Light

Looking back I can see how the Lord has been preparing my heart for what he is allowing me to experience. Without going into a lot detail, let's just say if I could stay home with my son, I would. My trials are no surprise to God. As if He was trying to say, I know best, and in my soverignty I'm going to allow you to go through this situation. I had a friend at ETBU, Steve, that used to say, "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." Those words are ringing so loudly in my ears as I type this.
I've prayed and prayed for wisdom and I guess a miracle, with no change in our current situation. This is the part of my Christian walk I struggle with the most. I don't struggle with God, I struggle with me. I struggle with my pride and all the things I want. I struggle to think life is not about me, I struggle with surrending to God's glory alone. I know the Lord is empathetic to my weaknesses, so I can come boldly before His throne with confidence.
I've been meditating upon Hebrews 4:12 - 16 for the past week or so memorizing it so when thoughts of bitterness or anger start to swell in me, I can say it over and over again wherever I am. It really calms my spirit and gives me hope.
"It (God's Word) judges the attitudes and thoughts of the heart" that verse has really spoken to me. I feel power in it, because it brings to light my thoughts and my attitudes and the fact that my heart is layed barren before God. It tells me that before God created anything, He knew my sin, He knew what He needed to refine in my heart. I feel embarressed at times, but that always gives way to being thankful for His grace and the fact I can come to Him in all humility. Standing there ready to take my hand. There is freedom in Christ, because I don't have to hide. I can say, "Okay Lord you already know, so just tell me where I need to look more like your Son." I don't think anyone is ever really ready to be refined, but God always disciplines those He loves. I'm thankful for the fruit He is producing in my heart...I sure do have a long way to go. But I'd rather be here with Him growing, however slow it may be, than without Him.

Potty Training Update

Maybe I should have written about it sooner, but Dallas is doing great! Not sure what's so different, maybe it's starting to click in his head that big boys go to the potty. It's been a good week in the Wood household! Thanks for everyone's prayers.

Potty Training

Okay, I would consider me and Adam to be pretty good parents, but his whole potty training has been the toughest challenge!
"They" always say it's harder training boys, but man this has really been difficult. Dallas is just getting to the point where he's waking up dry and always saying when he has to go pee pee/minus random accidents. Meaning, I feel comfortable going to the store with him in big boy underwear. Well, the other has been quite the challenge.
I actually made a poster board and bought really cool lightening McQueen stickers so each time he does #1 or #2 he gets stickers. He has about 15 #1 sticks, but only 1 #2 sticker. I've told him that if he get's 5 stickers for #2, I'll take him to Toys-r-us and get him a toy, but this could get very expensive.
Any suggestions or ideas to help us or motivate him would be GREATLY appreciated!

You can dance, you can dance, having the time of your life.....

We had a really good weekend. We drove to Georgetown on Sat for my brother's wedding. Aaron and Christine's wedding was so sweet, thoughtful, and genuine. You could really tell that they put a lot of thought into the ceremony and their vows. At the end of Aaron's vows, he called Christine, his "extravagant gift." I don't think there was a dry eye in the chapel. It was really sweet to see the two of them so in love, but it was so much more than that. Just a true committment to one another and to the Lord. Their receptions was tons of fun! Dancing, food, just talking and visiting with friends and family. It was a joyous day.






The Love Birds



My Grandma Switzer and Aaron


My Grandpa Switzer and Christine



Geneva and Aaron

Dallas and my dad, Steve


My two handsome boys


What a suprise, my friend Monique was at the wedding :)

As you can see, we were all pooped after the wedding. Even before we were out of Georgetown Dallas was already out! He's always slept so good in the car

My Sweet Dallas

Dallas had the sweetest answers about me from a little exercise he did at church yesterday:

My Mom is 10 years old

She is 2 tall.

Her hair is black.

The color of her eyes is blue and white.

My Mom is as pretty as Daddy.

Her favorite food is pie.

My Mom's hobby is play outside.

She likes to watch News on TV.

Her job is computer.

If I could buy my Mom anything in the world, I would get her paint.

doing better....thanks for praying for me.

Caught in the middle....

What a horrible weekend.....whoever is reading this, please pray for me...I'm just trying to make it through this week.

Results

Dallas' first words were: Dada, tractor, Mama
Adam's first job: Bonanza
My first job: Old Navy.

Growing

Rolling River God / Little Stones are smooth / Only once the water passes through
So I am a stone / Rough and grainy still / Trying to reconcile this river's chill


Lately, especially through circumstances, I've been very impressed by the Holy Spirit to pray for my heart. To pray that I become a joyful person, regardless of the fact if my life is going as I think it should. Happiness is fleeting, I want a steadfast joy that is manifested in my spirit because I'm continuing to believe in God's absolute soverignty. I can't speculate all the reasons, but perhaps God has allowed me and Adam to go through some things this past year to teach me that I my affection for the Lord is too often based upon my circumstances. Not to say that I don't love the Lord, because I do. He's my life, my hope, my everything.
There has to come a point in my walk, where as a child of God, I stop basing my faith and relationship with him on the way I feel at a certain time. I don't think that this is the truth in everything, but in the really hard times it has been. The Lord is so gracious towards me, abounding in Love, because I know I don't deserve His patience, but I'm so grateful for it.

Sometimes raging wild / Sometimes swollen high
Never have I known this river dry
The deepest part of you / Is where I want to stay / And feel the sharpest edges wash away

I hate going through hard times, as if anyone really likes it, but it's so true, if you allow Him, God will reveal to you, as He has to me, not necessarily the purpose or the whys, but more so how He wants me to be continually shaped for His glory.
I want to look back on my life, and despite my circumstances, say my heart was only blessing God. This is not an easy tasks, and it is not to say I can't present my requests to the Lord, because if I were Him, I'd get tired of hearing me..haha.
But isn't our life's purpose but to ultimately fellowship with the Lord, and to bring Him glory?!

But when I close my eyes / And feel you rushing by

I know that time brings change / And change takes time

When the sunset comes / My prayer would be just this one

That you might pick me up /And notice that I am Just a little smoother in your hand

River God ~ Song by: Nicole Nordeman
(This song means a lot to me, I first heard it the summer of 1999 while doing summer missions in CO)

It's official

Yes, folks, I'm a soccer mom, and loving every minute of it! However, I didn't really realize how dangerous soccer can be, even for 3 and 4 year olds!

Dallas started soccer this spring. He really tries hard, running and kicking the ball. Last weekend, at his first game, he made the first goal of the season! Great job, Dallas! Here are a few pictures and video of his game. He's #2!

Praying before the game

Look at Dallas run!

Protecting the goal

Ready, Set, Go!

Practicing warming up.

Eden plays soccer too. We saw her after her game, and I couldn't pass up this picture.

Funny faces

Run, Dallas, Run!

Got it!

Yesterday, after several attempts, I snapped a picture. (If you're just now seeing my blog, read post below).

Random I know, but....

there is this crazy bird flying to all my window ledges during the day tapping at the window with his beak and hitting it with his wing. I don't know what he thinks is in our house or why he's possessed, but he's really starting to freak kitty out! Go away silly bird. I've been trying to snap a picture of it, but once he notices I'm present, he flies away.****I hear him again!