Maria's blog
One morning about a couple of weeks ago I woke up early and felt compelled to pick up my Bible and spend time with the Lord.
I felt a heaviness for Israel and I couldn't figure out why. (This was before the invasions and bombings began.) I just began asking the Lord to help me to understand His love for this nation. I don't confess to know a lot about Israel's history or even about their current situation. Throughout the time with Him that morning I felt Him urging me to pray for this nation. Despite it's history, it is His. There is an incredible amount of symbolism in the Old Testament about this nation and I feel the Lord drawing me to seek it out.
Yesterday I read that when Jacob wrestled with a man in Genesis 32, he wouldn't let the man go until he gave Jacob his blessing. Do you know that they wrestled all night long? How exhausting! And then to think that Jacob knew something was different about this "man" that he wouldn't let him go until he received a blessing from him.
So the man asked Jacob what his name was. I am quite sure that the man knew Jacob's name, but I think that he did it intentionally to show Jacob something important. It says then that the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
It has struck me that the Lord encountered Jacob and wrestled with him and Jacob was tenacious enough to not give up with the Lord until he received a blessing. What about you? What have you given up on God for? Have you stop wrestling with Him over something in your life? I was convinced that I have given up and have forgotten that I need to continue until I receive His blessing.
Let it be said of you that you have wrestled with God and have overcome.
Interestingly, the Bible says that Israel means "He struggles with God."
Friday, July 28, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Update on Paige's Legs
Maria's blog
Remember my story of how long we waited to see the specialist about Paige's feet? We had a rescheduled visit this week.
Paige filled her backpack with books, crayons and paper. We stopped at Wendy's to get a frosty as incentive to go and it helped that it was 105 degrees!
As I stood in line to check in, I thought I heard Paige's name being called! Sure enough they were waiting for her. The nurse asked us some questions and Paige and I struggled to eat the frosty before the doctor came in.
The doctor came in to check her out and he freaked her out. Poor thing, she didn't know what to think. She was really good and kept asking when she could read her books. (Previously I had prepared her for the long wait.)
He measured her bones and had her walk for him. And then the most disturbing thing, he took her left leg and rotated it almost until her toes were pointing towards her back! I was scared he was going to snap her leg off. But as I looked at her, she showed no signs of pain, so I figured he is the expert and I should trust him.
In a nut shell...he told us to come back when she is 6. He believes that she will outgrow this and she will eventually get used to her feet. He said that braces and inserts are not used as much as in the past. If her legs aren't better by the time she is 6, he will consider some other methods.
In the meantime she can ran and sit in a W and do what every other little child does, that is if her mommy can let her hand go when she tries to run.
Remember my story of how long we waited to see the specialist about Paige's feet? We had a rescheduled visit this week.
Paige filled her backpack with books, crayons and paper. We stopped at Wendy's to get a frosty as incentive to go and it helped that it was 105 degrees!
As I stood in line to check in, I thought I heard Paige's name being called! Sure enough they were waiting for her. The nurse asked us some questions and Paige and I struggled to eat the frosty before the doctor came in.
The doctor came in to check her out and he freaked her out. Poor thing, she didn't know what to think. She was really good and kept asking when she could read her books. (Previously I had prepared her for the long wait.)
He measured her bones and had her walk for him. And then the most disturbing thing, he took her left leg and rotated it almost until her toes were pointing towards her back! I was scared he was going to snap her leg off. But as I looked at her, she showed no signs of pain, so I figured he is the expert and I should trust him.
In a nut shell...he told us to come back when she is 6. He believes that she will outgrow this and she will eventually get used to her feet. He said that braces and inserts are not used as much as in the past. If her legs aren't better by the time she is 6, he will consider some other methods.
In the meantime she can ran and sit in a W and do what every other little child does, that is if her mommy can let her hand go when she tries to run.
********10,038********
Maria's blog
Ahh the joys of parenting...
Annie is now 5 months old and I have begun feeding her oatmeal cereal. She loves it. She especially loved to suck her thumb after each bite at first. Now she yells at me if I am not quick enough to feed her. She is signaling for other foods too.
With the other girls we used baby signs to communicate with them and with Jena she knew almost 50 signs. (Hard to tell that I was a stay-at-home mom of one, huh?) She knew some really obscure signs too. Like pig and banana.
Then when Paige came along, I taught her the basics: diaper change, more, drink, all done, please and thank you.
So far with Annie I have only started with "All done!" She loves it too. I can always get a smile out of her, probably because of the inflection in my voice if anything.
But along with trying new foods and baby signs comes diapering. I have been a mother for a little over 5 1/2 years now and I sat down just a while ago and counted how many diapers I have changed since I gave up my full time job to pursue mothering. Give or take a few diapers that Duane has changed, I have changed over 10,038 diapers! That is ridiculous! It may even been more too because there were a few months where Jena and Paige were in diapers at the same time!
That is just astounding!
I'd love to hear from any of you that have topped that! :)
Ahh the joys of parenting...
Annie is now 5 months old and I have begun feeding her oatmeal cereal. She loves it. She especially loved to suck her thumb after each bite at first. Now she yells at me if I am not quick enough to feed her. She is signaling for other foods too.
With the other girls we used baby signs to communicate with them and with Jena she knew almost 50 signs. (Hard to tell that I was a stay-at-home mom of one, huh?) She knew some really obscure signs too. Like pig and banana.
Then when Paige came along, I taught her the basics: diaper change, more, drink, all done, please and thank you.
So far with Annie I have only started with "All done!" She loves it too. I can always get a smile out of her, probably because of the inflection in my voice if anything.
But along with trying new foods and baby signs comes diapering. I have been a mother for a little over 5 1/2 years now and I sat down just a while ago and counted how many diapers I have changed since I gave up my full time job to pursue mothering. Give or take a few diapers that Duane has changed, I have changed over 10,038 diapers! That is ridiculous! It may even been more too because there were a few months where Jena and Paige were in diapers at the same time!
That is just astounding!
I'd love to hear from any of you that have topped that! :)
Monday, July 17, 2006
A Servant's Heart
Maria's blog
Sometimes I am a little thick-headed. Usually I begin to notice things when I am down and out. Today was one of those days.
Last night we had a friend spend the night with us and I woke up ready to serve our new friend and spend time getting to know her more. But instead I woke up to pain. I was asking the Lord to take this particular pain away because all I wanted to do was lay down. But I felt that I wanted to play hostess and enjoy our guest. But I felt the Lord asking me to thank Him for this pain and ask Him for strength to get through it.
Well, I did but I also called my husband to ask him to pray for me. Duane offered to come home and take care of me. I was speechless, of course I'd love for him to do that but that wasn't what I was expecting. So he came home at 10:00am and took care of me the rest of the day.
But the thing that amazes me is what he did for us for dinner. As we were resting this afternoon, he looked at me and said, "What can I make for dinner tonight?" Again I was speechless and stammered that I was planning on cooking chicken for a salad. So he said, "I'll take care of it, don't worry."
After my doctor's appointment I came home and Duane grilled our chicken outside. I know that probably doesn't sound that amazing, but it was 110 degrees outside!!!! What a man! He barely even broke a sweat. Probably because he was NAKED! :) Just kidding.
I love my husband because of his sacrifice for me today. What a mighty good man I have! I love you Duane.
Sometimes I am a little thick-headed. Usually I begin to notice things when I am down and out. Today was one of those days.
Last night we had a friend spend the night with us and I woke up ready to serve our new friend and spend time getting to know her more. But instead I woke up to pain. I was asking the Lord to take this particular pain away because all I wanted to do was lay down. But I felt that I wanted to play hostess and enjoy our guest. But I felt the Lord asking me to thank Him for this pain and ask Him for strength to get through it.
Well, I did but I also called my husband to ask him to pray for me. Duane offered to come home and take care of me. I was speechless, of course I'd love for him to do that but that wasn't what I was expecting. So he came home at 10:00am and took care of me the rest of the day.
But the thing that amazes me is what he did for us for dinner. As we were resting this afternoon, he looked at me and said, "What can I make for dinner tonight?" Again I was speechless and stammered that I was planning on cooking chicken for a salad. So he said, "I'll take care of it, don't worry."
After my doctor's appointment I came home and Duane grilled our chicken outside. I know that probably doesn't sound that amazing, but it was 110 degrees outside!!!! What a man! He barely even broke a sweat. Probably because he was NAKED! :) Just kidding.
I love my husband because of his sacrifice for me today. What a mighty good man I have! I love you Duane.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Oh, You're My Best Friend
Maria's blog
(Freddy Mercury's words seem fitting for the title.)
This past week we had 5 new visitors to our home. Our friends come every summer since we've lived here and it always is such a great time. I will say that this year was much better than last especially for me.
Last year Duane left to fly to Europe and I was barely able to get off the couch because I was so sick from my pregnancy. My guests waited on me the entire time they were here. What a vacation for them, huh?
My best friend, Tammy, and her family graced our home. Her children and ours are incredible friends and they get along very well. Aside from the occasional, "I was playing with that!" the week passed without any mishaps.
As they left yesterday, Jena was sobbing, and I held in the emotion I was feeling. Tammy and I have been friends for almost 12 years. She discipled me in high school and then helped me plan my wedding. We have experienced 2 pregnancies together and an incredible friendship has grown. They have "lent" us their home when we go back to Ohio, sometimes the house literally falls apart when we visit! Tammy flew me back to Ohio to surprise my brother and sister-in-law after their son, Augustine, was born last year. Then Tammy flew out here to help take care of me after Annie was born. When we drove to Ohio, she and Jeff through a big BBQ for our friends and family. Ok, enough of what she has done for me, what have I done for her lately? (It seems a little odd that song titles keep popping up in my writing!)
Her friendship is hard to put to words. She and Jeff bring a different demention to our lives. Duane and I stayed up late with them each night that they were here. We reminisced about Columbus and shared really crazy stories about our children and sometimes went too far in the telling of stories and jokes, huh Duane?
All this to say "Tammy you complete me!" Just kidding. But your friendship does fill me and I am so thankful that you push me to be myself when I am with you. You correct me without making it seem like that is what you are doing. You challenge me to go beyond what I think I can do and pursue what God is calling me to. I cannot thank you adequately for your friendship.
Yesterday I couldn't say what I wanted to because of the emotion I was feeling. Jena has it all right, she shows what she is feeling and I am truly sorry that I hide it. When I grow up I want to be like her.
I love you girl. And remember that sometimes just adding one hour seems like 2 days. :)
(Freddy Mercury's words seem fitting for the title.)
This past week we had 5 new visitors to our home. Our friends come every summer since we've lived here and it always is such a great time. I will say that this year was much better than last especially for me.
Last year Duane left to fly to Europe and I was barely able to get off the couch because I was so sick from my pregnancy. My guests waited on me the entire time they were here. What a vacation for them, huh?
My best friend, Tammy, and her family graced our home. Her children and ours are incredible friends and they get along very well. Aside from the occasional, "I was playing with that!" the week passed without any mishaps.
As they left yesterday, Jena was sobbing, and I held in the emotion I was feeling. Tammy and I have been friends for almost 12 years. She discipled me in high school and then helped me plan my wedding. We have experienced 2 pregnancies together and an incredible friendship has grown. They have "lent" us their home when we go back to Ohio, sometimes the house literally falls apart when we visit! Tammy flew me back to Ohio to surprise my brother and sister-in-law after their son, Augustine, was born last year. Then Tammy flew out here to help take care of me after Annie was born. When we drove to Ohio, she and Jeff through a big BBQ for our friends and family. Ok, enough of what she has done for me, what have I done for her lately? (It seems a little odd that song titles keep popping up in my writing!)
Her friendship is hard to put to words. She and Jeff bring a different demention to our lives. Duane and I stayed up late with them each night that they were here. We reminisced about Columbus and shared really crazy stories about our children and sometimes went too far in the telling of stories and jokes, huh Duane?
All this to say "Tammy you complete me!" Just kidding. But your friendship does fill me and I am so thankful that you push me to be myself when I am with you. You correct me without making it seem like that is what you are doing. You challenge me to go beyond what I think I can do and pursue what God is calling me to. I cannot thank you adequately for your friendship.
Yesterday I couldn't say what I wanted to because of the emotion I was feeling. Jena has it all right, she shows what she is feeling and I am truly sorry that I hide it. When I grow up I want to be like her.
I love you girl. And remember that sometimes just adding one hour seems like 2 days. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- Maria.
- I am a stay at home mother of 4 little girls who fill my life with so much joy and satisfaction. I love it!!!