Jan 11, 2011

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Snow Day for Dad:
Work. Play guitar with "the band."

Snow Day for Mom:
Sleep in. Big pot of coffee. Knit. Shower and then put pajamas BACK on. Wii. Snack.

Snow Day for Finn:
Sleep in. Put robe on. Watch movie. Wii. Eat glazed donuts when hungry.

Snow Day for Drew:
Check weather at 6 am. Pile on snow clothes to check the potential for snowboarding. Undress. Wake everyone up. Pile on snow clothes. Check trap while snowboarding. Drag trap and raccoon back to house on snowboard. Skin coon. Tan hide. Undress. Dress. Undress. Dress. Undress. Collapse into bed completely worn out and happy.

To each his own.

I am pretty sure Drew has a plan for where the coon skin will go.

That self tanned squirrel skin gives me the creeps. I would NEVER EVER hang a dead animal above my pillow for fear of what might drop into my mouth at night.

But, hey. To each his own.

Grace like Raine.


channing raine

channie banannie

channie chan chan

channie

chan


Finn said it the best.
"And now Channing is the youngest in our family."

If you want to get technical, she's his double third cousin. But I don't like technicalities.

We are praising God for the marvelous works of His hands. Welcome to the world Channing Raine. We accept the honor of being some of your prayer warriors and biggest fans.

Hallelujah.

Jan 6, 2011

Maybe? Baby?

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we see your face.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we smell your skin.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we squish your chubby legs.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we hear your wimpy cries.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we burrito your blanket.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we make the drive to Lewis Gale with butterflies of excitement.

Just a LITTLE bit longer until we can stop praying for safe delivery and start praying for your growth in Christ.

We love you already baby girl. Looking forward to spending the rest of the winter snuggling with the new babe in town.

Praying for Kevin, Regina, Macy, Laurie, Maddie, and Jude Tucker. Hang in there just a LITTLE bit longer! God makes everything beautiful in His time.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-14 NIV


Good intentions

I think that God looks at my intentions like I look at my yarn stash. There is the potential for good works, but right now they are just sitting there looking pretty. I've done the research, watched Youtube videos to learn new stitches, printed out patterns, and I know the lingo (k1, p2, yo, bind off) but every time I sit down to start a project I choke. "What if I run out of yarn? My circular needles are too long. Is this what I want to do with this color? What if it doesn't fit? I know, I'll make a hat for the new baby. No, I really want to make a sweater for the new baby. But wool is itchy and I don't have cotton."

I found notes on a sermon that said it better than I could... the only changes I made was to put in the current year.

I’m sure many of us have made New Years resolutions for 2011 with good intentions. Yet, how many of us have started on them? Or, failed in the first week of this year? Good intentions are good because it’s in our hearts; however, there’s more to just having good intentions. In fact it’s important to God for us to move beyond our intentions. And, He was pretty serious about them.

“'What do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, “Son, go work today in the vineyard.” And he answered, “I will not”; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, “I will, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.’” (Mat. 21:28-31)


Isn’t this interesting? This scripture shows us a contrast between good intentions and moving beyond good intentions. In this scripture Jesus was conversing with the Pharisees. As it goes, the first son said he’d go, but didn’t. Later, he felt bad and moved beyond good intentions. Whereas, the second son said he’d go and then didn’t. Most importantly, the one who did the will of the father was the defining difference. This teaches us was about bridging the gap between intentions and action.


This also tells us the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before the Pharisees. Why? Well although the Pharisees were filled with good intentions, they did nothing with their intentions. The same goes for us in 2011. How many of us are serious about getting beyond good intentions? If you are, you are well on your way.


I've hesitated making resolutions this year, because why should I set myself up to fail? I do it every year, I make the list and then by the time I've flipped to my February calendar I have already forgotten them. I pray that when 2012 arrives, Lord willing, I will be able to look back and see that I have acted on my good intentions...

study DAILY. pray HARDER. give WILLINGLY. eat LESS. get STRONGER. knit MORE. blog WEEKLY. clean BETTER. sew FASTER.

Why does this sound so much like Daft Hands?