leaves plenty of down time for movies...

It brings teachable moments... curious hearts.... questions that leave me in awe of my beautiful children....
"Where is God?"
"Is Jesus crying?"
"Is Jesus the sun?"
I love days like this.... I dread the endless list of things to do after days like this, but for the moment, I relish....
My soul marinates on His word....
My kids ask more....
I smile at the joy that even the mention of His name brings.... My kids, not yet believers, still smile the moment His name leaves their lips....
Jesus......
In the rain I remember His faithfulness.... His promises...
He is truth...
At the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea





Passed out on the way home... Eyes and mouth open...











































Lily's first time puddle jumping..... She loved it!

Mike loves the rain...

Kayden's new pose.....



Some of the gardens behind our home....
On our nature walk.....



Some of the rice patties growing....

Roly polys.....

Bug hunting...


Doggie waiting for crumbs.....

At the indoor pool on another rainy day!
At lessons....




Kayden and Michael at their swim lessons....

Lily loves to eat

At the waterpark....
Michael


Friday, July 9, 2010

Welcome Home……

Welcome Home……

Psalm 84:3
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

The day was here… The LONG awaited day to receive our furniture from home… We were ecstatic, to say the least!! The boys were beaming with excitement… Their Wii was coming, what more could two boys need? You could see the energy welling up inside…… The 2.5 month wait was over…

The time was set….

Our temporary furniture was picked up…..

The loaner coffee pot and knick-knacks were sent back to their home…..

Today we were getting OUR stuff!!!

Yippee!!!

As the packers begin the tedious job of unloading and assembling all of our luxuries, the reality of our new home sank in… We are here… in Korea… This will be our place of residence for the next few years…

With the borrowed furniture from the base we felt, well, borrowed… Like we were here for a short while.. Not permanent, but temporary dwellers in this home… Although our place is beautiful it never felt comfortable…

I am sure most of my comfort comes from what my dear friend calls “creature comforts.” The things you don’t really need, but now make it difficult to live without…. The recliner… the squishy mattress…. The bread pan… the trash baskets… the soft pillow cases… Things that make life more enjoyable…..

The type of enjoyment that one can begin to rely on… The comfort that friends bring….

As I unload the boxes… I began to realize how close my "home" really is.....

In the pillow that reads “A Granddaughter is sunshine, flowers, and rainbows.” I think of my Grandma...

*Smile*

In the clay french onion soup bowls that I display in my china cabinet, I see the shoulder that gave me strength when my kids were pushing me beyond myself… My dear friend Amy Barnes…

In my bright green hospitality plates that read “I find my rest in God alone, He is the One who saves me.” Psalm 62:1…. I think of my best friend Lanessa, who LOVES the color green.. And not just any green, but the vibrant sage…

In the Scentsy that fills my home with the sweet aroma of honey pear cider… I think of my sister in love, Jenna…. Who knew just what I would need to make my home feel warm and inviting…

The Willow Tree figurine of a mom with two young boys, will forever remind me of my greatest confidant Amanda…. She could encourage my darkest days with her soft voice and beautiful prayers for strength…. Today it sits atop our kitchen mantle…Forever reminding me to love like Jesus…

My sewing machine…. Well… giggles of excitement and jokes rumble through my head… My machine will forever remind me of my 3 best friends, Amy, Jennifer, and Allison… I am reminded of the wife of noble character in Proverbs 31…. For these 3 have taught me by example how to serve in my home and laugh at the days to come…

From the art work to the couches, the fake flowers to the frames, I begin to realize why I sent everything we own…. The thought of my family brings me joy…. The thought of my friends make me giggle… The memories that surround each item are emotional…

And I am a very emotional person….

Just ask Mike….

Now, I know the memories are tucked away, and that they are not in the things…. But for now… I un-wrap the boxes, clean the shelves, and reload Wii remotes… The memories surround me…

I move forward… More memories will still be made…. Many more will laugh on these couches… more nail polish will be spilled on our table, and more joy will come through our new doors….

This is now, officially, our home….

Welcome to our home….

God bless our home, and all who enter…..

The plate that reminds me of Lanessa........
My scentsy that reminds me of Jenna
The shakers that remind me of my greatest mentor.... Jeannen
My Amanda memory....
The picture that reminds me "WWAD?"... what would Angela do?... Reminds me to be mission minded..
My grandma.....
My Megan.....
My Amy....
Kitchen....

Living room
Mudroom at the entrance of our home....


Boys room....
Master vanity and bathroom with large soaking tub...
Master


Playing with the neighborhood kids and pets....

Soooo fast!Whatcha looking at?
Team Stafford


People you begin to resemble your dog after awhile... So true....
The volcano we made with our science kit from home...
my little chemists...