Multitude Monday #4716 - #4763...

"Hallelujah!

Thank God! Pray to him by name!
    Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
    translate his wonders into music!
Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
    you who seek God. Live a happy life!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
    be alert for signs of his presence."

Psalm 105:1-4

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

4716...Will's mail from grandma...

4717...boys enjoying special treats...

4718...Micaiah's joy in completing his STEM fair project...

4719...Eli asking if we can play Monopoly when he gets home from school...

4720...dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt...

4721...Will's finger continuing to heal without infection...

4722...my dads sense of humor...

4723...sun shining on a cold spring day

4724...the promise of spring to come...

4725...for the way these scriptures begin to all make sense in a whole new way in recent days...
Deuteronomy 1:30, Exodus 14:14, Nehemiah 4:20

4726...that God began to prepare my heart at the end of last year for this recent "battle"...not fully understanding then why He was waking me from a dream to look up...

Nehemiah 4:20    "Our God will fight for us!"
 
4727...lunch with a friend while the kids play...

4728...Removed a short film on the foster care system...

  4729...a night to rest...

4730...this sermon on Romans 5 by our original pastor Sandy Mason...

4731...Psalm 86:11...
"Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name."

4732...time with "Woody the Sherrif" and my main camera...

4733...the sense of being covered in prayers from family and friends as we walk into his IEP meeting...

4734...Ann Voskamps words of wisdom on the morning of the IEP...

 

4735, 4736, 4737...an IEP team that made necessary changes after hearing our concerns...their willingness to meet again soon...and that Wes and I walk this road together supporting one another along the way...

4738...Joshua's excitement counting down the days...

4739...Nathan's lock laces that bring him independence...

4740...taking him shopping for school supplies...

4741...Will tapping his toes while he brushes his teeth...

4742...the sun breaking through on a gray rainy day...

4743...quiet morning moments with a good book as the sun rises...

4744...the Eastloch tree on a rainy Sunday morning...

4745...rainy day game of Risk with a friend...

4746...playing "Clue" with Josh and Eli on a cold rainy day...

4747...an important conversation about money with Micaiah...

4748...a sermon that drives home the giving conversation...

4749...Will's sweet kisses...

4750, 4751...Wes and Micaiah arm wrestling...and the laughter they share...


4752, 4753...Eli combing his hair like "Beaver" from Leave it to Beaver for school one morning...the proud way he asks his brothers if they notice...

4754...hope and anticipation of new beginnings...

4755...sweet friends from our homeschool community coming to the bus stop to cheer him on with homemade signs...

4756, 4757...the neighbor that rides the bus this morning (her mom normally drives her to school) so she can walk him to his class...and for his brothers that support him this morning...

4758...his older brother carrying one of his bags for him...

4759...for my mother in law that texts me Psalm 46:10 on a morning where this promise of scripture will be my mantra...

“Be still, and know that I am God."

4760, 4761, 4762, 4763...texts from friends and family saying they are praying for him today...Wes pointing out that "he is so cared for...that there are so many people pulling for him"...the realization that all this love and support is only a fraction of the love that our Heavenly Father has for him...resting in that truth...

Week 13:52 {Woody the Sherrif}...

Recently, Will has been fascinated with all things Toy Story.  The other day we found most of the "Woody" costume that we bought on clearance 6 years ago.  Will had a blast getting dressed up and reenacting different parts of the movie.  

 I stayed back and snapped pictures while he played in the yard on a beautiful almost spring-like day. 

As I followed Will around snapping pictures I couldn't help but think of the older boys in this same costume.  I did some digging and found these gems... I came across this quote from "Woody" in Toy Story 2 and it sums this post up perfectly... “I can't stop Andy from growing up.  But I wouldn't miss it for the world.”     click here to view previous weeks of Project 52

Lenten Reflections..."In the Garden"...

Mark 14:32-42...

32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.

41 When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

During difficult times in my life when I lacked the faith to stand on my own, I have relied on the faith of my friends.  God uses friends to challenge us to remember His faithfulness and encourage us to cry out to Him in our anguish and unbelief.  

When I look back over the years I cannot imagine where I would be without the handful of friends that listen, surround and encourage me to press on.  Community is important.  Jesus shows us this so clearly throughout the scriptures with his small group of friends, the disciples.

When I think of Jesus that fateful night in the Garden of Gethsemane…my heart breaks that in Jesus’ greatest need his closest friends couldn’t even stay awake.  Jesus says to them “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”  After hearing those words…they fall asleep.   We read that passage and think we would have responded differently than his band of brothers responded that evening.  But so often we don’t.  We sense God nudging us to help, connect with or pray for someone but life gets busy and we don’t follow through.  Jesus consistently shows us in scripture that he doesn’t just observe our pain and sorrow but he enters in.  May we be people who do the same.

Heavenly Father, You reign over all creation as a great and glorious God.  You deserve praise and honor from all Your works.  Today we sing our praises to You and honor Your word with our attentive ears.  Fill us with your Spirit that we might practice from our hearts all the truths we learn from Your word written.  As we worship and serve You each day, we trust in your steadfast love manifested in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  ~Brad Walters

Multitude Monday #4681 - #4715...

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” 

-William Arthur Ward

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

4681...a beautiful night sky...

4682..."I Will Lift my Eyes" by Bebo Norman

4683...a friends email about Exodus 14:14 (Feb 1st in the Daily Audio Bible Commentary)...

4684, 4685...Will falling asleep on me...and the reminder that Eli needs my attention when he gets home from school as you can see in the corner of this picture :0

4686...Micaiah seeing Will asleep in my arms and saying, "I wish that was me.  Switch me places!"...

4687...light rain...

4688, 4689, 4690...finishing Unbroken...reading the last part to Wes in tears...beauty and redemption in such horrific circumstances...all glory to God...

4691...Wes calling to tell me to look at the moon...

4692...Psalm 105:4, The Message


"Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;
    be alert for signs of his presence."


4693...  "Do your best mom.  We can beat 'em." ... an afternoon bike ride with the boys...

 

4694...NURU's award and Jake's response
(please take a moment to read the above link on NURU's website)...

4695...hearing about Eli reading to his friend Ben during centers...

4696...listening to Will laugh out loud as he "sleeps a dream"...

4697...art in the afternoon light...

 

4698, 4699, 4700...Helping Up Mission tour...for our tour guide and his story...how when we leave Micaiah says "I want to come back here and serve."...

4701...listening to Micaiah explain to Joshua about addiction and the effects it takes on your mind, body and family...

4702, 4703, 4704...How Josh comes home with the Helping Up Mission needs list in hand and wants to gather stuff to take back to the mission...and then he wakes up the next morning and reminds us that we need to do that today...his delight in walking through the store, putting the "urgently needed" things in the cart to purchase...

4705, 4706...the beautiful blue sky filled with clouds...the boys looking for shapes in the clouds...an iPhone photo for Project 52...

4707...Micaiah telling us he's writing a persuasion speech about Mr. Jake and NURU...

4708...the adventure of life with boys...sometimes I'm struck by the fact that there really is nothing better and God knew exactly what he was doing when he gave me/us boys...

4709...comparing height with my oldest...

 

4710...a yard full of kids...

4711 ...bowling fun...

 
4712...hearing my husband sing "Nothing Holding Me Back" (the link is the original song...wish I had him singing it :)

4713, 4714, 4715...prayers for a sweet baby as he transitions from foster care to his grandfather...so thankful for his time in our community...for Micaiah's prayer for him...

Week 12:52 {Blue}...

I wish I would have gone inside and grabbed my main camera but at least I caught it with my phone...

Click here to view previous posts of Project 52...

A Lenten Reflection by My Favorite Man...

Pain.  The word itself causes discomfort, and the sound of the word is quite annoying.  ”Pain.”  It’s likely the mere mention of the word has brought a uncomfortable situation or event to mind, as if it was waiting to be released to plague you again.  My apologies.  Maybe we should pontificate the word pleasure instead.  Ah, “Pleasure”.  It just rolls off the tongue like candy.  Ironically, without pain, pleasure would be elusive and wholly incomplete.  Without the experience and awareness of something broken and missing, wholeness has no meaning, like candy with no flavor; we know it should taste good, we even want it to taste good.  But it doesn’t taste at all.

While I generally choose to avoid painful situations myself, I have grown to appreciate the value of unrest and discomfort, producing a longing for something better.  A number of years ago I injured my back while playing with my children.  I didn’t realize how good my back felt, until it didn’t.  I didn’t realize how healthy I was, until I wasn’t.  My children didn’t realize how fun dad was, until he wasn’t.  Put another way, without the presence of pain we are not apt to recognize and appreciate it’s absence.  Otherwise known as wholeness or goodness.  I don’t mean to trivialize deep wounds that may have been inflicted upon you, pain so deep and wretched few could comprehend.  If you carry that kind of pain, may God grant you rest and peace.

Pain is always a symptom of something else, not the problem itself.   Broken relationships, difficult physical conditions, unattended longings.  They all produce this feeling of pain and drive a desire inside us for something better.  Paul describes Jesus as the man that “God raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”  (Acts 2:24)  The “pains of death”.  It’s quite possible Paul was indicating that Jesus’ death was painful, or that death in general is painful.  It’s also possible that Paul was relating pain and death, as if they are similar in nature.  In either case, he goes on to say it is not possible for Jesus to be constrained by either pain or death.  Whatever ails you today, it cannot constrain Jesus working in you.  May He use your pain, my pain, to help us see, taste and long for something better.

Lord, give us eyes to see your goodness.  Help us embrace our pain, and somehow better know pleasure as a result.  Thank you for sending Jesus, who could not be constrained by pain and death.  Help me trust Him with my pain, and believe He is able to meet me in it, and somehow overcome it as well. 

~Wes Mace

Lenten Reflections...

Hosea 6:3 “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.  As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

A wise farmer knows that winter and spring rains are necessary in order for their crops to grow.  They also know that crops cannot grow in constant rain.  The rain has to cease and allow the seeds to take root in order for growth to occur.

In life, we experience both rainy and dry seasons.  Rainy seasons, when God is close and speaking all of the time; and dry seasons, when He seems distant and quiet.  Scripture talks about these seasons... 

James 5 says “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.  See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”    

It’s easy to coast through those rainy seasons when God seems so near and present.  But what about the time between the rains?  Our faith has to make it through these times too; times when that “rainy season” word is tested.  We have to allow the truths He poured on us to take root and cause growth in our life.   

A lot of times during this “dry season” we begin to question God’s presence in our lives.  We must hold firm to Hosea 6:3 in those times, trusting just as the scripture says, that as we press on to acknowledge him we can be certain that “As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Where do you find yourself today?  If you are in a dry season, will you press into him and trust that He is present and more importantly allow His truths to fill your heart?  If you are experiencing a “rainy season” currently may you allow His words to take root and produce a crop for the “dry” days to come.

Jesus, thank you for the rainy seasons in our lives where we sense your presence and loving guidance.  We pray that we would allow you to do your work during the “time between the rains.”  That we would press into you and trust that just as the sun rises you will appear. 

Multitude Monday #4637 - #4680...

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...

4637...reading this scripture...
Psalm 86:1

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,for I am poor and needy.

4638...more daylight...

4639...birds singing...

4640...the older boy doing his own laundry...

4641...listening to a tickle fest between Wes and Eli...

4642...the way the little one says cheese curls...

4643...being struck by his little hands as I help him wash them at the sink...

4644...driving on a beautiful "spring" day with the sunroof open...

4645...listening to Will laugh at Eli being silly...

4646...Swing time for Will.."higher, higher!" 

4647...a clear starry sky...

4648...good discussion around this book with small group...

4649...singing "Eye On It" loud with the boys...

4650...the windows open and fresh air blowing in...

4651...Micaiah working on the "Polar Express Mountain" for Will...

4652...the little one reaching over during lunch to rub my back...

4653...neighborhood wiffle ball under the Eastloch tree...

4654...how when I tell him he's a handsome boy...he repeats it so confidently...

4655...Mom Mom and one of her boys...

4656...the beauty of the almost full moon low in the sky...

4657, 4658, 4659, 4660...that Dana was here to help me when Will hurt his finger, piling all of us in her van and rushing us to the hospital, for the airhead that she gave Will to try to help calm him down, and that she kept the other three boys so Wes and I could be at the hospital together with Will...

4661...the relief of arriving at the ER and knowing that Will's finger would soon be taken care of...

4662...for Despicable Me 2 on Daddy's iPhone that distracts Will while we wait for treatment...

 
4663...for Steve and Jacen's help as we try to help Will's finger heal...

4664... taking Will to his favorite place to distract him from his boo boo for a little bit...

4665...coming across this train in the roundhouse...

4666...an afternoon hike...

 
4667...spying on the bald eagles nest...

 4668, 4669...fun with my boys and that my husband snapped a picture...

4670...a basketabll game against Micaiah...
"Now I know why they called you "the hacker". This is kind of fun."
 
4671...the older three boys playing "knockout" together...


4672...listening to the song embedded below over and over with the boys and letting the words soak into my soul...

 
4673...Will coming to us saying... 
"Maybe Jesus can come into this house and help my finger get better." ...

4674...happy "get well" mail from Poppy...

4675...reading this scripture...
 Psalm 94:19

"When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul."


4676, 4677...a snow day and another "Dude Perfect Trick Shots" video...


4678...taking the challenge this week to #EmbraceTheCamera...

4679...difficult conversations that bring healing...

4680...close friends that listen, encourage and support one another as we journey through different challenges in life...

Dude Perfect "Ping Pong Trick Shots"...

A snow day was just what the boys needed to put together another "Dude Perfect Video"...the final video was completely put together by Micaiah (and by the way Joshua was "in" on the trick...check out his acting job).

click on this link to view our other #dudeperfect videos...

Week 11:52 {Patterns}...

William has been fascinated with the "Polar Express" for a couple of years.  He has been begging for "the mountain to the north pole" for his trains.  We could never seem to figure out a way to build it with his train track and bridge supports.  

Micaiah decided to take on the task of building the mountain with Legos.  He loves attention from his little brother and this was a sure way to secure some. 

 It hasn't been an easy process...he's experienced much frustration as he has built the mountain only to have it fall under the weight of the trains.  But one of his greatest character traits is his perseverance (he gets it from his Daddy).  He doesn't give up.  He gets frustrated and may need to be reminded to take a break but, he continues.  

 In fact at one point I said to him..."Micaiah, if it's too difficult I'll just tell Will that we can't do it."  He didn't accept my statement but went back to brainstorming with Wes.  Then he began building again from the ground up. 

Click here to see previous weeks of Project 52 

Swinging...

This afternoon was the first time we hit close to 60 degrees after a long, cold winter.  I'm sure "winter" will visit again but we made the most of today.  

 

While the boys were all playing in the yard and the sun was dipping low in the sky, I grabbed my camera and took pictures in between Will's requests for pushes "higher, higher!"  Eli was performing silly stunts (throwing various objects into other objects) and Will was laughing  hysterically.  I wish I would have snapped a few pictures of Eli but I didn't think about it at the time.

Annapolis...

Multitude Monday #4601 - #4636

"Open my eyes,
that I may see the wonders of your law."
Psalm 119:18

Giving thanks with the Gratitude Community for His unending gifts...


4601...chore system in place using iAllowance that allows the boys to get excited about earning money...

4602...Steroids that help ease his breathing...


4603...finding him asleep in a baseball hat...

4604...warm sun streaming in...

4605...waking up without a headache...

4606...Lenten service...

4607...the idea of a jar filled with 40 days of "doing something"...

4608...an email from a friend sharing this prayer...
O God,
let something essential happen to me,
something more than interesting
or entertaining
or thoughtful.
O God,
let something essential happen to me,
something awesome,
something real,
Speak to my condition, Lord,
and change me somewhere inside where it matters,
a change that will burn and tremble and heal
and explode me into tears
or laughter
or love that throbs or screams
or keeps a terrible cleansing silence
and dares the dangerous deeds.
Let something happen in me
which is my real self, O God.

Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace

4609...help from friends with getting Joshua to homeschool classes/field trip when I'm not feeling well and the littlest one is home sick...

4610...texts between Nicka and I...

4611...setting "chime" alarms to read through "The Divine Hours"...

4612...hearing Josh and Will singing "Neverending"...

4613...this picture from Eli's teacher...reading at recess...

4614...marveling at Michalangelo and Davinci with Joshua as we begin to study the Renassaince...

4615, 4616...Will saying that my prayer reminder sounds like a rainbow...and I think how fitting because rainbows remind us that God keeps His promises...

4617...Micaiah trying to build Will his "Polar Express mountain" for his trains...

4618...Micaiah's joy in Will saying "I want to be with my friend Micaiah!"...

  
4619...Eli's joy in reading...

4620...a neighborhood bike ride with a few of the boys on a warm day...

4621...no bake cookies...

4622...friends surrounding us and lifting us up in prayer...

4623...reading a book that gives me a new 
appreciation/understanding of one of our kids personalities...


4624...the warm sun on my face...


4625...that he keeps himself busy while I tend to his older brother with a fever...even if it means that his room looks like this when the hour is up...



4626...the sunset through our bedroom window screen one evening...

4627...an afternoon with Joshua to photograph him as he plays...

4628...walking around Annapolis and the United States Naval Academy on a sunny day...

4629, 4630...coming across this close baseball game (Navy vs. Towson)...the boys excitement when we were able to stop to watch the last three innings...

4631...the umpire that offered each boy a baseball to take home...

4632, 4633...taking a picture for him so he could see the ketchup and mustard on his face...how he laughs...

4634...a little boy asleep with his baseball

4635...Week 10 of Project 52 complete...

4636...this scripture 

"The words of the Lord are pure words, 

like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in the fire." ~Psalm 12:6