Reflections on Lent

Growing up, I was one of the only kids in my class who did not attend the Catholic church across the street from our elementary school. Sometime after Valentine's Day each year, I would hear my classmates talking about Lent. They shared about having to eat fish on Fridays and giving up sugary treats "for Lent", but I had no understanding of what they meant - and honestly, I'm not convinced that THEY knew why they were making these sacrifices either. It was just the thing to do.

Fast forward a bunch of years . . . I'm married with young children, and I want to make holiday celebrations meaningful and significant for my young family. It was at that time that I began to see the beauty of the Lenten season and how it could help us as a family to grow in seeking God together.

I discovered that Lent is a season of preparation . . . an opportunity to remove distractions and prepare to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. There are three practices of Lent - fasting, prayer, and service. Each one of these has a purpose in helping to prepare our hearts.

Fasting is all about growing in our reliance upon God. I don't know about you, but I can't fast anything - not television, not chocolate, not Facebook, nothing - without being reminded of how much I need Him! When I've tried fasting in my own strength (and yes, I've done that 😔), inevitably one of two things will happen: either I will absentmindedly engage in the thing I'm "fasting" - like snacking on sweets while fixing treats for my kids, or I will justify why it's okay for me to indulge in something that I'm supposed to be fasting - like having cake because it's someone's birthday and I don't want to hurt their feelings. 

I needed to learn to fast correctly, and the only way to do that is by asking God what to fast from - asking Him to show me what is hindering me from going deeper in intimacy with Him. And then, the most important part - leaning on Him and relying on His grace to fast correctly. When I've done that, the time of fasting has been virtually effortless because I'm not relying on my ability but upon His!

Fasting and prayer in the Bible are almost always mentioned together, so it makes sense that prayer is a practice of Lent as well. In Ezra 8:21, fasting and prayer are combined with humility . . . recognizing that I am NOT "all that and a bag of chips." It's my pride that drives me to present an image of having it all together, and sadly this can even happen in my relationship with God. But during Lent, the goal is to create space in my schedule to connect with God in the secret place - to hear His voice and allow myself to be vulnerably real with Him. When I do that, He begins to fill me up, restoring the broken places and healing to the wounds.

As I grow in intimacy with God through fasting and prayer, I am now prepared to give out to others in service - or "almsgiving" - the third practice of Lent. As a follower of Jesus, I'd like to think that I serve others regularly. But this season is a reminder to serve intentionally and purposefully. It's a call to think of ways to minister to others in a way that will point them to Jesus instead of me. Sometimes that means doing something anonymously so that the person being blessed doesn't know where the blessing is coming from. Other times, it's doing something for a person who isn't in a position to do anything in return. And as I serve, I'm following the example of Jesus . . . after all, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others" (Mark 10:45 NLT).

So now, I actually look forward to the Lenten season - to the richness of this time of quieting my heart before Him and listening to His voice. I know that as I enter this time of fasting, prayer, and service to others, I'll be forever changed!

Mother's Day weekend 2012

We took advantage of the wonderful weather on Saturday to head to the park - Noah always enjoys having space to roam . . . and have people chase him!

 The best way to keep track of Noah at the park? Push him in the swing!

 After some busy playtime at the park - and running and climbing and hanging around - we headed to Chick-Fil-A for supper . . . and more climbing, sliding and hanging around!

Here Jaden jumps to touch the airplane in the play area.

 Lael was Noah's escort in the play area (mostly so he didn't get stuck somewhere that we couldn't reach him) - I think he wore her out!

 Jaden had fun checking out his "big brain" in the mirror

 I'm not sure, but I think he had fun ;)

Mother's Day itself was full of all kinds of surprises . . . wonderful gifts, heart-felt cards, homemade gift certificates from my kids that I look forward to redeeming! 

Oh, and we can't forget the delicious chocolate-covered strawberries . . . Noah helped me eat one!

 I love my kids . . .

 . . . and I'm so blessed to be their mom!

Taking a look back

I was looking through old pictures today . . . and found a few Easter pictures.  I can't believe how much my children have grown!

Easter 2005

Lael - age 4

Jaden - 10 months

 Easter 2007

Lael - age 6

Jaden - almost 3

 Easter 2011

Lael - age 10

Jaden - almost 7

Noah - 11 months

New Year's Eve

We had a wonderful worship service - so special to bring in the New Year with brothers and sisters in the Lord!  Afterwards there was a time of fellowship in the auditorium.  Last year, we left before the New Year due to sleepy kids - but surprisingly, this year they made it til midnight!

We had fun getting dressed up . . .

My precious big kids

 Ready to make some noise!

 Noah couldn't quite comprehend what all the noise and fuss was about!

 The auditorium was beautifully decorated . . . Jaden was fascinated with this one!

 My sweetheart and me

Happy New Year!

Labor Day fun!

Today being Labor Day, it seemed only fitting that we spend it with family enjoying the beautiful outdoors, cooking on the grill, relaxing in the sunshine while our children play quietly at our feet . . . okay, so that wasn't exactly what happened! 

There was no sunshine to speak of (although the rain held off until after the kids got a bike ride in) and quiet play isn't in order when you have six children in the house because it's raining.  But we did have hot dogs cooked on the grill before the rain started and we were with family, which always is a treat!

Lael and Jaden were happy to get some bike riding in . . . they have become quite proficient bikers!

 Side note:  Jaden went on an 11-mile bike ride with Daddy on Friday afternoon - he completed a 5 1/2 mile loop in 51 minutes!

 Noah enjoyed having others his size to play with - like cousin Hanna! 

(And yes, he's already learned to "cheese" for the camera!)

 He also decided to practice standing by himself - and did so for ten or fifteen seconds before reaching for Daddy's hands!  Walking is right around the corner!

 The sliding glass door was a favorite place for little ones today . . . sorry about the fingerprints, Grandma!

And when Noah needed some alone time, he put himself in the toy box . . . not sure why he did, but he seemed to like it there!

The babies all managed to share toys very well, which is pretty impressive considering that Noah is the oldest (at 15 months).  Hanna is about 10 months old and Abby is 11 months old.

When the big kids needed some time in a "baby-free zone", they retreated to the upstairs playroom where they did what else?  Make a blanket fort!

 Grandpa had to brave the rain to entertain the babies on the other side of the sliding glass door - but I don't think he minded very much! :)

 We had lots of fun today!  Thanks for having us, Grandma and Grandpa!

My apologies to Lael and Carrie . . . that they weren't more prominantly featured in this blog post.  They were having so much fun playing together - just in different rooms from where I was taking pictures at the time! 



Happy birthday, America!

We had a fabulous 4th of July!  (What a difference a year makes!)  Just thought I'd share some of our highlights . . .

The main event of the day - a church picnic!  What could be better than great food

(including Noah's first taste of watermelon - he ate two slices) . . .

 . . . water balloon tosses . . .

 . . . even though some people got VERY wet!

 A moonbounce is always a hit with the kids!  Jaden and Lael both enjoyed this activity, although Jaden came home sporting a few bumps to the cheeks from colliding with someone's elbow mid-bounce.

 And did I mention yummy desserts???

And not just any dessert - these desserts were all part of a bake-off competition.  Lael and Jaden both decided that they wanted to enter a dessert.  Lael made Brownie Bites, a scrumptious confection that combines my from-scratch brownie recipe with Reece's Peanut Butter Cup candies in a mini-cupcake . . . I'd show you a picture, but they were gone before I could take one!

Jaden chose to make Banana Split Dessert - which he renamed 4th of July Cake in honor of the occasion.  He had Mom's help in a supervisory and advisory capacity (and to do things like run appliances), but this was very much HIS dessert.  It was chosen as one of five winners based on presentation by those attending the picnic!

 But that wasn't all . . . Jaden's dessert came in FIRST PLACE - out of all those who entered!  He was pretty shocked at first . . . then really excited!

His Sunday School teacher came in second with a magnificent pineapple upside-down cake!  Here they are with their prize baskets . . . although Jaden was told that he would receive a more kid-appropriate prize soon! ;) 

However, he really liked his first place ribbon!

Not to be outdone by her little brother, Lael won the drawing for a digital scrapbook kit!  I think she and Mommy will enjoy that prize! 

And then what picnic would be complete without a swing ride for Noah? 

We came home exhausted . . . but in such a good way!   

Happy birthday, America!

Christmas 2010 highlights

Yes, I know that it's almost Valentine's Day . . . I guess I'd better get these pictures posted! (At least it's still winter, right???)

Here's the gang on Christmas morning

One of our Christmas traditions is reading the Christmas story from a book that we got for Lael her very first Christmas - when she was one week old in the NICU. We've read it every year since - but this year Jaden read it to the family . . . he did a fabulous job!

Lael's big gift this year - a wardrobe for her American Girl dolls and all their clothes and accessories.

Jaden's big gift - this really cool castle LEGO set!

Noah was just taking it all in . . . at one point he wiggled off my lap and into the trash bag - I think he did it just to get some attention ;-)

(By the way, his big gift - a high chair, just so you don't think we forgot about him.)

Christmas Day was spent putting LEGOs together - at least for Daddy and Jaden! We also had a yummy dinner of white garlic lasagna and watched Toy Story 3 . . . fun all the way around!

We weren't able to get together with Grandma and Grandpa until mid-January due to winter weather and sickness, but when we did it was a laid-back, relaxing day . . . even had some reading time!

Both Lael and Jaden were excited to receive slippers, Odyssey CDs, and especially books!

Noah's present was pretty fun too! It was a great day!

We're still waiting for some "cousin time" - we didn't get to see any cousins this Christmas - and we need a good visit with Nana and Papa too! But we are so thankful for the family time we had and the sweet memories that were made.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

Thanks for coming to earth as a baby so that we could have abundant life!