Last month, as I reflected on 2011, mentally reviewed my accomplishments, failures and re-evaluated my priorities and pondered the upcoming year, it was as if the Lord audibly whispered, “choose peace”.

I’ve mulled that over while I washed dishes, folded laundry, and tried to fall asleep at night. How can I choose peace?

My goal for the year is simply this: to evaluate and make each decision based on what brings me peace emotionally and relationally and to do so guilt free. I want to have peace with God, with myself, in my relationships and in my home. 

This year, I’m simply choosing peace.

• I will be sharing more about my goals this month!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Choose Peace is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Happy birthday, Chloe! Today you turn 5. You have been so excited, looking forward to this day. “Five is a big number”, you tell me proudly.

Five years have passed slowly and quickly. I look at you, no longer a baby or toddler but a big girl; it is bittersweet.

You chose most of your own clothes for the winter season this year. With a few exceptions, almost everything is purple. A real mix n’ match wardrobe. I pray that you will keep you zany sense of style but learn and love modesty.

You still wear piggy tails occasionally but prefer to wear your hair down now. “It’s most beautiful that way”, you tell me with a cheeky smile. I pray that you will always remember that the Lord looks on our hearts and strive to be beautiful on the inside most of all!

You still bounce, skip or gallop when you’re going somewhere. You seldom ever walk. I pray you are always filled with the joy of the Lord.

You’re so proud when you can help doing big tasks. You love to take the laundry down to the laundry room, or put your own laundry away. You set & clear the table and especially love to help with Isaac, choosing his sleeper or getting mama a diaper. May you always have a helpful spirit and a willing heart.

You just got your first allowance this week. Four shiny quarters. You gave one to Jesus, put one in your savings account and spent two on chocolate and gum. How pleased you were! I pray that you learn to be a wise steward of what the Lord gives you!

Chloe, you were my firstborn. I remember when you were a baby and it was just the three of us. I laugh as I look back, remembering how I thought parenting was so easy.  You’re a delight, but a continual challenge. I strive to discipline and teach you each day in a patient, Christ-like way, though I know I fall short. I pray that you will grow to know and love Jesus more in this new year.

Lord, thank you for Chloe. I thank you for her life, and the plan that you have for it. Please help me to teach and train her in a way that pleases you. Draw her close to you, Lord. Help her to desire you with her whole heart and long to serve you with her life! Amen.

• This post links to Gratituesday

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Chloe Turns 5 is a post from Beautiful Calling.

 Source

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Merry Christmas, friends!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. A Manger and A Cross is a post from Beautiful Calling.

After two homebirths and two healthy children, we figured that we knew the drill. Isaac would arrive and six weeks later we’d hop on a plane – an African adventure awaited us. Isaac, born at home, began to go down hill quickly the next day. A month and a half in the NICU with Isaac was unexpected.

A slew of tests were run, some things discovered and far more not discovered. It was quite unexpected that we would never find anything concrete, no real explanations. But we praised God that we could finally bring our sweet baby home.

And we excitedly prepared for our rescheduled South African adventure in November.

At a routine pediatrician check up in October, he said Isaac’s head was experiencing ‘accelerated growth’ again. He referred us back to Neurosurgery at the neighboring children’s hospital.

Unexpectedly, our trip was cancelled again. The neurosurgeon ordered more tests and said that Isaac shouldn’t fly until the tests and assessments were complete.

Yesterday we received some good news – the ultrasound of Isaac’s head shows no change and the ultrasound of his kidney’s shows that the deposits are gone and his kidney’s are maturing nicely. It also shows that his ionic calcium levels are normal. Praise the Lord!

Isaac still has yet more tests on the horizon. But we’re enjoying each day as it comes; focusing on the here and now, celebrating each little victory, milestone and smile as we wait.

Life is full of the unexpected. That is where the beauty, the excitement, the wonder and the growth are!

Everything about sweet Isaac was unexpected to me, but not to God. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness!

• I’m participating in Five Minute Friday since 5 minutes seems to be about all I have these days!
• Next week I promise to write about something other than Isaac. Maybe I’ll share the Oatmeal Maple Scone recipe I love!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Five Minute Friday: Unexpected is a post from Beautiful Calling.

I saw this on facebook and decided to share. I have no idea who to credit for it’s creation though.

• A Wordless Wednesday Post

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Spoiler Alert is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Friday I wrote about beyond. Beyond death, heaven’s wonders beyond our human comprehension; then I shared that Grandma had went home to Glory. She’s with her precious Jesus and also reunited with Grandpa.

This morning we buried her with a simple graveside ceremony. I found it hard. I was blessed to have a close relationship with my grandmother.  But it would be so much harder if I didn’t know she was in heaven now.

The way to heaven is a simple one and available to all. It is one of the greatest gifts; both to receive and then to share.  Why not share it with someone today for now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

This afternoon is a short memorial service for her. Gran always loved beautiful shoes. In memory of her, I bought a new pair. {I like shoes too!}. I’ll be wearing these purple beauties in memory of her. I love them and I know she would have too!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Goodbye Grandma is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Me, Grandpa, Grandma, my brother and my sister ~ 2007

My grandmother died yesterday. We were close. She was like a second mother to me, which had it’s perks and it’s downfalls. <smile>  I was incredibly blessed to have her in my life and see her faith; it was a faith of action more than words. I was talking to my mother today about Gran’s incredible strength. Mom reminded me that Gran it wasn’t so much that she was strong, but she was connected to the Ultimate Source of strength. She recognized her weakness and fear and through Him only she had strength, courage and the ability to meet the challenge head on.

Growing up, we lived “across the garden” from grandma and grandpa for as long as I can remember. As an adult, our families moved to the city and my marriage home was only a 10 minute walk away.

I miss her.

I’m heartbroken.

And I’m rejoicing.

For yesterday morning, beyond death, she entered into abundant life. Meeting her beloved Jesus face to face? What an incredible day she must have had and will have forever more. The wonders of heaven, the delight of being in the presence God? Far beyond my human comprehension. 

Thank you, Lord, for taking her home!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Five Minute Friday: Beyond is a post from Beautiful Calling.

The mis-matched seeds in the little red pot on the window sill come to life; drinking up their water, basking in the sun and lifting their heads upwards. Each time Chloe eats a piece of fruit, she carefully saves her seeds. We have peach, apple and orange seeds planted in this pot. {I don’t tell her that I throw most of them out when she isn’t looking! We’ll start another pot but she eats a lot of fruit…}

Sweet Isaac is four months old. A little more if you count by weeks rather than calendar months. It’s been three months since we came home from the NICU. How he has grown. His sweet smile that takes up his whole face when one of our family walks in the room. He has special smiles for Chloe and John which make my heart melt.

My eyes still tear up as I think about the miracle that is Isaac and about those moments when I didn’t know. But I’ve grown too. Learning to embrace that we will never know- for any of us – just how long we have.

STOP.

Feel free to share a thought on growing and have a beautiful weekend!

For the first time, I’m participating in Five Minute Friday since 5 minutes seems to be about all I have these days!

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Five Minute Friday: Growing is a post from Beautiful Calling.

Before I begin to share Isaac’s birth story I wanted to share this song with you. Just as Isaac has grown so much since his arrival in June, I too have grown as well. The Lord gave me this song while Isaac and I were in the hospital and I sang it to Isaac, prayed it to the Lord and comforted myself with it.

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

And though I did a lot of reading throughout the bible, these two verses were something I read through many, many times. I’m so thankful that God’s Word is timeless. Though our daily circumstances may be different than in bible times, the Lord can use His Word to apply to our lives today to chasten, correct, encourage, comfort and strengthen us.

⁴Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

⁵That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

• Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/713#ixzz1XwvyXrlp
• Bible Gateway Psalm 106:4-5

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. Day by Day and a Psalm is a post from Beautiful Calling.

The children and I spend our days at the park, walking the trails and beautiful streets of our subdivision, or reading and living and loving in our comfortable home.

But sometimes, when we venture into the city, our paths come across theirs. Those people; dirty or sad-looking, holding out a hand – or cup, looking at you forlornly or perhaps staring at the sidewalk. They have a cardboard sign as they sit there on the sidewalk or lay curled up on the park bench.

I’m ashamed to admit that far too often, in my life before children, I would pass by hurriedly, avoiding eye contact. Because I couldn’t  always give financially, I’d hide behind my husband and choose not to see.

But the Lord has a way of changing a person and He has used the little ones in my life in so many ways to touch me, change me, mold me…

And as we walked passed the old woman on the sidewalk in front of the bookstore, wrapped in blankets with her cup out, Chloe smiled at her and the woman smiled back.

My eyes filled with tears and my heart broke as I realized the power of a smile and the importance of valuing people – all people.

When we see those who are down on their luck, begging on the sidewalk, sometimes we can help financially and sometimes we can’t. But even when we can’t give money, we can always say hello as we pass and offer a smile, showing them and our children (and reminding ourselves) that each person is so valuable to Him.

We were in Paris, France this time last year. It seemed that everywhere we turned, there was a need; a cardboard sign, a hand extended, a cup held out. We offered our meager change where we could, we also shared tracts in French and on a few occasions, a sandwich or something to eat. What a great opportunity to talk about the blessings of God, of thankfulness, of giving, of those who don’t know the Lord.

While we were there, my husband shared with me a story {urban myth?} of a man who made more begging than he would had he had a full time job. He also reminded me that some may use the money for drugs or alcohol. I pondered this and the other thoughts he shared. Then I came to this conclusion: I’m asked to give a cup of water in His name and what happens next is up to Him. I’m accountable for my actions, not anyone else’s.

So whether I am giving a smile, a greeting, a tract,  a sandwich or placing our meager financial offering into that outstretched palm, I can bask in the joy that obedience brings, trusting that the Lord will use whatever I have given for His glory. {I will say that most of our giving is done through our local church, supporting missions, missionaries, orphanages etc. around the globe. But just because we give through the church doesn’t mean that we can’t give to those in need when we can and when we feel led.}

Have you ever struggled with this?

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Jenn is wife to one, mother of three and above all, a humble servant seeking to honor the Lord with her life. A Smile for the Homeless is a post from Beautiful Calling.