daddy's girl

Andrew & I love getting one-on-one time with the kids. We all refer to these times as daddy/mama dates. They aren't always regular or extravagant but occasionally something will pop up that is worth a little extra. Our church has an annual Father Daughter Dance & last week Andrew took Madeline. It was so unbelievably precious & I will say I may have cried a tiny bit. The dinner and dance was held at Mermaids and Madeline was so sweetly excited to go. She got a new dress and wanted me to curl her hair. She looked so beautiful. Andrew dressed up as well and Madeline picked out his Star Wars tie. Not sure when that was last worn but whatever made her happy! She smiled so big the entire time they were getting ready to leave. I wish I could've been a fly on the wall to watch their night but at the same time I am so glad they have that memory to share just the two of them. She held his hand walking in, sat close by his side, and talked and danced to her little hearts content. Andrew is such an incredible daddy and I am so so thankful to watch him with his little girl-pray for her, teach her, cherish her, and be such an amazing example to her of love.

why I am who I am...our little love story

Before I begin, let me just say, this is my story of how God changed my life. I know that it is only by the grace of God that I have been redeemed and I am so so thankful that I get to spend my life with the person who was the means through which God changed me. So here it is...

Dear Andrew,

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

When we first meet I was fourteen. I was young, insecure, searching for approval, and I at least called myself a Christian. We shared first & second period together and your locker was right above mine. We had this funny, back & forth practical joke, ask each other what time it was kind of start. I liked you immediately. Although we remained "just friends" for about two years. And I am so so thankful for those two years because I had no idea what I was doing. I'm not sure you really did either, but you knew the manual. You walked your life in line with Jesus and measured everything up with Scripture. I had no idea what I was getting into but I sure was following. Because the truth is, at that point in my life, I would have followed anyone. It scares me to think about how easily easily easily I was influenced. And humbles me beyond measure with gratitude that God put you in my path. You showed me how Truth and Grace beautifully combine in my Savior. You showed me that my identity is in Christ alone. You showed me that there is a Friend for me that is closer than any brother. And all this while we were "just friends"!

Then one night you popped the question. Or in your case, made a statement in which you did not box yourself in at all but still put the ball in my court. :) It went something like this..."I don't really want to go to prom, but I'll take you if you want. Or we can just go out." How could I resist such charm? And so we went out. Rio Bravo and Life is Beautiful. You put your arm around me and I remember thinking, don't sob on your first date. Which was hard because that movie was supremely sad! And off we went.

For the next three years we dated. Really it was a sweet progression of our friendship building and growing and deepening. It definitely wasn't always easy. We had lots of rough patches and bumps in our road but it was surely all worth it. Through those years I went from following Jesus because I saw Him in you to following Him because I learned He was with me. God showed me His love through you. Those years of dating were so defining for us but maybe even more defining for me. I am who I am because of you. Because you pointed me to Christ, prayed for me, guarded my heart, led me, loved me with patience and a love that wasn't self-serving.

Fast forward five years and I am 19. You pop the BIG question in much more eloquent fashion and I say yes. Yes to my best friend. Yes to a life I couldn't even dream about. Yes to a future certain of only one thing. We will abide in the Love of our Savior, die to ourselves, and continue on the journey together. You will never know to the fullest how thankful I am for you. Because you were (and still are) the means through which God changed my life. I've said it before, and I will say it many more times I'm sure. I am who I am because of you. You love me as Christ commands, as He loves the Church, as Scripture teaches through 1 Corinthians 13. This journey we are on is always surprising me in the best of ways and I love walking it with you.

I love you, and thank you.

my idiot driving move

I am generally a pretty good driver. Never been in a wreck or gotten a ticket. Only been pulled over once and that was in a church vehicle for expired tags. So doesn't really even count. Between Andrew & I, he is definitely more prone to pulling up to far in a parking space and hitting the parking block, rounding a corner to tight and going over a curb, missing an exit until the last second and speeding off, etc. I just don't usually make many driving booboos.

Apparently, that has ended.

My smallish booboo: A few weeks ago Andrew bought a new mower (our first ever) and put it in our very small, barely enough room for my van, one car garage. So, with kids in tow, I am trying to back out ever so carefully so I don't run over this new toy of his and instead I whack the other side of the car into the edge of the garage. Basically tore up the side view mirror and felt like a big dummy. Plus, Andrew enjoyed mocking me about it ever so (un)lovingly.

That was enough for me but no. Here is my biggish booboo that I can barely even write about but here I go: Last week I was heading to my friend's house to pick up one of her daughters to come play. She had a sick son and just came home with their second daughter from Ukraine so they were up for a little outing for their little gal. When I got to her house her driveway was full and I was trying to figure out where to park to run in and get Hazel. Looking ahead to my right I saw a flat opening opposite of their house and whipped right over. And I mean whipped. Unfortunately for me, the flat opening didn't actually begin where I thought it did. It came several feet after a giant ditch. Which yes, I whipped my van into. I get out of the van to see the back left side of my van 100% in the air. Oh my, not fun. All my kiddos are in the car, I of course have no idea what do, and sweet Ginny comes running out asking if I am okay. Thankfully, we were all fine. But instead of being a big help to her afternoon I got all my kids out, added them into her house, and proceeded to spend the next hour and a half feeling slightly numb and acting as if I've never entertained children before by zoning in and out while she graciously and amazingly put crafts together, handed out snacks, and managed to take some pics to text her husband. It was insane. Praise the Lord for my husband having a flexible job that he could come figure it all out. Which basically meant calling triple AAA and having a tow truck man come (who took pictures as well because he said he'd never seen anything like it) and pull it out.

So there you have it. Let's hope that was the end of my idiot driving moves. And no, I don't have pictures. You know I don't want that documented! And anyway I know Andrew won't let me forget it...

me and them

Just realized I hadn't posted pics in a while...I have lots of envy of iphone picture posting abilities but every time I begin the attitude about not having one I remember, I get to go to HAWAII this year. Much much better than an iphone.

happy february!

It's Febraury 1...

big yea's going on around my house because Andrew is returning home tonight!

YEA!!

child of God

With our Potter's House girls today we talked about being a child of God. Knowing & believing it in our deepest places. When the enemy attacks with doubts, lies, confusion. One of the questions asked was how do you see God as your Father? And how does my perception of myself as a child of God effect my behavior, faith, life. These are challenging question to me.

Everyday I watch my kiddos light up when they see a certain blue car pulling in our driveway. Happy squeals and the repetitive question, Mama can we go outside?, fill our house.

Their daddy is home.

And they are so excited. Barefoot babies run and waddle out the front door and into his arms. It is precious. One of my favorite parts of the day. Their daddy is full of life to them. He is safety and fun. He is good and kind. He is strong and in control. He meets their needs and they can't resist his love.

"Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." Galatians 4:1-7

What a difference our Redeemer makes! How do I see my Heavenly Father? Like a slavemaster? Or my Abba, Father? Like I am living in bondage? Or adopted and filled with the Spirit of God? I want to eagerly await Him, run to Him, get excited over Him. I long to believe more daily and turn more and more to my Heavenly Father as my daddy. There is so much life, comfort, joy, hope, and goodness wrapped up in belonging to Him. And praise the Lord that by His grace I do.

I am accepted and I am a child of God. I belong to Him. As we've been studying who we are in Christ I keep coming back to that word. Belong. I love it. This song has been playing in my house for a few months now and every time I hear it I am reminded that I no longer belong to the world, but to Christ. Because I have seen the Lord and by His love my heart has been fixed with Him.

Song: I have seen the Lord by Matthew Smith, Watch the Rising Day

Let worldly minds the world pursue, what are its charms to me?
Once I admired its trifles too, but grace has set me free
Its pleasures now no longer please, no more content afford
Far from my heart be joys like these now I have seen the Lord

As by the light of opening day the stars are all concealed
So earthly pleasures fade away when Jesus is revealed
Creatures no more divide my choice, I bid you all depart
His name and love and gracious Word have fixed my roving heart

I could bold and highlight all the words of this song because I love love it. It plays often in our car and Madeline decided it was her favorite song because she knows I like it! That makes me love it even more. :)

too good not to share

Just talked to Andrew this morning and was blown away by how incredible God is! There is so much beautiful Christ-honoring work going on in Ethiopia and we are so blessed and humbled to watch and pray and get a small part to play. They visited with a wonderful organization that is equipping and mobilizing the Ethiopian church understand God's adoption of us all and toward adoption of their own who are orphaned all around them. Yesterday, Andrew, Seth, Bryan, & Bret got to sit and eat, pray and fellowship, and rejoice with one of the 3 first ever families to legally finalize domestic adoptions in Ethiopia. Praise the Lord!