Hold my hand!

Anna Beth has recently started sleeping through the night, every night (Cue choirs of angels singing the “Hallelujah” chorus here,).  She has developed a little habit that I find endearing and thought-provoking.  She wants me to hold her hand when she goes to sleep.  If I’m holding her, she locks her tiny hands around one of my fingers.  If she’s napping in my bed, I have to lie next to her, holding her hand, until she drifts off to restful sleep.

Anna Beth derives total comfort and peace by knowing that I am there with her.  She feels protected and loved by having someone’s hand to hold on to.  Don’t you feel the same way about your relationship with God?  I know I do.  I know that if I chose to grasp tightly on to God’s hand that I would be less likely to worry and fret over situations that He can handle.

Thinking back to the time I was a little girl, I can remember being scared of the dark.  I found comfort in holding my Daddy’s hand.  I knew there was nothing too big or too scary that he couldn’t handle.  I find that same comfort in my Heavenly Father now.  If I didn’t have the “Everlasting Arms” to “lean on,” I don’t know where I’d be.

When you feel your faith is being stretched and tested, reach out for God’s hand.  Find your rest in Him.  His hands are strong and sure.  In Isaiah 41:10, it is written: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  God’s hand is unfailingly with us in times of trouble and in times of peace.  I praise Him for that.

"Just a little Patience..."

When God was giving me the virtues He knew I needed, He decided to go sparingly on patience.  It’s not something I’m satisfied with, so I pray that He will provide more patience or teach me how to be more patient daily.  I’m impatiently waiting to become more patient!

In my defense, I do not live in a society that encourages patience.  Instant communication is possible through texting, phone calls, and e-mails.  A person can microwave a complete turkey dinner in less than five minutes for lunch.  In mere moments, you can feed your entire family exactly what they want from a drive-thru window at a fast-food restaurant.  We have devices in our home that allow us to record our favorite television programs and fast-forward through the commercials.  Our society does not value patience; rather, we are constantly figuring out ways to do what has to be done in faster ways.

The God we serve is not always a “fast-food God.”  In fact, His response to many prayers is “Wait.”  It’s the message of “Wait” that can bring doubt into the mind of a believer.  God can and does give instant replies to prayer, but that is not always the case.  Sometimes He seeks to teach us to be patient in our request in order to deepen our faith, trust Him more, and learn to live in expectation that He will act.

 I will continue to strive to be a more patient person.  I know God has been infinitely patient with me, so I will seek to be more like Him, even if the majority of the world disagrees.  

 As I learn to be more patient, my faith will grow.  I will learn to be joyful, no matter my circumstances.  I will learn to endure with grace and to be hopeful for what God will do.  While I wait, I will, in the words of Hebrews 12, “run the race…with perseverance…fix my eyes on Jesus…and not lose heart.”

God Bless You!--Lianne

A Very Special Guest Post

Hi Everyone! I'm Anna Beth.

My Mommy said that I could write a guest post for her blog. I didn't even know I could write yet!

Anyhow, I have heard that some people wanted to see pictures of me. My Mommy doesn't blog much. I think I keep her pretty busy most days...and nights.

I stay pretty busy myself--what with the playing, eating, sleeping, and...well, that other thing that I'm really not at liberty to talk about.

My parents tell me that I am a blessing and a miracle baby. Now, I don't know what all that means, and I'm guessing all Mommies and Daddies say that. But, my Mommy promises me that it is true.

Last September, my Mommy's doctor told her that my heart rate was way too low. He said that my body measured way too small also. Can you imagine that???

Anyhow, the doctor didn't really think I was "going to make it." I'm not sure what I was supposed to make, but if it's what I do in my diaper...well, I "make it" several times a day. 

Oops! I wasn't going to talk about that.

 My parents are always thanking God for me. You know who I thank God for? My big sister, Emma, and my big brother, Luke. 

 They are SO GOOD to me. A baby could not ask for a better big sister and brother! They love to help my parents out with baths and entertainment. They love to hold me and play with me, too. I can't figure out why they won't change my diapers, though.

Well, I have to go play, eat, sleep, and maybe that other thing when my Mommy's not paying attention.

It was nice meeting y'all!

Time

It occurred to me that the people who have the least amount of free time are probably the ones who spend the most time worrying about it.

 I know that since adding a third child to our family, my time seems to be disappearing a lot quicker than it ever did before.  I spend much of my time holding and feeding Anna Beth, and when I have those rare moments when she’s asleep, I have to make the absolute most of that time, whether it be eating a meal, showering, doing laundry, or spending time with Emma and Luke.

I feel my time comes at a premium right now.  If I don’t make smart use of my fleeting moments without a baby in my arms, I find myself frustrated (and hungry and unshowered, etc.) because I didn’t get anything done.

We all get the same 24 hours every day.  What we do with those hours is what determines our productiveness, our closeness in relationships, and other outcomes.  What we choose to spend our time being focused on defines to the world what we place our importance on.  Anyone looking at my life right now can see that my priority is taking care of my children.  Anyone looking at my house can see that it is not a priority to me at the moment!  (The piles of laundry and the furry Tupperware in the back of the fridge are a testament to this fact!)

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon tells us that “ There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”  I know there are days where I don’t think there is a time for everything, and sometimes the most important thing I should be doing—praising the God who gave me this day—gets pushed to the bottom of my “to-do list.”

If you were to analyze how you spend your 24 allotted hours, what would your clear priorities be?  Would it be work, sleep, family, or time spent studying/praising/talking to God?  Take the time to be introspective.  You might be surprised.

Easy and Fast Weight Loss Product! *Snicker*

You probably get them, too: Those coupons and advertisements that are stuck inside the newspaper you subscribe to. Sometimes they are for cat litter or plastic wrap, other times they are for diapers or pretzel m&m's (Thank You, Sweet Jesus!). The rest of the time they manage to sneak in some weird items that I seriously wonder who buys them in the first place--like the Princess Diana doll in her wedding dress or the limited edition commemorative Wizard of Oz plates, or some such nonsense.

Oh, but wait!  I have found the ultimate coupon ad product.  Behold:

Yes, you, too, can shed unwanted pounds by wearing a muumuu.

Let's analyze some of the claims on this ad:
1.  It's called "figure-flattering," "slimming," "luxurious," and "elegant."

Yep, 'cause nothing says svelte more than looking like Mrs. Roper:

2.  "Look slimmer in an instant" and "The pounds seem to disappear as soon as you put [it] on."
Uh huh.  A tarp pretty much accomplishes the same thing if you throw it over something, the something disappears.  I'm just sayin'.
3.  That "model" has man feet.  EWW.
4."Perfect...for entertaining at home--even pretty enough for candlelight dinners!"  Now, I don't eat my dinners by candlelight very often, but I'm pretty certain that the muumuu is fairly unlikely to inspire romance.  I would be afraid those giant sleeves would catch on fire!
5.  "Perfect for all day wear." Yes, especially if you weren't planning on taking off your pajamas that day, anyhow.


Perhaps a more effective way to market this would be to say, "Muumuus:  'Cause you aren't even trying anymore, are ya?"

Two Special Guys...

Hi, it's me, Lianne, the irresponsible Blogger.  Mommyhood to 3 is full-time work!  I fully intend to start blogging again soon, but for now, my blogging time is small and elusive!


In other news, I'd like to wish two very special guys in my life a very happy Father's Day:


My Daddy...

 Dad and Emma (Have you EVER seen a prouder Granddaddy?)

Daddy and Luke

Daddy and Anna Beth (Shh!  He's sleeping!  Ha!)

And my Jason...

Jason and Emma

Jason, Luke, and some crazy, bloated lady without makeup

Dr. Jason McDaddy and Anna Beth

These men are more than just fathers, they are DADDIES.  Daddies are real men who aren't afraid to be involved, get their hands dirty, and set a Christ-like example for their households.  I am so grateful to have grown up in a home with a strong Daddy and to be raising my children with a strong Daddy.

I love you guys!

Wrapped in HIS Word

I had one of those “A-ha” moments at 3:00 a.m. while I was in the hospital after delivering Anna
Beth.  One of my nurses came in and proceeded to carry on a conversation with me about who-
knows-what, as she woke me out of a dead sleep.  She complimented the quilt that we had
Anna Beth wrapped in.  It is a beautiful quilt that is covered with scriptures that are meant to
encourage and inspire.  It is sure to become an heirloom.

After the nurse walked out, I started considering some of the scriptures embroidered on the
blanket, like Isaiah 66:13, which reads, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”  
What beautiful imagery to think of God acting like a mother to a child!  A mother is tender,
loving, kind, merciful, and usually just what an infant most desires when scared or hurting…all
of which God is to us as well!

Another scripture on the quilt is Proverbs 30:5, which says, “Every Word of God is flawless, He
is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”  As I admired Anna Beth’s sleeping form in the
cradle next to me, I prayed this scripture over her.  I prayed that she, as well as Emma and
Luke, will always wrap themselves in God’s inerrant Word.  I prayed that they will always use
His Word as a shield against the things of this world that discourage our hearts and lead us
away from God.  I hope that they will turn to Him as a refuge in times of trouble and rejoice in
His Word in times of happiness.  I pray that their paths will be made straight in their
acknowledgement of Him (Proverbs 3:6).  It is my heart’s desire that they will know the Lord
and love Him first and most of all.

What about you?  Are you wrapped in His Word today?  If not, please consider how comforting
and encouraging it would be to feel His presence every moment as He guides and protects
you.  If you are wrapped in His Word, thank Him for His grace and mercy.

p.s.  Sorry about the super-weird spacing on this post.  Blogger hates me today.