Bella, my beautiful little 5 year old was singing along with the radio this morning as loudly as she possibly could...She suddenly stopped singing and says, "Mama wait, can you turn it off for a minute?" I turn the radio off and listen, because she obviously has something important to say if she's gonna ask me to turn off music...She's kinda like a music loving maniac!
"Mama this is a song about Jesus, right?"
"Yes Honey, it is."
"Well, I think God made this man's heart want to sing songs about Him."
"Hmmm...You do? Why is that?"
"Because he sinned before and then God made his heart new and clean and now he wants to sing songs about God instead of other stuff."
"I think you are probably right Sweetie."
"Ya, and I think God said to him that Jesus died for him and now he is forgiven, now he isn't having a dirty heart because he has a new heart, and his sins are all washed far away. God said to him that he is a new person and now he doesn't want to sing about stuff like playing games, or going to the park, or going grocery shopping, or singing about clothes. He just wants to only sing about God now because God said that He wants him to let all that sin go and be new and cleaned in his heart. So God helped him know all about Himself. And God said follow Me now. No more singing about all of that other stuff. Sing about Me now."
Wow...Was my only thought...I just couldn't even talk...
"Do you think that to Mama?"
"Honey, I do...I really do."
Then she said that I could turn the music back on and she jumped back into singing. Even though a different song was now playing...She knew the words...
"Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow You..."
~I Will Follow - by Chris Tomlin
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
One Year Ago Today...
Exactly one year ago today, these two people had a baby...
That's not the controversy though...or the scandal...
See, the thing is they were already adding to these guys...
Yep, that's 5 there...But, wait...look below...there's 1 more!
Ahhh!!! 6?!
Are you kidding me?! Seriously?! They are having another one?! What are they thinking?! What are they going to do with another one?! Why on earth are they having another one?! What normal people would do this kind of thing?! And, on purpose?!
See, it's people like that...
People like what? People that have more than 1 or 2 children? People that view children as a gift that God has so graciously blessed them with? You mean, people like that?
You know, long before I was even married and before I had children...I used to tell my daddy that, "I want to have like 10 kids!" Hahaha...He'd laugh and say, "Maybe a little bit less...What about like 5?" I answered him very seriously, "Ummm...I don't like un-even numbers, so how about 6 or 8?" He just laughed again and say, "Well, if you still want that many after having 1 baby, then you go ahead!" I had absolutely no idea just what he meant by that. But, after my first...I was done! WOW!!! Talk about pain! I finally knew what he meant...Although technically when you think about it, he didn't really even know what he meant...He only "knew" from being an innocent bystander, I guess...Haha!
But, I did have more...See, God had this really great idea of allowing women to "forget" the pain of childbirth and even some of the yuckiness of pregnancy...
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ~John 16:21
I greatly praise Him and thank Him for this. Can you imagine how many women would never ever brave the event of childbirth again without His gift of forgetfulness?!
But, after the birth of our 5th baby we pretty much figured we were done. Well technically speaking, everyone who had an opinion let us know that we were indeed done. You can imagine the surprise when I actually wasn't! I mean we already had 5 children! Who did we think we were getting pregnant with a 6th? Weren't we done?!
"I thought one of you were getting fixed?!"
Wow, I heard that one much more than, "Congratulations!"
After our 6th was born I was determined to be "done"...and I was also equally as determined that my hubster was getting "fixed"! I just couldn't handle the thought of ever having to explain ever ever ever again on why we were expecting...again!
My womb was in the "hands" of others...Others who really had no business being a part of my uterus or the activities that went on with it! They really had no right to any decisions based on my fertility or if I was "done"! I guess it's alright for them to have opinions, but maybe they should have even kept those to themselves as well. I mean really...How is my husband and I having another baby, or 2, or 6 going to hurt them? Were they helping out? Was this really going to affect them personally? Were they offering to babysit? Because if they were...Ok...Ummm...Well in all honesty, we may have totally taken the babysitting offers so that we could go out for a date or something...But, the point is...WE are the parents...We get to decide what we want to do or not do with our own bodies...
I prayed and prayed about this...I was sad, I was stressed, I was confused! Then one night I got up and knelt beside the bed. I knew in my heart that I was wrong...I was wrong to try and force my husband to get "fixed"...I was wrong in not trusting God. I cried and prayed and cried and prayed...and then cried and prayed some more...I repented and then joyfully surrendered everything to Him! I gave Him all of me...Yep, even my womb. I fully surrendered to God and placed ALL of who I am in His hands. I know, I know...sounds crazy, scary, crazy...Oh wait, I already said crazy! Anyway, I knew that I just wasn't truly trusting Him...fully. I knew that I needed to. So, I went "over-the-top" and jumped in!
I never felt so at peace before...I talked to my husband about it and we had a new view of fertility...Let's just enjoy what God has given us and whatever else He chooses. WOW!!! What a concept! My womb was now in the hands of God...Right where it should be. Exactly 2 months later I was pregnant with our 7th...and joyfully happy...not fearfully apologetic.
9 months later (and 3 days early) She arrived!
#7 Our Beautiful Little Bryanna...My almost missed blessing!
Does this mean that there will be more in our future? We don't know...
But, I do know that I will enjoy being a wife to my husband without any reserve or fear. I will enjoy my children...I will enjoy the gifts my Lord blesses me with!
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man (I'd also like to add...and woman) who has his (and her) quiver full of them...
~Psalm 127:3-5
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
~Psalm 139:13-14
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine. In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
~Psalm 128:1-4
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply...
~Genesis 1:28
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...
~James 1:17
Now, does this mean we look down upon those whom choose "enough is enough"?
No, and this is exactly my point...Who are we to tell anyone else what's right or wrong for their own bodies? We have no right forcing our views of fertility on another couple. That is between them and God...This was our own personal conviction. We know that the Lord placed this conviction on our hearts for a reason...We are trusting in Him and His will for our family. Does this make us "Super-Christians" or "Mega-Holy"? Haha...Ya right, No way! Again, this is just our own personal conviction...And, just because YOU are convicted of "something", doesn't automatically make that "something" a sin or wrong for someone else.
Besides...We're kinda crazy...Not everyone is!
Happy 1st Birthday Little Princess...That year went by ridiculously fast!
(Little Bryanna's first week home...Awwwwe...How peaceful she looks)
(She LOVED this bouncer!)
(My Rock & Roll Princess!)
(Camping at Lake Huron)
(Some-BUNNY is adorable...Hehehe...Get it? Some-"BUNNY"...kinda like somebody...but, I said Bunny 'cause she's all dressed up like a cute little pink bunny?)
(Playing in the leaves...Daddy took this shot & even edited it and everything...Ya, he's pretty stinkin' amazing!)
(Being adorable...again...She's always doing that! Poor baby though...If you look closely at her forehead, she's got a boo-boo...She's a total princess for sure, but she ain't no prissy princess...She's a rough-and-tumble kind of princess!)
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY BRYANNA!!!
Praising God for blessing us with His gift of YOU...Praying for many more wonderful years to come!!!
That's not the controversy though...or the scandal...
See, the thing is they were already adding to these guys...
Yep, that's 5 there...But, wait...look below...there's 1 more!
Ahhh!!! 6?!
Are you kidding me?! Seriously?! They are having another one?! What are they thinking?! What are they going to do with another one?! Why on earth are they having another one?! What normal people would do this kind of thing?! And, on purpose?!
See, it's people like that...
People like what? People that have more than 1 or 2 children? People that view children as a gift that God has so graciously blessed them with? You mean, people like that?
You know, long before I was even married and before I had children...I used to tell my daddy that, "I want to have like 10 kids!" Hahaha...He'd laugh and say, "Maybe a little bit less...What about like 5?" I answered him very seriously, "Ummm...I don't like un-even numbers, so how about 6 or 8?" He just laughed again and say, "Well, if you still want that many after having 1 baby, then you go ahead!" I had absolutely no idea just what he meant by that. But, after my first...I was done! WOW!!! Talk about pain! I finally knew what he meant...Although technically when you think about it, he didn't really even know what he meant...He only "knew" from being an innocent bystander, I guess...Haha!
But, I did have more...See, God had this really great idea of allowing women to "forget" the pain of childbirth and even some of the yuckiness of pregnancy...
A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ~John 16:21
I greatly praise Him and thank Him for this. Can you imagine how many women would never ever brave the event of childbirth again without His gift of forgetfulness?!
But, after the birth of our 5th baby we pretty much figured we were done. Well technically speaking, everyone who had an opinion let us know that we were indeed done. You can imagine the surprise when I actually wasn't! I mean we already had 5 children! Who did we think we were getting pregnant with a 6th? Weren't we done?!
"I thought one of you were getting fixed?!"
Wow, I heard that one much more than, "Congratulations!"
After our 6th was born I was determined to be "done"...and I was also equally as determined that my hubster was getting "fixed"! I just couldn't handle the thought of ever having to explain ever ever ever again on why we were expecting...again!
My womb was in the "hands" of others...Others who really had no business being a part of my uterus or the activities that went on with it! They really had no right to any decisions based on my fertility or if I was "done"! I guess it's alright for them to have opinions, but maybe they should have even kept those to themselves as well. I mean really...How is my husband and I having another baby, or 2, or 6 going to hurt them? Were they helping out? Was this really going to affect them personally? Were they offering to babysit? Because if they were...Ok...Ummm...Well in all honesty, we may have totally taken the babysitting offers so that we could go out for a date or something...But, the point is...WE are the parents...We get to decide what we want to do or not do with our own bodies...
I prayed and prayed about this...I was sad, I was stressed, I was confused! Then one night I got up and knelt beside the bed. I knew in my heart that I was wrong...I was wrong to try and force my husband to get "fixed"...I was wrong in not trusting God. I cried and prayed and cried and prayed...and then cried and prayed some more...I repented and then joyfully surrendered everything to Him! I gave Him all of me...Yep, even my womb. I fully surrendered to God and placed ALL of who I am in His hands. I know, I know...sounds crazy, scary, crazy...Oh wait, I already said crazy! Anyway, I knew that I just wasn't truly trusting Him...fully. I knew that I needed to. So, I went "over-the-top" and jumped in!
I never felt so at peace before...I talked to my husband about it and we had a new view of fertility...Let's just enjoy what God has given us and whatever else He chooses. WOW!!! What a concept! My womb was now in the hands of God...Right where it should be. Exactly 2 months later I was pregnant with our 7th...and joyfully happy...not fearfully apologetic.
9 months later (and 3 days early) She arrived!
#7 Our Beautiful Little Bryanna...My almost missed blessing!
Does this mean that there will be more in our future? We don't know...
But, I do know that I will enjoy being a wife to my husband without any reserve or fear. I will enjoy my children...I will enjoy the gifts my Lord blesses me with!
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man (I'd also like to add...and woman) who has his (and her) quiver full of them...
~Psalm 127:3-5
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
~Psalm 139:13-14
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine. In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
~Psalm 128:1-4
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply...
~Genesis 1:28
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...
~James 1:17
Now, does this mean we look down upon those whom choose "enough is enough"?
No, and this is exactly my point...Who are we to tell anyone else what's right or wrong for their own bodies? We have no right forcing our views of fertility on another couple. That is between them and God...This was our own personal conviction. We know that the Lord placed this conviction on our hearts for a reason...We are trusting in Him and His will for our family. Does this make us "Super-Christians" or "Mega-Holy"? Haha...Ya right, No way! Again, this is just our own personal conviction...And, just because YOU are convicted of "something", doesn't automatically make that "something" a sin or wrong for someone else.
Besides...We're kinda crazy...Not everyone is!
Happy 1st Birthday Little Princess...That year went by ridiculously fast!
(Little Bryanna's first week home...Awwwwe...How peaceful she looks)
(She LOVED this bouncer!)
(My Rock & Roll Princess!)
(Camping at Lake Huron)
(Some-BUNNY is adorable...Hehehe...Get it? Some-"BUNNY"...kinda like somebody...but, I said Bunny 'cause she's all dressed up like a cute little pink bunny?)
(Playing in the leaves...Daddy took this shot & even edited it and everything...Ya, he's pretty stinkin' amazing!)
(Being adorable...again...She's always doing that! Poor baby though...If you look closely at her forehead, she's got a boo-boo...She's a total princess for sure, but she ain't no prissy princess...She's a rough-and-tumble kind of princess!)
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY BRYANNA!!!
Praising God for blessing us with His gift of YOU...Praying for many more wonderful years to come!!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
180's Big Distribution Day
The 180 Movie Team had a very big day yesterday...
Teams of regular folks who love both the Lord and the precious un-born, went out all over this country (and even other countries) to college campuses handing out copies of the 180 Movie...
To see a list of schools & a number of how many DVD's were distributed at that specific school click HERE...
People have even been blogging about it...Below is an excerpt from one of my very favorite blogs called Redeemedography. Ok, it's my Hubster's blog...
..."My prayer the night prior to this event was, “Right now there are some women that are pregnant and contemplating abortion. Lord give them a heart to even just ask for something as simple as a sign from you. Then place that DVD in their hands to prevent the killing of the beautiful babies in their wombs. But Lord do not stop there, save their souls. Cause this pregnancy, thoughts of abortion, and the placing of this DVD in their hands as a means to repentance and faith upon hearing the good news of Christ!”...
To read this post in it's entirety please click HERE
They even got some news coverage...
They also made the paper...Read that article Here
Plus, a student got one of the DVD's, went and watched it...then came back and handed it back! Watch that discussion below...
Praise God for the message getting out there!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
"Remind Them, Jesus..."
My sweet little "Bella-rina" was dancing all around the living room this morning singing a beautiful song that she made up to "her Jesus". As I listened to the words she sang and watched her dance, I was amazed at how genuinely she was truly singing praises to Him...just Him...it seemed like it was just her heart and His. As she sang and danced for Jesus, one of our other little ones said, "How lucky Bella is, she's so lucky to have a happy song in her heart!" Oh, how I agree! I just closed my eyes and praised God for "His loving grace pouring out!"
Here are the words to Bella's song...
The love of Jesus, The love of Jesus
His love pours out, His love pours out
I love my Jesus because He loves me
Time is running, Time is running out
Please remind them, Please remind them Jesus
Time is running out, Please remind them Jesus
His mercy is flowing, His mercy is flowing all around
His grace is pouring, His grace is pouring out
Time is running out, Please remind them Jesus
The love of Jesus, The love of Jesus
I love my Jesus because He loves me
His loving grace is pouring out!
These words sung so softly and so sweetly by my little girl twirling and dancing all around, not even yet 5 years old...made my heart so grateful that my God is most sovereign! The reminder that He saved a wretch like me, so undeserved, so unworthy...What Amazing Grace...What an Amazing God!!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Adventures with a Homeschooler, A Potty Training Toddler, A Newborn, and A Bee
Our 3rd Day of Homeschooling...well Pre-K Homeschooling...and we are still alive...and enjoying it!!! Little Bella was very sad at the thought of big brother and big sisters off to school and she'd be without her playmates. So, I asked her if maybe she'd like to "go to school" too, but at home. "No, I'm to little...I'll be to afraid!" She said. "Not at a school building Honey...I mean we'll do school stuff here at home...you know, like sissy did before." I said...secretly kinda hoping that she'd not really dig the idea...I know, I know...Why offer it if I didn't want to actually do it? But, she was crying and I was feeling sad for her and then my stinkin' mouth spilled out words before I could stop it...Anyways...Bella LOVED the idea!!! Not only did she totally dig the idea, but she also thought it would be fun for her little brother Joshua (AKA Joshy) to "attend" our school as well...YAY!!! UH-OH!!!
Let the FUN Begin...
This Tuesday was Back-to-School...Bella was very sad to see them go...right after breakfast though, she kindly reminded me that we were supposed to do school also...Uh-Oh...to be honest, I wasn't ready or prepared...I had nothing planned...I was really thinking maybe we'd start this "school" thing after the New Year. She stared up at me with her big ol' beautiful brown eyes and smiling so excitedly..."Right Mom?" What was I supposed to do? She's pretty stinkin' adorable...I gave in. I threw anything and everything together...and it was fun.
Today though has been quite the adventure...
Bella was full of "vim and vinegar"...or vigor...or however that saying goes. She still of course wanted to do school today...and so we did. Joshy, by the way is in the process of being potty trained...you'd never know it though if you weren't his Mama...this has been quite the fun task! Anyway, He's been a potty training maniac today...He keeps asking to go potty just to get the coveted reward (fruit snacks or tomatoes), but then zip, zilch, nada...Then, my beautiful little 6 month old wants to snuggle ALL DAY LONG...she is not digging the whole me putting her down for a second thing at all today...she had a rough time in the nursery at church last night, so there's no way she's letting me out of her sight right now...this also makes potty training a spider monkey...errr...ummm...I mean toddler rather difficult as well...and as a matter of fact she's sitting in my lap right at this very moment...Ok, so if all that's not enough to end our school for the day...a bee...a ginormous bee flies in and freaks us all out!!! At that scary moment I had Joshy on the potty, Bella dancing on her chair and singing very loudly while coloring her "red" paper, I was pouring a cup of coffee (God's beautiful blessing of a gift) and holding baby Bryanna while she was cooing and sucking on my chin...
"AHHHHHHH..." Bella runs into the kitchen and hides in a corner, I put the coffee cup down, put Bryanna in her snazzy jungle bouncer, shut the bathroom door so Joshy doesn't freak out anymore than he already is, take a sip of coffee (for power or something) and grab the broom...This bee obviously doesn't understand what he just did!!! I have not allowed any the day's "fun" events up until now disrupt our flow...and this jerk thinks he can just waltz right in and end it?! I don't think so stinkin' bee!!! So, I swatted at him...which was actually pretty dumb for me to do, because he then decided that he really didn't like that and wanted to show me just how ticked off he was..."AHHHHHHH..." again!!! I ran and hid too...Ok, that's it...Now I'm really mad...So, I "Army Crawl" over to the door and open it...then I grab the broom and swat at him again...then run!!! He eventually flies out the door and I slam it shut!!! Woo-Hoo!!!
"Yay Mom...you did it...Ok, back to school work!" Bella squeals.
Hmmm...What was I thinking?
Bella "The Homeschooler"
Joshy "The Potty Training Toddler"
Anna-Banana "The Newborn"
NO WAY...I did not get a picture of the bee...
Monday, September 5, 2011
And there was Life...
A truly miraculous and beautiful story of "Life"...
This is a picture of little Samuel Alexander Armas. He was still in his mother's womb and was having surgery at just 21 weeks into pregnancy...
To read part 1 of this amazing story please click here
To read part 2 please click here
"...The fact of the matter is it's a child with a hand, with a life, and that's meaningful enough."
~Words from Samuel's mother Julie Armas during an interview 10 years later...that article can be read here
This is a picture of little Samuel Alexander Armas. He was still in his mother's womb and was having surgery at just 21 weeks into pregnancy...
To read part 1 of this amazing story please click here
To read part 2 please click here
"...The fact of the matter is it's a child with a hand, with a life, and that's meaningful enough."
~Words from Samuel's mother Julie Armas during an interview 10 years later...that article can be read here
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