I am an absolute sucker for a good do-it-yourself craft project (see: this and this post and maybe this one, or that one).  I currently have one... two... three... maybe four... okay, WAY too many on the go at once.  But I think I need to share with you just a couple so that you can, you know, hold me accountable to actually finish one of them at some point in the future. 

By the way, have you ever checked out the Lion Brand Yarn website?  I suppose if you aren't into knitting or crocheting you wouldn't even have reason to be aware of it's existence.  I, however, have been grateful for this website on many an occasion.  After all, I have completed all of these patterns thanks to the plethora to choose from on the site.

Okay, okay... I haven't actually completed the last three.  They are under ongoing construction.  Now you know why I need a little, ahem, kick to finish.  BUT, oh my goodness, just LOOK at that baby cardigan!  With any drive it will be finished within a week or two.  Just you wait!

And... yeah, I guess waiting is all you can do right now.  Very anti-climactic, I know.

first taste

the many adventures of Sophie the giraffe

Oh, the Cuteness, you are so cute.  I have not given you enough blog time lately.  So, for your viewing enjoyment, I present "the many adventures of Sophie the Giraffe" starring Judah and Sophie.

Sophie is a tasty friend, no?

you might think it strange...

I have to be honest with you.  I have been thinking (a lot) lately about our family.  I mean, my me-joey-bebe family.  And I've been really, seriously desiring that this family would grow.

No, I'm not pregnant.  Sorry to disappoint you.  But I am seriously in love with this whole "life" thing.

When I was about seventeen years old, God gave me a special task for my life.  That's the age when teenagers are usually freaking out about rationally planning what course of action they are going to take after high school.  Even though I never really was much of a "teenager", I did not escape that pressure.  Nearly every evening I would sit down at the family computer and Google as many post-secondary options as I could think of.  Each idea I had only left me feeling lost, confused, and frustrated (and not a little distraught).  It was about that time that I published this post.  I was an overwhelmed, unstable mess at the time.  Until God spoke truth to my heart (see: aforementioned post).  Then, even though I was no where close to having made a decision, I was at peace--a peace that was not based upon my ability to know everything, but on God's sovereignty.

When asked what I wanted to do with my life one night while working at camp, I found myself smiling and saying, "all I want to do is to be a wife and a mom.  That's it."  Ummm... yeah, that did not come from me.  I had absolutely NO direction at that point.  None!  But I believe that God placed that desire in my heart.

Fast-forward to the present.  I went to college for a little under a year and worked at an inner-city rescue mission, but neither of those things became my passion in life.  What did happen is that I married the man of my dreams (at age nineteen, no less), and now I am mother to a beautiful baby boy!  God has completely enabled me to carry out His desire for my life, even to the point of ruining other plans I have made in haste.  He is so good!

All of that is to say I'm not convinced that I'm supposed to put "life" and "comfort" and "convenience" before the task to which I have been appointed.  I believe, truly believe, that I am where God wants me to be.  Now I need to obey.

Do you know what this means?  It means that Joey and I may be living, at some point in the future, literally from paycheck to paycheck.  It means that I probably will not be able to lose those XX pounds and get that 6 pack before I'm pregnant again.  It means that we might possibly be estranged from people around us who just aren't ready for the whole "family" thing.  It means we might look like fanatics.

You know what?  God absolutely delights in His children being obedient to Him.  And I'm thinking that that's going to be enough for me.

inspired by others before me

Some people get really offended at being copied (I definitely am not one of them), and some take it as a really big compliment.  This post is intended to be the latter.

of weeds

God is working here and now, and I haven't even posted about it!  Shame on me.

Three (and a half) weeks of camp have already flown by.  All I can say is that God has blessed us with amazing staff--young men and women that are seeking Him*.

and so it goes

Hello, readers.  It's been a while.

I actually have a good excuse (or two) for my absence this time.

proof of God's mercy

I promise that this will make sense

I don't even have words today, and I'm not quite sure if that's because I have been diligently studying the language of BEBE or not.  Whatever the case, my attempts to communicate my thoughts have NOT been successful as of late.  I feel like I'm being misunderstood the majority of the time,

thoughts on life

I love life.  I love seeing how my little boy is growing and changing, interacting with the world around him, and learning so many new things.  I love how every little thing is the most thrilling thing in the world.  “MOM!  You have a face!  I CAN TOUCH THAT FACE!” or “That’s right, I can clasp my hands together.  Can YOU?”

you made us your own

we were ruined in our sin
we were guilty and undone
when Your love reached down with sovereign hands
and beckoned us to come

goodnight till then

I really enjoy reading the blog of Tim Challies--you should check it out, too.  Today's post referred to a brand new (to me) musician whom I'm quickly falling in love with.  Not really.  But he is theologically accurate, and that ALWAYS wins a spot in my heart.  Take a listen!

Goodnight by Matthew Smith

awakening

It’s 3:00 am, and I’m woken up by what seems like daylight.  I sit up and glance out the window, confused as to why I’m awake when everything is so calm.  There’s no wind, no breeze—just the never abating humidity and a sickly silence.

four months ago

What on earth?!  My baby is four months old!  He’s practically grown up already.  Ok, not quite.  But, still, I can’t believe how fast he is changing.  Honestly, when did he switch from the helpless little guy that would snuggle up on my chest to the beefy little man that only snuggles when he’s feeling sick?  He loves learning new things—you can see the excitement in his eyes when he’s standing or hanging out on his tummy.  He has so much personality.  Every morning he loves to lay on his play mat and work at getting this rolling over thing down pat.  Just before he gets hungry, he always decides it’s a good time to test out his vocal chords.  I love his little squeals, squawks, coos, giggles, and sighs.  He’s quite willing to give any stranger THE BIGGEST SMILE you’ve ever seen.  But only one.  He loves blankies so much—dropping one on him warrants some serious giggles.  He is just So. Cute.  I love him so much.   Oh, my heart. 

nothing new under the sun

I found this on Herescope today…

“This year, 1837, J. T. Mitchell was appointed to the Jacksonville station, and we had a blessed revival of religion in the station, and a number were added to the Church. At one of our quarterly meetings there was a minister who was what was called a New-School minister, and he was willing to work any where. When the mourners presented themselves at the altar of prayer, he would talk to them, and exhort them to “change their purpose,” and assured them that all who changed their purpose were undoubted Christians. I plainly saw he was doing mischief, and I went immediately after him [Cartwright counseled the mourners after him], and told them [the mourners] not to depend on a change of purpose in order to become a Christian, but to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with a heart unto righteousness, and they should be saved. Thus I had to counteract the false sentiments inculcated by this New-School minister. It is very strange to me to think these educated and home-manufactured preachers do not understand the plain, Bible doctrine of the new birth better. They say man is a free agent in so far as to change his purpose, and in changing his purpose he is constituted a new creature. Thus he makes himself a Christian by his own act without the Spirit of God.”

Excerpted from Peter Cartwright, Autobiography of Peter Cartwright: The Backwoods Preacher, W.P. Strickland, Editor (Cincinnati, OH: Cranston and Curts, or New York, NY: Hunt and Eaton, 1856) 369, emphasis added.


It makes me agree with Solomon when he says in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.  IS there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.”  (ESV)

into camp we are plunged

Happy Canada day!  Yes, I have already had the opportunity to sing “O Canada” with my heart all ablaze today, thank you.  By the way, have you ever tried to refrain from singing our national anthem when a large group of people is singing it?  It feels like your committing treason or something.  Honestly, I nearly glanced around for Mounties a couple days ago when 150 camp missionaries from various camps broke out in it (quite randomly) the other day.  We’re all lemmings, I tell you. LEMMINGS.

As my title states, we are officially into the season of summer camp.  At least we’re easing into it gently, though—there are only 23 campers coming today.  They are ages five to seven, though, which is just as tiring as if they were a group of teenagers.  One word to describe the squirts: ENERGY.  I know, I know, I’m going to be living with a five-year-old soon enough.  Let me just enjoy my immobile, compliant child while he lasts, ok?

Ugh, it’s so stuffy in this house.  And the scary thing is that it feels cool in here compared to the great outdoors.  That leads me make a confession: I secretly don’t like summer, as far as weather goes.  Give me a beautiful plus 15 day with crisp air and a cool breeze over a sweltering, muggy, sticky plus 30 and I will be pleased as punch.

On a side note, my baby is supposed to be napping right now, but he’s just laying in his play pen staring up at the mobile I made him.  The poor little guy woke up three times last night absolutely distraught.  Only warm milk and a dry diaper could solve his problems.  Yeah, I’m a little tired today, but I’m more concerned for the Cuteness.  Who is not sleeping. Whose morning nap didn’t really materialize.  Who is so cute that I die of his cuteness.  Daily.

So… I’m going to take this moment to highlight a few things that have really convicted/challenged/inspired me as of late.

• Faith.  i.e. giving up job security because God says so.
• Discernment.  i.e. learning how to judge in a world that says we can’t judge.
• Leadership.  i.e. my husband’s heart for the LORD.

What am I doing with my life if not honouring God?