Out of the Mouths of Babes!

There is a Door of Hope

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there...as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt." Hosea 2:14-15


The valley of Achor is a physical location but it offers us a wonderful spiritual lesson. Achor means trouble and disturbance. Do we trust that all these tribulations are destined to produce joyful confidence and eternal hope? Will we follow Him into the wilderness knowing that our only door of hope is a door of troubles and tribulations?

I see a bridal army that has been resuscitated by the Breath of God after receiving the kiss of life within their inner man. As we worship Him, warfare is taking place in the spirit. I see the silver sparkle of a sword as it swirls around the dance floor breaking through the opposition.

Worship is not your typical warfare, but it is an effective strategy and one the devil is hell-bent on destroying. I'm not talking about turning on some music. By definition, worship means to bow down, to prostrate oneself before a superior in homage. Worship is a weapon that has the power to change the atmosphere from hopeless to hopeful.

The above are excerpts from a word of God written by Tiffany Ann Lewis and posted to the Elijah List.

You can go and read the entire word if you like, but these were the parts that God highlighted to me...they have me thinking and looking a little more closely at this seemingly lengthy season of troubles and tribulations, (both personally and globally).

Sometimes, we can only see what we are going through as it seems on the surface...tiring, difficult even hopeless.

We often don't see what God is doing in us as we go THROUGH, (we go through these things, they are not us or our dwelling place) our personal wildernesses.

What we don't see, is what God is doing, not only in us, but through us as we bow down to Him and trust in Him worshipfully.

The Spiritual weapon we are becoming through this refinement.

These words and thoughts are a great encouragement to me today.

Hope some of you, find them to be as well!

Learning Independence

My mom used to say she couldn't boil water when she got married, and was determined to teach us all how to cook and fend for ourselves.

I made my first cake by myself when I was 8, and tackled a "Blitz Torte" by 10.

I guess my mom's ideas about teaching independence live on in my own parenting.

I have had a lot of fun with my kids in the kitchen, (and many others as well, try making mini gingerbread houses with 5 kids 2 and under!)

This morning, I woke up rather hungry, but really not knowing what I wanted.

Maria and I came up with the idea of  scrambled eggs with left over ham and green onion mixed in, topped with shredded cheese.

Maria prepared,  cooked and served these for me all by herself.

They were very yummy!!! Oh! She also

 made me my tea...perfectly.

Miss Jianna, did not think the ham mixed in would be very good, and proceeded to cook up her own version, sans ham.

Especially with Jianna, I offer my assistance, but the girls love to do this by themselves.

Jianna did need help remembering which knob went with which burner, but I know adults who struggle with this!

As she was nearing completion, she called out to me:

"Mom, I need your help to get me a plate, but do me a favor, and don't look at the mess!

Unless, you want to help me clean it up, then you can look at it."

It really is amazing how shredding a small amount of cheese can cover one whole side of my kitchen!

As she finished cooking, I helped her clean up and praised her for being able to do such a great job...(actually, both Maria and I have been known to have Jianna make our eggs, because she really does do the best job in the house).

Jianna pipes up once again, "I wish you'd teach me how to REALLY cook, so I don't have to survive on eggs and toast in university!"

I assured her, that between 6 and university, there was lots of time to learn to make lots of meals, she would not starve.

We also made plans for her to go to a culinary college as she declared she wanted to be a chef in a restaurant when she grows up...that may just be her calling too, the way that kid thinks of and enjoys food!

Safe...

Little One

You came into my life only a few short weeks ago.

I prayed for you from the moment I suspected you existed.

So many others have prayed and done battle for you.

I hope you know that you have changed me...forever.

I lay awake at night thinking, worrying, dreaming and praying for you and for all those who's lives you touched and changed.

I hope you know that you were truly loved here on earth.

I hope you know you WERE chosen, first by God...and by so many who wish it had been their choice. I wish you had been my choice.

My head knew a week ago that it was likely your time here on earth would be short....far, far too short...but my heart never really gave up.

I had a dream about your mommy Tuesday night...she told me "you were fine"...I was so happy to hear that in the dream, but I was still so worried about your mommy.

By the time I had my dream, you really were fine....safe in the hands of Jesus for a full day.

I know that you are happy and safe in Heaven, I believe I will get to meet you there one day...

But right now, my heart grieves and aches as if you truly were my own.

I am a little taken back by the strength of this grief...I hope you know that you are grieved and that although your mommy is happy to "be back to normal" after the "surgery", she just does not fully understand. I worry about your mommy and I will do my best to be there for her and to watch over her. 

To help her start making really good choices.

I hope you know that I miss you very much, and I grieve what could have been for you.

Your introduction to my life has been one of the toughest experiences of my life and certainly the toughest of my job...but even in the pain, I am so glad you and your mommy came into my life.

You were a blessing "Little Baby C"

Just a Little Weary

It's been a really long and trying week...

So much in my heart 

I have not been able to locate "Little Mommy" at school in  a week...

that is not a good sign

My heart aches, but I can't give up hope until we talk again

Holly, Shaun and I had chatted about this at Hip Hop on Thursday eve.

On the way home afterwards, I stopped at a light

You'll never guess who walked in front of my vehicle...

Little Mommy and Boyfriend

I am realizing that God can cause our paths to cross anywhere, any time

 and am waiting on Him...

But it's been hard

Also had quite a run in with a "tough guy" at school this week

I hate being the Meany Hall Monitor...I REALLY hate it!

I know I am fair...yet it doesn't feel like it when the kids don't see it that way.

He won't talk to me right now, but I have prayed for him and He smiled and chuckled as he refused to talk to me towards the end of the week.

I think he'll come around.

There have been some other more personal heart wrenching situations over the weekend

So, I have not recuperated as much as I would have liked

I am just a little weary from the battle right now.

I have felt the need to put my sword down and rest for a while...

Yet the urgency of the moment won't allow it

So...I am drawing on Him as I prepare for the coming week

 and praying that it will be a week full of good news!

On A Lighter Note:

You would never know it by coming into my home, (well maybe my tea cupboard would hint at it), but I am by nature, very organized.

I like everything to have a place and when used, returned exactly to that place.

Being married for 19 years to a man who does not value this quality quite as much as I would like, and raising 4 children, (not one of whom seems to have inherited this valuable trait!); I have decided not to make this a point of war in our home....which means, there is very little order and organization.

At times, denying my nature in this area, is trying, but I compensate in little areas.

One such area, is my purse. 

My purse is completely organized.

There is a pocket for lip gloss, another for keys, a pouch for all the children's health cards (organized in order by birth), there is another pocket for sunglasses and finally, one that holds a small emergency kit with band aids and the like.

Everything has a place, and I don't lose things....really ever. If I need something in a hurry or am running late, all of my necessities are right where I left them....

UNLESS someone else has used them!

This morning I awoke to an intruder rifling through my purse...my hubby no less!

I had him cease immediately.

Later, when I got up, sure enough, the little first aid kit had been THROWN into the main compartment, along with emergency ladies' products that all belong in a specific pocket.

Can you really blame me, for giving Mark a hard time about not putting things back where they belong, and keeping my purse off limits? After all, I have to have one small area of organization in my life!

We are having this conversation, complete with Mark making excuses, (which just makes me all the more determined), in the kitchen while Jianna is eating breakfast.

Just as I am gaining ground, Little One pipes up:

"No offense mom..."

Whenever Jianna starts out a sentence, with "No Offence", look out! She is about to point out something (usually obvious), that she thinks might be upsetting to you...Usually, it makes for quite a laugh.

"No offence Mom, but you are kind of treating dad like he is a child"

OUCH!!

Mark LOVED this...no, I mean he REALLY loved it!!

In the end, I think Mark did get the picture about my purse, and Jianna conceded that dad was acting a little bit like a kid too...so there! I WON!!!!

"Baby C" Update

I am going to call this wee one "Baby C" for Chosen by God. Please continue to pray, a very long week and a long story, but I finally got to talk to  little mommy today. We actually had quite a chat....she was very responsive to me, and my heart aches all the more, but I also have hope. 

Bottom line is, Little Mommy does not want to have an abortion...she has tried to talk to her mom, but mom sees no other way. She has even tried to talk about adoption with mom, but SO FAR, mom says "no".

I have stressed to "Little Mommy" that it is her choice to make in the end and that not even mom can make this choice....and that although we all wish this had never happened...she has to make the best possible choices from here on.

Right now, "Baby C" lives...and an abortion date has NOT been set.

I have offered to help in any and every way possible should she choose to carry this baby to term.

I have asked her to please come and talk to me, even if she chooses to abort. That I will not judge her and that no matter what, she will need someone who knows what's going on to talk to. (Right now, other than Rhonda, through my updates, I am the only staff member that knows all that is happening with Little Mommy)

I have told her that I understand her mom's fears and why she is being as determined as she is, but that there is help available should she make a different choice.

 Little Mommy has stated she does not want to "kill her baby", but feels she has no choice as we are talking about a very young teen with hopes of college...She told me "my mom is my world, if she won't change her mind, I have no choice".

Please pray for mom....such a wedge of bitterness could develop if she forces this against Little Mommy's will.

We need mom's heart to change!!!!

I will update as I can...Please pray for continued favor for me with Little Mommy and hopefully anyone else involved!

Pray protection over Baby C...no matter how long this little one exists on earth...it is cared for and chosen by God. 

My heart aches for God's chosen one to be given the choice and gift of life...