Needs

God's goodness is so vast, His kindness is measureless, and His mercy is limitless. I don't give those descriptions to seem trite. I give them in response to my reading from Exodus. I have so often viewed God in the Old Testament through the vivid revelations of his displeasure, wrath, and judgement.

In my Exodus reading I have seen God deliver His people from slavery to the most powerful nation, to wandering in the desert. A people who were not yet royal in their needs, nor even in their moods. They watched as God used Moses to part the Red Sea, they walked across on dry ground, they sang praises of worship to their Deliverer. Then... "No food! Whine, whine, whine..." God's response was very kind, merciful and good. He provided manna and quail for the people. He saw their state, that they were but human, and provided for their very human needs.

Ten weeks after leaving Egypt they were in the desert, thirsty. There was nothing to drink. After seeing God's great power did they ask Him to provide for their needs? No. They picked up stones to kill Moses. More whining, anger, selfishness. God's response was to provide for the very physical needs of the Israelite people by providing water in the midst of complaints.

As a mommy of several young children I am nearly constantly surrounded by very physical needs. A thirsty, hungry, or tired child will become a huge whiner if that basic physical need is not met. I want my children to grow in their stamina, to learn self control in times of need and to be gracious to others when those needs seem limitless. But as the slow teaching process unfolds I get to graciously provide for their needs, and quietly teach them generous mercy, goodness, and kindness.

The painful part is that usually when their needs are the greatest, so are mine! Therefore I may not be feeling very gracious, loving, or self-controlled. I have been so encouraged as a mother through these passages of God's dealing with adult people who are intended to one day be leaders in their land. God had a 40 year training camp prepared to make His people more kingly in their interactions. We get to start with children and we have a good, kind, and merciful Heavenly Father who will help us in shaping our children's attitudes in the next 12, 14, 16, and 18 years.

On an entirely different topic, here is my little Elizabeth. She was 8 months old yesterday. She usually only cries when there is an immediate physical need: hunger, thirst, icky diaper, or too many kisses from a brother or sister. How thankful I am that God will allow me to be a part of the process of graciously letting people know of her desperate needs. ;)

Smile! Elizabeth is our scooter and giggler!
Lizzie, checking out the camera.
cutie
more cuteness
ahhhhhh. Another cherub-ess picture. So precious.

Landscaping Project

Here are some pictures that will bring our landscaping project up to date. We ended up cutting down the trees, digging 15" trenches, filling the trenches with gravel, building the walls, bringing in 2 yards of topsoil, mixing the soil with our dirt-with a layer of topsoil on top, planting an orange/yellow/red flower garden in our center bed, with ferns, agapanthus, and red impatiens on the outside beds. Joe also put in a new sprinkler system. Everything is very happy and growing well, already! Here are the pictures:

Jonathan on the side of our front yard. You can see the wall and some of the impatiens with hints of the ferns and agapanthus in the back.
Our orange, red, and yellow bed. Everytime we go outside Thomas or Abigail will say "Look at all the smiles!"

Here is the south bed, with sprinklers on. :)
I took this yesterday. Joe, Abigail, and Thomas were adding some plants to the corner. Notice the wall around the fire hydrant and around the corner? I love Joe's craftsmanship!!!

Bath Time!

Bath time is a special time around here. The children have so much fun getting ready for bed by taking a refreshing bath. Here are some pictures from tonight of our Elizabeth loving her moments in the tub!

RAIN!!!

Sunday morning we were getting ready for church when there was a tremendous clap of thunder. Several minutes later there was a second crash. Alas, only one more clap ended our first summer storm. We were delighted to have the 15 minutes of rain!

"Rain drops are falling on my...hand"

Elizabeth looking at the rain
Rain, rain, come again!

Pictures

Our camera hasn't been working which is why we haven't been posting pictures lately. We are now back in working order and here are some great pictures that were took yesterday:

Our foursome!
Here is a picture that Jonathan took of his 71/2 month old sister, Elizabeth Noelle (notice Thomas' hand holding Wizzie's).
Here is a picture Abbie took of her siblings.
One of Jonathan's favorite hobbies.
One happy mommy! (Picture by Abigail)

Our children...

Our beautiful Elizabeth Noelle has a tooth!!! It is ever so small and often hidden behind her pretty little tongue, but it is there! She has gotten soooo cute. She is so round and soft and red and soft and kissable! I am thankful that she has been placed into our home, to grace our lives with her sweetness. What a sweet baby she is. Lizzie still isn't crawling forward but she has a frustrating backward scoot. The more excited she gets the faster she goes...backwards, until her cute little lip sticks out and her little eyes fill with tears of frustration that she cannot get her desired object.

Thomas is talking so much. He loves nursery rhymes. I was at Trader Joe's and above the cheese there was a picture of a cow jumping over the moon. I was oblivious to it but Thomas was very excited and started singing "The cow jumped over the moon" "Mommy, mommy there's the cow jumped over the moon". He is very aware of every detail that goes on. Last night we watched Mary Poppins and today he has been singing "Chim-chiminey, chim-chiminey..."

Abbie is more helpful than ever. She is always eager to have her hands doing whatever mine are, unless there is a baby or a camera close by! She is such a girl of initiative. I often feel like I am two steps behind her. Today we picked lavender to put into a pot in our fireplace and then I was doing violin with Jon Joe and she hadn't come around in a while so I went to check and there she was with her scissors in one hand with nearly all the leaves cut off of a fern in the back yard. I told her she couldn't use scissors without asking...When Joe got home he saw that there were ferns and lavender in the fireplace. Oh, that's why she was cutting the fern. I have never met someone with as much drive as Abigail. She can wind everyone up with her squeals and laughter and keep them all hopping with excitement...

Jonathan was thrilled to go swimming with his Daddy and Uncle Fritz and cousin Benjamin at La Jolla cove. Uncle Fritz told us that you could see the fish if you swim with goggles. With great delight we've savored the memories of floating with orange Garibaldi and other fish all around. The other children enjoyed catching handfuls of hermit crabs!

Firstborn

I sat on the couch this morning with my first-born son snuggled next to me and we read about the first passover together. What a powerful experience. Nine times God had shown his power to Pharaoh and nine times Pharaoh had hardened his heart against God. The tenth time would break that hardness and the leader of Egypt would be forced to acknowledge One greater than himself.

As I sat with Jon Joe, I pondered the agony of losing a firstborn. The dreams and expectations that I hold for my son are often bigger than life. However, we have a purpose in life that supersedes our own interests and abilities. We serve a living God who offered up His firstborn Son so that my son can have Life.

The terror of that black night did not drive Pharaoh to his knees in sorrow and repentance. Instead he drove the Israelites from his land, allowing them to plunder his people, rather than allow them to loiter longer in his country. And so God's chosen people escaped, a great army of wealthy people. No longer would they give service as slaves, they would enter a 40 year training ground in a first hand, tangible experience of God's power and presence.

As I face difficulties in my life, do I let them draw me to God in sorrow, repentance, confusion, or do I harden my heart as Pharaoh did and seek to push God's blessings away from me? May God keep my heart soft and pliable in His great hands. As I look into the darkness of my heart I see hardness without His gentle hands softening the clay. I have deep gratitude that God is working on my life, His work is perfect and I am thankful that He is doing His careful sculpting in me.

Home and Work

We have had a delightful time finishing up our landscaping in the front yard. There is a bed of orange, yellow, and red flowers in the front bed and the two side beds are lined with sweet alysum and red impatiens; with ferns, agapantheas, and Texas tiff as the back layer. It is very lovely. We are enjoying our front yard as we have never enjoyed it before. How thankful we are that God allows and commands us to take dominion. We are striving to be wise stewards in our home, yard, and work.

Joe is back at school now and I am so thrilled for the students that will have him as his teacher. He will be working 50/50 with English learners (EL) and special needs students in grades 4-8. He will be teaching small group lessons to 3-6 students, helping to bring them up to their grade level. We are thrilled that Joe has been given this position and look forward to watching the year unfold.

I am finding myself very busy with my little brood. I am so thankful for the sweet tokens of encouragement my dear friends and family pour my way. This is certainly an intense time in my life. I am thankful for any advice or encouragement that comes my way! :)