adventures of will as of late

silly boy - smiley

he wanted to play in his crib this morning with his cars. he must have played in there for 30 minutes listening to the radio. i walked in one time and he had his cars parked against the side of the crib. had to take a pic of that!

will and lee at the fountain downtown.

will staring at the fountain. he thinks fountains are hilarious.

will and a friend from church. she is his little mommy.

a book a month

how is march almost over? dad and i are challenging each other to read a book a month - right, dad? this was a conversation over Christmas - memory isn't that great.

books i've read so far:

january - on becoming toddlerwise - ezzo
february - reunion - kingsbury
march - ______ (that's right, a big blank)

i am reading through "so long, insecurity" but i won't finish that until next month.
gotta get my read on.
oh, i heard francine rivers has a new one out!

God speaks to me through parenthood

God speaks to me through his word, through music, through his creation, and through my role as a parent.

God is our heavenly Father - now that i am a parent, i understand this relationship more.

will is 20 months old and doesn't understand everything, but he understands a lot. he has a strong will. he doesn't always want to obey. he wants things his way. when he disobeys, he likely gets hurt or hurts something else. i tell him, you need to obey me. sometimes i remove him from the situation before he gets hurt - this may make him cry for a few minutes, but i know what is best and i am looking out for him. he does not like to be still. there are moments when he is still, and i love it! i know it's then that he's learning something new. sometimes i need him to be still (diaper change) and if he's not, things don't work out as good (he gets a diaper wedgy - haha - just thought of that one). even though he can frustrate me to no end, i still love him. he makes me laugh - brings me joy!

the same can be said about me.

i am 28 years old, and i don't understand everything, but i understand a lot. i have a strong will. i don't always want to obey. i want things my way. when i disobey, i likely get hurt or hurt something/someone else. God tells me, you need to obey me. sometimes he removes me from the situation before i get hurt - this may make me cry, but God knows what is best and he's looking out for me. i don't like to be still (like, in the quiet with no distractions) except when going to sleep. there are moments when i am still before the Lord and I can feel God smiling. that is when he is able to teach me the most and show me something new. sometimes, God needs me to be still, and if i'm not, things don't work out as good. i miss opportunities - i'm not able to give godly wisdom and encouragement - i'm not able to just be there for someone. even though i know i frustrate God to no end, i know he still loves me. i pray i bring him laughter and joy.

Spiritual notes

here's the link i talk about below with the quotes from beth moore and betty robison. please watch - it is so good.
http://lifetoday.tv/qt/2010/03/100311.htm


okay, so God has been speaking - i best write it down.

grace is God's gift. grace is also God's empowerment! just think about that. if you are in Christ, you have God's grace!

wake up, o Church.

"God doesn't like our leftovers." - Anne Graham Lotz

we are feeding our thoughts - whatever your thought life is like - you're feeding it.
as a western culture - we are so allergic to the disciplines of the Spirit that we are living in defeat.
get your mind preoccupied with the thoughts of God.
memorize and meditate on scripture. - beth moore paraphrased on lifetoday - can't get the link to work on my mom's computer but you can watch this online - so awesome!!! the whole thing.
the most blessed i am, is when it's just God and me....yes, we are encouraged at church and in the teaching of others, BUT there is nothing like the fellowship with God. - betty robison

May I know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and your incomparably great power for us who believe. that power is like the working of your mighty strength which you exerted in Christ when you raised him from the dead and seated him at your right hand in the heavenly realms. ephesians 1:18-20 (changed some of the pronouns to make more personal)

satisfy me Lord in the morning with your unfailing love that i may sing for joy and be glad all my days. psalm 90:14

i've been wasting a lot of time, filling up on chocolate and chips and facebook. praise God for his word - for fellow believers who speak truth and encourage.

you are all i want - you are all i need - everything my heart could hope for - we are longing for the glory of the Lord - cuz we know there's so much more - only you - fill my soul! kim walker, i have found

Insecurity robs us...

insecurity makes us settle. insecurity makes us distracted. insecurity robs our confidence in our rich inheritance from God. insecurity makes us put our gifts on a shelf to gather demonic dust. insecurity disturbs our sleep. insecurity derails our life.

He has enough security for both of us, and for those of us who call Christ Savior. He slipped His own secure Spirit within our simple jars of clay. It is in you to be secure, dear one.

beth moore - so long, insecurity

I AM ...

a worship service i went to last night reminded me of these. considering doing some paintings.

Seven "I AM" Statements of Jesus

1. I AM the bread of life.
   • John 6:35: Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
   • John 6:48: I am the bread of life.
2. I AM the light of the world.
   • John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
   • John 9:5: While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
3. I AM the door.
   • John 10:7: Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
4. I AM the good shepherd.
   • John 10:11-14: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me...."
5. I AM the resurrection and the life.
   • John 11:25: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
6. I AM the way, the truth and the life.
   • John 14:6: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
7. I AM the true vine.
   • John 15:1, 5: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

a perfect day in my book

today will and i caught most of toddlertime at the library. he actually paid attention to the book for maybe 2 minutes this time. an improvement. they did bubbles and he loved that of course. there were no tears and even a few smiles - this was awesome!

we then went to joanns. any trip to joanns makes the day happier.

then we went to the park. i love living here because there are about 5 or 6 parks that are less than 10 minutes or less from my house that have really cool playgrounds! tax dollars at work i guess.

the sun is shining and it's over 50 degrees! spring - bring it on!

then we came home and ate some lunch (leftovers - not sandwiches - i get so tired of sandwiches sometimes). and with no prompting from me, will does this...

the picture above - will carries the monkey to his booster seat and says "snack" (sounds like dack). (i think he was wanting me to get him one of his snacks - i get out his fake food though. i told him the monkey wanted a carrot and a banana so he fed him).

then a few minutes later, will says "diaper" (sounds like bop - don't ask, i have no idea. i repeat the word diaper to him over and over very clearly and he still wants to say bop). so apparently, the monkey now needs a diaper. will lays him on the couch. this is where will gets his diaper changed often.

he puts the monkey on the diaper and says "good boy" (sounds like bi bee). then he says "be still" (sounds like ee iwoh). can you tell he hears that when he gets his diaper changed. i just wish he knew what it meant!

then he wipes the monkey - HAHAHA. i did not tell him to do any of this.

happy birthday to me!

i turned 28 last week. i know it's still young, but seems like time is getting away from me.

we went to zapatas in downtown norcross for dinner on my birthday. this place is sooo good. the service is great too. it is authentic mexican. no chimichangas there as paul found out. my brother paul was able to join us and i share a birthday with my mother-in-law so lee's parents were there as well.

will reads my birthday card.

lee tries to take a pic of us blowing out our candles, but gets a picture of paul and jerry instead. this is me and his mom laughing afterwards.

me and pauly

lee got me my first sewing machine for my birthday. haven't done anything yet, but hoping to make a pillow or something soon. maybe with having my own i won't be so intimidated by it. i do love fabric!

The priestly blessing

The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

" ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '

numbers 6:22-26

what's will been up to?

this was my kitchen as a child. i just touched it up with some new paint and added the new detail to the eyes on the stove.

i'm hoping will is gonna cook for me one day. he already likes to offer me his food. today he started giving his stuffed puppy a "drink" from a play teacup. he likes to serve.

i forgot to post these pics of him in the snow two weeks ago. he was happy to be outside but frustrated that his car wouldn't go like it normally does.

will checks out the winter wonderland.

Haiti mission trip

these are some pictures from my dad's trip to haiti. he is back safe as of last friday. he's the one with the syringe. he has white hair and really big glasses - hehe. i'm gonna post some excerpts from some of his emails below.

http://www.paulbrown.us/haiti/album1/

...I hope to get my first shower tonight. The team here is good, with 2 leaving today and us adding 2 new ones. I have a new roommate from Kansas. Food is good. Last night not much sleep. Work is good and not hard. I am doing the pharmacy and spending some time in the rooms with our staff and patients. Everyone is here for the right reasons and their priorities are right and the Lord is truly the Lord of their lives.

Hello from Haiti! Things are going real well here. We actually have empty beds in the hospital but there are still patients with earthquake injuries in the hospital and they are still showing up for treatment. It has really settled down. Samaritan's Purse has now committed to be here through March and discussions are underway to go past that. Four of our team left today and eight will leave on Saturday, which will leave only 4 of us here for about 8 hours until a new team that is mostly Canadian joins us. There are a lot of great stories happening here and none can be explained by man so we are just trusting that God is adequate and He is still in control. The current team is still good and it is the 4 of us left on Saturday to transition this operation over to the new arrivals. There is very little overlap between teams now. I watched a C-Section today and held the baby that was probably less than 15 minutes old. Probably did not do that with my own children. Things are expected to be slow for the next few day because Haiti has designated Feb 12-14 and a time of national mourning. Our cooks are gone as of today so we are on our own for a few days. I think we will survive. Temperature here is about 85 each day and we are all working in T shirts and scrubs.

Such a difference in medicine in a 3rd world country as compared to the US. Hospitals have no private rooms, grand pianos, water walls, or air conditioning. Our internet has been out for more than a day, and most of the computers are leaving Sat. Do not know when the next communication will be. Hope everyone has a great (and chilly I understand) Happy Valentine's Day.

It's Friday night in Haiti and it was a wonderful sun shiny day of about 85 here at the Baptist Mission. We are into to now turning the hospital back over to the local doctors but that full transition will take place over the next 4-6 weeks. Feb 12-14 is 3 day national holiday for the mourning of those lost in the earthquake. The church on our compound seats about 600 and there was over 1000 in attendance today. They were lined up around the walls and into the streets. They started before 8am and went to 12noon, with about 3 hours of that being singing. The pharmacy is located through the wall from the sanctuary so I got a full dose of that service. We had a great fellowship tonight with the missionaries with the 8 that are leaving the medical team tomorrow sharing their thoughts. The common theme was the love and thankfulness of the Haitian people towards us being here. We are truly the ones being blessed by a people that have so little in material possessions but have such a dependancy on the most important thing, the Lord and His acceptance of all of us no mattter what our circumstances.

Monday in Haiti was a very busy day. Even though many of the earthquake victims have been discharged, there is still some major efforts having to be done with those that we still have. Our sickest patient with a spinal cord injury from laying under a fallen wall for a long time was medEvaced to the US today. This has been being worked on since before we got here and it all of a sudden happened today when the Navy called and said their helicopoter was on the way. Another patient needed parenteral nutrution and I was able to find 4 bottles stashed away and only out of date by 6 months. We started it today and are trying to work it in between antibiotics so that we don't blow the IV line. Very interesting practicing medicine in a stop and go world when we are so used to running absolutely on schedule and everything expected at a moments notice. An 8 person Canadian team joined us on Sun and it is amazing how quickly people can come together when the same goals and beliefs are common. We are seeing a lot of things happen here that are out of the ordinary and know that we are just observers to something that is coming from a Higher Power. Sunshine and clouds here and still 70-85 degrees every day. We are blessed and know that we are in to turning this hospital back over to the Haitians.

sermon notes

judges 6

the illusion of sin - it promises what we desire but delivers the opposite

instead of pleasure - you end up with pain
instead of prosperity - you end up with poverty

generational sin cycles

"prone to wander Lord i feel it
prone to leave the God i love
here's my heart Lord take and seal it
seal it for thy courts above"

highlights - february 20

these are just a few highlights from this week.

slightly embarrassing myself doing karaoke with friends
seeing my mom
holding chunky monkey harrison
my aunt gave me a dozen fresh eggs from her chickens
listening to will imitate a rooster crow
talking to dad on friday - he's back home from his service in haiti
playing catch phrase with church friends
60 degrees and sunny today!!!
an early birthday present - a sewing machine

Valentines!

look at what my man made me! i had the design in mind and he built it! yes, a designer's dream - to marry an engineer/carpenter type. (definitely feel loved every time i look at it. he also built a cubby unit for will's room and made me some potato boxes for the pantry.) i'm looking for some boxes to put on top of the coat rack to store hats and gloves. we do not have a coat closet in our house, so this is it!

my kitchen must know that valentines day is coming.

sweet potato pancakes!

salmon croquettes!

turkey pepperoni, broccoli, and spinach pizza on a TJs whole wheat pizza crust!

i guess this is my version of a valentine these days. can't beat a valentine you can eat!

will's words, cont. and insecurity

here are a few more of will's words. some i forgot and some are new.

dah doh - thank you (he says this a lot)
please - eeze
ow - cow
ah ow - cat (meow)
eeohw - wheel

also, beth moore is doing a group study through her blog http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ for her new book, so long, insecurity. it officially starts tomorrow. you can buy the book from amazon, barnes, or lifeway.

will's words

will's words

oh, before i type this list - last week, i was rah rah - this week my name is definitely bah bah. getting closer to mama, don't you think?

some things have the same word - you just have to consider the context, ok?

bop - diaper, apple, pineapple, stop
bup - button
boop - boot (this one makes me laugh)
buup - book
bahh - ball, barn
bow - bowl
bu buh - schoolbus
buh - bubbles
bi buh - bible
dar - star
ar - car, guitar
uck - truck
ick - stick, bicyle, tricycle, motorcycle
may mah - mailman, snowman
uh uck - dump truck
hok - sock
ah igh - flashlight
ock - clock
ahh eee - potty
hise - wipe (i know, weird)
eees - keys
mo mo moo - moon
mi mik - milk
ma ma ma - more
ih eee - help, please
ew - trashcan or trash (haha)

words he says clearly

daddy
bye-bye
eye
nana
uh-oh (is this a word? haha)

another thing he does, is he'll ask for something (like a snack or bubbles) and then nod his head and say mmhmmm, mmhmmm. this cracks us up.

oh, and i didn't even cover his animal and vehicle sounds...

haiti

please be in prayer, if you haven't already been, for the people in Haiti. lee and i sponsor a child through World Vision there. His name is Makendy and he is about to turn 16. we haven't heard how he is yet, but i think he was far enough from the earthquake to be okay. however, of course the quake still affects him.
i remember reading over a year ago about how a Haitian mother was making mud pies for her children to eat because they had nothing else. there was a tiny bit of nutrients in it, but really? mud pies.
we are so blessed and don't even know it!
also, there was another article about a woman and her one outfit from haiti. i blogged about it i guess a year ago.
so, please pray for Makendy, and all of the other people and the relief workers that are there. my dad is leaving tomorrow to go for 16 days to work in a hospital outside of Port-au-Prince. he is a pharmacist and will be putting in very long hours i'm sure. he is going as part of Samaritan's purse ministries. please pray for his safety and that he'll be the hands and feet of Christ to these suffering people.

toddlerville

his first "real" haircut. so emotional!!! how dare I make him keep his head still for even one second? this is how teeth brushing goes most of the time, too. oh, and nail clipping.

his new house.

his bike.

testing the limits. he is not to go in the cul-de-sac. however, last week i finally broke down and let him play in the cul-de-sac while i was with him. he would wander 5 miles away if i let him. i always laughed at the moms who would put their child on a leash in the mall. i'm not laughing anymore. he has at least started holding our hands, but i think i'm still gonna get one of those backpack stuffed animal leash things.

my precious boy - like his camou pants and lightning mcqueen shoes? styling. hand me downs - what a blessing!

from toddlerwise, the book i'm currently reading - "the emotional and physical energy needed to supervise an energy-packed tot can take down the most physically fit mom. if your toddler happens to be a boy, add fifty percent more energy. never so beautiful does this child look to his weary mom as he does when he closes his eyes in sleep."

Cake and Bread

Happy Birthday, Lee! the big 3 0. Will looks like he's about to grab a handful.

okay, so it wasn't perfectly decorated.

i'm so proud of myself!!! i made whole wheat loaf bread for the first time and it was actually good.

the recipe is from allrecipes.com. it uses half whole wheat flour and half bread flour but i am still very pleased!

wednesdays with beth moore

i love watching wednesday with beth on LIFE Today with James and Betty Robison. it comes on channel 14.1 at 8:30 on wed. mornings (of course) here in my neck of the woods. but, i just discovered you can listen and watch these broadcasts anytime on the web.

wednesdays with beth

lots of encouragement through the teaching of the Word of God here.

today she said something i loved - that sometimes God wants us to stop telling him, "i love you". sometimes we should tell him, "i love you, too".

till i only dwell in thee

this is a most beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRW8WV5cFaU


"Hymn" by Brooke Fraser

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather 'til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. NIV

this is what it's all about.

chatterbox

will started "talking" up a storm today. he especially likes to sit in a kitchen chair and "read" aloud. wonder if he's imitating a certain person he lives with???

mad gab

one night during Christmas vacation at my mom and dad's, the group got together and played mad gab. paul and nikole hadn't arrived yet, but this is everyone else except will who was in bed. jake was particularly funny. just watch. hilarious!

communion and the gospel

i love you

i forgive you

supper's ready

what wonderful words to hear and to believe from our Lord, Jesus Christ.

(thoughts taken from a speaker i heard last night at church)

bliss!

first time that will plays in the snow - or on the snow.

this is what he did the entire time. up and down the driveway - for the whole 20 minutes we were out there. it was soo cold. i had to make him come in (well, this is usually the case). he responded with a tantrum. i'd say he really liked the snow.

thursday night - our backyard.

in other news - i cleaned out my pantry last night. this makes me so happy. i can hear angels singing when i look at these pictures. i mean, just look at it - it's amazing - ahhh

ahhh - bliss!

the moo

will looked across the room at the mandolin the other day and said - moo moo moo! do you see the moon? it took me a minute, but then i saw it. the world through a child's eyes.

i have one cabinet in the kitchen without a lock on it. here it is!


it's snowing in duluth, ga right now! first snow of winter. it is falling very slowly - very pretty.

will is 18 months old today! weighing in at 26 pounds.

daily words

jeans are tight - glad the holidays are over!

train table at barnes and noble is genius!

2010 goals

• become better educated about nutrition - eat less processed foods (any good resources for this?)
  

• make my own whole wheat loaf bread (does anyone have a good recipe - i don't have a bread machine)
  

• start running again - 1 mile by april - 2 miles by august - 3 miles by november

• alphabet in scripture - i'm up to the letter L - let us fix our eyes on jesus, the author and perfector of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. hebrews 12:2

• learn to finger pic

• under grocery budget every month

christmas in SC

will loves wearing his reindeer hat. he wore it for 3 hours last night. the raggedy ann and andy plate was one that my brothers and i used when we were little. will was often the center of attention at nana's house. there were twelve of us there. he loved having so many people around. definitely an extrovert.

i got to see lots of people i don't get to see very often at all. on new years day my cousins, brittany and riley came to visit. i had not seen them in several years. thanks to facebook we had a little reunion. they are some of my first cousins on my dad's side. we had fun playing perpetual commotion - a very fast card game.

this is will with both sets of grandparents.

i also got to see my friend carla (from the college years) one day. we met in gaffney for lunch because she lives a couple hours away. just us girls - that was a big treat! she is the one who helped me learn to play guitar and the reason i got to go to brazil on a mission trip a few years ago. we've had a few other fun road trips. she is having a baby boy in february - just a few weeks away! i wish we lived closer to one another.

and this is jennifer my college roommate for 3 years. i'm so glad we still keep in touch. she knows me better than most people and still loves me - hahaha. she is a great cook and a new aunt.

more of Christmas

christmas day - first time eating corn off the cob - it doesn't look like it, but he really enjoyed this. he likes corn.

a rare family pic! thanks grandma cox.

i love this boy to death!

yesterday was also the first time eating fried okra, cinnamon roll, and bacon. real healthy huh? haha. also, i am very happy to announce this "first" - drinking from a straw today at Moe's. i forgot his sippy cup, so i was forced to let him try. and after a few shots, he succeeded! very happy about this milestone.

of the Father's love begotten

this is one of my favorite Christmas carols. if my memory is right, we sang it in SC Baptist All State Chorus when i was a senior in high school - 2000. love the words and the harmonies.

"Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!..."

Words by Aurelius Prudentius - 5th Century Roman poet

listen here to and 80s choir rendition on youtube