Coffee? Oh yes, most definitely yes!

Hello to all my fellow coffee drinkers! I have just recently joined the world of coffee drinking. It is a bit entertaining, since my husband has been drinking it for years. We have long since known about the addiction to caffeine. Fayetteville High School so aptly introduced me to Mountain Dew that I was having one of those early on. Caffeine is another issue all together, and someday we may have to deal with that one as well. However, for quite some time I have been trying to lower the sugar content of my diet and I was trying to figure out how to take away sugar, still have caffeine, and not feel horrible in the mornings. Tea wasn't good enough, diet wasn't a choice (sorry mom and candace!), and I didn't think I liked coffee. So after a couple of $4 Starbocks numbers, I decided that it might not be that bad! My husband has taught me how to make my very own pot here at home, and though I do put a large amount of milk and sugar in it, my sugar totals have dropped dramatically. Amazingly enough, I am actually feeling much better all around. About a coke or two a week and I do great these days. SO, to all you coffee drinkers, thanks for letting me join the club. I love it and I'll probably be staying around for a while!

Much-Afraid and her travels

So I am here in Branson, MO with my wonderful and dear extended family. For those of you who haven't heard, Branson is a family place that some have called "christian vegas." I have to laugh out-loud at such a statement because I am not sure that those two words could ever be used properly in the same sentence. Nonetheless, we have had a grand time at Silver Dollar City and White Water. I will be sure to show pics when I get back to my own computer.

However, for today I had a stunning thought to share. I try to post things about my own heart, though as a mother those things sometimes get lost in the midst of my children. Today, with wonderful help from NaeNae, Papa, Erin, Will and Kelly, I had a moment to read in the sun. I am reading a wonderful book entitled "Hinds Feet on High Places." I read it many years ago and it touched my heart so deeply that I felt it needed another read. Listen to this word:

"Each time she shrinkingly took hold of the hand of either Sorrow or Suffering a pang went through her, but once their hands were grasped she found they had amazing strength, able to pull and even lift her upwards and over places which she would have considered utterly impossible to reach."


In this story, the characters are aptly named for the emotion they most often espouse. Much-Afraid is most often afraid and the wonderful shepherd (Jesus) has given her companions in the journey she is about to undertake. Much to her surprise and disdain the two helpers the Lord chose were Sorrow and Suffering. Now, I will be the first to admit, when it comes to those two I have not had much experience. Only a small bit in the births of my children, but I have tasted them. I know, if only for a short time, what it means to experience the suffering of my children and a sorrow about it. In my limited experience, I saw so clearly what it meant to hold to sorrow and suffering, to cling to Jesus in them, to recognize that in those moments I am closer to the Father than ever before and that pain and love cannot be separated. In my own heart, I am drawn powerfully close to the Father in the midst of sorrow and suffering, He is a rock and a strong tower. The dynamic that connects the human heart between pain and love is so intense that at times they cannot be connected. The emotions I feel for my children cannot be separated in those moments. The pain for them and the love of them are one in the same. I wish I could describe it better, but "once she grasped the hands of Sorrow and Suffering. . . . shr found that they had amazing strength." It is in the hands of sorrow and suffering that we seek out the Father, it is in that place that we can truly see that His burden is light, and it is in that place that we understand the reason for Sorrow and Suffering in a believers life. We must hold to them, that we would be drawn near to the Father, that we would know His strength, and that we would truly understand the power that can only come from holding to sorrow and suffering. For if we do not hold on to them, we become angry and bitter, confused as to why they had to happen. I would much rather testify to the power and strength of the Father in those moments than complain about sorrow and suffering. Lord, may I understand even in the midst of life that you are in control. Your hand is always with us and you will never turn against us. Let me live m life in such a way that I will testify to you and your burden. Amen.

My first slideshow-

Well, I figured out how to make the slideshow, but I failed to get any kind of explanation onto the same post. So, needless to say, I have added a second to explain the previous (though to some it may be totally self-explanatory!) Erin came for a visit!

So, I know I write about it everytime she comes, but we really have so much fun. Erin came for almost a week a couple of weeks ago and we went to the zoo once, went swimming twice, took naps three of the five days, took baths four times, and ate all the time! Here is a brief snapshot of all the fun!

I want to add that she is totally amazing, and that tonight she called with word that she has gotten her fist full-time, grown-up, non-student, regular paying (though not that good) teaching job! I can't even explain how excited I am. It's this weird relationship dynamic, like I'm half mom and half sister/friend. I really try to be much more friend/sister than mom, I know that makes her crazy. But tonight, I was so excited and proud that I wore my mom heart freely. I am so proud of her, she is an amazing teacher and the Lord is clearly directing her heart and steps. She will bring peace to those she encounters and she will be a voice for "those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the rights of the poor and needy." (See Proverbs 31:8-9) I love you sis! You will make an amazing teacher!

Check out my Slide Show!

Camping Fun with Daddy

Okay, so there's alot to say in one day, but the computer wasn't reading the camera card for like three weeks, so now there's been a ton of fun stuff going on. Hopefully after a couple of more of these, I'll get to the things in my own heart (though there is always some of that in everything).

Benjamin and Daddy are truly beginning to value their time together, without mommy. And sometimes, I am just as glad to see it come! I am also beginning to value my time with just Samuel. I guess this is the all-time dilemma of parenting, especially when you move from man-to-man defense to zone defense (having more than 2 children). Right now I think we are doing okay, but I figure at some point we'll have to make a new game plan.

I also find it really amazing that my Benjamin has a heart much more like mine, and he and his daddy have a special connection, while my Samuel has a heart just like his daddy's, and he and I have a special connection. The Lord has such wisdom and he knows us so much better then we know ourselves. I walked down the aisle to my wedding terrified, not knowing myself very well, and only knowing a bit about this man he had paired me with, and the Lord has blessed us over and over. He truly knows. I am always amazed at the fun they have together. And at the fun we have together. :)

So, we have jumped into talking. All the sudden he started saying "uh-oh" as clear as day. He has also adopted mama, dada, and we are working on bobo (brother). As with my oldest, he makes the jump incredibly quickly. We are just hoping to have lots of words before we see the speech therapist in September! I am reminded as quickly as I begin to think about it, that the Lord is a healer. He healed Benjamin and I immediately, and He healed Samuel. Fully. Without a doubt, I will stand on the promises of the Lord and will again be amazed at His goodness to us. But really, how cute is that? "Uh-oh!"

Katrina and the snake!

So here we are, living on more land than I have ever experienced and look what we find! I am thrilled to have someone like Katrina nearby. She never ceases to amaze me, she knows what snakes are good, what animals they eat, and why we shouldn't chop their heads off! As if that wasn't enough, she is even able to stick her arm inside the birdhouse where the snake was hiding out, grab his head, pull out said snake, and carry it across the road to safer places. Thank you my dear, may you enjoy your time here with us as much as we are enjoying you and your sweet family!

Summer Fun, Part 2

So, last night I had a wonderful visit and Girls Night Away with my dear Fayetteville friends, Blair and MeMe. I call them Fayetteville friends because as we discussed this weekend, we all met in high school, knew each other through college, but have only become close since then (sort of). It's one of those strange, yet wonderful, relationships that might not have made it through all the ups and downs of time, but by the grace of God He has kept our hearts united through time, miles, babies, more babies, and careers (even changing them). My mom commented that she was proud of us for keeping in such good contact, but I think of it as something even more. The Lord united us three in such a way and through such experiences that it's easy to be together. There was never an awkward silence, there was always encouragement, heart-level sharing, and much laughter. We stayed in a great and "green" hotel, had a great dinner, we saw the new Steve Carrell movie, "Get Smart." We laughed looking for water from a bottle in the hotel late at night, talked until way too late about marriages and the beautiful thing it is, slept until 8:30(very late), had an amazing free and "included" breakfast, spa-quality pedicures, though MeMe's was a bit better, shopped for a bit, and ended our adventure with a wondrous late lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. What more could any girl want on a weekend?

A huge shout-out to our amazing husbands for taking the children without even a grump. Jeff gets the Diaper Award for changing one that actually looked AND smelled like hot dogs, Brian gets the Doctor Award for taking care of a sickly almost one-year old all alone (not easy!), and John gets the Creativity Award for making really good plans for Boy Day without any mommy suggestions! Love to you all- and thanks girls!
P.S> They are totally NOT pregnant anymore, I just didn't have any newer pics. Their babies will both be one this summer, and they look fabulous!

Summer Fun, Part 1

It seems there is much fun to be had in the Harrigan home. Last night, Daddy had a late meeting, so we played outside after dinner, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, but as you can see it was well worth it. Samuel had his first whole Popsicle, all by himself, while Benjamin was rolling around the driveway. If you listen carefully, you'll hear Benjamin telling me what to do with the video we took. "Put it on the computer mommy!"

Peter, Part 1- "AT ONCE"

Okay, so it seems that I have gotten very good at posting about my children. But as I read and am inspired by my friends' Kayla and Candace's blogs, I began to realize that I might have something else going on in my life and heart besides my children, as lovely as they are. :) SO, here is my first attempt to process through the ups and downs of a life in God through my eyes, and not my child's.

I spent the last year in a group called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) studying the book of Matthew. I had a really great experience this year, as always, though something interesting has caught my attention. One week, one day, they asked a question about Peter. In the book of Matthew, there a great many events involving Peter's life and I went back and listed them in the order they are recorded there. Now, I won't get into them all right now, after all, it's only part one and who knows how many there will be. But, I did find a certain camaraderie with Peter, the Rock. He's a man who often had to put his foot in his mouth. He stumbled grandly, but found himself in the midst of the Son's prayers. He was the rock on whom the church was built. So, here's my first experience with Peter.

Matthew 4:18-20- "As Jesus was walking beside the sea of Galilee he saw two brothers. Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. . . . . "Come. Follow me." Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him."

Okay, so I am no great theologian, but I love the interactions we see with Peter. First, he's a fisherman. Nothing so great, makes a good living, is responsible enough to maintain a boat, always eats his omega-3's. He's out doing the daily grind, and an apparent stranger comes up to him. He is so overwhelmed by the presence of the Godhead, that AT ONCE he leaves everything he knows to follow. How I long for that! I am sometimes too cautious or too spontaneous, neither of the time being as connected to the work of the Lord as I long to be. You know? I am making the pros and cons list in my head, I am checking to see if it is "wise," and most of the time I am fighting off this thing called fear that resides within us. Peter had none of the above. He connected with the God of the universe, he was aware of what was happening, and most wisely, jumped on for the ride. No hesitation, no questions, AT ONCE.

Lord, help me to move when you move and stay when you stay. No questions, no worries, just ultimately at peace in your place, as long as you are there.