“…let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
A verse that I’ve read so many times but never did it mean so much to me as it has recently. This time of year often brings with it a time of thankfulness and testimonies of God’s goodness. Among the most mentioned blessings would have to be “church family”. It’s so easy to say/hear that because “that’s just what we do”, but there’s a fresh, deep gratitude for my church family this year.
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You are our first. You gave me the title of “mom”. But the spotlight was yours for only a short amount of time. You'll never remember a time when you had my full attention or that you didn't have to fight for space on my lap. You won’t remember a time your little brother didn’t exist and you weren’t expected to share your toys, home, room, or parents with him. You won't remember, but we will.
With each new milestone, we are learning right alongside you because all your firsts are our firsts too. You’re no longer the baby of the family, but you’ll always be my baby. So whenever your hands and feet get too cold and you need blankets and snuggles, I’ll always be here. 56 Birthdays.
37 years of marriage. 5 Kids. 6 (almost 7) grandkids. 28 days of Covid. 17 nights in the ICU. This child strolls around the house looking like a mini version of her dad. She is a daddy's girl through and through. Though many parents argue over whether their baby looks more like one parent over the other, a deeper concern should be their character.
Would you be happy if your kids acted exactly like mini versions of you? This little princess just celebrated her first Valentines Day. It is a daunting yet joyful thought that someday, if the Lord tarries His coming, she may someday find someone else she desires to spend her Valentines Days with. What reassurance to look back on our life and see the fear in that decision be covered in peace as the Lord brought about the most perfect relationship in His timing. I only hope the same for her.
For now, I strive to raise her to be who she needs to be as a godly young lady. It is only then she will be able to discern between just a christian guy and a man of God. Never have I lived in a society with such "high-class" standards of living; such expensive standards of living and harsh social divisions. Obviously there are exceptions, but as a city, there is an extreme culture shift from what I am used to.
I was introduced to this reality a few years ago. My husband and I initiated the "face the cookie" game with some kids. We had played this game so many times before with various groups of children and teens but never had I witnessed a response like I would. Upon choosing a few volunteers and then explaining the game, my husband pulled out the package of "off-brand sandwich cookies" that they would be using to play. The countenance of one of the boys preparing to play dropped in a heartbeat. It was unnerving to him that an off-brand piece of food would touch his mouth. Hysterics would continue for a minute or two. It wasn't even encouraging to him when we explained there was no need to have to eat it. After some major coaxing to play, the moment it touched his tongue, he ran to the trash can and wiped off his tongue. #FirstWorldProblems I think often we try to figure out what the Lord is doing in our lives, but that is not our job. The Lord has far greater things in mind that we could think of. We can't begin to imagine what the Lord has in mind for our lives, or what His purpose is for the paths we walk, but what we can - and should- do is be faithful. We can leave the "knowing" up to Him and we can do the "trusting." We can leave the "figuring it out" at His feet because He already has a plan.
It has become common for people who have pets to refer to themselves as “pet parents,” I'm one. #DogMom. I heard it said all the time how 'a dog prepares you for parenthood', but how closely does the relationship between people and their non-human companions mirror the parent-child relationship? Now I'm well aware that dogs and children are wildly different. On so many levels. I wouldn't leave Jae home alone for starters, you can't crate an infant, and a beggin' strip does absolutely nothing for a colicky baby. However, now after having a human child, I can say with certainty there are a lot of differences, but it is surprising which ways my dog did prepare me for being a mom.
Here are a few reasons why having a dog really does prepare you for having a child. As modern technology continues to evolve becoming more accessible and convenient, are the days of putting pen to paper and handwriting a letter becoming obsolete? With the ease of access of email, messaging, and texting (let's be honest, I have a great appreciation for text messaging... mainly because I utterly hate talking on the phone), excuses are easily made for not taking the time to write a letter. Yet simultaneously, people will say that they appreciate receiving a hand-written note.
These are our people.
They are not friends, they are family. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27.17 |
Lizzy parkerMarriage.
Motherhood. Ministry. Missions. Archives
January 2023
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