My worship leader. . .

So, I am sure that you have heard the mother's version of Benjamin's name. Well, in case I haven't told you, way back when, before we even wanted to get pregnant, I was doing a bible study in Deuteronomy 33. The Lord spoke very clearly that "my first chidl would be named Benjamin, because he would know my love." Well, when we did get pregnant, I told John about this and, fortunately he trusted me enough to have very little say in our son's name. Nonetheless, the longer I am around worshippers I am convinced that true worshippers know the heart of the Father. If not, they have nothing to sing about. For we can know all kinds of other things about the Lord, but if we don't know his heart then we don't know him. All that to say, when Benjamin sings, my heart melts. When he plays drums, I can hear his rhythm (though still learning). And when I saw this the John filmed, my heart when straight to the word of the Lord.

"About Benjamin he (Moses) said, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."" Deut. 33:12

This one's for you Anna Grace. . .and all your songs. :)

What fun can a young one have?

In the last several days, I have found Samuel having all the fun in the world. One would think that I am nearing negligence in my parenting skills, but I can assure you there was never any danger involved! :) Oh well, I was once concerned that the second child would not get photographed as often as the first, this has also proved an unnecessary fear. Sweet Samuel is just as archived as his older brother, and possibly more, since he seems to get into more. In the first picture, he is feeding the dog Hope some lunch, this was at my mom and dad's house. In the second, he has found Benjamin's little valentine stamper that he got at school and proceeded to suck all the ink from it. In the third one he has found a sucker from the previously mentioned preschool valentine party, and paper and all, is loving it! In the bottom one, he was about finished with dinner, getting nearly upset and running his fingers through his hair (daddy helped a little with the final look). What fun we are having in the Harrigan home on the cold winter days! -- Oh spring, where are you???

Well, here's to knowing more. . . .

I have been in bible study fellowship for quite a few years now. I started going with my dear friends in Fayetteville, MeMe and Blair. We had a joyous time "singing" the hymns and learning the Word together. To listen to an annointed speaker weekly will definitely change your life. For me, that first year of BSF, learning the life of Moses, was monumental. It was the first study that I had ever done where I had been motivated to do my weekly work at home, so that I could participate in the conversation on Tuesday nights. For those of you who aren't familiar, you can't talk at BSF unless you have done your work. Well, I will move all kinds of mountains to keep the right to talk. I sure don't like to stay quiet. Nonetheless, the Lord spoke to me over and over that year. When we moved to Kentucky, I met my near and dear friend, Candace at BSF. Though our husbands were at Asbury, left to their own means we are convinced that they never would have met! Our teaching leader wasn't nearly as exciting and motivating as the first one I had heard, I was connected enough to work my way through 2 more years. Then we had to take a break to deal with a new baby and a crazy working mommy. After moving here to KC, I quickly realized that BSF had become a lifeline of sorts, a way to meet other women, an indepth study in the word, and a vessel through which the Lord would speak in my life. I never would have expected it! All that to say, it snowed last night (again) and we didn't get to go this morning. The old ladies who are just as committed as I have become wouldn't miss it either, and we don't want everyone driving in the snow. What's even more difficult is explaining to Benjamin why we can't go. If mommy and daddy are safe in the snow, isn't everyone else? Oh well, Matthew can wait until next week, though I'm not sure I can.

Matthew 13:12-- "Whoever has will be given more and he will have an abundance,"

Lord, give me more of your heart, more understanding into what it is you want to tell the world! Give me devine opportunities to share it!

My wonderful husband-

I have a wonderful husband, and I am ever grateful for his wonderful ability to fix just about anything that we own, from the toy that the children are crying over, to the drawer thingy under the kitchen sink. You see, everytime I opened the drawer thingy, it falls all the way open and inevitably that sos pad hits my youngest directly on the forehead. SO, the time came. After longer than expected, this is what he came up with. Though you can't tell, it is attached with two pieces of bent metal that had been swiped from another project. The thing is, I give my husband such a hard time for taking so long to fix it, and yet I am so grateful that he did. I think it's totally amazing how evident it becomes to me that the Lord paired John and I together in a very particular and special way. We didn't get it at first, but He knows. He is faithful and true, and we can rest securely in His arms, if only we could remember it more often. Thank you dear husband for reminding me of the Father's heart. . . . and for fixing the under-the-sink drawer thingy. :)

p.s. The pictures are for you Daniel Rupp, I thought you would appreciate them the most!

That time already?

So, as usual, we watched a blog post from the Chaneys, and realized that Samuel might enjoy practicing the same skill. I didn't thiunk about it, nor did I realize that he could do it, but lo and behold, the boy will walk soon! Thanks big brother for your help, gentleness and compassion, how sweet. Time flies- thank you Jesus for all that you do and for bringing us this far. Enjoy!

My sweet friend. . .

Candace and I have been friends sice we moved to seminary. It's going on 5 years now (can you believe that?) We have had our babies together, come into parenting together, not slept through the night together, and then eventually slept through the night together. (Go Anna Grace!) We have laughed and cried and sought the Lord together and for this I am forever blessed. She blogged (is that a word?) recently and as I read it I was weeping. The Holy Spirit spoke so powerfully that I all think you should read it. Go down and on the left of our blog is our friends, click on the Chaney Family link. Look for the entry titled "Waiting Patiently" May the Lord use my friend Candace's heart to touch yours too.

Grandparents. . .

We had a visit from our grandparents this weekend! It is always one of the highlights of the month to get to see NaeNae and Papa on our own turf. Benjamin cannot get over showing off all his toys and for the first time, Samuel enjoyed someone besides Mommy! That's a bit dramatic, but for those of you who know my youngest, you will understand. Samuel had much fun with NaeNae and very little screaming was involved. I was proud (and asleep at the time). Nonetheless, it has of course gotten me to thinking. I have long treasured being raised in a believing home. I know that for many years, my parents prayed over me, my life, my husband, my, family, and most of all, my heart in the Lord. They sought to teach and guide me in kingdom principles, showing me that there is more to life than what I can see. That God is true in all circumstances, my own and ones far away and very different from my own. That worship is central to the heart of God and we encounter him with our hearts and voices on Sunday mornings, whether we always want to be there or not. I am so grateful for all of these. But as I sat and watched my children watch their Papa play and sing "Joy to the World" with them, all the lessons took on new meanings. When the Lord established families, he did so with more than one generation in mind. Though we laugh at it, NaeNae and Papa do more than spoil their grandsons. They impart to them and pray over them the realities of a God who loves them and wants to see them. They teach my sons about the light of the world. What more can a mother want?

To business or not to business-

I recently have been going through a bit of a dilemna with the Lord. I posted earlier about Lydia in Acts 16:14. She was a seller of purple, a worshipper of the Lord, and an insistent hostess who took care of people who preached the word. Anyway, as I have been seeking the Lord lately and his direction I have felt him calling my into a new kind of business. Now you must know, I am not a saleswoman. My brother, wonderful as he is, could sell a cross to an atheist. He's amazing a convincing people of things. I however, somehow missed that gift and for most of my life have been okay without it. This month things have changed. I have all of the sudden felt a push from the Lord to begin not one, but TWO network marketing businesses. You know the ones, where you have your friends over, guilt them into buying something that they really don't want and don't think they need, but feel obligated to buy since they came to the party and you are working so hard. Anyway, you can tell I haven't had such a great experience with it in my life.

"Lord, really? Are you sure that this is from you? It seems a bit crazy."

"Yes, my child. I want to give to my work on earth through you."

"Really?"

"Really. And if you are faithful in blessing those around you, I will bless you."

SO, here we are. This month I begin a quest to sell cosmetics (really good ones) and family tradition builders. I will bless the orphanage, the missionaries in east asia, the missionaries in Kansas City, and the poor all around me. Lord, help us all! Here we go. . . . .

Marriage?

This weekend we had a blast with our friends the Chaneys, as previously mentioned. Anna Grace is three months younger than Benjamin, but every time we get together I love to see her grow and change. As a young "woman", she loves to talk. And in true fashion, she loves to talk about relationships, marriages, families, etc. She has decided that Benjamin will someday be her groom and they will have a family together. This weekend she already had a baby in her belly (as any three year old who has a baby sibling does). Benjamin is loving someone to play with and doesn't mind playing whatever Anna Grace wants, after all, it's someone his age to play with and she's way more fun than any one else!

What got me thinking about this further is the design of the Lord. It amazes me that we are so intricately and purposefully made for relationship. The trinity God functions in relationship for eternity and he knit us together in order that we may know Him and be known by Him. How great it is to be around friends who know us well, and despite that, still love us. Even at three, Anna Grace knows that people are designed to be with God and with other people. Isn't that the greatest commandment, love God and love one another? Well, if Anna Grace and Benjamin ever walk down the aisle, the mothers will be delighted, but if not, we know that the Lord has intentionally put a knowledge of himself in us that we may know him better from even the start of life.

What friends. . . .

So, in the last several weeks we have seen two of our dearest friends. Long lost from the seminary years, our hearts were forever knit together in the womb of Wilmore, KY. We struggled throught the trials of seminary, we laughed AND cried through the attempts at getting pregnant, and we loved and wept at the arrival of our first children. Something in those three years created a bond that won't be quickly broken. To the Rupps, you remind us that there is a world out there longing for Jesus and you inspire us to tell the message. And to the Chaneys, you inspire us to reach the world we are now in. And to you both, you make us laugh through it all. Thank you and may the Lord continue to unite our hearts and show himself in our time together!

To the Harpers, we miss you and love you all!

So, since I haven't yet attempted the slideshow, here's the best I can do. Enjoy!