Oct 31, 2008

Today is the "Big Day" when you dress-up and go around asking for candy. Growing up Kevin and I always enjoyed Halloween. For me, it was always fun trying to figure out what to be (we always made our own costumes). If I couldn't think of anything, I could always put on a old pair of my Dad's clothes and be a Bum (no offense Dad).

Halloween has changed in many ways since we were children. Maybe it has always been a "dark" holiday, but I never remembered that as a child. I don't recall seeing scary things in windows, seeing costumes with blood all over them, or masks that you want to shield your child's eyes from.

For the last few years, Kevin and I have made a decision, that we will allow our children to participate in this fun childhood activity, but under more secured guidelines. We do not let them go around to houses in the neighborhood.

This year we were invited to go to Aunt Jodi's school to do a "Harvest Festival". It was put on by one of the "mega churches" in our city. So instead of going door to door to ask for candy. Our kids went from "booth to booth" playing games and winning prizes (mostly candy). They had so much more fun, it was all indoors, so it was warm and there were NO scary costumes, pictures or music (only praise a worship music could be heard). It was all free, at the end of the night, they all got to take home a helium balloon (they were so excited about that....now I will have those floating around for the next 3 weeks...mom isn't so excited).

The highlight of the night was probably the first thing we did......take a look for yourself...

Her Name was Laura and she was 26yrs old (elephants live to be 60-80 yrs old) This was the first elephant ride for me and my kids. How Cool is that! Sure beats walking from house to house...

The kids had a great time! Now they have another set of wonderful memories to pile away.

I will share more pictures with you in the coming days. There are some cute ones!

Blessings!

Crazy

Things have been crazy around here the last few days. Lots to think and pray about. I feel like there are big changes coming for our family and I am not sure what they are going to look like. Following God sometimes isn't easy, but well worth it.

Something else that isn't easy is baking banana bread with three very excited children. Especially when the boys are learning the art of cracking eggs...or demolishing them! Life is always very busy, and sometimes...messy, at the Peters' household.



Blessings!

All things Precious and Beautiful

My heart and life were touched today. A friend called to tell me to listen to a program on the radio. I heard of the horror that unborn babies go through every day in this country, we call a blessed nation. Nothing that I haven't heard before, except today it feels like God is calling me to take a stand.


I receive another call from a friend, through our conversation I tell her of what I had just heard. She tells me more information that just horrifies me. New things that I haven't heard before, I feel like God is calling me to take a stand.


I get a knock at the front door. Who could be here....it's raining, snowing, hailing, windy, cold....A friend stands at the front door with a book in her hand, "you have to read this book, Lyn". Is God trying to speak to me today?? Am I missing something important that is right in front of my face and I am not seeing it? Lord show me...


I have been reading the book, Wednesday Mourning, for the past few hours. I am overwhelmed at the stories that my eyes are reading and my heart is feeling. Can I take one moment and dwell where God wants me to dwell? Can I really let myself go to a place that is so ugly people refuse to acknowledge it? If I allow myself just one moment, I will be a changed person, no longer being able to be silent.......I am a changed person. Now I must speak my heart, God's heart.



Psalm 139 states: "For you created my inmosts being; you knit me together in my mother's womb....My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place....your eyes saw my UNFORMED BODY. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

I believe that life starts at the moment of conception. Before I ever knew I was carrying a little Micah, God knew. He knew he would be a gentle caring spirit.He saw my son's unformed body, he knew all the days ordained for him.
God knew that I would have a son and name him Tyler, He knew that, that crazy kid would bring so much love and laughter to our lives. God knew...he planned him that way.
God knew that I would have a daughter named Jillian, He knew that she would bring us so much happiness, He saw her unformed body and fixed it!
How can I be silent, when I know how many babies die each day and are never given the chance? Who are those nameless babies that have their brains sucked out. Graphic I know, but there is nothing pretty about murder and please don't fool yourself into thinking that it's OK, even if the mother's life is at stake. It is medically proven, 100% of the time, a partial birth abortion is NOT needed to save the mother's life. Satan has put blinders on us, he has allowed us to stop feeling grief over the loss of so many precious and beautiful babies. I am also, very convicted that it is NOT ok to take a life because of rape. My mother was a product of rape...I would not be here if her mother didn't choose life. What Satan intends for evil God uses for good!



I have a choice, to be silent, not cause waves...this is the road I usually walk. But today, God calls me to speak and not be silent....so God, here it goes....


I can not under good conscience vote for a man that is "pro abortion". I can not vote for a man that votes for partial birth abortions. I can not vote for a man that wants to use MY MONEY (taxes) to pay for murder. I can not vote for a man that wants to do stem cell research and destroy embryo's. I can not vote for a man THAT WANTS TO CLONE HUMAN LIFE! God and God alone is the author of life. I understand that this country needs change, but this kind of change will only lead to the death of this once blessed nation. Please take the time to read this article, be informed. http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000008450.cfm



I don't want to to stand in front of God on Judgement day with blood on my hands from the killings of countless babies, that my tax money was used for.


If a man disregards life so easily, then he disregards God.


God lead me to some scripture that I would like to share...
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 11:13-14 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

I understand that this might anger some, but when the Lord calls me to speak as painful and hard as it is for me, I must obey...

Last of the Season?

Yesterday was cool, windy and sunny. I grabbed, maybe my last opportunity, to hang clothes on the line (I am really going to miss that, my drier is too, it's going to have to work again). After I brought the last load in, I decided to walked around the outside of my house looking for the last of the season flowers. It always saddens my heart to think that I can't just walk out my front door and make a bouquet for my table. I found one rose bush that still had some harvest left on it.

Of all my roses, these are my favorite. My Uncle Dick loved roses. On a walk one Saturday afternoon (with my Aunt Carol and Laurie), he told me that a rose could have the most beautiful flower, but if it didn't have a wonderful smell, it wasn't worth anything. So we spent our whole walk going from yard to yard smelling roses. It was the last time Laurie and I would be able to walk with him, he passed away the next year of cancer. These roses would pass all my Uncle's tests. They have a beautiful color combination and the smell is...breathtaking.

I Lovingly think of that rose bush as "Uncle Dick's Roses"

My Little Loves

How can you not smile when you look at their faces! Have a blessed Day!

Wow

To say that I am completely amazed is saying it lightly. I have received numerous comments and emails regarding my last post (and previous posts) that have left tears in my eyes.

You see, all of my life I have never thought that I could write. My sister has a gift for writing and I never thought that I compared to her. To add to my self conscious writing is the fact that I have a very bad case of a spelling virus. I have the worst time spelling (spell check is amazing). When I was a young girl I used to spell "of" as "ov". It took a very long time before I could remember the correct way of spelling "of".

So thank you all, who have so lovingly left your comments and emailed me to let me know that what has been written from my heart and left out in the blogging world has left an impression on you. It is humbling to me to know that my writing is blessing someone outside my little house.

I originally started blogging as a way to let my brother and sister-in-law, who live out of state, to stay up to date with all that happens with my children. I also thought it would be a great way to keep track of our daily lives, so that one day the kids would have a "diary" of their childhood. It has blossomed into so much more than I ever intended it too be. I guess God had other idea's for this blog. Please feel free to share this blog, if I can be an encouragement to others, than I have accomplished more than I could have ever dreamed.

Now to him who is able to to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Eph 3:20

This blog is living proof "ov" that verse......

Blessings!

Take a Walk with me?

It was a cold day, a day to stay inside. Clouds threatened to open up and pour it's life juice on us. "No better day than to take a discovery walk", I say. Off we go, to discover what God has in store for us today. What amazing creations can we find? What can we learn about God's character through his handiwork?


Have you ever walked around looking at a child's level? I think as adults we pass by so many unusual treasures because we are too busy looking elsewhere or don't have time to truly look. My children are constantly stopping me and asking questions about what they find. What a great gift they are too me. I get to enjoy their curiosity and their love of all things created.


As we ventured out on our walk we passed by beautiful wild flowers, old tree stumps that had the most unusual fuzzy green stuff growing on the side of it. Bugs that are so unique you wonder how God ever thought them up and of course the ever threatening cloud formations. We would stand in awe of what we were finding. As we continue to meander, we draw near to a breath taking sight. My whole life I have been in awe... the strength, beauty, gracefulness...mesmerizing.



As we approached the fence we were noticed, they looked upon us with interest, their ears pricked up, they started walking our way. I held my breath, would they come? Would they allow us to gaze upon them and dream of what it would be like flying through the wind on their backs?


They started our way...picking up speed....do you hear their hooves pounding on the soil? You can almost feel it, they are getting closer, running faster. The kids are starting to back up...I am taking a step forward.All my childhood dreams come rushing back as I watch these magnificent creatures. They slow, coming up to the fence at which I stand, anxiously awaiting our first meeting. I extend my hand, the beautiful white gelding greets me, allows me to touch his velvety nose. Then a mare walks up and nudges me. I almost forgot about my little ones standing behind me, silenced by fear. Then Micah speaks, "Mommy can they jump that fence?"



How I wish they would, I would jump on their backs and gallop off into the distance.....dreaming again. "No Micah, they won't come over the fence. It is safe here, why don't you come and greet our new friends." All three standing and staring, not moving. I quickly move behind them, capturing the six of them all looking at each other. What a moment...

Encouraging them to come, "don't move too quickly, horses can get spooked by fast movements" I gently remind them. "Only if you hold me Momma, will I touch one", my beautiful Tyler says. I pick him up and walk slowly, extending my hand touching the softness again. Tyler very slowly and gently touches. The look on his face, how I wish I was able to capture that look. Surprising that something so big and strong, has such a soft spot.

Kind of like the Characters of God. He seems to be this big, huge, untouchable being, yet he is as gentle as a little boys tentative hand, He is reachable, His heart is as soft for us, as the geldings nose. Calling us to come to Him...some of us walk right up, some ask to be held as we approach, some stand just out of reach and others walk away. I walked right up, Tyler asked to be held, Jilli stood just out of reach, and Micah...walked away. As we embarked on our walk, I was thinking it was going to be great teachable moments for the kids (which it was), but little did I know what kind of teachable moment my teacher had in store for me. What causes some of us to crawl on His lap with no fear and what causes some to just walk away?

As we felt the first wet drops on our skin, I felt sad...sad that I had to leave this moment, just as my two, still remaining children, were discovering comfort with the beautiful animals. Sad that I couldn't stay and dream of racing through fields of green on bareback, wind whipping the mane in my face, tears streaming from my eyes falling down my cheeks, barely being able to catch my breath.

We turned and headed back, the kids racing like horses down the dirt road, passed the old logs and wildflowers down the hill back to the trailer. We talked excitedly about our day, what we discovered. Later that night I lay in bed listening to the rain gently falling, I closed my eyes and dreamed again...

I am riding bareback on a pure white stallion, racing through fields of green, wildflowers of every color slipping past us. We come to a crystal clear river, pausing to take a drink. We are on our way again, this time we are flying by a huge wall, in the distance I see a gate. As we approach I notice many people standing there, we start to slow, my stallion is breathing heavy. We walk up and start moving among the many gathered. Many I have never met, but somehow know. I see my Uncle waving at me with a huge smile on his face holding a pipe in his hand. Then my grandparents are there, grandma sitting in a rocking chair, holding two little babies, my Grandpa looks up and waves, Grandma smiles at me. We are slowly moving to the gate, I look down to see us walking down a street of gold, looking up, I now can see the gate fully. It is a huge round pearl, it's beautiful. I peek through the gate, someone is coming. Everyone is excited, I can't quite see the face, I can feel it is someone I love though, I know that this person is very special to me. People start to Cheer and rejoice, the person is almost here, cheers are getting louder...then I wake-up. I never saw the face of the person coming, I am left to wonder who it was. Is it you? Are you going to be the one I meet at the pearly gate? I pray so..... Be the one who walks toward our savior, or be the one who needs someone to walk with them (I will walk with you), but don't be the one who just stands out of reach... or walks away.....

My Day Away

Saturday October 4th, I was gone shooting a wedding. That was the "big day" at the campground with activities going all the time. I was really upset that I wouldn't be there to enjoy the fun day and to add to my sadness, I had my cameras, so Kevin couldn't even take pictures of what I was missing. When I arrived back at the campground Sunday morning, it was to my delight, to find out that Kevin's Mom had let him borrow her camera for the weekend. I now have pictures to share with all of you :-)

This is a picture of our (four) kids making the craft for the day. The Fourth child is Noah, a neighbor that lives across the street from us. These next two pictures are the kids digging through a huge hay pile in search of little treasures.

Here are the kids dressed up in their costumes. We had two Darth Vader's, one Anakin Skywalker and a Mermaid. Jilli had wanted to be Yoda, but we couldn't find a Yoda costume in her size (she would have made a perfect Yoda).

Blessings!

Things that made me smile

So often I find myself dwelling on the negative of life, so while I was camping with the kids the last few weeks, I kept a list of things that brought a smile to my face. Here are a few of them.

While driving to the store we saw a women walking her dog...on a riding lawnmower.

Listening to the rain fall softly on the roof while laying in bed with my beautiful Micah.

Having a picnic supper on the floor of the trailer which consisted of chips, popcorn, strawberries with whipping cream and pop...don't you love camping:-)

Micah grabbing his cup of pop and saying..."I'm going to sit right here by the fire and enjoy my pop."

1:30am....BANG!!! I go running to discover Tyler had fallen out of bed and landed on Jilli's bed and never woke up. I even moved him back into his bed without him waking up.

Listening to my children having a "party" in their room when they are supposed to be going to sleep. They would giggle for 2 hours after I put them to bed. One night I tried to go in the room and the door was blocked by all of their sleeping bags piled in front of the door. I couldn't get mad. Someday they will look back and remember all the fun they had when they were supposed to be sleeping.

Troubled

I have never really liked election years, and this year stands to be the worst so far. Right now I have all kinds of thoughts and feelings swirling around inside of me. I am not the best at organizing all my thoughts and putting them down on paper, like most people I know. I am not necessarily the best writer either (although I try hard). But tonight as I contemplate the incredible decision that must be made I am continually urged to get back on my knees and pray.

I am not a good debater, I have never been really good at (again) organizing all of my thoughts into a concise answer. My oldest brother was born to debate, he practiced on us all during our growing up years, then he was in debate in High School and even made it all the way to Washington DC. But that is not my gift, God gave me the gift of listening, but in these last few weeks before the election, it is troubling to me that I was not given a gift in debate. All my thoughts are stuck inside of me just waiting to be organized and explained, but there they sit. Since I do not speak in depth about the candidates, I have been told that I don't know enough about either candidate. It is true that I am not wrapping my days around the election, pouring my heart into every little shred of information about both men. I have more important things to deal with. Like pouring my heart into raising the next generation of leaders. (Please don't misunderstand me...I believe in educating myself to make a good decision, I just don't let it consume my time.)

Regardless of my lack of ability to debate, I have encountered several conversations that have left me completely baffled as to the thoughts of some people. I wonder how they have gotten to the conclusions they have, what is it that made certain people make the choice they are so adamant about. Where is God in all of the decision making, or is He completely left out? I am again called to get back on my knees. Calling out to God to make sense out of the senseless.

That is when I hear God whispering to me...."I know the plans I have for you...do not worry about tomorrow...do not let your heart be troubled...remain in me and I will remain in you" bits and pieces of scripture scattered in my heart, that I am clinging too. The uneasiness is not completely gone, but it is subsiding. My frustrations are still there, but not as strong.

As I opened my Bible tonight this is what greeted me...
"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:17-31

What do you make of that?

In the end, God is still God and I am his child, no matter who the next President is...