Valley-Climbing

• Our weekend doesn't even sound real -- Micaiah got RSV, a highly-contagious viral infection in the airway mainly affecting two-year-olds (coughing, hoarseness, labored breathing, vomit, steam treatments, ginger baths, constant monitoring, little sleep, doctor's office); I completed my miscarriage (A LOT of blood, dehydration, a short labor, a long trip to the ER to get an ultrasound verifying my now empty uterus - YAY, even less sleep); Ricky had expedited transcripts to do this very weekend, of course, and didn't have sufficient time to finish them and is still playing catch-up -- okay, he is way sleep-deprived by now! However, we are all on the mend and heading back in a normal direction. This all happened after my mom leaves but before my friend came, of course. So, we elicited a sweet friend to leave her family and come over and HELP US in our time of urgent need (thank God for you!).
• Aolani antic: after you tell her to do something, she conveys her (dis)approval by telling you "that's a great idea" or "that's not my idea" ;)
• Meant to mention this a few weeks ago, but Micaiah is no longer nursing. My nursing days are over (as of now).

Watching the snow; we had about 2" this morning, but it's melting quickly. At least Ricky got to work from home today.

Playing a family flashlight game

• I finished memorizing the section of Colossians 3 that I wanted to memorize for Avalynn. I think it's back to random verses for a while. Verse to memorize this week: Jeremiah 2:13 ~ For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

Needing a Word, Needing The Word

Sorry if this is too personal, but this is my journal (despite being public).

Let me quickly tell about a little marital conflict we had a few days ago.

I got to sleep in a little, since Ricky was working from home and Grandma was watching the kids. I woke up and called for Ricky to come and get me up and shower me. Grandma offered to bring me breakfast in bed, but I chose to wait until after I showered, since I was expecting Ricky to come for me any moment.

Well, I had that any-minute-expectancy for over an hour and a half. Just lying there. Really hungry.

So, when Ricky came for me and announced that he did not have time to shower me... yeah, I was disappointed (there may or may not have been some hot tears and harsh words spoken). [Because if I had known that fact when I woke, my mom could have gotten me out of bed, and I would have eaten sooner. But now, I felt like all that waiting and hungering was for nothing, and a shower would have at least somewhat made the wait worthwhile in my eyes.]

After our little interaction, these words come to me...

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,"  ~ Romans 14:17

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." ~ Philippians 4:12

Where was my righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit? I was focusing on eating and drinking, but I want to be about the kingdom of God!

I was not being content in my hunger, drawing my strength from Christ. I was miserable and discontent, wallowing in self-pity.

Yep. I blew that opportunity to grow in grace. [More tears follow this realization.]

Well, the point to all this is -- memorizing Scripture rocks.

Because I have hidden the Words of Life in my heart and mind, the Holy Spirit has tools-at-hand to use on me. He can quickly bring verses to my mind to cut me, challenge me, change me, comfort me, and convict me of my wrongdoing, bad heart, selfish motive, sinful attitude, rationalization...

Memorizing Scripture means He can always preach to me when I need it. Like this instance.

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ~ Psalm 119:103

Floods of Mercy

• We had another simple week of being at home (except church and our small group gathering). But, we did have a visitor stay one night, a friend and roommate of mine from college. She is moving to a town nearby :)
• On that topic, this friend of mine will be returning in a few days to live with us and help us out in my mom's stead. My mom has to return to her home to help with my dad because he has re-injured his back, is in a lot of pain, needs help with daily tasks, and must have back surgery again! It is very unfortunate. We are hoping that this repetitive surgery will work and be soon. Anyway, my mom may be gone for six weeks. 
• Yesterday was my spiritual birthday, and I turned 14 faith years :)
• Well, when it rains, it pours -- at least that has been the case with my placenta yesterday and today because the sheer amount of blood is like a flood! The end of this six-month miscarriage is drawing to a close.
• Health update: Over the weekend, I reviewed the symptom list I had submitted to the doctor. Lo and behold, I noticed some significant symptoms that are gone and some others that have slightly improved! Praise Jehovah Rophe! Anyway, I have created a google spreadsheet to keep up with my health improvements. The symptoms that are gone are mostly the ones that have come about over the past year. It makes sense that the most recent additions are the first ones to go ;)

 A ballerina pose

 Watching a flick

In the "Where the Wild Things Are" jungle

• Verse to memorize this week: Colossians 3:17 ~ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Searching for God

Someone recently commented about searching for God. [Whenever I hear that I think of U2's song, I still haven't found what I'm looking for.] And, while I have often heard that from many people over the years, I usually become pensive and my mind starts racing. However, this time a clear thought quickly surfaced.

Why do people go searching for God when we know exactly where to find Him? If God is the Word (Jn. 1:1), then just read the Bible (for those who have access to one and are literate, of course) -- for that is where we can find Him and know Him. His primary way of revealing Himself to us is through Scripture.

(Granted Scripture often needs to be explained to us for a fuller understanding -- that's why we, Christ's body and empowered by His Spirit, are here! To preach, teach, and reach :) )

Hand-iwork

• We have had a highly-ordinary week, which is just plain nice -- books and games, cleaning and cooking and schooling and letter-writing...
• Since we are going to potty-train Micaiah soon, I was reading and reviewing my book about the method we used for Aolani. Anyway, Aolani was going through it the other day, so I asked her if she wanted to potty-train Micaiah for us. She quickly answered, "No... I don't want to get pee on my hands!" I was almost off the hook :)

This activity, called Day & Night, was intended more for Aolani, but Micaiah likes it, too. I think this toy is great! I use it as part of our schooling.

Library outing with Grandma

• I need to work on this for one more week ;) Verse to (finish) memorizing this week: Colossians 3:16 ~ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

Seeking for a Promised Something

I did not call the descendants of Jacob [to a fruitless service], saying, Seek Me for nothing [but I promised them a just reward]. ~ Isaiah 45:19, Amplified Bible

This is how I have been thanking God (and thus enjoying Him) all week.

Because He did not tell us to seek Him... just to receive nothing in return. By no means!

If we seek Him, He promises to be found -- now! He promises to draw near to us in return -- on this present earth!

And, while I eagerly look forward to the eternal rewards he additionally promises those who seek Him, I am also trying to ever-so diligently thank Him for the present gifts He offers me for seeking Him. Actually, all gifts -- here gifts, there gifts, here and there gifts, now gifts, not yet gifts, now and not yet gifts.

The LORD did not say, "Seek Me for nothing," but keeps giving, giving, giving...

A New Year Unfolds

• Well, I am home and trying to get back to it after a two weeks of relaxing and playing ;) [decluttering, rearranging, organizing, making lists, ordering, cleaning, undecorating, schooling, budgeting and many other computer tasks...]
• First, I will say that my homemade advent activity calendar was a nice break from homeschool, and I hope to do that and take the month of December off from schooling every year to come -- to just slow, read more, and focus more on this time of joyful and hopeful waiting.
• Vacation happenings: The Hobbit 2, having a sore throat, too much white sugar, board games (new and old), my annual puzzle, a real livestock nativity viewing, gift-giving, church service, a rope swing, snow, a Christmas lights park-show-thing, Harlem Globetrotters, a to-do list (of course!), finished my Attitude of Gratitude page of counting and listing 1000 gifts on the blog... and other mini-celebrations ;)
• We return home. Two mornings later, Micaiah wakes, nurses, and walks into the main room, lays down on the floor, and falls back asleep. We return him to his crib, and... we have to wake him up at 2:15 that afternoon! He slept almost 17 hours (missed church)!
• My mom is back, which still feels like a novelty to us :)
• Health update: My foot is still out-turned from the peroneal nerve spasm, which is annoying and somewhat painful. My placenta is slowly still expelling -- odd, I know. So, my fertility still has not returned. And, I have been taking the particulates for 10 weeks now -- no big, noticeable changes just an increase in overall well-being and physical strength. I hear it's a slow process. That's okay; I'm not in a hurry. I'm going nowhere ;)

Making our handprint wrapping paper

Paper-plate angel

Uncle Robby

making Jesus' birthday coffee cake

Four DiMartino men

I don't think age is a factor

The Blessed Hope -- finished the night before we left :)

• Verse to memorize this week: Colossians 3:16 ~ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.