Chicago

FIRST REAL TRAIN RIDE TO CHICAGO

NAVY PIER

DINNER AT A LIVE JAZZ CLUB

WALKING HAND IN HAND FOR MANY MILES AROUND THE CITY

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

SWIMMING AT OUR HOTEL

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND HAVING EVERYONE ELSE DRIVE ME AROUND

FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THAI FOOD AT A LITTLE PLACE CALLED "DUCK WALK"

LIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE BLUE MAN GROUP

WALKING MANY MORE MILES HAND IN HAND

UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP!

That my friends is what sums up the weekend I had with my husband in Chicago.

Love is Patient

I have been meeting with the ladies in my small group on a somewhat regular basis talking about our struggles in our marriages, what is good in our marriages, and how we can bless the man that God has placed in our lives. At our last meeting we started talking about I Corinthians 13:4-7 and about what love is and what love isn’t. We decided to challenge ourselves to try and really see what the Word has to say about each aspect that is mentioned in this section of scripture and also to challenge ourselves to really live out these aspects of love in our marriages and personal life.

So the first thing that is mentioned is that “Love is patient.” I took some time to look up this portion of the verse in several translations and most just say “love is patient.” So I also looked up the Webster’s dictionary definition is of patient. Being patient means bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint, manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain, not hasty or impetuous, steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. I also decided to break down this definition some more. I looked up what it means to manifest forbearance. Manifesting forbearance means to show self-control. Wow what a statement. We are to show self-control when we feel we are being provoked, which means when something is said it arouses a feeling that can come out in anger and distaste.

I fail at this, not only in my marriage but also with my children. Patience is something that I lack a great deal of in my life. This is when I evaluate how can my children learn about who Jesus is when I’m not actively showing the fruits of the Spirit. God is smacking me around right now with all of these things running through my mind. I am trying to bring it all together but it really is one big thing that God is working on in my life. If I am not choosing to be careful with the way I speak to my husband or children this is showing a lack of patience which is what love is and it is also one of the fruits of the spirit. Something that was said last night at the ladies meeting through my friend was a verse that talks about how our words can be life or death to someone. I found a verse in Proverbs 18:21. The NLT says The tongue can bring life or death, those who love to talk will reap the consequences, the amplified version says that Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life,] and The Message says that Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose. Can I say conviction, conviction, conviction!

How do I live this out? How do I come to a place where I am so conscious of the words I choose that it only brings life to others? If we as the people of God really took this to heart we wouldn’t be in this place of where we wonder how others are going to see the fruits of the spirit or how we are impacting the lives of our children everyday. We wouldn’t be in a place of hurting people because of something we said. This is where patience is a vital part of our lives and how we live.

As I close today I am going to leave you with some other scriptures on patience.

Romans 2:4 Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Romans 12:9-12 And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don't just

pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is

good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.

Eph. 4:1-2 Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your love.

II Thes. 3:5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

II Tim 2:24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

James 5:7-8 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

I Pet 1:5-7 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

Rev 2:19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.

Possible Mind explosion

Here I am at almost midnight. Thoughts are racing their way through my mind. I feel I have no control over them. The shut off button is not in site.
Tonight was my lady's group meeting. We have recently just been allowing one person at a time share about what God is doing in their hearts and minds or something along that line or coming up with a service project, really anything we feel compelled to do. Anyway tonight hit way close to my heart. My friend that was sharing was talking about how our words we use are either life or death. She was speaking about how her brother had impacted her in this area of life. This is a huge area that God has been working on my heart in.
And then kind of stemming off of this subject is the subject of the Fruits of the Spirit. Lately I have also been processing how my life reflects the beauty of the Lord to my children. I see such ugly stuff in my character, things that are definitely not reflecting the fruits that God says we should reflect. It makes me really sad to think of where I am and the responsibility I have as mommy to train up my children in the ways of the Lord. How can they really learn who God is if I don't really show his characteristics, his fruits.
Marriage is another subject that has been close to my heart for a number of years but more recently since we have taken over as leaders in our small group. Tonight a friend came to our lady's group who is going through a very difficult situation with her soon to be ex husband. It makes me sad to see someone else's marriage destroyed by divorce. But more than that I have started reading this book called "The Wholehearted Marriage" by Dr. Greg Smalley and Dr. Shawn Stoever. Maybe someday soon I will post on what I am learning through it.
Another thing I have been working on and involved in is an accountability group off of our small group that meets. Our small group's focus is on marriage. So we are taking a challenge of really digging into "what love is" out of I Corinthians 13. So far it has been good for me to do this digging. I have thoughts that I want to put together from this study and I would also like to post on this in the weeks to come and share with all of you what God is showing me through this challenge. I hope we can keep up with this challenge.
So now as my day comes to a close I am choosing to place all of these things into God's hands and let him continue to work on me because he will be faithful to complete what he has started.

Harry the Worm, and Roger the Mouse

Most of as a child had a favorite teddy bear, blanket or doll that we slept with. This past weekend my boys stayed with their grandparents while we went to the beach with some friends for some time away. They came home with these little worm things. Dakota, my youngest, has become greatly attached to this toy. He is so attached in fact that he is crawling everywhere with it and sleeping with it. He gets this smile of great contentment when he sees it. It brings a smile to my face every time I see how happy it makes him. So for him its not something really cuddly, at least not in my opinion. My husband and I decided the worm needed a name and thus he became known as Harry!
My older son has a little stuffed mouse that has become his sleeping buddy. It comes from a really great friend of mine who got it because she got her daughter one. One day I was asking him what his mouse's name was. He pops up with Roger. I have no idea where he came up with the name but it has stuck. I have a picture of his mouse but not one of Jabez with his mouse. One of my favorite things is when he is holding Roger and says "I love him." I think its adorable.
I love watching my boys love on inanimate objects. I just have to think that it will one day click for them to love each other like they love their favorite toys.

Tongue of Fire

The thought going through my mind right now is "out of the mouth, the heart speaks." So many times I come to a place where I realize how my mouth gets me into trouble. I lack the ability to hold my tongue and end up hurting others all to often. Its a choice that I haven't been making. Here is one of the verses that kind of talks about what I am thinking. "It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." Matt 15:11
I keep running over in my mind that if I am to be salt and light to the world, including most importantly my boys and close friends and family, and I am having an attitude like this how is that suppose to show them who God is. If I don't have fruit yielding from my own life, how are they suppose to. I am a hypocrite. Just tonight I was talking to my oldest about the fruits of the spirit and how we should have them in our lives with our siblings, and then i turn around and use harshness yet again tonight towards a close friend.
There is another portion of scripture that is on my mind tonight and that comes out of
James 3:1-12, NLT.
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

³ We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. ⁴ And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. ⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

⁷ People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, ⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. ¹⁰ And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! ¹¹ Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? ¹² Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

My heart breaks tonight as I have again began to realize where I have failed yet again in this area of my life. Will I ever get it. Will there ever be the change there needs to be. I hate this part of me but do I hate it bad enough to do something about it. How are my children ever suppose to see who Christ is if I have this quick fiery tongue that doesn't in any way show who God is or any of his characteristics. How do I have the right to tell my child we need to be showing the fruits of the spirit when I don't even live them out. I am so frustrated.

Blueberries!!!!!

Last week I went blueberry picking with my really good friend. We went Monday and Friday. Monday we went to this little family owned business not too far from our town. We were there for nearly 3 hours and we picked about 14 pounds between the two of us.Friday morning we thought we would like to go again and try it because we didn't feel we had enough blueberries to last us through the winter. We also went to a blueberry park that was a bit farther from home but it was oh so worth it. We started out our morning my climbing unto a little tram thingy and they took us to where our blueberries were to be picked. We got there and they assigned us to 10 bushes. We picked those 10 bushes and then asked for more bushes so we could finish what we wanted to pick. We both had carried two buckets out with us but I don't think either of us intended to fill both full. But as we were set at our second area to pick, the lady told us to finish out the row. Finishing out the row was probably about 10-12 bushes. We both are the type of people then when asked to do something or shown to do something we work hard until the task is completely. By the end of these bushes we had two buckets each entirely full of blueberries. We came home with nearly 42 pounds of blueberries that we picked in four hours. We also has some nasty sunburns. Below are the pictures of our yummy blueberries!

Video of Dakota's 1st Birthday Party

Dakota is 1

My baby is one today. It is so hard to believe how incredibly fast this year has gone. He is such a happy little guy who is such a blessing to our lives in so many ways. We still only have one word but that is "mama." I didn't hear mama from Jabez until he was over 2. It was a sound that was hard for him, not entirely sure why, but thanks to 1st steps he seems to be where he needs to be now!Anyway back to Dakota. He is a handful, way more than his older brother was at his age. He gets into anything and everything. He is standing but still not walking, but again his brother didn't walk until he was 16 months old. So here are some pictures I thought you all might enjoy. This is Dakota from the day he was born.
This is Dakota with his daddy and brother at about 3 months old. And this is my little man at about 6 months.So now we have come to the day, actually the day after, (his birthday party was actually about a week early), where my baby has hit the 1 year milestone. I can't believe it.
My handsome little man before he got his hair cut. I love this picture. His little smash cake. These two are what was left after he smashed his cake. I have never seen a baby so eager to grab at their cake like Dakota did. It was so fun to watch. I have a video of it but haven't been able to get it to load right, so for now pictures will have to do.

What kind of soil are you?

Over the last month I have been teaching Sunday school for the 6-12 year old class in church. I started my month by looking online for what I wanted to teach. I came across a 4 week lesson on The Parable of the Sower found in
Matthew 13:3-9,18-23
He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. ⁴ As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. ⁸ Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! ⁹ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: ¹⁹ The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. ²⁰ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. ²¹ But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. ²² The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. ²³ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

It has been an interesting journey going through a four week lesson on this parable. Each week we talked about the different types of soil and what that meant for people hearing about God. I mean it has been good to hear but today just kicked my butt. We talked about the seeds that fell among the good, fertile soil today and that the seed that falls here represents those who really hear and understand the word and produce a harvest.
This is where God hit me. I was talking to the kids about what it means to have fertile soil. I started talking about the fact that we need to really be choosing to spend time with God if we were really wanting to be this good, fertile soil that God can really move and work in. The only way we as his people are gonna be good soil is if we really seek after God and become more like him.
This was the conviction for me. I personally haven't been taking that time to seek out being more like God. I haven't been reading God's Word on a daily basis let alone applying it in my life. How then is my life suppose to be an example to others if I am not even doing what God asks of me to get to really know him. Here I am teaching these little people about how we as Christians should be doing this and I am not doing it myself.
I used an illustration with flowers. I had a fake rose and a real rose. We did comparisons and differences between them and then we applied it to our lives as Christians. If we are true believers we need to live our lives seeking after God and the way that he lived. I feel like a fake believer sometimes because I don't apply the things that I learn to my every day life. I don't give God the time he deserves. I lack in a huge way with this. It hit me in a huge way. HUGE!!
I want to make a change and not just say I want to make a change but I really truly want to change. I want to make a choice of spending time with God everyday. More than just reading his scripture but also applying it to my life.
Another area that really hit me was the verse that they were learning for the month. It was out of Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
For this area of the scripture I used an illustration with blueberries today. I used blueberries to show how if we apply ourselves to telling others about Christ. If I tell one person about Jesus and what he has done and can do for your life and that person goes and tells someone else about Jesus how it can spread. It was unbelievable the impact it had on the students and myself. I think telling others about Christ is one of the most difficult things to do in life. God is really calling us to reach out and tell others about Jesus. To live our lives worthy of the call God has placed on it.
As for this week I am hoping that I really take some time with God and really seek what he is trying to teach me through this time in my life. I am praying that God would continue to show me how to have an impact on others lives and how to show them Christ. But most importantly I want to seek how God wants to use me in teaching my own little boys about Christ and what he has done for them. That is my highest responsibility right now outside of making sure that I am seeking God and making him be known.

You are Worth It

I have a friend who is really being challenged in life right now. Her husband has recently lost his job do to an injury that he has that doesn't allow him to continue in the position he had. Its an injury that could be in his way for work for the rest of his life. I can't imagine being told that I may have an injury that will keep from doing what I have known for my entire life. As a result of him losing his job, they have absolutely no income right now. The only thing that they have right now are food stamps. Everything else is just going by faith. They have had their bills come up due and so far it has been taken care of by people who love them. The other evening I was talking to my friend about this and she just broke down with how she was feeling about others taking care of them completely, that they can't do anything for themselves. She told me she feels worthless. I can't imagine feeling like you don't know where your next penny is coming from to get something you really need.
So last night I took some time to see what the Bible says about "worth in the Bible and shared several verses with her. So that is what I would like to do here.
And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
Matthew 10:31 Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
1Pe 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

I don't get or understand what God is doing in their lives. He keeps showing that he is faithful to them in crazy ways. I find it awesome and amazing how faithful he has been to them. I always want to ask why He is allowing them to go through this really hard time in their life, something that has been ongoing for at least 3 years now. How can any one family continuously be hit over and over again. What are you trying to say God. What is the lesson you have in it, not only for them, but for us?
I am going to continue to lift this very precious family to God's heavenly throne that he would continue to supply all their needs.
Phil 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
I am claiming this verse, along with others, over their lives tonight.

We are home

We have been home from the hospital since late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning, which ever way you consider 1 a.m.
Early Wednesday afternoon the doctor came in and checked on us and found out that Dakota hadn't been drinking anything as of yet. To me it was greatly discouraging because I really had in my mind before we left for the hospital that Dakota would be one of those that would just pick the bottle right back up. I was wrong. Dakota was one of those that chose to be stubborn about it. He was doing well enough otherwise that they moved us from the PICU to the regular PEDS floor. Unfortunately we ended up sharing a room with a very cranky 20 month old who was also recovering from surgery but he was post-op day 1. He was still in a lot of pain. I felt for him but man did it stress me out. I think we got put in a room about half the size and had to share it with someone else. By the time we got Dakota to take a little nap, I was so frazzled I thought I was gonna lose my mind. They actually place children/patients together who have similar problems....i.e. close to the same age, same sex, and both had had oral surgery.
So we took a bit of a break from the floor and went and got some dinner. It was nice to have a bit of a break. I thoroughly needed it. Once we got back into the room Dakota was awake and crying because he was with someone he didn't know. At this point he still completely refused to eat or drink anything except about 2 bites of jello earlier in the day. I also started praying and begging God at this time to allow Dakota to eat so that we could go home. I figured going home that night was no longer even a possibility since it was already so late.I decided to pull out the formula that we use for Dakota since he wasn't digging what ever they had for him. It was about 9:30 p.m. when he started taking his bottle. I was so shocked. He just kept at it until he had finished 3 ounces. I was so excited but I just knew that we would still have to stay because they wouldn't release anyone to go home so late at night. I was wrong. The nurse called the doctor and he said yeah let them go home. Wow! I was astonished!
So began the gathering together of our belongings, signing the beloved discharge papers, and then we were out of there.Since we have returned home, Dakota continues to improve every day in everything he does. Today we have eaten something at every meal. That is huge because that is another thing that he was refusing to do for me. I am thankful that he finally has had his procedure and that we are on the way to full and complete recovery. Below I have included several pictures from the day of/day after surgery.Here is Dakota and his daddy right before they took him back for his surgery.

This is right after we went in to see him for the very first time after surgery. He was pretty agitated until they placed him in my arms and then he calmed right done.


Here he is finally resting comfortably, or as comfortably as you can right after surgery.

This is him playing Wednesday morning with toys after waking up. He is still currently attached to all his wires, which became really hard to keep untangled as he went from one end of the crib to the other trying to play.

And here is my baby with one of his first smiles right before they released us to come home!

Day After Surgery

Well Dakota had his surgery yesterday and came through it really well. It has been kind of a rough road in recovery. He is still in the PICU as of this morning. I think that we will get moved to a different floor later today because all of his vitals seem to be running normal. The only thing that isn't normal is that he is refusing to eat. He hasn't had anything to eat in almost 36 hours and still refuses his bottle. We are just believing that he will soon begin to eat and that we will get to go home in the next day or two. Right now he is doing what he has been doing best, snoring! Once I get home I will be sure to post some pictures.

Dakota is 11 months

Well Saturday marked the day my baby turned 11 months. I always find it crazy how fast time goes. It almost seems like yesterday that I had a new born. I just love his contagious smile that he carries almost all the time when you talk to him, when he plays, or just in general. He is really into climbing into, over, and on all types of things as you can see below.



He has started letting go of a few things and stands for a few seconds. We still don't have many words. Just "mamamamama" pretty much. He is pretty interested in doing things with his hands. He is eating pretty much solid foods when we have a chance to feed it to him. It makes it kind of difficult when we seem to be busy all the time. I love watching his little jaw move up and down as he mushes food.
He still isn't taking a sippy cup, partially due to his cleft I believe. He just doesn't have the suction necessary to do it. That will all change tomorrow as he is scheduled to have surgery in Ft. Wayne at 10:30 am to repair it.
My best friend spent hours on preparing a notebook of verses talking about peace, fear, among other things. I am sad to say I still haven't taken any time today to look at it and dig into all the work she has done for me. I do really appreciate all the effort put forth on her part to prepare for me.I haven't really taken the chance today to think about tomorrow. I am trusting that I have come to the point where I have put my trust in God over the matter of my heart issues I had with my baby having surgery tomorrow. I pray that I can continue to keep a calm heart, mind, and spirit.

And just for kicks here is my absolutely adorable handsome little man, well older little man who is so absolutely amazing. I enjoy listening to him talk more and more proficiently. He is off spending time with his aunt tonight and for the day tomorrow. I am thankful for family who is willing to help when needed.

Buldging tire, Grumpy Baby, and a Whole Lot of Rain

This weekend we went to Wisconsin to go to a family reunion. On our journey there we decided to stop in Chicago for a couple of hours to walk around and get some lunch. When we were almost there we realized that "Taste of Chicago" festival was happening. So we decided to park near Millennium Park which was relatively close to where the event was happening. We walked around for awhile and then got some food there. To be honest, I wasn't greatly impressed with the festival. I thought it was kind of boring.
Anyway, we crawled back into the car and took off to get out of Chicago. Our "getting out of Chicago" took us 2 hours because the traffic was bumper to bumper the entire way.
When we stopped for gas we checked out our tires to see what kind of pressure they had going on. While the guys were checking them they found that one had a really huge bulge in its sidewall. We were still about an hour away or so from our final destination. At this same time we ran into some torrential rain falls, you know the rains we have been having for weeks it seems like. So we had to take it bit easy because of the tire and also because of the pouring rain. Once we finally reached our destination of where we were staying at we got out and unloaded. Some of our clothing got wet so we had to put it in the dryer so we could have it to wear.
Saturday we started by eating breakfast and then going and getting our tire changed so that we were safe to move about. We then went to the reunion and had a wonderful time. Jabez and Dakota got absolutely filthy. Dakota ate who knows what because I let him crawl anywhere and everywhere he wanted to go. It was easier then trying to keep him contained. By the end of the evening we were totally worn out and ready for showers and bed!
This morning we got up really early and took off for home because we wanted to beat Chicago's horrible traffic. It was amazing how quickly we got through today. I loved it. Today it also poured because we got right in the middle of all the wonderful storms that were passing through.
All throughout our journey Dakota was somewhat fussy. He had a harder time on the way home, then on the way up. He did a lot of screaming and crying. But once we finally got home and I got him out of the van and let him down inside it was like he became a different child.
So now the process of unpacking and washing all of our soaked laundry, due to our bag being on top of the van in one of those travel bags, and repacking to head to the hospital for Dakota's surgery has begun. We also have a few other things that we should look after before we head to
Ft. Wayne on Tuesday.
All in all, we had a really good weekend. I am thankful that we could go see family we haven't seen in 6 years.