Blake and Eli in the snow on January 10th! We went out late in the afternoon to shovel the snow. It was Eli's first time to play in the snow. I think he will get more opportunities yet this year...it is snowing right now and isn't to stop until midnight.
Mouse (the cat) sleeping on the new sofa.
Mouse on Blake
Eli got his new braces (not shown) and we donated all his old braces. It is kinda hard to tell, but the first pair (on the left) are so tiny, especially when compared to his newest pair. Brad Oja asked if we wanted to keep Eli's first pair. I said, "Not if it means some little kid in a 3rd world country will have to do without. We have plenty of 'stuff' to keep." So, I took pictures!
Our new sofa...we love it.It has been a while since I have written...I wish I were better at the updates. Christmas and New Years were great. Having time off to spend with my children was fantastic. My job that allows me to work from home (especially on snow days) is a real blessing.
Now it is time to reconnect with everything.
We bought a new sofa since my last post. It is fabulous. A Lane Sofa Sectional in soft brown corduroy type fabric. The ends recline, but you wouldn't know it from looking at it. The pulls are located between the arm and the cushion so you don't see them. Now we can all sit comfortably in the living room and hang out together...and we have almost every night since we made the purchase.
Victor's mom sent me an email and told me that it was OK to post Victor's blog link directly on my blog, so it is http://victorpauca.blogspot.com/. The Pauca's have launched VerbalVictor, perhaps you saw them on the news. If not, here is the clip from CNN http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/01/17/dnt.ipad.helps.boy.talk.WFMY?hpt=C2. I had to use the search field to find it…I searched ‘iPad helps boy talk’ and it popped right up. I am hopeful the app will be available on the Android Market soon since we just bought Eli the Samsung Galaxy Tablet for Christmas.
Eli and I received our ALCAT (food intolerance) test results last week. The 2nd time around is MUCH easier to adapt to than the initial test results. We each lost a few items to the severe and moderate intolerance lists, but we gained a few things back as well. It is fun to try new recipes and try to create things that taste good with limited options. We are still gluten free and are now both dairy free as well. It's a challenge and I like it. Now, let's just hope my waistline reflects the changes soon as well.
Here is the next excerpt from my 2007 message:
In preparation for tonight, many scriptures I read seemed to jump from the pages in confirmation that I am doing what the Lord is directing me to do. Philippians 4:9 says, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Please know that speaking to large groups is not common for me. I have never done anything like this in my life, but the God of peace is with me. He has brought me here and has given me the courage to be used as His tool.
My prayer, my hope, is that you will be blessed by what I am about to share.
OK…here we go.
1) EVERYONE has something to overcome in life. It might be physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental, but NO ONE is spared! Being aware of this about others certainly helps one to know that the reaction of the moment may have a lot more to do with the individual responding than the situation at hand.
Maybe there is something that has plagued you and kept you from becoming who God really wants you to be.
A lisp or speech impediment
A handicap – from birth or some type of accident
A learning disability
An alcoholic or drug addicted parent
An alcohol or drug addiction
The loss of innocence that manifested into a life of shame and depression
The death of a spouse, a parent, a child, a marriage, or in my case, a dream
2) Eli is here with us, created perfectly, for a very specific purpose. We all are. Recognizing that has helped me to better deal with all aspects of life.
I read this quote on an email I received from Angel Covers…an organization that supports orphanages all over the world. It says, “To have compassion isn’t the same thing as sympathy or pity. Pity will break your heart; compassion will open it." Didi Ananda Ruchira. That is what I want for my Eli. That is what I want for Blake. That is what I want for me. I don’t want pity. This ISN’T a horrible thing that has happened to our family. Though I do pray every night that the Lord will make Eli’s body and mind whole to match his spirit, I now THANK GOD for sending us Eli exactly the way He did…before Eli, though I was saved, I was BLIND…BUT NOW I can see much more clearly the plan God has for me. It isn’t about knowing my future, it is about knowing God.
My prayer, my hope, is that you will be blessed by what I am about to share.
OK…here we go.
1) EVERYONE has something to overcome in life. It might be physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental, but NO ONE is spared! Being aware of this about others certainly helps one to know that the reaction of the moment may have a lot more to do with the individual responding than the situation at hand.
Maybe there is something that has plagued you and kept you from becoming who God really wants you to be.
A lisp or speech impediment
A handicap – from birth or some type of accident
A learning disability
An alcoholic or drug addicted parent
An alcohol or drug addiction
The loss of innocence that manifested into a life of shame and depression
The death of a spouse, a parent, a child, a marriage, or in my case, a dream
2) Eli is here with us, created perfectly, for a very specific purpose. We all are. Recognizing that has helped me to better deal with all aspects of life.
I read this quote on an email I received from Angel Covers…an organization that supports orphanages all over the world. It says, “To have compassion isn’t the same thing as sympathy or pity. Pity will break your heart; compassion will open it." Didi Ananda Ruchira. That is what I want for my Eli. That is what I want for Blake. That is what I want for me. I don’t want pity. This ISN’T a horrible thing that has happened to our family. Though I do pray every night that the Lord will make Eli’s body and mind whole to match his spirit, I now THANK GOD for sending us Eli exactly the way He did…before Eli, though I was saved, I was BLIND…BUT NOW I can see much more clearly the plan God has for me. It isn’t about knowing my future, it is about knowing God.
(1/19/11: Wow...it is really surreal to read this message again. Now that we know Eli's diagnosis I have confirmation that the above is true. I know that I was truly walking with God during these years because how else could I know the above to be true if it weren't for Him showing me. What a blessing.)
3) Over the last few years I have had some good days and some bad days. Finally, I was able to pray for my joy to be restored. It has been. What I have come to realize is that being an encouragement to others brings me great joy.
I had always wondered what my spiritual gift was. I could arrange great gift baskets and I used that gift to create gift baskets for the mission’s conference at our church in the city. I could organize an event…but was that my gift? Now I know…and guess what…I didn’t make it up! The gift of encouragement is a real gift of the spirit…I looked it up.
Romans 12:3-8: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Just the other day I realized that more happened at this point in my journey than I originally thought! This is when I truly became filled with the spirit. The fruits of the spirit were with me…peace, hope and joy, specifically. But I could also see patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…I was finally beginning to walk on purpose. God is so good. I am sure He was pleased that I was starting to see that His plan is better than my plan!
I had always wondered what my spiritual gift was. I could arrange great gift baskets and I used that gift to create gift baskets for the mission’s conference at our church in the city. I could organize an event…but was that my gift? Now I know…and guess what…I didn’t make it up! The gift of encouragement is a real gift of the spirit…I looked it up.
Romans 12:3-8: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Just the other day I realized that more happened at this point in my journey than I originally thought! This is when I truly became filled with the spirit. The fruits of the spirit were with me…peace, hope and joy, specifically. But I could also see patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…I was finally beginning to walk on purpose. God is so good. I am sure He was pleased that I was starting to see that His plan is better than my plan!
That's probably enough for now. Too much at one time and you will miss the message. At least that's how I am. I do much better with information in small doses...I have to let it sink in and become part of me.
Stay warm (for those of you dealing with the winter) and let me know your thoughts. I really enjoy reading the feedback I have received from many of you.
XOXO
Amy
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