Some fun in the sun.

Just a few pics from our mini-vacation down the ocean a few weeks ago….(literally, a few, only took some at the beach the 1st day.  Lame.)  Erics’ brother Ryan and his wife Janet graciously invited us down for a few days to stay with them while they were on their vacation…so we accepted and had lots of fun!  (And LOTS of ice cream!)

We had a wonderful time and the kids REALLY loved the beach and spending time with Ryan and Janet too….but let’s just say the word “vacation” takes on a different meaning when you have 3 kids 3 and under.  Riiiight.  I think Eric was sanctified just by being somewhere with sand, not to mention all of us in one bed!   Makes for good memories that’s for sure!  Thanks Ryan and Janet for inviting us to stay with you and having a lot of extra mess and people around on your vacation!

Picture update

Okay, this won’t be much of a post, but wanted to let everyone know a few things:

1. I finally added pictures from June on the pic site so if you’re one of those people who keep asking where all our pictures are…well, here ya go:
Price pics

2. We are joining the throngs of people that are pregnant right now! Well, I guess I shouldn’t say joining, but have joined. Yup, pregnant with our fourth child and due at the end of February. The Lord has surely blessed us!!! When we told the kids, they didn’t seem surprised–joyful, but not surprised. Though, Ezra told us that he only wanted a boy baby…and he’s still pretty adamant about it, so we’re praying for God to prepare his heart either way

3. Our Lila girl turned one a few weeks ago…I can’t believe it! She’s such a joy to our family, literally smiles all of the time! It’s really a testimony of an answered prayer because I remember praying that she would be a child filled with joy…how fun

That’s all I have for now….off to eat some ice cream!

a wonderful encouragement

Yes, I know that I haven’t posted in 2 months just like I said. Lameeeee-o. And really, this post has nothing to do with what’s going on in our lives as far as activities, but I thought it might be an encouragement to some.

I’m reading 2 books right now: Knowing God by J.I. Packer and The Autobiography of George Muller. Both of them I am reading quite slowly so as to apply what I’m learning to my life. I have been “slow” in my prayer life recently and due to an assignment from our care group leader that asked us to list the roles we have and goals we had this summer in regards to those roles, I decided to read these 2 books as part of my goal to grow more in communion with God and pick up my prayer life. Anyway, I wanted to post these two paragraphs from George Mullers’ book because I think that it is both convicting and encouraging at the same time. Hopefully you think so too!

These paragraphs come at the end of a chapter highlighting Mr. Mullers’ testimony and subsequent growth (or lack thereof)….

“I was growing in the faith and knowledge of Jesus, but I still preferred reading religious books instead of the Scriptures. I read tracts, missionary newsletters, sermons, and biographies of Christian people. God is the author of the Bible, and only the truth it contains will lead people to true happiness. A Christian should read this precious Book every day with earnest prayer and meditation. But like many believers, I preferred to read the works of uninspired men rather than the oracles of the living God. Consequently, I remained a spiritual baby both in knowledge and grace.

The last and most important means of growing in the Lord, prayer, was also something I greatly neglected. I prayed often and generally with sincerity. But if I had prayed more earnestly, I would have made much more rapid progress in my faith. Despite my slowness to grasp spiritual principles, however, God showed his great patience toward me and helped me to grow steadily in Him.”

First of all, who of us can’t relate to the first point in some way? Even when we are reading the Word everyday, it’s much easier to sit down with a book! But God doesn’t call us to only know about Him, He calls us to know Him. Period.

Secondly, well, it’s pretty self explanatory. All of us can agree on this point about prayer. Praise God for his patience and faithfulness to continue sanctify and show us abundant mercy!

Psalm 119: 103: ‘How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!’

Simple thoughts.

They’re popping out everywhere

So, just found out something about these two crazies:

One of them is gonna get fat.

(In a cute, baby belly kinda way)

Praise God!  Congrats Pete & Naomi!

15 things you’ve missed in 2 months. whoops.

1.  An official Marine!  Graduated, home, training, now stationed in CA.

2.  Eric trying his hand at making crepes.  Delicious!

3.  A birthday for sweet Keely.  Two.  She wants you to think she’s really this sweet.

4.  The last snowfall of the season.  Not so great for sledding…we were the only ones out there.  Brave…or lame.

5.  A wonderful, beautiful wedding.

6.  A big girl potty.

7.  Sibling bonding time.

8.  My life, as I know it, being over.  A.K.A. Crawling.

9.  Mischief.

10.  Boy time at FanFest at Camden Yards.

11.  A little crafting of Calvary for Easter.

12.  A pregnancy!  Woot Woot!

13.  Growing…

14.  Growing…

15.  Growing…

Hopefully we’ll be able to keep up the posting a bit better than every 2 months.  But, probably not.

Humpty Dumpty strikes again.

So while the kids were taking a bath tonight, Ez came out with this one:

Ezra:  (laughing hysterically at Keely)….MOMMY!  I’M CRACKING UP AT KEELY!

Me:  (laughing that my 3 y/o just used the phrase “cracking up”)  I know, you’re silly!

Ezra:  I need glue!  Get me glue!

Me:  Huh?  Glue?  Why?

Ezra:  Cause I’m CRACKING UP!!!

Genius.  Pure genius.

Wow.

So, through catching up on some blog reading while the kids are somewhat quiet in their rooms (supposedly “sleeping”), I picked up some interesting information from Tim Challies blog.  Basically Lifeway Christian Bookstores are starting to label some books in their repetoire with the phrase “Read With Discernment.”  Now, I am not a big Lifeway Books fan basically because they carry a lot of shall we say “bad” books.  Meaning, unbiblical.  So, when I read this little tidbit about them labeling books with this “Read With Discernment” phrase, I was intrigued.  Low and behold, the authors that are labeled with this phrase are none other than Rob Bell, Brian McClaren, and Donald Miller.  Go figure, right?  Praise God!  If Lifeway Books, who sell study bibles by Joyce Meyers (!!!), are putting the “Read With Discernment” phrase on these emergent guys, doesn’t that say something?

Here’s the link to WHY they’re doing this.

wow.

Hard at work.

My favorite pic of the week:

We didn’t teach him this, really.

Ezra:  “Mommy, you’re my favorite, best girl!”

Me:  “Aw, thanks Ez!  Why did you say that?”

Ezra:  “You’re my favorite, best girl because when you growed up, you’re gonna be a man.”

Growing the next generation of chauvinists right here in MD.

Plenty.

So, I just finished another book to add to my New Years Resolution list.  Yes, its taken me awhile to finish this book…but wifely duties and a good bout of the stomach flu will thwart anyones good intentions to read.  Anywho, the book is called “Plenty… One man, One Woman and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally” by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon.  Disclaimer:  I am already half obsessed with food and wanting to make all different kinds of foods organic, sustainable and local (though my living situation and budget do not allow it at this time!), so I might be a little biased.

Basically it’s a book about this couple who decide to eat only things that are locally cultivated within 100 miles of their Vancouver, BC home because of varying factors that I need not go into now.  Its very well written, humorous at times, inspiring (to those food types who are prone to question foods origins etc), and not preachy.  Very environmental-hippie-but-not-wanting-to-be-hippie kind of book.  I must say that it can be a little arduous  to get through some of the geographic explanations and histories at times, but I think part of that is because I know nothing about Canada or the Pacific Northwest in general.  The second half of the book was a fly-through.  I also liked how even though it talks some about evolution, that it gave me more of a sense of the beauty of God’s creation and provision for us.  Anyway, there you have it.  Recommended.

Why we love the age of 3.

Ezra:  “What’s that sound?”

Grammom:  “What sound?  The clock?”

Ezra:  “The clock?  Yeah, the clock.  But the hands aren’t moving.”

Grammom:  “Well, the hands move very slowly, it’s hard to see”

Ezra:  “Whats that other sound?”

Grammom:  “Uh, I don’t know.  Gilligan maybe?” (the dog)

Ezra:  “No,  not Gilligan….I think it’s the sound machine in my brains.”

MY reviews.

So since Eric has posted some reviews, I guess I must as well….

Why Were Not Emergent:  A fast read and a very good semi-in-depth view of the Emergent church and culture.  Has actually caused me to pray more for friends that I know and people in general that are hooked into an emergent church or are being led astray by the Rob Bell/Brian McClaren type of “theology”.  Not that it’s all bad about the emergent church, there are definitely some good things as well.  Recommended in general, but even more so if you are a working person (as opposed to being at home with your kids) since there are a lot of evangelistic opportunities and this seems to be a huge trend.

Uprooting Anger:  A good read, but not anything I haven’t heard or read before.  Recommended to help get to the heart of anger issues in the light of scripture.  (Though if you’ve been in our church for some time, it won’t be anything new, but nevertheless a good reminder)

Faithful Preachers:  I really enjoyed this book.  It’s three biographies  (and 3 sermons from each of the men)of three different African American preachers from the late 18th and 19th century.  A sobering look at the importance of character and education that pastors should be aspiring to with God’s grace.  It made me extremely grateful for the men that pastor our church and how they not only keep the gospel central, but also their reliance on God’s grace to help them to shepherd our congregation so as to present us without blemish before the Lord.  Highly recommended.

So far that’s it…the book I’m working on now is totally unrelated–it’s actually about food.  Go figure.

In more unrelated news, Eric comes home tonight with Nick and the rest of the family!  woo hoo!

History repeats itself

Read it.

How I wish I felt at all times.

Only in Baltimore

will you find a demonic looking angel and a beer can angel at Christmastime.

More pictures from the lights in Hampden this year:

Watch out Rob Bell!

If you want a good laugh, head on over to Naomi’s site and watch this video.

Annoyance and the old self-righteousness…ugh.

All I have to say is that as I was browsing Facebook tonight looking at old/current friends pages (that would confess a saving faith in Christ) the quote that is on the sidebar of this blog kept coming to mind:

“We are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. We tell people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that it is so. We tell them that our home is above and that all these things are transitory. Does our dwelling look like it? O to live consistent lives!” – Hudson Taylor

Hopefully, that conveys my thoughts for tonight.

the usual.

Seems as though the more I want to post, the less it happens.  So, as usual, an update is at hand.

1.  Before Thanksgiving Tracy, Allyson and Becky came over to have a day of crafty-ness.  Basically Tracy and I wanted to get our Advent calendars made and Al and Becky needed to get some stuff for CrossCurrent finalized….all while having 7 kids around.  Hence, we didn’t get everything accomplished that we wanted to.  Al and Becky graciously watched the kids while we whittled away at the Advent calendars.  (Well, while Tracy whittled away at her calendar!)  It was a good time of chatting, eating, crafting, organizing and the normal child chaos.  After 2 weeks, I finally got the main parts finished of my calendar, and I’m sure it will take me the next couple of winters to finish it.  Why?  Not because it’s a lot to do, but because unfortunately, that’s just how I roll.  There were a couple different ways we thought about going through it, and finally just settled on going through the Christmas story starting with Creation, the Fall, promises made by God and then God’s faithfulness in providing a Savior.  Last night was just a black piece of paper under the first door symbolizing before Creation (Gen 1:1-2).  Ezra’s response?  “Cool.  Can we look at this Lego book?”  Seems to be a hit here!  Anyway, here’s what I have so far:

advent calendar

2.  Our little Lila at 4 months is a whopping 14 lbs 8 oz and is still my most favorite baby.  I mean that in the way that she is the most calm and happy baby that we’ve had.  I’m allowed to say it.  Really.

3.   Thanksgiving was wonderful, of course!  Some of my immediate family came over to Eric’s family’s house, which was great!  It was really good to see my bro–first time since he moved away in August.  There were 28 people here, and though I know for some people that seems a little crazy, it’s always a good time.  A little later on in the evening we played “The Newlywed Game”….I don’t think I have to say anymore.  There was even a surprise phone call from Nick from bootcamp, so there were tears of joy all around. 

4.  Christmas shopping:  finished.  Well, almost.  Eric and I just have 2 things to get (and we already know what those things are!) and then something for each other.  I will say that this is the earliest in my lifetime that I am 90% finished shopping/making for Christmas.  Which means I’ll probably have other ideas to add which will result in an all out week-before-Christmas-scramble to “make.”  Ah well.

5.  In an effort to make ornaments that are “our own” (meaning not the ones your parents handed down to you–not that they’re bad, just want to make our own family traditions in addition to those…), I started with just a few plain old pinecones, glue, and glitter.  Now, I’m all for making a mess with my kids and not being anal about stuff everywhere when it comes to crafting with them.  But I will say that glitter should not be used by anyone under the age of 5.  Meaning, ANY of our kids.  It was a mess and kind of ugly, but fun regardless.

I’m pretty sure I will spend the next 2 weeks finding glitter EVERYWHERE.

(btw, i know blue glitter isn’t exactly Christmas-y, but that was the only other option….Ezra wanted his to be “different”–go figure)

I know this post has nothing thought provoking (does it ever??), interesting, or even funny in it, but it was just on my mind.  I apologize for the wasted time you just spent.  Ah well, maybe next time.

I’ll leave you with a couple pics of the kids because, they’re just too darn cute.

heresy

Recent “conversation” between Ezra and I:

Me:  Ez, do you remember the main verse we learned from Proverbs 1?

Ezra:  Uh, yeah Mommy!

Me:  It starts like this:  The fear of the Lord is…

Ezra:  the beginning of destruction.

 

Nice.

Obviously the verse is:  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (prov 1:7)  

 

Another conversation at lunch with all the kids:

Ezra:  Lila is my favorite baby!

Me:  That’s so sweet Ez!  Keely, is Lila YOUR favorite baby too?

Keely:  No.  Not favvvooowit baby.  No, no.

 

Ah, I can just feel the love between sisters beginning….

i cannot believe it.

News of the day:  My mom got a facebook account.

I am now the last person on earth who doesn’t have one.

books.

Yep, this post is about books.  (don’t you love how I have such creative titles of posts?  LAME.) I love books.  I grew up being the nerdy bookworm chick.  Especially in the summer.  I would read about 1 to 2 books a week in those wonderful lazy days of summer before you actually have any real responsibility.  Now, to be honest, the books I was reading I wouldn’t always endorse now being that a lot of them were mysteries and probably contained things that are questionable.  (Not always–also liked biographies, non-fiction etc. ) Unfortunately I wasn’t one to want to read the books that teachers wanted you to read–the “classics.”  Mainly out of rebellion, but that’s a different post.  Anyway, as I don’t have a lot of time to read, I usually have at least one book of the non-fiction Christian type that I go through a LOT slower so that I can try to apply God’s truth to my life.  It doesn’t always leave much room for reading that is enjoyable.  Not that the ones that stir me spiritually aren’t enjoyable, it’s just a different joy.  Maybe entertaining is more like it.  Anyway, you get the point.  So, the last two years I’ve made it a priority to read at least 3 or 4 books a year that are novels or biographies.  I know this doesn’t seem like such a great feat, but at this season in my life it’s just more practical to say 3 or 4 than 15 or 20.  This does not include the random books I get out of the library about cooking, organizing, crochet, sewing, preserving food (yeah, i’m a geek), or anything else practical.  Those will always be on my table regardless.  So, they can be Christian or not, but they can’t be of the “self-help” variety (for lack of a better, clearer term!).  Over this last year and a half I’ve read in this category: “Safely Home” by Randy Alcorn;  “Jane Eyre” by Bronte; something about Ireland (I totally forget what it’s called, but it was good!); a book on Theodore Roosevelt; half of “A Reason for God” by Tim Keller (I let someone borrow it for evangelistic purposes); and “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom.   Now, I need to be careful with how often I read these types of books because I get really caught up and can tend to desire to read them over the Bible and the other Christian books.  I am 50 pages away from finishing “The Hiding Place” and I’m already looking for a new book, so you can see how easy it is for me to devour books and at times probably shirking my responsibilities or, more often, staying up too late so I can finish “just one more” chapter.

With all of that nonsense said, I am looking for a new book to start in the next couple of weeks to read since I know that once the “holiday season” is upon us I won’t have ANY time for fun reading.    I’m thinking a biography, but I guess it depends on whom.  So what I’m asking is:  What are your top 5 favorite or most impacting books of the aforementioned category?  Suggestions are extremely helpful because then I know it’s not trash!  Post away on the comments section or on your own blogs!

More goodness.

Four years ago today I married my best friend.  God is kind.  God is good.  God is faithful.

Happy Anniversary to my hunk ‘o love!

The sky is falling!

Okay, well, not really the sky.  More like the leaves–fall is finally upon us!  I realized it today as I was finishing up a hat I crocheted for Lila…..more wool and crocheting is on my mind.  Yup, must be autumn!  So, in honor of my favorite time of the year, here are the top 10 things I’m looking forward to this autumn (in no particular order):

1.  My anniversary (Oct 9th!)

2.  Hoodies, jeans and a warm hat

3.  Hot apple cider

4.  Pumpkins–eating them and picking them

5.  COLOR

6.  Warm comfort food

7.  Hikes outside

8.  Seeing my kids faces when they start to see all of the beautiful leaves….and subsequently jumping in a pile of them

9.  Bonfires

10.  Football

Obviously a short list, the long one would be, well, long.  What are your favorites?

WELCOME FALL!

(I know,  I know, the hat is too big, but with the rate that my kids heads grow, it should fit her in the next week!)

Out and about

Since having our third child we have noticed something kind of …..well, strange about how people look at us.  (Specifically me since I’m the one usually out with them on my own)  The looks that you get range from the ‘aww, how adorable’ looks to the ‘holy moly, you’re crazy and i want to avert my gaze, but I can’t help but be shocked’ look.  The former being from older ladies (consequently the same ladies who think Ez is a girl and Keely a boy!), and the latter being from other mothers who have it all together, carrying their coach bags with rhinestone studded cell phones in hand while their 4 year old screams for the new Hannah Montana shoes.  Now, I know that 3 kids goes against the average household of 1.7 children, but I don’t really understand why it’s such a big deal when I go out.  Normally people will say “oh my gosh, how do you do it?  You must be a saint!”  To which I reply “nope, not a saint in any way, shape, or form, it’s all by the grace of God, they’re a blessing to me!”  which meets with an even more interesting look and a smirk and then them walking away.  (most of the time…I have had the occasional person either agree with me or ask me something else related to children).

Now, believe me, I do not walk around with all 3 kids saying “yes, mommy!” to me when I ask them to be quiet or hold onto the cart while walking, or even NO to yet another car or Thomas the Train.  My kids DO show their true corrupt nature while in the local Walmart at times.  I mean, no, they’re not hitting me or calling me names, but their not always obeying either.  So, the whole “saint” sentence boggles me.  But I do not recall once anyone saying the aforementioned sentence when I had 2 kids.  Does anyone else with more than 2 notice this, or is this just me?  I’m getting used to it, but quite frankly it can be pretty frustrating…not only because I now feel like there is some sort of stigma associated with having more than the normal size family (which, really, 3 kids?  Not that big of a family!), but even more so because Ezra is starting “get” what these people are saying and asks me why they say it.  The implication of what they’re saying being that kids are too much work-making them feel unimportant and a burden.

Anyone have any good thoughts or things that I could be saying to these people in front of the kids that show how much I love them?  I have some ideas, but I know that in those moments I have sometimes wanted to actually tell them what I’m thinking.  Thankfully God gives me self-control at those times and helps me to remember the verse “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (prov 15:1).

Anyway, yeah.

Oh my.

I totally see a Youth Advance skit coming out of this….