9 months

it wasn't my intention to let so much time slip by between posts. it never is. ah, well.

i always feel like i have to have a picture to start with in order to get my thoughts going. it's quite intimidating to me to sit at the computer and just...blog. i don't know where to start. and do you really want to hear random thoughts? or should i always have a "subject" to be writing about?

i've been trying to be really good about documenting isaac's milestones. problem is - i'm about 8 months late. better late than never, i suppose. we're well into month nine, one that i am discovering is full of independence, personality, and fun things like teething and first ear infections.

unfortunately, this is one of the very few good shots we got, since isaac was dealing with said ear infection at the time and was not happy that i kept removing the rocks from his mouth every ten seconds. too bad, kiddo. i'm not changing those diapers.

jeremiah 17:8

my sister, ashley, recently finished up a nice little project that i had intended on doing myself one day but she got done much faster (and probably much better!) than i could have. she's currently in limbo with teaching jobs with the rest of america, so when she popped over for a visit one saturday, i "suggested" her doing these for me. i was so impressed with the result! she did it all free hand, and i love that it's one of a kind!

i've always loved that saying and the meaning it has for our family. we've both fallen in love with the symbolism of a tree in many ways. his latest tattoo (below) fits him perfectly.

jeremiah 17:8 is disguised in the roots of the tree on his arm and reads,
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.

i love praying for and dreaming about how tim has the great opportunity to be an example of a true man of God with his little boy. the men of the Church at large have a big calling and responsibility to stand up and be steadfast, anchored in the Word of God & rooted in love. the symmetry just jumps out all over the place when we start comparing trees & spirituality.

i pray that isaac will grow straight and tall as he gets older. that he will be rooted in faithfulness, love, and Truth. i pray that he will be able to be an example of a real man and produce fruit that gives all the glory to God. i know i have a big part in this as his mother as well, and i'm not going to pretend it's not intimidating!

for now, tim and i are going to try our hardest to tend to the little "acorn" God has given us, and remember that we have been chose to help raise one of God's disciples.

in which i can't quiet my brain

first of all, let me give credit where credit is due. i'm at starbucks right now, enjoying my first pumpkin spice latte of the season. by myself. on a saturday night at 10pm. ahhh. my husband is awesome and letting me have time to just be myself and enjoy time reading, blogging, and indulging in highly over-priced caffeinated beverages. i mean, that's why i married him.

i have a lot on my mind and heart lately. most of it has to do with "dreams" of what i can do to get involved even more in our youth ministry, get involved in my own ministries (at home, with friends, etc.), and how to encourage those around me. it's been amazing at the time and energy i've been blessed with now that i'm not working full time. i feel like i can minister full time. whether that comes from not taking advantage of my working years and seeing them as ministry, or just not being in my "niche" is irrelevant. at least right now.

in this season of my life, i have found God putting many new opportunities in front of me to dream and plan, write, read, study and just learn about the ways i can minister and be ministered to right here in Anderson, Indiana.

a couple of things i've been brewing up lately:

-planning a fall girls' retreat for our students and challenging them to be the women they are growing up to be
-getting to (really)know the women that help us out at Bethany & finding ways to encourage them
-start a late Bible study with a few girls & inviting some we don't
-being accountable to 9 other women (some in South Korea!) about reading the Scriptures every day
-praying about & seeking opportunities to earn a small income while doing something i LOVE (like writing?)

this may seem like a small list to some, but i have to start small. i'm amazed at what mental energy was somehow buried underneath the burden of working full time and the frustration of not having the time to dive into what i wanted.

i am embracing this new season in my life as my new full time ministry. little did i know what there really is a lot to it!


disclaimer: by all means, i am not saying that working full time is a burden or am looking down upon it. i live a life of seasons, and right now for me, this is not what's best for my life. i often miss the pride and respect of being able to say i'm using my graduate degree and making a respectable income similar to my husband!

also, i know this picture doesn't have much to do with the post, but it's by far my favorite recent family pictures, taken today when we visited our first apple orchard of the fall season:) ok, it's really just because i like to brag about how stinkin' blessed i am with my two boys.