Making Melody in Your Heart

Journal entry {a piece}:

October  15, 2011
How I want to live before my children:

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

Ephesians 5:19,20

With all of my heart, this is my desire and longing.  To bring to the Lord praises, thanking Him in ALL things and FOR ALL things.  I want there to be a continual melody in my heart to the Lord.  I long for the joy of the Lord to be visible to my children and everyone we meet that the Lord might receive honor and glory from my life.  Slowly the Lord has showed me different ways in which I can surround my family in His Word.  Even as I type, the sound of "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" flows from the children's room; a picture with the verse "Be still, and know that I am God." hangs by my computer, and the girls' memory verse princesses are to the right of me, excitedly moving towards the awaiting castle tea party.  Many mornings now I awake (early, thanks to bathroom breaks)  and I cannot help but have a melody in my heart to the Lord as I both fell asleep and awoke surrounded by Him.  At the beginning of the year I picked a word goal - it was to build relationships with my Saviour, my husband, children...but I have found as the year has gone by that the Lord has gently been working in another area -that of song.  Over and over again He has reminded me of my need to sing and praise Him, thanking Him in ALL things and FOR all things.  I found that I had become so busy that I could no longer sing.  My service for the Lord, my family, and those I love here was of no good and stunk without a melody in my heart.  The importance of surrounding ourselves with God's Word and godly music cannot be understated.

I pray this is a blessing to you.  These verses have been on my heart just waiting to be shared. 

Adorable Sammy

Isn't he adorable?  I LOVE the little foot!

 On our way to church last Wednesday night, Sammy and I did a quick photo shoot while Eric and the girls were at the little store.  I can't believe how big he is getting!  He looks even more grown up in the pictures!  Wish he would have flashed me one of his heart-melting smiles but he was too interested in the cars going by and just being able to sit on the log.

 (The village school is in the background.)

 

I think God gave boys a special type of cuteness to make up for how rascally they are.

Lydia

28 Week Checkup

(These were taken on the way to church, Wednesday night.  Believe me, the belly is MUCH bigger than it looks.)

28 weeks and overdue for a doctor's visit.  Though I knew I had to go, I was completely dreading it and could barely sleep the night before.  You see, I am not a very submissive patient for them so they are never very happy with me.  Every visit I have had so far, they have found something wrong with me, assigned me with a new list of tests and prescribed different things.  This past visit it was an infection they found during the ultrasound.  They then gave me a new list of tests to do.  Eric was immediately skeptical and called our previous doctor for a consultation.  She, of course, said everything was fine and not to bother with any more tests as pregnant women do not need the added stress of running around everywhere doing extra tests. (I just love her and boy do I wish she could be my doctor this time!)  Not only did I not do the tests, but I put off the visit for a couple of weeks.  Lina was away anyways, so this gave me a good excuse to take a break.

The dreaded day came and I woke up Tuesday morning with the decision to take at least one of the girls with me.  Even if they didn't distract the doctors (and how could they not at least some?), I knew it would help keep me distracted.  Lydia wanted to go so off we rushed to meet the train and Lina.  After waiting for our turn, we opened the door and walked into the office.  Their faces said they wanted to chew me out, but they quickly put on big, fake smiles.  Lina and I were shocked at how composed they were.  Besides them mumbling "awful" when I stepped on the scale (ugh...that makes every pregnant woman happy) and telling me it was hard to live with me, everything went pretty well.  They talked a little about what to do about me, but I just let them talk to each other and explained different things to Lydia.  She thought they were nice, hehe...but maybe that's because they let her step on the scale. ;)

After I was done there, they sent me over to meet with the therapist.  She asked if anything was wrong (health wise), listened to my heart and marked ok.  She then asked what we were doing here.  When I explained that my husband was a pastor and gave her a tract, she immediately wanted to argue with me.  I tried witnessing to her, but she didn't give me much of a chance to talk.  Once she said what she wanted, she said goodbye. 

Later that night, I lay awake in bed thinking of ways I could have worded things better, etc.  Sometimes it is just so frustrating and I feel so helpless.  I so desire to be a witness and a testimony and the words are clear in my head, but don't come out the way I want.  Besides the fact that the doctor is very intimidating.  I feel like it would help if I could do everything the way they want me to, but I just can't physically keep up with all of their demands.  Now that I have stopped trying to do everything, I am able to enjoy this pregnancy.  I pray that God will still help me to have a testimony, give me opportunities to witness and freedom in the language even though I am not able to do things 100% their way.

Lydia completely enjoyed her day out with mama and Lina.  After we ate, we went out for dessert.  When we set it down in front of her she started singing "Happy Birthday to Dede!"  We know what she's ready for. ;)

Not My Brightest Idea

Last week while the girls and I were making bread, 

Sammy was dying to get his hands in the bowl with us.

So...I decided to give him a little bit of flour to play with 

to keep him busy while I "quickly" washed the dishes. 

I kept glancing in and everyone was playing nicely,

but a LOT can change between washing spoons...

Let's just say, this was not my brightest idea.

(And, yes.  The girls looked about the same.)

Princesses Learning Psalm 1

My drawbridge is a little, um, messed up, but they think it's great.  They are so excited to move to the castle and the awaiting princess tea party that they are saying their verse constantly.  For months now I have wanted to put up something for verse memorization, but never got around to it.  Finally, I just did SOMETHING.  Anna was SO excited when she got up from her nap and found this on the wall.  When I explained it to her, she went up and counted to six and said "There.  I said it.  Now we can have a tea party!"  They pretty much have Psalm 1:1 memorized.  I LOVE hearing them constantly quoting God's Word!

 

 

They want to share it with everyone they meet and quoted it for a lady we met on the street heading to church tonight...guess we need to work on some verses in Russian.

Thanks, Jessi, for the great idea!

Little Helpers

"I can help you, papa."

Comes the cry as screws drop through clumsy, little fingers.

"Two glass cups + Two plastic cups =" 

A little dish-dryer jabbers.

"Here's a flower for you, mama"

A precious gift is held out in chubby fingers.

Smiles and giggles brighter than the sun.

All cause a rushing mama to remember to

Cherish Each Moment.