Sunday, July 13, 2008

Lately...

Ahhhh me... the boys are in bed and Dusty's upstairs watching a he-flick with his buddy Jordan so I'm sneaking a few moments to update y'all on the family.

Lately, Dusty has been showing houses (after paying a joyous mountain of real estate dues and insurance fees) and meeting city leaders. I haven't seen him this dressed up, this OFTEN in a long time :) New things excite him, so he's having lots of fun. He continues to meet people, blog, and design websites and media for upcoming events. As usual, he tends to excel at whatever he touches. My own proverbial Midas. :)

Lately, Daxton has been grounded from video games. And I note this SIMPLY because he asks EVERY DAY what remains of his sentence. It's becoming apparent we must move to a different consequence for our "attitude infractions." Between offenses, however, he's a lot of fun, a great helper - we have daily chores now - and he loves his brother, when he's not strong-arming him, just because.

Lately, Draes... well, scares me. He RUNS to everything, fears NOTHING, except maybe Daxton :). LOL His body's like a little, human segway. Buddha belly leans forward, forward we go. Buddha belly straightens up, we stop. Buddha belly leans back (or too far forward), we fall down. I laugh a lot. He's a toughy, that one. He face plants, bangs his head and trips over whatever's on the floor that he wasn't looking for so didn't step over, but he rarely cries. No, crying is reserved for the realization that Mommy has no more ice cream to share. Then we shriek in utter disdain and flail across the room into the pantry to pout. Bystanders think he's hurt and rush to his aid. Mom just laughs - I wish I looked cute doing that.

But lately, mom? Well, I'm just "WAY BIGGER" than I ought to be. My buddha belly is NOT cute, nor are the buddha body parts which have expanded to offset its gravity. POO! I know, "you're pregnant!" But that is no excuse for THIS - sorry. Oh well, I went for a walk tonight... For those who've been wondering, we might know what the baby "is" as early as next week. My fun comes in learning with the boys. Dax reads more each day and Drae's at that GREAT age where EVERYTHING is a new adventure. It's nice having Dusty around more. It's fun to share with him in those "look at that!" moments. I love connecting with new people around here and watching what God is doing. 

So that's what we're up to! What are you doing lately?...

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Freedom



Celebrating freedom is an interesting thing. I think, like so many holidays in America, we can get more caught in the traditions than the meaning. It's important to reflect upon our reasons for doing what we do. 

I did that for me this year, but didn't do a great job with my son. (I'll talk to him about it tomorrow I PROMISE. And he'll probably give me that funny look, but better late than never.) We had a great get together at our neighbors' house - about 35 people! And our fireworks display included something tres unique (that's my contribution from 4 years of French in HS - see Dad, I DO use it :)) - we got to see someone blow up an airbag - yup, retrieved from a vehicle. Long, unnecessary story, but it was cool to see - and quite educational for the kids. :)

I got to thinking, in the midst of the beauty, the noise and the friendship, about what freedom really is. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." I think true freedom, and the perception of freedom are often mistaken in our lives. The street may seem like freedom to my little Draes, until he becomes burdened by the yoke of injury... or worse. Endless supplies of candy seem like freedom to my four-year-old, until he's burdened by the yoke of stomach pain or tooth decay. So many things can seem like freedom: anger, stubbornness, arrogance, self-righteousness, substance abuse, gossip... Until we realize they've strapped us with their yokes: guilt, broken relationships, loneliness, self-loathing, addiction, insecurity... 

So what is freedom? I think we have to be careful in what WE define as free. Look at that passage again... "It is for freedom that CHRIST has set you free..." In the context, Paul is referring to living under grace and not the law. But I think the key lies in who sets us free. Because of our nature, we often struggle to truly understand what freedom is - as noted earlier. Only Christ can truly make us free - and in order to remain free, we have to "stand firm" and, I believe, continue to run to the source of that freedom, or risk being caught in the crossfire of reality and perception (a hazy line sometimes, I know). 

Recently, God is calling me to some tough things - mostly things that require me to trust Him more and rely less on my expectations of people to make right choices. It's tough for me because I'm a big "justice for the masses" girl: always cheering the underdog, always trying to even the playing field. But God is calling me to let Him do those things - His job anyway - but BOY I feel incarcerated! And yet, He is the author of freedom, so I have to believe that it is for FREEDOM He has set me FREE. If we can do that (Oh Lord, help me!) I think we get to experience true peace and joy. If not, we often end up building prisons with our own 2 hands. 

I don't know what your yokes might be, but I'm believing Christ set us free so we could be free. Wanna walk with me? Let's lay down the bars we think are protecting us and let Him show us true freedom? Hee hee - then maybe we'll have our own little fireworks display!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Dreas turns ONE!




June 21st was Draes's first birthday! He didn't really get why all the attention was on him, but he definitely loved the cake! We wish you all could have been here to share it with him. We can hardly believe he's already a year, but he's definitely on the go. 

He's walking everywhere, jabbering all the time, and making his general presence and preferences known. This last year has been an amazing blessing, having Draes in our lives. We can't wait to see what then next year holds for him :)

For more pictures, check out my facebook account :)

Monday, June 16, 2008

One Step at a Time


New things can be overwhelming. 

Having your first child, for instance. Or for that matter, having your first second and your first third child, and so on :) Any "first time" situation can be scary... even terrifying.

Some see a challenge. Others, like me, see the insurmountable. I've wasted hours and hours pondering the mysteries of why my natural bent is fear when it could be faith (like my amazing husband's view). 

Recently there have been so many new things: New town, new people, new baby on the way, new house, new rules, new church, new everything that comes with planting a church... I began to find myself lying awake at night, unable to shake the fear of "all that must be done." 

Then a funny thing happened. My baby started walking. Not funny, ha ha. Funny in that God used it for ME.  I was lying awake... AGAIN... probably about 3:30 am, thinking, "How? How can I possibly juggle all of this? What if I drop everything and make a fool of myself and everyone else?" And God brought to my mind a recent picture of my son and I. A vision of my little boy, barely confident in his steps, reaching for my hand. As he held on to me, not only did he gain confidence, he began to move forward... one... step... at... a time. 

The tears came with the tender voice of God, "Hold on to Me, and take one step at a time."

I love the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-36). "...Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?' " (vs. 29b-31). There are so many angles from which to see this story, but I love it because it shows me Peter's humanity and Christ's divinity. Peter was afraid; he needed a Savior. Christ was disappointed, but he did not withhold his mercy, his hand.

It's so easy to become distracted by the wind, the voice of the enemy twirling us into confusion. But if we can stop, if we can lock into the gaze of the One who commands the universe... If we can reach for his hand, we can make it... one... step... at a time, until we're walking strong and tall, maybe even running! And if you feel like you're creeping right now, you can come on over into my lane; you'll be in good company :) We'll get stronger and faster every day, reaching for Jesus.

Oh... and I just loved the picture of Jesus learning to walk :) Guess it means He's been there too. :)

Monday, May 26, 2008

Beauty of the storm



It's funny... you can go without something for so long you don't realize how you ache for it... until you suddenly have it again. The way we go too long without water, not realizing we're thirsty, until we taste it and begin to gulp breathlessly until it's gone.

I'm sitting at my kitchen window. Listening to the thunder; the rain is literally splashing through the screen onto my face. (Maybe not great for my computer, but I don't care). I didn't realize how much I had missed this. How much peace one can find in a thunder storm. I remember as a child, standing at the back screen door as a storm would roll in. There's no scent quite like that of impending rain. It's clean and fresh; you just want to drink it in. 

We haven't experienced thunderstorms in a number of years where we were living. Rain,yes, but without the storm. The power is so awesome: the lightning snapping, the thunder booming in reply... It's beautiful and frightful all at once. Awesome... like so many acts of God.

The dry, cracked earth in our yet-unfinished backyard reminds me of my soul sometimes. Just this week a friend and I were talking about being in a place where you know you need more of God, but you lack the motivation to pursue Him. "You will seek Me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart" says Jeremiah 29:13.  We talked about how God often brings us to the place of longing - will even leave us there, until we realize our need for Him and chase after Him. Countless times in the Old Testament, He brought His people to the end of themselves, and when they finally cried out to Him, He met their need, and drew them close to Himself again. Watching the rain quench the ground paints that picture for me: the relief of a parched spirit in the power, grace, even gentleness of such a great God.

I wish, instead of a picture, I could upload the smell of the rain :) and you could share it with us.

The lightning flashes and God speaks, "I am the Lord. That is my Name. I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols" (Isaiah 42:8).

Saturday, May 10, 2008

CH-CH-CH-Changes



WE MADE IT!

We are here, mostly moved in and adjusting to the change... well,... mostly. I'd like to begin with a list of the top 5 changes I did NOT anticipate.

5. The land of the risen sun:  you know... the kind that never seems to go down? Little did I know Boise was a mere 50 miles from the Pacific time zone line. So, we're basically on the same sun rotation as we were, but the times are all different. No wonder my infant wakes up an hour after his 7 pm bedtime. It's still broad daylight!
4. Altitude determining my attitude!  I grew up in mountainous Wyoming, then moved to sea level. That transition was simple, but coming back up? We feel winded and tired after climbing the stairs. LOL
3. A love affair with my gas gauge? You can get just about everywhere here in 25 minutes or so, depending on traffic. I did all my little daily errands and had barely dipped below 3/4 of a tank from Monday to Friday! I know, you all want to move here now, doncha!? ;)
2. Diverse-city. The area is touted to be about 94% caucasian, which is probably close to true, BUT I found out from a local friend, Boise is one of only 7 cities in the US that is a "refugee city." Which means we take in people fleeing death or persecution in their countries, AND the hispanic population in the valley is high enough that Mexico is planning to build a Consulate here! Kinda cool - since a lot of people told us we were moving  to a white supremacist stronghold. And the number one change I didn't anticipate....

1. That it would feel SO right. We've moved a few times, in my life and in our marriage. It's always been for God, but it never feels great to me. I KNOW it's right, but I'm always nervous; I feel out of place. It usually takes me a good 6 months to a year to feel settled. THIS move, though, feels so right. It makes sense to me, and I don't even know what sense it makes! There are so many uncertainties, but none of them phase me. It's just right. Both Dusty and I keep saying (with this kind of whimsical, weird smile), "It just feels right." Maybe this is what it felt like for Noah to build the ark or Joshua to take Jericho... "You want me to build a what?" "You want me to march around? How many times?" "You want us to start a church in Boise?"  Ok, God, whatever You say!

So, here we are. Dusty has had several of those crazy, evangelistic, fall-on-your-face-and-get-saved conversations he tends to have with random people. Daxton makes us new friends and opens doors for connections in every grocery store, restaurant, drive-through and garage sale. Draes screams a lot, but he smiles too so people think he's cute. And I just feel like I'm on some sort of amazing ride where I can't imagine or wait to see what happens next. And though I miss everyone who's not here with us, there's not a question in our minds this is where we're suppose to be. No matter what changes continue to crop up, no matter what changes we face, our God will not change. Though He is always moving, He will not BE moved. Isn't it good to know, even if everything else changes, He stays the same? Malachi 3:6 "I the Lord do not change."

We hope all your ch-ch-ch-changes find you in the Hand of an Unchanging God. Whew! The sun FINALLY went down. Maybe I can get some sleep ;).

Pics: Draes attempting his escape to the wild open and Daxton proudly displaying his latest "owwie"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

ON THE MOVE















So many interpretations of a phrase...

on the MOVE...
Draes is definitely moving, moving all the time. He crawls 0-60 in 2 seconds... has the calluses on his toes to prove it :) He loves to pull up and stand. Last week he began crawling up the stairs - COMPLETELY without permission. Naughty boy! So we had to get a gate. He's begun cruising from object to object while standing, and today he even stood on his own for about 30 seconds. My heart rate goes up just watching him. He just looks back, smiles and laughs. He loves to go!

on THE move...
Daxton goes back and forth about this big move to Boise. At times he's extremely excited and wants to tell everyone all about his "new house" and what life in Boise will be like. At other times, he despairs over whether or not he'll make friends and having to say goodbye to "my best house." I'm a little amazed, as he's four, that he's already aware of and worried about his social status. But, we talk through it and I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a real helper and always wants a "job" or to help me pack. Though he'll definitely miss his friends, I can already see his ecstasy at his new adventure.

ON the move...
I wish I could say I felt we were "on" it - as in on top of, in control of, managing... but I don't think so. With just 1 week to go, my packing isn't 1/2 done. My sisters have been a help this week. Dusty has been struggling with a root canal gone bad...ok REALLY bad. Saturday night before last his cheek looked like he was chewing on a golf ball. By Sunday morning it was like a tennis ball and by Monday it was as though a large softball had taken residence in the left side of his face. He got it fixed today, after antibiotics knocked the infection out. What a mess, poor guy. We both can't believe how much has to be done! But God will see us through :) because without question He is always...

ON THE MOVE! We've recently learned one of the girls from our youth group lives in Meridian with her family - another God connection. There are so many blessings, as God continues to open one door after another. Surprises, sometimes challenges, but ever the still, small Voice, "I'm still here." Can't wait to see His new moves :) We'll catch you in Boise!