Ladybug

So I haven't blogged in nearly a week.

I've been busy. With these 5 kids. And life.

Sometimes I feel like I'll explode if I don't get to blog. And other times, I don't have much to say. That's life, I suppose. We're full one minute and empty the next. Sounds like my snack box. And ooohhhhh...don't I get sick of dealing with that! My weight, that is. But that's a different blog on a different day.

Today, I have to share with you one of the simplest, yet most fulfilling experiences that I've had lately. This morning, my precious 2 year old came into the mudroom (my office!) with his tiny hands cupped. You gotta know something about Luke...he's so full of joy (unless you take his pacy!), and so carefree. Inside those tender little hands, he held...a ladybug.

Luke LOVES Ladybugs.

He has a book that we read about 417 times a day, entitled, "10 Little Ladybugs".
Now let me tell you...when that sweet little boy carefully walked to my chair with his tiny hands cupped, looking down at his prize, I MELTED.

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"Mama!"

"Luke!"
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"yadybug, Mama!"
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Drip...ooze...melt...

"Oh Luke! A Ladybug!!! You're holding a Ladybug!!!"

















His little face broke into the biggest dimpled grin that it could manage as he looked up into my face.

"yadybug, Mama!"

This week, my cabinet's arrived. They were delivered on Friday. I thought I'd SCARE the delivery man, I was so excited!!! I opened 2 boxes to peek inside and see the color, etc. We've waited nearly 6 years to remodel my kitchen. Next Monday, the installer will bring his team to my house and they will install my new kitchen cabinets. The ones we've waited so long for. And as thrilled as I am about these cabinets...

I'm an oozing mess over "yadybug, Mama!", and the precious gift that God has blessed me with in Luke.

Absolutely NOTHING like it.

May there be hundreds more...

"yadybugs".

Faithful Love

We began studying "The Five Love Languages of Children" in Sunday School this week.

It made me wonder...

What is love?

As I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me (as I had asked), I was led to do a word search on "love" in the Bible. I want to point out that sometimes we don't get the nudge because we don't ask for it.

I was stopped in my tracks with the very first verse. From Exodus 20:6..."but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands".

In Exodus 20, God's Ten Commandments are recorded. And in the verses just before this one, God warns us not to make idols to bow down to. He seriously tells us that He is a "jealous God"...meaning that He wants our time, our effort...our love.

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Little do we realize how badly we need to give it to Him.

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Faithful Love...

He gives His faithful love to us, even though it came at the highest price possible.

Faithful Love...

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His faithful love fills us.

The faithful blessings of a friendship that will never fail me. Something I can barely describe through any form of expression. A heart feeling. Like coming out of the cold winter into a glorious spring. Like cuddling up beside a warm fire after being out in the frigid snow. Like having the summer to relax and breath after a hectic school schedule. Like slipping into your "skinny jeans" after years of battling weight issues (still pushing my big toe through the leg...).

Words fail to accurately describe that heart feeling.

Worry-free. Care-free.

Hopeful...in fact...brimming with hope.

Secure.

Satisfied, at least for a time.

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Enjoying God. Feeling embraced and fully accepted by Him. Despite our imperfections.

No pressures...no worries...no stress.

Just you and Him.

Just live it.

Resting in His faithful love. And understanding that we can never compare it with love as we speak of it.

There is love...then there is faithful love.

We say we love so many things. We love watching "Grey's Anatomy". We love eating at the Melting Pot. We love to shop. We love to go on vacation. But when the power goes out...we run out of money...or we are unable to get time off from work, our love for such things take a back seat.

Are you faithful enough to climb the utility pole, risking life & limb to fix the power? Are you faithful enough to spend your household bill money on other things? Are you faithful enough to quit your job and head for the shore? Is that love?

God's love is faithful, Friends. It's the kind of love that is genuine and true. It's not based on what we do or don't do. It's the kind of love that is faithfully put into action, time and again. It's unconditional. It's perfect...because God is perfect. No matter what, His love remains.

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"Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands." Exodus 20:4-6

He faithfully fulfilled this promise when He sent Jesus to the cross...and He faithfully continues to love us even now.

That's love.

The Maytag Man Must Be Tired...

My feet touched the floor at 6:28am this morning. Even when the kids are out of school, I try to get up around that time because if I sleep in, I'm tired all day long. I trudged into the bathroom, in a fog. After brushing my teeth, I heard my wonderful hubby say, "Oh NOoooo!". He had walked downstairs to prepare to leave for work.

And encountered a lake...right inside our house!

Okay...maybe lake is an exaggeration. But we've sloshed through that swamp more than a few times! Our washing machine, a Maytag (which is supposed to be good), had dumped water out all over the carpet, YET AGAIN.

That's happened about 4 or 5 times over the past few years. We've had the glorious Maytag repaired twice, but it still isn't the awesome little machine that Maytag has always claimed (the commercials w/the repairman having nothing to do because the washing machine runs so well that it rarely needs repair...HA!...HA-HA!!!). And did I mention that the thing is so loud, I'm sure it "wakes the dead"?!

I think the Maytag Man must be exhausted.

Rich, maybe.

But exhausted.

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(our "top-of-the-line" Maytag)

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(the "Atlantis" is supposed to handle an ocean of water, right?!!! All while operating as quiet as a mouse...)

I certainly am! What's the point in having a washing machine that dumps gallons of water all over your carpet (thank the Lord there's concrete underneath!!!!)? The point would definitely NOT be for my washing machine to clean my carpet...

I guess it makes about as much sense

as knowing the secret to the universe,

but keeping it to yourself.

Huh?

You heard me.

Do I know the secret to the universe? Well...no. But I do know the only way to the truth and fulfilling life that we desperately long for. And it has nothing to do with the Maytag man. It has everything to do with...

The Creator.

And guess what The Creator wants us to do when we know the truth? Dump gallons of truth all over your loved ones...and shower everyone you come in contact with.

While we cringe at the thought of having to suck up that lake of water that our washing machine has dumped out, we should be able to swim in the truth of God and shower everyone else with His love! Now that doesn't mean cramming the gospel down people's throat. Jesus didn't beat anyone over the head with a Bible!!! But it does mean that in everything we do...in everything we say...we should honor Him to the point that others see a difference in our life.

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A recent survey of "Christians" revealed that only 3 out of 10 parents incorporate God into the daily lives of their children. THREE out of TEN? Do you know what God says about teaching your kids about Him?

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6, 5-9

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God says put all your heart, soul, and strength into loving Him! He says talk to your kids about the things of God when you're at home, when you're on the go, when you prepare for bedtime and when morning comes. He says make His commands obviously important in your life and in your home!

What's more obvious than a lake inside your house?

A life in which you're putting amazing effort

into loving God. A home in which your children

know about the things of God and the incredible grace

that He's extended to your family.

Do you splash your faith on others? We should all strive for the kind of relationship with Christ that gets others wet when they come around us. Maybe not soaked...but at the very least, wet.

We'll leave the soaking to the Maytag...

It's Raining...

Remember that old song, "It's raining...on prom night..."? Well...I'm singing that song in a different version.

It's raining...on the first day...of Spring Break 2009.

I might go...nuts before...we get to bedtime...

That's right! We're spending the first official day of Spring Break this year INSIDE. While outside, the grass, trees, and new little blooms are playing in the cool early spring rain...INSIDE...I've yelled at the kids more than once today, stayed in my pj's nearly all day long, and washed TONS of laundry. Not exactly a memorable spring break, so far.

In fact...it just seems like an ordinary day. Poor kids.

"Go pick a movie"
"Clean your room"
"Eat your food"
"Fold the towels"
"Watch your brother"
"Put your clothes on"
"NO!"
"You're TOO loud"
"You're getting on my LAST fried nerve!"
"Clean up your mess"

I confess. These are things my kids hear almost daily. But Spring Break is supposed to be different! Envision a sandy beach...no rain, and 80 degrees. The ocean is louder than the kids. The sun is warmer than Knoxville is right now. And the latest James Patterson novel is making my heart race as I sit in my beach chair, soaking in the words as well as the rays. Ahhhh...Spring Break as it was meant to be! Carefree...relaxing...dreamy.

Exactly how I could have it right now...if I kick the kids outside in the rain (baby included!), fill my tub up with hot water...grab the newest magazine I have (the JP novel is sitting at half.com waiting for me to order it)...and pour the luscious Sea Island Cotton bath gel onto my skin (for a yummy reminder of the beach)...and...soak.

Of course...I'll only get a few minutes before the little "sea urchins" come screaming back into the house...wet...cold...and no doubt, hungry...beach vision dissipated...Back to reality!

So I think I'll just make the most of today.

Imagine that!

"I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."
Jesus says in John 10:10.

That doesn't change just because it's pouring rain outside! So making the most of today is exactly what Christ intends for us to do.

That might include spending a day at the beach...or spending a day painting toenails...

a day full of sea, sun, and sand...or a day full of pajamas and giggles...with an occasional 2 year old belly laugh thrown in...

'course, we could do that at that beach, too...

Everyday Joys

Today, I am reminded of my life verse, "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you." Joel 2:25, which is also the title verse for my blog.

Living out a restored life is rewarding. Not that you feel restored everyday, but that you are restored everyday. It's challenging a lot of times. But it brings...

Peace.

It's so sweet! And even sweeter when you have helped provide it to someone else. Lessons are learned in the storm and then comes glorious peace...so that, we can enjoy the valuable proof God has given us of His faithfulness. No matter if the storm is minor or devastating. The peace is always welcome and enjoyable!

And it always brings restoration with it.

As I sat outside watching Luke play in the sandbox today, I experienced so much peace. The peace of knowing that the winter only lasts for a season. The peace of knowing that God never leaves us...even if we take a hike on a weedy pig trail. The peace of sitting in His sunshine! The peace of feeling the refreshing and comforting breeze blowing my hair around. The peace of knowing that He knows...He knows...what I feel...what I struggle with...what my true hearts desire is. Thank God for His amazing love for us!

Have you experienced His peace today?

It's "right there", as Luke reminds me daily. "Right there" in the simplicities of life...nothing complicated. "Right there" in Luke's smile...in the puffy clouds...in an uplifting phone call from a friend (thanks Sunday!)...in a funny email from my Mom (did you say 'overdraft'?)..."Right there" in the everyday joys that God Himself has placed into our paths.

Relax! He has already restored us. You just need to claim His peace...
and go play in the sandbox.

Are we headed for warmer weather?

Over the past week, we've experienced warmer weather here in East Tennessee. We've run barefoot...raised the windows...worn short sleeves. And that is supposed to continue for the next few days. HOWEVER (and you always know there's a 'however'!), four days from now, the cold is expected to creep back in for several days.

Ah the joy of knowing exactly what the forecast is and how we should react to it! We can mentally begin to prepare ourselves for those upcoming days of chill. We can absolutely live up the days until then! We can live the outdoor life to it's fullest, right? Barefoot and carefree ALL THE WAY! Sleeping at night with the windows open and the springtime air floating in. We can party like it's 1999, right?...(you'd have to be over the age of 30 to understand that!).

Do we really enjoy the days before the unpleasant chill? Or do we fret over the chill moving back into our early springtime air?

I guess it depends on your perspective.

Enjoy the fun while it lasts, or worry over the time to come? Live in the moment, or stress for the future?

While it's always best to plan for the future, God definitely wants us to live in the moment...to live life to it's fullest. To set aside the temporary feelings that our sometimes misled perception can bring us, and place our life in His hands to live out according to His purpose.

Easier said than done.

That old perception steps in and tends to ruin things sometimes. Which in turn, holds us back from all God promised we could enjoy. And I struggle with that very thing...not being the perfect Christian. Not spending enough time studying His Word. Not allowing Him to fulfill me instead of those temporary fixes (like Ebay!) that will never satisfy my longings. Not that Ebay is bad...but you sure can't find "fulfillment" on those auction pages, much less bid on it!

My heart has been a little overwhelmed since I last blogged. So much has happened! Scarlett lost one of her front teeth. Two of the most precious people on this planet to me have had a birthday...with no special blog (it seems that birthdays come and go even when we don't "do" them like we thought we would!). My sweet and very funny neighbors lost their child/grandchild to SIDS. My friend's father has been diagnosed with cancer. I'm frustrated over ministry relationships. And God has been speaking to me about fulfillment and all the things we reach for in desperation (yes, and most of the time we don't realize we're desperate!) each day, to fill the spot that only He can. And I sense Him getting ready to make a change in my life.

I've lacked the energy to put it all into words!

And along with feeling guilty over not putting up the special birthday blogs, I've felt guilty for feeling like I've somehow disappointed God.

Do you ever feel that way?

I hate my feelings sometimes...because feelings LIE. And what I long for, as I'm sure you long for, is very simply...truth.

Truth!

As in...TRUTH or DARE?...how about..."To Tell the Truth" (an oldie but goodie!).

I get tired of battling my perception of how God sees me, versus what He actually tells me (about how He sees me) in His Word. Can anybody relate?!

Why isn't it enough to know that God sent His only Son to die in my place?

I think that has been a struggle my whole life. Why? Because I feel that when I'm not the perfect Christian, that God has no reason to love me and accept me...much less, to bless me. The problem with that way of thinking is...

A~I'll never be perfect
B~God's love & acceptance of me has no rhyme OR reason
C~He doesn't bless me based on my "perfect-ness"

I continually have to remind myself that when I fail Him in my time (being a time-waster), or I overeat (leave the wheat thins on the shelf!)...I'm overly irritated with these wonderful little people that He's blessed me with (my kiddies), or when I isolate myself from others (instead of taking the opportunities to be a blessing to someone else)...God isn't sitting there with a demerit list, just waiting to whack my hands with a ruler! God isn't surprised when any of us choose to do things that deviate from His daily plan for our lives! He's disappointed, but doesn't hold it against us. And He knows that ultimately, if we know Him and love Him, our pig-trail will lead us right back to His highway!

But that's a daily battle of laying down my will and asking Him to take the wheel once more. And it's not the end of the world when we get distracted...it's called...

the walk...living in the moment...with God planning our future.

And us knowing, although we might not always feel it, that we can rest in His plan...that He loves us & accepts us despite our time wasting...wheat thin eating (the Parmesan basil ones are TDF!)...irritatingly frustrating...isolated pig trail ways.

We don't have to stress out over those chilly days that are forecast to come! God knows ALL about those! And He WILL be faithful. Feelings will probably lie about that, too, but God's commitment to us is not based on feelings...it's based on His truth. We can't mess that up! We can feel like a failure all day long, but our feelings do not define God's truth! PRAISE HIM!!!

So I might feel blue over the trickle of colder days that no doubt lie ahead of our glorious warm weather! But I know that God will not pack up and move to Florida! He will not give up on me! And my feelings wouldn't jerk me around as bad if I didn't give them permission to do it. I can only help myself by using the Word that lies at my fingertips, to bring those feelings into His perspective. All the guilt in the world can't stand up against my Father!!!

And another thing...(this one's for Mark)...

God actually loves the color blue. So it can't be all that bad.