Deep thoughts

Would/Does Satan use my child as a distraction from my time with the Lord?

Yesterday this thought crossed my mind and I felt disgust and anger boiling up inside. At the thought of anything/anyone using my child against me makes the sirens go off the armor go up. It reminded me that there is a constant battle going on and that my God is always fighting for me-His child. I will fight to protect Evan the same way God fights for me.

Many times lately when I am spending time with my Lord-Evan needs me and interrupts our time. Sunday mornings at church are the same way. I get through worship and am ready to listen to what Pastor Matt has to say but Evan suddenly becomes restless and I have to leave the auditorium. Now I know babies will be babies and need our constant devotion but the timing of Evan's outbursts are sometimes questionable. Hence my first question; Would Satan use my child as a distraction from my time with the Lord? I sure would hope not. But it means this Mama must be ready for battle at all moments of the day.

I'm Listening

Yesterday I was standing at my kitchen sink looking out the window. My thoughts focused on the question of how can my God relate to me whenever I need him--when there are so many other people in the world who need him at the same time? See I know my God is just that big, that he constantly surrounds all his children. And because I love him, he loves me even more. But still the question arose.

Then the strangest thing happened the same time those thoughts entered my head. I very clearly heard the words, "I'm Listening". That's all, "I'm Listening". Again I heard them and I my eyes slowly darted around the kitchen in wonder if I really did hear it. The internal voice is such an amazing thing. The dialog that goes on in my head can be so sporadic. But then when it is interrupted with such clarity, I know it is my Lord asking for my attention. So the rest of the afternoon I spent thinking about what it was I wanted to or needed to say. I'm still not exactly sure what I want/need to say. But I know He is patient and is assuring me that He IS there to listen. He just gave me a nudge to start the conversation.

Happy Anniversary my Sweet Love!!!!

It's been four years...and I love him even more today than I did before.
Aargh to my Matey! I can't wait for more years together as we build our story.

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to our good friends Katie & Zach Schlegel.
Yesterday was their big day. We love you two!

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to our dearest friends Troy & Amy Douglas.
We love and miss you very much.
Keep being the rock-stars you are!

Praying Together

'A couple who prays together, stays together.'

This was our lesson this week in our marriage study. I don't know how many times we've heard this saying, and we know that it's true, but yet we still are not praying together on a regular basis. This week's chapters were so great for Travis and I to read. They really opened our minds to realize what we need to do more of. And that is Pray Together. I know that Travis prays regularly and I know that I do as well. But we realized our prayer time together has been in a bouncing pattern. We do, then we stop, then we're back at it, then it's gone. Why don't we pray together? Our answer...I don't know. Our prayer time together is before meals...and that seems to be it right now. We use to pray together at night just before bed, but our schedules are so off now that I usually fall asleep way before Travis. In the morning we're usually focused on getting Travis ready for work and we're trying to wake up for the day. Then we throw Evan into the mix and he requires our constant attention. Life changes, but our God never lets go. He continues to mold us as a couple and seeks our attention together and individually. We prayed together last night before bed. We chose one thing we wanted to pray about and we focused on that as we both bowed our heads. Praying together keeps us vulnerable. What a freeing feeling it is to share and trust as we confess and pray together. So we have made a commitment to work on praying together, to keep it a priority in our marriage. Please pray for us as we seek this goal. We encourage you to pray together as a couple, and see what our Lord has to say as you do.

FAN-TASTIC

A word used very often by my grandpa Les. It's not just the word that makes us smile, it's the way he says it...with so much enthusiasm. Grandpa and Grandma just came up from Missouri on Friday so we were able to spend an evening with them which is always a blessing. God has had his hand over them by healing them the past few months. I'm so glad there time here on earth isn't over yet-as selfish as that may be. We love them so much, they are just, well...FAN-TASTIC!

Evan & Great Grandpa Les

Evan & Great Grandma Arlene