5 years

My beloved is mine and I am his ~Song of Solomon 2:16

We have been married for 5 years today!
There have been lots of up and downs, lots of happy and sad.  There have been times when we didn't really know what we were doing, or how we were going to get through.
But, through the grace of God, we made it!  
I'm excited to see what the next five years brings our way =)
Happy Anniversary, Derek!  I love you.

lots o wind

so there was a CRAZY windy storm last night........and it totally tore up a tree in our front yard.  I've only experienced a storm that like once, and that was in Japan. 

after the storm.....

this branch just snapped right off.  it made  a horribly load cracking noise.

this branch snapped off and blew four houses down to the neighbor's yard...

the wreckage

women's bible study

This year, I have the privilege of helping plan the ladies' bible study at our church.  We decided to study Nancy Guthrie's The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis. 

The four ladies on the planning committee decided to look through the book early, so that we can have a better grasp of what we will be facilitating.  This quote about sums up the book: "Jesus opened up Genesis and Exodus and Leviticus and Psalms and Hosea and Isaiah and all the way Malachi, showing them, 'This is who I am, this is why I came, this is the curse I came to bear, this is the mercy I came to show, I am the blessing God promised, I am the sacrifice God provided'.  Jesus didn't work his way through Genesis to point out what we must do for God, but to help us see clearly what God has done for us" (pg 20).  In this study, we'll be learning how all the old testament symbols and stories relate to Jesus.

This book is amazing.  I'm actually using it as my quiet time study.  I was pretty skeptical about it at first-because, really?  Another old testament study?  How boring or relevant is that going to be?  It has blown me out of the water!  I love Nancy Guthrie's teaching.  She uses lots of illustrations, and stories, and has an easy listening kind of writing style.

Some more quotes that I love from this book:
"Sometimes, when we think we've got Jesus all figured out, we simply can't hear or can't see that our understanding is distorted or diminished.  And sometimes we think we have Jesus figured out when really all we've done is create in our own minds the Jesus we want, the Jesus we can be comfortable with...isn't it interesting that we feel free to take so much liberty with defining who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish?"
 
"We don't want to read little bits of Scripture and take away an inspirational thought.  We don't want to pluck out Scriptures that make us feel good regardless of whether we're reading them in context.  We want to understand the big picture of what God has done and is doing in the world.  But more than that, we want our hearts to burn in recognition that this is not just a story outside of us, but a story God is accomplishing in us through Christ."

I'm excited to dig into this book!  I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will begin preparing my heart, and the hearts of the ladies' who will be studying alongside me.  I'm praying that we will grow in our knowledge of the Word and our knowledge of Christ.  I'm praying that we will deepen our love for Him through this study.

early mornings

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength" ~Isaiah 30:15

"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace" ~Psalm 29:11

"Now acquaint yourself with Him and be at peace" ~Job 22:21

Just got back from an early morning run.  I love these times of the day.  Everything is quiet.  The birds are chirping.  Not too many people stirring.  The sun is just beginning to come out. 

It's my time to pray and meditate and, most times, plan my day.  This morning, my heart and my mind were quiet.  I had good time to meditate on some scripture. 

I'm thankful for these quiet minutes-how they remind me the Lord is with me, and for me.  How much He cares for me and provides for me.  And to be reminded that He loves me.

thoughts

There's a Chris Tomlin song that's been on my heart.  It's called "Lord I need You".  The whole song speaks to my heart, but verse 2 and the bridge really stick in my mind:

Verse 2:
Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Bridge:
So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

Recently, I've been struggling with some hard emotions.  I tend to turn emotion off so I don't have to deal with the "heart issues".  I'm finding that in His grace and mercy, God doesn't want me to live like that.  So, very gently and quietly and slowly, He has been changing my heart, one hidden emotion and feeling at a time.  I don't want to let go of some things.  I'd rather let them stay in their dark crevice, gathering mold and dust bunnies and cobwebs.  I'd like to forget they're there.  Sometimes I don't want to let go of some things because I'm "not done with it yet".  The Lord is showing me that in either case, I have to let go.  I have to lay it at His feet.

That's why I love this song.  As I work through these hard emotions, this song reminds me that grace is found in the middle of sin.  God's love and mercy are found in the middle of sin.   And when I can't stand in the middle of trials and tribulations, I can lean on the Lord because He is my hope and stay.

crawdads

I have never seen a crawdad before today.  Some of our play date buddies have a creek behind their house, and we played in it for the sole purpose of finding crawdads. 

my very first crawdad!  looks kinda like a shrimp...

amanda trying to catch him for the boys

the boys thought the crawdad was awesome...and then tried to squish him with rocks

funnies

More quotes of Jaden:
on apple trees in our yard:
Me: Well, hopefully they're not crab apples.
Jaden: Well, if they are, we can just take them to gwanma and gwanpa's house.
Me: Why would we do that?
Jaden: Because then we could take them to the beach and feed them to the crabs......I guess crabs wike apples.

on talking to strangers:
Me: Oh, look!  The trash truck is getting our trash.
Jaden: I know, the trash man waved to me.  But I didn't wave or talk back because I knew I would be in twouble and I didn't want to be in twouble.

at the pool, on talking to strangers:
Me (to another lady): You have a great idea, sitting here in the water!  It sure is hot.
Lady: (laughs) It is hot.  And this way, we can stay cool.
Jaden: MOMMY!  Don't talk to strangers!  They might try to steal you!

on paper towel rolls:
Me (to Derek): Can you please throw that away?
Derek: Why?  It's a telescope.
Me: No, it's trash. 
Derek: No, it's a telescope.
*calls Jaden over*
Derek (to Jaden): Here ya go buddy.
Jaden: Oh wow!  *puts it up to his face and looks through it*
Derek: What is it, buddy?
Jaden: A telescope!