God's Word Protects Our Hearts

Over the last several weeks God has been teaching me about how important it is to be careful with my mind... Impressing upon me the need to be careful, not just for my sake, but for the sake of protecting my children's purity and innocence.   Our pastor has had several messages lately in which he has briefly touched on the fact that the world's philosophies are wrapped up in pretty little feel good packages and made to sound great, but, when it comes right down to it, go against what the Bible says.

Then a friend of mine published an article on her blog, A Moment Cherished, about protecting our children's innocence and I enjoyed some good discussions in the comment section about what it means to protect our children's minds from the evils of this world.  I was reminded of how God protects and shelters us, and how He desires us to soak up light from his Word for when we are full of light it is easy to see the darkness. 

Of course on Mother's day both our pastor, and our Sunday School teacher touched on the fact that as parents we need to make what we are trying to teach our children real in our own lives.  I was also reminded how easily it is for our hearts to be slowly pulled away from God.  It happens without us even realizing it at times... It's a slow fade...

Romans 16:17-19 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.



God is still working in my heart about how this is to be manifested in the workings of our family. For the time-being he has impressed upon me the need to really be a student of His Word, and to be very careful about what I read by mere men because it is so easy to be led astray by flattering words and feel-good philosophies.

Comfort Others Also

1 Corinthians 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

I have experienced the amazing compassion and comfort of God over and over in my life through experiences big and small.  However, there are 2  in my life that I have experienced God goodness and faithfulness like no other time.

At 32 weeks in my pregnancy with Megan I had a routine ultrasound, when the tech was finished she asked me to wait in the waiting room until she was able to talk to a doctor about the results.  I knew then that something wasn't right, after a long fretful wait the tech came out and told us that I was being admitted into the labor and delivery unit.  On the L&D floor there was a whirlwind of activity.  I was hooked up to monitors which showed I was having regular contractions, so I was then given IV medications to stop the contractions.  I was kept awake all night with being poked, prodded and tested, and all this time the doctors had yet to explain what was going on.  Finally in the early morning a doctor came into my room with a very grim expression.  He proceeded to tell me that the ultrasound had shown some abnormalities in my baby and they were concerned about her heart, her brain, and a herniated diaphragm.  If the results were accurate they said that she would only have a 50/50 chance of survival once she was born.  In those few statements my hopes and dreams and love which was so wrapped up in my little bundle growing inside me came crashing down.  Yet, despite my breaking heart, I had incredible peace knowing that God was in control of this situation.

Psalm 139:13-17

  For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

  My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them! 

I was transferred to a more specialized hospital where I spent 10 days in limbo, receiving test after test on my baby, finally to be told some amazing news.  They were wrong about the heart and herniated diaphragm, and her brain abnormality was not as severe as they had thought.  No surgery would be needed, and she would most-likely grow up perfectly 'normal'.   My little Megan was born with Dysgenesis of the Corpus Callosum.  We deal with delays in learning and some extreme distractability and hyper-activity, but for the most part she IS a normal little girl who is my miracle baby and the answer to many prayers!  God was so gracious to allow me to be her mommy!

The second time in my life that I have been the recipient of God's amazing comfort occurred less than 6 months ago.  I suffered from acute liver failure due to Wilson's disease and subsequently, received a liver transplant.   (Read my liver transplant story here.)  I was faced with the possibility of never again celebrating my babies birthdays, and not seeing my little Caleb's first steps, or sending my little ones to their first day of school.  I'm their mommy, they NEED me!  But again, God gave me peace.

Isaiah 43:1-3

  But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.

 For I am the LORD, your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 

Jeremiah 29:11
 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, 
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Common verses, yes, but through this experience they took on new meaning and were a balm to my soul.  It was a huge comfort to be reminded that God was in control of my situation, and that he was there, walking me through it.  And once again, I saw the prayers of many answered with the incredible timing in receiving my transplant, and my amazing recovery.  To look at me, or my blood test results, no one-not even a doctor would know without being told that less than 6 months ago I received a live-saving liver transplant. 

These experiences are not something I would have chosen, but I have been amazingly blessed through them. I have seen and felt God's love and protection first hand. I definitely feel that God allowed these experiences in my life for a reason and I desire to use what I have learned and experienced to somehow help others and tell them about God and how much he loves us and how good he is ALL the time no matter what our circumstances!  Yes, I still deal with after-affects of the transplant, and there are unique challenges of raising an amazing little girl with a brain defect, however God gives me strength and grace to deal with things as they come each day.  And I still believe that God is GOOD!

Revisiting Yesterday's Bible Study.

It has been a very busy Monday! After I got Megan on the bus, and dropped Kyle off at preschool, Caleb and I headed to the hospital to get my weekly blood draw. I stayed up late last night making my grocery list and getting my coupons in order so after my lab work we headed right to the grocery store. I'm trying out a new local store to see if I can save a little more money since they double coupons and offer a gas savings program. My shopping took a little longer than normal because I am unfamiliar with the store. However, I saved just over $67.00 on my grocery bill; received $6.00 in oyno (On Your Next Order) coupons, several other good product-specific coupons and now have .20 cents credit on my gas savings program. Which means next time I fill up at select stations, I scan my grocery card and will receive .20 off per gallon on a full tank of gas!!!!

I've also checked off several other chores off my list, including washing dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, and I've started the laundry. Now that I've got the boys in bed and Megan is entertained I am going to take a few minutes to review our Bible Study lesson from yesterday.

Tom and I are a part of the young couples Bible Study class at our church. It includes anyone who has been married for 10 years or less. Yesterday's study was focused on parenting, and specifically discipline. I'm sure I'm not the only mother who struggles with disciplining her children. After all, the world's idea of discipline and God's idea of discipline aren't exactly similar. I do believe that spanking is Biblical. In fact, the Bible has some pretty strong things to say about those who 'spare the rod'. Modern day parenting experts say spanking isn't loving, or spanking just teaches violence, but what does the Bible say? I know many Christians who say they believe that the Bible is the Word of God and His authority for our lives, yet don't 'believe' in spanking their children. Well, in that instance they are contradicting themselves. Here are a collection of verses that deal specifically with parenting and discipline.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! you shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. and these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

Proverbs 22:8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail.

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you spank him with a rod, he will not die. You shall spank him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his crying.

Proverbs 29:17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Being a mother is the hardest job that I've ever committed to. There are black and white and gray areas to wade through, and not just for the sake of raising children that act right, but for the sake of raising children who know and love God. There is heartache and joy; challenges and triumphs. And I can think of no other job that has shown me my own shortcomings so clearly and pushed me in my own relationship with Christ. I know without Him I am nothing, but through Christ all things are possible, including this amazingly difficult job of raising my children!

Psalm 127:1-5 (The Message Bible)
^1-2 If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn't guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It's useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don't you know he enjoys
giving rest to those he loves?

^3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows
are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don't stand a chance against you;
you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

My Banana Thiefs

Bananas are a nice healthy food, so I get a bunch every time I go shopping. Both my children like bananas, though Kyle more so than Megan. When I get a new bunch of bananas I have to watch that boy like a hawk or he's constantly up on the table stealing them out of my fruit basket. There have been days when he's managed to steal/eat as a many as 4 bananas. And as you probably assumed, the dirty diapers following are NOT pleasant.

Well, today I discovered another, unexpected banana thief in our midst. I went down to change the laundry, and since I had the house well picked up and (I thought) no food was left out that would tempt Hemi to get onto the table, I decided it would be okay to leaveHemi out of her crate while I was downstairs for a minute or two. I came back up and all was quite, but when I got closer I realized Hemi had stolen a banana from my fruit basket and had already eaten half of it, peel and all. It had never occurred to me that she might find the fruit appealing, though I guess I should have known better since she eats things far worse such as pencils, dirty socks, and her own poop. . .

Joys and Frustrations

Joy: My daughter successfully using the potty.
Frustration: My daughter peeing on the couch instead of in the potty.

Joy: My children sharing their snack with each other.
Frustration: My children biting each other as they are fighting over their snack.

Joy: My kids playing with the puppy.
Frustration: My kids torturing the puppy.

Joy: My daughter saying please and asking nicely.
Frustration: My daughter wailing please in a tantrum after I've told her no.

Joy: My children coloring precious toddler masterpieces for mommy.
Frustration: My children coloring precious toddler masterpieces on the wall.

Joy: My children playing happily in the bathtub.
Frustration: My children pooping in the bathtub.

Joy: My children learning to ride their tricycles.
Frustration: My children riding their tricycles too far away and me having to chase them down.

Joy: Taking my kids to McDonald's playland.
Frustration: Having to climb up into McDonald's playland to get the kids down because they didn't come on their own.

Joy: Getting the kids a special toy at Toys R Us.
Frustration: The kids fighting because they want the special toy the other one got.

Joy: Knitting the kids cute winter hats.
Frustration: Trying to get the kids to keep their cute winter hats on.

Most days the joys outnumber the frustrations, but some days it seems like it's just frustrating. Unfortunately today has been a frustrating day. Deciding to put Megan back in pull-ups for school, finding out that Megan bit another child again, neither child wanting what I fixed them for lunch which they normally would eat, fighting over who gets to be closest to the TV while watching Baby Einstein after lunch, then Megan peeing on the couch again. . . I finally put them down for their nap a half hour early. They have yet to fall asleep and they have been in there for a good half hour. And to top it all off, Tom said he would be late getting home tonight. *sigh*. I think maybe a nap of my own would put things in a better perspective. . .

Fun Fall Activities

This week has been filled with fun fall activities for the kids. Monday Megan's class went to a small pumpkin farm. That would have been more fun had it not been so COLD! It was the coldest morning we've had yet this fall.

On Tuesday afternoon we went to the nice big pumpkin farm with daddy and grandma. That was lots of fun. We chose to go on an afternoon because we knew they wouldn't be so busy. We looked at all the pumpkin people, and visited all the animals, then played on the wooden tractor, train and airplane. Since we were there at dinnertime we had a nice pumpkin farm dinner of cheese fries, hotdogs, and cinnamon donuts. YUM! Normally we try to eat a bit healthier but enjoying their food is all part of the fun. . .




Today is Halloween so all sorts of fun activities were planned. Megan and her classmates all dressed up in their costumes and got to trick or treat around their school building. That was fun. All the office ladies had bowls of little treats out for the kids to take. Mostly things like stickers, and toy rings, and pencils. The nurse had out bandaids which I thought was cute! LOL! After school we went right to Grandma's work, where all the ladies had goodies for the kids, and then we stayed for a pizza party lunch. The kids haven't even trick or treated for real, and we've already got a bowl full of goodies. Which, like all moms with any sense, I plan to ration.



This afternoon I also worked on raking leaves in the backyard. Such a big job, but at least this year I have a puppy and some kids who enjoy it which makes it a bit more fun...

Birthday Boy!

Today my little boy turns 2! These two years have flown! What a joyful addition he has been to our family!

Look at how he's grown!

Then:

Now:

We aren't having a big party for him, just some family. But I couldn't resist making him a cute cake anyway (I didn't realize it until after I'd used all the icing that I forgot to dot my i and cross my t in birthday. . . oops).

He loves trucks. This is the gift we got for him (just the white one, trailer and gator).

Last night as I was bringing in the groceries, I brought that in with me. Kyle got a glimpse of it an immediately said "Ooohhh. . . ". So I quickly gave it to Tom and told him to go hide it. The entire time I was putting away my groceries Kyle was searching through the bags saying "vroom vroom?" trying to find it. It was so pitifully cute! LOL! But I didn't give in. . . Unlike my mother-in-law. He found the gift she was hiding for him, so she decided to get it out and give it to him early to play with at her house, though I'm pretty sure she's still planning to wrap it up and give it to him again at his party tonight! LOL! She just couldn't bare to hear him cry when she tried to take it away from him.

Well, that's all for today. Now I've got to go work on laundry and finish getting my house ready for the party tonight.