Category Archives: church

boat float 2013

church, friends, Parker, Theodore May 31, 2013 Leave a comment

Have I told you how much we love our church lately?

do what I say

bullying, children, choices, church, Foster May 22, 2013 Leave a comment

One thing I have realized in the short 9 years I have been a parent is that, like many things in life, you must be willing to evolve.

This is easier for some personalities than others. If you have a type A personality (as both my husband and I tend to have) it makes evolving that much harder.

Another thing that makes changing difficult is the outside pressures all around you.

In church this past Sunday the pastor called everyone who was age 22 and under to come up on the stage. He was relating to the congregation the importance of ministry to young families, children, etc.

Jonah, Parker and Theodore were in their nursery classes, so that left Foster and Katie to go up.

As soon as he made the announcement, Katie bounced right up and headed to the front of the church.

Foster inched closer to my side. I think I could actually see him shrinking. I could tell he didn’t want to go without him saying a word.

I didn’t want to tell him to go, but I knew I “should”.  After all, the pastor had made a request and every other child was going. Our following exchange went like this:

Me: (in a hushed, calm tone) “Go on up there Foster.”

Foster: (in a hushed, bewildered tone) “Why do I have to?”

Me: (in a hushed, forceful tone) “Go now, Foster, because he wants all of you up there.”

Foster: (in a hushed, pleading, frantic tone) “But why, it doesn’t matter if I go up there. He doesn’t need me up there.”

Then the window had passed. All the other kids and young adults were on the stage and the pastor was speaking.

I had several emotions going on. First, I was uncomfortable that the people around me could see my kid didn’t go with the crowd. Second, irritation and a little angry that Foster didn’t just “obey” me. Third, shame that I had tried to bully my own son into doing something that in 20 minutes wouldn’t matter anyway.

Have you ever felt uncomfortable, irritated, angry and ashamed about a situation?

Do you know which emotion is more powerful and least selfish?

Yep. Shame. There was no reason I should have tried to push Foster to do something that was so inconsequential in the grand scheme of life, yet so detrimental to his emotional well being and our relationship.

a milestone

church, Katie August 14, 2012 1 Comment

This past Sunday, Katie was baptized at our church.  She was excited to finally get to participate since she had made a decision for Christ a while ago. 

Her cousin and friend from church were also baptized and so there were 3 giggling little girls back in the changing rooms getting ready. I had conflicting emotions. 

One, that being so young she doesn’t understand the milestone that she was about to reach in a few moments. I mean, being baptized is serious business right? Then how come there are giggles and jumping around and nervous energy abounding?

Because the girls and their mommas were filled with JOY.  It’s my belief that baptism alone does not establish your relationship with Christ.  It’s a proclamation (a shout out to your peeps) that you know you were destined to spend eternity in hell but instead were rescued and restored by Jesus Christ.  All you had to do (all my little girl had to do) was ask.  She asked and He said “ABSOLUTELY”.  So being baptized is her way of saying “I love Jesus and He loves me”.  Katie’s baptism was a declaration of her new relationship.

Those were my first thoughts.

Watching her giddy and smiling, putting on her white top, oblivious to the congregation getting ready to watch her come out, my mind flashed forward.  It may be 16 years from now, it might be 30.  But, Lord willing, I will be there when we are hiding out in the changing rooms, giddy with excitement and putting on white. Katie and I both filled with joy as she steps forward to declare a new relationship once again. I prayed fervently then, that I would be there for her and that God would bless her with a husband and family to call her own.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
–Matthew 3:16-17

SS Theodore

church, Theodore May 29, 2012 Leave a comment

One of the fun things I missed while I was sick this past week was the boat float that our church’s pre-school department does every year.  The pre-schoolers and their families meet at the Greenbelt and float their little boats. Then they have a Bible story and snack. My mom was here to take care of me so Chris just took Theodore by himself.  Chris also took my mom’s new camera and got some great shots.  I hate that I missed it but these pictures made me feel a little better.

He’s Alive!

blessings, children, church, God's goodness, holiday April 10, 2012 1 Comment

We celebrate Easter like most other Americans, with food, family, treats and egg hunts.  For me though and for us as a family, Easter is the time to declare that our GOD is not dead!

He is ALIVE!!!

egg huntin’

church, holiday April 2, 2012 Comments: 4

We enjoyed a beautiful first day of April at Sam Houston Schoolhouse.  An Easter egg hunt with our church friends, made even better because Grammy and Grandad joined us!
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3 beautiful things

blessings, church, Foster, Parker April 1, 2012 Leave a comment
1. Everyone all cleaned up and on our way to church Sunday morning.

2. Parker gliding high.

3. Foster and his “Extreme Engine” he created for a Lego Club contest.

What a Sunday!

blessings, church, Katie March 26, 2012 Comments: 4

Last night Chris preached at the church we have been attending.  He was asked over a month ago and then, of course, has been preparing for weeks.  As the day came closer he became more and more nervous, battling all kinds of lies from Satan on how he would make mistakes, the message wasn’t the right one or the timely one.  Chris shared many of those lies with me but I know there were a thousand more going through his head all the way up until the moment he stepped in the pulpit.  After all, Satan is the author of doubt and confusion. 

Chris had invited a few co-workers and was feeling particularly burdened for one man.  We had both prayed for this man, that hopefully he would hear something that would help him come to the decision to follow Christ.  I was so glad to see he had decided to attend the service.

Chris delivered the message, the one he felt God had wanted him to deliver.  I think he did a wonderful job (but I am a little biased).  He didn’t make any major mistakes – like leaving his fly unzipped or falling off the stage. He let the Holy Spirit lead him, I could tell because his nervousness was gone.

The invitation was given. I have never preached or stood in the pulpit to even give a testimony. I can imagine how discouraging it must be to put your heart and soul into a message or lesson and then have it return void. Or what appears to be void.

The music played a verse, we bowed our heads and prayed. The pastor of our church was speaking, I am sure asking for those who were hurting to raise their hands or something like that…to be really honest I was just praying so I wasn’t really listening. I have been having many of my own valleys and struggles lately and I was just crying out to God.  When we raised our heads and the pastor was starting to wrap up the invitation I realized what had happened. No one was up front. Some may have come to pray and been gone before I raised my head but for now the altar was empty. No major decisions had been made.

I felt Katie tapping on my arm. Distracted I sat down and asked her what she needed.

“I want to go up there.” Katie whispered.

“Why?” I asked.

“I want you to go with me.” Katie whispered.

“Why do you want to go?” I asked again.

“I want to ask Jesus to live in my heart.” Katie said.

So we went. And her Daddy asked her a couple of questions and led her in a prayer of salvation.

Now I have a new sister in Christ and another child who’s place is secured in heaven!!!!

JOY! JOY! JOY!

Chris and I both looked at each other in the van on the way home with the same thoughts. That we knew she had been asking questions, she seemed to be getting close, but we never even thought, we never even planned that tonight of all nights the Holy Spirit would call her to make that ultimate, life-changing decision. His ways are so wonderful and mysterious.

Our God is an awesome God!