Just Because...

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Good Friday - A Good Day - A Good Savior!

Tonight is Good Friday. And true to its name, it was good, really good. I reflected on something that happened to me last year... you see...I was overwhelmed with what was consuming my attention, in the middle of my most beloved worship song, I started to list all of the things I wanted to give Isaac.

You know, a happy home, loving parents, yadda yadda yadda… The list continued…

1. I want to give Isaac a yard to play in.

2. I want to give Isaac swim lessons.

3. I want to give Isaac a good education.

4. I want to give Isaac the ability to go to college.

5. I want to give Isaac….

It was then I feel to my knees. I want to give Isaac Jesus. I want him to know the old rugged cross that has changed my life. The sweat stained brow that held the crown of thorns. I want to give Isaac a deeply rooted truth, one submerged in scripture. I want to give Isaac the feeling that consumes me when a praise song comes over the radio, you know, the turn it up and sing until your voice is sore, kind of feeling. I want to give him Jesus.

That’s it. Nothing else, just Jesus. The college education became less important, the yard within the fense that outlines my dream home does not matter. The swim lessons I stress about are no big deal, the items I feel like I ”have” to give him really don’t matter, they will not make a lasting impact on his life, so they don’t really matter however, his life will be saved by giving him Jesus. A picture came to my mind, one of me on my knees at the foot of the cross, laying my baby at the base, where the dirt and wood met. Me physically handing my baby over to him. I guess to give him Jesus, so I can give Jesus to him…

Jesus, my sweet Jesus, he is yours. I am yours, we are yours. What we have is yours, all we have has been given to us by your hands, the very hands that were nailed to the cross. I love you and praise you with every breath. Amen.

A Good Day and Dinner with 12

Today is a good day, not because it is Thursday, which marks the second half of the week. Nor because it is actually spring like weather outside, cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon. Today is a good day, because this morning, bright and early I met with Jesus. We had a great conversation.

Today we happened to talk about the very last time he ate with his 12 friends around a rather large table. So see, today is Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, and it is today that commemorates the Last Supper Jesus shared with the Apostles. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, and from what we talked about in our time together this morning, it was a busy day.

On this day four events took place: Jesus washed the Disciples’ Feet, the Last Supper was prepared, enjoyed and cleaned up (some one had to do those dishes), then there is the agony of my Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His betrayal by a friend, a trusted companion, one of those very men at the table, Judas. Yep it was a busy day.

But the thing that strikes me the most, at 10:28 am today is the fact that even Jesus had a busy day. Think about it. He got on his knees, served his friends and humbled himself by washing their feet. So basically, He took some time out of the day to give a little pedi to all the men who he loved. Just think about how long it takes you to get a little pedi – this was not an assembly line process of dip, drip, and dry… this was a long event. He spent time with each one of those 12 men, washing their feet carefully and thoroughly, drying them with a soft towel and paying close attention to each one of his beloved 12.

Then, they shared a meal together. They talked, they ate, they spent time together, this was not just a quick drive thru McDonalds meal on your lunch break. I am sure this meal lasted a few hours. It was then at this table, he knew that one of the men he loved dearly would betray him. Think about that reality, the pain that must of stuck his heart like a knife that tries to cut thru cold butter. It must have been a pain like none other. Than, towards the end of the day, things get a little too much for him. We see him on his knees before his father saying “take this cup from me”… How many of us have ended our day like that…

I don’t want to work where I work anymore, I cannot do just one more day, it’s too much for me, take this cup from me.

I don’t think I can take just one more day of the stress life brings, take this cup from me.

I don’t think I can clean up any more toys, do any more laundry or clean any more toilets, take this cup from me.

I don’t think I can forgive him again for breaking my heart, take this cup from me.

I don’t want to cry any more tears over my precious one that went to be with you too early, I want to feel the warmth of their face upon my skin, take this cup from me.

I don’t think I want to make my marriage work, I just cannot do it anymore, take this cup from me.

I don’t think I can forgive myself just one more time, take this cup from me.

You see, today is a good day, because today is the day that Jesus, my savior shared with me the truth about just how much he really understands me, His beloved. And that is something worth all my praise.

Today is a good day my friend, He too has had busy days that end with tears and pleading to the Father. Today is a good day, for He is good.

Jesus – I love you – enough said.

Going on a Bear Hunt...

During Music & Movement... Isaac's favorite part is the very last song, "We're going on a bear hunt"... He brought his monkey along with him this time...

The song goes... or at least how Isaac sings it...

We're going on a bear hunt! We're gonna see a bear!

I'm not afraid!

We're coming to a field. We can’t go over it! We can’t go under it, we’ll have to go thru it.

We're going on a bear hunt! We're gonna see a bear!

I'm not afraid!

We’re coming to a cave. We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we have to go into it.

Shhh, it's a cave…

I see two eyes… and a BIG FURRY BODY…

IT’s A BEAR!!!! RUN!!!!!!!!!!

Isaac's favorite part is the very last part of the song... where is gets to run around and scream...

"It's a BEAR!!! RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

Music and Movement

On Wednesday our local library has a free toddler Music & Movement class...

... mama packs some milk, fruit snacks, a diaper or two...

... and we're off... Isaac LOVES the class! He gets to run around for an hour!

He sings, yells, runs and jumps...

He plays with scarves, bean bags, wooden sticks and more...

It is the best day of the week. I get to sit back and watch him play, laugh and have a great time... It's the BEST!

Sweet Baby...

A dear friend of mine recently had a precious baby girl... And the very sight of this sweet little new baby brought back so many memories...

I remember what Isaac felt like, swaddled in the hospital blanked sleeping on my chest while we were in the hospital.

I remember what it felt like to watch my husband hold his son.

I remember what is felt like to hear my sweet baby boy cry for the very first time.

Man, I hope these memories remain this tender the rest of my life.

Mean People...

Eventually I am going to have to explain to my sweet, tender, all boy of a son...

... that sometimes people say things that aren't so nice. Sometimes people are mean, just to be mean and sometimes the mean people get ahead in this world...

... But then I will get to also explain about how when those mean people say things that hurt our hearts, Jesus heals us. I will also get to explain that there are also times when we say things that can hurt the hearts of the people we love and it is then that I will get to explain how Jesus forgives us, so if He forgives us, we need to forgive them.

Sometimes it's easier said than done... to forgive that is... sometimes it's harder to allow Jesus to undo what they do to our hearts when those mean people say mean things. That is when all I have to say is "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so..." I will say it over and over again until my heart feels better...

Quiet Time with Jesus

This....

...PLUS...

...This...

EQUALS= A fabulous few hours with Jesus...

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday - I LOVE this woman. She has seen me through some of the darkest days and loves me anyways. She believes in me and she is supportive of my dreams. I love you mama!

Isaac made you a special video earlier this week! Enjoy! (Please note the dish of ice-cream that he is eating while in my car... I thought you would be proud to know that my OCD is starting to relax a bit.... HAHAHA)

Jumping In...

Sometimes...

... you have to jump, dive or slide right in...

...face first...

... and just trust that there is an end in sight...

Currently, I have jumped into this ministry thing... face first... just ready for what ever the Lord wants to do... I just wish what ever He wanted to do would be done on my time... like RIGHT NOW!

Listening to Him, while watching him play...

As I spent time outside with Isaac yesterday, I could not get this verse out of my head. It just kept running over and over in my mind and heart. As I watched him play, I grew more confident in Him and I love that He communicates to me while I watch my son grow up...

I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Make of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber. (Psalm 121:1-3)

Wordless Wednesday

Boys...

...will...

...be...

...boys...

Spring...

Spring is almost here...

I say almost because some days are park days...

...which Isaac loves, but there are still some days are still cold days...

... and in Colorado, you could have a cold day and a park day all on the same day, and my definition of "Spring" is when there are more park days than cold days.

Just the Two of Us...

This is Andrew and I, this year, on one of the best day dates EVER - We went to Loveland and spent the day enjoying the weather, and each other's company. In the midst of all the changes we were experiencing, together, we spent time talking, not talking, laughing, eating and riding/skiing.

I was 6 months pregnant when the hospital I use to work at moved into their new campus. My job at this time was to assist the building/design/move/transition. I worked LONG hours and learned A LOT! This was also the time in our life that our "normal life" changed. Andrew was sick, things were anything but peaceful and anxiety was high! In the midst of this time, we found each other, and Jesus found us, again and again.

This was us, before there was Isaac. We spent time doing home improvement projects which does not mean it made us closer as a couple.

This is us on the very first day of the rest of our lives.

I love him, more and more each day. With each picture, with each memory, with each home improvement project and each day that comes our way. Right now, he is working nights, he works hard and I hope, one day, my son will grow up and provide for his family with such integrity, in the same way as his daddy does. My son's daddy rocks and I could not be more blessed.

I love you Andrew!

Wordless Wednesday: Thomas Dance

Happy Birthday to a very special woman out in Nebraska - I hope you enjoy this video! Isaac and I made it just for you! I love you!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com