For the City...

About a week ago I finished a wonderful book called For the City by Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter. They are both church planters one in St. Louis and the other in Austin. Through the book they share their experience, advice, confessions and much more on planting a church and being a church for your city. It is by no means only for church planters. I was so encouraged and stirred by every word in this book. I highly recommend it for anyone that longs to see their church be more for their city  I wanted to share a few things from the last chapter. Really I just want to copy and paste the last chapter for you to read, but I can't do that... too long.  They end the book with how we as Christians are all so much like Jonah. They explain how we are Jonah because we are a rebellious, self-righteous, comfort-loving, people-avoiding people. They go into depth about each one and I identified so much with each. I know all those things sound like a hard pill to swallow, but i often need to be humbled. However, you are not left feeling utterly useless. Through the Gospel they go on to explain how we are: 

• redeemed community experiencing the daily blessings of God's salvation
• a strategically placed community seeking God's purpose for our city
• a counter cultural community 
• a called community in possession of a dangerous message that God intends us to take beyond the walls of the church and into the lives of the lost. 

They zone in on one phrase that Jonah realizes, "Salvation Belongs to the Lord". I find an immense amount in comfort in those 5 words. I am a planner. I want to see things "succeed". And I tend to do this with everything. But as I read that phrase and really thought on it and let it penetrate my heart I was broken by it. Salvation is the Lord's. There is no great plan or tactic to see salvation or a church to "succeed" those things are the Lord's. While at the same time being faithful with our lives and and the specifics that the Lord has called us to as a church. "A church for the city is willing to dream big and take scary risks because the God who began a good work in and through the church is the God who will use the church to bless cities, nations, and the entire world." Amen and Amen

I desire with so much of my heart to be for the city... through our church and through our family. Oh, Lord use us up for your glory!

Happy Birthday Owen

Yesterday was Owen's 2nd Birthday. I cannot believe he is 2! He blesses our family so much. He is so silly, sweet and just full of so much life! We love him greatly! I wanted to share his birth story. I wrote this a few days after he was born. Enjoy! 

 

Owen’s Arrival

First, I am so blessed to have had 2 wonderful pregnancies and deliveries. I am so thankful for that.

I was 3 days past my “due date”, so I was very anxious for Owen’s arrival and not to be pregnant anymore.  On Wednesday May 12^th, I had told Don that I felt like Owen was so low and could basically fall out at anytime. That night as we were about to go to sleep my water broke at 10:50pm as I was lying in the bed. And it was a lot of water. I asked Don to change the sheets because I wanted to go back to sleep and I wasn’t having very strong contractions, but after talking to Dr. Wilson she urged me to come to the hospital. As we were driving to the hospital my contractions started to come about every 3-4 minutes. They were growing in intensity, but still not too bad. As we waited in the emergency room I had to start concentrating on my contractions more. I would close my eyes and envision my contraction growing and then going down. It helped me through Eden’s labor, so I figured it would work with Owen’s and it did. It was 12:30am by the time we got checked into our room and they checked my dilation. Dr. Wilson was surprised that I came to the hospital. I think she thought that I would just stay home and have the baby. I was 7cm and about 90% effaced. So, I had progressed pretty quickly.

I sat on my birthball for about 10 minutes as Don put warm pressure on my back with a rice sock. And as my mom and Chris gave my legs support when a contraction would come. After about 10 minutes of that I felt very sick. I had to spend the rest of the time in the restroom. I will spare the details here. But Don was in there with me and I knew I was almost complete. Once all that had passed the nurse came in and said she could check me again, but I told her I knew I was complete and he was ready to come. She checked me and I was right. I was at 10cm. The hardest part with that was lying down in the bed. I hate being in hospital beds and hate being on my back for labor, but it was quick.

Dr. Wilson told me I could start pushing whenever I was ready. Sidenote… She is a wonderful doctor! I love how she doesn’t rush labor or try to do any unnecessary interventions. I pushed in a squatted position with Don in front of me. Pushing with Owen was so hard! At one point I had rather just endure the contractions than push. But once I got in a good rhythm with it and was making progress I was encouraged. Once he was about to crown Dr. Wilson wanted me on my back, which I was fine with at that point. I kept my eyes closed through the last few pushes and I remember saying I just want him out! Once his head was out they told me to stop pushing because the cord was around his neck twice. Dr. Wilson quickly removed it and placed our beautiful son on my belly. I warmed him and wiped him off and we waited until the cord stopped pulsating before the cord was cut. He was born at 2:17am on Thursday May 13^th. Only 3 hours and 17 minutes of labor. One thing that was different with Eden is that her whole body came out so quick, but he was much slower and I had to push his body out…. Probably because he was bigger. It was a beautiful delivery. I just praised the Lord that he was here and safe. It did take Dr. Wilson about 30-45 minutes to stitch me up because as she described it, my tore was “creative”. It was a 2^nd degree. After she was done he easily started breastfeeding. He was 8.8lbs and 20 ¼ inches long. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! I wanted to reflect on being a mommy. This morning our pastor recognized all the moms and then read Proverbs 31: 28-31,

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
        her husband also, and he praises her:
    “Many women have done excellently,
        but you surpass them all.”
    Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
        but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
    Give her of the fruit of her hands,
        and let her works praise her in the gates

A classic and very timely verse for the day. As he read those verses I had so much emotion come over me. I really realized that I cannot do this on my own. No way. I am far too selfish and lack patience to do this "job" of being a mommy on my own. I am so thankful for the Lord's help to make it through everyday. At the same time I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am at getting to stay home and be a mom to two wonderful children. As I have shared before I never thought I would be a stay at home mom and now I could never imagine doing anything else. I love getting to teach, play and guide my children everyday.

As always my husband had a sweet day ready for me. Started with homemade poptarts! They were amazing! He got up at 5:30 to start on them. Homemade dough. He is always amazing me. We didn't get a pic of the finish product, but this was the making of it. No, I was not up to take the pic.

The kids made me some sweet cards and the wonderful Don Gale wrote me the sweetest card as always. Along with some chocolates and a cute ring from Spruce. So sweet! Now, he is cooking up some deliciousness. Not sure what all we are having, but he keeps giving me tastes and I feel like I am in the kitchen of some gourmet restaurant. I do know he is fulfilling my request for a tuna salad sandwich... i know random, but it is going to be awesome! I know I am bragging a bit on my hubs, but he deserves it. He blesses me so much!!

Lastly, I requested a picture with the kids and this is the best we could get... Owen is not very good at pictures at the moment. Just can't keep that little guy still. I didn't get to spend the day with my mom, but I did see her yesterday and I am so thankful for her Godly example over the years. She is the best and I love her so much! Hope you all had a wonderful mother's day :)

What to do when I'm feeling dry

No, I don't need some lotion or a tall glass of water. I am talking about being spiritually dry. Lately, I haven't hungered for God's Word like I have in the past. I have been more stirred by reading other books. They are really good Christ-centered books that encourage and move me, which is good, but not when it is replacing my time in God's Word. I have felt like it has just become a part of my routine. And I know that God's Word has a higher place than that. I have shared this with a few friends and my husband and they have all been so encouraging and some even have described going through a similar time. I know as a Christian it is normal to experience a dry time spiritually, but I don't want to take the road of "this is just part of it" and coast through it. I want to fight to be brought out of this time. My sweet husband suggested a Bible study for me to do. I normally don't do Bible studies, but i think I need something different to challenge me more and help guide me through this time. So, today I started it. It's a study on the book of Colossians and the first day was just reading straight through the book. And it was wonderful! I felt moved and "in love" with God's Word. One thing that I really liked about the study is that it helps guide you in asking questions and looking deeper into the Scripture.

Here are a few things that I have learned when I feel dry...

~ I have to pour my heart out to the Lord. Even when I don't feel like it. I have to ask the Holy Spirit to guide me.

~ To share my struggle with someone and ask them to pray for me and for their guidance

~ To change up what I am doing in my quiet time.

~ To fight to get out of that dry spot

~ Not to stop reading God's Word, but challenge myself to look at it differently.

Those are just a few things that I have learned. Here is the book on Colossians that I am reading. I do recommend it, even if you don't feel dry :) If you have never read the Bible I encourage you to it is a beautiful book about God's redemptive plan for His people. It is truth.

have a wonderful Tuesday! I am super excited that I get to talk to my dear dear friend Al, who is in Uganda! Can't wait to hear her voice!!!!!

Oh the phases the phases

A while back I wrote (here) about some phases the kiddos were going through and of course some new ones have come up that I thought I would share. One thing I have learned with the ever changing phases is that they keep you learning as a parent. And for me so dependent on the Lord for patience. Patience is something I could always and I mean always use more of. Of course all phases are not "bad" or exhausting some are cute and charming...those are the ones I wish I saw more of :) And some things on the list are things she is just learning that are not really phases because I plan on them sticking around.

For my sweet Eden bug:
~ Making a "home". This is probably her favorite thing to do... It's were she gets all the blankets and pillows in the house and sets them out and then brings her bins of toys in and sets them around the blankets. The difficult thing with this for me is that she never ever wants to make her "home" in her bedroom it is always in the living room, dining room or kitchen. Even with that I still let her make her home almost anywhere in the house. She loves doing it and so does Owen. I cannot say no even if it is the biggest mess!

~ Learning to clean up. She has gotten really good at it! Last night I told her to go clean her room because it was a train wreck and she did it... perfectly. It looked amazing! I was kind of taken back. I praised and praised her for how great of a job she did.

~ Making up the craziest names for her dolls and animals. I can't even spell some of the names she comes up with

~ Thinking that she is the boss. Yup we have hit the bossy little girl phase. She has told me before that she is the boss and not mommy. Yeah that resulted in quite the conversation

~ Getting up EVERY night around midnight to go potty. She will not go by herself at night. We are working through this one... even though it is for 2 minutes that broken sleep for me can be tough. 


Little Owen man:
~ Talking! Until probably 2 weeks ago he said about 5 to 8 words and now he is daily saying new words. I love it!

~ Counting to 10 and then jumping off the couch. I had rather him not jump off the couch, but to hear him count is just too cute to not let him.

~ Holding our hands during prayer and "praying" to himself.

~ On the other side not wanting to hold my hand or be in the stroller when we are in public. This makes for very very exhausting outings. He refuses to hold my hand, but the crazy thing is, he will as long as he is holding Eden's too. He will hold her hand all day long.

~ Still not the best little eater. We are taking small steps towards helping him grow out of this, but he has added a few new meals to his diet. Spaghetti being one of them. For so long I could not get the child to tough pasta. 

I love those sweet babies. And through the tough phases I have to remind myself that it is only a season. I remember telling myself that through sleepless nights when they were babies. I want to treasure the precious things that they are doing right now and remember them.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Eden and Owen are staying the night at Nan's house. Hooray!! Don and I are staying out late Friday and sleeping in on Saturday. So excited!!!!

movie time

birthday fun

I love birthdays! Growing up my parents made a big deal about them, not that we just got tons of presents, but it was a really special day. So naturally, I love to celebrate them and rejoice in the life and year the Lord has given. Saturday was Don's birthday. We had a fun celebration especially since his sister Sara and parents were in town. We went out on Wednesday to the Civil Rights Museum, lunch at the Majestic, a trolly ride and a Redbirds game that evening.

And for his actual birthday because I am the kind of person that has to celebrate on the actual day we went out to dinner at Rizzo's and did some shopping. Rizzo's was not the ideal plan for dinner, but after calling 5 restaurants to make reservations we settled on Rizzo's. I guess April 21 was a busy night for fine dining. I just couldn't believe that all those restaurants were already full by mid-week. We enjoyed Rizzo's and would go back it was really tasty food. The dessert however topped it all. It was an ice cream sandwich banana split full of  amazingness!! The picture just looks like a pile of chocolate, but I would go back there just to have that dessert again. Before dinner we went to Hoot and Louise. Ladies, this is a must go to store! They have the cutest dresses! She also carries vintage clothes and they were all so unique. Go there!

cute wrapping from Hoot and Louise

1980's vintage skirts

Veggie plate: Arugula salad, Goat cheese stuffed squash and tomato and white bean paste bruschetta. Yum!

Don's Chorizo Meatloaf. He said it was great.

And the mound of awesomeness. 

We had a great night! I love sweet nights and birthday celebrations with my darling :)

dear friends and guest blogging

Our sweet friends the Barker's are in Uganda adopting their sweet boy Amos. I am beyond excited to get to meet this little boy and hug on him! They have been in the process of adoption for less than a year. It has been amazing seeing the Lord bring everything together for them to add another sweet little boy to their family. The Barkers have been a HUGE part of our lives for so many years. I thank the Lord for their friendship, love and encouragement. As they move to Michigan I know it isn't the end of our friendship, just a change and we are going to do our best in staying connected. May the Lord receive so much glory from the Barker's lives!!

 I will be doing a few guest posts over at Al's blog After His Smile, so drop by and check them out! Her blog is super cute and full of wisdom!