Day Thirty: January 30, 2011

Yesterday was a BUSY day! We had church in the morning - the Kids Praise sang a few songs with motions and they were absolutely precious!!! So adorable! Then Griffin (remember the boys favorite friend?) sand the offertory song and it was so sweet - he did a great job!

We joined FBC Soperton yesterday! Mike told his dad that we had 4 new people join sunday, a nice young couple with two children - then after his dad said "That's great!" he told him it was us! :) Even though it was obvious we were joining we had to make it official! So thankful to be apart of FBC Soperton! We feel so blessed!

After church I had to rush home to get cleaning done for the open house! Some of the ladies from the church made most of the food and some came early to help set up! What a blessing!!! Those ladies were so sweet to not only help set up, but help serve and clean up!!! What would I have done without them! After the evening service the church came over to see all the renovations made to the parsonage! It was so much fun and we had a packed house! We had anywhere from 60-75 folks in here and it was such a blessing!!!

So since the church had Open House - how about you guys get a peek as well :) - actually, it will have to wait a day or so. I have been sitting her attempting to do it and getting up to check on Michael every so often - he has thrown up 5 times tonight and just threw up again (6 times now). I was hoping it was something he ate, but he keeps saying his tummy hurts and then about 20 minutes later will throw up. He has slept for the past 3 hours, but woke up and threw up. So, now we are up watching Thomas the Train, drinking pediolyte (Which he may throw up, because he is telling me is tummy hurts) and it is 12:30 - pray for me tomorrow for energy, because it doesn't look like I will be going to sleep anytime soon!

I didn't take any pics from yesterday so after Mike put the boys to bed he went back in to snap a few pics for me.



#30: January 30, 2011

Day Twenty-Nine: January 29, 2011

Sorry that I didn't get to post on Saturday or Sunday! (But I do have pics for that day) So, since the original resolution was to have a pic a day, then I am still good ;)

On Saturday I spent most of the day getting stuff ready for the Open House on Sunday. I spent most of my afternoon in Dublin at Kroger and had a good "saving" trip but it was HORRIBLE trying to figure it out! There were 10,000 people in that store and as I got up to the self-checkout and had already scanned more than half my items I realized I completely messed it up and had to cancel the transaction, put everything back in my buggy and re-caculate! *Sigh* It was awful! Once I got back from Dublin we went straight over to Malissa's and had dinner with her and her sister Michelle and husband Adam. Adam and Michelle are pregnant with a girl that they are naming Olive. Michelle is such a cute pregnant woman and completely glows! She and her husband are moving in June to Kansas City where they will be ministering at IHOP (International House of Prayer). IHOP is a ministry that has a prayer room that has been going on 24/7 since 1999. Adam plays the drums and will be playing for them along with other ministries that he will be serving at! They are excited and both are very passionate about the Lord, His word, and prayer! We are very excited for them!

#29: January 29, 2011

This was taken in front of the FirePlace that Eric made in the other house. The house is complete (He has been working on flipping this house for several years) and now we are just praying that someone will buy it for what they are asking! Quickly, Lord!

I'm late

I know I am two days behind and I will just have to catch up tomorrow!

Sorry folks - but I do have pics from these two days!

Day Twenty-Eight, January 28, 2011

It's late and I am so tired. So this is going to be brief tonight.

I got MUCH accomplished on my to-do list today. We are having an Open House Sunday evening for the church to come in and see our house and the renovations that were done to it. A sunday school class is helping with food (so that is nice) and I am trying to think of some creative things that we can do. I was planning on having magnets made but never was able to find a time to get that done. I told Mike I thought it would be fun to do a trivia game of house questions. Like, "What was the sun room used for with the former pastors?" or "What color was the hall bathroom?" Stuff like that - but I think Mike thinks that may be a bit cheesy - I dunno, what do y'all think? (I had a good prize in mind for the winner if that helps any!)

But I did a lot of cleaning and re-organizing - you know the pantry and closet and drawers, you know stuff that easily gets a mess within a day or so. It felt productive and I was able to avoid sitting down too much so that was good. When I sit down for a "minute" it normally turns into an hour or more and I feel like I have wasted part of the nap time. So I was excited to stay busy today.

Tonight we were invited to a church members house for dinner. They had their son and daughter-in-law and two children join us and we had so much fun! Their granddaughters LOVED the boys and did a great job of playing with them and keeping them entertained. They even put their shoes back on them for me - what a treat! We had a great time of fellowship and look forward to more times to spend with them!

We didn't get home until past 10:30 and in the car I realized I had not taken a picture for the day! So I took my camera out and took a few in the car and then Michael told me he found his thumb and gave me a thumbs up! (they are learning what each finger is called).

#28: January 28, 2011

Day Twenty-Seven: January 27, 2011

Today was good.

I went to bed last night frustrated that I am always going to bed late - just another self-control issue to deal with :) Must go to bed early. One reason it frustrates me is that I am so doggone tired in the morning. I feel like I can't function. Second reason is that I feel so unprepared for my day when I can't wake up early. Back in Montgomery, for a while I was waking up around 5:45 to spend time with the Lord before the boys woke up. I made it a point to go to bed early so that this could happen, but after time I just couldn't get up in the morning and was getting frustrated with not waking up. A pastor's wife from another church in MGM shared at a MOPS meeting that we need not be legalistic about what time of the day we spend with the Lord but to give Him the best part of the day! So, I had decided that for me the best part of the day for me was during the boys quiet time. Each morning for an hour the boys play quietly in their pack n plays. I love this time - normally it is still clean and fresh in the house and I am awake enough to focus and spend that hour with the Lord. Well, over the past few weeks their have been more interruptions during their quiet time which means interruptions in my quiet time - and it has seemed that lately the morning time has been more of our challenging times. I just felt that I wasn't prepared in the morning to be the best mom to them that I could be.

The same pastor's wife also mentioned that we should pray when we go to bed for the Lord to wake us up if we need to get up early but to also be mindful when we need sleep. Last night I went to bed and prayed that the Lord would wake me up alert in the morning so that I could spend that time with Him before the boys woke up. And He did - I woke up, on my own - no alarm clock or kids up - at 6:15 and was able to spend some sweet time with the Lord in a quiet house before the events of the day began. I felt much more awake and prepared to being a mom to the boys this morning - our day went much better and I was able to use the boys quiet time to catch up on washing sheets, etc.

Even though I don't want to be legalistic on getting up that early in the morning to do my quiet time - I think for me and my family, that is the BEST time for it to be done. So, once again - I will join the 5 am club (or 6:15 am club) :) This time I will be praying for perseverance, diligence, alertness, and self-control to get to bed early. My family needs me to do this, I need to do this - I am just a better wife and mom if I can spend that time with the Lord before the day begins.
________________

During lunch today I made the boys some pillowcases! They LOVE their pillows and have had just some random cases that came with them. Malissa made the boys these precious blankets that have old war planes on them and I found this cute boyish fabric that also had planes and other fun boy toys on it. It wasn't a PERFECT match to the blanket but it was cute. It took no time at all to make them and I did it on the counter while the boys ate lunch and they loved watching me and kept saying "making my pillowcase!" The very firs thing they did when Mike woke them up from their nap (which had no climbing out shenanigans today) was look at their pillowcase with much excitement and say "mommy made pillowcase!"

Front


Back


With the blanket Malissa made.


Today the boys received their THIRD hair cut! :) They were starting to look a bit ragamuffinish and it was just time. The first haircut they received was done by me (With the help of a YouTube video) - they were one month shy of their second birthday:



And their second hair cut we took them to a barber shop. This one was not fun for them at all - it was a bit traumatic but ended with a cute cut. I think this one was this past September.

Do I really have to go through this?



And then today marks their third hair cut. I decided to do it again (refreshing my techniques with the YouTube video) and I have to say that I am very proud of the end product! They watched Thomas the Train while enjoying a delish lollipop, until hair got all over it (and then when I went to wash it off and give it back to them they were so excited and thought they received another Lollipop and continuously said "thank you other lollipop"). They did GREAT - no crying, no fidgeting. Michael would say "I be brave" and if I said "You are doing so good" he would reply with "yea - be brave."

This is what they have been doing lately when ever I say smile
(remember, it is their happy face)

#27: January 27, 2011

Day Twenty-Six: January 26, 2011

I love my boys. Tremendously!

But, my goodnesss - I say this out of complete joy, but they have exhausted me today. Gracious Alive!

I lay them down for nap.
I go to fix me a nice, cold glass of Dr. Pepper.
I don't hear anything. (if you remember from the previous post then you know what that means).
I walk in and lo' and behold my children are buck naked. (and yes that is the correct term - it isn't "Butt Naked" as 90% of the population believes. The phrase is Buck Naked. Just trust me on this - a few years back we had a family debate on it in which I was the only one that said it was Buck - and therefore, I was the only one that was right!)

FIVE MINUTES PEOPLE! FIVE MINUTES!!!!

So the onesie with pant method just isn't getting the job done anymore. My boys napped in footed pj's today. Michael then fell asleep rather quickly - he "gets" it most of the time. Once he has been disciplined and gets a "talkin'" to - he (most of the time) will straighten out rather quickly. But Jeremiah is just different (that is how God made them) and often will require a bit more "talkin' to's" to get the desired response. So, hour and a half later Jeremiah finally went to sleep and by that time I was exhausted!

Never would I say that we are in "terrible two's" for several reasons:

1. I don't like that phrase.
There is nothing terrible about this stage. Are there days that I am exhausted? You betcha! But that is because I have two (2) almost three year olds that are FULL of energy - way more energy then I have! This is an age where we see them develop in so many ways! They learn so many things and turn into little people! I much rather prefer the "Terrific Twos"!

2. We're not in it.
The boys are toddlers and the boys are boys. Nothing terrible about that! They are learning how to obey and how to obey right away. They are learning more about their independence and when and how is the correct way to be independent. It is not terrible - it is all apart of growing and developing. There are new challenges that come with this stage, but that is all apart of it! These are little people that we are responsible for - God has given them to us to raise to be men that love Him and want to obey Him. I find myself always saying to them "Listen to my voice and obey my words" - oh how I hope that one day they will connect that with the Lord!

3. Same reason I don't like that phrase "Double Trouble"
oh, you have no idea how many times we hear that phrase! If only I had a dime for every time!
We politely respond back with "Double Blessing!"

So. Terrible Twos? No way!
But that doesn't mean that this Momma doesn't collapse at the end of the day in exhaustion!
_________________________________
This morning we had a play date with my friend Amy and her children, Rebbeca (2) and Jose (1) and they are pregnant with their third (YAY!). Rebecca was born exactly one week after the boys. We went to college with Amy and her husband, Moises, and then we also were at seminary with them. About a year ago they moved back down in the area to plant a hispanic church. It is so nice to be close to them again.

Here is a picture of them when the boys were
two weeks old and Rebecca was one week:



Here is a picture of them when they were 2 months old:



And here are them just last month: (I think they caught up):



The boys had a great time playing and eating lunch with them today and Amy and I had a great time catching up with each other and just talking about kids and life!

This was one of their favorite things to do today -
climb in the pack n play and, well, play!

#26: January 26, 2011

Day Twenty-Five: January 25, 2011

It rained today. *sigh*

Who can agree with me that they are so ready for spring?!?



So, we stayed put today. I had high hopes of going to the park and the library today.

We played today. My favorite part of today is when we went into the living room and Michael took all his toys out of his bus and lined them up on their backs and then said "Shh Sleeping!" He then went and turned the lights off and had Jeremiah and I go to "sleep" too. I was surprised, but we all acted asleep for a full 10 minutes. It was nice and quiet :) Then Michael jumped up and said "Wake up!" and thus it was over.

Yesterday when we were at Malissa's school, she let them draw on the whiteboard - Michael drew something and then said that it was spiderman. I took a picture of it because it had a head, body, and two legs. He asked me to draw shoes on it! :) (I will try to upload that pic sometime so you can share in my joy!)

Another cute thing that he did was take all the letter magnets and he put them in a line on the fridge and very proudly exclaimed that it was a train! He's been doing that lately (lining things up), today in his quiet spot he took these stackable toys and lined them up with a little toy under each one. I love that kid!



I have been talking about emotions with the boys - happy, sad, mad, etc... We read a Thomas the Train book where one of the trains were scared. Since then they will point out when something on TV or in a book is sad, or mad. Today Jeremiah would come up to be and say "sad face" and make his face.



Then would say "happy face" and make his face.




- And then there is the issue of nap time activities that have taken place! A week or so ago, they learned the art of climbing out of their beds. And I really think it is an art to them - they are very strategic with it and very careful, especially since in the monitor you either hear one of them saying "No Brother" or "Be Careful Brother", (See they either correct each other or encourage safety). I have learned that when I hear those words to go in or if I just lay them down and it is quiet to go check on them. That was today - I laid them down for nap and didn't hear a PEEP! I thought, surely they were not that tired! So I go in there and I find Jeremiah out of his bed with his blanket, pillow, and Elmo nestled under his bed. And I find Michael without a STITCH of clothing on his body - but at least he was still in his bed.

So I disciplined them with the method that they knew would happen if those events took place. Side Story: They are not allowed to stand up in their beds and they know that they will get disciplined if they do. The other day I walk in and Michael is standing up jumping in his bed. He knows the second he sees me what he has done and what will take place and he looks right in my eyes and strains his head towards me and says "I go sleep OOOOKKKKKKK" (with "ok" being about 8 syllables. You have to see it in person, it is real cute!

Back to the story at hand: The same response from the side-story was given and normally when they know that the discipline will take place they exclaim that it is "Michael's turn" or "Jeremiah's Turn" depending on who I have. The sweet thing about today is that after I disciplined Jeremiah and talked with him he stood up put his head on my shoulder and patted my back and looked at me saying "Love Pap" (Love pat). Every single time that they CHOOSE to love on me after I have disciplined them I think on Hebrews 12:6:

"Because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."

The boys know that because we discipline them that we love them - that we are not wanting them to remain in their sin. Just like the discipline that we receive from the Lord is because He LOVES us and sanctifies us. I hope I have the same response to the Lord that Jeremiah had to me this afternoon - embracing Him quickly after being disciplined and giving Him a "Love Pap"

I love the parallels that we find in parenting to our relationship with the Lord!

So, anyways - I am sorry. I do not come on here planning to ramble on about things, but they just seem to happen that way.

Tonight before bath I decided to get the potty out again. We started potty training back in the fall, probably can't say started - we tried it for a day but then things came up that I knew we couldn't keep going for that time, and then we knew we would possibly be moving. So I decided to hold off until things settled down. We aren't starting yet, but I am re-introducing it to them. Whenever you ask them if they want to go potty in a big boy potty they say "no loottle potty" (little). So, Michael was "trying" to go potty and Jeremiah came up to him and put his hand on his back giving him a "love pap." It was too cute!

Nothing like trying to learn how to potty with the coaching/encouragement from your younger brother!



#25: January 25, 2011

Day Twenty-Four: January 24, 2011

Today I went to a Bible Study in Lyons (See post below to read about that)

After the Bible study we stopped by Malissa's school and spent some time with her in her classroom. She had an inservice work day, so there were no kids and the boys enjoyed drawing on her white board. They love Aunt Wissa and really enjoyed seeing her today (and so did I).

We got home late and so the boys took a late nap and I got dinner on late. So, when dinner was ready all three guys were watching UP and as I called them to the table Mike said "I'm kind of into this" - so the we moved the boys high chairs in the living room (With a towel under it of course to protect the carpet) and we ate dinner while watching UP. Don't Judge - you know there are nights like that.

#24: January 24, 2011

Freedom from Fear

Fear.

It entangles me.

It captures my thoughts.

It has turned into worry. Which has turned into sin (well, not turned into sin because it is a sin).

A sin in so many areas:

1.) I don't trust God. period. Now I do trust God in some areas of my life - areas that I know are good and will be ok. But I don't trust God in areas of my life that are engulfed with fear. Areas that deal mostly with health or life & death.

2.) Lack of self-control. I know that I struggle with this yet I continue to feed my fear. I feed it through "research" online. If I have a symptom I am on webmd.com - and it normally ends with me diagnosing myself with the most rare and deadly condition. I feed it through continuously reading blogs online that are people that deal with these things. Instead of just praying for them and ending at that I am constantly following several different people that have conditions and blog on their progress or lack of progress. Now the blog world is wonderful in that it can really rally people in prayer for each other. For 99% of the population they can handle this with control - for me, that isn't the case. I empathize with them and then my mind begins to go to places it doesn't need to - I think "what would I do if that happened to me?" and "what IF that happens to me" then to "I think that WILL happen to me" - It's ridiculous. We have studied about Hezekiah the past week in Isaiah. And when he was king the Assyrians were coming to attack the city. They sent a messenger to taunt them and he spoke in a "language that they would understand." Isn't that just like Satan? He taunts us in ways we understand. He knows that my main struggle is worrying over health/life and so he is constantly putting that before me - and I am constantly entertaining that.

It is something that I have struggled with for my whole life. Just ask my parents - oh GOODNESS, Just ask my parents!!! One night I woke up with stomach pains and my mom came in and pressed on my lower abdomen. I think I was 13 or so. I asked why she did that and she said to see if I had an appendicitis. And there it began. Whenever I had abdomen pain, I would convince myself that I was having an appendicitis. Even to the point where I would have to rearrange my schedule in my head to accommodate a surgery, hospital stay, etc. (Wow! I sound more ridiculous once I write it all out then I thought it was!) If I told dad that something on me hurt he would say "Well you haven't had an appendicitis in a while, it's about time."

The problem is that I have never truly addressed this issue in my life despite many talks about it with my parents has a child and with Mike has an adult.

When I think I have dealt with it in one area it just manifests itself with something else. Example: Once I "conquered" (which I really haven't conquered it - it just went from one fear to the next) the appendicitis issue, it would turn into another health issue. A co-worker from Louisville died of a heart attack in his thirties. Every time my chest hurt, I would assume I too was having a heart attack. When the boys were born I was really into reading blogs of mom's and would often stumble upon blogs of mothers that had lost their children to SIDS or other rare disorders. This entrapped me and I battled so hard trusting the Lord with my children. I would go into their rooms at night, crying, begging with the Lord to give them long life. I still ask the Lord to give them long life - I don't think that is a wrong prayer to pray. But at that time, that prayer was out of sheer FEAR and worry over their lives.

*sigh* I guess I am a mess :/

So (all this is to get to a point) this morning I went to FBC Lyons to go to a Breaking Free Bible study. I walked in thinking, I am not sure if this study will benefit me. I really don't have anything that I need to "break free" from - you see, my thoughts of needing to be broken free from something was for those that have dealt with traumatic events in the past - whether it be serious sins of addiction or abuse or betrayal. I haven't dealt with those things therefore what would I need freedom from?

Wow! Was I wrong! The teacher said that bondage is anything that prohibits us from having an abundant life in Christ. Then it hit me - like a ton of bricks. Fear as entrapped me for so long! Since I was a child! I have lived 15+ years of my life not fully trusting God with ALL areas of my life. I trust him with some, but not with all. I need freedom from this. I need to confess this sin to the Lord, accept His grace (knowing that it isn't cheap) and walk in obedience! Obedience. Trusting the Lord is an act of obedience - and I have been disobedient.

Several thoughts that I have on this issue:
- I need to take EVERY thought captive.

- I am asking the Lord to show me more of His love and for me to Love him more - with a perfect love. For "perfect love casts out fear"

- I need to trust God. period. Trust.

- I need to practice Self-Control. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Whatever is TRUE. What is true is that God is sovereign. That God is good. Before the foundation of the world He knew me. He has a plan for my life and it is a good plan and I need to trust in that.

And finally, what have I missed out on in my life by worrying about so many things? What spiritual blessings have I missed out on?

My prayer is that in this new season - new season of studying God's word (I am still studying Isaiah on my own and will be doing this corporately), new season of ministry that I will experience TRUE freedom from the bondage of fear! Not just replacing the current fear with a new one in 6 months - but complete FREEDOM!

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

Day Twenty-Three: January 23, 2011

I know this is a day (or 8 hours) late, but I just was too tired to try to do it before bed last night. So the pictures were taken yesterday - but the blog is today.

Once again, at church yesterday, the Lord blessed and convicted me through Mike's preaching. I know that I have said this before, but I am so thankful for that man! He is continuing the series on Epeshians - "A Church United."



One thing that he talked about really convicted me - it was on God's Grace. And how His grace is free to us but it cost Him his son and that often we act like it was cheap! That we sin freely and say "Well, God's going to forgive me if I ask" I vividly remember walking in our neighborhood in Hawaii when I was real little and I either was thinking this to myself or talking to my sister, but I remember asking "Why can't we live our life how we want and then just ask God to forgive us?"

Romans 6:1-2: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live it in any longer?"

It was a convicting thought for me: Do I live my life in a way that I am saying to God "Your grace is cheap!"? I pray that we will be aware of our sin and be quick to repent (turn away - not continue in it) and ask the Lord for forgiveness and not continue in sin with the thought that "well I know He will forgive." He is a gracious God - he lavishes His grace on us - it is free for us, but it cost Him his Son! May we not forget that!

______________

After church the boys had a fun time playing on our air mattress. We set it up when Deanna and Paul stayed with us and the boys LOVE playing on it. I have a super fun video on Mike wrestling with them and the boys playing with their heads under the covers, but youtube tells me it will take 4.5 hours to upload (so they will come, but not sure when) :)



After church last night we went to eat with the Roberts and the Bealls at Pizza Inn. We had fun fellowship while all the kids sat at the next table. The boys love all their kids and Danielle (remember the babysitter from here?) sat next to the boys and helped them out while we were able to eat with the adults :)




Griffen rode with us to Pizza Inn and sat inbetween the boys. They boys just loved that and then when it was time to get back in the car to go home they were very upset that he was no longer in between them.



The picture of the day comes from when the boys were playing on the air mattress in the guest bedroom. Jeremiah sat on a stool and gave such a sweet smile. I love him.

#23: January 23, 2011

Day Twenty-Two: January 22, 2011

The one thing Mema told Dean (Mike's Dad) was to not talk about her at the funeral but about the Lord. And that is just what was talked about. Now, we did talk about Mema, how could we not? She was absolutely precious! But as Dean preached the service, he spoke of how Mema, being kind, loving, unselfish, was a witness for the Lord. How all those things that we all love about Mema, was used for the Glory of God. Her life was a witness of the love of Christ. We loved her, but God loved her more! We have such hope that she is with the Lord and Dean did a great job of speaking today about that hope! Mema was so proud of her "Preacher Son" and he did a great job, through the Lord, of honoring her life.

Malissa stayed with the boys again today while Mike and I went to the funeral. We couldn't be more thankful for her! The boys absolutely love Aunt Wissa and they had a great time with her. When we came home they were in the bath and were so excited to see us! (that never gets old!) I asked Jeremiah what they did today and he says "Ummmmm Rode Wissa's car." (She took them to the park) I love how he starts it off with "Umm" Precious boys they are!

I didn't have my camera with me, but Malissa took some today while they were at the park. So the picture of the day is a picture of a picture on her camera (She forgot her cord to put it on the computer)

#22: January 22, 2011

Day Twenty-One: January 21, 2011

Today has been a long day. We went to Macon for the viewing of MeMa. It is past midnight now and we have to get up early to get ready for the funeral tomorrow. So I am going to blog about the events of today tomorrow and just leave you with the pic for the day:

#21: January 21, 2011


He was just as tired.

Day Twenty: January 20, 2011

Today we got out of the house TWICE. Twice, two, dos, 2, Times! My heart is happy :)

We woke up this morning with no plans and then the church secretary called and invited me to the Young at Heart Luncheon at church. So the boys and I joined Mike and went to the luncheon and were able to spend some great time with some of our church members! The boys had a great time and it was so nice to get out of the house and fellowship with other believers!

We then came home for nap and I spent all nap time cleaning the house. I normally keep the house picked up and clean - I just can't function if my house is a mess, but it has been awhile since I have CLEANED CLEANED it. Two reasons: 1.) We have been swamped and I feel like each day gets a way from me. I need to get back to having scheduled cleaning (I.e. Monday - wash sheets, Tuesday - bathrooms, Wednesday - Floors, etc...) This helped keep things constantly cleaned cleaned instead of just pick up. 2.) This carpet and flooring we have NEVER shows dirt! I don't feel the need to clean it b/c I never see dirt on it. I love it!

But I feel better tonight knowing that I am sitting and disinfected house :) Smells like lysol and pledge - yum!

Mikes sister and her family are here with us this weekend for Mema's viewing and funeral. Continue to pray for the family and pray for unity as decisions are being made and while each is grieving.

So, since his family was coming in I couldn't find something to make for dinner (I know, I know - all that food in there and I couldn't find a complete meal - but it just didn't happen). So after nap I took the boys with me and we went to the local Piglet! :) Surprisingly the prices weren't that bad, expect for Milk that was $4.39 - could. not. do. that. I walked out without buying milk - there is just no way! But it is a very entertaining store for the boys - there are pigs on every isle. Everyone in the store heard "PIG" everytime they saw one! They loved it!

On the way home from Piglet I stopped by the playground that is across the street from the house to let the boys play. Mike joined us on his way home from work! The boys LOVE playing on it and it felt great to be outside again! Good stuff.

And lastly (sorry this post is real random) the boys helped me make dinner tonight! I needed to crush ritz crackers for the meal and thought the boys would love to do that. So I put them in a zip lock bag and let them go at it.





They loved it until the decided that they would rather eat it then crush it.



Todays pic of the day comes from playing at the playground:

#20: January 20, 2011

Day Nineteen: January 19, 2011 (The Lord has called Mema Home)

Michael was sick today, so we didn't go to BSF today. However, over the last week I have felt that the Lord may be wanting me to not do BSF anymore. This has been tough for me because the Lord used the study of Isaiah to play a large role in turning my heart towards obedience in coming here. But I feel that was the purpose for me to be apart of BSF last year and that now the Lord wants me to spend that time doing something else. And it is a long drive (an hour and 15 minutes one way) and especially to do with the boys and in the morning (I am real sleepy in the morning). Mike hasn't been very comfortable with me making that drive each week, but has said it was fine if I really wanted to go, but knowing that he wasn't thrilled with it kept coming up in my mind. I have prayed over it and really feel at peace for not continuing it. One reason I wanted to do it was to build relationships with other moms - but what doesn't make sense to me is to drive over an hour to build relationships with other moms that live an hour away, when I can focus that time on somewhere closer to us and more in our area of ministry. There are two other Bible Studies in the area that I am going to pray about joining one of them.

Anyhow, we stayed put today and we were able to go outside for a little bit this afternoon and play. It did us all good to be in the backyard and get some fresh air.

Our picture for the day is from when Michael took all my coupon clippings and put them in the playroom. Jeremiah would roll around in them and play! They had a great time with it:

#19: January 19, 2011


_____________________________________

As I was finishing this post we received a call from Mike's brother that Mema went home to be with the Lord. We knew it was coming - she had taken a turn for the worse tonight and we were told she may not make it through the night. Despite being "prepared" tears are falling. This is the first person that I was close to in my life that has passed away and it is not easy to come to the reality that on this side of heaven we will not see her again. We rejoice with her that in this VERY moment she is seeing her Savior face to face. That in this very moment her frail body is no more and she is dancing before the Lord. That in this very moment the pain that she was stricken with is no more and she is full of life - everlasting life! That in this very moment, the Lord that she bowed her knees to on earth, she is now bowing before Him face to face. And all this is possible because before the foundation of the world God loved us. That he sent His son for us to be a redeeming sacrifice for our sin on the cross. And that Mema trusted in the Lord for her salvation and yielded her life over to Him. Have you yielded your life over to Him?

Romans 14:11
"As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

Lyrics: You Hold Me Now

On that day when I see
All that You have for me
When I see You face to face
There surrounded by Your grace

All my fear is swept away
In the light of your embrace
When Your love is all I need
And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold
In Your presence healed and whole
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

No weeping, no hurt or pain
No suffering You hold me now
You hold me now
No darkness no sick or lame
No hiding You hold me now,
You hold me now

In this life I will stand
Through my joy and my pain
Knowing there's a greater day
There's a hope that never fails

When Your name is lifted high
And forever praises rise
For the glory of Your Name
I'm believing for the day

When the wars and violence cease
All creation lives in peace
Let the songs of heaven rise to you alone

For eternity
All my heart will give
All the glory to Your name

What's making him giggle?

Day Eighteen: January 18, 2011

Today was uneventful. We stayed home and played, read books, watched Clifford, and did other around the house activities. I am so ready for it to not be cold and wet so that we can go outside - both boys are still under the weather and I live with a headache all day long from the sinus infection - I am sure fresh air would do all of us good.

Mike was gone the whole day making visits and meeting with a family for a funeral tomorrow. He didn't get home until right when dinner was ending and then he had to go out again to pick up some medicine for the boys. It is rare that the boys don't get to see him much in the day and I know they missed him. I did bathtime and then handed the reigns over to Mike and he put the boys to bed. Each night he prays individually with the boys and the past few days he as asked them who they want to pray for. Tonight Michael said "Jesus, Cristal (our old neighbor), and Noah (Chenoa, a friend from Montgomery)" When he got to Jeremiah, Jeremiah wanted to pray so Mike told him he could say the prayer and he said "Pray for Mema, Papa, Mimi, Granddaddy, I get on daddy's neck!" Just like that - no pause, nothing :) It is sweet to see that they are learning to pray and beginning to connect a few things.

The highlight of my day was bath time!



Yes, we still had the normal "I think the worse thing in the whole word is to have water on my head" routine - and Michael thought it was so much fun to pour water into elmo...



... which Jeremiah did not find it amusing (to say the least)...



(Don't mess with his elmo!)



But after bath, while we were drying off Michael kept giggling at something in the hallway! I just put my camera on "burst" setting and went with it - he was so precious!



And what was he giggling at?

This little man:




Jeremiah kept poking his head around the corner go: "boo" and it just struck a tickle with Michael. The boy couldn't contain himself!



Whether Elmo gets wet or not, they still love and enjoy each other!

#18: January 18, 2011

Thankful for that.

Jo T. McCoy, Affectionately known as Mema!

Day Seventeen: January 17, 2011

Today Mike and I drove up to Warner Robins to spend some time with Mike's grandmother, Mema. For the past year Mema has battled lung cancer. She has walked a road that has been tough and a grueling process on her body, yet in this road Mema has praised the Lord for his faithfulness in her life. For even in the midst of our despair He is still faithful and good to us.



Mema has been a special lady in my life. I first met her about a month after Mike and I started dating. We went to Macon on a date and I asked him to take me to meet his grandmother. We first stopped at a christian book store and we picked out a little table block calendar to give her as a gift. There was something about Mema and from that first time we met we just clicked - the Lord has been so sweet to me to give me such a special and sweet relationship with her. (btw, that block calendar still sits on her counter today - it brings my heart joy every time I see it!)



When Mike and I moved to seminary I received a letter from Mema. She is always so sweet in her writings talking about how proud she is of Mike and how handsome he is and how much she prays for us. So, I wrote her back telling her things that we happening in our lives in seminary. I then got a letter back and there it started. Through the next 3 years we spent in seminary we wrote letters back and forth. If it was my turn to send a letter and I hadn't done it yet the next time we would talk on the phone she was say "It's your turn!"

Every time we would come home Mike would preach at his dad's church and Mema would make the 3 hour trip to come see him - she was so proud of Mike and the Godly man he had become. She was so proud that he had obeyed God's calling in his life and followed his dad in going into full-time ministry. We cherished those mornings that she would come to hear him.



In July, Mema took a turn for the worse and was admitted into the hospital. We were told that those were going to be her final days and we made the trip to Macon to spend some time with her and speak things to her that was on our hearts. I was in a bit of a shock and didn't expect it to be happening so quickly - the Lord took me to Psalm 118:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." My heart was so thankful to the Lord that Mema knew Him! So thankful to the Lord that He is good and that He has been good to Mema - that while she was a sinner, Christ died for her and that she had accepted that gift and accepted Lord has her Savior! That despite the cancer that stricken her body, He was good. That despite that hardships she may have experienced in her life that He was good and gracious to her. And that He loved her. And that she would be able to endure His love forever - that she would be walking into eternity with the one that made her, loved her and died for her! So thankful for that!

We were able to spend that time with Mema back in July and the Lord gave us a very sweet moment with her - a moment that will be a memory in my mind that I will cherish forever. We just love that little lady so much!

After the bout in July, the Lord restored her strength and she was able to come home! We were all so thankful for that. We have visited her several times since then and I always thought she looked great! She hasn't always felt well but she always seemed to have joy (that comes from the Lord). The past few weeks, however, she has taken a turn for the worse and things don't look good. She has become weak and burdened with pain. We went up there today and was able to spend some time with her. She was tired and wasn't able to communicate much with us, but that was fine! She knows we love her immensely. When a loved one passes we tend to discuss much about their life - how they loved and respected others well. My hope is that when a loved one passes that we have no regrets about how WE loved and respected THEM well! The Lord has given us a sweet relationship with Mema - one that has been filled with joy, love, respect and true unity. So thankful for that!

Her body is failing her, but we know that the Lord never fails!
Death will not get a victory, for the victory has already been won on our behalf! So thankful that when the Lord does call Mema home that she will be Home - free from cancer, free from pain and dancing and leaping in front of the Savior!

We love Mema and continue to pray that the Lord restore health to her, and if he chooses not to, He is still good - always will be.

______________________________

Malissa kept the boys for us while we went today and then Mike had a Wild Game Supper to go to when we got home. The boys were already in bed when he made it home and he went in to check on them. I heard some commotion and when I went in there this is what I saw. He had gotten them out to play! ha!

#17: January 17, 2011