Raising Children

I can hardly believe that these are the babies I held in my arms just 10 and 12 years ago. Seems like just yesterday that they were learning to walk, and talk, and hold their crayons. As they grow, especially as they approach their adolescence, I become ever aware of my inability as a mother to MAKE them become the men I want them to become. I do not possess the ability to create the character I want them to have. I can teach, and guide, and correct, and most of all PRAY, but the results are in the hands of God and the choices that each one makes for himself.

That has led me to begin praying more consistently and fervently for my children. In so doing, I stumbled across a book in our church library titled Praying the Bible for Your Children by David and Heather Kopp.

I want to share the following quote from Prayer 13: "I give thanks in Jesus' name for what I usually complain about , for what I can't seem to control or change, for all the daily indignities of raising kids. . . . . For things unemptied, unreplaced, unclosed, unreturned, unkempt, unfound and unfinished: Today these loose ends of our family life reassure me that our family is called to a destiny where only a few things matter (Luke 10:42). . . . For noises day and night, and loud music, and loud noise that passes for music: Today I will offer this racket to You as the praise of "everything that has breath" in this mouse (Psalm 150:6), and thank you with each decibel of devotion. . . . For interupted meals, unfinished conversations with friends, unfinished reading, neglected hobbies and projects, and for the fading memories of many small, grown-up luxuries: Today I remember that in His ministry, Jesus said that children were the most welcome interruptions of all and the real business of heaven (Matthew 19:14). O Father, accept my list of ordinary parenting annoyances as the holy music of my thankful heart today, for I sing in Jesus' name. Amen."

I highly recommend the book. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Bible-Your-Children-David/dp/0854769633/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1825068-5199358?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178807366&sr=8-1
[I would pretty up the link if I knew how. Sorry]

Easter

Ebenezer had both a Sunrise service at 6am and a regular worship service at 10 with our Easter cantata. All in all, it was a wonderful celebration.
Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed!

We don't have many family portraits. I'm usually behind the camera, and this one isn't our best--we're all squinting in the sun. But I'll take what I can get!

I didn't get it without SEVERAL tries! Here's one. Don't they all look soooo excited?! NOT! And look! Even the dogs wanna "help."


I also managed to get two of just Joseph and I. I was not, however, successful is getting it without the puppy, Shadow. I think both she and Pepper were insulted that we didn't want them in our family picture. So there she is--scratching her fleas and everything.



Tired isn't always a bad thing though -- and this was one of those times. Everyone just headed to bed a little early.