Ladies, Ladies…All the Ladies!!

 This has been a BUSY week, but a GREAT one!  I’ve really enjoyed getting everything ready for all of our “Halloween” and “Pumpkin Day” festivities.  I’ve baked cookies, cupcakes, pumpkin bread, biscuits… it’s been crazy.. but such a gift to serve in that way.  Today the boys had their little parties in their rooms… so sweet.  Josh’s teachers couldn’t stop talking about how more involved Josh is becoming in their class and actually today he asked to say the blessing in front of EVERYONE…..so yes.. I was proud.  Will’s class was equally special.  I know that things like this shouldn’t matter.. but Will kept telling everyone that they should eat the cookies.. that “My mommy made these and they are sooo good!”…..it just meant a lot.. you know, the little things.  Emma Faye enjoyed all of the parties from her stroller and ate EVERYTHING at every party.. whew!  no comment.

I think what I’ve enjoyed the most was Chris being able to be off all day!  We had the best time… going to the parties, carving our pumpkin, having our neighbors over for dinner before trick-or-treating, and then Chris came out and surprised us all with a costume of his own… (you’ll see in the pics)… I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!  It was so precious watching the boys race around our street with their friends going from house to house… then a neighbor hooked up a trailer, filled it with straw.. and provided a perfect hay ride.  The boys LOVED this!  They were on cloud 9.  Will kept saying “Halloween is fun!!!”

So, we had a great week.. and really a great month.  Yes, I know we were busy, but we were thriving… not striving.  God has blessed us so much and I feel so unworthy.  There was only one thing that made today sad for me…….not being with my family.  Gina’s parents were in town and they came over tonight and dined with us… I just know my parents and Chris’s parents and all of our brother’s and sister’s and spouses… I know we would have had such a great time.  So, I was a little homesick for them.. but I praise the Lord for the friends he has given us… it wasn’t lonely…He has ADDED to our friendships.  Ok, enough of my rambling.. enjoy the photos of our week!

We are having a great week.  Chris returned safely from taking his boards.  I am SOOO very glad that is over and I’m sure Chris is, too.  It’s one of those things where you are just glad to get it over with regardless of how you “did.”  The retreat this past weekend was great and I was SO honored that the Lord allowed me to be a part of that experience.  It was just one of those “God” experiences for me.  I am enjoying my Bible study.  I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but we are reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer.  I’m serious.  This is a must read and I intend to read this book at least once a year.  It’s incredible.  I’m glad that we are moving through it very slowly so I have time to sort of absorb and soak up all of it’s points. 

Today I’m just in awe of God.  I mean really just in awe at the little things.  I was driving home from church and was just looking at the trees.  We sort of live in a mountainous area of Birmingham and the trees are turning.  It’s just beautiful.  I started thinking about colors.  You know… people can talk all they want about evolution and what not… but where did the “colors” come from?  I mean… red and yellow and green.. and the beautiful blue sky.  And that’s just creation.  Now look at people… look at those same colors painted on the eyes of our children.  One time Will was talking to me and his eyes were the exact same color as the sky.  It was breathtaking!  The same blue.. in the sky and in his eyes.  Have you ever thought about that?  I don’t know.. maybe I’m being too deep today.  I just think it’s amazing that God cares about the details.  I think of my dad as a builder.  He doesn’t just throw together walls… he doesn’t just gut out an area for a kitchen… He adds crown molding… he finds beautiful cabinets and pine floors… and bay windows….He takes pride in his work.  And that’s what God did when he created the world.  He liked it.  He was excited about it and as the speaker said on the retreat this weekend.. that’s why he sat back and said… “It is good.”  He didn’t just throw together a sky… he painted it.  He didn’t just make a horse.  He made a black one and a white one and then a gray one and then he made one and threw black and white stripes on one… I mean seriously.  I can NEVER look at a Giraffe and not be reminded of my God, the amazing artist.  So today I’ve been singing “This is My Father’s World.”  I suppose I’ve been thinking about this as the upcoming election nears.  It is and will always be His world.  People pray.  Pray for our nation. Pray for our leaders.  Prayer is Powerful!

Well, sorry, didn’t mean to get all political on you.  These were just a few of my thoughts today.  As I pulled into the garage from Bible Study, the Andrew Peterson song “Invisible God” was playing.  My first thought was “Invisible God?  I see God EVERYWHERE today.”  Anyway… I wrote the little poem below and thought I’d share it with you.  Be in Awe at our GREAT GOD!  Yes, invisible…but I pray today that our eyes may be open to His work EVERYWHERE in and around us……because He is!

My Invisible God 

Who is this invisible God?  Who is He?

Though invisible, I still can see.

Did the blade of grass find his brilliant green?

Was his colored crown not given from His king?

Did the lumpy pumpkin paint his own skin?

Who thought orange was perfect for him?

Who tells Fall when to bring the cold air?

Who tells Winter how long to keep it there?

Who has opened a woman’s womb?

Who has set eyes on the fullest moon?

Who has heard the infant cry

in perfect hands and toes, nose and eyes?

Who has seen the changed man?

Once prideful or cruel, now broken stands?

The very Invisible God, is He!

Whose very hands have a hold on all we see.

Though invisible, still He is visibly seen

in all, and through all, and all in between.

Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.  Where then is a house you could build for Me?  And where is a place that I may rest?  For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being, ” declares the Lord.  (Isaiah 66:1-2)

Hey ladies… for those of you who went on the retreat this weekend and wanted the words to the poem that I shared.. here is the link.  I had an AMAZING time and thank you ALL for your words of encouragement.

http://jennypruitt.freeblogit.com/2008/02/13/my-beautiful-broken-daughter-jenny-pruitt/

I am presently sitting here in my kitchen listening to my three year old screaming and beating the door.  He’s been in the playroom since 6am…it’s 7am now.  He was up all night and he’s been up pretty much every night this week.  With Chris gone at night and me dealing with all of his antics…I’m starting to think if this is Satan’s attempt to completely “take me out” (as they say in sports) for this retreat this weekend.  I’m exhausted and have had little time to really prepare things.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I think I value sleep more than anything else.  The other morning after I let Chris “sleep in” he came out sort of dragging.  He said “Have you ever slept so much that you seemed more tired?”  My response was “Never.”  I can NEVER get enough sleep.  I just LOVE it.  So this has been my complaint this morning. 

“Lord, how am I supposed to do all I have to do when I can’t get sleep.  How am I supposed to be in your word when my children are waking up before my alarm clock?  I’m EXHAUSTED!”

I don’t know…. I was reading this passage this morning and it suddenly occurred to me that Paul was probably CONSTANTLY exhausted… and we are not guaranteed sleep and preparation in our service to Him.  Perhaps it causes us to rely on HIM all the more… perhaps it enables us to attribute ALL of our work and efforts to HIM and Him alone.  So I suppose the Lord is bringing me to a place of complete reliance on Him this week.  I’m broken and frustrated.  I’m tired and discouraged…. but my body is to become my slave….I am learning self-control.  Therefore I will press on.. sleep deprived…… and I will be thankful.  Ok, now let me run before Josh breaks down the door.  Have I ever told you how much I LOVE starting my day like this?

whew!  8:08 and all are in bed.  I think that’s pretty good.  This week has been sort of crazy.  Chris has worked most nights and I’ve been preparing to lead worship for the women’s retreat for our church this weekend.  Also, I ended up leading worship Tuesday morning for the Women’s Bible Studies, last minute.. AND I’m going to be leading this Sunday during the Sunday School hour.  whoow!  I’m a little scattered right now.  It’s just a lot to juggle with my three little blessings…but I consider all of these opportunities a blessing.  It’s funny… I was just sitting Sunday night in the Steven Curtis Chapman concert and thinking..remembering when I was more “involved” musically… ”oh, God… that can’t be all that I do with music… please give me opportunities to continue to use my gifts.”  God has chosen to answer that little request of mine and I am truly grateful. With that said…when something is always added to my plate.. something is ALWAYS having to be taken off.. therefore my house is a WRECK!  I chose instead of being frustrated with doing laundry and breaking up little “tiffs” with my boys, to just play with them after dinner.  We all bathed Emma Faye.  We had a dance party.  We put puzzles together on the floor.  It actually was less stressful.  I have tons to get to right now, but the reason I’m even blogging is because I wanted to hurry up and record the sweet prayers that Will and Josh prayed tonight. It brings such joy to my heart to hear my children pray.  I would love to ask for all of your prayers for me this weekend.  I have a difficult time trying to balance my  idea for “excellence” in my music (my desire for perfection), verses allowing God to use whatever I’m able to bring to the table and bless it. Anyway, I hope you all are having a great week and have a super weekend.

Josh’s Prayer:

God, thank you for these many days.  Thank you for school and for learning about 2008 at school.  Thank you God for seeing us.  Amen

Will’s Prayer:

Umm….Ummm…..God, I’m sorry I got a note at school.  Help me do better next time.  Thank you for the yummy lunch that mommy made for me at school today.  Amen…..(He opens his eyes and immediately turns to me….)

“Mom, that’s all… I just wanted to do a short one tonight.”

I must say, tonight I think I’m there with Josh.  Thank you God for these many days and I am SO VERY THANKFUL that you see us! Amen.