Quiet

It's been quiet for some time now, at least here on the blog. At home we are full of stomping feet, squealing giggles, and mostly happy children. But we're still sitting quietly these days, amazed at God's goodness, amazed when we look at what we deserve and compare it to what we get. We get God! We get an amazing, holy, mighty, glorious God. How thrilling! Just in considering what He has given us, tears well up within me. These children are amazing, and they are growing up so well, by the grace of God! Nathan is experiencing grace in his work and in the way he is growing as a man, husband, and father. I am beyond blessed to be able to be home with my children, and over the last year have developed some precious friendships that I will always be thankful for. Our church body is growing, and not simply in breadth but greatly in depth. We see a people wanting more than self gratification, but these people genuinely want GOD! They want to seek and savor the Christ, honor and obey His Father, and plead to and know The Spirit. And it shows. Sometimes I just have to stand back and take a look at everything God is doing and what He has done, and it takes my breath away. I just am amazed (and I shouldn't be!) that He is giving us His precious self for our good! He is, even as slight a thing as we are.
So, no matter what logistical issue we're dealing with this week, be it potty training or car repairs or money struggles, we can stand joyful and in awestruck silence. We can choose to let momentary struggles receive momentary status in our hearts and be overwhelmed and overjoyed by eternal truths. So today, we can be found sitting, watching, learning in this joyful quiet.

It's been a while

The children are all sleeping, and I am thankful! Thankful that the Lord is giving us opportunities to grow and learn. Thankful that the children are all growing and learning and mostly happy! Thankful that we have food on our plates and a roof over our heads. Thankful that the Lord is using us in the community in lots of unconventional ways. Thankful that we are connected with other believers. Thankful that I have a moment to think and pray every day (sometimes this moment is 15 minutes, but I am thankful!). Thankful that the children in our home are learning about the Lord. Thankful that I don't have to be perfect. Thankful that the Lord is our fortress and that we can run to him in trouble or just because. Thankful my father returned safely from a dangerous place. Thankful for so much more, but I think I heard a peep from upstairs.
Grace,
Andrea

Tip O' the Day!

So, I have this tip for you, and since I have the time (yeah right!) and I never post anyway (sorry!)... I thought I'd at least do SOMETHING with this blog.
Before now, I had never had wood floors. I didn't know how to clean them. I didn't know how to care for them. I didn't know a stinking thing! So when the wonderful ladies from our church came to help me clean the eve of our move in, I watched carefully and asked lots of questions.
Today, I have my own way of cleaning the wood floors. It usually involves naptime for all toddler feet. I've seen some purchase the spray on or the squirt on wood soap. I've also seen some pour the concentrated solution in a bucket, mix with water, and mop, but what happens to all that soapy water when all is said and done? I purchase the orginal concentrated Murphy Oil formula, mix it with water according to the directions, and store it in a spray bottle. The Murphy Oil will last me over a year, I'm sure. I think the spray bottle usually lasts me about 4 or 5 cleaning sessions. After I do a deep sweeping of the room, I spray the cleaner onto the floor and wipe it off. Simple (except for the toddler feet part!)
Now, I'm guessing there are a lot of ladies out here who do that, and to those of you who do, sorry! For a new-to-wood-floors lady like me, this has been a work in progress. So I'm glad to have found something that works!

Grace!

The kids and family

Family is coming in to town this week, and we are all on pins and needles in anticipation of their arrival! It will be one sweet visit before another long absence. It just never feels normal to be distanced from family, especially when grand kids are involved, but we make the best of it

Grace, Ben, and Noah have been busy, busy growing into huge kids and playing heartily with their toys and each other. Noah is a fierce walker now at 11 months. I still am breathless each time I think it.
He is walking.
What? He is walking?
Yes.
But he's just a baby...
Stop thinking about the fact that he is walking, and go get him. The kid is climbing up the stairs again!

But he is... and there's really no stopping this TANK of a little man. He is truly hard core! When he has a board book in his hand, his teeth grind on it like he's going in for the kill on an ear of corn. That boy knows how to chew.

And Benjamin is potty training. It's funny how the Lord works. I've been saying "no" to some different opportunities that were coming up. We just had a lot going on AND a few too many little ones in diapers for me to feel comfortable taking more on. Well, about a week after saying "no", Benjamin sat on the potty before bath time and went, by himself. No prodding. No pushing. Nothing. And at the exact same moment, I was locating my very first gray hair in the mirror. Let's just say that Benjamin's achievements were praised much higher than my own. So since that fateful day, not a diaper has laid against his soft little tushy, and mom and dad are none the prouder. Although, we are still experiencing all of the joyful things that come with a potty training toddler. Need I get into details??? He is doing great though, and his personality is really starting to poke through as he sees the fruit of his own independence. I am so proud of him.

Grace is being a very big helper. Such a mommy to her little brothers. She's learning how to be responsible. I'm realizing now that I should have had higher expectations for her these last few months. As we're teaching responsibility skills, she seems to be picking it up quickly. She's like, "oh, I know how to do that." And then she does it! And I think to myself, "why on earth did I let her get away with not doing that for so long!??" She's such a smart, creative little cookie. I cannot wait to see how the Lord will use her!

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we seek to reach out to the city of Spring Hill. Pray that we would be willing to pour ourselves out as a drink offering for the salvation of these people. Pray that we remain encouraged and trusting and not forgetful and fearful in the fluctuating circumstances that seem to surround us at times. Pray that people pour into our home and that the Lord meets their needs and woos them to himself. I hope we can just participate in that beautiful act.

Grace to you and yours,

And while I am stricken with guilt for not updating more frequently, I won't let that stop me from posting when I have the opportunity and the desire. All is well in our home. The Lord is working in us to will and to work according to his pleasure. What do I mean when I say that? He is literally working in us, teaching us, chiseling away at sinful desires and sloth, showing us our own selfishness and giving us the will and strength to work out our salvation, to grow more like Christ. It's one of the beautiful things about being children of God, he gives us what we need so that we can look more like His son. He delights in watching us grow more like His son, and He helps us to do it.
Today, I have been thinking about what it looks like to "be more like Christ". When we look at a picture of Christ, we may see someone who was very kind and giving, someone who followed God's law and was never disobedient. We see someone who loved without boundaries.
When trying to grow more like Christ, sometimes, I think, we forget to pursue the things that are the most difficult. For example, Jesus was giving. He gave of his time, every day to disciple and teach those in his company. He gave of his status, becoming a servant, washing feet. He gave of his life, and not just in part, but fully. He took on our sin and died so that we could live under His righteous name. When you think about becoming more like Christ, do you ever wonder if you would be asked to die? Or what about if you were asked to give up all that you had? What if you knew someone in need, and helping them would mean that you would have to go without? When will we begin to believe that "God is able to make ALL grace abound toward (us), that (we), always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." When we see someone in need

This week we've rejoiced over many things...

Like the fact that Benjamin will shortly be FULLY, yes fully potty trained.

As soon as he stops having "accidents"! By the grace of God, he has not worn a diaper in 10 days.

That also means, I've had a lot of cleaning to do!

Save your Paper Towels!

So I'm a couponer. I can say that now loud and clear. I'm not "kinda" a couponer. I'm the woman that you really don't like to get behind in the store aisles. Even though I am very organized with paperclips and lists before I go, any good natured human being's eyes would bulge when they see stacks of coupons being handed to a cashier. I know mine would've 6 months ago. But I'm not writing today to talk about couponing. Today I just wanted to share a useful tip.

As a couponer, I'm finding that I'm collecting A LOT of newspaper! A LOT! And my recycling box is overflowing regularly with it! In addition to recycling our newspaper, I LOVE to use newspaper on my glass windows and mirrors. I spray my usual glass cleaner on the surface and wipe it up and buff, just like I would with a paper towel. For some reason, with newspaper, I never have streaks on my glass. I have a particular mirror that streaks up every time with paper towels, but when I use newspaper to clean and buff it, there is ne'er a streak to be found. Try it, see if it works for you!

Weary but worshipping

So while I am repentant for not blogging in quite some time, I am also hesitant to post an update in fear that another dynamic in our household would change again, forcing me to update with further corrections. Praise the Lord, our family is in Spring Hill. We've been able to bring families under our roof and share meals together. We've experienced the grace of having wonderful friends care for our children so we can have a few moments of rest. And we've met some great neighbors and watched scores of children roll down the hill of our home. We've said it so many times, and it rings true again and again; "we have been completely covered in grace during our recent more to Spring Hill."

We've been in this home for four weeks now, and we love the community, the drive, learning our neighbors, and are even getting to know the check out people at the grocery stores. Nathan still leaves between 8 and 10am and returns home after 11pm every night. We are looking for where we will live permanently, and we have yet to locate that place! Another little one (Noah's age) has blessed us with her sweet smile Mondays- Fridays so that her mom can work full time. So I am busy every day with four children, four and under, three of which are still in diapers. We will be working on that soon, though!

We are a weary people. Some nights you can catch me falling asleep on the laundry room floor, surrounded by piles waiting to be folded. We're working hard, learning much, trying to seek accountability and friendship, and trying to offer friendship and hope to those in our newly formed circles. It's a sweet time. The Lord is working something that we are still unclear on but excited about.

And one baby is awake from naptime. Soon another will follow. This is the extent of your update from us! Thank you for continued prayers.