Know Him in the Wait

This morning I was reading through part of my journal from last fall. I thought I would share this hands-on lesson I learned about worry. Last October I went on a field trip with SweetBoy's class to the pumpkin patch. I had to drop the little one's off at Aunt’s so I was just going to meet the class at our destination, as did several other parents. There were several of us there waiting… and waiting. Someone called the school and asked if the bus had left yet. Yes, it had. And we were waiting…and waiting, and my imagination started going nuts with “what if’s.” But I stopped and called SweetHeart, the principal, because I have an inside track! I asked him, not just if the bus has left but “Where is the bus?” Yes, we knew the bus had left, but we were at the wrong place. The bus and the kids were at the park where they had planned to be. We just missed that information.

So here is the lesson…do I worry about _______? No, talk to the One who knows and has the right answers, power and authority to handle the situation. Even if I don’t know the right question to ask, the Holy Spirit intercedes for me. Sometimes that means I just need to wait for the plan to unfold. I’m where I need to be—just wait. What do I do in the wait time? Know Him there!

One of my memory verses this year has been 1 Corinthians 2:9-10,

“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind hasconceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

That is a quote from Isaiah 64:4. In Isaiah, it describes God as the One “who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Part of loving God is waiting on Him.

I had no idea the changes we would be facing now and the waiting we are in. This is a good reminder for me to know Him and wait for His plan to unfold.

It's Official

Well, it's official...we have a registered kindergartener at the Sweet House! My baby girl registered for kindergarten this week! She is so ready. On registration day, she was up and dressed with her hair done all by herself waiting on the rest of us to get ready! Everyone gives me a hard time about going up to the school to do it, when Dad could just handle it. But it is being part of the process that gets me ready for her to go to school. When we had orientation for SweetBoy starting kindergarten, I held it together long enough to get to SweetHeart's office and then I lost it. I'm hoping the second time around is a little easier. I can't believe these 5 years have gone so fast! This is truely the season of the longest days and shortest years. SweetTate and I won't quite know what to do with ourselves. I'm sure we will figure it out. I know I'm looking forward to no fighting in the day! Although, I must say that has gotten a little better as SweetTate has learned to communicate more clearly.

Baseball update...SweetBoy got a good hit, scored, and won his game last night! They were in a bit of a slump, so we were glad to see the win colomn again. SweetDoll played last Thursday. She is a pretty good little hind catcher, but she tried playing first base--oo, it was a little scary! They still managed to keep their undefeated record in place (which by the way, bugs SweetBoy! I have to keep reminding him that he can't compare their teams. Ah, the lessons learned playing sports!) SweetTate is practicing in the living room with a chatter bat from our favorite MLB team and a VERY soft ball. He has such a pretty swing! It will not be long before he is on the diamond too!

I hope this makes sense. My alergies are giving me fits and the medicine doesn't seem to clear my thinking very well, so please excuse the ADD-ness of this post! :)

My kids

Jen had pictures of her kiddos "if they were on facebook, this would be their profile pictures." Well, here is the sweet family's version!

SweetBoy is always ready for fun. Do you have a plan? I do!

SweetDoll is mostly sweet.

SweetTate is probably up to something!

This was my favorite! SweetTate was done with having his picture taken, so unfortunately he is not in it, but it is so good of the other two!

Easter Pictures

We had a great Easter Sunday worshipping at church! And signing went well. My family laughed at me because I would put on my high heels with my jeans to practice. But if I don't, I get off balance with heels on! So I'm pleased to report that I didn't fall or loose my balance. When I have the opportunity to sign at church, my prayer is that the audience worships with me, not just watch my performance. In the second service everyone stood up during the song and worshipped with us! It was great!

Then we were off to SweetHeart's grandmother's house, along with the extended family, for a delicious lunch! You know the big family dinners where you get one plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salads, casseroles, and homemade bread...mmm! Then go back for a plate of "I can't decide which dessert so I'll try a little bit of these." YUM! Makes me hungry for left-overs! Then the rain had stopped, so it was a go for the Egg Hunt complete with confetti eggs. Too much fun! SweetBoy and SweetDoll need to learn a thing or two from SweetTate--he was gentle cracking eggs on heads! One little cousin would pick up an egg and shake it, looking for the candy, and he threw back several confetti eggs. I thought, "Oh Honey, you are young!" Everyone goes for the confetti eggs! And within a few minutes we are all covered with tiny bits of colored paper and giggles.

(Yes, I forgot SweetTate's cute basket, but we were on time to early church!)

On the Living Proof blog, Melissa was reminiscing about Easter growing up, and she asked what we remembered and looked forward to about the holiday. Growing up we would usually go to my cousins' house for the long weekend. They lived in a different part of the state so we would visit state parks or historical places in the area. Their dad was a preacher so we always went to church. That is what I look forward to: celebrating the most exciting, Good News day at church and being with family. I'm glad my kids are making those same kind of memories too.

Me and two of my cousins back in the day.

The Monday after Easter

Several years ago I had the opportunity to go on a "Walk to Emmaus" retreat. It was a good experience--if you have ever done it, you know what I mean. They sent us off with the idea of the two friends walking home to Emmaus from Jerusalem on Monday after Jesus had been crucified on Friday and resurrected from the grave on Sunday. Jesus came up and walked with them and explained with Scripture what had just happened. "Now what will you do with it?"


We just finished up The Truth Project and Dr. Del Tackett challenged us with this: "God cares, do I?" Knowing the Truth. Knowing there are so many captives out there caught in the lies. Knowing that God's heart is with them. What am I going to do now? God has placed each of us in this generation in our specific places for a purpose. Wow. What a responsibility. What a privilege!


I can get caught up in a grandiose plan, but this post helps me remember that God works in the little things too. That being a mom and being in the "ministry of availability" to my family and friends is important and very useful to God. After all, it was a mom who packed a little boy's lunch that Jesus used for a miraculous picnic for 15 thousand or so! So I will serve in this family, in this place content to make small contributions to His kingdom, knowing that nothing is small in His hands.

Thinking about Easter

Beth Moore pointed out in her blog yesterday that we guess about the timing of the events of the Christmas story, but Easter we have a much clearer record and we can say about this time what was happening. Anniversaries are so important. Then on Jill Savage's blog she suggested to think about Jesus' human experience this weekend, not to just gloss over the story but step inside it. I'm doing Beth's study of John, and I just couldn't help but think this morning that after a horrible Friday, this was the first morning the disciples woke up without Jesus since they met Him. What a lonely, devastating feeling. But God (don't you just love that!) was busy doing what we desperately needed and what He had planned since the beginning--providing a way to be in fellowship with Him. Providing a way to never be lonely. Providing a way to be with Him for eternity. In my study this morning, I read Revelation 20 about the new Jerusalem and what that will be like. Wow! On that Saturday so many years ago, John could not have known that God would make such a revelation to him and what He had planned. I can't imagine the emotions they felt as they ran to the empty tomb on Sunday morning, and then saw Jesus alive again! Then the emotions we will have when we see the new Jerusalem! Beth suggested that there will not be a dry eye in the place, and that is our last cry before God wipes all our tears away.

Tomorrow I have the privilege of signing "Redeemer" by Nicole C. Mullen at church. It is new to me, so it has been neat to work on it this week with all those thoughts running through my head. That "the very same God who spins things in orbit runs to the weary, worn, and weak" --that would be me. And, along with Mary and John and the disciples that Sunday morning, I can know without a doubt, and I can praise with all my heart that my Redeemer lives!

Redeemer
By: Nicole C. Mullen
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning

Who told the ocean you an only come this far?

Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

All of creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God that spins things in orbit

He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak

And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken

They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer, He lives

To take away my shame

And He lives forever I'll proclaim

That the payment for my sin

Was the precious life He gave

But now He's alive

And there's an empty grave.

And I know my Redeemer, He lives

I know my Redeemer lives

Let all creation testify

This life within me cries

I know my Redeemer lives

"Photo Op"

This weekend SweetBoy had his first game. I think nerves got to him a little because he didn't find his swing to get a hit, but he made some good defensive plays for the team. And they won! Here he is playing catcher.
Sister had her second game and had a good game. They won too! (Not that it is about wins and losses at this stage. Most of the time they don't even know what the score is, but winning is fun!) Granny and Papa came down to see both of the kids in action.


Funny story...SweetDoll earned her baseball nickname. She soaks up the attention when everyone is yelling her name (she learned that from Big Brother!) and flashes that big "take my picture" smile at the crowd. And usually I don't disappoint and have the camera ready. I had taken several of her at bat, on base, and playing catcher. Then I put the camera away for a while, then thought to take a picture of Granny and SweetTate. (Papa is the guy standing to the left of the building out of the wind. Yes, it was COLD again!)

Then I was looking down at my camera. In the mean time, SweetDoll was chasing after a ball that was close to the fense right in front of us. She was posing reaching for the ball, because in her mind, I was waiting on the camera so I could take her picture. I had no idea what was going on until I noticed everyone laughing and Daddy telling her to get the ball and me to put the camera away. So she earned the nickname: PhotoOp. She doesn't appreciate it much, but it is fitting!