Josiah is 1!!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our littlest buddy- Josiah Patrick!!!  We are so thankful for this little guy!  He brings lots of laughter and smiles to our family!  On Saturday we had a little party for the guy!  He LOVES his cake!  Our friends daughter was turning 9 and is Josiah's birthday buddy so we made a house cake for her and sang to her as well!

February is for Birthdays...

 Birthday and more birthday fun over the last month- this is pics from our trip to PA at the beginning of the month for my Grandma's funeral.

Snare of Compare...

So I have really enjoyed listening to this little clip from the Gospel Coalition on "Snare of Compare" by Carolyn Mahaney.  It is so good!  I listen to it over and over again!  Thought you might like to take a look.

Snare of Compare

The Helper...

This week, the Lord has been convicting me and teaching me about my role as the helper of my husband.  I know that I was created to help him in ministry but I don't always feel that in my heart.  I was reading again another chapter from The Pastor's Wife that convicted me of this role.  I was realizing that often- though I want to help my husband and my kids- often the question in my heart is- but who is going to help ME?  She says that if "we feel bitterness in our hearts then we can likely trace it back to this doubt:  "What about me?  Where's my help, Lord."  She notes that even if you wanted a househelper, a dishwasher or a babysitter- these will only bring temporary relief.  The problem is my heart!  She then quoted two verses- Psalm 121:1-2- "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  I am learning slowly that HE is my help.  He is the one who will help me be a mom and give my the strength I need to do what I need to do at just the right moment.  Another verse- Hebrews 13:5-6- "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."  So we say confidently, "The Lord is my helper.  I will not fear, what can man do to me."  Furman says, "the role of helper to your husband is a joy-filled, God- enabled role that reminds you to keep looking to the heavens for your help as you emulate your Father."  A friend who I Skype with regularly once reminded me from Titus 2:4 that what the Older women are to be training the younger women in is to be busy at home and to love their husbands and children.  That is our primary focus.  Another thing that challenged me- was to realize that we as a married couple are "one flesh."  We are one in marriage- he does not have a ministry and I have a ministry.  Though my ministry may seem more behind the scenes- it is a joint effort together in ministry to the body of Christ together!  Good truths that I needed to ponder and be reminded of! 

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Lydia!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday to Lydia Lyons!!  We are so thankful for this sweet girl and the gift she is to us!  Lydia is growing to be a sweet, helpful and caring little girl!  Lydia loves to clean with her Mama and is very helpful.  She loves baby dolls, purses and helping feed Josiah his bottle.  She loves to wear "pretty" things and is growing to love and serve others more!  She loves playing with friends and most of all playing "nest" or some other crazy activity with her big brother! 

Happy 3rd Birthday Lydia!  We love you!

This morning on our birthday morning tradition of getting donuts!!! :)  Lydia chose the pink icing with the rainbow sprinkles- she loves sprinkles!

Craving Idols...

I am reading a book lately with a few other ministry wives called The Pastor's Wife.  The Lord is using it to prune me in this season as Michael has been hired more full time in an assistant pastor like ministry.  I have been struggling lately with feeling "fulfilled" at home in my role as a mom.  Ministry outside the home- really anywhere calls me...  It echoes secret whispers in my heart- You should be spending time here... You would find more joy here...  And yet, God has been speaking His Truth to my heart and used several chapters in this book to reveal to me the "idol of ministry" that I often set above Him!  She asks some good questions, "What activity, if it were taken from you, would devastate you.  You know that a ministry opportunity is greater to you than Jesus if, when it is taken, hindered, or altered, you feel rattled, wrecked, preoccupied, anxious, insecure, insignificant, ignored, angry, sad, betrayed or distraught."  In those moments- I have given that ministry or "what I want" more value than knowing Christ!  It has become my idol to be worshipped.  She says, "an idol can't die for our sins...idols do not give grace, they rule by karma."  "Jesus must be more compelling to us."  He is our greatest treasure and joy!  "In pointing us to the cross, our frailties and shortcomings (and in motherhood it seems like many!) become servants for our joy in Christ!"  I have put this verse over my sink- trying to remind myself I live to please and honor the Lord- no one else! 

Colossians 3:17- "And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Knight and Princess Party...

Saturday I hosted a Knight and Princess Birthday Party for Jeremiah's 5th Birthday and Lydia's 3rd Birthday!  It was a lot of fun!  We had a reading of the Squire and the Scroll and the Knight and the Firefly.  We made princess tiaras and shields for the knights and made Valentines for some of the Silver Heir members in our church.  Then we went downstairs for piñata time and games like parachute with balloons- don't let it touch the ground.  We jumped to music and froze when it stopped and we played a relay to get marshmallows off the ground into a bowl- anything to keep these kids moving and getting energy out.  The kids and I attempted to make a castle cake- it turned out fairly well- not professional but they loved it.  And a HUGE thank you to all my lovely teen helpers Grace and Emily L and Emily D that came to help with the kids and the party!  They were so helpful as well as the wonderful moms too!

Making Valentines...

Lydia's First Trim...

 Lydia got her first haircut a week ago.  You can't really tell but it has made her hair look a little more even these days.  Mommy got her hair cut too and took all the kids with me the day before we left for PA- it was a little crazy but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Standing...

 At 11 months, Josiah just decided he could figure out how to pull up to a stand.  He is kinda stuck once he gets there but loves his new skill he has learned.  And yes, by the third kid in winter- I do keep him in his jammies all day and every day- it is just easier. :)

The Crazy Weekend...

This weekend, we went home to PA for my Grandmother's funeral.  Let me just the say- the weekend was crazy!  Josiah for the few days before we left was sick- deep congestion, fever and the day we traveled he refused to eat at all!  Thankfully I grabbed my pump before we left.  When we got there Friday night, we took  him into Urgent Care to assess his situation.  From there, they said we should go to the ER to be evaluated for RSV- needless to say, I was not too thrilled.  We spent a total of 2 1/2 hours in the ER- waiting to be called- saw a prisoner in chains and many other thrilling sights.  I was literally pacing with Josiah asleep on my shoulder.  When we finally got called back- they checked him out and his breathing had gotten better and after evaluating him- sent him home. We got home at midnight- by 7am- Jeremiah had thrown up all over his bed and I spent the morning with him on the couch.  After nap, Lydia threw up.  We were supposed to be celebrating Jeremiah's birthday- but instead we stayed home to lay low.  The funeral was Sunday and we were beginning to wonder if we would make it to the funeral.  Thankfully a sweet couple the Engles- friends from Cincinnati that moved to PA 30 minutes from my parents came through for us again!  Sandy offered to watch the kids for us Sunday so Michael and I could go to the funeral.  We were thrilled and humbled by their offer.  I told Sandy that the kids had been throwing up all day and in true servant form- Sandy responded- "I am not scared of a little throw up."  Wow!  We were amazed!  This couple just truly reminded me this weekend of what faithful, humble servants they are of the Living God!  So now the kids have had fevers and coughs since Saturday after the stomach bug.  We drove home Monday very tired but praising the Lord for how he worked in a very crazy weekend!  So today after taking Jeremiah sledding for 30 minutes- I did take an hour nap- I am still so tired!

Jeremiah setting up his Lego Garbage truck with Landon- the Engles grandson!

Some evidences of grace:
*  People praying for us and the trip to the ER
*  Because Michael's dad sent out a prayer request about Josiah- the Engles emailed and offered to watch the kids on Sunday which was a huge blessing!
*  Being able to go to the funeral!
*  Not getting sick for any of the drives and beating the snow on the way home!