“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” ~ Isaiah 30:15

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” ~ Isaiah 32:17

“‘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…

I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.  I have revealed and saved and proclaimed – I, and not some foreign god among you.  You are my witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘that I am God.  Yes, and from ancient days I am he.  No one can deliver out of my hand.  When I act, who can reverse it?…

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.'” ~ Isaiah 43:1b-3a, 11-13, 18&19

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/678/

“We think we want to be on top – socially, professionally, athletically or ministerially, yet nothing breeds more insecurity.  If in our humble pursuit of God we find ourselves with a fleeting moment’s position, it’s a platform for God’s glory.  A sacred trust.  Matthew 6:33 tells us that if we give our entire lives to the pursuit of God, everything else of value will find us.” – Beth Moore

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/679/

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit Who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” ~ 1 Cor 2:12-13

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/680/

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.  ~ Prov 21:30

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/681/

Did you know there was a tsunami?!?!  I didn’t until I got in the car this morning (cause God’s making me take a break from media right now).

Oh man.  Give.  To them.  If you’re in Wichita, give to WAY FM, too.  A Christian perspective on these things is so needed. 

Let’s pray!!

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/682/

Well. This will be quite a bit of randomness. That’s alright.

First. Wow, what a fun Christmas we had! It was our first year to do Christmas eve/day with just our family. We started some new traditions including soup in bread bowls (one of these years those bread bowls will be from scratch), a spontaneous Christmas day brunch with our neighbors, picking out an animal to give from World Vision (I love how their philosophy teaches people to fish), and letting Caden pick out toys and HBA supplies for the Wichita Children’s Home. Oh my word we had such fun buying for them! And he waltzed up to the guy at the Home on Christmas Eve day and handed his bags over with such pride. I was proud too.

I’m thinking God has the Children’s Home in our family’s future. They serve kids 0-22 who need a place for a few days to a few months while waiting on court situations, foster care, etc. They also have a program for teen moms, a street outreach to runaways, and a BRIDGES program to the older ones who need to know how to live on their own and have some tough love. We fell in love there. It’s one of the ministries our church partners with locally and our neighbor spent a few weeks there when she was a teen, so we feel like we have a connection. Wonder what He has for us…we’re ready and willing to find out in the coming year.

That was long.

Anyway, He continually, continually, proves how we cannot out-give Him. We’ve been trying to be almost reckless in our financial giving and we can’t keep up with how He always keeps taking care of and blessing us. And when we’re tempted to dial it down a bit when things look tight financially in our limited view, He always provides when we trust Him.

Christmas night we drove around town as a family and were melancholy. Just all the build-up of the day being over and, frankly, we were bored! (I think we’re all extroverts.) So it cracked us up when our sermon the next day was on disappointment and how it is such a gift when it causes us to reevaluate our expectations. I’ve had my expectations reevaluated a lot the last month or so, and it has been hard to be excited about some things. But He is so faithful. My mother-in-law spoke some Truth to my heart when we went to their place the day after Christmas. She has developed such an open hand with her kids and kids-in-law, wanting us wherever He has us doing what He calls us to. Anyway, I teared up at the divine appointment our conversation was.

All that to say, I’m ending 2010 with some peace and chosen contentment I have been needing. Along with some excitement about our family’s purpose in 2011.

I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions (though as a fitness instructor I like them in how my classes explode for 5 weeks or so!), but I do have some practical goals I’d like to make a habit the first few months of 2011. One is ridiculous but needed: I want to wash my face and stinking brush my teeth every night. This is do-able! Plus, my cousin got us one of those fancy electric toothbrushes, so I’m more motivated than ever. My teeth feel so polished lately!

My last topic is how much I love my family. 2010 was a great year for us. We added our sweet, laid-back cuddler Caleb. And I can’t imagine life without him. What a gift.

I’ve been in awe at my man this year too. We’re at a good place with boundaries and are more sensitive to each other’s weak spots lately. And the scandalous amount of time he spends wrestling, playing guys with and reading to Caden is such a reflection on his character and devotion as a daddy. Daddy has always been his hero, but he’s been ratcheted up several notches this year. He definitely has helped take the sting off having that baby come and wreck his world. He even seems to enjoy his baby brother most of the time. I couldn’t be more smitten with my (very-imperfect-but-my) 3 boys.

This man-o-mine has also navigated our family through some decisions, some issues in our neighborhood, choices about schooling for us and our boy, housing decisions, financial faithfulness goals, a new grade level to teach, and our transition to a family of 4 this year. Yep, he’s our leader and I wouldn’t trade places with him. He makes the hard calls and I’m glad he knows to Whom he answers.

Happy New Year, all! Cheers to 2011.

I’m pretty sure we’ve figured out our son’s love language: Wii Mario Kart.

Within 24 hours of having that game we were looking at each other with serious worry. Uh, let’s put this away for a year so he can interact with the 3-dimensional people.

Right now a Diego video is playing but instead of watching he’s looking longingly at the Mario Kart instructional manual – because we put the whole Wii away last night for an undetermined (read: long) amount of time.

Any advice? His mom isn’t known for her moderation, either, so I’m not much help with his addictions. Hopefully empathy at withdrawl symptoms will go a long way in our relationship.

It’s been a couple fun days for a Pregnito from the planet of Pregnador (a quote from our neighbor).

Friday we went to the Nifty Nut House – Wichita’s best Candy Shop! Every person who works in there is so stankin glad to be at their job. Happiest work environment ever. We bought homemade fudge, toffee pecans, and caramels with a sign over them that said, “Best Caramels you’ll ever taste.” Dan said anyone could say that. To which I replied, “But only the best could live up to it.”

Guess what? They did.

In heaven, I was.

Yesterday morning we were incredibly productive in cleaning/organizing our garage. Including putting a bedroom set out on the front lawn to sell (it was extra and had been in our garage). Our very own impromptu white trash yard sale.

Later as a reward we got 49 [where is the cent sign on my computer?!] cent fountain drinks at Quik Trip – almost as happy as Sonic Happy Hour. Except, depending on my mood, some days it’s happier than Sonic since they serve Pepsi.

And then later still we went to a park with one of those fountains coming up out of the ground to play in. I can definitely revert to my 7-year-old self at a place like that – fat suit on and all! We also talked parenting with a fun young couple there. Parents all worry about the same things I’ve decided.

Then we grilled, including our fresh green beans in a foil packet. Yummmm.

Today was church fun and then as I was laying down for my daily nap, we got a knock at our door. Someone was finally asking about the bedroom set (yes we did leave it out all night, prepared to not be upset at all if someone stole it. That’s how much we didn’t want to haul it back in the garage…I mean, let someone have it who needs it). Anyway, this guy wanted it all! YES!

Dan starts his 4-H teaching job tomorrow – 9-noon. This will be a good way for him to be productive all morning and for Caden and me to keep up our daily routines. Then we’ll all meet up after naps and play 🙂 Good summer schedule, huh? And some extra dough toward Operation Pay For Baby Before We Have Said Baby In Our Arms (they let you do that, you know. Pre-pay on your child. Hee hee. I guess they’ll take your money at any point!)

Good times, huh? I like it.