The Cheerio Days

She Came in With a Bang! (A link-up in"Pages in Our Heritage of Faith)

2011-11-10T07:02:00.001-08:00

And she's HERE! Miss Evelynn Hope made her entrance on October 28th! And let me just tell you, she arrived like a firecracker on the Fourth of July.

Had we not been in our van driving to the hospital, little Evie would have been born on her due date. I think I was in labor denial. Oh, these contractions aren't that bad. This is supposed to hurt so much worse. Those were the kind of thoughts that I was having while I was in.... what I know now... labor. By the time I realized that I was in labor, I was in transition. And by the time we were half way to the hospital, litte Evelynn was half way out. Ladies, have you ever tried to not push when you are delivering a child? It virtually impossible. My poor husband was praying to God, saying, "No, God. Please. No. I can't do this. No God!" And I was saying, "You're gonna have to do this! Call 911!" The dispatcher was of no help to my completely stressed husband. They told him to pick a hospital; either drive to the intended one, or turn around and go to the one that was closer. I told Seth to turn around and go the the one that was closer... aaaaaand.... he didn't know how to get there. So I have a baby almost sitting on the seat with me, and I had to give directions to my poor husband. We were both trying to stay calm for the other at that point. (Which was not working. At all.) We finally made it to the hospital, (with my midwife and friend who was to take pictures at the other hospital), and, after trying to go in the wrong door, we went to the ER where I was wheeled in a wheel chair while on all fours into labor and delivery. And yes. There were people in the ER waiting to be seen by a physician while I was grunting and making all sorts of... birthing noises. We got to our room, all sorts of nurses rushed to my aid to help me undress so the baby would NOT be born in my pants, I laid down, and Evelynn came out. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, "That was ridiculous." I was so grateful to be in a hospital and not in the front seat of our Sienna. And my husband, who I'm sure had an extremely unhealthy blood pressure level, totally missed the whole thing. He was in hall, texting my friend, telling her that we would not be at the hospital she was waiting for us at. There was no doctor available to deliver Baby E that morning, but the Lord provided a nurse who had delivered babies in Africa for ten years! She was a missionary there, and informed us later that she was glad there was no doctor there because she loved to deliver babies. :) God is so faithful. We were scared out of our minds flying through the night, not knowing what was in store for us, all the while God was watching, saying, "I've got this, kids! I've got you."

Well, the story gets even better. Evelynn ended up being really jaundice, so we had to stay at the hospital an extra day. Then, two of my older children got sick. Then the day after I got home from the hospital, while hooking up the baby to the bili blanket, my husband discovered that my eldest had a head full of lice. Like, he could see bugs crawling. We had been informed that a family had it at our home school co-op, but I never thought that any of my kids would get it. Shows you how naive I am about bugs that live in your hair. The night of our discovery, we spent three hours pulling eggs out of our daughter's mane, then about two hours the next night. All in all, we've probably spent about fifteen to twenty hours on her hair, making sure that there is nothing living left on her head. Poor girl. All this while nursing and caring for a helpless newborn, and other little children who have needs running around. My husband kept telling me, "We'll get through this. We're gonna get through this." I'm so thankful for him and his trust in the Lord.

It's been a little overwhelming here, but it's been good. God has provided such an awesome support system for our family through our church body. We have had meals coming to our home two weeks before the baby was born, and they are still coming. We have had people take our children for the day, and more people offering daily to help. I feel like five children is a lot, but I feel confirmation from the Lord that we are doing His will. Having numerous children is a step of faith for us; one that we feel is a step to really trust the Lord... to see His hand. We have put ourselves in a position where we absolutely need Him. And He has come through. He has provided for us in every way possible.

Philipians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

We are blessed.

Little Evelynn's name means Life. Her names together mean Life and Hope. That is our prayer; that baby E will be a testimony of the life and hope that Christ has to offer the world around her.

Welcome, little girl! God has great things in store for you to do already!

Motherhood is Application

2011-09-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

I wish that I had written this. :)

This is so encouraging and challenging... please take a minute to read it.

Be Blessed!

The reason for my silence.... again.

2011-08-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

Whelp... there's the obvious. After a nasty first trimester, my energy has returned. I now have a whopping eight more weeks before our sweet fifth daughter makes her entrance into our world. :)

We made lots of time for "family stuff" this summer. I have sweet memories etched in my mind of summer nights outdoors and watching the girls fish with their daddy.

Cousin time of course! Tie dye and fireworks long after bedtime make for sweet memories for my little women...

Growing babes and homemade birthday cake...

And long, beautiful days spent at the lake I love.

So... I know I've been silent again.... for a LONG time, but those are just a handful of reasons why I have stepped away from blogging. I know I will have fond memories of these past summer months, and am looking forward to stepping into the fall with a new member in our family.

Let's Try This Again...

2011-05-16T04:27:00.001-07:00

Here's the link to Not By Sight with the post of how the Lord transformed my life and brought me out of darkness. Sorry for the confusion! And thanks to my friend Erin Lasky for sending my my testimony when I thought it was lost forever! :)

2011-05-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I had my whole testimony written out with a video and everything, and I posted it on our blog Not By Sight while Blogger was having some problems. It looks like it didn't post and didn't save either.... so I guess I'll be working on that again. Sorry!

Not By Sight

2011-05-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to our new ministry blog that I started when God called us to work at Life Action ministries. I have been wanting to share my testimony for a while, but it seemed for fitting to post it on the other blog!

Here's the link.

Sorry for the silence! I am out of my first trimester and feeling great at sixteen weeks! Hopefully the Lord will give me more time to write soon.

Blessings!

Not a pasta, not a grain, it's a seed!

2011-03-12T11:27:00.001-08:00

Quinoa.

I had heard of this food in various discussions with friends, and had read about it on different blogs, but never really had the urge to try it. Well, I started on my gluten-free diet again, after a year of being on it, and going off of it for a few months. I went on a wheat binge because I was so excited to eat coffee cake... tortillas... bread... anything carbalicious again! Let's just say that my body revolted against me. I knew I had to get back to my diet of baking with almond flour and eating brown rice pasta.

I was suggested this product by a friend, so I decided (in my attempts to branch out a little and bring a variety of GF things into my diet) that I would try quinoa.

I loved it.

It's packed full of protein, and it is very versatile. You can substitute quinoa for pasta and rice, and it is so healthy!

Here's the recipe that I tried today. It's so fresh and good! I ate about half of it right after I made it.

Vegan Quinoa Salad
4 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups raw whole grain quinoa
1 cucumber, sliced
1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup lightly steamed broccoli florets
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
dash salt and pepper, to taste

Cook quinoa in vegetable broth until it fluffs up, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While quinoa is cooking, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves and salt and pepper.

When quinoa is finished cooking, allow to cool slightly then, toss with vegetables and lemon juice mix, stirring to combine well. Add more salt and pepper to taste, and chill before serving.

Makes 6 servings of quinoa salad.

I hope that you like this as much as I did!

My kids had other things to say about it.... :)

My sweet friend's blog...

2011-03-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here is the link for my wonderful friend Andrea Griffith's blog. She is a wonderful teacher, and her latest post brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. She has a way of putting things that just make sense. I hope that you will take the time to check it out.

To be compassionate like Jesus... this is what I desire.

2011-03-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

These last few weeks have been... well... let's just say I'm being stretched.

Yes. Stretched.

And as much as I don't like how I physically feel right now, I know God is working below my exteriors, accomplishing His greater work.

I am pregnant with our fifth child, my other children have been sick for the last two weeks, and I haven't been to church in two weeks or our small group (I'm married to the small group leader....) in one week. And quiet time with the Lord? Oh my. I haven't figured how to make that work lately.

I'm starving for connection with other believers.

I miss my dear friends.

And I am physically tired to the bone.

And hungry all the time.

I've been finding myself getting angry with my daughters. Last night, Nora woke up soaked through her diaper (and I acted like it was her fault or something)... and it was only 11:30! Shorty after, Lily woke up with ear pain so I had to give her some pain reliever and she ended up sleeping with us for a bit. Aaaand... of course I woke up hungry and had to go eat something. I am physically and emotionally... pooped. And I've gained ten pounds on top of that! I think, in my mind, that I have nothing left to give anybody.

But then I think of Jesus. Sweet, compassionate Jesus.

After hearing about the murder of John the Baptist (found in Matthew chapter 14), he left on a boat to go and seclude himself. He was mourning the death of a friend and family member; the one who was preparing the way for him! But when he got to his destination, the people were waiting for him.

They needed Jesus, and He had compassion for them and healed their sick.

Seriously, right now, if one more person needed me, I feel like I might collapse on the floor and start bawling like one of my own babies. Truly. And my girls don't even need me to perform a miracle! The just need me to be their mom! Jesus knows that there is something more in me to pour out on others, and that comes from His strength.

Jesus went to be alone, but instead, he was moved with compassion and healed the ones he loved. He took time for them. He did not focus on how he physically probably felt. He reached out to others, putting himself aside.

I get so caught up in the here and now, not seeing the sun after the storm. I forget that this time is just a season, and it won't be winter forever. Spring will come. But until then I want to imitate the actions of my Jesus, giving compassion and grace to my babies.

Always Be Ready

2011-03-03T05:25:00.000-08:00

This is a site that my friend introduced me to. It's all about defending your faith. There is an entire section devoted to educating and promoting Truth regarding the Emerging Church. I feel like I need to be educated to protect my children, and myself for that matter, since it seems that so many people are falling prey to this movement.

Here is the link. I highly recommend listening to the interview with Doug Pagitt. It is a two part interview, and he denies that hell is a place. I didn't know that that is actually what these leaders were promoting.

Do you think that the wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15) are going to know they're wolves?

Love Wins?

2011-03-01T09:12:00.001-08:00

I recently watched Rob Bell's promo video for his new book, Love Wins. Something sickened my stomach about it, but I couldn't get the words out for how I truly felt about everything he was saying! It's like I was getting confused watching it! I know Rob Bell always stirs up controversy when his name and books are brought up, but I saw a link posted on a friend's Facebook status, and I thought it was nothing less than awesome. If you've seen the video clip, I suggest that you read this article. It put some clarity to my confusion.

This is a must read.

New Blog

2011-02-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

This is our new family blog dedicated to updates about where God is leading us with the plunge into full-time ministry!

Enjoy!

They are sinners... just like us.

2011-01-29T08:22:00.001-08:00

How gently and how frequently does Christ deal with us and the ugliness of our heart? Isn't it often? Isn't He so patient with us?

How then should we respond to our babes? They are sinners just like we are, and they are looking to us to train them, just like the Lord is training us in this life.

The way they view us most likely will be how they view Jesus. And I want them to view Jesus as ever patient, gentle, loving and forgiving.

I'm so thankful that when I ask the Holy Spirit to help me, He comes and He fills me and He uses me to direct my children to the Lord. I can do nothing without Him. He is FOR me, and I know that He will never forsake me in my weakness.

New Look.

2011-01-26T04:03:00.000-08:00

The sight where I got my previous background from changed, so I had had to grab a new one. But I need to explain...

I have an obsession with old books.

I have gotten a lot of my collection at a thrift store down the street from my house for ten cents. Sometimes I read them, sometimes our family reads them together, (we recently plugged through my ten cent find of Miss Hickory from 1947) but mostly I just look at them, and place them around our home. I love how they smell and feel, and how they have so much character. I enjoy thinking about the hands that have flipped through the pages inside the cover, and wonder about the reason that they might have read that particular piece of literature.

So... that's the reason I chose that background. I just like old books. A lot.

Oh what peace we often forfeit...

2011-01-24T05:56:00.000-08:00

As I sit here, I am a bit overwhelmed with some issues that are stirring in my heart due to a decision that I made. My first response when everything came about was to call someone.... I needed advice, right? I brought it before Seth first, and he started singing to me.

"Oh what peace we often forfeit... Oh what needless pain we bare... all because we do not carry... everything to God in prayer."

{I love him.}

I know that song is not scripture, but it's got great wisdom to it. How many times to we wrestle with our flesh, being anxious about things? God commands us not to be anxious, but, with thankfulness, let our requests be made known to Him. (Philippians 4:6)

I'm pretty sure He didn't say not to be anxious... but if you really feel like.... go ahead.

Right now, I know a made a good decision, but I feel like I am alone with that decision. I'm so blessed to have my husband as my covering and have him supporting me and encouraging me to take things to the Lord. God is the only one Who can work things out they way that He wants them to.

First instinct was to call someone; I'm glad that I resisted. God's teaching me something in the waiting.

I know it.

I have to do something....

2011-01-10T10:33:00.001-08:00

My friend Leigh Ann from Harris Happenings just posted this. I want to help spread the word. Could you please prayerfully consider this and spread the word?

Open Hands

2011-01-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

Jesus I lift my hands open wide let the whole world sing
how You've loved, how You died, how You set me free! This song touched my heart today. I hope it touches yours as well.

To give unselfishly, to love the least of these
Jesus i'm learning how to live with open hands
All of these treasures that i hold will never satisfy my soul
Jesus i lay it at your throne with open hands

chorus:
And i lift my hands open wide let the whole world sing
how u've loved, how you died, how you set me free!
Free at last i surrender all i am with open hands
with open hands

Verse 2:
To finally let go of my plans
These earthly kingdoms built of sand
Jesus at your cross i stand with open hands

chorus:
And i lift my hands open wide let the whole world sing
how u've loved, how you died, how you set me free!
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Free at last i surrender all i am with open hands
with open hands
You took the nails and you wore the crown
You hung your head, your love poured out
You took my place and you paid the price
So Jesus now i will give my life!!!!!!!!!

chorus:
And i lift my hands open wide let the *whole*whold world sing
how u've loved, how you died, how you set me free!
Free at last i surrender all i am with open hands
Jesus i lift my hands open wide let the whole world sing
how u've loved, how you died, how you set me free!
Free at last i surrender all i am with open hands with open hands

with open hands
with open hands
with open hands

Bringing in the New Year, Jungle Boogie style!

2011-01-03T04:24:00.000-08:00

Reason number 5,208 why I love my husband: Funny=Hotness. (As far as I'm concerned anyway.) And Seth can always make me laugh!

I love this video from New Year's Eve. We were having a dance off at some friends' house on the Wii, and we decided that our friend Seth and my husband Seth needed to bust a move together.

My Seth is the one in the plaid shirt...

We were so blessed to have such a great New Year's Eve with great friends who also love the Lord.

So here's to serving Jesus together in 2011! I'm excited to see what God has in store for us this year!

Your leaves weren't faithful ever....

2010-12-30T03:48:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tree hunting this year was... well.... NUTS! But that always makes for a great story, right?

I didn't go last year because I had just popped out a baby and had mastitis at least once by then, so this was MY first year searching for the perfect tree in good old Southwest Michigan.

I put my game face on and, even though my three year old was having some sort of breakdown, I was determined to stay calm and make this tree-hunting experience fun for my girls.

(But really, what was going through my head... with that nappy hat on it.... was "It's so cold it's so cold it's so cold it's SO COLD!")

And here we are.... pre-perfect-tree discovering. (That big ball of blanket is Nora, just in case you were wondering.)

And here is my beast of a husband, braving the cold, firing up the chainsaw, cutting down The Chosen One. (I took this picture sitting in the warmth of the van heater blowing full blast on my frozen body.) Isn't he great??!! :) Love. Him.

A few weeks after our tree had been up, we noticed that, for some reason, our tree was not sucking up any water. We would go to pour water in the tree stand, and it would still be full to the top. In years previous, we've had to water our tree every few days. Well, about a week before Christmas, our beautiful tree's branches got very sad looking, and started hanging toward the ground. Our tree's needles started falling off all over the carpet, and ornaments would just randomly fall to the ground because they were too heavy for our dying tree's branches. It was a sad looking tree.

Well, Christmas came and went, (with my husband throwing up in the bathroom) and my girls decided to rip little twigs with needles on them off of the dead tree and use them for horse food. We heard shrieks of horror from the living room during this little pretend game of theirs, and ran into the room to see what was the matter.

The tree had tipped over.

On top of Nora.

My older three were horrified and scared for their sweet baby sister... and Seth and I were laughing.

Nora was not so happy about this. Our sweet baby got clobbered by a dead, poky tree, AND she got sap on her bald head. (One time we were grateful she is bald.) We rescued her, took all the ornaments off Dead Tree, and threw it out on the front porch.

Aaaah.

I love Christmas, but I am really loving getting all of the extra "clutter" packed away and back down in the basement.

So, in Christmas Tree shopping in the years to come, we'll always remember our perfect tree that turned out to be not-so-perfect... and rather sad looking by Christmas! :)

Depraved Indifference

2010-12-28T04:20:00.000-08:00

His love is better than life.

2010-12-28T03:50:00.000-08:00

Psalm 63:3-4

Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you.

For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

There's this song that one our good friends, Lilia, wrote.

The chorus says "Cause I've tasted and seen that, Oh God, You're good, and now I give all to Thee! Cause Your love is better than life; I know that full well."

Once we have experienced His loyal love, how can we help but praise Him!?

Once we have tasted and seen that He is good, and everything He does is good, how can we not fall to our faces and give our all to Him?!

He is faithful, my friends. I've just come out of a darker season in my life. One of feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and not really knowing what to do with myself because I just had this feeling I had too much to accomplish in my day.

But let me tell you, the morning that I got on my face and cried for God to fill me with His Spirit, and to forgive me for doing life on my own, His love was loyal, even though I had not been.

I often ponder the question, "Why is He so good to us?!"

A good friend recently answered it for me a few weeks ago. She said, "Because He loves you like crazy!"

Isn't is amazing that God knows every ugly thought that passes through our head...

He knows every ugly selfish motive and purpose that we have....

He sees past the makeup and clothes right down into our souls....

and yet, He still loves us like crazy?

His love is better than life, friends!

My silence is broken!

2010-12-21T02:32:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's been a while.

I'm not quite sure my reason for not blogging for a very very very long time, but I think I needed a break.

Let me just say that trying to accomplish God's calling on my own.... it's not possible. I broke down and told Seth that I feel like I'm just doing everything mediocre. I'm not doing excellent at anything. And I don't say this to receive pity; that's just straight up how it's been.

Laundry has been done just enough to get by. School done just enough to say that we did it. Time with the Lord just enough to check it off. And time spent on building relationships with the most important people in my life was just not there. I started feeling like a complete failure.... and I know that God doesn't just call us failures... that there had to be something specific that I needed to be working on.

Once again, God is calling me back to worship Him in everything I do, because this is the calling that He's placed on my life. THIS is not too much for me to handle. I'm so thankful that God gives good gifts, (like His amazing mercy and precious grace), to "bad" kids like me. Why does He loves us so much?!

Yesterday morning, I sincerely cried out to God to help me. I told Him how much I needed Him. I asked Him for wisdom... because I can't do this by myself..... I don't WANT to do this by myself.

And do you know what? He was so faithful to me.

There was nothing different about my day. In fact, my day was ridiculous. It was long, hard, and my kids were insane! But I was different. I had sat at the feet of Jesus. He filled me up and was with me all day long. He is always there, but I don't always choose to let Him help me.

I'm so thankful I have a Good Shepherd, herding this dumb sheep back in when I get lost and sidetracked with this life. He is so good to me, and I don't ever think I will fully grasp His love for me. As undeserving as I am, God came wrapped in flesh to save my lost soul. He is a good God. He is worthy to be praised!

So, I'm back in the game, yo.

I've missed you!

Here's some pictures from a recent family photo shoot. It was nuts. :)

We got a few where everyone was still and smiling... sort of.

Loving. It.

2010-09-30T12:09:00.000-07:00

I found a blog that I've really enjoyed stopping in at! Check out I Live in an Antbed when you get a minute! It has some great encouragement regarding homeschooling, family, adoption, and your Christian walk.

I'm lovin' it.

Read and sign the manifesto!

2010-09-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

I signed the True Woman Manifesto ( A personal and corporate declaration of belief, consecration, and prayerful intent—to the end that Christ may be exalted and the glory and redeeming love of God may be displayed throughout the whole earth.) at True Woman 2010 in Indianapolis. It was such a beautiful thing to hear 6,100 women saying "Yes Lord!" after signing it! The Revive Our Hearts ministry is trying to get 100,000 women to sign the manifesto! If you read it, believe everything that it says, and you want to jump on board and let Christ work in you to become a True Woman, then sign the manifesto online!

Here's the link...

I would love to hear about what you thought of the manifesto if you read it, and if you felt led to sign it.

Can you imagine if every Christian woman let Christ move in her to live out everything in the manifesto?!

"Declare what you believe and draw the line in the sand."

Your true womanhood was made for the glory of Christ!

2010-09-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to get a post out about my weekend at True Woman 2010 right when I got back. But, life happens,and four days later... here I sit.

When I think about this past weekend at True Woman, a verse sort of summarizes the whole weekend for me.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We were challenged to be True Woman in a culture where being true to the Word is not the norm. We were challenged to love our husbands and our children, and to submit under the Word of God as our final authority.

I just keep thinking... Press on, Leah.

I am a wife, a mother of four small girls, I am a teacher to those same four small girls, and I am to be a straight arrow in a crooked and perverse world. On top of those big things I just listed, there are all the "fillers" that can rob us of our joy and our physical strength. Things like laundry (And not just the washing part. The folding and putting away is the kicker for me.), washing the floor with dinner caked on it under the table, washing hand prints off of the walls, doors, light switches, windows, mirrors.... (you get the picture), organizing seasons and sizes of clothing, preparing for homeschooling, grocery shopping, meal planning... the "filler" list could truly go on forever.

I was really challenged by a video message from Joni Erickson Tada at the conference. This is a woman who is a quadriplegic, has breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, and, at the time of her recording, had pneumonia.

And she spoke from The Word about suffering and pressing on?!

I was shamed.

This is a snippet of what she said:
Even when we think no one is watching—when we’re tempted to give into depression in the early morning hours—we dare not. The stakes are too high. God’s reputation is on the line. When you whisper, “I choose you, Lord,” “I prefer you, Lord . . . in spite of this pain,” it’s like rubbing salt in the enemy’s wounds. You’re saying that God is worth following based on His merits alone! When they see this, the spirits think to themselves, “Woa. How great her God is to inspire such loyalty.”
Your battle is not insignificant. Your life is not insignificant. In fact, your life is a cosmic field of warfare, where the stakes are about as high and universal as you can get. (Based on Ephesians 3:10 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”)

I keep telling my self daily, that I need to press on. I am being watched! Everything I do needs to glorify the Lord to show my loyalty to Him, even when I think that nobody is watching.

I am to press on at becoming a prayer warrior. I am to press on at loving my husband like Jesus loves him. I am to press on at gently training my children. I am to press on at being pure and holy in this crazy world. I am to press on at glorifying my God! I cannot give up! The stakes are too high!

But I have hope. Because my Jesus is enough. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness!

The week before I was to leave to go to the True Woman concert, my 4 year old ended up in the emergency room at three in the morning due to her asthma flaring up, my two year old got a horrible urinary tract infection (and by horrible, I am not over exagerating by any means), my baby got a cold, and I ended up in the hospital with a migraine. Then, the night before I was to leave, my ten month old, Nora, would not take a bottle. Up until last week, she was still nursing about five times a day, not including the night feedings. She had never refused a bottle before, but she was not having anything to do with the plastic that I was shoving in her mouth. She gagged, shuddered, then proceeded to crawl around the house crying and head-butting my legs until I caved and nursed her.

I laid on the floor and started crying. I know that sounds absolutely pathetic, and, in my husband's words, I was throwing and adult tantrum. But for the record, I was so looking forward to time in the Word that I was to have.... time with godly women... sleeping through the night... and eating out... without a nursing baby.

Little did I know that God was going to teach me about that very situation that I was in. He would later show me that there are heavenly beings watching, and I am pretty sure, that at that moment of my adult temper tantrum, I was making the wrong side of the spiritual war that we are in, hoot and holler.

Press on! God knows! He is IN control!

So, in a nutshell, that was my weekend. I could probably write a novel with the notes that I took during all of the speaking that took place there, but I am quite sure that I have no time for that. So, this will have to do.

Blessings to you all!

Press on!
~Leah

PS I signed the manifesto!
Check it out!

Constantness

2010-09-22T07:19:00.001-07:00

Some honey for your soul.

I'm raising the women of the next generation....

2010-09-17T09:43:00.001-07:00

and that freaks me out a little.

I see so many little girls whose focus is that of the world's. It hurts my heart to see eyes light up when presented with the desires of the flesh, and the light snuffed out when things eternal are presented. Not only does it hurt my heart, but it hurts the heart of our Father.

It hurts His heart when the lights and the games and physical rewards for "Christian" things become more important than the freshness and pureness of only His Word.

I feel like God has called me to be the mother hen with my large feathered wings, holding my babes closely, next to my breast. Under those wings, I've got to provide a gentle and nurturing environment,(Which, unfortunately doesn't come natural to me... but God is changing me!) filling their days... minutes... seconds... with the teachings of my Jesus. I want them to love what I love.

And I love Jesus.

And when they're too big... to grown... to fit under my wings, I can gently nudge them out with confidence, knowing that they will be sensitive to sin, and ready for the spiritual war that they will face.

My husband's and my goal is not to raise naive, sheltered, scared, children. Our goal is to raise women whose heart's desire is to glorify God is everything that they do. We do not want to desensitize them to things that anger God, we want them to feel anguish for the sin that they will see when they leave the covering of our home.

Who is raising women whose goal is not just to find a husband who can provide enough so that she gets to stay at home with her babies? (Which is a good thing!) Who is raising women whose goal isn't to find some time in her busy schedule for me time at the spa? Who is raising women whose goal is not just to live the life of a strong, successful, career oriented woman?

Who is raising women to take care of the widows and orphans in their distress? Who is raising women to consider leaving the comforts of this country, and travel to lands with famine and disease and poverty? Who is raising women with the knowledge that there are children.... currently one hundred fourty-seven million, who have no family? Who is raising women to die to their flesh and pour out what they have gotten from their heavenly father onto others... others who need love.... the kind of love that can only come from Jesus.

I know how easy it is to get caught up in this world. It is easier to let my children watch that movie that has a few questionable things in it, than to hear them complain and have to explain things from the Lord's view. (We have been dealing with this one a lot recently.)

I know how easy it is to let my daughters wear those really cute jeans that are super trendy right now...but way too tight. It's so much easier just to let her wear them, than to have to take the time to see the confusion in her eyes when I explain to her that they don't glorify the Lord, even when girls she looks up to wear them.

I know how easy it is to let music that does not glorify the Lord filter in to our every day life. "All the Single Ladies" was once our favorite song! I had to apologize to my girls, when I finally let the Holy Spirit tell me that it wasn't okay to allow that type of music in our home. I had to tell my daughters that I was wrong. That wasn't easy. But it was the better choice, and I'm thankful I was obedient.

What is easy is what it is.... easy. I recently had a very wise mother of four boys from my church tell me that if I'm disciplining and raising my girls right, I'm going to be tired.

And believe me, they're watching us! It has hit me recently, that a huge part of my impact on raising my girls, is what I do when they're just watching. I find that this hits me hardest during my homeschooling times. I may be trying to nail down a concept with Maci, and at the same time, Lily is begging me to start school with her, Addy is screaming because Lily took something from her and she wants a snack all at the same time, and Nora is poopy with no clothes on and a snotty nose. (That just happened today actually.) I have got to keep the eternal in focus... and that means that people are most important. I have to draw my strength from my loving Heavenly Father, take a deep breath, and remain under the pressure.... not cave under the pressure. My girls see my when I am interrupted, and they see how I react. Will I choose to yell at Adeline, my two year old, or take the time to listen? Will I snatch Nora, my baby, off the floor and huff and puff while I change her diaper...again? Will I raise my voice at Lily for wanting to do the school that she loves? Or will I gently give her a hug, tell her I love her, and find something to keep her busy for the time being?

Our kids mimic us. I've seen it especially in my eldest. I've seen the good... and the bad. Seeing her respond how I have responded has blessed my heart, and has also brought me to my knees, asking God to change me. How will we choose to react?

We're raising eternal beings.

How I choose to raise my girls today, will determine how they will raise their own children tomorrow.... and that goes for the generations to follow.

I want my daughters to see our family feeding the hungry, loving on the unlovely, forgiving those who have hurt us, being hospitable even when it's inconvenient to our schedule, sharing our belongings, and giving of our time.

I want my daughters to have a passion to glorify the Lord in everything that they do and say. I want their eyes to see beyond the comforts of this place, and look to the places where there is no comfort... no relief for other's distress... and to take the love of Jesus to that place.

I don't want them to rest until they are doing the will of their Father... which is to be obedient to Him.

I will keep them here... spend my days with them... nurture them... train them to see the eternal...love them... and teach them of what I love... Jesus. There can't be too much of Him.

Then, I will release the next generation to do extraordinary things.

Maybe they will be mothers loving their babes. Maybe they will be missionaries to a poverty stricken country. Maybe they will be writers... doctors...

Whatever they do, may these women of the next generation, my four daughters, do it for the eternal, and not for their own fleshly gain.

God, my heart's cry is to raise women who fear You, for this is the beginning of wisdom. May they realize that their beauty is only temporal, and that serving others is what really matters most to You. May the desire of their hearts be only to please You; not to seek the approval of man! Oh God, open their eyes to the distress of others, and teach them to draw their strength from You and You alone, so that they may pour out on this world full of needy people! Amen.

2010-09-13T03:52:00.000-07:00

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Last night, I posted the statement that, if every Christian would adopt just one child, there would be no more orphans in the world. I've been keeping my mouth shut because I don't want to seem like a hypocrite.... because I'm not adopting right now. But I had a talk with my good friend Nicole. She said that if she can just get the word out about orphans, that maybe she can reach someone who can adopt or help financially. She can't adopt at this very moment, but she's open to it, and she wants to make a change.

So do I.

My husband is not in agreement with me right now with this passion in my heart to adopt, so I must pray and wait. Seth does believe that we need to do this one day, but God just needs to show him when.

So, in the waiting, I can spread the word.... spread the facts.... spread the truth... that there is a need.

Just feed one.

Here is a beautiful blog written by a girl who is being Jesus to children in Africa.

Don't close your eyes to it.

It's real.... and we can help.

147 Million

2010-09-12T14:11:00.001-07:00

If every Christian in the world adopted just one child, there would be no more orphans.

Pray about it.

Psalm 9

2010-08-31T04:26:00.000-07:00

Today, I will give thanks to You with my whole heart.
Today, I will choose to recount all of Your wonderful deeds.
Today, I will be glad and exult in You.
Today, I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

Praying the Word

2010-08-30T03:54:00.001-07:00

I really want to focus on praising God for who He is, but sometimes I feel like I am saying the same things to Him every time I'm praising Him.

I set aside some time this morning just for worship. I turned on some music that totally exalts the Lord, but I just didn't feel connected to what I was saying; my words felt hollow and void. I knew that God was hearing me, but I just didn't feel like the words I was saying were....enough.

Then I remembered a good friend asking me if I ever prayed with my Bible open. I told her no, but that I should. That conversation came back to me this morning during my frustration in finding the words to say to the Lord. I opened up my Bible and turned to Psalm 34. As I began praying back to the Lord what the words in the Living Word of God were saying, it was just...right.

My words did not feel void and lacking in meaning.

They felt strong and true and fitting for my King.

These are a few verses that I prayed this morning from Psalm 34

I will bless You at all times. Your praise shall be continually on my mouth. My soul makes boast in You, Lord.

I sought You and You answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Thank You, Lord, that those who look to You are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Thank You Lord that Your angel encamps around those who fear You, and You deliver them.

Oh God, I have tasted and have seen that You are good!

Those are just a few of the verses from Psalm 34 that I prayed this morning. The scriptures are filled with beautiful and discriptive words, telling of the greatness of God. It is important to use our own words of course, but there is power in the Living Word of God! I am looking forward to tomorrow morning when I can pray more scripture back to the Him!

Blessings,
Leah

Inspired to Action

2010-08-25T12:12:00.001-07:00

I promise I have been working on some pieces of my own.... but I have to share this from Inspired to Action!

There is a printable thirty-one day calender on this blog, created to give you direction in praying daily for your husband! On it are things like faith, future, self-image, obedience, and deliverance. And that is just the first five days! Each day has a short prayer with scripture to read at the bottom. I have recently been convicted that I have not been praying enough for my husband, and really did not know where to start. I am so excited to slip this into my Bible to use in my morning time with the Lord.

The rest of this sight is amazing as well. On this blog, there is a free e-book on how to maximize your mornings. I am waiting anxiously for my first email tomorrow, so that I can start reading the book, which is attached at the bottom of Kat's (the author of the blog) news feeds.

I hope this encourages somebody out there! I was so excited when I found this wonderful sight to propel me to make a few needed changes.

Blessings!
Leah

Keepers of the Springs

2010-08-18T05:07:00.000-07:00

My friend, Elise, passed this along to her Facebook friends. It challenged me, so I would like to pass it along to you.

Enjoy! --> click here!

Shut up....

2010-08-03T06:54:00.002-07:00

then your husband will be able to hear God's voice!

Proverbs 27:15
A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike.

I confess. I'm occasionally a nagger. I'm a NICE nagger... but.... still a nagger.

God recently showed me that if I submit to my husband and trust him even in his silence, God will move.

Seth recently showed me that if I submit to him and trust that he is listening to God, he will obey.

So.....

For years now, Seth and I have felt that we would end up in full time ministry somewhere. We were willing to do whatever and go wherever. But every time we tried to step through a door, we were in disagreement about something, or the door just closed in our faces. Even through all of the "failed" attempts to see if a certain opportunity was what God had planned for us and having them not be "the one", we still knew it would happen one day. All of those attempts and failures were part of God's plan for us.

About a year and a half ago, we were introduced to Life Action out of Buchanan Michigan through our pastor and different friends from Harvest, and I was smitten and first introduction. God made my heart swell toward Life Action and what is going on there. The more I heard about the organization, the more awesome I knew it was. Seth was not so easily convinced, however. He and I would have random conversations about his job, and I would say things like, "Just call so-and-so at Life Action, and see what jobs are available and what you could do." I said that a lot. Like....more times than I can count. Seth finally said to me in a stern voice with a serious look on his face, "I get it. Don't ask me to call again."

He was totally annoyed with me.

Eeek.

I had become the continual dripping on a rainy day.

It would have been better for seth to be sitting on the corner of his roof than be in the house with his nagging wife. {Yours Truly}

He told me not to bring it up again.... so I didn't.

But that took some effort!

Just a short time after I had shut my mouth, Seth was introduced to a company that would pay him more than what he is currently making. He was asked to call the owner just to chat and introduce himself. I called Seth at work the day he was to make the call, and asked him if had talked to the owner of the company. He responded by saying no, and that he wasn't going to call.

Then he proceeded to say that it was a good thing and he would tell me why later.

Later came, and he told me his reason for not calling the other company.

He was ready to start the support raising process to go on staff at Life Action.

What!?

My heart was so happy!

Then I remembered the previous months of my nagging, and realized that all it took was a week of me shutting my mouth.

A week of being obedient to the Word....

A week of me dying to me....

Then, God spoke to my husband.... and Seth obeyed.

So lesson learned: Shut up, then God will be able to speak to your man!

I'm so excited about this new chapter in our lives because it's been something on our hearts for a very long time, but more so, because God spoke to Seth. I can walk by faith, knowing that this is God's will for our our lives, because I'm following my husband.... and that is a very exciting thing to do!

Modesty Survey

2010-07-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

I was just sent this very intersting survey regarding modesty from my friend, Elise. It took me a few minutes to menuever my way around it, but once I figured that out, this sight had some great stats to check out regarding the way that men view women and what they wear. My favorite part was the Open Question part of the survey. The men who answered the questions asked had some great insight as to how they view women and what women choose to wear.

Click here--> Enjoy!

Do I Love my Children.... as I am Loved?

2010-07-15T03:53:00.000-07:00

I feeling the burden of defeat.

I have been entrusted with so much, and the heartbeat of my home rests on my attitude. If I choose to be difficult and sulk, it ripples out into the attitudes of my family, causing frustration and confusion.

Well, I have chosen to be difficult and sulk.

I have not complained. I have not whined. But my overall attitude is that of anger and lack of any compassion for my four daughters.

In a book study that I am going through, we were asked to go through Psalm 103. This morning, I felt lead to read it again. I got to verse 8 which reads

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

I am so grateful that I am not loved as I deserve. I feel like I have failed as a wife and mother more times that I can even count, yet He still slow to anger? He is still compassionate and gracious.... after all I have done?

My Father's love for me serves as a model as to how I am to love my own children. (And this is no easy task due the fact that I am human and literally come from dust!)

I want my daughters to know, and have confidence, that their mama will continually be compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

I will fall and have recently tumbled... hard.... but this defeated feeling that I have... it's not from the Lord. Romans 8:1 says There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. I am in Christ.

His mercies are new every morning. It's the morning. And I'm feeling like claiming that promise, getting up off the floor, and {with the Lord's strength} pouring out some compassion.... grace.... and a whole lot of lovingkindness.

Oops.

2010-07-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

I managed to forget to put the link in for my last post.

I fixed that. :)

Blessings,
Leah

Love this post...

2010-06-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

I enjoy reading posts from Simply Vintage Girl. Her most recent post spoke to my heart and made me think about what we deem most important in our every day life. Check out The Walls Reflect and answer honestly the question at the end.

What would my living room say about my family and what is important to us?

Raising Homemakers

2010-06-16T09:52:00.001-07:00

I was going to post a link to one of the posts on this beautiful blog, Raising Homemakers, but I couldn't decide what on just one because I thought most of them were wonderful! This is a blog dedicated to raising women to serve in their homes. I believe, personally, that my daughters get enough encouragement from the world to go out and become working women; I feel that it's my job to encourage them to be workers at home. If, one day, they choose to go away to school, I will support them and trust that they are listening to the voice of God. But for now, I want them to learn and grow to love the things in their homes that, one day {Lord willing}, they will have.

I was once told, "Eat the fish, spit out the bones."

In other words, check out the blog, digest what you will, then spit out what you don't feel God is speaking to you about. It'd worth peeking at.

I've been greatly encouraged by it.

On our vacation to Jerseyville...

2010-06-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

my babe got a little bigger....

we traveled the land...

we picnicked at the park on the way...

we drove and we drove....

and arrived to cozy up with the babes and a good book.

We saw the sights...

talked to the animals...

and sucked on our toes.

We crossed the river on a ferry...

and got kissed by the boy she'll marry???

We played in the pool...

and drank Columbian brew...

and spent precious time....

with beautiful...

friends.

Time with God

2010-06-09T04:34:00.000-07:00

Check out these posts from my friend, Erin, from Delighting in His Richness. They are very encouraging and practical, and deliver wisdom to help busy and tired mommies get in the Word.

Verse of the Week

Making time for God

Blessings!
Leah

Just to be With You

2010-06-08T06:07:00.001-07:00

Lord my life is an empty cup
Here's my heart, would You fill me up
I'm face to the ground, forsaking my pride
Leaving my will, my burdens behind {pause}

All I want, all I need
Is just to be with You, just to be with You
Here I am at Your feet
Just to be with You, just to be with You

I have come to the end of me
And there's nothing I have to bring
But You said I belong, You say I am yours;
Nothing compares to knowing you more

All I want, all I need
Is just to be with You, just to be with You
Here I am at Your feet
Just to be with You, just to be with You

You made a way for me
Oh Saviour, I'm yours forevermore;
Oh, You made a way for me
Oh Saviour, I'm yours forevermore
I'm yours forevermore

All I want, all I need
Is just to be with You, just to be with You
Here I am at Your feet
Just to be with You, just to be with You

All I want, all I need
Is just to be with You, just to be with You
Here I am at Your feet
Just to be with You, just to be with You

All I want, all I need
Is just to be with You, just to be with You
Here I am at Your feet
Just to be with You, just to be with You

Oh, all I want is just to be with You.

Fun Lunch Idea!

2010-06-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

I love this lunch idea from For the Love of Naps for serving the afternoon meal to my girls! I get bored with the same thing every day; lunch on a plate. I've done things like picnics in the living room on a blanket, or using cookie cutters on sandwiches, but this is so cute to me for some reason! :) I know my kids will think it's great too.

Check it out!

Now.... for enough muffin tins....

Fried Rice

2010-06-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe online, and I love it because it's so versatile. It can easily be made in large quantities,and different meats, or no meat, can be used. Whatever vegetable that you have on hand can be tossed in as well. I used a little sesame oil to cook the chicken in when I made this a few weeks back. It was pretty tasty.

1 - 2 green onions, as desired
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
4-6 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed
4 cups cold cooked rice
1 - 2 tablespoons Tamari
Add-ins: shredded cabbage, edamame, sesame seeds, sesame oil, chicken, peas... and whatever else you get the hankering for.

Wash and finely chop the green onion. Lightly beat the eggs with the salt and pepper.

Heat a wok or frying pan and add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the eggs. Cook, stirring, until they are lightly scrambled but not too dry. Remove the eggs and clean out the pan.

Add 2-3 tablespoons of oil. Stir-fry meat if you are using any. Add in veggies and stir-fry until cooked but crisp.

Add 2 tablespoons oil. Add the rice. Stir-fry for a few minutes, using chopsticks or a wooden spoon to break it apart. Stir in the soy sauce or oyster sauce as desired.

When the rice is heated through, add the scrambled egg back into the pan. Mix thoroughly. Stir in the green onion. Serve hot with "Rooster Sauce", sesame seeds, and Tamari.

My husband and I ate this whole batch by ourselves.

So. Good.

Nine.

2010-05-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

Robin Hood Obsession

2010-05-24T05:32:00.001-07:00

My girls are obsessed with Disney's version of Robin Hood right now. I've had some great teachable moments from the old classic, and had an idea to do a unit study through the summer just to keep us doing something. I've never done a unit study before due to the fact that this was my first year homeschooling! But I love the idea and would really like to try it.

One thing that got my girls thinking,(and what started getting me thinking about doing a unit study) was when I told Maci that Robin Hood seems good because he's helping people in need, but then I proceeded to ask Maci what she thought about Robin Hood stealing to help the poor. I got her little mind thinking a little more by asking what she thought about Robin Hood not trusting the Lord to do His work. Maci had a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact that even though Robin Hood's intentions were good, he was still sinning.

You really could go so deep with this great old classic.

I did a search for a unit study so I didn't have to do all of the work myself, and this is what I came up with. (In a search... not what I created myself!:) )
----> click here
There is history, character studies, and scripture, and I think that there is a lapbook that can be created too. I thought it looked great.

Blessings on this toasty Monday! :)

I am way too excited about this...

2010-05-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have to spread the love, guys!

A friend of mine at church today told me how she gets her organic produce; she does it through B&B Organics. The more she told me about it, the more excited I got... and when I got home to actually check out the website, I was sold.

You can get on their sight and decide on which box of produce that you want for that week. You can pick from an all fruit box, and all veggie box, or a combo box. There are also Al La Carte items every week, and a box for two. Then, you decide where you would like to go and pick of your purchase of fresh-veggie-fruit-goodness!

It sounds just too good to be true... but my friend has been purchasing her produce like this for quite some time now!

Here is the link for the items for this week. I was very impressed at how much produce you can get for the price.

Check it out! I can't wait to try it!

The Centrality of the Home by Voddie Baucham

2010-05-22T03:41:00.001-07:00

My good friend, Elise, passed this sermon on to me in a comment on my post, "The More They Were Oppressed, the More They Multiplied." This message on the family is convicting and just... amazing. If you get a minute, check it out.

"Christianity is dying one generation at a time. One home at a time."

"What has been our answer? Our answer has been to divorce ourselves from the issue and hire youth pastors to make it better."

And it gets better.

I feel like Voddie said (in more words than this) that Americans are slowly coming up on the heels of the rest of the world in regards to how many children we're having... or the lack there of, and we're not evangelizing the children we do have like God has told us too.

Check out Voddie's sermon. The link is above.

Blessed Femina

2010-05-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Encouragement.

The Unknown

2010-05-20T04:02:00.001-07:00

Her body is tired and her bones are weary.
Her head pulses; yesterday's headache is

still here today.

With her head bowed and hands on her face, "I will go, Lord."

{Despite what her flesh is crying out.}

So she leaps into the unknown.

{It's a little scary there.}

Her naked feet tremble at the first step.
She expected the ground to crumble beneath her trembling body,

but found a Firm Foundation instead; the lie from Satan destroyed!

Tears of salt
but of joy
spill from her tired eyes.
She trembles with excitement and a little anticipation too.

She's so thankful.
She's so grateful.

Thankful that His ways are not her ways.
Grateful that His thoughts are not her thoughts.

But she cannot do what He's asked of her in her tired, earthly flesh and in her weary, earthly bones.

Like perfume that flowed from the alabaster jar, she must pour her worship out on Him.
She must come away smelling of her Savior to accomplish what He's asked of her.

She's stepped out into the the unknown.
But it's God's will.

She's stepped out into the unknown.... the

unfamiliar.

And there's nowhere else she'd rather be.

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied...

2010-05-18T15:35:00.001-07:00

Do you ever hear, "I just can't have any more kids. The world is getting so bad."

I have heard that so many times, and I've even said something of the sort myself! The world is getting horrible, and bringing sweet little babies (that we're supposed to bring up to love and fear the Lord) into it is a scary thing!

I have been reading Exodus, and one verse stuck out at me, in regards to this topic. The context is Egypt holding Jacob's seed (Israel) in bondage and making them do grueling work as slaves. The new king in Egypt didn't know Pharaoh, who thought very highly of Joseph, Israel's son. Israel’s offspring in Egypt were many. Exodus 1:7 says, "But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them."

That's a lot of offspring!

It goes on to say, in verse 11, "Therefore they (the Egyptians) set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses."

The verse that really got me thinking about having children in this crazy world is verse 12. It says, "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel."

The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied! God was with them! Read on folks! His blessings... provisions.... signs and wonders... protection... were amazing in the following chapters! And that’s not to say that Israel’s seed didn’t suffer, but God was made glorious! He was made victorious!

If you have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, you've been grafted in, folks! We are Israel's seed! What makes us think that God is going to turn His eye now?

Isn't He the same now as He was then?

Don't you think it's us who have changed?

This world is a scary place for us parents, but think about Israel in cruel bondage to the Egyptians; the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied.

What do you think?

This is a picture of Israel blessing Joseph's children. Obviously I have no clue how accurate it is, but I like having a visual of those times. I think this is beautiful.

Monday Musings

2010-05-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

I felt like I was Elaine in a Seinfeld episode last week....

So my husband and I are way lame and didn't send in our 2010 Census info. We just didn't. No reason; we're just lame-o like that.

So a few weeks after it was due, this man knocked on my door. He fit the bill of a "taker of the census". He was a stout looking man, super friendly for us never meeting before, and had a nice 'stache growing above his upper lip. He flashed his badge and his spiffy Census Bureau bag and made it quite clear... he was for sure official material; the real deal.

The first time he stopped by, (yes he came by on more than one occasion) He asked if he could come in for about ten minutes to ask me a few questions for our census... since we failed to mail it in. Of course I told the male stranger asking to come into my home with four daughters inside "no", and that we would call the number he so kindly left for Seth and I.

We didn't call the number. BUT, Seth did fill out our form, even though it was late, and mailed it in.

Well, my friend with the 'stache stopped by again, and told me the form that Seth sent in was no good due to it's late arrival, but assured me that I could just call the number to do the questionnaire over the phone; I said "Nope, let's do this.." So we bonded on my front porch over the light blue form (which didn't have enough spaces for all of our brood to get recorded, so we had to use two census forms.... does that say anything about the government's love for children????) and he went on his way after a jolly "Thank you for your time."

And this is where it gets good....

Well, the next day, our neighbors, Bob and Dessie, were having a garage sale. I had been lusting over some dishes that had been put out; I could see from our master bedroom over-looking their driveway. Later that day, the kids were all taken care of and content, so I strolled over to scope everything out. The dishes were beautiful. They were old, delicate, and the perfect colors for my kitchen. I told our neighbor's daughter, who was helping with the sale, that I would take them, but I wanted to keep looking at the other goods that were set out on the other tables. The girl offered to take my purchase of beautiful china over to my porch for me so I didn't have to carry them.

Well... guess who popped up like a mole from the whack-a-mole game at Chucky Cheese? You guessed it; Mr. Officialtakerofthecensus himself.

"Hey there! I know you" I said, trying to be a little humorous. He just smiled... probably thinking what a loser I was for not filling out our census! :)

He saw me looking at the dishes and other glass items that my neighbor had set out and asked, "Oh! Are you a collector of glass as well?!" I said, "Uh... no... I just like it.." Then, he asked me if I bought the set on the end of the table, which was indeed my set. "Yup, that's mine." I said, making sure he knew not to mess with my new found treasure. My neighbor's daughter started taking the dishes over to my porch for me.

Well, as I was scoping out porcelain nick-knacks and old books that smelled like mold, my favorite person decided that he was going to buy the other half of my dishes. I went to load my tea cups and saucers into a box, and he said, "No I bought those!"

My ears got hot.

I was mad.

"That's the other half of my set." I said... trying to remain calm. (I'm sure he could see by the shade of red my face had turned that I was indeed not calm at all.)

He said, "Nope. They were different."

I felt like he was totally saying "Hahahahaaaa! You're a loser garage saler too!"

He seriously would have fought over the dishes! (Which, had I not been a follower of Jesus, I think I would have taken him.)

I just said "Whatever. No biggie." and walked away, missing out on the other half of my dishes.

My flesh wanted to unleash the beast.... the Psycho Mom side of me.

But the Holy Spirit kept saying, "peacemakerpeacemakerpeacemaker BE A peacemakerpeacemakepeacemaker!"

(Psycho mom sounded WAY more fun at the time.)

I totally felt like I was Elaine in a Seinfeld episode or something! Now I need to go do a stake-out at his house and glare at him in passing at the store, pointing my finger at him saying, "Those were MY dishes! Mine, you hear?!"

I went to bed that night, trying not to be angry over an earthly treasure that I can't take with me to heaven. I fell asleep, then woke up abruptly, thinking of my lost dishes; how I just loved that sugar bowl! My husband told me just to forget about it.... "But that man was just so rude and selfish!" I thought.

Well, it turns out that the dishes actually were two separate sets that were very similar. I only know this because I went back to the sale again, and my little friend forgot to take one of his bowls with him. I took it home to compare it with mine and saw that the patterns were indeed slightly different. I should have been paying better attention and said that I wanted both sets.

I should have filled out my census.

I did come away with some great items though. I found a black vintage clutch purse for $.25, about four pairs of vintage earrings, each for $.50, some really great books from 1904 and 1928 for $.25 each, four antique miniature teacups for each of my girls so we can have a tea party, and some fun little toys for ten cents each.

So even though I didn't get all of the beautiful dishes that I thought I had to have, I got some other really fun finds.

But most importantly, I learned to practice self control by choosing not to unleash Psycho Mom on a fellow human being... just trying to get a sweet looking sugar bowl like myself.

It's all good.

And I have decided doing a stake-out at my little friend's house... is a no-go.

Happy Mother's Day, Mamas!

2010-05-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge — that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other kind of women — beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career woman, talented women, divorced women, but so seldom do we hear of a godly woman — or of a godly man either, for that matter.

I believe women come nearer fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realm of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultramodern. The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith. The world has enough women who know how to be smart.

It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right that socially correct.-Peter Marshall

To read more GREAT Mother's Day encouragement, check out Doug's Blog.

Blessings!

Great article.

2010-05-06T17:45:00.003-07:00

Check it out.

Check out this book!

2010-05-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

My posts have been far and few, and for this... I apoligize...

So now that I've got the time to write a little, I wanted to share, with all of you, a book that has been amazingly challenging, confirming, encouraging, and eye-opening.

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God, by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald, is a must read.

Truly.

If I had enough mula (or muhla... or moola... whatever)I would buy a copy and send it to every women I know... and throw one at every woman I saw.

(Because I really feel like every woman needs to be hit in the face with the info in this book... in the most loving way possible of course! :) )

It's all about our calling as women!

And don't we need some direction sometimes? I get so lost in the every day, that sometimes I just need a little push to get me focused.

Again.

Women are not doormats.

We are not called to be slaves to our homes.

We have a choice to be slaves to one of two things: Satan, or Christ!

By choosing to manage our homes, submit to our husbands as God has commanded us to do, and serve our families the way God has told us to, we are actually choosing freedom.

This book is not just random opinions and new schedules to try out. It's an overview of what God has commanded of the women that He has created. This book is jam PACKED full of scripture to back everything these lovely ladies present. It's written intelligently and honestly. There is no front put on here; just two mamas keepin' it real.

The authors also have a blog that is worth checking out.

So, that's what I've been busy with; letting the Lord show me how to be a better homemaker... to be more productive with my time.... to work on what God has called me to do. There will be seasons when I will be able to blog every day! (Yay!) But this is not one of them. :) And I'm okay with that!

I hope that you still stop in and read my posts, even though they are far and few!

Blessings on this beautiful May day!
-Leah Rachel

Homemade yogurt... in your crockpot!

2010-05-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Elise, passed this yogurt recipe...or should I say process on to me. After trying other ways of making yogurt... failing miserably... and NOT wanting to spend the money on a yogurt maker, this is the best way that I've found to make it. It's so much healthier than store bought yogurt! You can sweeten it with honey, xylitol, or fresh fruit, then top with homemade granola. If you're into organic, use organic milk... or just go milk a cow if you live in Michigan like me!

Yum.

click here -> Enjoy!

Why did the turtle cross the road?

2010-04-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

I felt inspired a few days ago to take time out of the business of the every day for the little things in life.

Like turtles.

I was driving home from a friend's house when I spotted a turtle crossing the road. "How fun!" I thought, so I stepped on the brakes to turn around. I thought it would be so neat to show the girls a real turtle, let them touch it, then set it free to continue it's journey.

I stopped the car, did a U-turn, and pulled up next to the the turtle; he was right outside of the girls' window. There were two cars coming up behind me, so we waited. The first car passed, then the second car came up next to our van, and I heard a THUMP.

I scrunched my eyes, gripped the steering wheel and put my head down.

"You have GOT to be kidding me," I mutterd.

All was silent in the van.

I looked down and saw the dead turtle with it's shell smashed into pieces on it's back.

And it was still twitching.

"Aaaaah.....it's... dead." is all I could say. (I couldn't say almost dead.)

There was more silence as we all stared out the window at the broken body of the turtle.

One of the girls in the back said, "It's red."

I turned my head toward the road, placed both hands on the steering wheel, stared out the window for a minute, (mouth hanging open and a bit traumatized) put the van into drive, and solemnly drove off.

"The turtle's dead, girls." I said weakly, expecting some tears from at least one of my girls.

"Yup. It's dead." they responded ever-so-bluntly, without any hint of sadness in their little voices.

And that was all the sympathy I got for the poor animal.

"What if the turtle was a mommy with babies!?" (I was trying to get some pity for the reptile.)

"Yeah! Then we could go catch it's babies and there would be one for you, and you, and you, and me!" shouted Lily from the backseat.

I can see that pity for dead reptiles is not ingrained in my girls.

At all.

And I'm not really sure how I feel about that...

I turned the van around again after finding another good spot for a U-turn, and headed toward home.... we passed the turtle again. I was wondering if it was completely dead yet, because when we left the thing, it's little legs and head were still moving. (Eew.) I actually debated running it over again to finish the job and put it out of it's misery, but I just couldn't.

Soooo, my teachable moment didn't go so well, and the turtle probably would have made it to the other side safely if I had not stopped to try to educate my little women.

Oh well.

So why did the turtle cross the road?

We'll never know.

:)

Relinquish Control

2010-04-07T03:55:00.000-07:00

I am in the final {amazing} last few pages of Lies Women Believe. In the end of the book, Nancy goes through the Truth that set us free, countering the lies that we often believe. One of those Truths smacked me in the face differently this morning than it had in my previous encounters with it earlier in the book.

From Lies Women Believe:
"The pathway to true joy is to relinquish control."

Matthew 16:25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

"Why is it so hard to let God be God? Why is it so hard to turn over to Him the management of the universe? The Truth is, He is in control. He loves us, and He isn't going to fall asleep on the job or let something slip by His notice.

When we refuse to let go of the reins, we are really vying for His job.

The pathway to freedom is to relinquish all control of our own lives, of our families, and of every circumstance in our lives.

Not until then will we see Him do what only He can do."

What are you holding on to?
What am I holding on to....

What are you trying to fix on your own?
What am I trying to fix on my own....

How are we vying for His job today?

Once again, I am challenged.

You gotta read this book packed full of wisdom and scripture.

I'm A Sponge!

2010-03-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

I'm sucking this stuff up! :)

Once again, Erin, from Delighting in His Richness, has posted some great words of wisdom on homeschooling. Take a few minutes to read this!

I Will Wait.

2010-03-30T03:51:00.000-07:00

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope.

"Waiting is a deliberate action that often requires more courage than taking matters into our own hands. It requires trust, obedience, hope, and perseverance. What is one current situation in your life where you need to simply and quietly wait on the Lord?" -Lies Women Believe

Isn't the waiting sometimes more difficult than trying to make things happen in our own flesh? I have been guilty of too much talking and pressuring and not enough praying and waiting.

In the waiting, we are being shaped,

formed....

being made more like Jesus.

"Father, sometimes it is so hard to endure when it seems like nothing is changing in my circumstances. Help me to wait for Your timing, Lord, knowing that You will act at the right time. Until then, teach me to trust, obey, hope, and persevere. Be glorified in my life, Lord. Amen." -Prayer also from Lies Women Believe

Get Ready for April Fools...

2010-03-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

This cracks me up! This mom has some fun ideas to trick your children on April Fools. I usually am not prepared for such things, but I think my girls would get a kick out of being a little silly on the first of April!

It's Monday Again!

2010-03-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

My friend, Erin, wrote a great post about sharing the Good News in a bad news world. Check it out!

Different subject.

This weekend we....
....played in a pond at The Cabin,

and bundled up the baby for a spring-time walk in the woods with the family,

and were brave,

and we loved each other,

and got a little silly,

and got in touch with our inner explorer, (Yes... Addy has an ax. What?)

...again,

then got all matchy-matchy for Palm Sunday.

It was a great weekend!

Finding God

2010-03-26T04:13:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a study with a group of wonderful women at my church, Harvest Bible. I know I've mentioned the Lies Women Believe study before, and I've got some more interesting information to share with you! The excerpt that I'm going to share is in the book from my study, but it actually comes from another book that I have not read called Finding God by Dr. Larry Crabb.

In the chapter, Lies Woman Believe About Circumstances, Nancy says, "It's not enough for us to be the center of our own universe. We want to be the center of everyone else's universe as well- including God's. When others don't bow down before us and devote themselves to promoting our happiness and meeting our needs, we get hurt and start looking for alternate ways to fulfill our egocentric agenda.

You'd think the church would be the one place where things would revolve around God rather than man. But this is not necessarily so."

She then quoted this from Dr. Larry Crabb's book:

Helping people to feel loved and worthwhile has become the central mission of the church. We are learning not to worship God in self-denial and costly service, but to embrace our inner child, heal our memories, overcome addiction, lift our depressions, improve our self-images, establish self-preserving boundaries, substitute self-love for self-hatred, and replace shame with affirming acceptance of who we are.

Recovery from pain is absorbing an increasing share of the church's energy. And that is alarming...

We have become committed to relieving the pain behind our problems rather than using our pain to wrestle more passionately with the character and purpose of God. Feeling better has become more important that finding God...

As a result, we happily camp on biblical ideas that help us feel loved and accepted, and we pass over Scripture that calls us to higher ground. We twist wonderful truths about God's acceptance, his redeeming love, and our new identity in Christ into a basis for honoring ourselves rather than seeing those truths for what they are: the stunning revelation of a God gracious enough to love people who hated him, a God worthy to be honored above everyone and everything else.

... We have rearranged things so that God is now worth of honor because he has honored us. "Worthy is the Lamb," we cry, not in response to his amazing grace, but because he has recovered what we value most: the ability to like ourselves. We now matter more than God.

I hope that, in reading this, you don't misunderstand my reasoning for posting this. I did not post this to make the evangelical church look bad, but more so, for the purpose of examining our own hearts. (Not the hearts of everyone we go to church with.)

As we worship, let us examine our own hearts, lest we worship God for "honoring" us.

::J O Y::

2010-03-25T04:42:00.001-07:00

My husband came home one day and said, "You've gotta hear this song... it's like... your story."

My story in a nutshell:
"Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees."

When God brought me to my knees... arms stretched high... reaching for Him... it was the beginning of true joy for me.

I hope that you have experienced God and have gotten even the slightest glimpse of who He is.

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

(CHORUS 2)
What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

Monday, Shmunday.....

2010-03-22T05:01:00.000-07:00

I know it's Tuesday now, but I wrote this yesterday. (And somehow "Tuesday Shmuesday just doesn't have that same ring to it.)

It was a great Monday because...

Addy went potty on the toilet and was dry most of the day! (Oh the things that excite us as parents.)

I was getting so frustrated with the whole potty-training thing because my oldest two girls were potty trained so early. Maci was eighteen months and almost done being in diapers, and Lily was around two and almost finished with diapers. So when Addy turned two this past January, and began bringing me a diaper when she was poopy, I knew I was going to have to start soon.

Yesterday, I sat her on the potty, she went, and I gave her two tic-tacs. She thought it was the coolest thing EVER. Now she's all about it. And I give Maci and Lily a dime when they take her potty! HA! Isn't that genius!? It's so great to have older kids in the house who love to help with their baby siblings! There have been a few times when Addy has said that she needs to go to the bathroom, but I've been nursing Nora, changing her... or just trying to calm her fussy self down. It's been great to say, "Lily, can you help Addy get her pants down so she can go potty please?" Lily runs, gets her sister, and gets her situated on the potty. Then, I put a dime in her allowance jar! Lily thinks it's great. Maci was actually the first to witeness Addy going poop on the potty! It was a very exciting time in the Biek house. Maci got a tic-tac and a dime after she helped Addy go potty and put her pants back on. Love it.

Anyway. I'm so happy that my days of two children in diapers are finally coming to an end!

For now.

I also wanted to share with you my realization... or maybe more of a conviction.

I find that when I'm not in the Word for even a day, I'm not a very nice person.

I'm a sinking ship...

A very grouchy mama.

So... my goal... my desire... is to be in the Word every day. Not just Monday through Friday, but every day. Even Sunday. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this is going to affect my relationship with the Lord. I feel by me skipping out of my time with Him on the weekends, I'm saying I only need Him during the week.

And that is not true.

Like I said before, I'm a sinking ship without the Lord, even when my husband is home on Saturday.

Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

I don't think I can go wrong by spending a few extra days with the Lord!

One more thing:

Isn't this the sweetest thing!?

It's on my little Mother's Day wish-list for my husband. It's a little more than what we normally spend on gifts, but it's so precious! There are many beautiful necklaces that can be personalized on Lisa Leonard Designs. I recommend checking out her website. It's very cute. (Thank you Feels Like Home for introducing me to this AWEsome jewelry!)

Have a great week, folks!

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

2010-03-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful blog all about being a biblical woman. I was impressed from the little that I read, and am looking forward to reading more!

Check out A Wise Woman Builds Her Home!

On this blog, the writer has created a Christian Mother's Series. I have only read the first post so far, but I am completely impressed. She offers amazing wisdom and perspective in raising children.

Bedtime

2010-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

Putting our four girls to bed at night can be rather entertaining at times. Especially when one of us has to do it alone.

Tonight was one of those nights when bedtime duty with four small children was all me.

Yesssss.

It started getting crazy tonight during devotions. When the girls and I got to prayer time, I asked them what they wanted to pray for. Maci said "Meryline", (a girl we sponsor from Haiti) and Lily said, "Our yellow dresses." (I ordered new yellow dresses for Easter for Maci and Lily.)

Me: "You want to pray for your dresses?"

Lily: "Yup"

Me: "Why don't you thank Jesus for your yellow dresses, and thank Him that He gave us the money to buy the yellow dresses?"

Lily: "Okay. Dear Jesus, I pray for our new yellow dresses...." (Hands were tangled together , smashed on her face with her eyes scrunched shut.)

Me: "Thank you, Jesus, for our new yellow dresses."

Lily: "Thank you for our new yellow dresses and that You gave us the money to buy them. Amen."

After devotions, I had the girls make their way up to Seth's and my bed to read a book. If you have not read Seven Silly Eaters, you must; it's hysterical.

All five girls in the Biek House were on our king-size bed.

Nora was eating her hands and grunting.

Addy was saying, "I'm a cat. I'm a cat." with her blue binky clenched between her teeth.

Maci was arranging pillows so she could feel organized, and saying,"But where am I going to sit?"

Lily was tooting then laughing oh-so-loudly at herself.

We're really working on that one. :)

After we read Seven Silly Eaters, I sent the girls off to bed.

Down plopped Addy off of our huge bed. She waddled off to her bed; binky stuck to her face.

Maci rolled tiredly off the bed and obediently went off to her bed.

Lily tooted again, and laughed all the way to her bed.

And I had put sweet Nora in her bed during the middle of our story time.

The older three girls are all in one room, and some nights, it takes a while for them to settle down. The two older girls are in bunk-beds, and Adeline is in a toddler bed just a few feet away from her sisters.

You can imagine the pandemonium that could happen with three children five and under, sleeping in the same room with the sun screaming through the window even after bedtime. {I dislike time change. A lot. Note to self: MUST GET BLINDS. GOOD ONES.}

I was standing in the middle of the room with my hands on my hips LAUGHING at the chaos before me. (I was laughing SO hard, I actually got the hicups.)

In my surroundings, there were about ten pairs of little girl undies on the floor because one of my children feels the need to change her's after every bathroom usage. There were Polly Pockets everywhere, and a broken drawer that had fallen out of one of the dressers.

Chubby little Addy was standing on the side of her bed in her fuzzy jammies, holding on to the railing, binky still in her mouth, rocking back and forth saying, "I'm a cat! I'm a cat!"

Maci was sprawled out on her top bunk laughing very hard at her sisters.

Lily was on her bed.

Tooting.

And laughing.

Lily: "I have to go to the bathroom!" She ran out of the room into our bathroom.

For some reason, Addy jumped off of her bed and waddled out after Lily her saying, "I'm a cat! I'm a cat!"

What?

Maci was still on her top bunk... still laughing a hilarious belly laugh, straight from the gut, which made me laugh harder.

On nights like these, I feel like I could create a very entertaining sitcom about four silly sisters and their very tired mommy. :)

Eventually, the sun went down, and after about five trips up the stairs to deliver some discipline and find a lost binky in a pillow case, here I sit.

Sigh.

Crazy monkeys.

JJ Heller

2010-03-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a stay at home mom who.... stays at home.... a lot. I've found that I really enjoy Christian music playing in the background of the every day things that take place here in our home. I love it when I hear my children singing "Oh... how He loves us! Oh.... how He loves us!" or "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.....". It blesses my heart. So, whenever I find new stuff that I like, and that I think my kids will like, I get pretty excited.

Warning: $.99 songs off of iTunes can add up pretty quickly if one is not careful. :)

I came across an artist, that I had never heard before, on my friend Joanna's blog. The artist's name is JJ Heller. Some of her music reminded me a little of Ingrid Michaelson, except she's singing about her relationship with Jesus, not wanting to "Be Okay". :) I really liked most of her music when I checked it out. I wanted to pass it along to you!

Enjoy!

Lemi What?

2010-03-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Are you happy with the way that your dishes look when they come out of the dishwasher? Or are you like I was.... re-washing everything after it came out of the dishwasher, and frustrated with the cloudy scum all over your glasses? Even my plates and silver wear were starting to look not-so-cute any more.

I was discussing this with one of my sister-in-laws, and she totally solved this problem for me; my life is forever changed.

Two words, folks: Lemi. Shine.

It was less that $5 at Walmart.

Lemi Shine is a powdered additive to put in your dishwasher with your regular soap. You just put it in the pre-wash section of your dishwasher....and ta-da! Clear, sparkling dishes that feel squeaky clean!

This stuff is SO GREAT! I know I totally sound like a commercial, but I just want to spread the love!

My life is changed.

I am a better woman because of Lemi Shine.

Is that over the top?

Obviously, I really recommend the stuff. I'm going to try to use it on some other household cleaning where there are water stains, and I'm also going to ... maybe.... try soaking my clothes in it to see if it will work as a stain remover. I'll let you know how it goes and if my clothes just disintegrate.

So.... if your glasses are cloudy and your dishes feel scummy...Get. It.

New {Happier} Look....

2010-03-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

I felt like I needed to change the look of my blog.... something a little... happier. So, you're still at The Cheerio Days; just a little more cheery version of it!

Have a blessed Monday!

Read. This.

2010-03-12T04:49:00.000-08:00

Two posts in one morning?

Don't judge me. :)

I just wanted to share this article with you. If you have been sexually abused in any way, you need to read this. If you know someone who has been sexually abused, you need to read this. If you are reading this post, you need to read this.

Read this.

Blessings!

The "S Word"

2010-03-12T03:48:00.000-08:00

Submission.

What did you do when you read that word? Did you say, "Yup. That's what I'm supposed to do as a woman." or did you cringe and want to go check your Facebook instead of reading the rest of this?

My response to the "S word" is something in the middle. Submitting is something that I'm supposed to do to, but I find myself not doing it in the little things.

My husband and I were driving to a dinner get-together with friends, and for some reason, I was the one who was driving. I was happily going about ten miles over the speed limit, joyous that we were going to get to our destinations faster than if we were only going the legal {painfully slow} fifty-five. After a few minutes of me weaving in and out of some traffic and continuing my speed of ten over, Seth asked me to slow down.

I gave him the look that said, "Are you serious? Like, for real?"

Then I actually verbalized my thoughts.

Then I laughed an annoyed laughed.... and slowed down.

A little.

How easy would it have been for me to do to show Seth my submission to him, and just hit the blasted breaks!?

I was only partly obedient which made me disobedient.

I had the wrong heart attitude which made me {once again} disobedient.

Let me just share with you what Nancy Leigh DeMoss says in her book Lies Women Believe.

The Liberating Truth About Submission

My perspective on submission has grown as I have come to understand something of God's purpose for authority. God intended that authority should be a means of providing spiritual covering and protection.

When you tell your two-year old child he may not walk across the busy street outside your house by himself, you are not being tyrannical or cruel. you know there are "cruel" cars on that busy street, and you are acting in your child's best interests. You are using your authority to protect your child (though he may be oblivious to his need for protection.)

When we place ourselves under the spiritual covering of the authorities God has placed in our lives, God protects us. On the other hand, when we insist on having it our way and stepping out from under that covering and protection, we open ourselves up to the influence and attack of the Enemy.

I believe the failure of many Christian wives to place themselves under their husbands' authority accounts for the extent to which so many women are vulnerable to Satan's attack on their minds, will, and emotions. When we come out from under authority-whether in big matters or in seemingly insignificant areas-we become "fair game" for the Enemy.

I have discovered that the fundamental issue in relation to submission really comes down to my willingness to trust God and to place myself under His authority. When I am willing to obey Him, I find it is not nearly so difficult or threatening to submit to the human authorities He has placed in my life.

Proverbs 21:1 assures us that "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse where ever he pleases." Our willingness to place ourselves under God-ordained authority is the greatest evidence of how big we believe God really is.

I am challenged, today, to trust the Lord and submit in the big and little areas. I want my daughters to see the beauty and example of submission. I want to bless my husband. I want the Lord to be pleased with my life.

Beautiful.

2010-03-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

Psalm 99:5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!

I love worship music. A lot. I stumbled across some Jesus Culture music and was captivated by it because it's beautiful, and it exalts the Lord. Here's an oldie redone by them that I wanted to share with you. It's pretty amazing. Hope it brings you to exalt Him today, and worship at His footstool!

"I Surrender."

2010-03-03T04:24:00.001-08:00

There is no love, sweeter than the love You pour on me.

There is no song, sweeter than the song You sing to me.

There is no place that I would rather be, than here at Your feet, laying down everything!

Jesus, how I long to be at Your feet... laying down everything. You know all about me.... my weaknesses and my burdens....

Oh God, help me today.

Be with me today.

Change me today.

I need You; I cannot do this on my own.

I would be a sinking ship without Your love.

Amen.

Bikinis for our Babies?

2010-03-02T05:15:00.001-08:00

1 Corinthians's 6:20
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

I had the opportunity to get out of the house last week, (amazing), with my sister-in-laws. We stopped by Target on the way home after our outing to get a few things. One of my sisters was browsing through the girls' bathing suits for her six year old. She asked me what I felt about bathing suits for our girls. I told her that our conviction that the Lord has given to us about swimwear is that it must be modest. If we allow our girls to start wearing tiny little bathing suits with their little booblets showing, why would we think that they wouldn't put up a fight to wear a bikini when their booblets have turned into breasts....that we for sure don't want showing?

I have been guilty of buying two piece bathing suits for my girls with the excuse that it's cute.

My girls are just little.

There's no harm done.

But when my three oldest girls came parading out of the house in their little two piece numbers, I felt guilty and ashamed that I spent money to allow my girls to look like the world. (I know that this is my own conviction. It's not every one's, and I am not judging another believer if they do not feel the same way.)

They were semi-modest two piece suits, but God was still speaking to me about glorifying Him with what Seth and I allowed our girls to wear, and how we were teaching my girls to glorify Him. I didn't buy those suits for my girls to glorify the Lord with their bodies. I bought them because I knew how cute they would be in them.

I put fashion and cuteness above teaching my girls that their bodies were a temple.

I failed to show them that how we dress as believers is a testimony to the world that watches.

We browsed through many bathing suits that, and I was so...appalled that so many of the styles for the little girls resembled lingerie. Black triangle tops with ruffles around the edge that tied with string reminded me of something that should be sold in Victoria's Secret, not in the little girls' section of Target.

There were some very modest and cute bathing suits that I think I will actually consider purchasing for our daughters, but overall, I discovered that there is no conviction, in the parents of today, for what they put their daughters in to wear to the beach! With the exception of thongs, I'm pretty sure I saw it all that night.

So, I got home and couldn't sleep, (which is so surprising to me because I am completely sleep deprived most of the time), and I began to think about ways to teach my girls the correct way to choose clothing, especially a bathing suit. I want them to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when it comes to how they clothe themselves. I have struggled with this most of my adult life, so I think it's really important to start now with our girls.

I really feel, in all of my ponderings then, that God really gave me an idea of choosing a bathing suit for my daughters. I really felt impressed that I need to make a big deal out of it, starting with my oldest who is 5 1/2.

So here's what I was thinking....

I want to take my oldest daughter out to dinner and have a few verses ready about how we are to glorify God with our bodies. I want it to be a very special time and an exciting time! I want her to be excited that God has given her this huge responsibility about how we as women are to dress. I want her to get really excited about the oppurtunity to pick something out that would please the Lord! I will probably ask her some questions about what she thinks would please God.

After we have dinner and talk about glorifying God with our bodies, I'd like to go to a few different stores to let Maci pick out a bathing suit. I will ask her, while we're shopping, if certain things are okay to wear, and why or why not. After she picks a few out, we'll go try them on to make sure they fit in all the right places, then take the winner home to ask her daddy if it's appropriate. Then, if he gives us the go ahead, Maci will have a new bathing suit for the summer...and the joy of picking out something out that God will be pleased with.

I know my girls are young, but I really believe that the quest for modesty needs to start young if the girls that God has entrusted Seth and I with are going to grow to be modest women.

I'm really really excited about doing this with our oldest this year! I'll let you know how it goes!

Sadly,the world's view on swim wear is that it's okay to put tiny bikinis on our baby girls. I'm going to start now... go against the grain... and teach my little woman how to glorify God with their bodies.

Pray for me! :)

I Heart Konos

2010-02-25T17:01:00.000-08:00

This is a sight that I ran into while researching Konos curriculum for homeschooling this fall. I'm not even sure this is what we'll be using, but even if you're not a Konos homeschooler, there is a plethora of information about homeschooling, housekeeping, and a lot more.

Click right here folks-> enjoy!

Princess Lily's Party

2010-02-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Lily wanted a princess party for her fourth birthday! This is what we came up with!

This is the royal couple...or... mom and dad. I tried to be as gaudy as I could.

I wanted Seth to be the butler to greet the girls at the door. He said no way; he's the King. So, he put on his robe made of a towel and safety pin, and drew a fab mustache on his face. He looks hot, I know. He greeted all the little princesses at the door, to welcome them to the royal party. The girls loved it.. and thought he was a little weird too. One of the games we played, when things got a little slow, was find the king. Seth took off somewhere, and after counting for a bit, they all ran off screaming trying to find him. It was great fun.

This is me with my three oldest in my brood. I let them pick out what they wanted to wear, and this is what my girls came up with. Love it.

We had the girls make necklaces out of extra beads that I had as they got to our home. It kept them quite busy, and I think that they all enjoyed doing this. I don't recommend using the stretchy cord that I used. It didn't tie well, and it just frustrated the grown ups who had to do the dreadful task.
Lily picked out a castle cake. I thought, "Yeah... I can do this." Wrong. The little girls thought it was the coolest thing ever. The grown up thought it looked like a spaceship. Boo.

The hardest part of this whole thing was planning it. I dislike planning parties. Very much. Once all the little girls got here, everything went so smoothly and I really think that they all had a great time.

Happy birthday, sweet Lily!

Keepin' it Real

2010-02-24T09:28:00.001-08:00

I just need to keep it real... keep it honest... keep it out there that I have bad days... bad weeks... and I'm in one of those seasons right now.

I think it's important for transparency, and though I am passionate about the way Seth and I raise our children, sometimes I slip off the tracks and let things get a little crazy.

I feel like I'm pushing a boulder up a mountain, and the minute I release it for a break... for a moment of rest, everything falls back down on top of me, and I have to start from the beginning again.

February has been a cold, sad, hard month for the Biek household.

Seth's dad passed away at the beginning of the month which, understandably, was very difficult for him, and threw our family into a little bit of chaos, which, we just went with.

I thought things were getting back to normal, then my three oldest girls got sick. Then Nora, our sweet 10 1/2 pound baby, got sick. I slept, sitting up with her, on the couch for about seven nights, and held her most of the time during the day hours too. She was cranky and couldn't breathe out of her nose unless she was upright. This past Sunday evening, she started wheezing and I had to make a trip to the emergency room in a snow storm with her. Everything was fine, but I was just a little traumatized.

Then, when I thought all was well, Adeline, our two year old, got a double ear infection. The colorful snot wouldn't stop coming out of her nose, and her finger in her ear was a tell-tale sign she was hurting.

Now Seth and I are sick and I feel like I have an ear infection! What's up with that?

My laundry, once again, has conquered me, and my floors are quite disgusting, I do have to say.

As I sit here and write, my two oldest are listening to books on tape from the library. I feel like I've done something good, because they aren't watching television. (Which makes me feel good because I feel like I've done something good. Does that make sense?) My Addy is sleeping off her ear infections, and Nora Joy is in her cradle, which is propped up on one end so she can breathe through her nose.

Maybe I should be cleaning right now, but I feel like I needed to just step back, write about this month, and be authentic and real.

Four kids is hard.

I'm oh so tired.

My house is not clean... and that's bothering me right now.

A lot.

I'm having a hard time focusing on the Lord and remembering that He is all I need right now; that He is good and everything He does is good.

Psalm 94:18-19

18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.

19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.

This breathes life into my weary bones.

Life is hard right now. I'm not going to tell you otherwise. Four children is a lot of work, and I'm not going to tell you that it's easy for me. (Though I wish that I could!)

I'm so glad that I know Jesus, because without Him, motherhood would be an impossible task for me.

Tomorrow is a new day, and maybe I'll be able to tackle that laundry.

A girl can hope, right? :)

I Need A Little Positive Up In Here!

2010-02-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for Jesus and that He hears my prayers and answers them, even though I don't deserve it.

I'm thankful for my husband who doesn't care about anything when things get crazy, and teaches my girls how to make Ramen sandwiches for dinner. (They think he's the coolest dad ever.)

I'm thankful for my mom coming to help me this weekend. I don't know what I would do without a little break here and there.

I'm thankful for unexpected emails from friends whom I love so dearly.

I'm thankful for my Choc Full o'Nuts, of course. (I should be their spokeswomen. Tired mom comes ALIVE and conquers the world after the first sip! Love it.)

I'm thankful for window crayons and verses on the glass in my house. The Words breathe life into my weary soul.

I'm thankful for pudgy hands with dimples on them, and fat little feet to match.

I'm thankful for beautiful blue eyes that speak a thousand words to me, and the sweet little voices that match them.

I'm thankful they call me "mommy".

I'm thankful for the scent of fresh flowers.... that I didn't have to pay for!

I'm thankful for the soothing scent of Vicks.

I'm thankful for Skype dates and the friends I make them with.

I'm thankful it's taco night with the Biek Fam! Whoop whoop!

I'm thankful for Netflix and that they have the whole Anne of Green Gables series!! (I have NO idea when I'm going to be able to watch it... but it will at least be in my possession.)

I'm thankful for suction bulbs. (Ugh.)

Today

2010-02-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

Today.

Today everyone, (except me thank goodness), is sick.

If I were sick, I'd bawl like a baby for my mommy and beg her to come help me.

No lie.

The girls are watching Barney, which I normally find completely obnoxious, but he's my best {imaginary} friend today. The annoying purple dinosaur is keeping my children entertained while Nora rests her stuffy nose against my chest... which is sticky from snot and baby urp.

Gross, I know.

I think she's confused because she keeps trying to latch on to my neck. It's not working so well for her. Poor girl.

She's strapped in my baby wrap, which does allow me to do more than I would if I were just holding her, but I'm still limited in what I can do today. That means that blasted laundry is probably molding in my washer. (I dislike when that happens.)

Unmade beds, toys, and Polly Pocket shoes on my floor are starting to make me shudder.

The trash needs to be taken out; it reeks of onions from last night's dinner, and the scent of poopy diapers. Eew.

Speaking of poopy diapers, have you ever changed a poopy diaper on your toddler with a sick infant strapped to your chest? I think it should be an Olympic sport. I need a medal for accomplishing such a task.

Nora slept on me last night so she could breathe, and as of 7:25 this morning, she was still on me, which means I'm dirty. I can change a diaper with a baby strapped to me, but I'm pretty sure a shower is impossible with a 3 month old stuck to you. (At least I think it is.)

Soooooo. My hair is greasy, I'm still in my pajamas, and I have the biggest growth of a zit protruding out of my face.

I'm a sight for sore eyes.

Today is one of those days when I pray nobody stops by. I think that if I opened the door to visitors right now, I would just start laughing!

So if you do stop by, don't judge me.

Being a mommy is not so glamorous most days, but I can't imagine letting someone else do this job! Even though I am sleep deprived and a funky mess of a mom right now, I get to take care of my four little girls.

And today, I am so thankful for that.

Acoustic

2010-02-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

This is Seth and his brother, Adam, practicing music for their father's funeral. I thought that they did a great job and I wanted to share it with you. They chose this style of music because it's who Joe Biek was! That's actually his banjo that Adam is playing. Hope you like it!

The Lord Looked at my Heart

2010-02-15T04:41:00.000-08:00

This past week was crazy, unpredictable, emotional, and completely unexpected. My husband's father passed away last weekend, and from there, God showed me the well of grace that He gives to His people to get through difficult seasons of life, but He also showed me how ugly and selfish my heart can be.

When we got the news of Seth's father passing, from that point on, I feel like any sort of routine I had needed to be put on hold for the sake of my husband and his family. Brother's came in from Colorado, Florida, and even Japan! I wanted our house to opened for whatever it could be used for, and I wanted my husband to be able to leave whenever he needed to. I really felt like God was giving me grace and peace to just go with the flow and let life just happen as it needed to.

But then I started to get impatient.

I soon realized how ugly my heart is.

I quickly tired of Seth leaving for whatever reason he had, and I got tired of being alone with our girls. Then, when my mother took our older three girls for the funeral preparations and ceremony, I got tired of being alone with Nora. I just wanted to be with Seth! I don't even like writing this for all to read because I know how horrible it is. I let the enemy completely distract me, and I allowed my mind to focus on me instead of my grieving husband. Now, please don't think I was the Ice Queen and was mean and insensitive to Seth; I knew he was grieving, and I did make every effort to comfort him and be what he needed. But every time he wanted to be with his brothers, or every time he had to leave to go practice music for the funeral, or when he went to meet his brother for lunch and I had to stay home, my heart was angry and my flesh was rising up. I was acting like a selfish two year old in my mind.

1 Samuel 16:7 says "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

On the outside I looked like I was doing a good job and managing things, but God saw my heart.

He knew how selfish I was being.

I learned so much during this last week. I learned what a grieving person needs, and what they don't. I learned that I don't need to always say something, or ask how a grieving person is doing; a hand held or a warm embrace speaks a thousand words. I learned that I need to be aware of the enemy, and how my flesh may start to rise up and distract me from being what the Lord wants me to be for a grieving person. But the most important thing that I'm taking away from all of this is that I learned that I need to put every ounce of anything that I want for me, and throw it out to the wind; it doesn't matter. Hard times will pass, and I want no regrets. There are things that I did this past week, that I wish I could take back, but I'm taking mental notes... I'm aware of what God is showing me... and though I'm not looking forward to the next time someone close to me loses someone, I'll have a little experience in my back pocket.

It's been a whirlwind of unexpected sorrow and grief this last week or so.

I've grown some.

I've been ashamed at the realization of what's inside of me.

But His mercies are new every morning, and I'm confident in God's love for me.

There's hope for me... I am a promise, and I know that He is faithful to complete the work that He's started in me.

Feelings Come Later

2010-02-11T04:23:00.000-08:00

I got this devotional from Moody's "Today in the Word". I honestly never open them. Don't judge me. For for some reason I did today, and it's what I needed to hear. So, I'm going to share it with you. Feelings come after actions, folks! Step out in faith.... do what you need to do. Feelings come later.

The Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
Deuteronomy 16:15

TODAY IN THE WORD

Chicago is the American city most in need of joy, at least according to a recent, unscientific online survey. Taken by the Mars Candy Company, the survey of nearly 350American cities placed Chicago first, followed by New York, Houston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. As a result, Mars—maker of M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, Dove, and Three Musketeers candy bars—in an effort to spread more joy, gave away 50,000 free samples of their candy bars on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on October 1, 2009. That induced smiles!
In today’s reading, the people of Israel received instructions to joyfully celebrate God’s blessings to them in three sacred festivals: Passover (vv. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (vv. 9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (vv. 13-17). Passover celebrates the nation’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. No yeast is permitted in the Passover meal as a symbolic reminder of Israel’s hurried departure. The Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost, marked the firstfruits of the wheat harvest and was a holiday of thankfulness for God’s provision and blessing. The Feast of Tabernacles was another harvest festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt to Canaan. The people lived in small booths in order to remember and honor God’s provision during their long journey in the wilderness.

Specific historical events and the people’s overall relationship with God were involved in these joyful occasions. These were national feasts, not individual choices or even family traditions. All of God’s people were to gather together in obedience to His command. These were also times for worship and offerings, not just pleasure or leisure (though those were included). No work was permitted to be done, as that would have been a distraction. Celebrating was intended to draw the community’s attention to their blessings and the Giver of these good things. This completed the circle and so made their joy “complete” (v. 15; see John 16:24).

How can “celebrate,” “rejoice,” and “be joyful” be obeyed as biblical commands? We’re so used to thinking of joy only as a spontaneous emotion that it might sound as if we’re being told to force or fake a feeling. Instead, we’re being given a godly understanding of joy. Joy begins with obedience. And when we stop in obedience to count our blessings, like the Israelites in today’s reading, we realize that the Giver of blessings is also the Giver of joy. In this case, feelings follow actions!

Continuing a Legacy

2010-02-10T18:44:00.001-08:00

Remember when we were kids?
So young and completely enamored with each other.
You were a rock star with Wax Empire,
And your constant smile stole my heart.
I smelled like Happy and peered at the world through glasses.... big ones.
First kisses and first "I love yous",
We just worked.
We just fit.
You made me laugh.
We talked on the phone all night long,
And you'd come to visit me at my window.
We couldn't get enough of each other.
I never wanted to be without you, and you told me,
"You're the best thing since sliced bread."
You called me beautiful.
We took walks to the pier and you rode your bike to my house,
Just to be with me.
We were only kids when we said "I do".
We knew we could just live on love.
That makes me smile now.
Because ten years later,
We know what love really means;
What it takes.
I still never want to be without you.
We still just work.
We still fit.
And you still make me laugh.
But...I don't smell like Happy anymore.
Perfume is not in the [non-existing] Biek Budget!
Nursing tanks, bare feet, tired eyes...
Work boots and burdens heavy on your heart...
You rest your weary head on my shoulder,
Your calloused hands surrender to the small of my back.
Our hearts are heavy with the things of the world.
Bills to pay,
Babies to feed,
Loved ones leaving us.
Instead of talking on the phone all night,
We listen to screaming babies for entire evenings.
Early mornings and long nights;
I miss you.
But even after we've collapsed,
After the sun has gone down,
I feel safe because you're here,
Right next to me.
I hear you breathing,
And I know you're my constant.
My Seth.
You're the head of this home.
And I'm so thankful that
You trust in the Most High;
You depend on the Most High.
We're not crazy and wild and free anymore,
But I wouldn't go back.
I love you more today than I did the day we said our vows.
I feel so blessed
That over ten years ago
The Lord saw fit to put two crazy kids together,
To continue a legacy of lives lived for Him.

We Are His People

2010-02-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

Psalm 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.

All I Need.

2010-02-05T04:29:00.000-08:00

I came across this picture, and I hope that it resontates with you like it did with me.

It reminds me that Jesus is all that I need. Not the next piece of cake or cup of coffee... not my email or sleep. Jesus is all I need.

I might not feel that He's all I need every day, but I know the truth, and by faith, I'm choosing to believe it.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Philipians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

School at Home: Part 1

2010-02-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

This past year or so has been a year of new for the Biek household. New state, new job for my husband, new house, new church, new baby, and our first year of homeschooling.

Ah, yessssss. Homeschooling. I started out saying, "No way." Then, "Well maybe, but I'll put my kids in the system if it doesn't work out." And then it became a mandate, from the Lord, for my family. It's an order for us. This is what we're supposed to do. Yikes!

Where in the world do I start with all this... curriculum stuff?!
This past spring, curriculm had me breaking out in hives, and made me go completely into panic mode. (Seriously, my heart would stop beating for a few seconds.)God has done a work in my heart and answered prayers regarding all of this school at home stuff.

I've been sucking the wisdom out of friends who are ahead of me in the game; who have older children and have been doing it longer. Talking with others who have experience has really helped me get a good look at what's out there.

So, I'm going to break it down and share with you all what I love... and what I'm not a big fan of. I hope this gives you some ideas of what you may like to go and check out to use in your school at home.

I have to start out by saying, "I L O V E MATH U SEE!!!!"

And obviously, so does my daughter.

I had heard really good things about it, and pretty much anyone who was using it had nothing bad to say about it. I ordered the Primer for Maci, our 5 year old, and when I started reading through the teacher's manual, I said, "I wish someone would have taught math to me like this!" It's so visual. It really helps Maci with memorizing her addition so she doesn't have to count on her fingers.

I payed about $90 for the Primer teacher's manual, workbook, a music cd, and the starter blocks. Every level comes with a DVD that you can play and sit down with your child to help aid you in teaching. I wasn't using the DVD at first, but we use it every time we start a new lesson now. It makes my job so much easier.

Here's a shot of the starter blocks. My Maci loves them! (Especially when she does a problem where she has to use the pink and the purple blocks together. Usually there are eruptions of glee when that happens.)

The Primer starts out with shapes, and counting,then moves to place value, basic addition and subtraction, time telling, and other basic math skills. The first few lessons were really too easy for Maci, but I am glad that we started out with the Primer so that she has a good foundation and be confident with what she's doing in the levels to come.

Here's one of her addition problems that she worked out.

See how you have 2 numbers that you put together, and you can visually see how they are then the same as the number they equal? Love that.

I have nothing bad to say about Math U See. I love it and will most likely use it all the way through schooling my kiddos.

Like I said before, I wish someone would have taught math to me like this!

Raising [Godly] Little Woman: Part 2

2010-02-04T03:46:00.000-08:00

I talked with Seth, before we crashed last night, about my last post and the links that I included about being a stay at home daughter. He and I both agree that there's nothing wrong with pursuing a higher education, because even the Proverbs 31 woman was business savvy! But, I feel like more emphasis needs to be put on how to take care of a home for the reason of my girls having their own home, and then one day, training the younger women.

Sometimes I feel guilty; like I'm withholding my daughters somehow by training them to be lovers of their home and talking about having babies someday, not about getting their doctorate and running a big corporation. But I've got to remember what the Word says about women and our role! (Titus 2)

And God may not have any of my girls get married and have children, but then I feel like it is my responsibility to still train them in what a woman's role is, so that one day, they will be trained and ready to do what God requires of them.(To be a Titus 2 woman) I mean, look at Nacy Leigh DeMoss! Love. Her. The woman never married or had children, but the way that she is impacting women all over the place, just by stating the truth from the Word of God, is spectacular!

So, from my last post, I hope that you who read it will not just assume that I will be withholding any kind of formal education after high school from my girls. I will, however, be praying that my girls be sensitive to what God has for their lives, even if it means going in the opposite direction of what the world tells them to.

Raising [Godly] Little Women

2010-02-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

I have this swelling in my soul, deep in the very core of who I am, to raise women, (4 of them so far), to love God, their husbands, their children, their homes...I want them to, one day, be Titus 2 women.

I'm drawn to women who love being keepers of their home and have buckets of wisdom to dump on me. I eat it up!

I stumbled across this piece. (http://glorious-grace.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-ive-chosen-to-have-heart-for-home.html) I don't know the beautiful girl that wrote it... but I love her! She is wise beyond her years. Being a stay at home daughter is something that I have never thought of before!

I also came across this piece, (http://keepers-at-home.blogspot.com/2010/01/sahms-and-sahds.html)which is what lead me to the previous blog post.

Please take a minute to read the 2 links above. (And I'm not blog savvy enough to put an actual link on there. I tried.. and failed... so just copy and paste.) I hope it makes you think outside of your box, especially if you're raising girls.

My prayer is that my girls will not look anything like the world.

God, may my daughters one day be humble, meek and gentle women... not seeking out their own desires, but Your will!

How He Loves.... Me?

2010-02-02T04:21:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've all heard the song "How He Loves".

Great song.

I love the beginning: "He is jealous for me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy."

Do you really believe that God loves you?

That He is jealous for you?

Ok, so you believe it, but do you feel it?

I go through my days knowing the Truth: God loves me. But I don't feel like He does.

I feel like every time I lose my patience with one of my girls, God's a little more unhappy with me. Then seriously , by the end of the day, why would God want anything to do with me? I've snapped at my children, disciplined unnecessarily because I was quick to anger, not quick to listen, and I feel like a bad wife because I didn't get all the laundry on the floor in our bedroom, (that's supposed to be our love nest), put away.

Pretty much, I've believed the lie that God's love is conditional; that I have to be good in order for Him to want me.

2 Corinthians 2:15 says, For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

We smell like Christ to God.

God doesn't change his mind after 11:30 at lunch time and nap time when you've completely lost it.

God doesn't change His mind when you've decided not to make an effort to be a great help-meet to your husband that day.

I read in "Lies Women Believe" this morning, that God's love for us is so intense, that He sent Jesus, His son, to die for me.... for you. While we were all born enemies to Him, (Romans 5:10), He still sent His son.

His wrath has been satisfied.

God showed me, yesterday, that I can obey Him out of my love for Him, not out of fear of Him being unhappy with me. Jesus took that wrath of God upon Himself and now, I have the aroma of Christ.

It's done.

I can live in freedom, obeying Christ because I love Him.

His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentaions 3:22-23)

It's a burden taken off my shoulders to know that I am loved, not for my performance or what I do, but just because I am.

He made me.

He loves me.

I may not feel like God loves me every day, but I know the Truth.

Boo ya.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Careless Words

2010-01-29T04:41:00.000-08:00

I started a new study with a group of ladies that I love at my church, Harvest Bible. It's a Nancy Leigh DeMoss study and I'm totally excited about it. I'm a little nervous about it too, because I know that there are lies that I'm believing from the enemy, and I know I'm going to have to allow God to uproot some ugliness out of my heart.

Anyway, someone quoted a passage of scripture that struck me yesterday. I had heard it many times before, but I think yesterday was the time that God really wanted me to hear it.

Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Ouch.

I think back to things that I have said to people, and things that I have blurted out when I'm alone.

The things that I have said to others can be the most hurtful and do the most damage, but what about the words said when we think nobody is around?

God's there.

You know what I'm talking about.

When you've stepped on that blasted Snap 'n Style dress with your bare feet 357 times that day, or you've tripped over the toddler scooter in the entry way of the kitchen and went flying into the trash can (I dislike when that happens. A lot.), what do you say?

"Thank you, God. I love it when that happens."

That's not what comes out of my mouth!

I know the words that I say at times, and if anyone was around to hear them, I'd be mortified.

God hears.

What comes out of your mouth when you're just about to relax with a cup of coffee and open a good book... possibly your first time relaxing in 3 weeks, and you hear a burst of screaming from your children who were playing so well together just a minute before?

I'm not just talking about blue streaks either, I'm just talking about careless words.

Words that have no purpose.

Bad habits are hard to break, and I've heard many many times that it can take 30 days of doing something to create a new habit.... like using better words... words with purpose.

I know there's a list careless words that I'm going to have to be held accountable for already, so I'm asking the Holy Spirit today to help me and speak to me, and give me a sense of conviction before I say something careless.

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Maybe I'm alone here... but I really don't think I am.

I know there's another closet curser out there!

I'm so embarrassed that I just wrote that for all to see, but the Word says this: James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

So pray for me... I'll pray for you.

So today when you're making lunch and your child spills their juice 5 times, or your toddler gets out of bed during nap time too many times to count, or your husband calls to tell you he has to work late, what are you going to choose to say?

Today, if I'm tempted to lose it and say something inappropriate, my plan is to shove the nearest dishcloth in my mouth.

Yes, that's right.

I'm a work in progress.

I'm thankful that His mercies are new every morning.

And maybe I should just have my girls pick up their Snap 'n Style dolls when they're done playing with them....

Baby Wrap Making: I'm Spreading the Love!

2010-01-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

I received the best gift EVER after having our 3rd daughter from my sister-in-law, Bekah. It's just a piece of jersey knit material that's taller than me. Seriously. But it's changed my life! I'm pretty sure that I could go snow boarding with Nora attached to me.

So here..I'm going to spread the love!

I was so excited that I had a reason to pull out my great grandmother's pin cushion. I'm not much of a sewer at all, but I thought this cushion was so sweet. So when my grandmother passed away, I asked if I could have it.

The first step was to take the 5 1/2 yards of jersey knit material and fold it in half so it was 1/2 the length it was. Then I spread it out and pinned it to the floor. After that, I took the wrap that I already had, folded it in half, and laid it over the fabric putting the folded ends together. I also pinned down the middle of the fabric so I could cut out another wrap on the other side.I don't even think that I pinned the wrap I already had to the fabric because it stuck pretty well. I just cut it out, then serged the edges! (I don't have a serger... I'm borrowing my moms!) I think it took me about an hour or so to make 2 wraps, and that was with interuptions from 4 children.

So here's me wearing the one that I received as a gift! (Bekah, do know how you've changed my life? :) )

Sorry I don't have a picture with just the wrap and no baby in it!

The measurements of the wrap is about 5 1/2 yards long and about 24 inches wide. It tapers off at the end for tying. I really don't think the measurements have to be exact. For wrapping instructions, the best place to visit is mobywrap.com.

I got my material from fabric.com on sale for $1.98/yard plus shipping, so in total, I think I made 2 wraps for about $16.00! That's crazy cheap! The first time I ordered the fabric, I got 5% Lycra. It worked great, but the edges curled up. The next 2 I made, I ordered 100% cotton and everything was perfect.

And thanks to my other sister-in-law, Christy for helping me with the details on the first wraps I tried to make. She figured everything out for me!

Seriously... I use this thing all the time. It makes for hands free baby holding so I can chase the rest of my brood around!

Big Girls Do Go Pee Pee on Elmo Potty Chairs

2010-01-26T04:33:00.001-08:00

Last night was one of those crazy nights where you're so exhausted that it seems like forever and a day before bedtime for the kiddos.

I was sitting on a step stool in our bathroom last night, barefoot.... chipped red toenail polish.... cradling a baby who kept urping up curdled breast milk all over my brown cardigan. (The same one I had worn the day before.) I was sitting there, coaxing my 2 year old to go pee pee like a big girl.... because big girls do go pee pee on Elmo potty chairs. Right? So, my 2 year old was pantless on the potty, I was getting thrown up on every 2 minutes, and my 4 year old kept jumping out of the shower screaming "BOOOOO!!!!" to my 2 year old, trying to get her to laugh, which was obviously distracting her from using the bathroom. I mean.... wouldn't that distract YOU from going pee pee if you had a little munchkin jumping out of the shower at you?

My sweet husband was out in the kitchen scraping dinner off the table and the floor while this was all going down!!!

(Love. Him.)

All this was happening, and I zoned out completely. I started having flashbacks of potty training my first child, Maci, after giving birth to the crazy one jumping out of the shower.

I checked out for a minute, sitting on the step stool amidst the chaos, and remembered the days of racing up the stairs with a newborn attached to my boob, and hurling Maci, hanging by one arm with no pants on, up the stairs, trying to get her to the bathroom before she pooped on the floor.

Not much has changed in the last 4 years!

Still nursing a newborn.

Still potty training a toddler.

Love it!

I snapped out of my reminiscing when I heard trickles of liquid falling into the toilet.

My Addy peed on the toilet for the first time! The look on her face was so great that I laughed hard.

Really really hard.

She looked terrified!

Then after I started shouting, "Good job! You did it!" she continued to finish using the bathroom.

It was all worth it! All the craziness the few minutes before was totally worth it.

Then, the evening progressed..... and I progressed to get more and more sleepy. I was sitting on the floor letting my oldest do my hair.

Yikes.

I was holding Nora, trying to get her to stop fussing, while getting goop and bows put in my hair.

Lots of bows.

Then Maci started singing. She was singing "How marvelous, how wonderful... is my.... strength..."

Yeah. She totally got the words mixed up.

But the point is that she was singing a beautiful hymn that I didn't think she'd even pick up on!

I love that.

Seth had been reading to our 2 middle babies on the couch, so he jumped up and got the hymnal off of our piano, and looked up "How Marvelous". Then we all sang the correct words together!

Call us cheesy.

Call us corny.

Our family sings hymns together.

Yes.

That's right.

And I have to tell you, there's nothing I want more than for my girls to sing those sweet, sweet songs with arms stretched to the sky, hands reaching for Jesus, praising our Lord.

I want them to know the hymns of old with their poetic phrases, and rich words.

I mean, read this!

Verse 1
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned unclean

Chorus
How marvelous how wonderful
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous how wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me

Verse 2
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone

Verse 3
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me

So, we had a great time singing this great old song, the girls made it to bed, and I fell asleep at 7:30 nursing Nora.

I woke up in the morning with the same clothes on that I had worn the day before, contacts stuck to my eyeballs, and teeth obviously not brushed the night before.

I even had the hair bows in my hair from the night before when Maci played hair stylist with me.

Awesome.

Seth laughed when I came thumping down the stairs. "Dressed and ready to go already!" he said to me.

Just a day in the life of the Bieks!

It's a new day and I got 10 hours of sleep.

I'm sipping on my 2nd cup of my beloved Choc Full o'Nuts, and started the new study I'm doing; Lies Women Believe.

It's a good day.

I wonder how the rest of the day is going to unfold....

The Early Bird Gets to Take a Shower.

2010-01-25T03:40:00.000-08:00

I remember the days before having our third daughter. They were crazy. I felt out of control; like I couldn't get anything done, and I only had 2 kids! Pretty much, my days were spent yelling up the stairs, "You want a whoopin'!?" which then was never followed with any action.

I was yelling threats of discipline, and my kids had no direction in their days.

I felt like Psycho Mom.

I went to our small group one Thursday night, and confessed to the other women in the room that I felt like I was losing it. I remember saying exactly this: "I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants!"

And I really was.

It was a weird night at small group because our "flock leaders" were there. (There were the couple in charge of keeping tabs on a handful of small groups at our church.) After confessing my issue of being Psycho Mom and feeling completely out of control of my day, Dianne, the wife who was there from our Flock Leaders, asked me one simple question. "What time are you getting up?"

What?

Duh.... when my kids get up.

I then proceeded to ask her what time she got up.

She responded by saying 4:30.

I was hoping that she was talking about the PM hours.

Whatareyounuts?!

She told me that the only way she could get things accomplished, including her time with God, was to get up when her husband did, then she would take a nap if she had time. This way, her and her husband were on the same schedule, they got to spend the maximum amount of time together that they could, and there was plenty of time, before the 4 kids woke up, to get her day prepared.

I was dumbfounded. Your day prepared? What do you need to prepare for? I just get up and do whatever. They're kids!

This was the day that I began to suck every bit of wisdom that I could out of this wise Proverbs 31 woman.

I didn't fully understand the the full effect that rising before the sun would have one me. I trusted this woman of God, however, and decided to take the plunge. I was desperate for something to work. I needed help, because what I was doing wasn't working.

At all.

I remember the first day of rising at 4:30. It was almost an act of submission for me. It made me mad. Really mad. I came stumbling down the stairs... robe... puffy eyes... crazy hair... the whole bit... and headed straight for the coffee pot. My husband had already came downstairs and prepared the sweet nectar of the gods, and greeted me with a friendly "good morning". I couldn't even look at him I was so angry. (Obviously God had work to do on my heart.) I took my mug of warm coffee and headed straight to the back bedroom to try to read my Bible. Not because I really wanted to at all that day, but I had to start my new routine somewhere.

The days proceeding gradually got easier, and I actually began to truly enjoy the early morning hours. They were dark and quiet. I got to sit in the still peace and watch the sun rise.

With rising early, I began to enjoy time with the Lord with no interruptions. I started enjoying time with my husband, with no little voices calling for Mommy and Daddy in the background. I enjoyed just sitting by myself, after my husband left for work.

But most of all, the biggest thing I noticed, was that I got to take a shower.

Alone!

The days of hearing screaming children while standing in the shower, wondering what was going on and getting completely annoyed with the fact that they couldn't even be alone for 7 1/2 minutes... were over!

I was ready for my day.

Prepared.

Spiritually and physically.

When my children got up bright and early, long before they were due to rise, I stopped getting mad. I was able to handle the situation because I had spent time with God. My cup was full and overflowing, so I had enough love to pass on to my girls. I could be gentle and kind, and handle the situation appropriately.

When my kids finally hit the floor running, starting their day, I was showered, dressed, and ready to chase them. My needs were out of the way, so that I could meet the needs of my little people....who needed me.

Now, please don't think that every day is perfect now that I rise early, and it's no longer 4:30 either. I have days when I sleep in, and they are usually the crazy ones! And I get up more like 5:45 since Nora has been born. I hope to make it 5ish again one day when Nora starts sleeping through the night. But the point is that I'm up before my kids.

I have this goal. I at least have to be standing when my kids get up.

I also know that mothers with young children have quiet times that look differently than those with children who are older. I'm not here to tell you how much time you need to spend with God. I am here, however, to tell you that you need something to hold on to through out the day.

A promise to get you through.

Because this life with small kids is a crazy one.

And remember, the Early Bird gets to take a shower.

Alone.

That should be motivation enough to get up before your kids!

How Do I Compare?

2010-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

How do I compare to the world? To the Grey's Anatomy females of my generation? (I don't watch that show!) How do I compare to The Real Housewives of Orange County? (Don't watch that one either.)

It's almost humorous to me to look at my life; my home full of love... craziness.... but love...compared to the women my age on television.

I am a housewife.... sometimes desperate, but I'm desperate in those times for my Jesus!

These days in TV land and here in reality more and more often, most women in their mid to late 20's are just finishing grad school, or just starting their career; for sure not doing what I do.

Instead of going out at 7 or 8 in the evening and not coming home till midnight, I go to bed at 7 or 8 (or at least I'd like to) and am usually awakened around 12 for a midnight feeding by my sweet Nora Joy. She's my alarm clock in the morning as well.

Instead of putting on my business attire once I'm awake, then heading out the door and running through the Starbuck's drive through on the way to work, I'm putting on anything clean I can find, in hopes that I can make it till noon without having to change due to some bodily fluid being spewed on me. No drive through for me! I opt for Choc Full o'Nuts, sipping the brew out of my Pfalzgraff.

Instead of talking with professional lingo, discussing things like economics and politics, I use preschool lingo, discussing things like why we wash our hands after we poo poo, and why it's not good to eat your boogers.

And as far as glamorous housewives with drama filled days and mimosas for breakfast... that's a big no.

I'm 28.....with 4 kids.

I'm middle class.

I shop at Aldi and Walmart.

I home school.

And I love second hand stores.

The career world and lifestyle of the rich that's looked so highly on by the average person in Suburban America, is not the life I live.

I usually get the same 3 comments when I share my "career" of a stay at home mom with 4 girls.

The first and most popular of the comments is, "Don't you know how that happens?" followed by a laugh and a thrilled look because they think they are the only person that's ever said that to me.

I just smile kindly and give a polite chuckle, but inside I'm going, "For the love. Why don't you tell me because I have NO clue. That's the only reason I have 4 kids because I really can't figure this out."

I know those people are just trying to be humorous, and in their minds, they are. :) I only have heard that joke about 5,793 times since I had my second.... so I'm over it. :)

The next comment is a little kinder and generous, but it's usually followed by looks of pity. "Boy, you have your hands full!"

It's ok. Is there something else more important that I should be doing? I personally don't think so.

And the third comment is, "Getting it out of the way early, huh!?"

Yes,I'm getting "it" out of the way because my children are nothing more than something on my to-do list, and the sooner that I get it done, the happier I'll be.

I love my girls and I would like to have more kids! It's so crazy how the world views having children... you have 2, put them in the school system, then send them off to college.... then you're done. It breaks my heart that sweet little babies are born, put in front of the TV babysitter, sent off to school, (which there is nothing wrong with putting your children in the school system if this is what you know God has called you to do), then shipped off to college.

Who is raising our children?

Not the parents.

I know that the people saying these things view having children totally different than how God would like us to, so I don't get mad... just slightly frustrated.

(Please don't take my total sarcasm as anger, folks. No anger here.)

I also get comments and looks of sadnesss that we don't have a boy. Usually with my 5 year old daughter looking on, those people say things like, "Oh...your poor, poor husband. I bet Daddy wanted a boy...."

I feel like taking my hands and covering my daughters' ears and saying, "You know they can hear you, right?"

God didn't make a mistake by not giving us a male. Seth loves his girls and wouldn't swap one them for a boy if he had the chance. We're in the makings of Pride and Prejudice here! How fun is that!? We're incandescently happy!

My "career" may not be one that that the world views as "real" and the age that I am may not fit the phase of life that I'm in, but I know I'm right where I'm supposed to be... even if I don't really fit the mold of the media.

I can let my mind wander to grand living with nannies and housekeepers and brunch with friends and mimosas, but then I wouldn't have all the memories of poop in my hair during potty training, the sweet moments of answering questions about God and Jesus, laughing on the floor, or seeing the fruits of the crazy amount discipline that I have to take care of on a daily basis.... or the time when my oldest skinned a gerbil on accident. If I had everything taken care of for me, those memories wouldn't be there. Those times were sometimes insane, but looking back... how fun... or funny.... I should say!

I don't look like the world. There's nothing glamorous about me or my life.

But I love it.

So I thought I knew my number 3.....

2010-01-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Today without my older 2 girls was... well... weird. I felt like I knew my girls pretty well, but I discovered today that don't know them as well as I'd like to, or as I should!

(The picture above is Adeline with her little sister Nora.)

Addy didn't stop talking from the minute she got out of bed. I thought I was going to start banging my head on the wall! I see now that her sisters keep her so entertained that she really doesn't say much, unless she's screaming at one of them to give her something that they took from her. I had no clue that my Addy could make up a story about a pink monkey named Bingo that was going to come in from outside. Amazing. :)

Looks like I need to be spending more time with Addy and conversing with her now that I know her vocabulary is so big.

But it's going to be an intersting 4 days until her sisters get home, that's for sure. My little 2 year old is a chatter-box.

I was completely surprised by her in Walmart today. I normally don't take my children through the toy aisle in any store because I feel like it makes them desire things that they don't need or want until they see them. I'm not even sure if Addy had ever even been through a toy aisle before!

We got about a foot into the first section of toys and she had complete sensory overload.

Big time.

She took everything in quietly, and then it started.

The begging.

"Hab it! Hab Dora! Haaaaab it! Hab Micky Mouse... hab Elmo... hab iiiiiiiiit!"

Seth and I decided that the only time she's been around toys, it's been in an environment where she can "hab it"! She didn't understand that these were things that she could not "hab".

I got what I needed and scooted out of there.

I'm seeing my Addy in a way that I never have before! I'm thinking that I need to start scheduling in some alone time with all of my girls so that I get to know each of them for who they are as individuals, and not how they are surrounded by their siblings.

I Must Clarify....

2010-01-15T04:37:00.001-08:00

I went back and read the blog that I posted yesterday. After reading the part that I wrote about my life and the calling God has placed on me, I felt like it sounded like I was totally boasting!

Baaaah!

That's not at all what I intended, if that's what was thought when it was read. I only meant to say that I am ordinary. There's nothing special about me. But even though I am so ordinary, God has called me to do more than I'd ever dreamed I would do as a woman. I can't believe how He's changed my heart!

It just seems surreal looking at my life.

Sometimes I still see myself as 16; totally insecure and wondering where I fit. So to see myself as a wife, a mother of 4 girls, a teacher, and everything else that God has placed on me just blows me away! Like I said in my post yesterday, God's timing is perfect. About 10 years ago, I thought I was going to go to school until I got my PhD. That's all I cared about, then slowly God started turning my heart toward Him and the plans that He had for me.

So, I'm not amazed at all that I do. (I am overwhelmed at all I have to do!) I'm more amazed that it's me; ordinary, loud, Leah! I am humbled when I think about all that God has entrusted me with.

So please, if you read my last post, forgive me if you think I'm using it as a soapbox to boast about what I do. That was never intended.

On to other things....

I took my 2 older girls, Maci and Lily, to Chicago yesterday to spend time with their aunt in their hometown. (My 3 oldest were born in the west suburbs of Chicago, but Seth and I are originally from Michigan.) They are so excited and I know they are going to have the time of their life!

So I'm here with my younger 2, Adeline and Nora.

I can't believe how taking 2 kids out of the mix can totally change the dynamics of a family!

I am excited to spend the day with my Addy Kate... AKA Hooty..... and my sweet little Nora Joy. Addy has taken on the role of being the big sissy now, which does not happen when her big sissies are here!

Having 4 kids is crazy to me. I know I will grow into this and probably have more, but honestly, if you were to ask me now if we were going to have more, I'd say, "You're crazy." But I'm seeing the fruit of teaching my girls how to do things for themselves and to help with their younger sisters!

Yesterday, while we were getting ready to go out the door to drive to Chicago, Addy was running around with no clothes on and it was in the back of my mind that I had to get my sweet girl dressed and out the door. Well, I went to go up the stairs to get her clothes, and Maci came to the top of the stairs, proudly showing me that she had got her little sister dressed! Addy's clothes didn't match and actually looked ridiculous, but I didn't care! She had clothes on. Maci was so proud of herself and I made sure that I praised her over and over.... so she's do it again!

I've heard it said that once you have 3 kids you might as well have 10. If someone says that to you, turn and walk away; that person is not to be trusted! :) 4 is harder for me than 3,(and I know that it's not that way for everyone) but having said that, I see how it's going to get easier with my 2 older ones helping with younger ones. They love helping; it makes them feel big and like they are little mommies. I love to see them glow after they've done something that I usually do for them.

I miss my Mac and my Lu Lu, but I'm going to enjoy some time with the babies!

And I've got Lily's 4th birthday to plan!

The Calling On A Woman

2010-01-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

I had a play date today at our home with two other moms. There were ten children in total.

Yes that's right. Ten.

I wasn't sure how it would go, but it actually went really well. The natives started to get restless towards the end, but I was so thankful for godly fellowship with other moms that are on the same page as I am, that I didn't care!

Women amaze me. I was just watching the two friends that I had over, and processing everything that they were saying to me.

These woman are beautiful creatures! And not just because of their physical beauty, but because of what God has called them to do: to love their husbands and children, to keep their homes organized and running smoothely, to educate their children, to provide healthy meals for their families, to be pleasant and affectionate.... and the list goes on! My friends have no idea how amazingly beautiful they are!

These women look like ordinary women. There is nothing extravegant about them. They are not rich. They are not famous. But oh, the job that God has called them to do! They are overwhelmed. They are tired. They are doubting if they are doing it right. Just listening and watching.... I just can't explain it! Ordinary but so exquisite!

The call that is on us as women is huge.

Huge!

I think of the calling that is on my own life!

I am to put Christ first. First above everything else on my list.... and not only first on the list, but the center in everything else on the list!

Then, I am to adore my husband and make sure that his every need is met. I am his helper. I am to help him however I can. And I am to help him, even though my babies scream louder. My husband's needs may not be so obvious, but he needs me. I hate to admit it, but my children often come before him.

Then comes my children. Wow, this list could go on and on and on and on...

Not only do they need me every waking moment of the day, but God has called my family to be a homeschool family and to educate our children at home. I fought this for a while, but finally caved in, and I am so glad that I did! So not only am I nursing, making meals, changing 2 children's diapers, potty training, and loving how only a mother loves.... now I'm teaching? Wow. If you would have told me I would have been doing this even just five years ago, I probably would have laughed, and then cried a river of tears! God's good and perfect timing is so amazing!

Then my home. I have to smile when I think about my home. It's not clean. Having my last child has put deep cleaning.... or any cleaning.... on the back burner. My house is picked up and pretty much organized, but unfortunately, if you were to stop by at any random moment and ask to use my bathroom, I'd be completely mortified and probably ask you to go pee by a tree. And have you seen my microwave?! Ugh. But this is something that God has called me to do! To clean and make my home an invitable, comfortable place to be for my family and others who enter. I'm working on it.

And then there's me.... ministry.... the list just goes on! And I know that this is the calling on every Christian woman's life, not just my own.

I think that's why I was just amazed by my friends yesterday. I was hearing what they were saying and realizing the enormous job that they have.

One friend that was here at my house said that her husband has 4 jobs just so she can stay home with her children! Now I know that 4 jobs is no easy task whatsoever, but my friend must take care of her 3 children, keep her home, and make sure that she is in good spirits when her husband gets home, to make his daily ritual of not coming home until 7 or 8 in the evening an easier one!

It hit me yesterday. These women are so beautiful because they have this enormous calling to fulfill, yet they cannot do it properly without Christ as the center... as their number one. This beauty is from the Lord! These beautiful creatures who have to be so gentle and nurse a helpless baby, but yet, be so strong to deliver that baby! So amazing! God is so creative and wonderful in how He chose to design us!

Proverbs 31:10-31
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight.

She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

She senses that her grain is good; her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes covering for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments, and sells them and supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Strenth and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her toungue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying, "Maybe daughters have done noble, but you excel them all."

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands and let her works praise her in the gates.

What a challenge!

How beautiful!

I am overwhelmed by the power that a woman holds!

God, grant me wisdom to complete the enormous job that You have placed upon me!

There's No Other Place I'd Rather Be

2010-01-12T04:33:00.000-08:00

So I really have no idea what I'm doing here. To be honest with you, I'm completely clueless as how any of this blog stuff works. I tried for an entire evening to get a layout from another sight on my blog. It obviously didn't work. I can't figure out how to follow anyone else's blogs..... and I'm following myself.

Don't judge me. I'll figure it out.

Maybe.

On a different note...in my reading, (before I even took a shower!), I came across this passage in Colossians that I totally loved.

Colossians 1:13-14
He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I love that! He delivered us from the power of darkness!

Sometimes I wonder why God chose the moment in time that He did to totally reveal Himself to me. It's not I had never heard the truth before. It's not I had never read the Bible. And to be honest with you, that moment... when God showed me His glory and power... I was in complete doubt of what He could do. I was shamed when He blasted me with Who He is! I believe one of the first things to come out of mouth, (after laying flat on the floor) was, "Oh God I am so sorry!". I kept saying it over and over! So why that moment? I don't know, but I know that I was transferred from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son He loves! He is so good even when His doubting children don't deserve it.

How crazy awesome is that!?

There's a song that plays as you enter my blog that brought me into awesome worship this morning. It's sung by Kim Walker in the video that I like to play. (All the other versions that I found aren't as good in my opinion.) The words are so beautiful. In the end of that recording, Kim goes into some spontanious worship, just praising God. She sings, "There's no other place I'd rather be", talking about the presence of God.

Is that true for me? I'm praying that it will be!

I Love Your Presence

In the glory of your presence
I find rest, for my soul
In the depths of your love
I find peace, makes me whole

I love, I love, I love your presence
I love, I love, I love your presence
I love, I love, I love you Jesus
I love, I love, I love your presence

It's a simple song, but sometimes those are the best.

So... I'm off to start my day. I've got Jello to make, school to teach, a baby to nurse, bottoms to wipe, and a home to clean.

Off I go!

I'm making a choice. "There's no other place I'd rather be!"

The New Year: Making Jesus My Everything

2010-01-11T04:34:00.000-08:00

So I'm in survival mode. Having four kids is well, kickin' my butt. And I have to say, starting my day with Jesus has taken the back shelf. Sleepless nights with a newborn, and having 3 others who hit the floor running in the early am hours has made my rising a little chaotic. But I need Him.

I need Him.

This past weekend, I heard two messages that really left an impression on who I am in Christ. I am constantly frustrated with myself because I want to be more like Jesus, but I keep failing. I see the ugliness in my heart. I see the sin that is rooted so deep, that I sometimes feel like it's never going to go away. I keep shooting up little prayers to heaven asking for forgiveness, but I haven't gotten on my knees and spent that quality time with my sweet Jesus in a while.

Have I forsaken all to follow Christ? Yesterday my eyes were opened up to see that Jesus isn't my number one. He has been before, but sadly, He's not right now. And not just my number one, my number 1 in everything that I do! So this morning, I made the decision to not do anything until I've spent time at the feet of Jesus. I didn't check my email or get on Facebook. I didn't even take a shower until I had given this day to Him, and asked Him to help me get through just today. Because I know it's going to be crazy! Because I need Him. It was a hard decision at first, because I thought, "If I don't take a shower now, I'm not going to get one." But I did it. And I got a shower!

To look more like Jesus, I've got to be with Him. To come away with the fragrance of my Lord, I've got to lay at His feet and give Him my everything.

I often think that I have too much going on to get some quality time in with Jesus. That's a lie from the pit of hell. Making that time makes everything else just fall into place. I really feel like the enemy would like nothing more than to make mothers, who are at home all day with their children, and have the opportunity to show Jesus to her children, feel like they just don't have time! And in turn, Satan fills us with anxiety and anger! Spending time with Jesus this morning has given me more peace than I've had since I had my 4th baby back in November!

So this New Year, as Andrea Griffith spoke about on Saturday, I want to see change. And to see change in my family, in my children, and in my life, I've got to spend time at the feet of my Lord, and ask Him to reveal Himself to me and make me more like His Son.

I want to look like Jesus!