Parenting

So I was listening to this sermon about parenting and the pastor says that "parenting reveals the idols of the parent"..
Is my idol comfort or ease or orderliness. Do i loose my patience when to be loving and patient and diligent with my children I must forsake the things I have pursed the most..
God is truly working in my heart and I want nothing else to reign first in my life but him and his will for me as a Mommy.

Bethlehem

From my table for two time:
God Expects my life to be a BETHLEHEM!
A place where Jesus is born and manifested as a BABE, simple, pure, reckless abandon.

Letter to Ella

Ella is my daughter. We knew her name was going to be Ella, after two miscarriages I was unsure if I would ever be able to have children, well as the pregnancy was progressing and everything was going well, we looked up the name Ella and besides meaing beautiful fairy girl, hee hee it also means to be "whole or complete" which she certainly is. I have written her a letter, the first of many to come:
Dear Ella,
I love that you are always seeking solutions. If I say "we can't go for a walk right now, it is too cold outside," you say " "I have a good idea mom, i'll wear two jackets."You are so thougtful too, if Mommy bumps her elbow and says "ouchie" no matter where you are or what your doing, you will find me to ask "you o.k. mom?", and if I wasn't ok, then you would do something wonderful until I was, like scratch my back or rub my arm.
Mommy just loves to be with you, you are warm and delightful and always ready to go and do no matter what "YOU IN GIRL" You teach me everyday about the simplicity of our togetherness.
You have made my life sweeter than I ever dreamed it could be. I love your life, and I can't wait to get older with you as my daughter. I love you!

The Doodlebops

You know your life has changed when evening bed talk has come to this:
Husband says to me" oh I am so tired"
Me: "oh me too"
Husband says " by the way have you noticed how skinny Dee Dee Doodle is looking"
Me: " I sure have, I wonder what happened"
Husband: "who knows, good night"
Me: "goodnight"

This past Tuesday Joel and I went away to the spot where we got married, we were needing to meet with the Lord and have him thrust us into the future of our Church ( we church planted 3 years ago after 5 years as the associate Pastors at our home church). We felt that we would go back to the spot we said "I do" and anticipate the Lord with the same passion that we anticipated each other. Ella and Jude were with my sister in law and I am sure having soo much fun, and so were we, we brought the guitar and worshipped under the tree where we said "I do" and it was soooo cold that we retreated back to the car. I know sometimes to hear from the Lord it takes time and perseverance, so we drove and talked and repented and emptied ourselves and then we got it the marching orders: the verse that drove us was Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says the Lord:
Stand by the roads and look and ask for the ancient paths;
where the good way is- and walk in it and find rest for your souls.

There is no subsitute for being led away by the Lord when he is ready to speak, we had to make the time and we had to pay the sitter and we had to do it and we found the refreshing we needed.. More to come on the marching orders.