Strong in the Lord!

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  2 Timothy 2:1

 Kyle, 3 years old

My son is growing up!  *sniff-sniff*

Kyle had a job interview this week.  I don't know how he'll manage a job and baseball, but I'm proud of him for giving it a try.  He seemed to go into the interview without even a hint of nervousness (though he could have been hiding it from his mom).  Why should he be nervous, man?!  He's one great kid!

  Kyle, 17 years old

But what I also know is this: Kyle has a confidence and determination in who God has made him to be.  He's got big things ahead as he continues to stand in God's strength and trust that He has great plans for his life.

Kyle is going to be successful when he leaves his future in God's hands.  Even if he gets this summer job or not.


Lord, all that you've created is good, and that even includes each of your children.  Thank you for fearfully and wonderfully making each of our children, giving them each such beautiful gifts and talents.  In those gifts, I see an amazing confidence and strength.  Continue to build in Alyssa and Kyle a determination that they can do anything as long as you're beside them, providing all the strength, wisdom, and peace that they need to complete their job, move forward, and excel.  Help them to always look past their fears and doubts, and depend on you to lead, guide, and provide all that they may be lacking, in order to stand firm in their callings.  Never let fear and anxiety overtake them.  May their confidence always come from you, and in the knowledge that they are your child and you are with them, loving them no matter the outcome.  I know you have great things planned for their lives, and those plans aren't for harm, but they are for good.  Oh, dear Jesus, I can't wait to see those plans unfold in their lives.  May their confidence come from knowing and following you!

 

Thankful Thursday

"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice."  1 Chronicles 16:10

 Kyle was in the newspaper! (Idaho Press Tribune, March 19, 2014)

A few little things I am rejoicing over this week!

• I love the sun and warmth, and the flowers peeking out from the earth.  Spring is on its way!
• The smell of a clean puppy.
• A surprise box of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch from a secret someone.
• A facetime call with Lyss...and my parents.
• Lunch "date" with my boys.
• Kyle hit a triple in Tuesday's COLD baseball game.
• Whoever invented a "lava seat" was a genius, and my sister the best for giving me one!
• A beautiful bouquet of flowers from my sweet hubby.

Lord, thank you for these many blessings!  I rejoice in you, my Savior, my God!  You show us your love and care in so many ways.  Thank you for being ever present in our lives.  Amen.

Mac Moment:

 This statue FREAKED him out. Funny!

 

Wordless Wednesday

photo credit

 

A Season for Wise Management

There’s an opportune time to do things, 

a right time for everything on the earth:

...A right time to plant and another to reap.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 

Kyle, March 2014

It's baseball season.  That means there is daily practices, weekend field work days, and at least 3 evening games a week.  Last night, Kyle got home from practice just in time for dinner, and announced that he had "tons" of homework this week.  So, on his one night at home this week, he locked himself away in his room to work on a 3-5 page paper and some calculus homework.  He took advantage of the time he had to squeeze in work that isn't even due until Friday.  I'm impressed.

Balancing work and play, planning ahead, and being disciplined are sometimes things others don't learn until they are adults.  I still find that its hard to always make the right choices.  I'm proud of my boy, but pray that as baseball season gets busier and busier, he can maintain his energy to do everything well.  

So far, he's my all-star player!

Lord, each day is a gift, and I pray that Alyssa and Kyle can use each minute and hour in the best ways they can.  Help them both to discern when it's best to work or play, and figure out whats expected of them ahead of time.  When it's time for them to rest, I pray that their bodies and minds are refreshed, and when it's time to work, that they do it to the best of their abilities.  Lord, in this busy season, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle do their best and are rewarded for their hard work.

Clothed Like Him

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  Colossians 3:12

Kyle (approx 2000)

A new school week is knocking on our front door.  It's Monday, and both my kids are out and about in the world, attending classes, participating in activities, and face-to-face with many kinds of people.  My prayer for Alyssa and Kyle today is that they clothe themselves with all that represents the God who made them, lives in their heart, and loves His children deeply.

And because Alyssa and Kyle are loved, they can go out and love others!

Lord, Alyssa and Kyle are your chosen children, holy and dearly loved.  So help them clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as they walk and talk with the people they cross paths with this week.  Help them to see the beauty in each person and rejoice in their differences.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle shine you in their conversations, in their attitudes, and even in their conflicts. We can show grace and love because you gift us with grace and love even when we don't deserve it.  Thank you, precious Savior, for loving your people!



 

The Best Kind of Success

As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success."  2 Chronicles 26:5

Kyle & Lyss (2000)

Every mom wants to see her children be successful.  Sometimes I ponder what Alyssa and Kyle will be like 10 or 20 years from now.  I wonder what they will be doing with their lives, what careers they will choose, or what their families will look like. 

Kyle talks more about success, than Alyssa does.  Maybe it's a man thing. He's dreamed of making it big in baseball and what he'll do with the money he makes.  When he thinks of a career, he's running down the line of who he deems "rich".  I'm glad he has ambition, but I hope that as he dreams big, he'll seek the Lord in his decisions.  Following Him, no matter the cost, will bring their greatest reward I'm sure!

I don't think of success being marked by how much money our children make, or if they live in big homes, and have lots of "toys".  In my eyes, I will see Alyssa and Kyle as successful if they are happy and following Jesus with all their heart. 

Lord, I know that you have wonderful plans for our children's lives.  Their futures hold great success, pleasure, and treasures, as they decide to seek after you.  Your Word promises that when they seek you, they will find you, and when they ask, you will answer.  I pray, Father, that Alyssa and Kyle always choose to look to you for guidance, wisdom, help in their decisions, and follow you to the ends of their earth.  Seeking after you sometimes takes work, and time, but you will never fail to show them the way you have planned for them.  Open their eyes that they see you clearly, and their hearts so that they are willing and ready to go wherever you lead.  You want to give Alyssa and Kyle the desires of their hearts, I know that full well, but I pray their hearts will always desire to seek after you.
 

Thankful Thursday

"If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection."  Psalm 63:5 (The Message)

Things I'm thankful for this week:

• Friday night was spent with both my boys, doing one of their favorite things...watching the high school state basketball semi-final games.   I didn't have to cook, and the three of us were together in one place.  Yeah!
• On Saturday, Ken and I enjoyed going to see the play "Fiddler on the Roof" at a nearby college, and watching one of the youth from our church perform.  It was a fun date, and we enjoyed singing the song "Do You Love Me" on the way home as we too, like Tevye and Golde, are soon celebrating 25 years of marriage

For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house
Given you children, milked the cow
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

 (I've done all but milk the cow...ha!)

• Kyle made the Varsity baseball team and had the first game of the season last night.  Let the baseball fun begin!  And God gave us beautiful weather for our first game. 
• Instead of giving Ken a team baseball hat for keeping score all season, the coach gave us a free season pass to get into the home games.  That's a big savings, I tell you!  God is good!
• Our Sunday night prayer time was precious and I'm blessed when I hear someone else pray for our kids.  We went into the prayer meeting just having heard a 17 year old, that Kyle has played with baseball with in years past, had died in a car accident, and the people in that room so lovingly prayed for Kyle's comfort.
• Tuesday night, Lyssa called in dire panic because she had stepped on a piece of glass.  My first thought was "She called me!" (Which just really may be what I'm thankful for!). We spent a good thirty minutes trying to keep her mind off the pain, and her threat to faint, by chatting with her about the weekend she spent with her future in-laws, while Jered tried to pull the glass out.  She did survive and she pulled the glass out all by herself.  Yeah Lyssa!

The list goes on and on!  I'm just thankful for the many ways I can see God living and active in my life, and in the life of my family.

Better is one day in your courts 

than a thousand elsewhere; 

I would rather be a doorkeeper

in the house of my God 

than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 

                      --Psalm 84:10

Lord, I have been in grateful reflection, and my heart wants to cry out to you in thanksgiving.  You are living and active in our lives, and I am overflowing with gratitude.  Thank you, Lord, for your blessing and provision.  Thank you for answering the prayers of this praying mom.  What joy it brings to see your presence and work effecting the lives of my children.  I love living in your courts, dear Jesus, and wouldn't wish to be any where else!  I love you!

 

Wordless Wednesday

  Photo Credit

 

He Alone

You've kept track of my every toss and turn
      through the sleepless nights,
   Each tear entered in your ledger,
      each ache written in your book.

--Psalm 56:8 (The Message)

Photo credit

 The Lord will comfort Israel again
      and have pity on her ruins.
   Her desert will blossom like Eden,
      her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord.
   Joy and gladness will be found there.
      Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.

--Isaiah 51:3 (NLT)

When my children were younger tears came for lots of different reasons.  They were either hungry, tired, had an injury, lost a toy, someone called them a bad name, or their sibling was doing something they didn't like.  (That probably happened more than anything!)  Most often the comfort was easy, and the tears came to a stop in short order.  Mom's arms were the perfect comfort.

Today the tears come because of bigger problems and deeper hurts, and the they can't always whisked away with a hug from mom or a chat with a friend.  This weekend an old baseball teammate of Kyle's died in a car accident.  That's big.  Death of an acquaintance, and of one so young, hits home hard.  Grief is real.  It's hard for a mom just to take away the hurt.

 

But one thing I know, I can guarantee Alyssa and Kyle that the best place for them to turn is to the great and awesome Comforter, Jesus Christ.  He alone understands every hurt, can fill every loneliness, and mend any relationship.  He can comfort like no other.

 

He alone keeps track of every one of their tears.

He alone can turn mourning into gladness.

He alone can be their refuge and shelter.

He alone.

Oh Lord, you are the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace  You are our refuge and strength, our comfort, and in control over everything in our lives.  You, Lord, kept track of Alyssa and Kyle's every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, and each of their tears are entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.  I pray that Alyssa and Kyle come to know you as their very best friend, and the one in whom they turn when they are hurting, lonely, or struggling with the circumstances of life.  May they know the comfort of feeling your tender and loving arms around them when times are hard.  You alone will turn their mourning into gladness, and make beauty from ashes.  Joy will be found in you, our Precious Savior.

 

Belated Monday Post

 

It's Hard to Say I'm Sorry

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed."  James 5:16

"An apology is the superglue of life.  It can repair about anything."  --Lynn Johnston

Saying sorry is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  It's an important lesson in life and I pray that I've taught my kids well enough.

Sorry is more than just the words.you say.
Sorry is listening and understanding.
Sorry is vital to every healthy relationship.

My kids, it's sometimes "hard to say I'm sorry", but it's always worth saying.  When you do, you show value to the other person and reflect the God who lives in you!

Lord, I pray that you soften and mold Alyssa and Kyle's hearts so that knowing when to say"sorry" becomes first nature to them.  Make them sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, dear Jesus, and have spirits that are compassionate, merciful, and forgiving.  I pray that your Spirit is always leading, guiding, prompting and healing Alyssa and Kyle's hearts.  Lord, make it easy for my dear children to say they are sorry.

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Interested in Others

"Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others."  Philippians 2:4

Alyssa, Kyle, and cousin Daria (1999)

Sometimes it's hard to think of someone else's needs, wants and desires.  Even at 45 years of age unfortunately.

Lyssa and Ken love "Finding Bigfoot" and I like the Hallmark channel.
Kyle and Ken love football, baseball, and every sport in between, but I can't say that I do.
My girl loves Qdoba's Mexican cuisine but Kyle would vote for the chinese flair of Panda Express.

Often, when the kids would have sleepovers when they were little, discussions could be heard of who wanted to do what, and who should get to pick.  Over and over again I had to have the conversation with my kids of letting our guests choose the activity of the moment, and as the host, we'd wait our turn to have a say.

Life is a lot like that sometimes.  Doing something for the benefit of someone else.  Sacrificing.  Giving.  Loving through the compromise of our own wants and desires.  Thinking of someone's need and doing what we can to help.  Our own life will be the richer for it.

I want my kids to be the kind of people who love others fully by putting the interest of someone else ahead of their own.

Lord, teach me.  And, Lord, teach our children to be interested in the lives of others.  Give them hearts of compassion, mercy, and sacrifice to the needs, wants and desires of others.  May they have hearts that reflect you, and the attitudes that you desire them to have.  Givers.  Lovers.  Others-focused.  With you, at the helm of their heart, they will be a reflection of you to those around them.

 

Follow His Steps

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.  Job 23:10-11

Another week begins.  Who knows the challenges my kids will face.  They may be little bumps in the road, or they may be huge mountains to climb.  Either way, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle rise to the occasion and face each trial with the strength God can give.  Following Him will bring peace, success, and abundant joy.

Here's to a wonderful week!

Lord, 
You know the ways Alyssa and Kyle take;
when tests come their way,
I pray that they come forth as gold.

May their feet closely follow your steps;
Keeping your ways without ever turning aside.

Amen