Life from death. . .

I know, it's my  backyard.  It looks pretty uneventful.  And yet, this morning I looked out the window and had hope.  Can you see it??  It's pretty faint.  You kind of have to squint your eyes a little bit.  It's the smallest amount of green.  The trees are as bare as my daughter's butt right now.  The sky is grey.  There are no flowers.  There is no life.    If you look up the hill a bit, it's not there yet.  And yet, it's here.  The beginnings of grass coming back.  The rain comes down and settles right behind the back door.  It brings life a little earlier than the rest of the yard.  And yet, I am excited from that place deep inside me. 

John and I have a recurring conversation.  I say to him, "I don't think there will be winter when Jesus returns.  Because everything dies.  Death didn't happen in the garden, so it must not be."  My husband (who loves the winter) replies, "It doesn't die."  And yet, every fall and winter it feels such like death.  And when spring comes, it's LIFE again!  It is such a beautiful picture of the resurrection for me, and I love that Easter is in the spring.  It reminds me that life is not all about the here and now.  We are here and now with the expectant hope that renewal is coming.  That Jesus is bringing back with him the renewal of all things.  Even life itself. 

BUT.  I learned something even more fascinating this fall.  I knew it before, but I had never fully connected the dots.  In the winter, when plants are not growing leaves, fruit, or flowers, they are spreading their roots.  They are digging in.  Penetrating deep.  Preparing for the storms of spring and summer. 

I have spent this last winter (merciful as it may have been) trying to grow some roots.  Instead of despising death (which, by the way, I still think is completely despisable) I have set my heart on roots.  I want to grow deep.  I want to see the heart of God in ways that I have not yet.  I want to read his word in ways that I have not before.  I want to withstand the storms.  Big and small.  Near and far.  I want to have deep roots. 

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." Psalm 1:1-3  

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.   We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved."  Romans 8:17-24 (underline me)

Bubbles!

This winter has not been nearly as terrible as some in the past, but nonetheless, we are excited about spring.  It has been uncharacteristically warm this week, and despite some sickness and remaining in our jammies way too late in the day, we decided to play outside this afternoon.  And apparently learn all about bubbles.  Wow.

Picture update, anyone??

One of my goals during Lent is to use my time better.  SO, for those of you who are interested about where we have been and what we are doing, here's a little picture update.  :)

We went to the local Science City and got really excited to finish the maze BEFORE our brother!

We really want to be big.  :) Notice the tippy toes. 

We have played lots of basketball and are improving every day!

We had loads of fun at our one and only snow of the season.

With good friends.

Where we made awesome decorations for a really fun Valentines Party. 

It's been a great winter so far and we are looking forward to a spring with lots of soccer, bike riding, gardening, and general fun outside!  Blessings friends-

Overflowing with Gratitude. . . .

For those of you who know us, you know that we live oftentimes in utter dependance upon the Lord.  Many of you hear from him on our behalf.  We have been overwhelmed often at the Lord's provision in our lives- both financially and spiritually and relationally and emotionally.  (Are there any other ways?? )  Anyway, as I was sitting and thinking lately, I decided I would share what the Lord puts on my heart to pray for you all.  We are blessed and these are the whispers in my heart as I wash dishes and change diapers and such.  :)

Lord, remember the sacrifices that your servant makes when they send a gift.  
Nehemiah 13:14  ¹⁴ Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services. 

Lord, give life to their hearts.  That they would be planted by streams of living water.  That they would delight in your law, that their obedience and integrity at work would be noticed, and that all they do would bear fruit.
Psalm 1:2-3  ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Lord, grow them in the knowledge of your will, the hope that is set within us, and endurance to make it to Your return. 
Ephesians 1:18  ¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,

Lord, fill their hearts with such fullness, that a witness of you pours forth.  Like a fragrant offering, from here to the ends of the earth. 
Acts 1:8  ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

And finally, my favorite.  I pray often that whatever they give, to whomever they give it, that it would result in thanksgiving to God.  That their AND my family’s testimony would resound as “men praise God for their obedience AND their confession of the Father.”  That it’s about the Creator of the universe using all things to accomplish His glory in our midst. 
2 Corinthians 9:11-14  ¹¹ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. . . . .¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 

Blessings to you all!  

An education, of sorts.

 This past month we spent a week with some dear friends.  And I would tell you who they are, except they are headed to foreign lands to do things that probably shouldn't be published on the internet.  For that reason, you can smile and pray for them if you recognize.  However, in this last visit we had quite an education.  You see, our sister, has two older brothers.  She knows how to play with cars, run fast, and fight back.  (I know, I'm sorry to all we have hit recently)  Anyway, we only recently received our first baby doll.  We wear pink dresses only because mommy likes them.  But this week, we learned much.  You see, above sis is sitting in with her friend, who is playing dress up in a twirly skirt.  One, I might add, that has sequins.  :) And do you know what she is saying?  Something precious about the baby doll.  Yes, they are having a lesson about baby dolls.  It was priceless. And, as pink and frilly as the dress is, the expressions were even better.  Here, they have found themselves in a crib together, and I just thought it was a priceless pic. 


Let me talk for a moment about this wonderful lady.
She is a mother of three precious girls.  She has talked with me for hours on end on raising daughters.  I have taken priceless insight from her heart.  She recognizes beauty in the simplest of things and she has a heart set before the Lord.  She longs for his heart- and from that place inspires obedience.  She has taken steps of faith that I have not seen in many.  I am inspired.  I am moved to listen to and obey the Lord because of the testimony in this woman.  I am blessed.

It's just for fun. . .

I'm so surprised!!

Or just really cute.  :)

Here we are. . . a bunny, an angel, and a tree.

A bunny in a tree

And an angel on the steps. . .

We had such a wonderful time in Shreveport this year for Halloween- it's about become an annual tradition.  Two years and running.  We are blessed with dear friends, a community of people who are seeking after the Lord in their lives, and LOADS of fun!  Despite the fact that we might have brought the stomach virus, there was so much to do!  We ate wonderful food, drank coffee, created plays, colored pictures, and talked for hours.  It is truly an amazing thing when the Lord unites hearts in such a way as ours are connected to Shreveport, LA and her people. 

And again. . . I am grateful.

Fall and the Generations. . .

A year ago my grandmother died.  She was and is an amazing woman.  She buried two husbands- both with a piece of her heart.  She taught me all I know about wild flowers and birds (though I wish I had learned more about the latter!)  She also taught me much about prayer.  The necessity of it.  The return to it.  The transforming power of it- both in our own hearts and those of whom we are praying for. I think of her daily and the things we talked about.  When she went to be with Jesus, I took her computer.  It was old, heavy, and fairly inefficient.  But it was hers.  And it was a treasure.  Well, this month I was given another computer- still big and old, but slightly more efficient.  :)  So we decided it was time.  For a year I have been logging in as Robbye Bland, opening Internet Explorer to cox.net homepage, and having her log-in come up.  I know, silliness.  It doesn't really matter, and yet for some reason I couldn't bear to change it.  But with the addition of the new, the old had to go.  The computer had to be reformatted.  It would no longer claim to be Robbye Bland.  And though I realize full well that she is beyond blessed and peaceful now, it was momentarily hard. 

 And while I am on that thought, the same week the middle born and I had a conversation.  We were headed to school one morning and I was telling him to look for different color leaves outside.  It's been a beautiful fall.  Anyway, as we were looking I mentioned to him that his Papa's daddy used to love the leaves.  I was telling him that when I was a little girl, he would take a trip in the fall, just to get to see them.  And then, when he went to be with Jesus, it was fall time.  And the leaves were beautiful.  The next day we were back in the van, and the second chief told the whole story to the first-born.  Yes, amazingly enough he was listening.  :)

Anyway, I have been filled with gratitude today.  Gratitude that the Lord placed before me such a testimony of belief.  A line and heritage of faith.  Prayers prayed over my children 60plus years ago.  For generations the Lord has been building himself into my family, and I am humbled to be a part of it.  Humbled to continue the process.  SO, here's to remembering there is more to life than THIS life.  I am blessed beyond measure, I have hope for His return and the saints who will come with him. 


Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
 
Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

Just Cause. . .

This is really cute.  :)

The Heart of Adoption

For those of you who don't follow- these are some amazing, dear friends of ours serving the Lord in China.  They are amazing people and I could tell you many stories about their hearts, their boys, their lives, their "work," and their God.  But they have just adopted a baby girl and she said so beautifully what adoption is.  Let me warn you, if you are already thinking about it- this might send you over the edge.  Adoption is an amazing journey- I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

And probably will sometime.  ;)  Read and enjoy. (or weep as I did)

Rupp Life

She's excited about the new Rupp friend!  :)

So. . .

I don't have much time here- as usually happens these days, but I couldn't miss the opportunity to show you this.

 

Brother was at school, Daddy was talking to Memaw, Mommy was cleaning the kitchen, and sis was asleep.  What was my precious second born doing?  He was following the directions and building a lego helicopter designed for 7-12 year olds.  I think he's a genius.  And I love him very much!

And while we are on a roll, I thought you all might like to see how far we have come this summer.  At the beginning, we weren't even going under.  Though we are still securely attached to our floaties, we jumped off the diving board last week and were so proud he actually asked mommy to get out the camera and be sure to take a picture.  We are blessed and we rejoice with one another.  

 

"When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16 


"Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"  Psalm 32:11