Yes, only 2 years later, and it's time for an update. My, how time gets away from you. I enjoyed reading my own posts... we now know that Xavier probably has some form of autism, so that explains the difficulty correcting him as a toddler. Baby Francis has since joined us - he turned 1 in October. He is a chubby bundle of love, and of course, will. It seems 2 strong-willed parents only produce strong-willed children. But Francis is a delight, and right now we are working on balance. That seems perpetually out of reach, so I am exchanging balance for rest. Not extra sleep, not the elimination of tantrums and difficulties, but a state of being that is deeply rooted in a revelation of God's grace. I realize now that I can't make life fair or easy for my children. And frankly I'm glad, because that wouldn't help shape them into adults with qualities like determination, initiative and resilience that I would like them to have. We are all affected by Xavier's behavioral issues. Claire is no longer an only child, and she can resent the amount of attention he gets. But she also has a natural inclination to teaching, and she emulates his therapists so well. This is all part of God's plan. We have to function slightly differently from other families. We often choose to leave Xavier at home when we go out to parties or restaurants (practically never, by the way), because we cannot handle him. I (Jessica) end up giving in to his demands quite a bit in order to keep the peace, but this often backfires. It is very stressful on a day-to-day basis, and so what I want to do is approach this and other challenges in life from a state of rest.
I have taught 2 Bible studies this year - one on Love, another on Joy. I have a feeling the next one will be on Rest. What is it to have rest? It means having an understanding of grace - the unmerited favor of God - as it applies to my life. Once we let go of the search for human justice and fairness, we can accept grace, and give it, too. Another aspect of rest is authority. What do I have authority over? And what do I not have authority over? A few things come to mind - my children (to a certain extent), my time (same), my money, my thoughts, my words. I do not have authority over - other people, circumstances, or unexpected events. So these are some of the things I'm pondering as the new year begins. And a getaway weekend with my husband. That would be nice.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Kiddy Update
It's time for a kiddy update.
Let's start with Number 1 - Miss C. She is our fearless leader. Her recent accomplishments include breaking eggs and pouring them into a bowl without spilling any shells. Nice work! She is working on putting her shoes on by herself (a task she manages without a problem when she is with Daddy) as well as dressing herself. It seems more satisfying to have Mommy's help, and that's fine. The day will soon come when that will all change. Her relationship with her little brother is interesting. She is often overheard saying something like this: "Xavier! XAVIER! LOOK AT ME!" He was apparently born to be her audience, but is still unaware of this. She is also quick to correct him a la Mommy or Daddy, always for his own good, of course. As he is innocently chewing on a crayon, she grabs it from him, not so gently. He, in turn, screams bloody murder, and quickly throws a few objects around in protest. But, she means well, and I ask her to correct him gently, and don't push him out of your way. She has been spotted sneaking up next to him as he hold on to the table, and with a quick sway of the hips he is on the floor. But, they are starting to play well together, and that is a huge milestone in the harmony and functioning of this family. Since Grandpa Charlie bought a tent/tunnel contraption for the upstairs playroom/bedroom/guestroom (mostly playroom), both of them love to go upstairs and are quickly heard squealing and laughing.
Miss C's sense of humor has also developed. The other day she asked me if I wanted some "apple pee" - I guess because she figured it was just apple juice. I told her that was disgusting, but she thought it was funny. She likes to occasionally say "Haha, very funny" out of the blue. She also cracks me up when we are reading a story, and she randomly imposes a different word or character into the story. "Mary and Joseph rode on a tobit." She even manages to hold her laugh for full effect. It is funny, and it makes bed time not much of a wind-down time. She still hates taking a bath, so 2 or 3 times a week she gets a lightning-fast shower. She used to scream but now I bribe, usually for a lollipop. It is so worth it.
Number 2 - Mr X. Ha. He is... shall we say... active. The purpose of every object is to be thrown. Whether it's from his high chair, from his crib, from his car seat... say, anywhere, he throws. Food, stuffed animals, ceramic bowls... everything. This is new for us. And apparently "No" with a gentle slap on the wrist means "Smile real big and do it even more." So we are working on this. He is also a big fan of rocking himself in the high chair... no, not rocking, slamming himself into the high chair. We used to worry about brain damage, but there is no stopping him. And there is no cause. He often has food in his mouth while slamming away, or he could be simultaneously throwing food. He could be unhappy about our choice of food, or he could be laughing mischievously (thank you spell check). On the other hand, he, too, likes his Mama. He is a snuggly little guy, and when he rests his sleepy head on my chest, I am overcome with warmth.
As for milestones, he is still a fast crawler at 14 months, but enjoys the occasional walk while holding my hands. I'm in no hurry to buy shoes, so crawl away.
That about sums it up.
Finally, our great discovery as a family is the gym with $1 day care. That's right - leave your kids for up to 2 hours for $1 each. And they actually enjoy it and have good activities. I have enjoyed the zumba class - it releases the dancer/gymnast in me, and is a great workout. Scott does many miles each day on the treadmill and bike. I have found that I have more energy throughout the day, and am generally more optimist. Of course, the Christmas vacation really helped that was well.
Speaking of which, Claire did not eat for a week, due to an ear infection followed by the stomach flu, so we were glad she was in the 75 percentile for weight before that trial. Her eating is back up, in a big way. I hope she's growing :) Her diet still consists primarily of peanut butter, nutella, fruit and prune juice. Xavier, meanwhile, enjoys meat and sandwiches, and does not enjoy fruit. Interesting.
Well, it's time to run. I'm glad I took the time to give a little update on everyone. I hope to do it more often, so I can talk about my job change, house improvements, Scott's think tank projects, ministry updates and more. Till then, May God Bless You and Empower You to Bless Others.
Let's start with Number 1 - Miss C. She is our fearless leader. Her recent accomplishments include breaking eggs and pouring them into a bowl without spilling any shells. Nice work! She is working on putting her shoes on by herself (a task she manages without a problem when she is with Daddy) as well as dressing herself. It seems more satisfying to have Mommy's help, and that's fine. The day will soon come when that will all change. Her relationship with her little brother is interesting. She is often overheard saying something like this: "Xavier! XAVIER! LOOK AT ME!" He was apparently born to be her audience, but is still unaware of this. She is also quick to correct him a la Mommy or Daddy, always for his own good, of course. As he is innocently chewing on a crayon, she grabs it from him, not so gently. He, in turn, screams bloody murder, and quickly throws a few objects around in protest. But, she means well, and I ask her to correct him gently, and don't push him out of your way. She has been spotted sneaking up next to him as he hold on to the table, and with a quick sway of the hips he is on the floor. But, they are starting to play well together, and that is a huge milestone in the harmony and functioning of this family. Since Grandpa Charlie bought a tent/tunnel contraption for the upstairs playroom/bedroom/guestroom (mostly playroom), both of them love to go upstairs and are quickly heard squealing and laughing.
Miss C's sense of humor has also developed. The other day she asked me if I wanted some "apple pee" - I guess because she figured it was just apple juice. I told her that was disgusting, but she thought it was funny. She likes to occasionally say "Haha, very funny" out of the blue. She also cracks me up when we are reading a story, and she randomly imposes a different word or character into the story. "Mary and Joseph rode on a tobit." She even manages to hold her laugh for full effect. It is funny, and it makes bed time not much of a wind-down time. She still hates taking a bath, so 2 or 3 times a week she gets a lightning-fast shower. She used to scream but now I bribe, usually for a lollipop. It is so worth it.
Number 2 - Mr X. Ha. He is... shall we say... active. The purpose of every object is to be thrown. Whether it's from his high chair, from his crib, from his car seat... say, anywhere, he throws. Food, stuffed animals, ceramic bowls... everything. This is new for us. And apparently "No" with a gentle slap on the wrist means "Smile real big and do it even more." So we are working on this. He is also a big fan of rocking himself in the high chair... no, not rocking, slamming himself into the high chair. We used to worry about brain damage, but there is no stopping him. And there is no cause. He often has food in his mouth while slamming away, or he could be simultaneously throwing food. He could be unhappy about our choice of food, or he could be laughing mischievously (thank you spell check). On the other hand, he, too, likes his Mama. He is a snuggly little guy, and when he rests his sleepy head on my chest, I am overcome with warmth.
As for milestones, he is still a fast crawler at 14 months, but enjoys the occasional walk while holding my hands. I'm in no hurry to buy shoes, so crawl away.
That about sums it up.
Finally, our great discovery as a family is the gym with $1 day care. That's right - leave your kids for up to 2 hours for $1 each. And they actually enjoy it and have good activities. I have enjoyed the zumba class - it releases the dancer/gymnast in me, and is a great workout. Scott does many miles each day on the treadmill and bike. I have found that I have more energy throughout the day, and am generally more optimist. Of course, the Christmas vacation really helped that was well.
Speaking of which, Claire did not eat for a week, due to an ear infection followed by the stomach flu, so we were glad she was in the 75 percentile for weight before that trial. Her eating is back up, in a big way. I hope she's growing :) Her diet still consists primarily of peanut butter, nutella, fruit and prune juice. Xavier, meanwhile, enjoys meat and sandwiches, and does not enjoy fruit. Interesting.
Well, it's time to run. I'm glad I took the time to give a little update on everyone. I hope to do it more often, so I can talk about my job change, house improvements, Scott's think tank projects, ministry updates and more. Till then, May God Bless You and Empower You to Bless Others.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Meet Xavier
I'm going to do what no parent is supposed to do: compare children. That is because I am astounded at how different my two little ones are - it is truly fascinating. So here goes:
Xavier calm, easy-going; Claire very energetic, born impatient (getting better)
Xavier at 10 months - sniper crawling; Claire was crawling (7 months), standing, and dancing
Xavier at 10 months - baby food only; Claire never ate baby food, straight to cheerios, bread and fruit
Xavier will eat ANY type of baby food; Claire has always refused all vegetables, meat, eggs and beans
Xavier rocks himself and giggles in car seat; Claire cried most of the time in her car seat
Xavier slept through the night at 9 1/2 months; Claire at 2 months
Xavier goes to sleep right away; Claire takes 1-2 hours to fall asleep
Xavier loves to cuddle; Claire from birth, wanted to face out, and if possible get out of arms
Xavier sits in high chair for 30+ mins; Claire cried if in high chair after eating
Xavier enjoys being around people; Claire enjoys people being around her
Well, that's a start. Claire also loves to follow routines and tell people what to do, so we'll see how Xavier compares when he's older. It just comes naturally to her. For example, "Mommy, are you going to take a nap?" Me: "Yes, I think so." Claire: "Don't forget to take off your shoes before you get in bed."
Never a dull moment with these 2 little ones. They are truly precious and a blessing to us.
Xavier calm, easy-going; Claire very energetic, born impatient (getting better)
Xavier at 10 months - sniper crawling; Claire was crawling (7 months), standing, and dancing
Xavier at 10 months - baby food only; Claire never ate baby food, straight to cheerios, bread and fruit
Xavier will eat ANY type of baby food; Claire has always refused all vegetables, meat, eggs and beans
Xavier rocks himself and giggles in car seat; Claire cried most of the time in her car seat
Xavier slept through the night at 9 1/2 months; Claire at 2 months
Xavier goes to sleep right away; Claire takes 1-2 hours to fall asleep
Xavier loves to cuddle; Claire from birth, wanted to face out, and if possible get out of arms
Xavier sits in high chair for 30+ mins; Claire cried if in high chair after eating
Xavier enjoys being around people; Claire enjoys people being around her
Well, that's a start. Claire also loves to follow routines and tell people what to do, so we'll see how Xavier compares when he's older. It just comes naturally to her. For example, "Mommy, are you going to take a nap?" Me: "Yes, I think so." Claire: "Don't forget to take off your shoes before you get in bed."
Never a dull moment with these 2 little ones. They are truly precious and a blessing to us.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
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Saturday, February 19, 2011
New Baby, New House, We're Blessed!
Wow, has it been that long?! Well, since June much has happened! God opened the door for us to buy a house, and one month later we built our entertainment center and are more or less moved in. What a blessing it is! Sitting on over 1/2 acre, Claire gleefully runs around her backyard, picking up grass, dirt and leaves to "investigate" them. She is learning about nature, and soon she will be planting with her Daddy as the weather clears up. Meanwhile, Xavier is an early teether like Claire was, and is relishing the invention of Orajel, as is his Mommy! Finally, he sleeps through his naps, though not through the night. At one point, he was sleeping from 8pm to 4am, but these days he is up around midnight, 3am and 6am, just like a newborn... could also be a growth spurt, who knows. In any case, Mommy looks forward to her morning cup of coffee! He is a precious child, with a more sensitive temperament than his sister, very much attached to nursing. Meanwhile, Claire is discovering pretend play, inviting me to eat playdo peanut butter sandwiches and coffee on her princess table. What a joy she is! Her brother can be quite demanding at times, and she patiently plays by herself while his needs are tended to.
Well, here we are! Next week I go back to work three days a week, leaving the babies with Scott and our babysitter, Hope. It will be hard, but at the same time I know I will relish the time to myself on the metro, and the time around other adults at the office. But mostly I look forward to having more opportunities to share the love of God and the Gospel with people. That is, I believe, the main reason God has been still in the workplace, and I will go wherever he sends me. Scott continues teaching U.S. History at Montgomery College, and attending think tank events whenever he can.
Till next time!
Well, here we are! Next week I go back to work three days a week, leaving the babies with Scott and our babysitter, Hope. It will be hard, but at the same time I know I will relish the time to myself on the metro, and the time around other adults at the office. But mostly I look forward to having more opportunities to share the love of God and the Gospel with people. That is, I believe, the main reason God has been still in the workplace, and I will go wherever he sends me. Scott continues teaching U.S. History at Montgomery College, and attending think tank events whenever he can.
Till next time!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
It's a Boy!
Well, we've known this for quite some time - the pendulum test doesn't fail! But it's now confirmed, we are being blessed with a son sometime in late Fall. It really hit home when Scott brought home some baby essentials yesterday - little blue onesies, hats, mittens, even warm fuzzy socks for the winter. My nesting instinct kicked right in, as I marveled at the precious child that would be filling these articles of clothing. His name is a secret until the big day, but he is named after a great preacher, so we wonder if he will become one himself. He and Claire will have big shoes to fill with their names!
Claire, meanwhile, is becoming quite a genteel little lady. She says "hi" and "bye" with all her might, often repeatedly until we reply with equal vigor. She says "thank you" throughout the day, and says "Jesus" anytime she sees a crucifix. Her favorite book is Mommy's Bible that has a zipper around it, though I have to remind her that it does not need any drawings to accompany the words!
We are at quite a junction, as we wait to hear on Scott's job placements in the Fall, and wait on the Lord for direction for our next home. Will we buy or continue to rent? That is the big question, but God is leading us one step at a time. We now know where He wants us to be, but since the median house price there is $700,000, He's got to show us the next step, too!
Blessings to all who read these words!
Claire, meanwhile, is becoming quite a genteel little lady. She says "hi" and "bye" with all her might, often repeatedly until we reply with equal vigor. She says "thank you" throughout the day, and says "Jesus" anytime she sees a crucifix. Her favorite book is Mommy's Bible that has a zipper around it, though I have to remind her that it does not need any drawings to accompany the words!
We are at quite a junction, as we wait to hear on Scott's job placements in the Fall, and wait on the Lord for direction for our next home. Will we buy or continue to rent? That is the big question, but God is leading us one step at a time. We now know where He wants us to be, but since the median house price there is $700,000, He's got to show us the next step, too!
Blessings to all who read these words!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Month of Mary & First Words
What a month it has been! In just one week, we have celebrated Jessica's graduation, Claire turning 2 and Scott's graduation. We were blessed by the visits of Jessica's parents from France and Scott's father from Kansas. We tried to capture as much as possible in pictures so that we would not forget, but there is one thing that pictures cannot capture - Claire's first words. She was waiting to turn 2 to really start speaking, and now words are coming so fast, it's exciting! A few of them are: car, which she excitedly says when she sees our car; stuck; skype; cup; gator (on our visit to the National Aquarium); duck (not ducky like Mommy says); and of course very pronounced "hiiii" and "byyyye." I know these are the types of things we forget, so I want to be sure to get them on "paper," and I hope to be as diligent for our future children. How exciting it is when they grow up to see these little bits of memories about them written down or on film. And she also points to pictures of herself and says "Claire" in such a cute, baby voice.
More in a minute!
More in a minute!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Let's Pray
It's been many months since Claire began to lift her hands up in worship when music comes on. Last week, she emulated us in another unexpected way. We were attending Saturday evening Mass at the community, and as Jessica was kneeling, Claire stood next to her and knelt, too! She tried to get comfortable, which was difficult with her clunky shoes on, but she did it nonetheless, for most of the time that we knelt. And she remained very serious and somber the whole time. We both smiled at each other. What a delight she is! It's quite incredible that she does not speak, does not understand too much, but she loves to emulate us in other ways, especially in prayer and in housework! It is not our doing, but God's gift!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Feast of the Epiphany
The story of the Magi/3 Kings is as real to many of us as the story of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. But I ask you to come with me, and read it anew. Put yourself in the story; meditate on it. I would like to invite you in particular to put yourself in Joseph's place.
Luke 2:4-7 reads:
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
First, Joseph has to bring his pregnant fiancee on the long trip to Bethlehem, most likely on a donkey. He tried to make her comfortable, but when a woman is 8-9 months pregnant, that is quite an unlikely achievement. Then, when they arrive, he cannot find any room for them at a hotel. He must have felt like such a failure! We think of this cute manger scene that little children replicate for us, but can you imagine being the husband of a young woman have a baby in a stable?! How humiliating! We are not told how he reacted, but at the very least he must have been quite sad that he couldn't offer Mary a better place to give birth.
But then...
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Now, imagine Joseph's reaction. I imagine he heard God's voice deep in his heart, reassuring him that he was not a failure, and that God's hand was guiding and protecting him. I imagine he was also bewildered. "I knew this child was special, but this? Who is this child, really? And who am I to be his father?" Indeed, when a few days later Herod ordered all the babies to be killed, for fear of someone overthrowing him, it was much easier to flee unnoticed from a stable than from a hotel.
My message to you is this: when it seems like people are rejecting you, scorning you and not giving you your rightful place, remember the baby Jesus. Even if He needs to bring people from a distant land to provide for you, God will meet all of your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). He will position you in the place where you can shine and give glory to God, not on your own merits, but on the merits of His beloved Son, Jesus. So take your eyes off of your circumstances and yourself, and keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Heb 12:2). Love Him, worship Him, give Him your very best, and watch as He meets all of your needs and satisfies all of your desires (Psalm 103).
Luke 2:4-7 reads:
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
First, Joseph has to bring his pregnant fiancee on the long trip to Bethlehem, most likely on a donkey. He tried to make her comfortable, but when a woman is 8-9 months pregnant, that is quite an unlikely achievement. Then, when they arrive, he cannot find any room for them at a hotel. He must have felt like such a failure! We think of this cute manger scene that little children replicate for us, but can you imagine being the husband of a young woman have a baby in a stable?! How humiliating! We are not told how he reacted, but at the very least he must have been quite sad that he couldn't offer Mary a better place to give birth.
But then...
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
(Matthew 2:1-12)
Now, imagine Joseph's reaction. I imagine he heard God's voice deep in his heart, reassuring him that he was not a failure, and that God's hand was guiding and protecting him. I imagine he was also bewildered. "I knew this child was special, but this? Who is this child, really? And who am I to be his father?" Indeed, when a few days later Herod ordered all the babies to be killed, for fear of someone overthrowing him, it was much easier to flee unnoticed from a stable than from a hotel.
My message to you is this: when it seems like people are rejecting you, scorning you and not giving you your rightful place, remember the baby Jesus. Even if He needs to bring people from a distant land to provide for you, God will meet all of your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). He will position you in the place where you can shine and give glory to God, not on your own merits, but on the merits of His beloved Son, Jesus. So take your eyes off of your circumstances and yourself, and keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Heb 12:2). Love Him, worship Him, give Him your very best, and watch as He meets all of your needs and satisfies all of your desires (Psalm 103).
Friday, October 23, 2009
"No!"
Claire has been relatively "slow" in learning to speak, while she has quickly learned to walk, dance and climb hills. But the words are starting now, as well as her assertive nature. This is really delightful, but we also feel a slight trepidation! For example, as she tries to put a big piece of bread in her mouth that doesn't fit (she doesn't get biting a piece off yet), Jessica says, "Let me help you. Show Mommy." And she replies, "No!" We have to withhold our laughter so she doesn't think that defiance is OK, but we are laughing on the inside. She tries again, can't get it in, and finally allows Jessica to help her cut it in half.
The only other word she says is "Mama" but this really means "I want." Pointing to various objects out of her reach, she opens and closes her fist saying, "Mama!" That said, her comprehension level is quite high, and it can be surprising at times. Jessica will mention to Scott that she's going to take a shower, and the next thing we know, the bathroom door is slammed shut, from the inside! It's Claire, in the dark, getting ahead of Jessica because she doesn't like it when she's locked out of the bathroom. She has quite a sense of humor.
On the parents' side, Scott has been fighting the flu for about a week now, and he has a lot of catching up to do on his schoolwork, so please pray for him. Jessica has been a real homemaker lately, baking some delicious cookies and bread, and taking care of Scott and Claire. Her ministry at the pre-release center is going very well. Her ESL students are delightful, and her mentee is gaining trust and will hopefully blossom into a confident and achieving young woman. All in all, we are blessed and are filled with the peace that passes understanding, the greatest gift of God.
The only other word she says is "Mama" but this really means "I want." Pointing to various objects out of her reach, she opens and closes her fist saying, "Mama!" That said, her comprehension level is quite high, and it can be surprising at times. Jessica will mention to Scott that she's going to take a shower, and the next thing we know, the bathroom door is slammed shut, from the inside! It's Claire, in the dark, getting ahead of Jessica because she doesn't like it when she's locked out of the bathroom. She has quite a sense of humor.
On the parents' side, Scott has been fighting the flu for about a week now, and he has a lot of catching up to do on his schoolwork, so please pray for him. Jessica has been a real homemaker lately, baking some delicious cookies and bread, and taking care of Scott and Claire. Her ministry at the pre-release center is going very well. Her ESL students are delightful, and her mentee is gaining trust and will hopefully blossom into a confident and achieving young woman. All in all, we are blessed and are filled with the peace that passes understanding, the greatest gift of God.
Friday, September 11, 2009
9/11/2009
Tonight I had one of the most moving experiences of my life. Today is Friday, September 11, 2009, 8 years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon. I saw the smoke erupt over the Pentagon as I was leaving the gym that morning at Georgetown University. Today, in my world of metro and work, there was very little remembrance of this day, except for a small flag hanging in the lobby. As Scott and I (and Claire) were driving to the Fresh Anointing prayer meeting, I commented how some people have very deep and personal reactions to this day, and I wish I had more of that. But I had only lived in the U.S. for one year at the time, and I didn't feel the allegiance and pride in this country that grows with time. I had no idea how God was going to answer that desire, this very night.
The prayer meeting was, as usual, wonderful. As soon as we arrived we were enveloped in the joy of the Lord, and we lifted our hands and danced - Claire, too! Toward the end, they have a time of prayer for healing, and Scott was helping. As it was getting late for Claire, I stayed near the door. A couple arrived and said it was their first time. I explained what was going on and the woman mentioned that her husband needed prayer, because he had just returned from Afghanistan. They both received prayer for quite some time. After the prayer meeting was over, I just wanted to thank him, but as I talked to him, I said, "Can I give you a hug?" He got up and I hugged him tight and started to cry. He said it felt good to be thanked, and he was moved, too. I didn't want to let go but I thought it would be inappropriate! He told me he was a "walking wounded" and was recovering. I welcomed him home and told him how blessed I was to have met him. He said he also had felt healing during his prayer, and he was very glad to have come.
Hours later, I am still teary-eyed over this meeting. It is so different to actually meet someone who has left his country and everything he knows to fight for freedom and to be willing to die for it. He represents so many men and women who have done the same thing - real people, flesh and blood.
Thank you, Lord, for this 9/11 I will never forget.
The prayer meeting was, as usual, wonderful. As soon as we arrived we were enveloped in the joy of the Lord, and we lifted our hands and danced - Claire, too! Toward the end, they have a time of prayer for healing, and Scott was helping. As it was getting late for Claire, I stayed near the door. A couple arrived and said it was their first time. I explained what was going on and the woman mentioned that her husband needed prayer, because he had just returned from Afghanistan. They both received prayer for quite some time. After the prayer meeting was over, I just wanted to thank him, but as I talked to him, I said, "Can I give you a hug?" He got up and I hugged him tight and started to cry. He said it felt good to be thanked, and he was moved, too. I didn't want to let go but I thought it would be inappropriate! He told me he was a "walking wounded" and was recovering. I welcomed him home and told him how blessed I was to have met him. He said he also had felt healing during his prayer, and he was very glad to have come.
Hours later, I am still teary-eyed over this meeting. It is so different to actually meet someone who has left his country and everything he knows to fight for freedom and to be willing to die for it. He represents so many men and women who have done the same thing - real people, flesh and blood.
Thank you, Lord, for this 9/11 I will never forget.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June Update
So much has happened in the last few months. Claire's grandmother and great-grandmother came to visit us from France for 10 days, and what a good time we had altogether. We visited some sights, but more than anything it was just good family time. While they were here, Claire celebrated her first birthday, or rather WE celebrated her first birthday! She's been taking assisted steps for a while, but now she's starting to walk unassisted, and it is adorable. She walks hesitantly, then starts clapping for herself. I hope to catch it on video soon. Parenting has such priceless moments and we try to enjoy them all.
Jessica is starting to pray and seek God about Claire and raising her to be a godly woman. This seems to come much more naturally to Scott, but for Jessica discipline does not come naturally, so she is learning to be firm - without anger or fear. The issue she is dealing with now is throwing food and drink off the high chair. Claire does not do this when Scott is around, so clearly Jessica needs to learn a thing or two! But praise God, we're not perfect, but we're on our way, and there is no guilt or condemnation for us because we are in Christ Jesus. So we strive to do our best, but perfection is by no means the goal.
We are starting to prepare ourselves for our trip to Spain and France - only 5 weeks away! As daunting as it is to travel with Claire across such a big time difference, we remember that we only have one child, and there are people who travel with many more small children!
The semester has now been over for about 3 weeks, and that has been so good for all of us. We are enjoying our weekends together, not having to fret over any classwork.
Jessica is looking forward to starting mentoring former prisoners at the pre-release center down the street. You can see a link here. Scott has a few things in prospect, including a big grant proposal with the University of Southern California on the charismatic movement around the world, and with a Catholic think tank based out of Catholic University. He is very motivated and excited to start a career as a researcher and fellow. We are declaring this year as the year of God's positioning us in the right places and opening doors no man can close. Check out Revelation 3:7 for Scriptural reference.
Well, we're off to a Lord's Day supper - that a dinner held once a month at the house of someone from our community - Mother of God Community. We are becoming members of the community this June 14. Thank you for your prayers and your updates.
Jessica is starting to pray and seek God about Claire and raising her to be a godly woman. This seems to come much more naturally to Scott, but for Jessica discipline does not come naturally, so she is learning to be firm - without anger or fear. The issue she is dealing with now is throwing food and drink off the high chair. Claire does not do this when Scott is around, so clearly Jessica needs to learn a thing or two! But praise God, we're not perfect, but we're on our way, and there is no guilt or condemnation for us because we are in Christ Jesus. So we strive to do our best, but perfection is by no means the goal.
We are starting to prepare ourselves for our trip to Spain and France - only 5 weeks away! As daunting as it is to travel with Claire across such a big time difference, we remember that we only have one child, and there are people who travel with many more small children!
The semester has now been over for about 3 weeks, and that has been so good for all of us. We are enjoying our weekends together, not having to fret over any classwork.
Jessica is looking forward to starting mentoring former prisoners at the pre-release center down the street. You can see a link here. Scott has a few things in prospect, including a big grant proposal with the University of Southern California on the charismatic movement around the world, and with a Catholic think tank based out of Catholic University. He is very motivated and excited to start a career as a researcher and fellow. We are declaring this year as the year of God's positioning us in the right places and opening doors no man can close. Check out Revelation 3:7 for Scriptural reference.
Well, we're off to a Lord's Day supper - that a dinner held once a month at the house of someone from our community - Mother of God Community. We are becoming members of the community this June 14. Thank you for your prayers and your updates.
Friday, March 27, 2009
I'm healed!
Well, since this is about the Montgomery's, tonight it's not so much about Claire, but about me - Jessica. Scott and I invited Claire's godmother, Paula, to come over and babysit tonight so that we could have a night out alone. We decided to go to the Fresh Anointing, a Catholic Charismatic prayer group for young adults near Catholic University. I was involved in the leadership team before Claire was born, but I hadn't been back since, and they are now in a new location. So we were running late - 2 trains derailed and it was raining, but we weren't deterred. It was truly a fresh anointing, and it was wonderful to see so many new faces. It looked like the Upper Room, with all these hands lifted up to God in praise and adoration. Toward the end, they had a time of prayer ministry and I quickly went up. Since just a few months after becoming pregnant with Claire, I have suffered from bursitis in my hip, a sort of joint inflammation. At the time, I got a cortisone shot in the area, but after Claire was born it became irritated again as I lifted her up and struggled to recover from the c-section. It had gotten particularly painful in the last few weeks, and I had resolved to go to get another cortisone shot.
But tonight I gave God a chance, and He showed up! A Franciscan seminarian friend of mine, Ron, prayed with such authority over me. My legs were visibly uneven, and as he prayed and I received, I felt my legs balance, and the pain was gone. Completely gone. So praise the Lord! It's not hard for God to heal, it just takes believing that He can and wants to do it. What a blessing it is to live miracles like these every day - some are more manifest than others, and this is one of those times. And then all the people that were praising God from hearing my testimony was awesome.
But tonight I gave God a chance, and He showed up! A Franciscan seminarian friend of mine, Ron, prayed with such authority over me. My legs were visibly uneven, and as he prayed and I received, I felt my legs balance, and the pain was gone. Completely gone. So praise the Lord! It's not hard for God to heal, it just takes believing that He can and wants to do it. What a blessing it is to live miracles like these every day - some are more manifest than others, and this is one of those times. And then all the people that were praising God from hearing my testimony was awesome.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Rejoice!
On December 26, I was reflecting on what a special day this has been over the years. In 2005, I announced my engagement to my family. They didn't take it well, to say the least, but it was a momentousness day for me doing something I was so afraid of. On the morning of December 26 in 2007, I felt Claire kicking in my womb for the first time. And on the same day in 2008, Claire began to crawl. I was packing our family suitcase for our trip to Solomons Island - from where I am currently writing as Claire snoozes - when Claire looked up from her play area, and crawled right over to me and began chewing on the suitcase. I called Scott, who put her back in her play area and filmed her crawling over to me again, as if she had been doing this forever :) It was a joyous moment... followed by some trepidation I admit! Isn't that always how it is with a joy-filled event? Anxiety quickly comes knocking, and we are faced with the choice of holding on to the joy, or giving way to the stress and worry.
That's how this short family trip has been for me. Claire is now crawling and just starting to eat mushy solids (is that an oxymoron?), and we just bought a hand mill to make some of my dinner plate into her dinner, and it isn't working at all. The contraption is either faulty or I'm not getting it. Finally, we just decided to feed her milk and fruit jars and figure this thing out another time, but it took 24 hours for me to relinquish frustration and choose joy.
In the psalms, David often says to himself "rejoice, oh my soul." Likewise, we sometimes need to out loud and on purpose say to ourselves "rejoice!" and remember all the wonderful deeds of the Lord in our lives and in history. I often begin my praise with Psalm 103 - "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, and forget not all of His benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with compassion... for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love toward those who fear Him. And as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." This quickly reminds me of who my God is, who it is that I serve and am loved by.
I encourage you to do the same today. Purposely call to mind the blessings that the Lord has bestowed on you and read about His goodness in the Bible. Then, when you are filled to overflow with His love and mercy, pray for your nation and your leaders, that they too would be led by their praise of the Lord. And pray for your military, that they would be righteous and safe from physical and spiritual harm. And pray for families, that they would humble themselves and love one another. And then pray for the Lord's guidance in your life - how is God calling you to make a difference in your community? Who can you take out for lunch and give encouragement to? Who can you say "I'm sorry" to and reconcile with in Jesus' name? How has the Lord blessed you and called you? Then share with us the results in the Comments below.
That's how this short family trip has been for me. Claire is now crawling and just starting to eat mushy solids (is that an oxymoron?), and we just bought a hand mill to make some of my dinner plate into her dinner, and it isn't working at all. The contraption is either faulty or I'm not getting it. Finally, we just decided to feed her milk and fruit jars and figure this thing out another time, but it took 24 hours for me to relinquish frustration and choose joy.
In the psalms, David often says to himself "rejoice, oh my soul." Likewise, we sometimes need to out loud and on purpose say to ourselves "rejoice!" and remember all the wonderful deeds of the Lord in our lives and in history. I often begin my praise with Psalm 103 - "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, and forget not all of His benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with compassion... for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love toward those who fear Him. And as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." This quickly reminds me of who my God is, who it is that I serve and am loved by.
I encourage you to do the same today. Purposely call to mind the blessings that the Lord has bestowed on you and read about His goodness in the Bible. Then, when you are filled to overflow with His love and mercy, pray for your nation and your leaders, that they too would be led by their praise of the Lord. And pray for your military, that they would be righteous and safe from physical and spiritual harm. And pray for families, that they would humble themselves and love one another. And then pray for the Lord's guidance in your life - how is God calling you to make a difference in your community? Who can you take out for lunch and give encouragement to? Who can you say "I'm sorry" to and reconcile with in Jesus' name? How has the Lord blessed you and called you? Then share with us the results in the Comments below.
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Welcome Break
Yesterday, Sunday morning, we were gathered around the breakfast table, and we were so irritable. I (Jessica) had taken a few days off work to work on my midterm, and it was stressful being home and getting anything done. On top of that, I got the stomach flu, so I was not in good spirits. But I so love being around my baby that I didn't want to leave and study at the library... So we had all been in each other's hair for a full week, and in an apartment like this it's easy for me to nag at Scott perpetually, and for him to get annoyed at me.
So Sunday came around, and Scott realized we needed to get out of here, so suggested that we take the day off and go to Harper's Ferry. I felt like a little girl going to Disney Land, I was so thrilled at the prospect. It's amazing how something so simple could make all the difference! So off we went, Claire in tow, to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. It is surprisingly close - only an hour or so away - and incredibly beautiful this time of year. It was a perfect day - sunny, cool and not very crowded. And Claire, too, was smiles all day long. We stopped at an old restaurant from the Civil War, now closed, but with an incredible view of the Potomac River and tree-covered hills. Then we shared a delicious, home-made pizza at a local cafe. Then we walked down and up the steep hills of the main street with tourists from around the world. We talked to some Japanese and Brazilians. Scott explored the town with his new flip video camera and made memories.
Then we stopped at Walmart on our way home and picked up some things for Claire. I bought a shirt for $2 - unbelievable!
All in all, it was a wonderful breath of fresh air. It was great for our marriage and our family, and it reminds me how grateful I am to God for my family. God has blessed me so abundantly with a wonderful husband, job, studies, ministry and now a baby girl that just thrills me. Thank you, Lord!
Check out our pictures at jessica.d.montgomery.googlepages.com.
So Sunday came around, and Scott realized we needed to get out of here, so suggested that we take the day off and go to Harper's Ferry. I felt like a little girl going to Disney Land, I was so thrilled at the prospect. It's amazing how something so simple could make all the difference! So off we went, Claire in tow, to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. It is surprisingly close - only an hour or so away - and incredibly beautiful this time of year. It was a perfect day - sunny, cool and not very crowded. And Claire, too, was smiles all day long. We stopped at an old restaurant from the Civil War, now closed, but with an incredible view of the Potomac River and tree-covered hills. Then we shared a delicious, home-made pizza at a local cafe. Then we walked down and up the steep hills of the main street with tourists from around the world. We talked to some Japanese and Brazilians. Scott explored the town with his new flip video camera and made memories.
Then we stopped at Walmart on our way home and picked up some things for Claire. I bought a shirt for $2 - unbelievable!
All in all, it was a wonderful breath of fresh air. It was great for our marriage and our family, and it reminds me how grateful I am to God for my family. God has blessed me so abundantly with a wonderful husband, job, studies, ministry and now a baby girl that just thrills me. Thank you, Lord!
Check out our pictures at jessica.d.montgomery.googlepages.com.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
She thinks I'm hilarious!
What a hilarious day at the Montgomery house. Scott spent the whole day watching football (OK, only a couple of hours - an eternity to his wife) and during dinner I was making fun of how he reads the newspaper in the morning, going on about bad news and bad people (similarly during the football game). And all of a sudden, I hear giggling. Claire thinks I'm hilarious! As I kept doing it, she just laughed more and more. Well, Scott's running "joke" is that I'm a serious person, and I don't get a lot of his jokes (only me, of course), so we consider this divine providence - someone thinks I'm funny! I must admit, God uses Claire so much in our day-to-day lives, in particular when I start taking myself too seriously. She reminds me to lighten up. I sometimes do.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
So Many Milestones
Scott and I are so thrilled as we watch the little - and big - changes Claire is going through. A few days ago she celebrated 4 months of being in the world with us by getting 5 shots. It was not a happy time for her, but since then she's been changing so much. As I'm writing this she's laying next to me on her belly sucking her thumb. She finally figured out to how flip over and she finally gets her way. She has also figured out how to use her arms, so she'll soon be crawling. She's got the position figured out and it's great not to have to rescue her from her flailing on her stomach. Yesterday I was chatting to her as I got dressed, and I said, "Brrr, it's cold." She thought that was hilarious! So I kept saying "brrr" and she kept giggling; it was her first sustained time laughing. Today she was seeking attention - anything to make her laugh; she loves it. However, still no success with the rice cereal but we'll keep trying. She periodically runs out of breastmilk, but doesn't seem to mind the formula, though I find the smell quite revolting.
So that's all for now. I will keep posting videos and pictures, so be on the lookout for those. I think you can subscribe to our YouTube page so you're alerted when new videos are posted. Now it's back to Saturday homework. God bless you, friend.
So that's all for now. I will keep posting videos and pictures, so be on the lookout for those. I think you can subscribe to our YouTube page so you're alerted when new videos are posted. Now it's back to Saturday homework. God bless you, friend.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
a long time later...
Well, parenthood should keeps you busy, doesn't it?! I haven't written a thing since Miss Claire was born, and she just turned four months old! My bad, and I hope to be more faithful to this, so please bear with me! Parenthood - or rather I should say being a mother to Claire - has been quite different from what I expected. First, having a baby requires a lot more attention than I anticipated. I definitely had a Romanticized view of motherhood, mother and baby lovingly looking at each other during the night. Well, truth be told, I fell more deeply in love with Claire when I heard her little cry after the cesarean than I expected. I cried out of shear joy and after months of anticipation for this moment to come. But after 2 weeks of breastfeeding, it was not the beautiful scene I imagined, but rather incredibly painful and frustrating. So while I was recovering from the c-section and not getting much sleep, I made the decision to ENJOY this part of motherhood and start exclusively pumping breastmilk. This also gave me a chance to have other people feed Claire and give me free hands, and it was also a blessing because we were able to stop supplementing in the evenings with formula. So that took up a lot of energy the first few weeks.
Then came the different parenting styles :). Looking back, I was a real mother hen, and Scott did not take parenting very seriously. He would have Claire "climb Mount Montgomery" (his belly) and slide down, and other tricks like that. I think he was surprised how non-responsive a newborn is :) But then after 2 months I returned to work, and for 1 month Scott took care of Claire full-time, and he quickly became a fantastic father. It was heart-wrenching for me to leave Claire behind - I felt like a part of me stayed home every day, but now I am blessed to work part-time from home while Scott is in class.
It's amazing how Claire has grown since the day she was born. For one, she hated being put down, and would only sleep in my wrap during the day. Now, she hardly likes to be held! Now, she not only smiles and coos, but she laughs and screams and does such cute, funny noises it's irresistible waking up at 6am! She really is a riot, and I have to remember to have 'adult' conversations when I'm home with Scott because it's tempting to just coo and aaah with Claire :)
Last weekend, Scott took the Praxis II test to become a math teacher after studying for weeks. The night before, he was nervous so we prayed out of Father Manjackal's book of charismatic prayers, believing for the Holy Spirit to guide him. We will find out in 4 weeks how he did. He is also finishing up his coursework at Catholic University and doing some coursework toward his teaching credential.
As for me, I am taking 2 classes this semester - Word & Worship and Catholicism in the Global Context. My reviews so far are mixed, but I have a feeling I will get a lot out of both of these, and also have a lot to share with my classmates! I have decided to finish my coursework this year, which will leave one year of formation and my thesis. Then it's onto a Master's in School Counseling from John's Hopkins University. As it turns out, they have a campus in our very town - Rockville, MD! And they offer evening and weekend classes, so I can't turn it down. I have begun to have a stirring in my heart about this - a passion to make a difference in the lives of teenagers - to be able to encourage them and build them up in their dreams. I was not blessed with a good guidance counselor, so I want to make a difference that way. And I am blessed with a job that pays for my tuition, so hopefully this dream is just a few years away. That way, with Scott and I both in public education, we will have our summers to travel with Claire (and her siblings) to see her grandparents and cousins. I truly look forward to this. It's amazing how dreams keep us going. Right now we are stretched financially, but I get so excited when I think about our future and make plans that this is all worth it.
We are not able to visit either of our families over Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it hurts to know they are disappointed. But the way I see it, these are painful choices to not go deep in debt, while we will one day be able to easily afford these kinds of pleasures.
Speaking of family, my brother and his wife are having a baby! I'm so excited. The Lord announced this birth just a few days before conception. Just goes to show that the Word of God is true: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5). Claire will be almost 1 when her cousin is born, and we look forward to their meeting this summer. She will also get to meet my cousin Karine's baby, Lola, who was born just 4 days before Claire.
As I read about cross-cultural missions, one thing in particular strikes me - how evangelization at one point moved from community evangelizing to personal salvation, largely due to Martin Luther's influence. But what a blessing it is when a whole family is saved and worships together and honors God. That is my wish for my family - that we would all make Jesus Lord over our lives - Lord over our careers, our families, our emotions, our minds, our futures, our relationships, our finances, our health... over everything! There is such freedom in Jesus Christ, and I'm not ashamed to proclaim that.
God bless you!
Then came the different parenting styles :). Looking back, I was a real mother hen, and Scott did not take parenting very seriously. He would have Claire "climb Mount Montgomery" (his belly) and slide down, and other tricks like that. I think he was surprised how non-responsive a newborn is :) But then after 2 months I returned to work, and for 1 month Scott took care of Claire full-time, and he quickly became a fantastic father. It was heart-wrenching for me to leave Claire behind - I felt like a part of me stayed home every day, but now I am blessed to work part-time from home while Scott is in class.
It's amazing how Claire has grown since the day she was born. For one, she hated being put down, and would only sleep in my wrap during the day. Now, she hardly likes to be held! Now, she not only smiles and coos, but she laughs and screams and does such cute, funny noises it's irresistible waking up at 6am! She really is a riot, and I have to remember to have 'adult' conversations when I'm home with Scott because it's tempting to just coo and aaah with Claire :)
Last weekend, Scott took the Praxis II test to become a math teacher after studying for weeks. The night before, he was nervous so we prayed out of Father Manjackal's book of charismatic prayers, believing for the Holy Spirit to guide him. We will find out in 4 weeks how he did. He is also finishing up his coursework at Catholic University and doing some coursework toward his teaching credential.
As for me, I am taking 2 classes this semester - Word & Worship and Catholicism in the Global Context. My reviews so far are mixed, but I have a feeling I will get a lot out of both of these, and also have a lot to share with my classmates! I have decided to finish my coursework this year, which will leave one year of formation and my thesis. Then it's onto a Master's in School Counseling from John's Hopkins University. As it turns out, they have a campus in our very town - Rockville, MD! And they offer evening and weekend classes, so I can't turn it down. I have begun to have a stirring in my heart about this - a passion to make a difference in the lives of teenagers - to be able to encourage them and build them up in their dreams. I was not blessed with a good guidance counselor, so I want to make a difference that way. And I am blessed with a job that pays for my tuition, so hopefully this dream is just a few years away. That way, with Scott and I both in public education, we will have our summers to travel with Claire (and her siblings) to see her grandparents and cousins. I truly look forward to this. It's amazing how dreams keep us going. Right now we are stretched financially, but I get so excited when I think about our future and make plans that this is all worth it.
We are not able to visit either of our families over Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it hurts to know they are disappointed. But the way I see it, these are painful choices to not go deep in debt, while we will one day be able to easily afford these kinds of pleasures.
Speaking of family, my brother and his wife are having a baby! I'm so excited. The Lord announced this birth just a few days before conception. Just goes to show that the Word of God is true: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jeremiah 1:5). Claire will be almost 1 when her cousin is born, and we look forward to their meeting this summer. She will also get to meet my cousin Karine's baby, Lola, who was born just 4 days before Claire.
As I read about cross-cultural missions, one thing in particular strikes me - how evangelization at one point moved from community evangelizing to personal salvation, largely due to Martin Luther's influence. But what a blessing it is when a whole family is saved and worships together and honors God. That is my wish for my family - that we would all make Jesus Lord over our lives - Lord over our careers, our families, our emotions, our minds, our futures, our relationships, our finances, our health... over everything! There is such freedom in Jesus Christ, and I'm not ashamed to proclaim that.
God bless you!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
God's Timing Is Perfect
Yesterday I started getting abdominal and leg cramps, and the pressure has not really ceased since then. So this body is getting ready! Claire is very active, ready to come out I think. But rather than focus on "when, God, when?" I've decided to say, "Thank you, Father, for Your perfect timing. You know the plans you have for this delivery and for this child, and I thank you for Your deep care for both of us." It's impossible to answer the question, "Are you guys ready?" All we can say is, "we're ready to have our lives transformed, but do we know what we're going? No!" The other night I woke up with the following Scripture in my head, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I think that will be a lifeline for me, in the inevitable moments when I question my motherhood. With the living God inside of me, what can I fear?
I'm finding that with the increasing unknowns, God is drawing me closer to Himself, and it's wonderful how He always provides grace for the moment. I am so excited to meet Claire Dominica, and for our family to grow. What a gift!
OK, back to Earth :) In terms of our plans for the summer and next year, it looks like Scott will be home more than me finishing his master's and getting his teaching credentials, so I will arrange my work schedule around his class and teaching schedule. I am so blessed to have an understanding boss, willing to give me flexible hours. One of Scott's classes will be daily at lunchtime, so I just might get to have lunch every day with Claire. We shall see... In any case, we both feel strongly that we want to be her primary caretakers - not a daycare or a babysitter. So we'll take it one year at a time... We are also looking forward to moving out further in the country to buy a house and land and raise our 14 children :) I have 2 years left at Washington Theological Union, so it won't be until after that, but our space right now is a tremendous blessing that I don't take for granted, especially after 2 years in the cramped room at WTU.
Well, it's fun to share my thoughts. Feel free to share yours, too.
I'm finding that with the increasing unknowns, God is drawing me closer to Himself, and it's wonderful how He always provides grace for the moment. I am so excited to meet Claire Dominica, and for our family to grow. What a gift!
OK, back to Earth :) In terms of our plans for the summer and next year, it looks like Scott will be home more than me finishing his master's and getting his teaching credentials, so I will arrange my work schedule around his class and teaching schedule. I am so blessed to have an understanding boss, willing to give me flexible hours. One of Scott's classes will be daily at lunchtime, so I just might get to have lunch every day with Claire. We shall see... In any case, we both feel strongly that we want to be her primary caretakers - not a daycare or a babysitter. So we'll take it one year at a time... We are also looking forward to moving out further in the country to buy a house and land and raise our 14 children :) I have 2 years left at Washington Theological Union, so it won't be until after that, but our space right now is a tremendous blessing that I don't take for granted, especially after 2 years in the cramped room at WTU.
Well, it's fun to share my thoughts. Feel free to share yours, too.
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