More Parenting Stuff

Here is a an article on the IX Marks website entitled An Embedded Portrait: A Theological Vision for Families - 3. Don't let the theology reference in the title scare you off. It's a great article (third part only...I haven't read the first two parts yet...although I'm sure they're equally helpful)!!

In our "Sunday School class" (or Core Seminar, as they're known at our church), we've been studying Biblical Manhood and Womanhood using Piper & Grudem's volume, Reforming Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. We finished up the 13 week class yesterday, and the above article was mentioned, so I had to check it out. It was specifically directed toward the ways in which we raise boys and girls differently. So...since we are about to embark on this new adventure of raising a girl, I decided to bone up on my theological perspective!

I hope some of you might find it helpful as well. And I'd encourage you to browse around the IX Marks website in general...there's always something new and interesting (and thoroughly Biblical) there to challenge you!

Encouragement in Our Parenting

I've been keeping up with the GirlTalk blog (see the link in the column to the right) this week as they've been discussing a Mother's Faith. It has been so encouraging to me to trust in the Lord, specifically in parenting.

What I do or don't do...how consistent I am in discipline...the fears that lurk in my mind regarding my children...these are not the focus of my parenting. The focus of my parenting has to be faith and trust in the Lord. He has conquered my sinful heart, and He can conquer the sinful hearts of my children. I must walk in obedience to Him, disciplining them and training them in righteousness, always pointing them to Jesus and His forgiveness. But ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who must work in their hearts, drawing them to Himself.

I've been encouraged too by the recent sermons at our church, delving into the lives of the "fathers of our faith." We've been studying through Genesis and looking at, most recently, the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is amazing to me to see how sinful these men were (and their wives too!) and yet God used them so mightily. They were deceitful and untrusting. Am I those things? Of course, I am. But God used them.

And I know He'll use me too. Even when I fear that my own sinfulness is pointing my children in the WRONG direction, I can trust that He can use even my sin for good in their lives. I pray that He will help me to believe His promises more and more in this regard. And I pray that He will have mercy on them just as He has had mercy on me.

Gettin' Close...

Invariably, everywhere I go now, I'm asked how long until the baby is due and/or if I know what we're having. I guess it's painfully obvious that the time is drawing near for this baby to be born. I am carrying SO low (always do, that's just the way it is) that it seems this little one is already sitting in my lap.

She is still a mover and a shaker which, while reassuring that she's doing well, is also quite painful sometimes! I guess she takes after her brothers. They are STILL movers and shakers!

I guess maybe it's the "nesting" instinct that they say hits all mothers-to-be in those last weeks, but I've been getting everything ready for this girl. Her room is ready, I've set up the pack-n-play bassinet in our room, and I've been doing baby laundry lately. I have to admit that one of the most exciting parts of these preparations has been pulling PINK lint from the dryer! Never saw that before!

So with 3 or 4 more weeks to go now, I need to keep busy enough to avoid playing the waiting game. But at the same time, I really need to cut back on my activity level too - just getting way too tired all the time.

Last Friday I decided it would be fun to take the boys to the zoo just one last time before we add a new baby to the mix...and before the cold weather really sets in. But that was a pretty big mistake. I was so tired from all of the walking (and trips to the bathroom!), that I was just feeling rather miserable. I'm not sure if the boys noticed or not...at least, they seemed to be enjoying the outing. But, for now, we'll have to try to avoid over-doing it for a while...and hope these next few weeks pass quickly!

Celebrating with our Octagenarian

On Saturday the whole family gathered to celebrate the 80th birthday of our Pap. He is the first of his family to live to be 80 years old in quite a while. We are so thankful for the way the Lord has blessed him with good health these many years.

Here are a few photos:
First - Pap with 9 of his 10 grandkids and 13 of his 14 great-grandkids (missing one granddaughter and one great-grandson)















Second - Pap with 13 of his 14 great-grandchildren















Third - Pap with his grandchildren and their spouses (again missing one granddaughter & husband as well as another spouse)















Pap with his 2 daughters and 9 of his grandchildren (missing one son and a granddaughter)















Pap with his daughters (son missing)