Making the Connection

Over the past few weeks, I have had some significant and wonderful conversations with Reece about God....most specifically prayer. It has been really cool to see him make the connection between the theory and the application in his own life.

I see him growing up right before my very eyes and I don't want to fall short of being present in his life to challenge and help feed his faith. I have noticed his reluctance or maybe even dis-interest in praying out loud. One night we talked about it (you know, those moments as a parent - sometimes too rare - when you know there is an openness and a readiness to talk - really talk - together...I love those times!)

I was tucking him in and we began to talk about prayer. I very gently challenged him to consider prayer as an invitation to let God into all parts of his life. We shared a few examples - building friendships, worries, frustrations with brothers, etc.. I reminded him how God helped him a few weeks back when he was struggling with Chase getting all of the attention around his birthday and Reece felt left out. At that point, we prayed together and I had asked God to help Reece think about Chase and remember that we were celebrating how special he is to our family. Reece had felt like God really had helped him then. We smiled as we discussed Pierce's style of prayer - sweet and innocently consistent, "thanks for the food and then the list of every member of our family, Amen" I challenged Reece to include his thanks, but to go beyond that and talk to Him about other things. And that was about it.

The very next night, as we were getting ready for bed, I asked who would like to lead a prayer. Reece jetted his hand in the air and lead us by just talking to God. It was the neatest thing.

His first day back to school, was, as I suspected, a little difficult for him. I sensed that although he was obviously tired from our previous 3 day journey and the sudden early jolt to the sleepy vacation mornings, I just know my boy and I know that returning to school would likely be a little anxious. So I prayed for him at the breakfast table and asked God to give him courage and peace.

That afternoon, he had a huge smile on his face as he was helping me set the table for dinner. He initiated this conversation: "God really really helped me find courage to go to school. Good thing you prayed that for me"

He is making the connection and I love watching it!

So again, as I was tucking in all the boys that night we recapped that faith-building experience. Simply trying to illustrate the coolness of prayer I said, "boys isn't it awesome that the God of the whole universe, the One who made your body and runs the world, stopped and listened to Mommy's prayer this morning and helped Reece find courage?"

[things don't always go as you might expect with kids!]

Chase, gets this huge frown on his face and says, "well God has never ever helped me or given me what I ask for" (almost in tears)

"Well," I said, "I am not so sure that is true - tell me a time you have asked God for something and He hasn't answered."

Big shoulder shrug.

I continued, "why don't you try to talk to God when you pray - and you ask Him for help, or for patience, or for....... I am sure He will answer you"

"well, sometimes he says no too" one of them contributes. :)

"Okay" - he (Chase) places his hands flat together and tightly closes his eyes (it makes me smile every time because he just has this way - very reverent and kind of cute funny)....and says "God, thank you for this good day and will you please help me to read all of the hard words that I can't read yet? Amen" (he almost sighs and smiles as he snuggles into his blankets)

I asked him the next day if he read any bigger words at school and he confidently beamed - "I read every word right!"

My boys are making a new connection that I so desperately need to be refreshed in myself.

I write this down to remind me of several things:
~ experiencing God with my kids is probably the greatest faith building thing I have been blessed to enjoy
~ it is humbling and not so surprising that they teach me more than I can probably ever hope to teach them
~ intentionality is important and those rare "let's talk" moments need to be capitalized on
~ in spite of our own struggles and inconsistencies, our kids are also on a faith journey - let's journey together!
~ I feel called to "invite God into all parts of my life" and to grow with Him in conversation throughout my days

From our family to yours...

As we begin this new year with a fresh and new slate, and as we anticipate doing things better, simpler, healthier, with more patience, with more kindness, with a gentler spirit...let's remember that although it may be seen as 1 new year, its perhaps better seen as 365 new days - each day is a new beginning, and although we will surely fail at all we aim for, thanks be to Christ that we have grace and continued new beginnings.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness"

Hoping that 2011 fills your life with smiles, special moments, new adventures, growth, greater depth in your faith and endless opportunities to display the light and love of Christ to those around you.

Happy new year!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas for so many reasons. And I love all of the nostalgia that goes with it. I love opening up the boxes of Christmas decorations and seeing all of the little trinkets and ornaments that we have collected in our married lives - and finding a spot for them to display their love and uniqueness and the special moments they remind me of. In these past years, we have also enjoyed pulling out poorly cut out and glued/colored/painted things the kids have made. All so special. And the traditional family pic with Santa - looking back at all of my pregnant bellies and/or little ones on our knees... noticing how quickly the boys change in a year. I think it may be the only time of the year that I have such a consistent line up of photos that demonstrate it so plainly. A snapshot at the same time of the year - of all of us. Faces change and mature but the warm feelings that come with this season never do. They return every time. I love that. I love the consistent warmth and goodness that settles into everyone. And I love the power of the true gift of our Saviour being born. I connect with it. Maybe it is this stage of my life - of being pregnant so many Christmases...or holding a new baby so many times. Or. More likely. It is my thankfulness for His birth. The truth that I sense in my heart that I needed Him to be born and need Him today. How amazing it truly is that He came to dwell among us. What love!

And so I enjoy bringing it all out and involving everyone in the process. And. Of course. I take pictures.

So yes, we decorate with pretty things and place snowmen and Santa Clauses around the house. Benjy lifts one of the boys to place the star just right. The snowglobes twinkle and play their song. We hang the stockings and we count down the days to exchange gifts. We do our best to look outward and to focus on sharing with others and giving.

But included in those decorations are the nativity scenes. We remember and we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

"And they found the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And that is what makes it a Merry Christmas and a true celebration of love!

Guess Who Found the Stairs?!

Hudson has a new hobby...

a dangerously, off balanced one.

But he is very attracted to the thrill of a speedy climb.

If you tell him "no"

he crawls faster and gets so excited

that it makes him more unstable.

Crazy kid.

So fun.

Chaser Turns 6!

The boy has had a loose tooth for a long time. But it knew its place...it was waiting for Chase's birthday to finally come out. What a perfect way to make Chase's day - he was simply delighted!!

6 candles on the cake. It happens fast. Everyone says it. And until you have your own kids, you never have reason to believe it. Now I believe it....how can he be 6??

We celebrated with a lego party...and a beautiful snowfall! Thankfully, most friends still showed up. It was fun to watch Chase interact with his friends. We are thankful that he is forming some new friendships.

Chase is a good kid - always has been - but I feel especially proud of him these past 6 months. He has handled our life transition well. He is a happy boy and is learning so many new things. We love to hear him read....he loves it. He enjoys learning and that is pretty fun for everyone involved. He has a very sensitive heart and often says sweet and caring things. I love to see his smile that is so bright and fun. Happy 6th birthday Chase. You are very special and very loved.

Missing Mexico

I can't believe that it has been nearly 6 months since we drove out of Mexico City. I don't believe a day has gone by that I haven't missed someone or something about that place. From the deep and profound to the simplest of simple - there is a whole lot to miss!

Our return visit in October was such a great time to reconnect with everyone. We were there for about 9 days and it really felt like we just picked right back up where we had ended. I could sense it was very good for the boys as well, to be back "home". For the first time in their lives, they noticed the graffiti (isn't that interesting?) It felt so good to be back with our house church - singing together, laughing together, worshipping together, sharing, talking, eating! :) Great fellowship. So good to see so many special people. It went much too fast.

Over the past weeks and months we have had several different opportunities to share about our experience in Mexico. Each and every time it is very therapeutic to do so. It helps to draw out memories and feelings from my heart and communicate them in words to other people.

We spent a few days with Dottie Schulz from Missions Resource Network. She came here to Louisville and listened. And affirmed. And advised. And understood. And listened some more. It was very healing and helpful in our processing and transition.

Overall, we are doing well. We are slowly settling, and yet continue to miss what had grown to be "normal" for us. We have had some difficult days, and yet lots of good days too. The most difficult times have seemed to happen with family milestones (birthdays) or holidays...but then there are also a million other little moments that just seem different in this context of "away from Mexico"

Through all of this, I realize that when you live and love, there are consequences. It hurts to be separated from what you have grown to love and care deeply about. But I am thankful that we lived and that we loved. I am thankful in ways that I don't even yet understand - because our experience in Mexico has become so intermingled into who we are today that I am not sure we can assign specifics to what those are. I do know that our friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters, teachers, classmates, teammates - have been friends to me, to my husband, and to my boys. They will forever be in my heart for how they have loved and changed us.

As the calendar days pass on and time moves forward, we continue to hold that place, those people, that experience very highly. We continue to wait and watch as God slowly unfolds His plan before us. Many things are uncertain about which path we will walk down, but I am certain today, that, regardless of which one we choose, we were blessed to live and love in that place and at that time. There will never be another set of circumstances exactly like those, and it is okay to miss it.

I made a small video - with a song of prayer - and pictures of very special people. It helps me to be thankful when I watch it and realize how blessed I have been to have lived and loved in that time and place... and I do pray that our lives helped our friends to love Jesus more...

Our First Snow

The day after Thanksgiving I woke up to a great surprise. SNOW!!! The whole household was fast asleep and I couldn't justify waking them up for the light dusting that lay outside....but I did run down the hall like a little girl to share the news with Benjy.

Truth be told, the snow was not much in abundance, but we have been, after all, living in Mexico all of these boys' lives. So even a little snow was a big deal to experience.

When the older boys did wake up they were as excited as I was...and dressed quickly to get out there. So cute.

Pierce didn't want to get out there just yet... so he marvelled from the window.

Reece picking his first ever icicle!

We are enjoying this a lot...so snuggly and warm.