Multitude Monday

Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us.

Lauryn Hill




God has done so much for me. I pray that I may DO more out of Gratitude.



 (144) New names to add to the address book


(145) Late afternoon sun and children's laughter wafting through open back door 

 

(146) Righty tighty, lefty loosey

(147) Blooms against blue sky

(148) Planning

(149) New school books bringing excited responses

(150) Upside down masks on deceased storm troopers

(151) Thoughtful older siblings

(152) "I love you kisses." (Kurt's new way to describe how much he loves others)

 (153) Role-playing

(154)  Well-done chores

 

(155) The clear trumpet rising above a thousand praising voices

(156) Apples on our tree

(157)  Notes from little brothers

(158) Big birthdays that end in "teen"

 

(159) "Our faith - or the lack thereof - should never be the object of our faith. Christ alone should be the object of our faith."

thirteen

Thirteen years ago today two people were born - a baby and a mother. A young 22 year old mother who did not know what she was doing, but trusted the Lord did. You were a wonderful addition to our family. You were wanted and loved. And you grew into a precocious, humorous, special boy.

We gave you nicknames - Earnest (because you had a serious, earnest face) and Nicholas Pickolas Pumpernicholas (because it was fun). You loved playing outside and maps and memorizing little seemingly useless tidbits of information...just like your daddy. Your ability to know an Ankylosaurus from an Archaeopteryx and a Utahraptor from a Velociraptor at the age of four was stunning. And your ability to draw for hours on end amazed this new, green mama.


Time went by and you were suddenly the oldest of three. And we expected you to do more than you could. We were new at this, and a little overwhelmed, and you were our guinea pig. We've apologized for that before, and probably will again.

But you handled it well, maturing and growing into a strong and helpful boy.

And a funny boy.


A very funny boy.

We hit milestones - diapers came off, teeth fell out, stitches went in. And you took it all in stride. The stalwart first-born. You were a neat freak (still are) and a stickler for being on time (still are) and a sweet, deep-thinking little guy (yep, that too).

We moved often and you were a flexible helper. Really. A big helper in a little body. You loved donuts, peanut butter and jelly and making up stories.

You became good friends with your little sisters and seemed to genuinely enjoy spending time with them, playing in our big back yard. You would work so hard raking the endless, crisp fall leaves into piles so that you could all jump in them. 

Now that we have moved far away from your lifelong friends, you keep in touch with letters and phone calls. What a special thing. What a special boy. But you're not really a boy any more. You're a boy-man, on the cusp of something new and different. One foot in the child's life, one looking forward to what the Lord would have for you.

We love you, Nicholas. You have been a light in our lives, shining the love of God on us. Our prayer for you as you enter this pre-man state, is that God would grow you into a Truth-loving, God-exalting, servant-hearted man. 


Welcome to thirteen.


Love you most.


Mom

Multitude Monday

{I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton}

Onto the page spills my happiness doubled by wonder...

(126) A bench-full

(127) Luscious scents

(128) A pretty view

(129) Toblerone

(130) The visit of a faraway friend - a glimpse of home

(131) Toddlers in t-shirts and ties (he wore this all afternoon)

(132) Girl time

(133) Nose pressed against window

(134) The chatter of crows

(135) Artichokes in my garden (I have now officially grown lettuce AND artichokes!)

(136) The reward of a job well done. (Gabriel received a Bible with his name on it - just like his sister.)

(137) flower heads dancing in the rain

(138) the smell of frying bacon

(139) Promise

(140) The slanted light of morning

(141) Pizza with neighbors

(142) "Happy-Hap" in my morning coffee. (This is what Kurt calls half and half)

(143) Time with sisters in Christ

Thoughts on the Arm of the Lord

I am home from church this morning with a toddler with an offensive nose, meditating on Scripture while he watches endless episodes of Blues Clues.

As I have matured in my Christian walk and grown in my faith and knowledge of Christ I have simultaneously been more disgusted by my own sin and more sensitive to its constancy and frequency. Which, in turn, makes Holy Week all the more beautiful to me. I recently read a Scripture reference on High Calling Blogs which has me yet again contemplating the awesomeness of the Lord Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Isaiah 59:1 says,

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
       nor his ear too dull to hear.

 

What a lovely passage. What a touching insight into the good and loving character of our God. Despite my unwillingness to repent of my sin, my hatred toward God (for all who do not love God with a redeemed love hate Him), my distinct love of my own sin, He, in His infinite power and love gave me a repentant heart, gave me a love for Him, gave me a hatred toward sin in my life. His arm was not too short to save this pregnant-out-of-wedlock-full-of-pride-blasphemer-and-all-around-sinner, and it's not to short to save you. 

 

Praise God.