Growing up...

I just realized this last week that Abby doesn't say many of her fun "baby" words any more:

**She doesn't pray that Aunt Bekah will be safe in the "Eminican Repuglic" (Dominican Republic)... 

**She no longer calls the blooms on a plant "flalors"...

My baby is growing up... she says it all right all the time now :(  I think she still says "nusic" though :)  

Christmas fun...

Sorry this is so late... but I did promise some pictures :)

Monkey...

Tonight, as the kids study their AWANA verses, I was wiping down the mirror in the kids' bathroom (you know, taking every moment captive...) when Seth came in to brush his teeth.  He looked at me up on top of their bathroom counter, then proceeded to work on his dental hygiene.  

After a few minutes, I hopped down and examined my handiwork and climbed back up to do the final touch ups (keep in mind that I had no other options... the mirrors in their bathroom is from the counter top up to the ceiling). 

On the way out, Seth said:

"Mom, when you were cleaning our mirror, you looked like a monkey, a really BIG monkey..."

I guess that's a compliment... coming from Seth :)

It's Worth It

Last weekend I went on a women's leadership retreat.  This was more of a "sharing ideas" and "networking" retreat, not a "learn something new" conference.  It was encouraging to me to hear all that God is doing in the different churches in our Fellowship of Grace Brethren churches in California!  What a blessing to be able to safely share struggles, thoughts, concerns, praises, goals, concepts, etc. with sisters that I've never met, but have an immediate bond because we are in the same district and fellowship.  I was challenged to excel still more as I listened and witnessed the love and passion that these women have for our Lord and their desire to serve Him.

One of the last sessions, one of the pastor's wives was sharing about a church plant.  She told us about the obstacles that they had encountered in their building project... the electrician quit in the middle of the project and her husband, the pastor, took over his job and spent countless hours day and night wearing an additional hat.  She shared about her heart struggle of asking, "Is it worth it?"  

Tonight, Matthew left to go up the mountain to Big Bear for the annual High School Retreat.  He has been attempting (no very successfully) to fight off being sick this last week.  He didn't go to work today and spent a good part of the day sleeping (in preparation for a sleepless weekend).  I know that he will be fine and that he needs to be at the retreat, but I still find myself asking, "Is it worth it?" 

My conclusion, along with the pastor's wife that shared last weekend, is a humble and heartfelt, "Yes, it's worthy it!"  All our efforts, sacrifices, and time is WORTH IT, if what we are doing is motivated by God's grace.  God's work is always WORTH IT, regardless of how foolish it may seem to the world (I Corinthians 1)!  I am blessed to have a husband that is willing to heed God's call to pour his life into serving His Lord with all diligence and to equip the saints for the work of service (Eph 4:12).  I am thankful that my children have a clear understanding and example of what it means to "...work heartily, as for the Lord" (Col 3:23).  

Lord, may our work not be a work of the flesh, which results in fruitless legalism, but work that is empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, which leads to acts of worship and results in joy.  May You find pleasure in our service to You.  May my heart always shout, "IT'S WORTH IT!", because You are worth it... all of it!!!