A Day With Debo

Yesterday  my mom came to visit or as she says, "to hug those babies," and we had such a good time.  It is much easier to go to Wal-Mart with two children when your mom is with you.  She and Ella picked out some flowers to plant, which was fun for Ella because she loves to dig in the dirt.  She got her own pink-handled trowel in her Easter basket.  


My mom is so much better than me at doing so many things, and taking care of plants and flowers is definitely one of them.  Ella has her own watering can from last summer and loves to water things, so hopefully with her help, our flowers will bloom and not die.  

Christ's Righteousness Applied to Me

I have been having one of those experiences lately where the same thing I've read in the Bible, and in a book, and heard in Sunday School are all running upon the same theme, and so I think:  "Hmm.  Perhaps I should pay close attention."

A friend and church member gave me The Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington for Christmas.  I picked it up a few weeks ago and began to read it and was much encouraged.  According to them there are two things Christians need to support every "book" on their shelf of life, and those are the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Spirit.  I found their argument for that compelling and true and so refreshing.  If you are like me, you often forget all about the Gospel in your everyday life of trying to obey God? When it does cross my mind, I think, "Wow!  This is really great and freeing news!"

When KJ returned from the Together for the Gospel conference last week he brought back 31 new books along with a free copy of the ESV Study Bible.  Since he already has one I got to keep it, and it has revived my desire to read and study (My scholarly desires have been overwhelmed lately by the constant duties of mothering.).  I am trying to read through the whole Bible again this year and am reading Romans right now, where Paul focuses so much on Christ's righteousness being ours by faith.

And then in Sunday School yesterday (and I might add that I can't even remember the last time I made it to Sunday School) KJ was teaching about the Gospel and how we are to live.  I realize how quickly I think when I have a good day, "What did I do that made this happen?" And of course I always stop myself and think, "Nothing!"  God doesn't deal out good days filled with blessings because I read the Bible that day or obeyed super-well and was perfect in patience with my 3-year-old.  No, it is all by His grace.  So, I am going to try to remember today when I do the very thing I don't want to do that I don't have to live with persistent guilt over it but go once more to the cross of Christ in my heart and remember that He paid my debt freely and that I am counted righteous in Him.

Verses On My Mind
For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing...So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  -Romans 7:15-19, 21-23


There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  -Romans 8:1


So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.  -Romans 9:16


For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believe.  -Romans 10:4


The word is near you, in your mouth an din your heart.  -Romans 10:8  (I love that passage from Deuteronomy!)

Quotes from my reading
"It's Christ's own happiness to pardon."  -Thomas Wilcox

"If we think our sin is too great to be pardoned, remember that Christ doesn't agree."  -Thomas Wilcox

"My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things:  that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior."  -John Newton

Six whole days until Sunday comes around again

Have you ever seen the Disney movie, Pollyanna?  It is one that I always enjoyed watching as a child, and it has provided our family with much enjoyment and great quotations.  The people in Pollyanna's  town hate Sundays because their pastor tries to scare them into behaving during the week with sermons about God's wrath and eternal damnation.  The chandelier trembles and the people leave church sweating every week after their preacher "sermonizes something fierce."  Pollyanna, who tries to find something to be glad about in every bad situation, can only find one thing to be glad about on Sunday, and that is that "it will be six whole days before Sunday comes around again."

That has been my attitude toward Sundays since James has been born because it is so very difficult to plan out nap times and feeding times and work everything out to get there on time (or even at all).  I'm the only person who can feed my son, and I am used to being his 24-hour caregiver at home, so it is really hard for me to put him in a position where I know he'll be tired or uncomfortable.  James is starting to stay awake for longer periods now and going longer between feedings, so it is getting easier to get out and about, but it is still hard to get out on another schedule besides our own.

The Lord was so gracious this morning, though.  I was able to get ready before James woke up, so the timing was perfect.  I was EARLY for Sunday School.  That is a really big deal, especially when you consider the fact that KJ had to be at church early, so I got the kids up and dressed all by myself.  I was very thankful to be there today.  If I get any more Sundays like this, I might actually look forward to Sundays again.

Pollyanna Quotes
Aunt Polly Harrington: He said you only have the congregation for one short hour a week. And there are six long days of mischief for them before you get them again. Reverend Ford: Ah! I see your point. Strike hard on Sunday the excessiveness of God's wrath and hope they carry it with them through the week!


Don't tell anyone.......but it's wonderful to be so rich, isn't it! 


Death comes unexpectedly!


POLLYANNA: There are eight hundred happy texts, did you know that? 
REVEREND: No, I didn't know that. 
POLLYANNA: Yes, well there are. And do you know, my father said that if God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must have wanted us to do it.


Read the book!  Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

 

Moments in Mothering

I have to share my Ella story for the day.  Perhaps I should begin at 5:30 this morning when she knocked on the wall because she was scared.   KJ went in to check on her and came back saying she had a bad dream.  A few minutes later she knocked again and told us Maleficent was in her room.  Poor girl!  It's so hard not to laugh sometimes.  For those of you who don't know, Maleficent is the pretty scary villain from Sleeping Beauty.

But my funny story from today comes from this morning when I asked Ella if she wanted to help me clean the living room.  "Yes!" she replied, "But first I need to get a stretch."  She then proceeded to do this:

Once the hamstrings and quadriceps were taken care of, she was such a great helper.  She dusted the tables in the living room and put away toys.  What a delight!

Today the kids and I met KJ at Chick-Fil-A for lunch.  "It's so happy to be together again," said sweet Ella.

A Return to Normalcy

KJ returned from his trip to Louisville last night, and it was so good to be able to see and talk to him.  I had a week's worth of stories to tell, and I'm sure I wore him out with my constant chatter.  We  didn't talk too much while he was away because the conference schedule was nonstop, and we were going nonstop here at home as well.  I thought we would be home a little bit yesterday to prepare for KJ's arrival, but  we ended up being away all day because James had his 6 month check-up, and afterwards we went to KJ's parents to pick up Ella and ended up staying through James' evening nap.  We had a fun time visiting yet again with the Kizziah clan and a portion of the Winter clan.  

James had a great appointment yesterday.  I really love his doctor, Dr. Julie Vaughn.  She is so great and relaxed and makes me feel good about following my instincts as a mother.  She is always so reassuring.  I usually go in thinking I will be scolded for something I am doing that is not "by the book," but she always says, "That's fine!"  As KJ always says, "You (not just me but people generally)  always feel better when someone in a white coat tells you it is so."  

James is 6 1/2 months old and is the same height as Ella at 9 months and the same weight Ella was at 12 months.  He is one big man!  I am so thankful for his healthy growth and vitality.  Because of my two-vessel umbilical cord, we thought he might have a low birth weight!  God is so kind.

We are looking forward to a return to normalcy today.  I have much to get caught up on at home after our week of fun.  I am so thankful that the Lord made the time of KJ's absence so much fun for us.  Ella was so easy, precious, and happy, and of course James was as well.  And one last BIG thank you to Hillary for all her help and for staying with us.  I probably would have been hearing imaginary sounds at night if she hadn't been there to keep me company.  I am looking forward to a bright day filled with God's many mercies today.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed liked the eagle's.  -Psalm 103:2, 4-5

Vacation Day

Yesterday felt like we were on vacation because we stayed so busy and had so much fun.  I also took a lot of pictures.  We went over to T's house and got to visit with Aunt Katie, John David, and Claire.  I took some fun pictures of Ella and John David.  They are both going through a stage where they don't always want to smile for the camera.  They both like to watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at T.'s house, and John David especially likes all the dwarfs, so in order to make them smile, I had them make faces to match each of the dwarfs.  Eventually we got around to Happy.

Sneezy (Ella is gearing up and John David just let out a big sneeze.)

Bashful (I think they are shrinking back into themselves.)

Dopey (He has big ears.)

Doc (He wears glasses.)

Sleepy (This was a big yawn by John David, and I think Ella was rubbing her eyes.)

Happy (no explanation needed)

Grumpy

Claire is being entertained by cousin Ella.

T and Katie graciously let me leave James there to nap, and Ella and I went with Hillary to All Fired Up.  

Ella chose to paint Snow White.

We had such a fun time, and the fun wasn't even over yet for me!  Because sweet Hillary was kind enough to agree to watch my children, I was able to go to a girls' night at Michelle Harcrow's lovely new home.  It was so refreshing and encouraging to be with such fun women of God.  I should have taken more pictures, but I was too busy talking.  I know I am so camera-happy right now, and I'm overwhelming you with pictures, but I can't help myself.

 

Ashley Scott and Michelle Harcrow

I had such a good time and stayed later than I meant to but was encouraging myself by thinking, "Hillary would have called if James got really upset."  However, I remembered on the way home that her phone does not get service at my house!  Yikes!  So, I came home a little stressed but for no reason because Hillary had it all under control.  James was already in his pajamas and happily playing in his Exersaucer, Ella was cleaning up the den, and Hillary was washing dishes.  It felt like having live-in help.  It was amazing.  All that was left for me to do was read a story, pray, brush teeth, and put to bed.  Thank you, Hillary!

Life Without KJ

Yesterday marked the first day of 4 of KJ being gone.  He is attending a conference in Louisville with his dad and several men from our church.  I am glad he is going because I know it will be a fun and refreshing time, and he will be reconnecting with several old friends from seminary days.  That being said, it was a sad good-bye at our house yesterday morning.  Ella put her head in her hands and cried and said Thursday was "a long time to wait."

We  are determined to "take every opportunity to enjoy ourselves" while he is away, though, and yesterday the enjoyment began by my purchasing a new camera.  We had decided we would be doing that soon, but when KJ took our  current camera with him to Louisville I decided I couldn't live for 4 days without one.  My children are too cute!  So we did some quick research online and discussion over the phone, and I bought a Nikon Coolpix L110.  I  posted a few pictures tonight, and am looking forward to reading the manual some more today and playing around with the video feature.  You can recored in HD!

Also, to keep us company, Hillary came over to spend the night.  She and Ella colored some pictures from UP and she also had some snuggle time with James before bed.

                                                     

Then we watched as Jack Bauer's heart was shattered again, and I learned how to change the color settings on my camera.

.                         

                          

We had a delightful morning in which I must brag on sweet Ella.  She graciously allowed me to get a little extra sleep while she watched a Shirley Temple movie in her room and drank chocolate milk.  We are excited about the day ahead.

                                            

                                            

                                                 

                                                     Going to School  :)