Significant?

"If no one is accusing you of being too legalistic, then you probably aren't living a holy life.

If no one is accusing you of being a 'bleeding heart', then you probably aren't loving enough.

If no one is accusing you of being too dogmatic, then you probably aren't standing for the truth.

If no one is accusing you... or criticizing you...you probably aren't doing anything significant."

~Israel Wayne

The Word

I have to admit, I have been mostly a New King James girl. It is the Bible that I have had and have read for years. I love the accuracy, and comfortable reading style.

I did just buy tradesman an ESV (English Standard Version) study Bible for our anniversary. He was thrilled.
Our church has switched over to using the ESV exclusively for scripture readings and such and he has been dying to get his hands on one.

He is LOVING it. The study content is very extensive and according to John Piper the translation is very accurate to the original wording in the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts.

But I have a confession to make.

Pssst.

I have been reading "the message" as of late.

I have been a bit of a Bible snob and was unwilling to even look at that translation as I considered it completely false and misleading.

I am not saying that I recount those original thoughts completely. I think that we do have to tread carefully when reading translations that are thought- for -thought based. Many
interpretive decisions that should be made by the reader are already made for the reader by the translator. The context, meanings and expression of the original can be lost.

However, since going through the loss of the twins I have abandoned my regular style of reading through the scriptures temporarily and instead have been reading everywhere and anywhere throughout my Bible. And one of my favorite things to do has been to use Bible Gateway.com.

I love that I can look up any scripture in a variety of translations. I found this to be most comforting at times. If you look through some of my more recent posts, you will see that I have a fair bit of scripture posted in the New Living Translation and The Message.

I still always go back to my trusty New King James for Study and context, but I have rather enjoyed the narrative style of The Message. I picked up a soft cover one for rather cheap at the Christian bookstore and have barely been able to put it down.
Maybe, I am just a bit more simple minded or enjoy the easy flow, but I find it comfortable.

Using it for depth or interpretation of scripture I would not, but an enjoyable, relate-able version it is. I believe that it should not replace the actual reading of Gods word from a reliable version, but as an added pleasure with discernment, I could recommend it.

For example, today I was reading in Romans some favorite verses below.

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (NKJ)

Beautiful! Can you not just picture that? God has poured out His love to FILL our hearts! I loved that and was curious how "The Message" might word the same scriptures.


Here's Romans 5:3-5

"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! "

Amen!

This is EXACTLY how I feel. And it was a blessing and an encouragement to me to read.

So hence... my closet "Message reading" has been revealed, and strangely I don't feel bad about it. :)

Where's Waldo Baby My?

She is enjoying the sunshine, I tell you.

She is thinking that the great outdoors is the greatest thing since slice bread or rather sippy cups...

She wasn't quite walking until the end of summer last year, so this whole outside new found freedom has been quite a high for our little My!

Enjoying the wind in her hair face.

So much to see and do.

These shoes were made for walkin'...

"Oh bother mama, are all these pictures really necessary?"

"Mama, I really have places to go, people to see and things to do climb..."

"I am outta here!"

Just a couple more pix little baby...

Mama does not want to forget a moment of you!

Soaking in the wonderfulness of being a mama,

The Real Mess

Crash!

Glass vase, rocks, new tulips from my neighbor and a whole lot of water hits the wood floor.

I react.

I see it. The pain I caused.
Blonde curls fall over his big blue eyes, they well.
His cherub cheeks so sweet, but his little lip it protrudes and quivers.

"I'm sorry mama...I didn't mean too."

Oh how it aches now to type it, to remember his precious face and my angry expression, my voice annoyed and loud.

With towels we mop up, him and I side by side.
As I watch his little determined expression while his wee hands try to mimic mine, I meditate.

This wet mess is far easier to clean up then the havoc I created in his tiny heart.

Why am I such a slow learner?

I can create all the beauty I want in the nooks and crannies of our home, but it matters not to my children if I have failed to create beauty in my heart and actions.

I am grateful for the quick forgiveness of little ones, the unconditional love freely given, chubby arms that wrap around my neck and heart. Kisses and smiles that replace the ugliness of moments before.

It comes like a flood, the gratefulness for my life, the sorrow for my many inadequacies and I reflect.

Oh, these little ones have so much to share with us. Sometimes we as mothers are the students and they are the teachers.

Each day is full of choices, moments are captured good and bad and I am thankful.

Blessed, grace-filled memories are but a moment away.

Spring has Sprung

The last two days of sunshine have put me in the mood!

The mood you say, "for what?"

Spring decorating! Silly.

Collected some squiggly branches in the yard...

Threw them in a plastic bucket, filled it with some rocks to anchor them...

And Voila!

Its a...um, uh...ah.. well, whatever it is, it makes me happy! :)

I paired it with an abandoned nest leftover from last spring. The nest looks cute perched on the chair beside it. I need some fake eggs or something.

This little pot had paint on it, but got left out all winter. I like how it looks now.

Cuteness.

A watering can that my big boys bought me when they were just little boys. This baby just gets better with age. I leave it out every winter and love it even more every spring.

Bring on the spring!

I am ready.

Let the fun begin!


Loving the sunshine,

My Pretty Little Bruiser

Sure, she looks peaceful and girly.


Don't let that fool you.

As she falls asleep exhausted at the end of the day on momma, she is finally "still" long enough for a closer observation.

Missing a pretty shoe.

Oh, what do we have here?

How on earth does an 18mnth old put a hole in her tights?

Oh ya, that would be the CLIMBING that she takes part in daily!

Sweet baby My is a bruiser, no ifs ands or buts about it.

Oh well, who says you can't look frilly while scaling a bookcase anyway?

A Babys Wave Ensures A Life Saved

Neato story found here

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

~Psalm.139:13

Our Value

I can't find anywhere in the word of God where it says a woman should get her sense of security, worth, or value from a place, possession, or any person other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

~Pasty Clairmont

Mondays

I can be cranky Mondays.

The weekend is over and the same old chores are staring me in the face.



I am overtired because I ALWAYS stay up too late Sundays.

I am either unmotivated or SUPER motivated. Neither one is pretty.

Trust me.



I've decided Monday is my new "Let Loose Day"

Something easy for dinner, don't stress the mess, and embrace the fun day.


Monday no longer seems so daunting.

And really, Tomorrow is just a day away.

Just Call Me Miz. Pebbles

If you are not a cat person, I apologize for this post.

If you are a sane person, I still apologize for this post.



My daughter has a cat. She adores this cat. She even licked this cat once when it was a kitten thinking that it would help the kitten not to miss her momma so much.

What can I say, she also has her dads DNA.


My daughter just had a birthday and a dear friend who has one of the biggest hearts around is also a little coo coo over this cat.

For my daughter, she bought all of these fluffy, pink accessories and bling.

Ya, I said bling. Who knew that there was actual cat bling. Look at that bauble.

Seriously.

"Don't hate me because I am beautiful."

"What's a girl got to do to get a little cat nip around here?"

Go catch a mouse Kitten!

That IS your job you know or did you forget that part while my daughter was fluffing your pillow and putting on your designer duds?

"Moi? I am far too refined to do any such silly thing. It will only be tuna tar tar for now on I beg you."


"A girl can dream can't she?"

Dream on pussy cat, Dream on.

Of course, if my girl has anything to do with it, the worlds your oyster.

My Birthday Gift

Okay, so the moment you have all been waiting for, or not.



TA DA!!

I got this lovely box...can you guess what was inside?

Is she not adorable? I wanna be her.


Here's me trying.

Yes, tradesman bought me an apron for my birthday. But let me tell you, it's not just any old apron.

I mean, LOOK at this bow!!

So, I just HAD to do this!

I felt like a 1950's happy housewife... well, without the perfectly coiffed hair and starched underpanties.

But still, I was SO June Cleaver!

Then tradesman made me do this. He's bossy like that.

I just love it when tradesman gets bossy.

If he had his way, I would be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen all day.

It even looks pretty hanging on my chair. I actually feel like ironing when I look at it.

Wait.

Never mind, the feeling passed.

Good thing tradesmans daily attire does not require wrinkle free.

This apron has magic powers I tell you.

I was MAJOR glamorous when I was peeling and chopping this big pile of veggies for stew.

Just ask my children.

Oh, actually you can't.

They are all sitting perfectly on my freshly fluffed setee playing a game of scrabble while waiting for the homemade apple pie to finish baking and for me to put the finishing touches on the ice cream I made from scratch after milking Betsy this afternoon....or not.

Loving my new apron,