Revealing His glory

Where to begin catch up? I have so many thoughts bouncing around my head that it's almost confusing.

First, my brother is about to be start his second deployment. Iraq last time, Afghanistan this time. The reality is harsh. Hope seems unattainable. I am so thankful however that we know the Creator of hope who is the definition of hope. We'll get to spend some time with my brother over Christmas and we are all absolutely looking forward to it.

Can I please just be honest and say that I love The Biggest Loser. Television these days is too often so negative. To me The Biggest Loser is a reality show of redemption. I love watching the people on it fight their way to a "second chance" at life. I watched a DVRed episode of it this morning and cried my eyes out the whole time. They were running a marathon and facing all that a 26.2 mile run entails. T-Pup said "Momma I don't want to run like that!" and I couldn't help but laugh.

I'm such a practical person. It doesn't take much for me to start weeping at the goodness of God. I tend to see Him in the (seemingly) small, mundane things of life. A few weeks ago W wrote a paper for one of his classes that included a section on creation. He quoted the verse Romans 8:19. The ministry we worked with our first year of marriage used this verse frequently. I don't think I ever really understood it until W used it in his paper. It's so easy to see God in the simple things in life because creation WAITS to reveal it. Creation is here to reveal His glory. When I look out over our pasture and see the baby calves nursing I almost always tear up. When I see those same calves bucking their heads up and hitting their mama, I tear up. I've been that nursing mama and when the baby yanks or jerks, UM YES, it hurts. But that mama cow is always so patient to stand there and nurture that child, no matter the what. Creation reveals His glory.

Autumn leaves are now mostly gone. Did you know the true color of the tree's leaves come out when the chlorophyll is no longer produced and the leaves begin to fall? The true color of the leaf comes out only in its death. Creation reveals His glory.

I don't know these folks on The Biggest Loser, but I pray as they are transformed that their spirits will be also. I don't know how you can experience a "second chance" at life and not fall at the feet of Jesus with gratitude.

God longs to transform us into His image. And for that I am so grateful, because I know I NEED IT.

With all of that said.

Amen.

:)

We had a cold rainy day here today. I was feeling tired (Sam was up 2am-5:15) so I let the children take the reign on what to do. They pulled all of my pots and pans out in the kitchen and filled a bowl with water. Needless to say it eventually "flooded" (T-Pup's words, not mine!). I just rolled with it. When wet get in the bath, right? So they continued in water play for a while.

They are both at such precious points right now. Sam has finally gotten a good vocabulary and is quite opinionated. T-Pup is really starting to think about things we say to him, ie "Jesus is going to help me pick up my toys so I can wait to do it." He is also starting to process those decisions he makes and possibly (?) close to understanding consequences.

W has another two weeks of class before Christmas break, with a lot of work to do before then, but we are on the countdown.

After my tooth escapade this fall (which, for the record, we now have dental insurance!!) I decided to volunteer for a free dental day that a local dentist (who W grew up with) is doing in a few weeks. I've enjoyed doing a bit of fund raising and spreading the word about the day. I'm thankful we were able to pay for my tooth drama, but I know so many are not able to. It's encouraging to know people who want to serve others. Ahem, creation revealing His glory :)

Well, it is now 4:14am and I have yet to sleep tonight. Yawn. I will feel the ramifications of this tomorrow, but believe me, I DID NOT VOLUNTEER FOR THIS ALL NIGHTER! Sinus stuff + lack of my sleeping medicine + a full mind = me awake at all crazy hours of the night. And did you catch where I said I was up with Sam last night? I'm thinking today will be a long day.

Well... a wordy post was due :)

Encourage someone today. Reveal His glory.