Resolved

Instead of apathy, love

Instead of complaining, gratefulness

Instead of hatred, forgiveness

Instead of bitterness, compassion

Instead of judgment, prayer

Instead of laziness, service

Instead of depression, cut out sugar

Instead of manipulation, humility

Instead of frustration, patience

Instead of self-pity, pondering the needs of others

Instead of anger, peace

Instead of giving up, giving it all to Him

Who enables me, by His glorious and awe-some Spirit, to live a life of Love.

You Raise me Up

Selah - You Raise Me Up Lyrics

When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary.

When troubles come, and my heart burdened be.

Then I am still and wait here in the silence.

Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

There is no life no life without its hunger.

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly.

But when you come and I am filled with wonder.

Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

***

He has risen me up.

It's been a long month, a long season of depending on Him for every bit of energy I need. I have teetered on the ridge of exhaustion, physically and emotionally. It is a fight to keep my thoughts from wandering to "And then what? Who's next to come down with some terrible disease?" 

These bodies are temporary. This life is fleeting. I cannot stake anything upon this world. Only in Christ, only in Him is it worth giving everything for.

Funny Say-ings Vol. 1

Mommy asks Josh to get the oatmeal out for breakfast. He browses the pantry and begins to quietly read aloud the labels. Mommy peeks around the corner to see how he is doing.

Mommy: "I need the quick oats."

Joshua, holding out the quick oats container: "Quack oats!"

***

Thanksgiving turkey dinner at a family friend's house:

Rachel asks our host: "Bill, did you shoot this chicken?"

***

According to Rachel it is "Pinnie-ah-Wooh"

***

***

Madelynn to Daddy: "You take your beard off at night?"

Daddy: "No. What do you think I would look like if I didn't have a beard?"

Rachel: "Like a girl!..[lots of laughter] Or a dinosaur!"

***

Rachel is eating some leftover ham for lunch.

Rachel: "Mommy, is this pig?"

Mommy: "Yes."

Joshua: "Rachel, you are eating a pig...!"

Madelynn: "Oink, oink."

Rachel: "Mommy, did you shoot this pig?"

***

Josh, Rachel and Madelynn are playing cowboys with their "horses" (brooms).

Mommy: "What's the name of your horse, Josh?"

Joshua: "My horse's name is Green Lightning and my name is Green Flash."

Mommy: "How about you Rachel?"

Rachel: "Mine is Pink Shooting Star. Her name's Crunch Cracker."

Mommy: "Madelynn, how about you? What's your horse's name?"

Madelynn: "This is a Broom and my name is Madelynn."

***

Mommy and Rachel are baking a cake.

Rachel: "Mommy, can I hatch these eggs and then put them in the bowl?"

***

Joel decides to shave off his beard one evening.

Madelynn: "You look fancy!"

Rachel: "You don't look like a girl. You look like a teenager."

***

Rachel mixes up the various elements on her dinner plate. Then exclaims: "This will be so good you won't believe your mouth!"

***

Our kids were over at our neighbors' house, John and Brook and their three kids. 

John to Hudson: "Hey little buddy!"

Madelynn: "He's not little buddy, he's a butter ball."

***

We cut down our Christmas tree this year. Rachel insisted on carrying it to the car herself.

Merry Christmas to you dear Reader!

As December melts into Christmas Joel and I keep reminding ourselves:


"Have a Mary Christmas, not a Martha Christmas."


I don't remember who told us this little quote, but I am thankful for it.