Although Spring is known as "allergy season" here in our State (we have some of the worst pollens in the U.S. - yay!) and "migraine season" for some of us lucky ones, it's still a wonderful time of year. NEW LIFE is all around us and it is a perfect reminder to me that nothing stays the same with God. His mercies are always new! He is continuously changing us for the better - for our good and for HIS glory - despite how it may look or feel to us at the time.
"MERCIES" (as defined by Meriam Webster)-
- compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment
- imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
- a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion
- a fortunate circumstance
- compassionate treatment of those in distress
Spring is most definitely becoming one of my most favorite times of year, for this very reason: New Beginnings. New Chances. New Mercies. ALL THINGS NEW! God reminds me that HE alone makes things new, and in the deepest of my shadows, He shows me that He does EVERYTHING in HIS set, appointed time. It is never by "chance" or happenstance for us as Believers. God orchestrates our lives, just as He orchestrates the seasons, and we can trust His good wisdom as the Creator of All! How exciting is that?!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15(NLT)
A Time for Everything
3 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
It's Spring Break for our kids and we've been laying low, watching movies, spending time with friends, and playing outside, A LOT. It's been beautiful here, and I've been able to take Lucy on many walks, which she adores (she is our 'nature-girl'). Henry went on a mini-vacation with My Parents the first several days of the break and came home with all kinds of stories of adventures and excitement. I'm so thankful he got away and was able to expend some energy that way. Conner is a home-body and has loved every moment of this "boring break"- reading, riding his bike, playing with legos, smores with neighborhood friends, etc. Our Boys are oh-so-different as Conner is content to be low-key and Henry is absolute high-energy, constantly needing an outlet. It makes for quite the challenge, but all in all, it's been a fantastic Break.
Henry's Adventures with Nunnie and Poppie!
UPDATES . . .
CONNER: A week ago Thursday, we enrolled Conner in junior high. You read that correctly - Conner starts junior high next fall! I can hardly believe it. And while I wish we could send him to Private-Christian school, Conner is very eager and excited to be spending his junior high years with the same group of friends he has had since first grade. Conner has some wonderful friends with great parents, whom we trust. We are grateful, although I do admit to being extremely nervous for next fall and for all of the things junior high in public school will bring. Sweet Conner and I were able to attend the enrollment by ourselves, and he too was nervous - teeth chattering, tummy hurting, palms sweating; it's a BIG change, but one that has to happen. It's a change that God brings, so I know I can trust Him, even though this step is super hard for both Conner AND Momma!
Another exciting thing about Conner - he has been going to church Sunday evenings with friends from school! Since our Church Family (Bridgeway Church) is so far North (it takes a good 30 mins to get there, but we love it!), Mike and I felt led to pray that Conner would be able to get involved with a local Community of Believers - where he can go to Church with friends he does life with - and God has provided just that! Mike and I couldn't be more excited to watch Conner get fired up each Sunday for church.
Conner's Big Spring Break Purchase
(Our 12 year old is now in men's sizes)
HENRY: Henry's had a hard time adapting back into our family life after his vacation. PANDAS causes Henry to dread changes AND the unexpected, and of course the Break brings both of those things. I'm so happy to have My Henry back home, but it has been incredibly difficult for him to get back into the swing of things. This time, the way he has acted out is through verbal and physical abuse towards me. This is OFTEN the case in children with PANDAS. They act out towards the ones they love the most - the ones they feel the safest with - the ones they know will
never stop loving them.
We would also love prayers as Henry's supplemental insurance through the state (TEFRA) is being re-evaluated this coming month. It's a nervous thing to think about - medical professionals from the state, looking over Henry's records and determining whether or not he should be allowed to continue services. We of course are praying that they will rule in our favor! If we did not have TEFRA, there would be no way we could get Henry the help that he needs (therapies, medical supplies, medications, doctor visits, specialists, MRI's, EEG's, routine blood work, etc). We are truly grateful for such a wonderful program, and even though we will most likely always pay portions of Henry's treatments (experimental, non-FDA approved, etc), GOD provides for us through the State and we so appreciate you praying for favor on our behalf!
LUCY: Our Golden-Haired Girl continues to grow and change, right before our eyes. Lucy's grown a few inches in height over the last several months, which means her little body is looking more and more like that of her Big Sister. There are so many mixed feelings that come with that, but I do admit that Lucy's mere change in size has been pretty difficult for me to face. I remember well, Ellie Kate being just that size - and she didn't grow to be much bigger. Lucy will be five in September. Will we have her with us for seven years, like EK? Will God allow us to take care of her for a longer period of time? No one truly knows, so each day, I try to give her kisses for a lifetime (sometimes she loves the kisses and sometimes she does not!), and we do our best as a family, to make as many special memories as possible.
Lucy's Spring Break Adventures
MIKE: If you've seen Mike lately, you can't help but notice the giant PINK cast on his foot and ankle. That's right, he chose PINK to represent the girls and he will be sporting it for about another month. He cannot drive, nor put weight on the foot itself, which means he is super limited. I've gotten a tiny taste of doing things all on my own - driving him to and from work, driving both kids to and from practices, etc. It's made me realize just how much Mike does for our family! He is an amazing husband and Daddy, constantly helping and running around so I don't have to. Now it's my turn to serve Mike, and although my Interstitial Cystitis is continuing to flare, God's been faithful to give me the energy to do all that my family has needed. Mike and I covet your prayers that God would continue to give me energy and more importantly, that the Father would continue to heal Mike's foot and bring ease of pain as well!
HOSPITALIZATION: Next week is a BIG WEEK for Henry as he will be admitted to OU Children's Hospital for 3-5 days. Henry will be staying in the EEG Monitoring Unit, where he will be hooked up continuously, as they try to catch every seizure Henry has at every point of the day or night. I'm trying to talk-it-up with Henry, reminding him how he can watch T.V. as much as he wants, how he gets to eat the food from the cafeteria (Our Little Men LOVE eating in the hospital cafeteria!), and how he will get special treatment. In reality, I cannot imagine this Little Boy being in his room/in his bed/in the hospital without running, jumping and playing like he normally does. How will he get his energy out? How will he adapt to the changes in environment? Will I physically and mentally be able to stay with him by myself the entire time (I want to!)? Lots of questions and not many answers. I DO know that God is WITH us and FOR us, so I'm choosing to rest in Him, giving Him all of my thoughts and concerns. Otherwise, I will drive myself nuts.
Our Sweet Friends have set up a meal calendar for us during these next busy days and weeks. We are so grateful for the meals you've continued to bring us over the last ten years! Thank you for serving us during a difficult time -
http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=XTTH9220
As we approach this Easter Season, I pray that God would remind you of the NEW LIFE, NEW BEGINNINGS and NEW MERCIES that He brings to us through His Son, Christ Jesus!
God sent His only son to come live a perfect life in a broken, human body.
Jesus was our sinless, perfect Sacrifice.
When Jesus chose to give His life for us on the cross;
when He became the sacrifice for OUR sins,
He conquered the penalty of sin, once, for all and forever!
Jesus conquered death and rose again on the third day, allowing us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him - no more sin, no more sickness, no more brokenness, no more sorrow!
The ONLY way to abundant life here on earth and eternal life in heaven with God, is to give our lives over to Jesus.
There are no magic words.
There is no perfect prayer to pray.
Just call out to God, asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and become a NEW CREATION this Spring -
Receive the ULTIMATE new beginning;
the BEST new mercy;
the most PRECIOUS new, abundant life.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them".
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Romans 6:3(TLB)
Should we keep on sinning when we don’t have to? For sin’s power over us was broken when we became Christians and were baptized to become a part of Jesus Christ; through his death the power of your sinful nature was shattered.
4 Your old sin-loving nature was buried with him by baptism when he died; and when God the Father, with glorious power, brought him back to life again, you were given his wonderful new life to enjoy.
5 For you have become a part of him, and so you died with him, so to speak, when he died;[a] and now you share his new life and shall rise as he did.
Colossians 3:3-4(ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Romans 1:17 (TLB)
"This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven—makes us right in God’s sight—when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it,
“The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.”
“The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.”
New Mercies!
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
22
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
22
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Jesus, thank you for paying the penalty of my sin so that I might have NEW LIFE and new beginnings! You are so good, Father. Let us see your goodness, your kindness, your majesty in the world around us this happy spring season. May we forever be reminded that you have designed it ALL and that you orchestrate our lives down to the most intimate of details. I choose to trust you, Lord - even when I don't feel it, see it or understand it, because I KNOW who you are and what you do.
Only Because of Him,
Ryan
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