Psalm 86:15

I'm trying to do better about blogging every day. I just realized that I didn't get on at all yesterday and I'm about to head to church tonight.
So, here's my thought for today - short and sweet:
Pastor Hal used Psalm 86:15 in his sermon on Sunday and what he had to say was really good. I was reading it again this week and something totally different stood out to me.
"But you, o Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth."
Pastor Hal talked about knowing God's amazing grace and mercy. I was thinking that we are supposed to be reflections of God's character to the world. I don't know about you, but I am not always slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. I took it as a challenge from the Holy Spirit and put the verse on our refridgerator.
I am intentionally choosing to be slow to anger in the face of five-year-old rebellion and two-year-old potty training and independence issues. I am stepping forward in speaking the truth with abundant lovingkindness. I'm no there yet, but God's working on me through His amazing word. It is living and active.

Some kid cuteness

I can't figure out if Jazz is looking at me like that because she's wondering why I scrapbook such crazy things or if she's like,
"Where are all the pages of me????"













So, it's really a good thing Judah is into wrestling, Transformers, Star Wars, and good old-fashioned boy stuff.
He came in to show me this outfit he put together and said,
"Come on, Mama. It's time to exercise. I'm an exercise guy!"
Welcome back to the eighties.

I could get used to this...

Have I mentioned that I have the greatest husband ever?!?! He grilled amazing pork chops for dinner last night and then baked a cake for dessert. Yummy!



Jasmine decided to help out and provided the most hysterical moment of the evening. She walked into the kitchen and Mike said, "Hi, Sweetheart!"
Jazz glanced up and replied, "Hi, Mommy!"

I think Mike is reconsidering the apron move. :-)

Judah's Debut Performance

So, last night was Judah's very first church kids' choir performance. They did a musical called A KING IS COMING TO TOWN. All of the kids were fabulous and sooo cute!




This is Judah when the actors were talking. :-)

I'm TWO!

I'm TWO!


I'm PRETTY!


Mommy and Daddy's favorite!

Pumpkin Carving

Mike is the master carver. He plots and plans. He lays out the design on the pumpkins and assures they are the perfect size.

I clean to the chorus of "Ewww, gross!" all around me. Judah thought he wanted to try cleaning out the pumpkin this year, but his contribution was to barely hold the end of the long-handled spoon for a couple of scoops.

Jazz was fascinated with the whole process. What are these strange orange things?

I like it! I really like it!

Our masterpieces! Mike carved the ship and the Jack O'Lantern with the spider for Judah. I carved the Elmo for Jazz. Everyone was delighted.

Great is Thy Faithfulness...

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided.
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

I've been humming this song off and on all week long. Those of you that know us know that we have been between jobs for almost 3 months now. Nothing earth-shattering has happened to change that reality, but I have become so aware of the reality that my heavenly Father is more than capable of (and chooses to) take care of me. He is faithful, steadfast, unchanging AND He gives good gifts to His children (James 1:17). All I need or will ever need comes from His hand. He may send it through channels of blessing so that they may also be blessed, but He is my Source.
At the beginning of this season, Mike's mom gave us a teaching CD by a pastor in Branson, MO named Keith Moore and since then we have gotten a hold of several of his other teachings. One in particular is called Forward in Faith and can be downloaded for FREE (as can ALL of his teaching series) at his ministry website: HERE. The scripture in that teaching has just come alive for me. In fact, I think that I have never been more aware of how living and active God's word is. It seems that every time I open the Bible I see a verse that I have been reading my entire life, but somehow God opens my eyes to new depths of knowledge. The greatest part is that I know there are still untold depths to delve into. Every morning that I open God's word, new mercies I see.