This Week's Memories

This week has been a flurry of activity and tidbits. It began last week with a call that our dear friend and "Dad" had passed away. Mr. Washer was a sweet man and father figure to Tim and I as we ventured into the ministry at Lighthouse Baptist Church in New Castle and later Newark, DE. He and his wife called themselves, "Mom and Dad in DE." They had called us family and treated us as such including us in their family get-togethers and showering us with gifts and love throughout the 7 years we were there (not to mention the year we have been here in Millville, PA). Tim was asked to give the eulogy at Mr. Washer's funeral and was honored to do so. We left for Tim's hometown late Sunday night so Tim and I could drive an hour more on Monday for the funeral. Lydia was in tow. She brought smiles and laughter to our dear friends and us as we hugged and remembered with many friends from LBC. What a sweet time we had with everyone and wished we could've stayed longer.

Micah and Kiersten thrilled to be with Grandmom and Pop Pop Valiante for two nights and as always had a blast! Side-walk chalk. Swimming pool fun. Kit-Kat (Kiersten's adopted wax kitty). Story books. Cocoa Magic cereal. Shopping...with Lightning McQueen pajamas as the outcome. On Tuesday we headed home first stopping by the hospital to see the triplets (John and Ruth's new little ones). They are 1 month old and looking to the time when they come home...one reaching the goal possibly this coming week!

Our house is definitely feeling more like home! I am beginning to feel comfortable around boxes and piles of clothes that have no place to go but in the open. I could actually feel comfortable enough to leave the dishes and laundry to get out a bit this week. Thursday the kids and I visited our town's library...a library on wheels! We had not been to a library since...well...Micah was too young to remember. We had a blast! The only ones there during one of the hottest days of the year, we collected all kinds of treasures to take home. We got one about May-May and her sister, Rose (one I thought my sister, Mary would love to read...). Another favorite and Kiersten's new bedtime pal is Pete's a Pizza.

Friday I hauled the kids to church so I could fill in for the secretary at church. A whole room of toys for the kids keeps them pretty occupied, except for Lydia who has not gotten used to the church playpen. She, by the way, has learned to roll over at 4 months (is that normal?). Later that night we ventured as a family to eat Chinese and visit the Dollar Store and WalMart. Kiersten had the experience of losing her favorite blankie (what dramatized crying!) and having it returned (I think the lady who found it had warm fuzzies, too).

Today Micah had his second expectation of going on a fishing trip with Daddy. He was disappointed Daddy hadn't woken him up early for the trip, but at least they hadn't missed it as it was scheduled for 4:30 in the afternoon. Kiersten was also grateful for the trip...she has Mommy time. "Just me and Mommy" she said at the dinner table eating peanut butter and jelly (with fishies inside)...well, except for Lydia who was sleeping upstairs for the most part. We had an enjoyable "girl's night," reading all the favorites from the library including Pete's a Pizza (which is now snug as a bug in Kiersten's bed). The men are on their way home and a new week begins...wonder what else will happen between now and tomorrow. Maybe the biggest catch ever! Or maybe just a good tale of Micah and "Ooey Gooey."

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 113:9

As I read, I desire to share with others what I learn. This verse has definitely been proven to be true in my own life. When Tim and I first married, I was so fearful of the whole aspect of "keeping house," especially preparing meals. God knows me so well! My sister-in-law, Joy, gave some wise advice in the notations she wrote in a cookbook..."pray hard!" Even something that might seem menial such as keeping house comes from the strength of the LORD. He has been so faithful.

Then as Tim and I desired to have children and God blessed in His timing, the fear of being the right kind of mother intruded. Again I found and am still learning that it is God who gives me joy in raising my children. God has been the source of all that I have and am. I cannot do anything without Him.

Answered Prayer!

About a year ago I began praying for a bunkbed. At that point we were moving to Millville, PA and expecting another child. I figured we would need another bed anyway and why not a bunkbed...they're so cool! We had even been praying as we talked of the possibility with Micah and Kiersten. They had absolutely loved the bunkbed in the prophet's chamber at Emmanuel Baptist Church as we were candidating. Kiersten was also getting old enough to be out of a crib, but up until March, we had only two (one toddler bed and one crib). When we moved into our new house we were able to locate all the pieces to Tim's childhood bed and excitedly set it up for Micah once Mom Valiante brought over the bottom board to hold the mattress in. We were then able to move Kiersten to the toddler bed and Micah to the big bed, leaving the crib for Lydia.

We had kindof forgotten about the bunkbed idea (as far as praying goes) and then God answers! I was on craigslist.com looking for some cushions for our couch and found a bunkbed in the price range we had considered! Perfect! Not to mention it has a full bed on the bottom...great for company (Mom and Dad will have a much more comfy place to sleep once we get a mattress)! We were able to pick up the bed today and look forward to getting it restained and set up. I trust our kids will have just as much fun with their new bunkbed as we did with ours growing up!

Knowing God More

These past few months I have found myself in a challenge of understanding God's intentions. I know we will never fully understand an infinite being, but He does ask us to learn of Him and His character. In the Fall I had started a Bible study with our ladies at Emmanuel Baptist Church on the book of Job, Grace for Every Trial. I learned that "blessing" from God is not physical, but rather it is a growing knowledge of Him. I also discovered that we ought to live in principle as though God has promised it, realizing that "grace" is given only as we obey His Word. God cannot give us wisdom in a situation, or the power to overcome sin, unless we are allowing Him to work in our lives through obedience. Job was known as a perfect and upright man, meaning that his life was an overall testimony of obedience. Yet, God allowed Satan to have his hand in destroying much of what Job had physically. It shakes our faith to realize that God could do the same with us, allowing bad things to happen to us. But we are reminded that God is "good." In the book of Job we are continually reminded of God's listening ear, though He is silent. We are also reminded of God's presence, though Job feels God is not there. What we "feel" about God cannot be trusted, but rather what He says about Himself...because He cannot lie. God does not promise physical good or wealth and health, but He does promise His presence and His listening ear. He promises victory and greatness, but not necessarily in this life.

One of my questions after the study commenced was whether God really kept His promises. Does God really keep His promise as David mentions in Psalm 37:25 "not to forsake His saints" and to keep him from "begging bread?" I wasn't so sure I could say that this was true. What about all those people who suffer as martyrs or those who died in famine and cold in the early days of America as they sought a country that would allow freedom of religion? Either the promise was not what I thought, or these people were not true believers. Was this psalm as well as many others only principles and not promises?

Then I began to learn that we ought to live these verses as promises (even "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."). Abraham did. He lived as though what God had said were promises that would come to pass. They became principles to His life, yet He clung to the promise. Did they happen? Yes! The principle is how we live this physical life and the promise is sometimes physical as well, but always fulfilled spiritually.

So were the saints mentioned earlier delivered from famine or from being forsaken? In Hebrews 12 it talks of the Hall of Faith, men and women who lived looking to a promise, but not always receiving it here in this life. Abraham found a city whose maker and builder was God, though he traveled without ever seeing the fulfillment in his lifetime. Many Christians were martyred and tortured looking to the promise of God's deliverance and He did deliver...they were freed to the glories of Heaven. God stood by Job and listened to His complaint through his misery fulfilling His promise of goodness and power during it as well as after and in the future still as Job sits in Heavenly places!

I do not understand God's full intentions, but I do know I can trust His goodness and His power. I can trust that He will always be there, though He may "seem" to me to be distant, and He will always listen to me as His child, though He may "seem" silent. God is faithful and He can be trusted...and I will trust Him till the day I die and enter His promise of Eternal Life!

LORD, teach me more!

Since 2010

Life has definitely continued on! Since our last blog we have finished our renovation, decided on renting the house instead of selling, moved to Millville, bought a house, renovated it for better living, and moved in just before our third child was born, Lydia Hope. What an amazing year!

Now that all has been updated as far as since our last blog, I thought I might start being more consistent in keeping this blog going...we'll see how things go a year from now!