Summer Fun With Family

The past couple of weekends we have been out of town doing some fun summer things. The first weekend we spent with my sister and her family enjoying their neighborhood pool. This was Ava's first time in a pool, and we thought she'd enjoy it since she like the bath so much. She just laid back in our arms and seemed to relax and would kick her feet to splash. She didn't even cry when the water got in her eyes--typical Ava. We went to the pool after 4 so it was still really hot, but the sun wasn't so bright. She was so adorable in her bathing suit and hat even though she kept trying to pull it off, her hat that is. I had sunglasses for her too but forgot them at the house. I think the kids had fun with her too. They love their cousin and she enjoys watching them play. Jack is never still and she gets a kick out of that. He IS fun to watch although it's tiring. I wish I had a drop of his energy! Anyway, I got some fun pictures:



















This past weekend, we went up to New York for a visit with Brian's family. They live in Oswego and the weather there was like Fall here! I loved it! It was a little tease though and now I'm so ready for the summer to be over. I'm ready for the fall weather and decorations. But I digress....so we decided sort of last minute to take a trip to visit. Brian's sisters still hadn't seen Ava and we knew Jen's kids were anxious to see her too. So we took the opportunity and flew up Friday. You would think after a 35 hour trip home with her from Vietnam that 2 hours would be easy, but I was still anxious about it. She gets fussy when she's sleepy and can't get comfortable, and we happened to land a flight that took off at her nap time. So I knew it would be touchy. Fortunately, she fell asleep in my lap for a few minutes in the airport. So when we got on the plane she woke up but was happy for the flight.

We had such a fun visit with everyone there. We were so tired when we got there but the excitement of the day rejuvenated us for the evening. She had a slightly difficult night but Grandma was the big hero that night and came to comfort her since mom and dad didn't hear her crying. I felt like a terrible mother! But she quickly calmed down after a bottle and went back to sleep. The next day we just hung out and everyone watched Ava crawl and clap and do all her little tricks. We took a walk outside with the kids and she had her first feel of grass under her bare feet (we don't do that at home b/c of the fire ants here that we can't seem to get rid of-ouch!). It was a gorgeous day. Brian was excited about seeing Grissom again, and I was too. He's such a fun dog and he has found himself a perfect family I tell ya. He's one lucky dog that one. Those kids love him and treat him well. They wear him out from playing every day from what I here. Every time Ava was on the ground he wanted to lick her feet and hands and if possible, her face. And if ever he got to her before anyone could intercept him, she was lovin' it!!! She got such a kick out of that dog.

We left Sunday around 2 and once again we were hitting the flight around her nap time. Brian got us seats in the back of the plane so I was able to get up with her and stand in the back and I got her to sleep. She slept the ENTIRE way home. What a blessing that was! It really couldn't have gone any more smoothly than it did.

So we're home now and she's getting back to her normal schedule. I think she wonders where her adoring fans went. There's no crowd around clapping for her every time she sits up or does something cute! Bummer.

Food for Thought

"Our trials are great opportunities. Too often we look on them as great obstacles. It would be a haven of rest and an inspiration of unspeakable power if each of us would henceforth recognize every difficult situation as one of God's chosen ways of proving to us His love and look around for the signals of His glorious manifestations; then, indeed, would every cloud become a rainbow, and every mountain a path of ascension and a scene of transfiguration.

If we will look back upon the past, many of us will find that the very time our Heavenly Father has chosen to do the kindest things for us, and given us the richest blessings, has been the time we were strained and shut in on every side. God's jewels are often sent us in rough packages and by dark liveried servants, but within we find the very treasures of the king's palace and the Bridegroom's love." --A.B. Simpson
(Here I must add that I have discovered myself that the "treasures" are not often material things. The "treasures" that bless the most and bring the most joy and peace are those that proceed from His presence itself. It's not the actual gaining of those things I thought I wanted or needed.)

"When you are doubtful as to your course, submit your judgment absolutely to the Spirit of God, and ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one....Meanwhile keep on as you are, and consider the absence of indication to be the indication of God's will that you are on His track...As you go down the long corridor, you will find that He has preceded you, and locked many doors which you would fain have entered but be sure that beyond these there is one which He has left unlocked. Open it and enter, and you will find yourself face to face with a bend of the river of opportunity, broader and deeper that anything you had dared to imagine in your sunniest dreams. Launch forth upon it; it conducts to the open sea."

"God guides us, often by circumstances. At one moment the way may seem utterly blocked and then shortly afterward some trivial incident occurs, which might not seem much to others, but which to the keen eye of faith speaks volumes. Sometimes these things are repeated in various ways, in answer to prayer. They are not haphazard results of chance but the opening up of circumstances in the direction in which we would walk..." --F.B Meyer

"If we could see beyond today
As God can see
If all he clouds should roll away,
The shadows flee;
O'er present griefs we would not fret.
Each sorrow we would soon forget,
For you and me."

"If we could know beyond today
As God doth know,
Why dearest treasures pass away
And tears must flow
And why the darkness leads to light,
Why dreary paths will soon grow bright;
Some day life's wrongs will be made right,
Faith tells us so."

" 'If we could see, if we could know',
We often say,
But God in love a veil doth throw
Across our way
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more,
He leads us till this life is o'er;
Trust and obey."

I read these quotes today and was reminded of why God commands us to "fear not". He says also that fear leads to evil (Ps 37:8). Wow. But aren't we human? Aren't fear and anxiety just natural parts of who we are? Well, according to Scripture, when those things arise in us we are to fight them and not allow them to grip our hearts and our minds. Man, I can so quickly jump to panic mode and allow fear and anxiety to push me down an emotional river, if you will, that I have no business going down as a Christian.

For some reason, it feels like I'm accomplishing something when I get fearful and anxious--that's so crazy! There are reasons Christ commands us to avoid this pattern of thought.

Okay, what are the reasons? I could think of a few:

First,when we are fretting or anxious we are not recognizing Christ power and control.

Second, we try to grasp at control ourselves instead of trusting. That seems to lead to much more trouble in one way or another.

Third, God knows the physical toll this takes on us. He is aware of limitations and cares about this aspect of our lives.

Fourth, it is a waste of mental and emotional energy---what does it accomplish?

Fifth, He has a plan for us in mind. He's not letting us drift without direction.

How do we stop it? I don't know exactly. Wish I knew the secret. I personally think that we can't stop the onset of worry. I think it IS human to have that reaction to unexpected problems in life BUT we have to stop it there. No more dwelling on things we can't control!!!! We must pray at those moments and really practice meditating on the Truths we know about Christ and His promises to us: He is God of ALL; He is good and loving; He is always with us; He knows what is going on and cares; He has our best in mind; His desire is for us to know Him more, not to give us everything we want; He cares for even the sparrow so how much more does He care for His children.... Just to name a few! These are the things I need to dwell on in the moments of panic and fear. David was so good at that. When I read the Psalms I can see how David would come to God with his worrisome thoughts and as he focused on the attributes of God, his worries turned to praise. He's a great example for me.

God has been so good in the past. That doesn't mean He hasn't allowed me to go through PAINFUL times. But He has shown me that through them He reveals more and more of Himself, and for that I am grateful.

One other thing, I think that when pain comes, we are reminded that this world is not our home. Our home, our true home, is Heaven. We long to be there with Him, complete. That desire is unrecognizable most of the time I believe. It's masked by desires for material things, the things of this world. We misinterpret our desires. When pain comes, things are quickly seen for what they really are, and I believe that's why we are so thrown by our disappointments. It is jolting. Our focus is then sharpened and made clearer.

It is by God's grace that He allows those moments to come. Despite the pain, good comes. He uses the pain for our good. That is why Jesus died. To bring life from death. Good from evil. Peace from pain. Now that's worth dwelling on.