What Would Carter Do?

Lately, I've found myself given over to lazy whims and desires.

 

Take tonight.

My husband is gone at rehearsal, I am alone with kids. The dishes are piled up, the laundry is piled up. What's a girl to do?

 

Avoid them like the plague.

 

Then, I got to thinking about my sweet husband and how servant-hearted he is. He does my dishes every night, people. And, if I'm upstairs folding laundry, he comes and helps me do that after the dishes are done.

 

There I was, standing in the kitchen and I thought, "What would Carter do?"

He would do the next thing.

 

I'd like to say that I did the next best thing and did the dishes to bless him.

But, honestly, and here's my grand excuse, I just wanted to crawl up in my bed after dealing with throw-up all afternoon, the stench of stomach acid still lingering in my nostrils.

I did however empty all the downstairs garbages, and sweep the floors. Hey, it was something!

 

Now, I'm resting in my bed, click-clacking away, while he is downstairs clanging pots and pans.

Ahhhhhh, tis a delightful sound! I'll thank him later. ;-)

 

My husband is someone I admire whole-heartedly. He encourages me, protects me (sometimes from my negative self-talk), spurs me on, loves me on bad hair days, never speaks a harsh word to me, he is always the first one to apologize, and makes me laugh daily. He is a man after God's own heart, he seeks Christ daily, he is a good daddy. I kinda like this guy God granted me. Even more, I kinda want to be like him.

{hubba hubba}

 

Words always have a way of toying with me. They stick there, in the forefront of my mind, like that proverbial piece of spinach lodged in the teeth. And I chew on them.

 

The following words have been chewed on quite a bit lately.

 

“The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains,
no matter where you are.

The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. 
He always plays it safe.

 Though in words, phrases, songs, he is inexhaustible about how highly he prizes Christ,

 he renounces nothing, gives up nothing,
will not reconstruct his life, will not be what he admires,

and will not let his life express what it is he supposedly admires.”

{Soren Kierkegaard}

 

I think about how I know God is nudging me to reconstruct my life (get up earlier, exercise consistently, eat well, teach my children scripture) and how I keep shirking from it.

 

I think about what I know I need to give up (as I'm here munching on potato chips), not in some legalistic "deny myself everything pleasurable" insanity, but because, I know to Whom I belong, and I want closer, ever closer to His throne, and further, ever further from the trappings of this world.

 

How many times have I thanked and praised God for His awesomeness on Sunday morning, only to speak harshly and rudely to the awesome little child-miracles surrounding me that very night?

 

This is not a beat myself down session, it is a "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." {Psalm 139:23-24}

 

I no longer want to be an admirer. Only a follower.

 

My name means "Follower of Christ."

Thank you, Dad and Mom for the foresight to name me thus.

I aim to live it.

 

~ christa jean ~

 

P.S. Happy Birthday to our Angel baby, our sponsor child. She is ONE today! We found out that she is not an orphan, but her family is so poor they can hardly feed her. She has three older siblings, a set of four year old twins and a sister who is twelve. I pray for strength for her parents today, and favor. Lord, be the Provider of every need.



31 Days: Learning to Just BE... A Mess {Day 28}

"Didn't you brush your hair today?" come the sneering words.
"Your hair is all stringy and hanging in your face, it doesn't look good." I am hissing in her face.
I am not proud of this moment.

I see something in myself.

I could use the excuse that my children need to learn better hygiene, or I could just own up to the truth. The truth that I think their appearances/ behaviour reflects back to me. The truth that I am embarrassed.

If you heard these words every day...
Don't be so messy.
Don't be such a troublemaker.
Don't be so noisy.
Don't be so selfish.
Don't be so ungrateful.
Don't be such a whiner.
What would you think about yourself?

Ask me to tell you good things about my children and I will name a few.
Ask me to tell you my children's weaknesses, and they flow freely from my tongue.

I am not proud of this.

I hear these words in my own head, constant reminders of my own weaknesses.
I need a brain washing. A renewing of my mind.
A mind renewed is powerful.

I see darkness. I am blind to the light in my children.
I need healing of these blind eyes.
Eyes that see fully are clear. Cleared.

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single [whole, healthy]. your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil [diseased], your whole body shall be full of darkness.

If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

{Matthew 6:22-23}

I am so thankfull for the Holy Spirit.
He comes to me in a gentle way and says, "Hey, you know when you spoke those harmful words to your daughter? Well, those words bruised her heart ... go make it right/"

What if I just started marking down the good? Wouldn't that change what I see?

"There be many [darn accusers] that say, 'Who will show us any good?'

Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart,

more than in the time when their grain and wine increased."

{Psalm 4:6-7}

 

 A harvest of thankfullness is what I want to bring forth.

 

No matter if my hair is a mess.

 

~ christa jean ~
~~~

Wanna read from the beginning of my 31 Days? Go here to see the whole list.

Wanna see the 1200 other bloggers doing 31 Days? Check this out!

31 Days: Learning to Just BE... Connected {Day 26}

 

 

Weekends are for family.

Reconnecting.

Loving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Weekending!

 

~ christa jean ~
~~~

 

Wanna read from the beginning of my 31 Days? Go here to see the whole list.

 

Wanna see the 1200 other bloggers doing 31 Days? Check this out!

 

 

Love Dwells Here

Today marks the one year anniversary of the move into our very own house, here in the little town of Shelton.
We waited and prayed and prayed and waited for it for almost two years.

Today, I am filled to the brim with gratitude for this home sweet home.
As I walk from room to room, feeling a swell of pride for the comfortable and decorated spaces, my thoughts turn to those who do not have what I own.

Those people are not vague strangers in some far off land.
Those people are my friends, whose house just burned to the ground while the husband stood watching in helpless horror.
I thank my God that no one was hurt. Because, really, that's all that matters.

I am reminded of the verse that says:
"Do not store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." {Matthew 6:19-21}

What matters most are the relationships being built within our homes.
When I stand before The One, I will be held accountable for how I cared (or didn't) for those people (little and big).

So, today, I ask for kind words, gentle hands, smiling eyes, and a love that covers a multitude of sins.

~christa jean

Trendsetter

Here is my crafty sister, looking stunning in one of her new creations! I haven't figured out if I'm daring enough to pull off this retro look, but I'm workin' up to it slowly.

My Gracefull Girl got to be a model too, though the sun was making her eyes water.

Ya gotta love those naturally red lips. She will never have to wear lipstick. I'm just slightly green with envy. ;-D

Then there's the other blue eyed sis. All ravishing, I tell ya!

Click the red etsy button to your right to catch a glimpse of the other colors.

Happy Creating!

~christa jean

A Milestone.

We celebrated the five year mark with this bundle of Joy this week.

The crown stayed on all day, and the next day, and the next...She requested ice cream cone cupcakes, same as last year. Although, last year I cheated and shoved store bought cupcakes in the tops of the cones. This time, I actually baked them (do follow the instructions when they say only fill 3/4 way full if you don't want them to volcano all over the sides), with a hidden surprise in the bottom. Only, the hidden surprise melted into a chunk of goo at the bottom of the cone. Oh well, it was still tasty! Nerds were the choice of topping, with strawberry frosting, lemon cake and colored cones. So demanding, I tell ya!

The other request was Chuck E. Cheese. Not my favourite past time, nevertheless, we went on a night that was not busy and had a lovely time with cousins and friends.

Sweets for the sweet!

Happy Birthday Joy Sprinkles!

~christa jean

Changing Faces

Bright, shiny faces!
Here are some random pics of the kiddos, in no particular order. Just for fun!

We've been going for weekly trail walks, rain or shine. ~JoyFull!~ ~Patient~ ~Loving~

{Isn't her new do cute? Of course, this was a few months ago and I'm just now posting about it.} Who knew an umbrella would bring such cheer?! ~Soft and cuddly~
{He wears a patch on his strong eye two hours a day in order to strengthen his weak eye. He loves that there is glitter on them. So fashionable, for a pirate!}

Loveyas!

~christajean

Never forgotten.

Today I remember my niece Lydia.

She went to be with Jesus one year ago and changed all of our lives.

Loss drives you to your knees. And often in that desperate state, your heart opens a little wider and you begin to see Him for who He truly is. He is not aloof. He does not love babies so much that He takes them from us. He weeps at our sadness. He sees that we live in a world full of darkness and death and so He sends us His light.

"The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have LIFE and have it more abundantly."

{John 10:10}

So we, like fragile seedlings, reach for the light. As we trust Him, fear Him, seek Him, love Him, our roots go down deep and become strong and we are able to withstand all.

~ You will never be forgotten ~

February 7th, 2010

Big Baby Boy

Here's a shout out to my little, big man for turning 2 this month!

What would we do without the world's sweetest little boy in our house? He's a funny little character. If he sees a drawer or cupboard open, he will come by and close it for you, even while you're trying to get something out of it. Or maybe it's the fridge that he tries to close you into. He's efficient that way. He is very neat and cleans up after himself. He sings himself to sleep with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" every night and wakes up humming some little tune every morning.

{Moustaches are all the rage. Especially if they are chocolate.}

{He says "I yuw yoo" to us day and night.}

{He loves to wear royal garments. No matter that they have purple hearts on them.

He's paired it nicely with a camo shirt.}

{When daddy comes near, he knows it's tickle time!}

{He's very regular and goes on the toilet after breakfast every morning.

And that's one less icky smell for me to deal with.}

{I LOVE this. He "reads" daily.}

{I'm FREE to be ME!!!}

{He loves to be cuddled, loves to be touched,

which is most definitely his language of love.}

{My two hunks!}

I'm sure he would love to stay being THE baby in our house, but such is not meant to be. Come August, he'll be a big brother to one more little bundle of joy.

YUP. And baby makes seven!

~christa jean

Taste and See.

We've been busy! Remember in my last post (over a month ago, sheesh!) I told you that I might tell you what we've been doing the last few months?
Here's a small snapshot:
We were asked in July to prayerfully consider becoming leaders of the Children's Ministry at our church. We did prayerfully consider it, for, like, a minute. We knew right away that this was what Jesus, the lover of children, wanted us to do.

We prayed for direction. We liked the curriculum that was being used, but we were feeling nudges to go in a different direction.

In August we hosted our first informational meeting and had record numbers attending.
In September we held our first training meeting for teachers and assistants with record numbers attending.
In October we kicked off our new "program" (for lack of a better word) with a song and a dance (literally) and much fanfare.

Does it sound like I'm boasting? I hope not! But have you ever known that you were in the right place at the right time? That you were born for a certain something? Well, this is just a small piece of that certain "something" and definitely an opportunity that is for us for such a time as this. As we stepped forth in obedience, all the pieces began falling into place. He likes to bless us that way when we obey!

The cooooooolest piece of it all was a tiny little children's book that revolutionized my thinking. As I read through it, I cried and instantly sat down to "practice" some of it's principles.

The book is called "Children, Can You Hear Me?" by Brad Jersak. It is, in essence, a guidebook for kids to learn how to hear His voice daily. It has become a guidebook for me as well. The phrase that struck me the most, was this, "Children hear the Lord easier than anyone else. Virtually the only block that I encounter in them is their parents' own unbelief." Oof, ouch.



Here are some snippets I captured from the description:* Children, Can You Hear Me? trains kids to practice God's presence in their lives.
* Imagine raising an entire generation that hears God's voice every day!

I love that last line. I want that to be true for my children. I want them to hunger and thirst for righteousness. I want them to need to hear from their Creator, Saviour, Healer, Counselor every day. If they catch a glimpse of Him now at this young age, they will never want to turn away. As they begin to taste and see that the Lord is good and that He cares about every detail of their lives, then they will get a genuine knowledge of who He is. He is real. He is LIVING. He is not a dead or dead-beat God.

The following is a portion of one of my blog posts from our ministry website...

"You are the light of the world. You are children of light.

'For all of creation has been eagerly awaiting the day

when God will reveal who His children really are.'

{Romans 8:19}

The time is now.

Whether you are a child by age or a child at heart, you are a child created by God. Created to know Him. To know Him fully and to make Him fully known. How do we get to know our God? We communicate with Him, just as we would a dear, dear friend.

Friend says: 'How are you today?'
We reply: 'Well, ... ' and tell Friend all of our struggles, our hopes, our worries, our dreams.
Friend listens. Friend loves. Friend encourages.
Now it's our turn.
We say: 'And how are you doing, Friend?'
And He replies...
And we listen.

His words to us are life.

We believe God is calling all of us "kids" to be children of His Word.

WE DESIRE: To know the written Word deep in our hearts (it is mighty powerful, ya know!), through weekly memorization.
To know the spoken Word deep in our hearts (it is our lifeline!) by listening to His voice every day.

I know it is one of your greatest desires to see your children walking in His truth. How do we make that desire real? By helping them see that HE IS REAL! He cares about every little detail of their lives! Doesn't He know the number of hairs on their heads?!

His words to us are food.

'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good

Blessed is the man that trusts in Him.'

{Psalm 34:8}

When our children get a genuine taste of a genuine friendship with Him, they will never hunger for anything else.

Let us daily seek together. Don't forget our challenge to you... Please seriously consider finding one evening a week that you gather with your family and pray, worship, and listen together.

The time is now.

All creation has been waiting for the revealing of the true sons and daughters of God.

It's time for a revolution.

You are the light of the world."

Let me tell you, we are putting this into practice in our family and it is changing us. When your children begin to see visions and pray scripture and dream dreams, then you know that He is on the move. We've also implemented a "Pray & Listen" time in our church kids classrooms. He is not silent, we were just not listening!

I could go on and on about what we've been seeing, but it's almost midnight so, I'll save that for another post. I don't want to be a grump in the morning!

I pray that you would be inspired today.
Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening...

~christa jean

Changing Faces

Don't they look so intelligent?

{christajean}

p.s. I giggle at baby cuz he looks like a mini version of Ralphie from

"A Christmas Story"!

My Sweet Petite!

Happy Birthday to my precious Olivia!

Open for business!

UPDATE! The contest will be open until Thursday at midnight just to let a few more people join in. (I know you want to!) The winner will be announced Friday morning!

Hookable Designs is here! In this sweet shop you will find accessories that are whimsical and daring, sweet and dainty, romantic and vintage.

Here we are! My sis and I and we're having fun creating beautiful things!

Take a little peek at some of the items...

This necklace was hard for me to part with... it reminds me of spring in the tropics.

Lovely and feminine, this hair comb will make you feel pretty!

Super sweet bobbi pin with sparkle!

Check out this tiara! And doesn't my sis look like an elven princess?!

Now for the fun part! To celebrate our Grand Opening, let's do a giveaway!!!

The prize: "I'll Fly Away" earrings made from vintage rhinestone posts, silver tone birdies and dazzling cubic zirconia drops.

How to win it: Pop on over to our shop and come back to tell us which one is your favourite item. You know, stroke our ego a bit! Leave a comment about your fave and you are entered to win! Don't forget, you don't need to have a Google account to comment, just be Anonymous... but be sure to leave your name!

We will announce the winner Monday evening.

{Just had to show off our cute business cards!}

"I'll Fly Away"

Here is a close-up of the cz's, they are super sparkly in person!

Thank you for supporting this mini two-mom shop!

~christa jean