Anticipation...

Wyatt has room time every day and we're working on telling time with a regular clock. He is pretty good at knowing when it is 4:00.

He anticipates coming out and sometimes needs reminding that it was the second hand that pointed to four and not the long hand because he is so ready.

It is rare that he is not ready to come out when room time is over.

Today, this is how I found him when he didn't come out right at 4.

and the sweet boy had the clock upside down. :)

Isn't this a picture of anticipation? We (I) so often anticipate something that I can't wait for. I even count down the days or spend lots of time thinking about the thing I am excited for. And when the event actually occurs, something happens in me that takes away from me fully experiencing the joy I thought would bring from that event. Be it me coming down with an illness, one of my kids getting sick, the event cancelling all together due to weather, me just too tired or irritable to enjoy, just life.

That's when the sovereignty of the Lord becomes quite clear. If I'm too sick to enjoy the thing I have been wanting to do, the Lord has made my circumstances so that I cannot partake. But He always goes before us and He holds us together. It is with His love for us that He controls and cares for our circumstances.

As much as my Wyatt wanted to run out of his room at 4 looking to the next part of the day with anticipation, clearly his worn out body needed rest. even. more.

I am thankful for a sovereign and loving Lord.

And I'm thankful for a resting boy.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake."

Psalm 23:1-3

Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookie?

this is a blog post from challies.com.

again, thought it was interesting.

Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookie?

The other day I ate some rather extraordinary Thai food for lunch and, on my way out, grabbed a fortune cookie. I cracked it open and read a silly little proverb meant to inspire, I suppose. I wish it had said "Brisk uphill walk after all-you-can-eat Thai is a bad idea." Never mind. As I waddled my way home, regretting that last bowl of curry (so delicious...), I thought "This fortune sounds like something Joel Osteen would say." And then it struck me--there is very little difference between Joel and those fortune cookies (except that the cookies are delicious, of course). And now, to prove it, I will give you these twelve quotes. You tell me which are from the fortune cookies and which are from Joel Osteen.

Note: Many, many fortune cookies were harmed in the preparation of this quiz.

*****

To see the answer, look for the gray underline beneath each question. Simply double-click or click and drag over the line to see the response. If you are reading via RSS, you may need to click through to the site in order to have the answers hidden from view.

Question One

"Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."
Fortune Cookie

Question Two

"Do all you can to make your dreams come true."
Joel Osteen

Question Three

"Take time to make a difference. Think about how you can make somebody else's life better."
Joel Osteen

Question Four

"Avoid focusing on the negative aspects of the past."
Fortune Cookie

Question Five

"You have something to offer that nobody else can give!"
Joel Osteen

Question Six

"When you can't naturally feel upbeat, it can sometimes help to act as if you did."
Fortune Cookie

Question Seven

"To affirm is to make firm."
Fortune Cookie

Question Eight

"Relationships are more important than our accomplishments."
Joel Osteen

Question Nine

"Somebody needs your encouragement. Somebody needs to know that you believe in them."
Joel Osteen

Question Ten

"The best things in life aren't things."
Fortune Cookie

Question Eleven

"You will produce what you're continually seeing in your mind."
Joel Osteen

Question Twelve

"Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant."
Fortune Cookie

*****

So how did you do? I would have loved to be able to package this as a slick little quiz, but unfortunately I couldn't find software that would do that without either attaching unsuitable ads or otherwise polluting your computer.

This is Hilarious

Yet again, swiped from another blog. (Kevin DeYoung's).

This made me laugh out loud several times.

And sadly, I relate to a lot of it.

:):)

Enjoy!

Monday Morning Humor

Posted using ShareThis

Happy, Hard and Hopeful

a 12-year old boy with Asperger's syndrome interviews his mom.

I swiped this from Abraham Piper's blog. It is very sweet and delicate. My heart is so tender right now - I could not watch it without tearing up. But I find this mother's answers very honest and very helpful for her son.

Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Walker is 2!

Hard to believe that our baby is now a 2 year old. He is a hand full! And I absolutely love that the Lord placed him in Wes' and my care. He has taught me much in these few years. It's been a full 2 years from his persistence as a newborn to declare it was meal time by his gifted pipes! To his "responses" when he is not going to be able to have his choice of something. Be it - a good throw down on the floor or a good set of squeals. He is fully a child in need of a Savior and he is fully ours! And he is fully loved.

I do enjoy many things about our Walker including, his quick ability to share with Wyatt. His ability to entertain himself wherever we go. His observance of work needing to be done and willingness to help. His sweet and adorable side that reveals how deeply he will love people and care for people.

I am in love with this child and grateful for the privilege I have in being his mommy.

We had a simple party for Walker at the park with a few families. We had a great time - and he was so grateful for the cake, the play and friends.

ps - at his 2 year check up, it was confirmed that his height is in the 100 % at 37.5 inches. After talking to my parents about this, they talked to my aunt Sarah. She shared her three son's 2 year stats (my 1st cousins) and it was so interesting how Walker compares.

Daniel H - 37 in W - 31 lb Adult height 6'4"

Eddie H - 35.5 in W - 31 lb Adult height 6'2"

Richard H - 35 in W - 27 lb Adult height 6'4"

Walker H - 37.5 in W - 31 lb Adult height ??

Who Knew?

A creative friend has organized an activity bag swap-out for the summer. There are 17 moms participating and therefore we each put together 17 bags complete with all things needed for our activities. In turn, my household will reap the benefits this summer of 17 activities already thought out and put together for me!!

So my activity "requires" a clipboard. That's 17 clipboards, which I don't have so obviously I need to purchase.

I will have you know that clipboards are pricey!

I mean, really, how much would you pay for this?

I wasn't hoping to spend a fortune. But I actually found these things in stores for $9.99!!! That would be more than $170. Uh no. So I actually went to 5 different places. Target - too expensive. Rite Aid - not any available. Walgreens - too expensive. I finally found some at Office Depot in a pack of 3 for $4. I ended up spending $27 which was more than I had hoped, but less than I began to see was possible.

This will be the most appreciated scavenger hunt this family has ever endeavored.

And I really wanted to help someone else out that might be in the same predicament.

Note - Amazon has them for less than $1/piece.

Last Words

Ever thought about your last words?

I know it's a very morbid thought, but my mind has been occupied by these types of words after I gave Wes a book recently, that I find fascinating.

Last Words of Saints and Sinners by Herbert Lockyer.

Elsie Newell quoted several people's last words at a women's conference this past weekend and I was intrigued and therefore, found the book, not in a bookstore, not in any of Charlotte's libraries (24), but on faithful Amazon.

I have really enjoyed reading these well-known people's last words. Surprised by many, not at all surprised by a few. Some are full of hope and security, others are lonely, dark and full of despair.

I can't imagine a sweeter time on this earth for a believer than his or her dying moments.

James Montgomery put it this way:

"So when my latest breath

Shall rend the veil in twain,

By death I shall escape from death,

And life eternal gain.

That resurrection-word

That should of victory;

Once more, 'For ever with the Lord!'

Amen, so let it be!"

Here are a few worth sharing:

JOHN ADAMS (1735-1826)

He died on July 4, 1826, just fifty years to the day after the Declaration of Independence. Having a great admiration for his compatriot, Thomas Jefferson, the last words of Adams were:

"Thomas Jefferson still survives."

But unknown to Adams, Jefferson had died an hour before Adams was called Home.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826)

Jefferson had a deep reverence for the Bible of which he wrote: "I have always said and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make us better citizens, better fathers and better husbands."

When Jefferson came to die, author of the Declaration of Independence, he was fully prepared to meet the Christ he had sought to follow. His death also came 50 years to the day - July 4, 1826 and after taking affectionate farewells of members of his family, his last audible words were:

"I resign my soul to God, my daughter to my Country. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace."

THOMAS PAINE,

the renowned American author and infidel, exerted considerable influence against belief in God and in the Scriptures. He came to his last hour in 1809, a most disillusioned and unhappy man. During his final moments on earth he said,

"I would give worlds, if I had them that Age of Reason had not been published. Oh Lord, help me! Christ, help me! O God what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God's sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is hell to be alone. If ever the devil had an agent, I have been that one."

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)

"I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting; and my body to the earth, whereof it is made."