Thursdays Before the Throne

Proverbs 11:25

Don’t you just love it when you have only a bit of time, & you pick up a devotional, thinking, “Finally!!!! A bit of time to myself! Now, I can spend a tiny little bit of time in the Word,”

& what you read stops you up short:

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

This is so backwards of what we are taught today.

We are taught that by spending time to ourselves, we will feel refreshed.

Not according to this verse.

It seems to be saying to me that when I spend time on others, with my heart in the right place……I’ll be refreshed.

I have already had the Lord working on me in this area,

but this verse for today was no mistake, I don’t think.

What do you think, bloggging friends?

Can you think of other verses that go along w/ that idea?

My Favorites.....For Now

Easter Egg Dying.......& Memory Making

Today, my brave friend Amy had us over to dye eggs.

What makes her brave, you ask?

My three kids + her three kids=ONE BRAVE hostess, especially when three of the kids are under age two!!


One spilled cup of dye, & several near misses later……..

We loaded up kids (w/ full tummys-thank-you, Amy) & dyed eggs. But, best of all, we loaded up on memories to pack up & drag back out again next year when we do it again. (like we have every year for the past 4 or 5 years).

I am so thankful for friends that make life so much fun, & help to make traditions we have enjoyed every year.

Thanks again, Amy!

Photos of my hostess did not cooperate today, so you will have to just trust that I did not attempt to do this on my own!

Making memories are one of the best parts of having friends, don't you think?

Announcment!!!!!

My other blog, The Moderate Mind, will be up & running again either late today or early tomorrow!

I am pretty excited to start in on some of my new goals, so run over there, & help me stay accountable!

Busy Girl.......

In a matter of less than 24 hours, here is what Ruth has managed to accomplish:


~Kicked her tray of cheerios off the table while daddy was trying to put her in her chair

~Pulled the mop out of storage down on her head

~Drove her car on a book (a nice one), on the nasty, dirty dustpan, & on the open dishwasher door (while trying to climb IN the dishwasher)

~Smacked one or the other of her siblings on the head

~Picked up the kitchen trash (almost as big as she is) & tried to move it-who knows where or why, but after she moved it a few feet, she started pointing at it and happily babbling at it!

The whole time, I was watching her holding a screaming, inconsolable 7 mo old, & just PRAYING all the trash would stay IN the trash can!!!

~Tried to open Daddy’s Tums box w/ a pair of MONSTER scissors.

“Where,” you may well ask, “did she get either one of those items?”

I have NO EARTHLY IDEA……well, I guess it is safe to say, my house is far from immaculate, but……still…..I don’t THINK I left those things in her reach!!!!..

(the elements of the crime!!!)

~Found her w/ her carrying big glass of water that HAD been on the table. The chairs were all pushed in & that time, I KNOW the glass was too far for her to reach. Ana was outside, so I still have no earthly idea how she got her cute little paws on that one!!!!

~Took all the coats off of her & Ana’s coat rack, & SCREAMED at us until we put one on her. Were we going anywhere? NOPE! She just had to have it on. Inside. Well, I guess that’s a GIRL for ya!

~Finally, last night, I went into Natty’s room to plant a kiss on his soft little cheek, & promptly tripped on a toy I didn’t see. Why? I discovered the nightlight has gone AWOL. Yep. And do you know what is right next to the outlet?

The diaper trash.

Yeah, that's right......

Hmmmmm……I bet that nightlight is not coming back anytime soon-because before I remembered my suspicion this morning, I RAN the diaper trash out to the curb-in my bare feet. In the snow. Yeah……this is the CRAZIEST my life has EVER been!!! But also, the most rewarding & fun!!!

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Oh……& while this wasn’t from yesterday, it was from the day before:

While I was vacuuming, I suddenly lost power. You guessed it! She unplugged the vacuum while my back was turned. I ran over to take the plug from her, but before I could reach her, she returned it to it’s intended position-in the outlet!

The vacuum TOOK OFF!!! Flew across the floor into the wall. I sat down on the floor w/ her & laughed! Oh……life is NEVER boring w KIDS around!!!

Oh……..& one more thing (I know-I already said that at least once, but, please, give me a break-this child is funny!)

Right now, her favorite thing to say is, “Shh!!!! Shh!!! Shh!!!” She says it to Natty when he cries, airplanes she hears, the wind rattling doors…….finger over her lips.

CRACKS US UP!!!

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Finally, she (along w/ the other two) have acomplished making their parents smile nearly every moment of the day.

These treasures from our Father-I am being reminded never to resent them.

No, not even their "busy" ways.

Or when they are sick-like two of them today.

Isn't this what I have always wanted?

Yes.......& I will try to take whatever comes my way.....as part of MY training.

And use LIFE to teach us all.

(Taking sick baby boy to the dr. today. Also, Ana threw up-big-time- this morning.)

Thursdays Before the Throne

Since Ana was a baby, each night, she has listened to this CD:

When we were preparing for Ruth's visit trip, on a whim, I recorded some of it on tape, as we were bringing a tape recorder/tapes w/ our voices on them.

I know our foster mother played it for her, & I'm assuming for Natty as well, as right away, the music seemed to soothe him.

Right now, I am holding a sick baby boy (yes, again, the day after his antibiotic was gone) on my chest, while the music plays on the laptop.

Typical, for Michael Card, though, the lyrics are far from childish.

"Let me tell you of a man

Who was before the world began

Who loves you more than anyone can

Known by the name of Jesus

He was born a babe like you

And every word He spoke is true

I pray you'll come to know Him too

And live your life for Jesus

If He could cause the storm to clear,

He'll calm the tempest of your tears

If He could cause the dead to rise

At dawn He'll open up your eyes

So rest your weary head tonight

And dream of Him who is the Life

And wake up to His world of light

And sing the name of Jesus."

The Bible makes it clear in John 1, that Jesus has always exsisted.

Throughout the book of John, as well as in 3rd John, toward the end of God's Word, His love for mankind is made perfectly clear.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.' "

John 14:6

Clearly, Jesus is claiming to be TRUTH.

He, Himself has calmed the tempests of our tears in our lives, over & over again.

Our prayer for for each of our children, is that as adults, they will gratefully sing the praises of Jesus.

If you have kids, may I suggest RUN, don't WALK to get your hands on a copy of this CD!

Natty, sleeping to the music of this priceless CD!

The Market In Antigua, Guatemala........

Imagine hundreds of stalls.....literally hundreds, each person running them, just trying to make a living & feed their families.

(this doesn't even include the food market, which I have never been to)

Color everywhere......

People everywhere..........

Noises everywhere..........Spanish being spoken,

motorcycles zipping by,

fountains bubbling in quiet corners,

laughter & playing of children who spend the day in the market where their mothers are working......

How do you ever choose where to go?????

Well, you let your friend/guide show the way!! (Thank-you, Jose-I know your name needs an accent-can't figure out how to do it on my laptop!!!)

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Meandering through the market, we take everything in as we make our way to the opposite side of the artisan's section, Jose chatting w/ my sister & I about what type of things we want to take home.

Finally, we reach a stall, where the woman greets us all w/ a smile that lights up her whole face, & a mixture of English & Spanish that delights the heart of two Norte Americanas who are trying to use as much Spanish as possible.

As we visit over what things catch our eye, & barter a bit w/ the help of Jose (always watchful eyes on the two kids who can walk), she says something that THRILLS me to my core.

"Jose es mi hermano in Cristo,"

"Jose is my brother in Christ."

The smile really lights her countenance when I say,

"Somos hermanos in Cristo, tambien!"

"We are brothers/sisters in Christ, too!"

Wow! In that very moment, another stitch in the fabric of my love for Guatemala was sown.

Just like a stitch was sewn each time I visited the church there in Guatemala City.

Or, when we visit w/ Jose & his lovely wife Saskia, & hear more of their love for Jesus, & how they want to share Him w/ others, too.

Meeting other Christians there reminds me that my God is BIG.

Really Big

Big enough to provide salvation to all peoples everywhere in the world.

Does Christianity look different in Guatemala? YES!

(just like shopping looks different-no Target or Super Wal-Mart!!!)

Is "different" better or worse? NEITHER!!!

God is creative & big enough to work through the culture & languages the world over,

& just like the stall after stall in the market-no two places are alike.

Wow! I feel privilged to be a part of His work.

May I never cease to praise His name for all His mighty works!

& here are pics of the handiwork I brought home:

& for all my creative, handwork-loving friends, here is some of it up closer:

The purple bag above, Shannon spotted in the market & knew I just HAD to have!

Any other lover of this color out there know what I mean?!?!

Something for me......realised the night before we left, that I still had no clothes for myself, so I ran to the shop downstairs in the Marriott, & picked up this shirt, which has purple flowers & butterflies hand-stitched accross the neckline.

And finally, an outfit for Natty, also w/ incredible stitching.

He will wear this as a toddler, & you can see all of it in the bottom right hand side of the picture of everything all together.

What color!

What beauty!

Yes, in the fabric, but also in people-everwhere!!!

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:28 & 29