All 10 Popes

A home that houses 6 people, big, small and in between amasses a lot of dirt on the floor. The children are running wild outside, helping Dad in the yard, giggling silly with friends, and dragging it all in on their shoes at least a hundred times a day. Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier to have earthen floors during the summertime. Again, I sweep the floors this morning and think, "Didn't I just do this last night?" "Didn't I just steam mop because it sure doesn't look like it!" And here I am, again, for the thousandth time...at least...sweeping it clean. But what do dirty floors really mean? They mean sunshine and helping hands in the yard. They mean summertime fun with friends and making memories you will soon never forget. They mean sweaty boys who sometimes remember to wear their shoes and bike rides and scrapes, bruises, bumps and falls. They mean healthy kids who run wild, play and work with their family. I could sweep this floor becau...

Sometimes there are these moments in motherhood that I hope I never forget. They often happen with discussing the Lord or the things of him with the kids. Children really can grasp things that we don't think they can and many times I am baffled by their insight. Tonight was a bit like that, but not at all at the same time. Justin was reading and discussing with the children about the Trinity. Justin explains that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are ONE God, but each is a separate "person or entity." When he's finished he asks Hunter, "Son so how many gods are there?" Hunter smiles like he's got this one. He blurts out, "THREE, wait...no one (looking a bit confused) or oh Dad this doesn't make since!" Justin humbly replies, "You're right, it is hard to understand." So thankful is this heart of mine, that I don't understand EVERY aspect of the Lord...that there are things I don't fully grasp bec...

Do you ever feel it? The blush; that uneasy and ashamed feeling. Often, too often to admit, do I feel ashamed of my Lord Jesus and here is why: He is just SO opposite than the expectations placed on Him. Lets just start from the beginning, a mere few: Here he comes wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger (where animals eat), born to a humble carpenter who has yet to "know" his wife. God in flesh, lying in a manger. Not what I would expect. (Luke 2:12) An untrained Rabi, by worldly standards, Jesus chooses mostly fishermen to be his disciples. He even throws in a tax collector for good measure. Not all of them, but most were uneducated. God choosing the simpleminded. Not what I would expect. (Luke 5) Jesus rides into Jerusalem for passover on a colt, not even an adult donkey. He doesn't demand to be carried around like the true emperor he is. Always humble, never demanding worship or respect. Not what I would expect. (Matt. 21:7) During Jesus' last supp...

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17 146. rocking our Mighty Warrior to sleep...again, and again 147. time, time to watch our 4 grow; the together time 148. perfectly piled pancakes 149. early bedtime 150. wise friends 151. our small group family 152. littlest Love and biggest Love snuggled up close...time for sleep 153. a daddy's agape love for his children 154. a teachable spirit among friends 155. meeting together to discover, anew, just what it means to believe what the Word says 156. little working hands 157. learning something new 158. encouraging words 159. a small notebook to journal everything and nothing at all 160. remembering Who is in control, thankfully it's not me! 161. FOUND...the car keys that is 162. that God never changes, He is not like the weather, we can trust in HIM        

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice!" Phil. 4.4 123. rain, sprinkling rain; pounding rain; always refreshing rain 124. trying a new recipe 125. freedom to homeschool 126. meeting another kind soul 127. an oppurtunity to show grace 128. that carpet of green growing all around our yard 129. new challenges 130. health insurance especially at 2 AM 131. antibiotics 132. You, Lord are always faithful...giving me the rest I need 133. praying for a dear, far...far away friend 134. a know-so kind of hope...the one I cling to 135. looking back, only to be thankful ever more for this "heart of flesh" given to me 136. choosing what is true, right and good 137. the grace not to give into feelings...choosing what is hard 138. learning perserverence, patience, and when to hold my tongue 139. listening to hymns played on the piano 140. sprinklers 141. a nice, long run 142. wisdom from the wise 143. learning from the Old Testiment...SO muc...