Love, Laughter, and Laundry

Welcome to an inside peek into the life of our family. I hope that as you get to know me through this blog, you will get to know the Reason for the hope and the joy that I have in me:
Jesus Christ


Thursday, September 18, 2008

Letter to my Daughter

The yearbook staff has informed us that it is time to write a letter to our senior. How do you condense a lifetime of memories into a paragraph? How do you put into words the love that you feel for your child? Here is my best shot:


My Precious Daughter,

I have to admit that I am approaching your graduation with all kinds of conflicting emotions...grief that our time with you at home is coming to a close, yet anticipation for what God has in store for your future. I am so proud of you! Being your mom has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. You are so much fun and so full of life. You are smart, talented, and beautiful. You are loving, and so easy to love. You have joyfully embraced the "craziness" of our big family. What a blessing to watch the relationship you have with your brothers and sisters! There is no doubt you will leave a hole in our hearts and our home when you go away to college. (Yes, even though there will still be 10 people living in this house...it will be lonely without you!)

Above all, I am so thankful for your walk with the Lord. You have attained many great honors and achievements through the years, however, as proud as I am of those successes,
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (III John 1:4)

Despite the tears, please know that I really am excited to see what God has planned for your future, and I can't wait to be a part of it! (...because you know as well as I do, I won't know what to do with a quiet, clean house once all of my kids are grown! ha ha)

As you embark on this new journey before you, my challenge to you is this:
"So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Col. 2:6-7)

Congratulations on your impending graduation. I wish you the best of all God has for you!

In the words of one of my favorite books...
"I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be!"

Love Always,
Mom

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

He's still speaking...

This morning I was reading in Exodus 3 & 4 about Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. In this passage, God tells Moses that He has a special task for him. He wants Moses to speak to Pharaoh on behalf of the Israelites. Moses responds that he could never do that! Speaking was not his "gift"...in fact, he was downright terrible at it! God's reply was this: "...Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now, go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." (Exodus 4:11)

Now, I have read this passage many times and chuckled at Moses' lack of confidence. Surely, if God called me to do something, I would respond the right way...right? WRONG! In fact, God has called me to be a wife to my husband and the mother of 9 children. To be honest, I am not very good at it. Organization does not come naturally to me...neither does cooking...or housekeeping...in fact, like Moses, I often tell God that "I can't do this job!"

God gently reminded me this morning through this story that He is the One who made me. He knows my weaknesses. He will help me accomplish what He has called me to do.

"...If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ..." (I Pet. 4:11)