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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Happy 6th Birthday!

"[God] will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land" (Deuteronomy 7:13).














God has blessed us in so many ways, and one of those ways is with the gift of our children that He has entrusted into our care. Today our little man turned 6! It's so hard to believe that he's already 6 and will be going to school every day in the fall. He knows how sad I am about that and says, "Don't worry, Mommy, you'll have Deborah". Curtis is so thoughtful and so caring. He laughs often, and his smile brightens up a room. He (as well as all of our children) bring so much joy to our lives. I am so thankful for his healthy body, his love for his family, and most importantly his love for God. We love him so deeply and wish him a blessed 6th birthday!

Monday, July 19, 2010

"When times are good be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other" (Ecclesiastes 7:14).

Times are good! My list of thanks continues with #792- #812
-Father-in-law who loves literature

-contentment



-crazy hair




-smiley boy

-fun at the pool

-generous/thoughtful in laws

-new beds

-inspiring movie

-gorgeous cloud formations

-lunch date with my hubby

-watermelon

-"camping" groceries

-my shadow, my son

-my 5 year old son walking around, reading his novel

-LHOTP (common acronym used in our home for watching "Little House on the Prairie"

-sitting together in church

-inspiring message to live out the Gospel and tell others of it

-successful garage sale

-garage sale supporters (thank-you family and friends)

-getting closer to bringing Deborah home!!

-VBS meeting- sitting by the pool!



holy experience

Sunday, July 18, 2010

"For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6).

It felt good to clean out some of our junk or to put it more nicely, our well used things from our house as we prepared for a garage sale to raise money for Jesse and Nicole's trip to Ethiopia.

I wish I could get rid of the junk inside my heart. I realize that I can not do that on my own, but through my Lord and Saviour. I am oh so thankful that I can be assured that He will take away my sins, and all of my junk if I ask Him to do so. I need to be constantly putting off the old self and putting on the new self. It is my prayer that God will help me get rid of the garbage inside of me.

Thank-you God for sending your son to die for my sins.





The garage sale went very well. The children helped a lot with the preparations, selling the items and serving and selling lemonade and popcorn.

Thank-you to family and friends who gave us items to sell and who came to our garage sale just to buy some popcorn and lemonade! Thank-you for helping support Jesse and Nicole as they prepare to travel to meet and bring home their little sister!


Monday, July 12, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you" (Psalm 31:19).

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23:6).

This was a week of funeral visitations, burial, memorial service, the onset of the summertime blues, but again I am reminded of my MANY, many blessings! Oh the LORD is so good. And so my list continues...

#668-791



-reading time



-routine and schedules (I so need that)

-room still for flexibility


-my cousin (and another cousin) who did so much for my aunt(s). I think they should start their own funeral planning business!

-my cousins' tribute to my aunt

-the ability to laugh and cry at a funeral

-the comfort and assurance that we have life eternal through Christ

-the colour purple (my aunt's favourite)



-my sister's musical talents- those pipes were roaring! (you made us siblings very proud, and Dad would have been too)



-our new pet




-Curtis' day today




-a tough loss, but good times!
-hearing my mom's voice on the phone across the ocean
-my mom's birthday today!
-my mom's health, energy, ability to travel, etc.
-sprinklers
-new accomplishments-Curtis jumping off the diving board and loving it!
-researching Ethiopia with our son
-room switching
-boxes
-tape
-strong children
-eating ice cream at the park




holy experience


Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Mutual Sanctification

"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)"

Paul and I try to support each other with our decisions. Sometimes, however it's easier than other times. I had no problem agreeing with him, when he said we could get this new kitten! I love the fact that Paul too loves animals (perhaps not as much as the children and myself, but he still does love them). I also was pleased to support him as he excitedly planned the idea to collect shoes for our trip to Ethiopia.

Not only do we try to support each other with our decisions, but we also try to submit to the biblical practice of mutual sanctification. Martha Peace explains this process well in her book, "The Excellent Wife". She writes "Submit to and participate in the process of mutual sanctification. Mutual sanctification is the process of helping each other become as much like the Lord Jesus Christ as possible."

She continues to write, "The husband as spiritual leader of the family is to help his wife grow as a Christian."

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)"

"The wife is to be a “helper suitable” to help her husband grow and mature as a Christian."

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

"The goal of the Christian husband and wife in their marriage is to have a oneness that is characterized by a loving spiritual and physical bond that glorifies God and thereby enhances personal spiritual growth." (Ephesians 5:22-23; Galatians 6:1)

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

"This spiritual growth and oneness in marriage does not happen by chance. It happens in direct proportion to how diligent a couple is in pursuing it. Oneness and spiritual growth are achieved as each partner helps the other become as much like the Lord Jesus Christ as possible."

It is my prayer that I can be a helper suitable to Paul and that I can help him become as much like the Lord Jesus Christ as possible. I am thankful to God for giving my a husband who pursues spiritual growth and oneness in our marriage!







Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Voetball for Footwear

"Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice" (Psalm 112:5 TNIV).

Thank-you to all who donated shoes for Africa. We collected 2 boxes (so far). Thank-you to every one's generosity. We had a fun time collecting shoes, raising money for Jesse and Nicole's trip, and watching Holland win!!

























Monday, July 5, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him"
(Nahum 1:7).

One thousand gifts continued with #642-667


-my boys

- my (not so) baby girl


- cool rocks- all made different and special by our Awesome Creator



-convoy of bikers


-Canada Day- our freedom and great country that we live in


- beauty all around us when camping



- roasted marshmallows



-Curtis learning to ride a two wheeler



-Dutch victory run around the campsite

-watching Holland win and making lots of noise at our campsite (not really roughing it, I know)

- my faithful furry feline friend for 15 years- the memories of her will live in my heart always
-safe travels
-laying in the hammock
-swimming at Oma and Opa's
-air condition
-shade from our tree from Tante Annie and Tante Hilda
-quick drying laundry (thanks to the heat wave)
-sitting around the campfire every night
-boys eager to share bedrooms
-children making new friends while camping
-hubby's excitement to show the soccer game tomorrow and collect shoes for Africa
-updated photos and measurements of Deborah!
-reassuring and comforting words from our guest minister yesterday
-God's Word- so comforting
-children eager to make donations of shoes



holy experience

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The New Jerusalem




"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven form God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Revelation 21:1-5)


This was one of the texts read by our guest minister this morning as he preached about comfort. It was also one of the texts read at my dad's funeral. Listening to the reassuring words from our minister this morning and the comforting verses from God's Word, I could not stop thinking about my aunt who passed away last night and the tragic accident of a friend, losing both of her parents last night. I was reminded that when our loved ones pass away, they are in an unimaginably wonderful paradise. There will be no more pain or death, but life forever with our heavenly Father. Tante Annie's pain is gone and now she is with my dad, other loved ones, and her Saviour who took our sins upon Himself so that we could have life with him.