Finn-isms

Me: Why is the toilet paper unrolled in the bathroom? Did you do that, Finn?
Finn: No. Buzz Lightyear and Jessi did it.

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A new tradition is for me to sing Finn a song before naptime. My trick is to tell him he has to keep his eyes closed or I'll stop singing. He's usually asleep by the end of one song. Usually I sing the words and then after I finish the song I'll hum it until I know he's asleep. Apparently he likes my humming better....

Me: Lay down so I can tuck you in for your nap.
Finn: Can you sing me a song?
Me: Ok. What song?
Finn: Sing Twinkle Twinkle but do it like "hmmm, hmmm."

Baby Sherman: 35 weeks

I had my 35 week sonogram this past Wednesday....which revealed that the little stinker is in the "frank breech" position. That means that he/she is folded in half, with the feet & head up top and the butt down. The only way to get Sherman out is to have a C-Section. We are scheduled to go in on Dec. 15th.

We'd love your prayers as we approach the 15th. Surprisingly, I'm actually doing really well with this news. I had a lot of complications with Callan during delivery and afterwards, so the dr. told me that this could be a blessing in disguise! He said I'll be in and out of surgery in about an hour and a half. That's my kind of "labor!"

I was actually really comforted by this poem from E. Elliot:

Stilled now be every anxious care;
See God's great goodness everywhere;
Leave all to Him in perfect rest:
He will do all things for the best.

I was looking through my prayer journal the other day after hearing the news of the c-section. I had written this poem down back on April 18th when I was journaling about Baby #2 and wanting to trust in God for a healthy pregnancy/birth. Little did I know how profound these words would be to me literally 7 months later...to the day. God is good!

A Life That Matters

My Dad still periodically sends my family quotes or stories that he hears that are good reminders to us all of God's good timing in taking my brother to be with Him in heaven this past January. We all need those reminders when those "But why?" questions start to creep in.

This past week, Steve and Beth (our good friends) were having to battle these same "But why?" questions as they mourned the loss of Steve's brother. All I kept thinking when I saw Steve and his family this past week is...I know. I know the pain. I know the hurt. I know the sorrow. But I also know the comfort that can come and the hope that God offers those who are suffering.

So, here's a story that my dad just sent me the other day from Ron Hutchcraft called "A Life that Matters." Beth and Steve, enjoy...

Recently we buried one of the best and brightest leaders from our On Eagles’ Wings team of Native American young people. After doctors removed his large and aggressive brain tumor, they thought he would have 16-24 months to live; he had four weeks. He died right after his 25th birthday. It was a real blow to all of us who loved him. My 10-year-old grandson may have had the most insightful perspective of all on Ricky’s death. He said, “You know, it’s like this father has all his children out working in the yard, doing their chores. And this daddy called Ricky’s name and said, ‘Ricky, your work is done. Come on in the house and watch TV. But the others kids have to stay in the yard, because their work isn’t done yet.’”

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and I think my grandson gets it. The ultimate cause of death for everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ—their work is done. David wrote about how God “knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Then he says, “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13, 16). God determined how many days you and I would have before we were conceived, and we’ll go Home when our work is done—not one day before…not one day later.

If we love someone, we don’t ever think their work is done of course. But we’re not God, the One who designed them. So you, and every Jesus-follower you know, is immortal until their work is done. And when God calls someone Home, it’s ultimately not because of cancer or a heart attack or an accident; it’s because the Father said, “Your work is done. It’s time to come in.”

Great quote

A friend sent this quote to me. Thanks, Laura. :)

"That is the way in which faith reasons. It says: 'All right, I see the waves and the billows but'—it always puts up this 'but'. That is faith, it holds on to truth and reasons from what it knows to be fact. That is the way to apply faith… Whatever the circumstances, therefore, stand, wait for a moment. Say: 'I admit it all, but—' But what? But God! but the Lord Jesus Christ! But what? The whole of my salvation! That is what faith does. All things may seem to be against me 'to drive me to despair', I do not understand what is happening; but I know this, I know that God has so loved me that He sent His only begotten Son into this world for me, I know that while I was an enemy, God sent His only Son to die on the Cross on Calvary's Hill for me. He has done that for me while I was an enemy, a rebellious alien. I know that the Son of God 'loved me and gave Himself for me'. I know that at the cost of His life's blood I have salvation and that I am a child of God and an heir to everlasting bliss. I know that… Faith reminds itself of what the Scripture calls 'the exceeding great and precious promises'. Faith says: 'I cannot believe that He who has brought me so far is going to let me down at this point. It is impossible, it would be inconsistent with the character of God'. So faith, having refused to be controlled by circumstances, reminds itself of what it believes and what it knows… Whatever your circumstances at this moment, bring all you know to be true of your relationship to God to bear upon it. Then you will know full well that He will never allow anything to happen to you that is harmful. 'All things work together for good to them that love God.' Not a hair of your head shall be harmed, He loves you with an everlasting love. I do not suggest that you will be able to understand everything that his happening. You may not have a full explanation of it; but you will know for certain that God is not unconcerned. That is impossible. The One who has done the greatest thing of all for you, must be concerned about you in everything."

(from Marytn Lloyd-Jones in Spiritual Depression: It's Causes and Cure)