The verse below has been on my heart the past week and I was amazed when I saw this devotional. It reminded me of what Shelley Hendrix taught me two years ago. Don't concentrate on what you don't want to be but what you want to be. It is so true. Somehow I fell into the old habit of concentrating on the don'ts instead of do's. If there is a Proverbs 31 woman I would model my life after it would be Lila Cox, missionary to Thailand.
Below is a devotional from Proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com
Devotion by Amy Carroll:
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
As my plane landed, I wondered if she'd be there. The retreat weekend simply wouldn't be the same without her. I would miss her encouraging looks as I spoke and the women of her church would certainly have hearts that ached with her absence. All year I had thought about the words that she had spoken the previous fall, and I needed to ask her more probing questions.
She had a secret that I longed to know. There were many women from the group who I wanted to ask about, but as the event coordinator and I waited at the luggage carousel, I started with my most important question, "Will Ruth Clark be coming?" My heart rejoiced as I heard the reply that was given with a smile, "Ruth has had a lot of health problems this year, but she'll be there!"
Entering the room at the retreat center, my eyes searched for Ruth among the small clusters of chatting women. I found her dear, smiling face quickly and headed to greet her. She opened her arms wide, hugged me and said, "I've been praying for you all year." After asking me to wait for a minute, Ruth opened her purse, took out a well-worn pink book full of small cards and began to leaf through it. Finally, she found the card for which she had been searching, and pulled it out. On it was a black-and-white photocopy of a picture of me with my name written underneath. She explained, "Each day I use this book to remember who to pray for. I put you in my book after the retreat last year, and I've prayed for you every day."
I looked at her face, creased with crows' feet and laugh lines, the product of many wide smiles and tender glances. I took in her white hair, the walker beside her and her comf ortable shoes and had a single thought—"Beautiful!"
Ruth is the woman that I want to be when age has settled onto my features and slowed my steps. Her beauty is an internal light that has grown brighter with time and experience rather than being extinguished. Knowing Ruth has changed my life and set me on a journey. When we first met, I immediately knew she had something I wanted.
After listening to this delightful woman talk for a while, I asked her, "What is your secret? How have you continued to grow in the Lord, stay positive and exude joy?" She answered quickly and confidently, "Be today who you want to be tomorrow."
Profound!
So, how can you and I apply Ruth's advice in our lives while we're still younger women? We can ask to God to reveal our own sins and flaws, repent of them and ask for His mercy to start living differently today. He's given me a very personal and specific list of where to start! I can ask God's help to stop my tend ency toward complaining about difficult circumstances and develop the habit of praising Him for molding my character through trials and tests. I can ask Him for the spiritual fruit of self-control so that I resist flying off the handle in a grumpy, hormone-fueled fit for no good reason. I can ask Him to stop my free-flowing river of words and help me listen to others compassionately before I speak. I could go on, but you're getting the picture. Are you starting to make a list of your own?
Although thinking about our own aging and watching loved ones age sometimes generates fear, we can face the future with tremendous hope and faith when we know that we can begin shaping our tomorrows today. I truly believe that becoming the woman today that we want to be tomorrow is the key to becoming the woman of grace, love and wisdom in our 70s and 80s that we so desire to be.
Dear Lord, I long to be a growing, godly older woman until my very last breath. Help me to begin t oday in developing the character and spiritual disciplines that I'll need to follow You victoriously throughout my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Random Recap of 2009
I am making myself go to bed before midnight (is my goal) so with 10 minutes to spare I am going to try to post the fastest recap of the year! It is one year ago today that our flight took off from Ireland. I remember calling my Grandmother from the airport to tell her I love her. With her being 92 that this might be the last time I am able to communicate with her while she is alive while on this continent. That proved to be true, because in March 2009 she passed away. What a blessing it was to knowingly say our goodbyes and while she was in good health.
We left with just our suitcases. We were organizing and repacking up until the last 30 minutes before we left. It was simply too expensive to take the things we planned to take in order to make our new home, HOME. So we took what we could.
It does not seem like a lot but the Lord had been really working on us especially the past couple weeks in showing us the difference between needs and wants.
I have to say, sitting here a year later we have all we need and more than we deserve (which is nothing-we deserve). We look around and are so blessed and cannot imagine that we moved here a year ago.
January: We arrived and looked for housing while staying at Leena and Mary's house (they were gracious to be bombarded by a family of four). We went to Mosbach, Germany for orientation and training with Operation Mobilization. We came back and got settled into our cottage at Portrunny in County Roscommon (in the midlands of Ireland).
February: We found out our family of 4 was going to be a family of 5. I think I skipped culture shock and just plain was in shock!!!! Connect Youth Event at Kilkenny College.
March: Started going to a local Moms and Tots group and meeting other moms in the community. Ludie gets involved with the Big Red Bus Outreach on Sundays at a local Mall.
April:FCA Golf Camp at Glasson with Anders Forsbrand (Ryder Cup Champion). Went up to Ballina, County Mayo to help with a youth outreach event.
May: Ludie shares his testimony in a church in Belfast. Get to ride the Logos Hope from Belfast to Dublin and stay on it a couple nights. Al McMillan from FBCW Missions Department and Steve Hyland, our SMP leader come for a vision trip.
June: Griffin starts soccer. Doing homeschool through the summer so we can take our summer break when the baby arrives. Logos Hope arrives in Cork. Ludie does evangelism training on it. Impact Ireland. Griffin goes to Art Camp at our local church.
July: Griffin goes to VBS. Impact Ireland lasts through until July 21st. Cross walk from Cork to Rahara Ireland, many lives touched by the message of the cross. Ludie joins the Core Leadership team for OM Ireland.
August:Immersion Ireland team arrives
September: Immersion Ireland Team
October: Immersion Ireland Team goes to their assigned locations throughout Ireland. Emily Grace born!!! Mom and Dad visit.
November: Ludie goes to Germany for OM leaders conference. God is working on his heart regarding evangelism.
December:Immersion Ireland team finishes their first semester! Much needed and enjoyed family break!
Well that is a fast recap that will be edited later but the kids have been sick this week and there is a lot to be done around the house tomorrow. I don't want to miss my time with God tomorrow before the house wakes up because I stayed up too late. Not because I am that "spiritual" but because I am NOT that "spiritual" and need the Lord's hand on my life more than ever!!!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Catching Up with Pictures
Griffin and Ruth Anne snuggling watching a video on the computer.
Griffin is helping me now with the cooking. He loves to chop the vegetables (as inspired by the soup making in the movie: Desperaux. Ruthie loves to "shake shake" the spices and "stir stir stir"
We watched the Macy's Parade on live feed on the computer.
Thanksgiving dinner with the OM Ireland Team at the Bryants House
All the babies and mamas. Thank God the babies are finally here and all safe and healthy!
Ruthie helped me make an apple pie. All the flour was dumped out while I had my back turned. Luckily it landed on the table and not the floor!!!
We had the most rain that Ireland has seen in 1000 years. The flood waters were rising while Ludie was in Germany. Thank God for good neighbors (Dax and Sarah) that filled up the car with gas for me in case we needed to evacuate and did some grocery shopping so I did not have to take the kids out in the flood waters (Emily was 3 weeks old then). I was so thankful when Ludie got home. The water got up to one sheep pasture away from us from the bay off of Lough Ree-it is usually 3 sheep pastures away.
Griffin is the first to read the Bible to Ruthie. He read the story of Sampson to her. He is such a great big brother.
Thank God for a dog. He may leave a lot of hair all over the place, but he does clean up good after Ruthie. I was in the kitchen when I heard the box of cereal hit the floor.
Brazillian BBQ and great friends. What more could you ask?
More pictures to come but the function key is not working at the moment!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Cultural Differences-the birth of Emily
Emily Grace is here! She was born on the 23rd of October at 11:10 am. She is 7 lbs 13 oz and 56 cm long! She is healthy and a very content baby girl!
I have had a lot of people ask me what the differences were in delivering here vs. the US. Well I will tell you our delivery story and you can see for yourself.
The contractions started at 4:30 am. I was awakened by the first contraction and knew by the horse kick in the belly that this was the day! So I went back to sleep and slept between contractions until they were about 15 minutes apart. We then got up around 7 am to get ready to go to the hospital. By the time we left for the hospital at 8 am the contractions were 5 minutes apart. It is a 40 minute drive to the hospital. We passed 3 tractors on the way. We even parked the car and walked instead of having Ludie drop me off at the door so that my contractions would keep on. I did not want them to stop and have to go back home.
In Ireland they give you a card that tracks your doctor (general practitioner) and hospital visit summary. We went to the labor ward, told them I was having contractions 3-5 minutes apart (which were getting pretty painful by then), and told them of my history of fast labors with the previous 2 children, and gave them my card that had my info and medical record information. The hospital and doctors keep everything on a computer system where they can look up each other's notes, test results etc very easily. A system I have been very impressed with. They hooked me up to the monitors to check the baby's heartbeat and monitor the contractions. Then checked me and I was 5 cm dilated. (My first pelvic exam of the entire pregnancy). They told me I could walk the halls if I wanted to. I thought we were gone for longer but Ludie says it was only 15-20 minutes at the most that we walked the halls. When we came back I was 9 cm. Ludie was joking with me at 10:45 am asking me when I thought we would have the baby by. I said 11:15 am. He said 10:47 am. Then a HARD contraction came that made me yell out. The midwife quickly got out all the supplies needed. She just sat down at the end of the bed like she was my best friend and we talked for a bit between contractions. She told me when I was at 10 cm and then said it was time to push.I think in about 3 contractions Emily was born. Thank God because those 3 were not fun. They had gas and air hooked up for me to breathe in if I wanted pain relief. I did that about 3 times but it just made me feel funny and did not help so much with pain. They do offer epidurals and other pain relief options but I would just rather get it over with without dealing with the drug side effects.
I really loved the nurse midwife. It was calming to have her there and she was so sweet and calm. I told her if I am in any other country that if I ever were pregnant again I would come back to Ireland to have the baby. When Emily was born they wiped her off quickly and handed her to me to hold skin to skin. That was the first time that has happened. Usually they hand the baby to you but you have clothes between you or the baby is wrapped in a cloth. I was able to hold Emily and put the sheet over her and she did not cry one second once I held her and just got to hold her for about 20 minutes. Then they took her to weigh her while I got sutures. That was just so amazing!!!!
After some sutures from a doctor that talked too much, they put me in a wheel chair and took me to my room. There were 3 beds. One was filled with a lady that had been in labor since 10 pm the night before. I got in bed. The babies get to stay in the room with us, and husbands can stay during visiting hours unless you are in labor. They bring you tea and toast (pot of tea, toast with butter and jam, and yogurt) after you deliver. Ludie went to the local convenient store and got us some cajun chicken sandwich baguettes (it is like a little subway at the convenient stores where you can get sandwiches). So he came back with that. I ate half and saved the rest for the middle of the night.
Ludie brought the kids and my parents up to visit that night.They got there at 8pm. I did not see a nurse but once since I left labor and delivery. She stopped by to ask if I needed pain medication or not. I guess since I did not then there wasn't really anything else that was needed. They come if you need help and call them with the nurse button, but other than that, you just rest and enjoy your baby. They don't even check on the baby. If you think the baby needs anything or have a question you just ask, but other than that you are left to rest! The bathroom was across the hall and you just wheel the baby with you in their little cart to the restroom that has a bath (some have showers). Still the baby has not been bathed. That is not done until the next day so that the baby is not chilled and also is able to absorb some of the vernix (to protect it's skin). Something I was glad I knew before then.
I don't think my nurse call button worked so I walked down the hall to ask if I could be released the next day and they said yes as long as the pediatrician approved Emily to go home. So I ate dinner. Got to visit with the kids and my parents and then slept in 15 minute intervals the rest of the night. My poor roommate was in labor and Emily would not sleep in the crib so I held her and dozed. I am sure we were both a little more alert because of the tea that was brought with supper and at 10pm they brought tea and cake. Each pot of tea makes 3 cups of tea. I came home addicted to tea and toast with butter and jam. I love it and still crave it!
I went down the hall around 11 pm and got some Paracetamol (like Tylenol)from the nurses and they gave me another dose to take with me to take during the middle of the night. Then in the morning they brought breakfast. I then asked if a nurse could help me give Emily a bath and they did. The pediatrician came by to check Ruthie. And they said that if I felt I needed to see an OB I could but otherwise I was released to go when I wanted. I said no that I was fine. Ludie came and picked me up and brought the best Papa John's pizza I ever had. We ate it packed the bags. Turned in a form to register the birth. Got the baby's security tag deactivated and removed and went home!!!! No sign your life away in blood, waiting 5 hours to be released, just go walk out of the hospital and go home! Wow how different, but I really liked that part!
I did have to go to the doctor Sunday because of a lump in my leg that I was scared might be a blood clot. It was not. The doctor did not charge us for coming in. She checked it and it seems that it is just an inflammation of one of my varicose veins. Thank God! So we were able to stay home and not have to go back into the hospital on Griffin's 7th birthday! I am so thankful!
Today, a home health nurse came by to check on Emily and myself. It is so nice not to have to go to the doctor's office with all the sick people coming in too, and wait to see a doctor. She just came to the house and examined the two of us and did the heal prick genetic blood test on Emily. I love that aspect too. She will be back in a couple days.
I loved my experience but was thankful I was prepared by one of my American friends that just went through the experience herself. If I had not known what to expect I would have been on edge but was rather able to enjoy it.
May I also say that God's timing was just awesome! My parents arrived Thursday morning and I went into labor Friday morning. It was such a blessing to have them here to look after the kids knowing that they came for that reason. I could relax knowing that. They have been such a blessing along with Ludie taking care of the kids, doing the laundry and working to get it dry despite the rain. Ludie has been working around the house like crazy and has been just a strength through all this. I was able to come home the next day and on Sunday celebrate Griffin's birthday with him.
One thing that was very different for me through this was the antenatal care. You rotate your doc appts between the GP (general practitioner) and the hospital where you go to see the OB. I love the GP appts because they are close by and quick and usually more thorough. When you visit the hospital it is on a designated day for the antenatal clinic where you and 70 other women are all seen within a 4 hour period. You wait for 45 minutes to an hour. They call you in groups of 5 to go and sit in a hall. Then you get called in 1 by 1 to get your blood pressure and weight checked, and turn in your urine specimen. Then you go back out to the waiting room. Wait 45 minutes to another hour and then go in to see the OB. They ask you some questions. Do an ultrasound showing you the heartbeat. Then the visit is over with. So all in all between the waiting and the driving there and back you are gone about 5 hours so it really turns into an all day thing almost when you consider the work day and the time it takes for Ludie to get into work. That was an adjustment. But I have to say I am VERY thankful for the free care and good care I received. If it weren't for God using Pat (a midwife) to intervene and have my blood tested to find out I needed hormone replacement in the beginning, we would not likely be holding precious Emily today! I am so grateful to God for the pro-activeness of the Dr. Monahan, his staff and the midwives.
I am so thankful for the prayers of those that prayed for us during this time of cultural adjustment in moving to a new country and the pregnancy. There were many times I wondered how I could make it through this and the honest answer is I cannot and could not. It is only by the grace of God that we are here and so blessed today. I have learned to trust God in this. I have learned a lot about myself and where I need to be more cooperative with God in areas in my life (repent and trust Him). And there are just qualities about God that He has revealed through all of this. He has been faithful. He had held me together and carried me. He has surrounded me with people here and abroad that He has used to work in my life to grow and mature me and to intercede. I praise Him and give Him all the glory. Glory that only He deserves. And I thank Him for this perfect little precious gift that I never imagined I would be able to have. What a miracle our children are! Thank you God! Pictures coming soon.
I have had a lot of people ask me what the differences were in delivering here vs. the US. Well I will tell you our delivery story and you can see for yourself.
The contractions started at 4:30 am. I was awakened by the first contraction and knew by the horse kick in the belly that this was the day! So I went back to sleep and slept between contractions until they were about 15 minutes apart. We then got up around 7 am to get ready to go to the hospital. By the time we left for the hospital at 8 am the contractions were 5 minutes apart. It is a 40 minute drive to the hospital. We passed 3 tractors on the way. We even parked the car and walked instead of having Ludie drop me off at the door so that my contractions would keep on. I did not want them to stop and have to go back home.
In Ireland they give you a card that tracks your doctor (general practitioner) and hospital visit summary. We went to the labor ward, told them I was having contractions 3-5 minutes apart (which were getting pretty painful by then), and told them of my history of fast labors with the previous 2 children, and gave them my card that had my info and medical record information. The hospital and doctors keep everything on a computer system where they can look up each other's notes, test results etc very easily. A system I have been very impressed with. They hooked me up to the monitors to check the baby's heartbeat and monitor the contractions. Then checked me and I was 5 cm dilated. (My first pelvic exam of the entire pregnancy). They told me I could walk the halls if I wanted to. I thought we were gone for longer but Ludie says it was only 15-20 minutes at the most that we walked the halls. When we came back I was 9 cm. Ludie was joking with me at 10:45 am asking me when I thought we would have the baby by. I said 11:15 am. He said 10:47 am. Then a HARD contraction came that made me yell out. The midwife quickly got out all the supplies needed. She just sat down at the end of the bed like she was my best friend and we talked for a bit between contractions. She told me when I was at 10 cm and then said it was time to push.I think in about 3 contractions Emily was born. Thank God because those 3 were not fun. They had gas and air hooked up for me to breathe in if I wanted pain relief. I did that about 3 times but it just made me feel funny and did not help so much with pain. They do offer epidurals and other pain relief options but I would just rather get it over with without dealing with the drug side effects.
I really loved the nurse midwife. It was calming to have her there and she was so sweet and calm. I told her if I am in any other country that if I ever were pregnant again I would come back to Ireland to have the baby. When Emily was born they wiped her off quickly and handed her to me to hold skin to skin. That was the first time that has happened. Usually they hand the baby to you but you have clothes between you or the baby is wrapped in a cloth. I was able to hold Emily and put the sheet over her and she did not cry one second once I held her and just got to hold her for about 20 minutes. Then they took her to weigh her while I got sutures. That was just so amazing!!!!
After some sutures from a doctor that talked too much, they put me in a wheel chair and took me to my room. There were 3 beds. One was filled with a lady that had been in labor since 10 pm the night before. I got in bed. The babies get to stay in the room with us, and husbands can stay during visiting hours unless you are in labor. They bring you tea and toast (pot of tea, toast with butter and jam, and yogurt) after you deliver. Ludie went to the local convenient store and got us some cajun chicken sandwich baguettes (it is like a little subway at the convenient stores where you can get sandwiches). So he came back with that. I ate half and saved the rest for the middle of the night.
Ludie brought the kids and my parents up to visit that night.They got there at 8pm. I did not see a nurse but once since I left labor and delivery. She stopped by to ask if I needed pain medication or not. I guess since I did not then there wasn't really anything else that was needed. They come if you need help and call them with the nurse button, but other than that, you just rest and enjoy your baby. They don't even check on the baby. If you think the baby needs anything or have a question you just ask, but other than that you are left to rest! The bathroom was across the hall and you just wheel the baby with you in their little cart to the restroom that has a bath (some have showers). Still the baby has not been bathed. That is not done until the next day so that the baby is not chilled and also is able to absorb some of the vernix (to protect it's skin). Something I was glad I knew before then.
I don't think my nurse call button worked so I walked down the hall to ask if I could be released the next day and they said yes as long as the pediatrician approved Emily to go home. So I ate dinner. Got to visit with the kids and my parents and then slept in 15 minute intervals the rest of the night. My poor roommate was in labor and Emily would not sleep in the crib so I held her and dozed. I am sure we were both a little more alert because of the tea that was brought with supper and at 10pm they brought tea and cake. Each pot of tea makes 3 cups of tea. I came home addicted to tea and toast with butter and jam. I love it and still crave it!
I went down the hall around 11 pm and got some Paracetamol (like Tylenol)from the nurses and they gave me another dose to take with me to take during the middle of the night. Then in the morning they brought breakfast. I then asked if a nurse could help me give Emily a bath and they did. The pediatrician came by to check Ruthie. And they said that if I felt I needed to see an OB I could but otherwise I was released to go when I wanted. I said no that I was fine. Ludie came and picked me up and brought the best Papa John's pizza I ever had. We ate it packed the bags. Turned in a form to register the birth. Got the baby's security tag deactivated and removed and went home!!!! No sign your life away in blood, waiting 5 hours to be released, just go walk out of the hospital and go home! Wow how different, but I really liked that part!
I did have to go to the doctor Sunday because of a lump in my leg that I was scared might be a blood clot. It was not. The doctor did not charge us for coming in. She checked it and it seems that it is just an inflammation of one of my varicose veins. Thank God! So we were able to stay home and not have to go back into the hospital on Griffin's 7th birthday! I am so thankful!
Today, a home health nurse came by to check on Emily and myself. It is so nice not to have to go to the doctor's office with all the sick people coming in too, and wait to see a doctor. She just came to the house and examined the two of us and did the heal prick genetic blood test on Emily. I love that aspect too. She will be back in a couple days.
I loved my experience but was thankful I was prepared by one of my American friends that just went through the experience herself. If I had not known what to expect I would have been on edge but was rather able to enjoy it.
May I also say that God's timing was just awesome! My parents arrived Thursday morning and I went into labor Friday morning. It was such a blessing to have them here to look after the kids knowing that they came for that reason. I could relax knowing that. They have been such a blessing along with Ludie taking care of the kids, doing the laundry and working to get it dry despite the rain. Ludie has been working around the house like crazy and has been just a strength through all this. I was able to come home the next day and on Sunday celebrate Griffin's birthday with him.
One thing that was very different for me through this was the antenatal care. You rotate your doc appts between the GP (general practitioner) and the hospital where you go to see the OB. I love the GP appts because they are close by and quick and usually more thorough. When you visit the hospital it is on a designated day for the antenatal clinic where you and 70 other women are all seen within a 4 hour period. You wait for 45 minutes to an hour. They call you in groups of 5 to go and sit in a hall. Then you get called in 1 by 1 to get your blood pressure and weight checked, and turn in your urine specimen. Then you go back out to the waiting room. Wait 45 minutes to another hour and then go in to see the OB. They ask you some questions. Do an ultrasound showing you the heartbeat. Then the visit is over with. So all in all between the waiting and the driving there and back you are gone about 5 hours so it really turns into an all day thing almost when you consider the work day and the time it takes for Ludie to get into work. That was an adjustment. But I have to say I am VERY thankful for the free care and good care I received. If it weren't for God using Pat (a midwife) to intervene and have my blood tested to find out I needed hormone replacement in the beginning, we would not likely be holding precious Emily today! I am so grateful to God for the pro-activeness of the Dr. Monahan, his staff and the midwives.
I am so thankful for the prayers of those that prayed for us during this time of cultural adjustment in moving to a new country and the pregnancy. There were many times I wondered how I could make it through this and the honest answer is I cannot and could not. It is only by the grace of God that we are here and so blessed today. I have learned to trust God in this. I have learned a lot about myself and where I need to be more cooperative with God in areas in my life (repent and trust Him). And there are just qualities about God that He has revealed through all of this. He has been faithful. He had held me together and carried me. He has surrounded me with people here and abroad that He has used to work in my life to grow and mature me and to intercede. I praise Him and give Him all the glory. Glory that only He deserves. And I thank Him for this perfect little precious gift that I never imagined I would be able to have. What a miracle our children are! Thank you God! Pictures coming soon.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A hard headed, slow reading woman.
Both kids are sick with fevers now. Griffin was doing better this morning but has lapsed a little.
I have been working on reading through the Bible. Before I sound super spiritual, I want you to know I started when Griffin was 3. He is about to turn 7. I would read some and do a Bible study, then read some more. But really this past year I just got hung up in Job. I prayed Ps 129 that God would search my heart and find any anxious way in me and help me to repent and turn it back to Him. Well. Let me say I ran from that book a little. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how God allowed Job to suffer those huge things. Well at the hospital today to visit the OB for a regular checkup (usually takes about 3 hours) I pulled out my Bible to read it. Low and behold I realized I only had 3 chapters of Job left. Well those effected me greatly! It put in perspective how powerful God is. How he truly is in control of everything. When I combine those facts with the facts of the Old Testament showing how long suffering He is towards us, and the facts of the New Testament of what lengths He goes to to save us eternally (which I take for granted often) and daily through circumstances I can do nothing but glorify Him. Did I freak out some yesterday? Yes. But not as much as before. I was quicker to see that my non-trust and worrying is a sin.
I have also come to realize (through the help of 2 wise, godly women) that when I do fret and have worry that I am concentrating on myself and not others around me and not on God. God will handle all our circumstances. We are where God placed us and I really need to sometimes get a reality grip that this is our life. This is not just the two years He sent us here. I have been thinking with the mentality that when we return, life is going to go back to normal. And if I were home I know that things would not be perfect but I have a tendency to think that way just because it is in my comfort zone. It has been such a burden lifted to just say, 'okay God, here we are. This is how life is. And there are people here to help us out when we need it. They have made that overwhelmingly clear. All I have to do is put aside my pride and ask them." So this is where I am. Growing. Sometimes willingly, sometimes reluctantly. I am thankful though for a God that loves us and is patient with us.
I have also learned that I should not expect earth to be heaven. Things are not perfect here so when they do get out of whack and bad things happen, I have to trust in Him who is really in control in all circumstances, the good and the bad.
I have been working on reading through the Bible. Before I sound super spiritual, I want you to know I started when Griffin was 3. He is about to turn 7. I would read some and do a Bible study, then read some more. But really this past year I just got hung up in Job. I prayed Ps 129 that God would search my heart and find any anxious way in me and help me to repent and turn it back to Him. Well. Let me say I ran from that book a little. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how God allowed Job to suffer those huge things. Well at the hospital today to visit the OB for a regular checkup (usually takes about 3 hours) I pulled out my Bible to read it. Low and behold I realized I only had 3 chapters of Job left. Well those effected me greatly! It put in perspective how powerful God is. How he truly is in control of everything. When I combine those facts with the facts of the Old Testament showing how long suffering He is towards us, and the facts of the New Testament of what lengths He goes to to save us eternally (which I take for granted often) and daily through circumstances I can do nothing but glorify Him. Did I freak out some yesterday? Yes. But not as much as before. I was quicker to see that my non-trust and worrying is a sin.
I have also come to realize (through the help of 2 wise, godly women) that when I do fret and have worry that I am concentrating on myself and not others around me and not on God. God will handle all our circumstances. We are where God placed us and I really need to sometimes get a reality grip that this is our life. This is not just the two years He sent us here. I have been thinking with the mentality that when we return, life is going to go back to normal. And if I were home I know that things would not be perfect but I have a tendency to think that way just because it is in my comfort zone. It has been such a burden lifted to just say, 'okay God, here we are. This is how life is. And there are people here to help us out when we need it. They have made that overwhelmingly clear. All I have to do is put aside my pride and ask them." So this is where I am. Growing. Sometimes willingly, sometimes reluctantly. I am thankful though for a God that loves us and is patient with us.
I have also learned that I should not expect earth to be heaven. Things are not perfect here so when they do get out of whack and bad things happen, I have to trust in Him who is really in control in all circumstances, the good and the bad.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Baby's Room
It has been about 1 1/2 weeks since Ludie asked me to go pick out paint so he could get the baby's room ready. I have not done so for various reasons. Mainly, energy level. By the time I do what needs to be done to keep the house running, the kids fed and clothed and homeschool, the day is over. Ludie has also been working late the majority of nights since then. In a couple weeks that should slow down some. I finally picked out he paint and the theme. I am modelling it after Marjolein Bastin's drawings from Nature's Sketchbook. I have some cards from here from Hallmark that I am going to frame. It also just happens that the bed in the baby's room has a duvet on it that already matches the picture.
I also want to have Ludie make some grapevine wreathes and then I'll decorate them to go with the theme of the room with feathers, birds nests and eggs. However I don't know where to get that kind of stuff but I am sure it will turn up. I got this idea from Rebekah Gregg's blog and The Nester's blog (both on my blog roll). Here are some pics of what Rebekah did which were very inspiring. I love doing this because I think I can do this for a small dime and I have wanted to use these colors for decorating for years!
Don't let the blue fool you. We also have Ruthie's pink stroller the baby will use. We have no idea if the baby will be a boy or girl so go figure! We'll just have to wait 4 more weeks, Lord willing and see!
A Simple but Wonderful Day
Whew what a day! We had a great day but a busy day. It was Ludie's 39th birthday today.
It started out with getting the kids and myself ready to go to the store to buy some lemon extract for the pound cake I have never made before (or any cake for that matter from scratch and not a box), Last week there was lemon extract at the store. This week there was not. So then we finally left the store and got home to have 1 hour to mix up a cake that needed 1 hour of baking time and then leave to go meet Ludie for lunch. Impossible you say? I was only 15 minutes late. I had a brain bubble and had to call my sister to ask her how many cups of butter was one stick of butter when I should have asked how many oz? So then I just guestimated and put it in, but it was too cold so I used the blender to chop up the butter and then finally got the other ingredients added in. I cut the recipe in half because my pan is a lot smaller than my mom's and the cake would have overflowed. I knew that did not mean cut the cooking time in half but we also have a convection oven which cuts off baking time so go figure how long the cake should stay in. ....why do I try to do things like this under a time crunch or when we have other people over usually? Maybe I am just daring...or stupid. Don't say a thing!
So anyway the cake got baked! It did not fall. The outside was crusty but the inside was moist. We were only 15 minutes late for lunch at Ludie's work. We were just in time to serve dessert though. Griffin decorated the cake. I left the lemon glaze at home so Mary improvised and saved the day with custard she found in the fridge and lemon marmalade she mixed with custard and heated up in the microwave. I never would have thought of that. I am so thankful because the cake really needed that. BTW Catherine, I will replace your custard and marmalade this week.
Then we got home and Ludie's favorite dessert is pumpkin pie...cold pumpkin pie. Well I have yet to find a frozen pie crust in Ireland, or graham crackers. I made my own pie crust and realized I have no pie plates so I put them in cake pans and made the pie. Then cleaned up a little bit, played with the kids between all of this and then we had some friends over that cooked supper.
Ming Yu, MiAe, and Jen He are all from South Korea. They made "firemeat". It is steak sliced up and cooked with soysauce, garlic, pears and sugar. It is sweet and so good. I have never seen Griffin get seconds with an Asian dish but he did tonight!!! However I did not know we needed rice, I thought noodles would be okay. So I had to make a quick run to the store and get some rice. I have never driven so fast down the bog road as I did that night. However, I did find Doritos and had not had that since we came here 9 months ago so I snagged a bag of that (bonus!) Our Korean friends broke cultural tradition to leave the rest of the team and come celebrate Ludie's birthday and have dinner with us. I am so thankful they did that even though I know that was very uncomfortable for them. I am so grateful for them making such an effort. Ming Yu prayed the blessing in Korean and I don't know half of what he said but I have never heard or felt passion in prayer like that in a long time from all 3 of our friends. They are true prayer warriors. They are usually put in an English "world" and to hear them (my eyes were closed) praying to their Abba Father on our behalf as a family was amazing!
The night wsa topped off by gifts we had bought for his birthday, including an Elvis coffee mug and Shawshank Redemption DVD (one of his favorite movies). We also got to talk to Aunt Lissie back home, Ludie's family that skyped and sang "Happy Birthday" and also to his crazy brother, Marty. Marty even recorded a video of his students celebrating Ludie's birthday and sent it to him.
That night when we were getting ready for bed, he told me it was his best birthday ever. I cannot imagine how something so simple could have that much of an effect but he seemed honest!
Wow! I am amazed at how full a day can get with such simple things as baking that can take all day. I was in so much pain by bedtime from going and going all day but it was worth it. Happy Birthday baby. I am glad it was a special day for you. You do such a great job the other 364 days making sure we have great days and taking care of us. We love you and look forwards to many more years.
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