22 Month Video

I thought you all might enjoy seeing the boy in action!  I apologize for the shaky camera work, but I was holding it with my left hand while holding the milk jug in my right!  Also, if you are watching the video on the actual blog, you can scroll down to the bottom and pause the music that is playing so you can hear Zeke talking.  Enjoy!

Mommy's Little Helper

The past several weeks have been packed full, but I promised I would give you all an update on what Zeke has been doing lately.  We decided to take him trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, really just to have a chance to dress him in his gator costume one more time!  We've gone back and forth about whether or not to "do" Halloween because we want to glorify the Lord in all that we do.  The roots of Halloween do not seem to be glorifying to Him, so we've prayed about what to do about it.  At this point, we're planning on avoiding any evil type of decorations and focus on pumpkins for the house.  We'll allow Zeke to dress up in costumes that aren't scary and we'll use it as an opportunity to reach out to our neighbors.  Gregg even had the idea of coming up with some sort of cute poem or something that would point people to the Lord to hand out with our candy.  We'll also give Zeke the option to turn in his candy to "The Great Pumpkin" in exchange for a special toy.  The more I learn about industrialized food, the less I want my family to eat anything that is not made by me!  I know that is a lofty goal, but women did it in the past and I feel like it is my responsibility as a homemaker to take care of my family's nutritional needs.  Wow...that was a lot more than I planned on writing about that!  Now for the baby gator pictures...

Zeke continues to be a happy, busy little man.  He has become Mommy's little helper.  He loves to help me with tasks and he follows directions very well for a 22-month old.  He enjoys helping me unload the dishwasher (we did have one bowl break!), clean up his toys, put things in the trash and/or recycling (he puts it where we tell him to), put clothes in the hamper, help feed Browning, and help me when I'm changing sheets by handing me things.  He is not speaking in sentences yet, but he continues to add new words.  He's especially interested in naming or pointing to body parts.  He adoringly says, "Nynna," referring to my mom, which melts her heart!  He has added "Baa-er Poo" for Dadder Poo, who is Gregg's dad.  It's so cute.  I honestly haven't weighed him or measured him in a while, but he is getting bigger, for sure, wearing size 2T and a size 7 shoe.  He constantly makes us laugh with his little sounds and "conversations" he appears to have with inflection in his voice.  Gregg and Zeke spent 4 days together alone when I went to serve on "A Walk to Emmaus" women's retreat.  Gregg did a great job as "Mr. Mom," and I was so grateful.  The house was clean, Zeke was clean and well fed, and they actually had a great time.  I know he was ready for me to be home and I was ready to be home too.  I missed them both tremendously, but it was amazing to see God work in the lives of the 36 women on the retreat as well as the team.  I was blessed by serving, to say the least.

It is hard to believe that we are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving next week.  I will be sure to post pictures of our time together with my family.

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!

Pleasantness and Peace

The past month has been one of waiting and seeking the Lord.  After getting a second opinion from a doctor I trust, Gregg and I decided that I would undergo a suggested CT scan of my pancreas.  My lipase (enzyme) levels were high which could have signaled cancer, pancreatitis, or nothing!  Of course, I heard cancer and was tempted to become fearful, but I know fear doesn't come from the Lord.  In preparation for the scan, He worked in my heart through my quiet times and prayer.  I usually make these posts about what Zeke is up to, but I wanted to share what the Lord has been doing in my heart through this trial.



Proverbs 3:17 says, "Her [wisdom's] ways are of pleasantness and all her paths are peace."  Verse 13 says, "Happy is the man that finds wisdom."  Gregg and I find ourselves seeking God's wisdom often, and sometimes it's hard to discern exactly what that is.  I've found that the more I'm in the Word and spending time in prayer, the easier that is, though.  My morning devotion described those verses in this way: "Peace consists not of friendliness of circumstances, but in friendship with the Lord."  I love that!  The night before the CT scan I felt the most amazing sense of peace...like God was almost telling me it was going to be okay.  My circumstances hadn't changed, but my friendship with the Lord gave me peace. 

The morning of October 30, my devotion took me to Psalm 34:1-11.  Verse 1 says, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Verse 4 says, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."  Wow, how true this was as I awaited those test results.  I made it a point, while not always easy, to praise Him at all times and ask Him to deliver me from my fears.  As a negative or fearful thought entered my mind, I took those thoughts captive and audibly spoke praises to the Lord (I am learning to do this all the time).  The following morning I was taken to Psalm 81 where verse 7 says, "You called in trouble and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place..."  This was the day I learned that the scan results were normal!  Praise God!

As we go forward, still dealing with my abnormal thyroid levels and high blood sugar, I want to continually praise God and thank Him for loving me unconditionally.  This morning, my devotion focused on Ecclesiastes 12: 1-7.  The devotion reminded me to offer myself to God in the days of my youth when I'm healthy and strong, not just when I'm weak or sick.  Again, how timely is that!  I don't necessarily feel strong yet, but I want to offer myself in service to the Lord however He can use me.  

I want to try to show Zeke Christ's love as I try to be the Mommy God designed me to be, praying that one day Zeke will choose to accept Christ for his personal savior.  I want to honor Gregg as my husband and spiritual leader, and I continue to seek God to learn what that means.  God's love always leads to peace, and I pray I bring glory to Him as I go about my life as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend. 

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen


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I promise I'll write a post soon about what Zeke has been doing.  He is growing, changing, and developing more each day.  We are blessed by him and honored to be his parents!