"Oh Mommy, I just love my own knees!"

Yesterday, we went to the Dr. for a cast change and got a great look at Thomas' feet and the progress he is making. I left a bit more sober as I realized the hill we still need to climb toward full healing and recovery for Thomas...

Thomas now has two purple casts for the next 4 weeks... he is thrilled with his new mobility and the ability to stand and walk a few steps with assistance... He does have pain and is not able to really walk yet, but soon his muscles will develop and he should be moving about pretty well by the end of four weeks.

April 1st is our big day! He should have the casts removed and move toward seeing if his little feet are going to cooperate with the work that has been done on them.

For now, we will enjoy bending our knees!

Sunday Reflection

We are all home today... resting and recuperating.

I was reading through a wonderful devotional book, "The Dialogues of Fenelon" and came across a lovely thought...

The smallest act is GREAT in they eyes of God when we do it for His will and purposes. I think we can get caught up in doing things that We think are really Great in the eyes of God as we work to please Him ... yet, it is in every act our hand sets into motion...however trivial it may seem... that is a delight to our Heavenly Father... if done in His perfect will through us.

Here is a sample of my reading today...

" Accustom yourself to frequently adore His holy will, by humbly submitting your own to His orders and His providence. Let us do what we know He requires of us, and as soon as we know His will, let us not spare ourselves, but be very faithful to Him. Such faithfulness ought not merely to lead us to do great things for His service and for our salvation, but whatever our hand finds to do, and which belongs to our state of life. The smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only by themselves; they are always great when they are done for God, and when they serve to unite us with Him eternally."

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My mother has been with us for nearly 5 weeks now. And, today she returned home ... to my dear father who has missed her very much. It is awfully quiet around here as we are without the one who has been gently taking care of our needs. It has been a blessing to have my own mother here to help me with my son and daughter in a very difficult time in our lives... she has made my load easier and my burden much lighter to bear! Through her selflessness and obedience to God's will, she has served to act out the very insightful message of Fenelon... ministry in light of eternity...

One could consider her stay here as a short term Missions trip!

Thank you Mom...

A Day in the Life of a Nine Year Old Girl

Today has been an especially fun day for our daughter. Sarah presented her Oral Presentation on "Horse Illness and Awareness" for the Ada County 4H Horse Club.


Sarah has been working for several weeks now in preperation for this day. She has researched, written and created a poster for her presentation and did a wonderful job. It was at the tail end of a terrible cold that was not very timely (the week of her speech)... but, she proved to be tough and endured the week of illness and prepared herself for this day in spite...of her physical setback.

As a reward for her effort, Sarah received a beautiful 4th place ribbon to add to her growing collection! She will go onto the District Level in just a few short weeks. Hurray!


We are so proud of her. She is such a beautiful girl, both inside and out. What a blessing...

Thomas Update: A Little Turn for the Worse

Sarah is scheduled to present her Oral Presentation for her 4H project this weekend... It is on Horse Illness (I could not help but borrow this photo from her presentation)
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My little boy is not feeling so well today... but he is hanging in there like a real trooper!

My husband started feeling badly last week and has suffered with a head cold and various other ailments over the past week.... as is common in these cases, three days later...Sarah and Thomas have both been sick with a bad head cold and fever. Although Sarah is recovering, today we found out Thomas has Pneumonia . It is not good to get sick with a head cold when you are confined to a wheel chair! Poor little boy...

My Mother Heart is breaking for him.

Keep us in your prayers.

Motherhood a Mission and Ministry?

One of the people that are at the forefront of my heart this week is a dear friend of mine.

Kristi Knifong and I sharing a cup of tea in
the yellow house on the creek in Washougal

She and her husband are contemplating taking a huge step and life change for their family. They are considering moving to Zambia...their purpose: to live and love the people around them; living out what one Christian family life is like (in a culture that has very few ideas of what that looks like); as well as, ministering to Pastors and Missionaries in the area. They have traveled to Zambia to count the cost...to see and experience the vision they are contemplating and to get a sense of what they are about to get themselves into. (Please check out her Blog if want to see what they are doing .) http://www.kristiknifong.blogspot.com/

My prayers are with them... if you have an inclination, please keep them in your prayers as well.

Can you imagine leaving your home, your comfort, your family and choosing to live in a foreign land to live and love for Christ? It is a vision that very few in our culture contemplate. The large insects alone are almost enough for me to run the other way! (That is kind of a joke???)

Seriously, having lived in foreign lands myself, I know what it feels like to be away from home... in a culture not my own... living life out of my comfort zone. It is exhilarating at times and perhaps lonely as well. It is always sobering as an American. It is easier than we think it could be. Yet, I have truly not left behind my belongings and my comfort. I have always had lots of comfort around me.

Well, I say all this, because when you have a friend who is going through a life altering experience, it causes one to reflect on our own life and walk, and purpose. It is only natural... we are always looking to perfect are we not??? (Perhaps some more than others)

The past few weeks have been very good for our family. How can it be good when one member of your family is in pain and having surgery and very very needy? Sleep, did I mention that has been a bit limited?? It has been good none the less. God has provided strength, hope and comfort to us in our time of need and He has been faithful... to see that all of our needs have been met.

As a wife and mother, my life is about meeting the needs of those under my care. I rarely have the time to think about ME. Ok, we live in a, ME, culture. As I contemplate the cost of letting go of, ME... and the comfort of being filled with the will of Christ... poured out...it is an amazing thing. I can hardly put into words the desire I have to go and do great and amazing things for Christ!

For now, in this season in my life, I am called to be Mother... In a comfortable suburb in rural America. I do laundry, cook healthy rich meals for sometimes clueless children who have only head knowledge and no true empathy that there are others starving in other parts of the world... I sweep up the messes, I still wipe an occasional bottom... I disciple and teach my children in the ways of right and wrong. I love and hug and listen and work hard... I love others outside my family, I work to seek out and pray for those I interact with... I desire to put into practice what I preach...I fail often. Every day I lay in my bed exhausted... and, I find it hard to sleep... because, (my husband is snoring) :) and my mind is working and praying. I get up and do it all over again. No thanks... No appreciation... it is expected. Yet, it is the most satisfying place I can find myself. And so life goes on...

I think the idea of "comfort" bothers me. We are so comfortable that we don't see the needs around us. When we are uncomfortable, the needs around us are more evident. Do you think that is the purpose of the story of the Camel and the Eye of the Needle in the Bible?

Living in light of eternity is a foreign concept for those who are living to enjoy today. I want to focus my heart on an eternal treasure...

Yes, I think that Motherhood is a Mission and a Ministry... I am confident it is my calling today. I encourage all of you hard working mothers to be glad and find joy in your calling. God wants us all to be content with the comfort of today AND be willing to be content, someday to leave it all...or even have it taken away... in His time and His way. This is the secret to Joy. It is not in things or people but found in Christ.

I am so encouraged and blessed by the Knifong family. They are reaching beyond their comfort and actively placing their faith in Christ. I am confident God will guide and direct them as they make this awesome decision... one way or another, I truly believe... being gladly willing and ready to jump and follow God's Will... is the most important part of their journey.