Christmas Eve Service

I know i have been really bad about blogging. In fact, the only reason I'm blogging now is because someone else wants these pictures -- Sorry :(

I have been trying to spend as little time on the computer as I can lately so that I can spend more time with my family. Which translates to I check my e-mail everyday, but other than that I have been staying away.

We had a special Christmas Eve service at church this year. It was a tremendous blessing to help JA organize it. The service focused on the events leading up to the Messiah's birth that pointed to the Messiah. So we started in Genesis, Went to Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Isaiah, and finally to the Christmas Story. It was certainly not your typical Christmas service, but it was a blessing to see how all of these events worked together to bring the Messiah into our lives. Here are the pictures.

God's Gracious Provision

The Lord continues to provide for us in so many ways. Sunday JA and I were discussing the fact that while Lydia has an abundance of shoes for every conceivable occasion, Kara has no closed-toe dress shoes (only sandals and a pair of cowgirl boots). Kids shoes are so expensive, and even though I looked at Wal-Mart last week, I could find no dress shoes in her size. Now I know why. Last night at our home schoolers group (we had an International Dinner) one of the mom's walked up to me and asked me what size shoe Kara wore. Turns out she had a pair of dress shoes that were too small for her daughter. An added blessing -- the shoes were Gymboree shoes - I really like their quality better than others.

Another blessing is how the Lord allowed us to find a violin teacher for Kara. Miss Abigail is a high school senior who plays the violin. She agreed to work with Kara this year. Kara absolutely loves her and is really enjoying her violin lessons and practices. My non authoritative view point is that Kara is doing very well. Our practices are only about 15 minutes because of her attention span, but she seems to be catching on quickly.

Amazing Grace

At the start of the month, I was able to attend a Ladies Retreat with three other ladies from church. We went to Amazing Grace Baptist Camp.

Leaving home I was looking forward to reconnecting with some friends.

I was also looking forward to hearing Carol Trahan speak and enjoy hearing her passion for God's Word. However, I wasn't expecting to come away from the retreat the way I did.

As Carol spoke on allowing the Word of God to 'Dwell in Me Richly', I had to ask myself -- "Do I really want to know God deeply?" Not only that, but am I a normal Christian? What is a normal Christian -- well, today's average American Christian attends church on a regular basis, may or may not read the Bible on a regular basis, and rarely speaks about the things of God unless the audience is receptive. But that is not a normal Christian. A normal Christian should have a passion for God, frequently spend time digging into the Word of God, and be sharing what God is doing in my life at every opportunity whether or not the audience is receptive. Carol reminded me that "Anything less than total abandonment and surrender will make me a very sick Christian."

During another session Carol began by asking three questions:
1. Do I want God's Best
2. Am I willing to Obey all that God reveals to me.
3. Am I more concerned for God's glory as He accomplishes His purpose in my life or do I simply want release from my struggle.

She also reminded me that I need to Learn It, Love It, and Live It out of a full life.

Coming home from this retreat I realized I did not have the passion for God's Word I needed. The Lord also convicted me of not looking for Him in the everyday things. I can't have a passion for God or cultivate a passion for God in my children until I focus on seeing God in everything of life.

At the end of the retreat they had an auctioneer come and they held an auction for products that different ladies had brought and donated.


After lunch we were able to leave, or spend time around the camp. We walked around for a little while and then played Human Foosball (the best we could with four people). This weekend was a blessing of fellowship and conviction.
OK, Time for a confession. I know nothing about cars. Marty realized that the air was low in all four of my tires. So we stopped at the first gas station. I stayed out of the way and Marty ran around the van filling the tires before the machine stopped. Martha Lynn was behind her replacing the lids to the valves. As soon as she finished filling the last tire the machine stopped. I praise the Lord for great friends !

Pefect Love Casts Out Fear

I don't know when I began to become fearful of things, but many things that I am afraid of are ridiculous. Some of the crazy things I am afraid of include spiders, semi trucks (especially when I am right beside one), and things that go bump in the night.

I've always been afraid at night. I can remember when I was 10 watching a movie entitled "Night of the Living Lepus" This movie was about giant killer rabbits. Why my parents ever let me watch it I'll never know. Anyways, I can remember laying in bed hearing giant rabbits hopping down our road and just waiting for this terrible rabbit to jump through my window and land on top of me. This went on for weeks. Then again in high school I would check out these horror books from our school library. I would lay in bed reading these books clutching at my throat, and every little sound would make me want to scream for my life.

After JA and I were married we lived in a trailer in the middle of the woods. The living room had a giant picture window on both sides of the room. If JA wasn't home with me, I would be terrified to walk anywhere in the trailer because I just knew someone was outside watching me.

OK, I know you are thinking "Tracy get a grip on yourself -- YOU are an ADULT!" Well, Even now I am afraid of things that go bump in the night. Every night as I lay in bed I remind myself of the verse "Perfect Love Casts Out Fear." I have no reason to be afraid. As I trust Jehovah to take care of my family, I can know that all things happen for HIS glory. He will not allow anything to happen that is not best for my family or for HIS glory. I am so thankful that I can look to my Lord and Savior to calm my fears and allow me to sleep.

Now, for a fear that is very reasonable. This summer on vacation we went to Celebration City. We thought it would be fun to take our family on the Ferris Wheel. Now the temperature was over 100 degrees that day, and JA and I were both dripping sweat. Kara had a blast. She sat still and just looked all over as we went up and stopped. Lydia also had a blast and was snuggled right up next to Daddy. However, when we stopped she thought it was time to move so she wiggled a bit, but she obeyed and stayed sitting.
HOWEVER . . . Andy and I were not having as enjoyable of a time as the rest of my family. When we got to the top and stopped the cell phone just happened to ring (it was attached to my belt loop). I flipped it open and yelled at it -- "Sorry we can't talk right now we are up on the top of a Ferris wheel" Question -- Why did I answer the phone? We do have voice mail on it. Well, while we were stopped Andy decided it was no longer enjoyable to be sitting on mommies lap. He wanted down. So, the entire time up on top I am struggling to keep a wiggly boy on my lap. My hands were so sweaty they were slippery, so I pretty much had my arms wrapped around him as tightly as I could. (By the way, did I mention to you that I am deathly afraid of heights) I was so thankful when the Ferris wheel started up again. And, when we finally came to a stop, I decided "I am never going on there with a baby again."

A Master of Deceit

OK, I admit it. Over the course of this summer I have become a master at deceiving my children. However, before you cast judgment upon me, please hear me out.

!. Lydia despises vegetables. I mean she refuses to eat them (unless it's corn). She will scream and holler like a banshee as we shove the spoon in her mouth to make her eat them, and then she will hold the food in her mouth for hours on end (I mean literally, she has gotten down from the table and two - three hours later we will notice she has something in her mouth and when we look there is a cucumber) without chewing.

2. My garden has produced an unending supply of squash. I didn't even plant the crazy things, and yet on any given day I can go out and pick three - four huge squash. My garden has also blessed us with plenty of cucumbers and a few tomatoes.

Combine the two and you have an abundance of veggies and only two people who will eat them (and by the way, at the beginning of this summer I did not like squash).

+ =

Because of this fact, I have been forced to become a master at sneaking veggies into our menu without my children noticing it. This has been great, and if you have a child who does not like to eat his/her veggies, I hope you enjoy these.

1. Mashed Potatoes -- how about doing mashed cauliflower and mashing a couple of cooked squash in with them.

2. Macaroni & Cheese -- Make as prescribed and add a can of peas and a can of tuna (even my tuna hating husband will eat this meal).

3. Like egg casseroles? -- in your food processor, dice up some squash (like hash browns) and cover the bottom of a 10 x 13 pan whisk the eggs and milk pour of the squash and cover with grated cheese -- they didn't even realize it was squash!!!

4. Creamed Cucumber -- slice your cucumbers and let them bask in this creamy dressing (1 cup mayo, 2 tbsp vinegar, 1/2 cup sugar)-- it sweetens them so they actually ate it.

5. Hide it in the casserole -- slice squash and line the bottom of a pan Add frozen peas, carrots, or whatever veggies you have on hand. Add a can of corn (or frozen). Mix up some cream of chicken soup with some sour cream (use any kind you want, but I like it with cream of chicken or mushroom the best) and add to veggies. throw in the oven and cook. While cooking, whip up some cornbread. Pull veggies out of the oven and spread the cornbread mixture on top. Return to oven and cook for the length of time prescribed for the cornbread. Makes a yummy veggie casserole.

6. Won't eat a veggie casserole, throw their portion into a blender, add a little bit of milk or water to make it a bit creamier, and blend). Pour into a bowl, add crackers and top with a bit of cheese. They think you made them a completely knew dinner.

I hope you try some of these recipes on your picky toddlers. Let me know if you do and how successful they are.

The Miracle of Prayer

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Today I was again reminded of how short life is, and how imporant prayer is. Not to mention how frivilous I can be at times. This afternoon, JA and two of the men (brothers) from the church were working on building a structure to both keep rain from flooding into the house, and to keep my children from banging their heads on cement steps. During this process while JA and one of the men were on the roof shingling, the other man had a mini stroke. JA came running into the house to call 911 and I went out to see what I could do not realizing what was happening (I pictured someone falling off the roof, or nailing his hand, etc. . .) I did not expect to see him passed out on the ground convulsing and vomiting, and turning blue. As soon as JA got off of the phone, He came out and immediately began praying over the man w/ the other man. When the ambulance arrived, and after they left JA continued to pray. And immediately after the ambulance left began praying aloud with the man's brother.

After JA and the brother left for the hospital, I came inside and prayed w/ Kara (who was refusing to take a nap -- of which for once I was thankful). A few hours later JA came home and told me that Sam was stable and had most likely suffered from a mild stroke. However, he was not able to talk. About an hour later Sam's brother and his other brother showed up at the house, and Sam was once again able to carry on a conversation.

The power of prayer is remarkable. I am so thankful to be married to a man who's first resource is to begin praying (I know he was praying before he ever reached the phone), and who can remain calm in the midst of an emergency.

How can I dare to doubt the might and power of my God when He longs to perform such mighty miracles? How can I continue to be lax in my prayer life when God continuously makes clear the power of prayer in our lives? I serve a mighty and powerful God who is ever faithful and desires to show himself powerful in my life on a daily basis.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise
To all, life Thou givest -- to both great and small,
In all life Thou livest -- the true life of all
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish -- but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render-- O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!

If I simply open my eyes and look around me, I can see God active in my life and in the lives of those around me.