Grand Prix!

One of the things I love about being a mom is watching my husband be a dad.  I remind my children constantly that they are incredibly blessed to have such an involved and loving father. I enjoyed watching Cody and Jerry preparing for the Awana Grand Prix and making Cody's car a masterpiece.  This was their first time participating, so they learned that next year they'll need to add some more weight to the car so it will go faster.  I was impressed with the creativity of some of these kids (and their dads)! Our small group leader was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing their car...a replica of a Wii remote!  Pretty impressive....

Hope your week is off to a great start.  Thanks for visiting!

Father of the Man

We are blessed and privileged to know a very gifted writer, Dr. Peter Colman, and he has published a book that I am currently reading.  It has been many years in the making, and so far, it has touched many lives and hearts.  If you're looking for a great read, you've found it in "Father of the Man:  A Journey Toward Reconciliation." Here is the synopsis from the back of his book:

Father of the Man portrays a young boy, standing near the threshold of a remote window in time, his eyes trained on his father's heroic ascent toward an unforeseeable anonymity.  This creative autobiography reveals a reluctant, prodigal father and his estranged New England son, who, after decades of separation, returns to offer comfort, reconciliation and redemption in a father's final hour.  At the heroic moment of descent, both father and son find uncommon strength and enduring hope in the intimacy and joyous agony of restored love.  Father of the Man belongs to every son and daughter yearning to rediscover and reaffirm their own humanity.

Peter and his wife Judy are very dear friends of ours and we are so excited for everyone to read this book.  For more information or to order your own copy, please visit www.drpetercolman.com.  The book will also be available on Amazon.com in the near future.  

More of Him. Less of Me.

This week has been very challenging for me personally, and God has been so faithful to comfort me in so many ways.  In the midst of adversity, it's so easy to allow ourselves to be beaten down by life and people, but God has been showing me some things this week that I just felt really led to share.  In that spirit, and for no other reason, I felt that perhaps somebody else needed to hear this from the Lord today too.

When I am put through the trials and fires of life, God desires that I might come out of them refined as gold (Job 23:10).  In all circumstances, God is looking for an opportunity to teach me more about Himself.  Yet, in my flesh I want to retaliate, to defend myself, to fight back when I feel I've been mistreated, misunderstood, or judged unfairly.  But God has been showing me, in very tangible ways, what Jesus meant when he commanded us to "turn the other cheek."  I have a choice. And this is the biggie:  My choice reflects what is going on in my heart and in my walk with Christ.  It impacts my testimony. Furthermore, my joy must not be dependent upon my circumstances.  Ever.  People will always disappoint, but my hope should always be in Christ and what He is doing in and through whatever adversity I might be facing. After all, He allowed it to be so.  Finally, I must remember God to be the Righteous Judge that He is (Psalm 7:8). All of us will face our Creator on judgment day, and I am going to have to give an answer for how I have lived this life. How I responded. What I said, and how I behaved.  In light of that, suddenly all these temporary trials seem so incredibly insignificant.  

His love is not a pampering love. It's a perfecting love.  

I think it's time for me to be quiet and just trust Him.  

How about you?

Oh Lord, that I might come forth as gold.  Let my testimony not be tarnished by the ugliness that lies deep within my heart.  Cleanse me, Lord.  Let these temporary trials cause me to say, "More of You, Lord, and less of me."  In Jesus' Name, amen.

Not So Long Ago

Cody had his second ever violin recital today.  He played a song called, "Long, Long Ago."  He did a great job and we're so proud of him and his progress over the last year.

It's amazing to think that just a year ago he was playing his first little song on that tiny little violin.  Now, a year letter, he's playing a bigger violin and has even grown a couple of inches.

So much has happened over the past year, and yet it hasn't been all that long ago.  

I will always remember these precious memories and how I held my breath with every stroke of his bow, and fingering of the strings.  

I will never forget how I shut off the camera before he took his big bow because I couldn't wait to cheer for him.  

I will always remember looking at the family who was sitting in front of me whose little one played the exact same song Cody played a year ago.  It was her first violin recital.

And I will remember how I fought back tears thinking of how fast this year has gone.  

And how much I am already looking forward to hearing him play again next year.

And how proud Poppop would be if he could hear him now.

Definitely Blogworthy

I never started this blog to become famous (or rich), but rather to document the lives of our family since I can't seem to get my act together enough to scrapbook.  Given what has happened to my poor sister with her recent blogsplosion (I just made that up), it's made me realize that if something happened to this blog, I have not backed up a single thing I've written here, with the exception of some posts that I've copied and sent over to a publishing friend of mine.  (He told me I should consider putting them in book form.  Maybe it's a good idea after all.)  

Anyway....my sister's predicament has inspired me to do a few things.  And soon.

I need to back up my blog, for one.  (Suggestions, anyone?  Anyone?)

Secondly, I should probably be more intentional about documenting milestones in the boys' baby books and not just do it here. After all, there is something to be said for a book that you can actually hold in your hands and turn pages.   

The reason I post tonight is to document yet another milestone in my kids' lives and in my life as a mother.  I think we've successfully potty trained Caden.  He is doing amazingly well in just three short days, and I'm so shocked at how easy this has been this time around (Cody had a tough time, but then again, I was a newbie at this whole thing and probably forced the issue more than I should have).  

I do have to say, however, that nobody is more proud of him or excited for him than his big brother.  He has done more cheerleading, clapping, hugging and encouraging than any of us. 

And because of that, I am documenting this milestone for both of them. 

Caden, I am so proud of you.  You're getting to be such a big boy.  

Way to go, buddy!

Cody, you're the best big brother to Caden.  

He's so blessed to be following in your footsteps.

Thanks for all your help this week.  

I love you both!!!