So, I have many a post in my head right now and I know it's kind of lame to just get on for a giveaway alert after 2 months. haha. But, that's what I'm doing!
The Stay at Home Missionary, whom I've shared about before, is giving away 2 books! They would be a perfect addition to any library and I personally would love to win. We're praying about the best schooling direction for our children, but even if we don't home school in the official sense...learning about life and about God is always the parents job to begin with!!
SO...go enjoy the blog and I'll be back later with a post about our life.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
In Training
When the ladies come (in a healthy amount of time...I love my little boy but I don't want him to still be my little boy when he's 35...I just won't have a basement for him to live in), he will be ready.
This Man
This is a good man:
(This is actually the same sweatshirt he was wearing when I fell in love with him for the first time)
A man who is a faithful husband, living with me in understanding
A man who is an attentive and loving daddy who watches over the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of his children
A man who knows how to be super
A man who puts in the extra effort
A man who truly listens
A man who is careful with his words
A man who cares about our marriage and what his children are doing
A man who is a hard worker who invests not only his time but his whole person in whatever job he is doing
A man who loves family: his, mine, and the one we're raising
A man who is concerned for my happiness
A man who changes diapers, plays tea party, tells stories, tucks his children in at night
A man who will slow down, stop what he's doing to hold a baby or check on his kids to make sure they are sleeping soundly before he goes to bed
A man who is calm in the face of strife
A man who knows how to appologize
A man who is kind
A man who makes his time with the Lord a priority and shows his family, by example, how to live for the Lord
A man who is handsome
A man who still takes my breath away, gives me butterflies in my stomach, and makes me laugh instantaneously
I love THIS man.
Psalm 1:1-3
1 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.
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.
(This is actually the same sweatshirt he was wearing when I fell in love with him for the first time)
A man who is a faithful husband, living with me in understanding
A man who is an attentive and loving daddy who watches over the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of his children
A man who knows how to be super
A man who puts in the extra effort
A man who truly listens
A man who is careful with his words
A man who cares about our marriage and what his children are doing
A man who is a hard worker who invests not only his time but his whole person in whatever job he is doing
A man who loves family: his, mine, and the one we're raising
A man who is concerned for my happiness
A man who changes diapers, plays tea party, tells stories, tucks his children in at night
A man who will slow down, stop what he's doing to hold a baby or check on his kids to make sure they are sleeping soundly before he goes to bed
A man who is calm in the face of strife
A man who knows how to appologize
A man who is kind
A man who makes his time with the Lord a priority and shows his family, by example, how to live for the Lord
A man who is handsome
A man who still takes my breath away, gives me butterflies in my stomach, and makes me laugh instantaneously
I love THIS man.
Psalm 1:1-3
1 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.
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.
The Beach
WOW...it's so different to take an evening trip to the beach rather than have to plan a whole day affair. We take the kids to Sunset Bay because it's so much calmer and has plenty of sand to play in!
The other night we had an early dinner and went out as a family. We had so much fun all together...a much needed time to catch our breath and enjoy the joy of being a family.
The other night we had an early dinner and went out as a family. We had so much fun all together...a much needed time to catch our breath and enjoy the joy of being a family.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A New Blog Found
I'm not exactly sure the path I took to get there...but once I arrived, I was stuck. Such an encouragement and such a place to learn. Thanks for your hard work, Joy!
http://www.thestayathomemissionary.com/
go there. You'll appreciate it and you'll learn.
http://www.thestayathomemissionary.com/
go there. You'll appreciate it and you'll learn.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
When You Find Yourself on a Journey
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Mt 11:29-30
I stop to rest a while, to look back and remember where I have been. My feet hurt from the journey, through many mountain highs and valley lows, and they are dirty. They are cut in a few places and they are weary. They tell of places been and experiences earned. My feet will tell a lot, but my heart will tell more. My feet cannot tell of the places they did not walk, for in those places were where I was carried.
When one season is complete and another begins anew, it is easier to look back and see what truly happened. During the season, vision and ability to understand reason is often blurred. It is only in looking back that we see how far we were brought. How much we have accomplished through His plan. How much we would have missed if we were the ones deciding...deciding in those moments where all hope had been lost.
I am just coming out of such a season. I am starting to look back and see truly what just happened. How it has shaped me, how it has changed me, and how I am supposed to learn from it. Now, please understand something...this season was a long journey for me, but it may not even be signifacant enough to dirty another's feet. That is an important truth about seasons. They will be translated differently in every life. A lesson that took me a long time to learn may not even be discussed in another's life. There are some seasons that will stay hushed. There are some that will stay dormant for another time. And then there are some that should be talked about so other's may learn too.
I want to share my season. Other's may learn. Or I will learn more from documenting my lessons. More so, this will enable my young children to learn from something they are too young to remember now. They will meet their own such seasons soon enough. But I believe there is also power in their seeing their parents learn and grow under the strong yet gentle hand of the Almighty. His faithfulness should be spoken and taught from generation to generation. When we cried out, He answered us.
This is the year, the season, in which I started learning to take His yoke. To give up my burden and take His. Where I started learning the true power of WHOM we pray to. It's not about the details or the miracle that took place for our life...it's about deep cries and answered prayers. It's about meeting amongst the people and sharing about HIS glory. It's about those who have been around us or who encountered us for the very first time seeing that when we're on a journey it is not us deciding. It is Him. It is not us accomplishing anything. It is Him. The only thing we can claim at all is being weak. Even the strength to cry out to Him for help in our weakness came from the power of His glory and grace.
In my years of knowing Him and being His child, I have often chosen the easy way. The burden that looked deceptively light. The life that was appearing in obedience but had never really been tested. While I understand, in His grace, the Father started me on more of a quiz than a true test...I've never been a quick learner. Never a good test performer. It took me a while to walk through this lesson. To be ready for the quiz that might equip me for the later exam.
In this season there was kicking and screaming. There was questioning of direction. There was repetition. If God was a literal teacher, there probably would have been red pens and bad grades and flash cards to review once again. It was not always handled with the graciousness that is attractive to remember. Trust and submission were not always displayed firsthand.
And there is the path once more. When in my humanity, I was achieving dirty and scraped feet, He was there. He was there to offer His way. His burden that was light. His arms to pick me up and carry me. He did not want my earned experiences to only be those of a sinful heart. He had plans for a hope and a future. He wanted my earned experiences to be those of a faithful God who met His child and showed unending grace and power. He wanted to bring me from this season to where I could look back and know the ONE "who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:3-5
There will be seasons to come on this journey. There will be mountains that seem higher and valleys that seem much lower. However, these seasons will be different. They will have a traveler who is more experienced in learned faithfulness, powerful faith-prayers, and trusting a God who is strong and gentle. A God who provides rest for this traveler.
I stop to rest a while, to look back and remember where I have been. My feet hurt from the journey, through many mountain highs and valley lows, and they are dirty. They are cut in a few places and they are weary. They tell of places been and experiences earned. My feet will tell a lot, but my heart will tell more. My feet cannot tell of the places they did not walk, for in those places were where I was carried.
When one season is complete and another begins anew, it is easier to look back and see what truly happened. During the season, vision and ability to understand reason is often blurred. It is only in looking back that we see how far we were brought. How much we have accomplished through His plan. How much we would have missed if we were the ones deciding...deciding in those moments where all hope had been lost.
I am just coming out of such a season. I am starting to look back and see truly what just happened. How it has shaped me, how it has changed me, and how I am supposed to learn from it. Now, please understand something...this season was a long journey for me, but it may not even be signifacant enough to dirty another's feet. That is an important truth about seasons. They will be translated differently in every life. A lesson that took me a long time to learn may not even be discussed in another's life. There are some seasons that will stay hushed. There are some that will stay dormant for another time. And then there are some that should be talked about so other's may learn too.
I want to share my season. Other's may learn. Or I will learn more from documenting my lessons. More so, this will enable my young children to learn from something they are too young to remember now. They will meet their own such seasons soon enough. But I believe there is also power in their seeing their parents learn and grow under the strong yet gentle hand of the Almighty. His faithfulness should be spoken and taught from generation to generation. When we cried out, He answered us.
This is the year, the season, in which I started learning to take His yoke. To give up my burden and take His. Where I started learning the true power of WHOM we pray to. It's not about the details or the miracle that took place for our life...it's about deep cries and answered prayers. It's about meeting amongst the people and sharing about HIS glory. It's about those who have been around us or who encountered us for the very first time seeing that when we're on a journey it is not us deciding. It is Him. It is not us accomplishing anything. It is Him. The only thing we can claim at all is being weak. Even the strength to cry out to Him for help in our weakness came from the power of His glory and grace.
In my years of knowing Him and being His child, I have often chosen the easy way. The burden that looked deceptively light. The life that was appearing in obedience but had never really been tested. While I understand, in His grace, the Father started me on more of a quiz than a true test...I've never been a quick learner. Never a good test performer. It took me a while to walk through this lesson. To be ready for the quiz that might equip me for the later exam.
In this season there was kicking and screaming. There was questioning of direction. There was repetition. If God was a literal teacher, there probably would have been red pens and bad grades and flash cards to review once again. It was not always handled with the graciousness that is attractive to remember. Trust and submission were not always displayed firsthand.
And there is the path once more. When in my humanity, I was achieving dirty and scraped feet, He was there. He was there to offer His way. His burden that was light. His arms to pick me up and carry me. He did not want my earned experiences to only be those of a sinful heart. He had plans for a hope and a future. He wanted my earned experiences to be those of a faithful God who met His child and showed unending grace and power. He wanted to bring me from this season to where I could look back and know the ONE "who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:3-5
There will be seasons to come on this journey. There will be mountains that seem higher and valleys that seem much lower. However, these seasons will be different. They will have a traveler who is more experienced in learned faithfulness, powerful faith-prayers, and trusting a God who is strong and gentle. A God who provides rest for this traveler.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Living Life and Settling In
Playing "Super!!" We truly have a super Daddy. Sophie was running around with her Super Sophie blanket. Then she stopped, gathered blankets for Daddy and AJ, and said: "Oh, let's all be super together!"
Time with Daddy at Sunset Bay! Sophie was amazed by the water. AJ of course went right to work!
First Day of Kingsview Christian School! Preschool began on the 9th and she is LOVING it. Mommy is LOVING it too. I love taking her into the classroom. I love picking out her school clothes, seeing the papers, being in the classroom, having a routine, hearing about her day. All. of. it.
Today was picture day. I'm not going to lie. She looked adorable. Her account of the time: "I waited my turn. I sat in the spot. I smiled at the very funny man." These should be good pictures!
Time with Daddy at Sunset Bay! Sophie was amazed by the water. AJ of course went right to work!
First Day of Kingsview Christian School! Preschool began on the 9th and she is LOVING it. Mommy is LOVING it too. I love taking her into the classroom. I love picking out her school clothes, seeing the papers, being in the classroom, having a routine, hearing about her day. All. of. it.
Today was picture day. I'm not going to lie. She looked adorable. Her account of the time: "I waited my turn. I sat in the spot. I smiled at the very funny man." These should be good pictures!
Friday, August 20, 2010
A Baby Girl Turns 3
I'm not sure how it happened...but she grew up! My firstborn who turned my name into "Mommy" is now 3 years old. I feel like she's becoming a big girl, but so does everybody else...no more free admissions for this one! She is an entrance paying, pre-school attending, panty wearing, independance searching little missy who is giving me a run for my sanity!
There is no one else on this earth who can make my heart leap for joy and my mouth shout "don't you dare" at the same time. I'm so proud of all she is accomplishing independantly and I just wish she'd want my help for things all at the same moment.
I know if we can channel it correctly for God's glory, her determination and desire for fairness will accomplish great things for the Kingdom one day. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for our little girl who surprised us with her existance!
Keep surprising us, Sophie Jean. We love your sweet personality, your kind heart, your wild love for adventure, and your determination to accomplish whatever is in your mind (we'll channel that one of these days)!! We're so glad that you are learning to love and serve Jesus with all your heart!
Some glimpses from her miniature, pink, painting party!
There is no one else on this earth who can make my heart leap for joy and my mouth shout "don't you dare" at the same time. I'm so proud of all she is accomplishing independantly and I just wish she'd want my help for things all at the same moment.
I know if we can channel it correctly for God's glory, her determination and desire for fairness will accomplish great things for the Kingdom one day. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for our little girl who surprised us with her existance!
Keep surprising us, Sophie Jean. We love your sweet personality, your kind heart, your wild love for adventure, and your determination to accomplish whatever is in your mind (we'll channel that one of these days)!! We're so glad that you are learning to love and serve Jesus with all your heart!
Some glimpses from her miniature, pink, painting party!
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
I choose JOY
Main Entry: 1joy
Pronunciation: \ˈjȯi\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French joie, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium, from gaudēre to rejoice; probably akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice
Date: 13th century
1 a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune
Joy is something that is given to us from the LORD, but we have to make a choice whether or not we will display it in our lives. We have the well-being of the LORD'S provision, we have the success of the LORD achieving His plans in and through us, and we have beyond good fortune (so to speak, because it is really so much more) of eternal life. How is it even possible that we would display any other emotion other than joy?!
You do. I do. It is possible for sin to sneak in to the quiet places where no one notices. The areas of our heart that we think are hidden from the light. We may repent. For some things. But we may also choose to ignore some areas as well. Especially if we feel justified for our sinful feelings.
Slow down. Quiet your mind. Allow yourself to be searched. The LORD already knows what is "hiding" but we're called to invite Him in and ask Him to search us. To know us. To reveal to us where we are dirty, messy, ugly.
I know where I have "dirt" hiding. The past few days I have been shown my ugliness more than I would have liked to. It makes me saddened. Lonely. Discouraged.
The Lord is beckoning me. He is asking me to trade those feelings in for forgiveness. Joy. Fellowship with Himself. He meets me where I am at and promises to carry me to the place where He wants to commune with me. Where He wants to wash my dirty heart, my messy choices, my ugly sin. He wants me to bathe in Him alone and be clean.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Prov 15:13
...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Mt 12:34
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Lk 6:45
Our quiet, hidden places must be cleaned because they will not stay quiet and hidden no matter how hard we try. My sin nature is much louder than my Godly joy if I am striving by myself. The LORD must have control. He must increase. He must be given full reign.
He will provide joy and we make an obedient choice to display it. He will provide the path but we have to take steps. He will be faithful if we submit, ask to be cleaned, and move forward in the abundant life He offers.
Go. Choose the LORD. Choose His joy. Be changed.
Pronunciation: \ˈjȯi\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French joie, from Latin gaudia, plural of gaudium, from gaudēre to rejoice; probably akin to Greek gēthein to rejoice
Date: 13th century
1 a : the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune
Joy is something that is given to us from the LORD, but we have to make a choice whether or not we will display it in our lives. We have the well-being of the LORD'S provision, we have the success of the LORD achieving His plans in and through us, and we have beyond good fortune (so to speak, because it is really so much more) of eternal life. How is it even possible that we would display any other emotion other than joy?!
You do. I do. It is possible for sin to sneak in to the quiet places where no one notices. The areas of our heart that we think are hidden from the light. We may repent. For some things. But we may also choose to ignore some areas as well. Especially if we feel justified for our sinful feelings.
Slow down. Quiet your mind. Allow yourself to be searched. The LORD already knows what is "hiding" but we're called to invite Him in and ask Him to search us. To know us. To reveal to us where we are dirty, messy, ugly.
I know where I have "dirt" hiding. The past few days I have been shown my ugliness more than I would have liked to. It makes me saddened. Lonely. Discouraged.
The Lord is beckoning me. He is asking me to trade those feelings in for forgiveness. Joy. Fellowship with Himself. He meets me where I am at and promises to carry me to the place where He wants to commune with me. Where He wants to wash my dirty heart, my messy choices, my ugly sin. He wants me to bathe in Him alone and be clean.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Prov 15:13
...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Mt 12:34
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Lk 6:45
Our quiet, hidden places must be cleaned because they will not stay quiet and hidden no matter how hard we try. My sin nature is much louder than my Godly joy if I am striving by myself. The LORD must have control. He must increase. He must be given full reign.
He will provide joy and we make an obedient choice to display it. He will provide the path but we have to take steps. He will be faithful if we submit, ask to be cleaned, and move forward in the abundant life He offers.
Go. Choose the LORD. Choose His joy. Be changed.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A Family Mission
Lately I've been thinking a lot about having a family mission statement. Josh has been interviewing with a church, and consequently he has been talking a lot about the programs he likes to run in relation to accomplishing the mission of the ministry.
Most families probably know what they would like to accomplish or how they would like to represent themselves in public. However, when schedules get full and each person is going in a different direction, the mission is often lost under a pile of papers or tucked away with the toys that got frantically shoved in closets on the way out the door.
Without a purposed mission, that is the common goal of every participant, a ministry will fail. I think the same can be said of a family, especially in today's society where the "family unit" is under attack like never before.
As I've thought about this, I decided I wanted my family to purpose for excellence. We are going to be intentional about what we are doing so that our family will be healthy and strong. We will filter our scheduled activities through our mission statement to ensure that we are doing things for a purpose, not just to be busy. When I sign the kids up for an activity, I would like to have an end result in mind that lines up with what we want for our children.
Kintigh Family Mission Statement:
To behave in excellent behavior, showing grace to those around us and to each other while we represent our Father in Heaven. To participate in healthy and edifying activities so that Sophie and Aaron become individuals who know how to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind while also loving their neighbor as themselves.
This is a broad statement and our kids are still young. But knowing our goals now will help in the direction of our parenting too. To make it more tangible, we came up with some specific ways that the overall mission statement can be accomplished. You can find this by clicking on the "Kintigh Family Values" tab at the top of this page.
I hope you're encouraged and are inspired to be purposeful with your family too!
Most families probably know what they would like to accomplish or how they would like to represent themselves in public. However, when schedules get full and each person is going in a different direction, the mission is often lost under a pile of papers or tucked away with the toys that got frantically shoved in closets on the way out the door.
Without a purposed mission, that is the common goal of every participant, a ministry will fail. I think the same can be said of a family, especially in today's society where the "family unit" is under attack like never before.
As I've thought about this, I decided I wanted my family to purpose for excellence. We are going to be intentional about what we are doing so that our family will be healthy and strong. We will filter our scheduled activities through our mission statement to ensure that we are doing things for a purpose, not just to be busy. When I sign the kids up for an activity, I would like to have an end result in mind that lines up with what we want for our children.
Kintigh Family Mission Statement:
To behave in excellent behavior, showing grace to those around us and to each other while we represent our Father in Heaven. To participate in healthy and edifying activities so that Sophie and Aaron become individuals who know how to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind while also loving their neighbor as themselves.
This is a broad statement and our kids are still young. But knowing our goals now will help in the direction of our parenting too. To make it more tangible, we came up with some specific ways that the overall mission statement can be accomplished. You can find this by clicking on the "Kintigh Family Values" tab at the top of this page.
I hope you're encouraged and are inspired to be purposeful with your family too!
Monday, June 28, 2010
We ALL love Baby Callie Sue
Sophie was so proud to be holding Callie. She just kept smiling at her and kissing her all over her face. Really, none of us are any more contained when we get to hold her either!
She is being dedicated this Sunday and I told Amy that I was planning to check my kids into the nursery and hold Callie the whole service! I claimed the snuggle, so there :-) Yes, I'm really that immature. I'm trying to beat Grammy to the spot :-)
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