Fun and Frustration

This past week was a sweet blessing from the Lord, as I got to spend the majority of it with my dearest friend from Woodland, California(where I went to high school), Desiree. We haven't seen each other since my wedding, so it has been quite some time! She came to visit during her fall break at school, and I was so blessed for the wonderful fellowship and her servant's heart. She came on her break, and yet was more than willing to help out in any way! Thank you Desiree! I think we have officially scared her away from having kids for quite some time after she is married :). I'm sure she has heard enough crying to last at least a few years!

That last statement might surprise you, but our poor daughter has cried more this last week than she ever has before!! I praise the Lord that Desiree was here to help in the midst of a busy week with some church activities, and it also forced me to persevere through my daughter's crying with a good attitude...although, I can promise my attitude was not always good.

Linnea's crying wasn't just normal fussiness, because she cried during her feedings and wouldn't eat nearly as much as she used to. I was pretty sure it was gas, but I was not sure how to help her. I also thought of foods that I may have eaten that may have caused problems, but I couldn't think of anything different that I had been eating. She has gotten better over the last 24 hours, and I think I just figured out today what the problem is from good ole' googling! I knew she was swallowing air while she eats, which I figured may have been causing some of the gas, and apparently that is probably the problem. My milk comes out too fast for her to handle. Anyways, I shall spare you the details, but praise the Lord I think we are on the right track to helping her. We have her two month appt. this Thursday, so we'll see if the doctor knows something we don't!

I think one of the hardest things so far about mothering is knowing your daughter is uncomfortable and not knowing why and being unable to help her. It is heart-wrenching and frustrating. I caught myself sinning in anger so many times. I would take my anger out on my poor daughter who couldn't help herself, but I think I was really angry at the Lord for giving me a problem (NOT my daughter, but her discomfort) I couldn't fix. I found myself asking for forgiveness time and time again, and then getting even more frustrated that I kept sinning in anger. I realize that when I don't purpose to renew my mind with truth, preach to myself verses that are applicable, and replace my anger with trust and reliance (since that is what the Lord wants to teach me through hard situations), I inevitably repeat my sin. So may I lay aside my sin, be renewed in my mind with the pure truth from the Word, and put on the righteousness of Christ!

...and I had to post this one because it is too cute and funny! Aaron and I went to the hot tub and put her in this "body bag" (Aaron says that is a morbid thought) to keep her warm outside.

Already Dead

Well, to be honest, I was quite excited to have time to write a post today, but now that I have actually gotten around to it, I'm pretty worn out. So, this won't be a very long post (so I say), but I still want to show you some updated pics and share a tidbit from Bible Study this morning.

We are going through the book "Changed Into His Image" and it has been fantastic! The book is about sanctification and becoming more like Christ. The study today was on justification- our position in Christ. I think it amazes me every day that I stand as holy and righteous as Christ before a just God. Christ's blood on the cross is what justified me, and Christ's blood on the cross is what is sanctifying me.

What struck me big time today is one quote our pastor said (he was our guest speaker in our ladies' Bible study today :)) It was something he said he tells himself when he is struggling with sin...he tells himself "Christ has already died for this sin and PUT IT TO DEATH. Therefore, I do not have to give into this sin! I won't give into this sin, for it doesn't have any power over me!" I know it sounds a little crazy, but in my mind it totally made sense! To think about the fact that Christ's death has paid for all my past sins AND all the sins I will ever commit amazes me! So the next time I am struggling with a bad attitude I just can't seem to kick, I need to remember that sin is no longer my master. I need to remember that the power lies within me (the Holy Spirit Himself!!!) to overcome the sin. When I feel defeated by a sin, I need to remember that Christ has already won the victory!!

Well, as you can see above, our beautiful daughter has started smiling! I got the first smile from her when I was getting her ready for church two Sundays ago (I know, I'm sorry I didn't post a picture sooner), and it just melted my heart. Don't worry...Daddy has gotten lots of smiles too! Her are some more pics!

All warm and cozy after bathtime

This is Dr. Frields, who delivered both my daughter and I! :)
He said she is a "Gerber baby"...he was really precious with her, so apparently he still loves babies after all these years! I think we woke her up for this picture, which is what the chubby look is for...haha

Big yawn (well, actually it is a small one for her ;))
Hanging out with Daddy after dinner on the patio

Yes, she is getting very big!!!

Linnea recently found her fist and enjoys sucking it and slobbering all over it! I know, I know, we are definitely new parents to think that our child sucking on her fist is the most adorable thing ever! :P



Romans 6:8-14

"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

Nothing is Mine

Aaron and I just began a book entitled "Your Money Counts" by Howard Dayton, and there is most definitely some good stuff to chew on! We are reading it as homework preparation for the Crown Financial Bible Study that begins in three weeks, which we are greatly anticipating! There is a section in the chapter we read that was a great reminder...if we truly think like this every day, then we surely will be content when things don't go the way we plan with our possessions.

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The First Step Toward Contentment

To learn to be conent, you must recognize God as the owner of all your possessions. If you believe you own even a single possession, then the circumstances affecting that possession will be reflected in your attitude. If something favoable happens to that possession, then you will be happy. But if something bad occurs, then you will be discontented.

After Jim Sennef went through the exercise of transferring ownership of everything he possessed to God, he bought a new car. It was just two days old when a young person drove into the side of it. Jim's first reaction was, "Well, God, I don't know why you want a dent in the side of Your new car, but you certainly have a big one!" Similarly, when John Wesley learned that his home had been destroyed by fire, he exclaimed, "The Lord's house burned, One less responsibility for me!"

Yet it is not so easy to maintain this perspective consistently, It is far too easy to think that the possessions we have and the money we earn are entirely the result of our skills and achievements. We find it difficult not to believe we have earned the right to their ownership. I am the master of my fate, the humanist says. I alone own my possessions. Obviously, this view of owndership is the precailing one in our culture.

Giving up ownership is not easy, nor is it a once-and-for-all transaction. We constantly need to be reminded that God owns all our possessions.

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If we truly had this mindset, can you imagine how much anger we could be preventing?? How often during the week do we get upset because something has gone wrong with one of our possessions, or we don't have certain possessions we would like? To go even further, it makes me think of the fact that God even "owns" my time...well, I mean he is in control of it. So even when I don't get anything on my "to-do list" done because my daughter has a rough day, I can rejoice in what the Lord has given me to do (taking care of her), or I can become angry and frustrated that my husband has to come home to an exhausted wife and a cluttered home. (Yes, that was a struggle for me this week.

So basically...nothing is mine...it is all the Lord's. In the world's eyes, that may seem crazy, but in the eyes of a redeemed child, it is cause for rejoicing!

"Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from You alone, and You are the Ruler of all mankind; Your hand controls power and might, and it is at Your discretion that men are made greatand given strength."

~Kind David, I Chronicles 29:11-12~