Bring on the Glory!

I'm ready. I'm ready for the Glory of God! I'm ready to see it, to experience it, to clap for Him, to dance for Him. . . to enjoy an encore provided by Him!

This week in my personal devotions, God has been reminding me that He wants to give blessings, that He enjoys miracles, that that is in His job description. It is always about Him. It isn't about me, my family, my selfish desires. . . He deserves all the glory and honor. As Garrison would say, "Mom, He is mighty." (Thanks to his Tuesday morning church teachers for giving him this saying!) I'd been meditating on it for awhile and spent a good part of Monday very excited. I walked around my house just enjoying Him.

Then, on Tuesday morning at Bible Study, we were watching a Beth Moore video from the "Believing God" study. Ah. . . so very good. It confirmed to me what God was teaching me. "Our Father delights in God-exalting, ambitious praying." Joshua asked for the sun to stand still: God did it. Who thinks to ask for that? The Israelites were in a battle not of their choosing, yet they are fighting, they are tired. . . and God does the miraculous: hail and the sun standing still.

I tell Him: "I can't wait to see what you are going to do!!!"

In my life.

In the life of my family.

In my parent's lives.

Friends, Holland Heights Church, Zeeland Christian, Camp Roger, Facebook friends. . . .

Ah Lord, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY! I'll be here. . . clapping and dancing.

Kissing

Doesn't that title just intrigue you? :) I like kissing. I like kissing Gary. I like kissing my kids. I kiss them different ways and for different reasons. I'm very good at healing owies with kissing. I'm glad that God created it.

So, I ran across this blog post. It made me laugh out loud. It contained so many thoughts that I agree with. I thought I'd post the link, and perhaps you'll like it as well. :)

http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/

car conversations

Simon is upset.

We talked the ENTIRE way home school today about age. He is upset because he won't ever be the oldest in our family and he won't ever be the youngest. How do you explain such concepts to a four year old? I kept trying not to laugh out loud, to keep a tone of seriousness. . . he was very serious and very mad. He has brought it up several times. I finally pacified him with the following comments.

1. Someday when you get married you could be the oldest in your house.

2. Someday when you get married you could be the youngest in your house.

3. When Penny comes, Noel won't be with oldest or the youngest either.

He did ask what will happen when he is seven. Sorry buddy: same boat. What about eight? What about nine? What about twenty-five-one hundred-eighteen? I'm not exactly sure what will happen on that birthday, but I'm pretty sure that you won't be the oldest or the youngest. :)

Actions

Actions speak louder than words.

Faith without works is dead.

We've heard it, we know it in the deepest part of ourselves. We get when someone really loves us. It feels great to hear the words, but if it isn't backed up with actions. . . then we know the truth correct?

I've been thinking about this so much lately. . . it has taken up a ton of my prayer time. It began with my dad, but it has traveled over into my own life. It isn't always easy to see error in my own life, but it has been so great for me. I need to improve. It began with dad asking my mom for a reconciliation. That is a cool word. It is a healing word. It is a forgiving word. In fact, many of his words sounded wonderful. . . the kind of words that we dream of hearing. "love. . . missing you. . . sorry" The problem? We've heard these words before, and they are just that: words. They need to have some weight behind them, some sort of action. Sadly, there has been no action. Dad hasn't called off the divorce. Dad hasn't shown love to my mom.

It was very easy to be sad, angry at times. . .lots of grieving, lots of hoping, lots of disappointment. I keep feeling like I'm living in a movie where there will be a happy ending. . . there has to be right? Reality hits and I have to acknowledge that there might not be the happy ending that I'd like. Gary loves to tease me about wanting to know the end before I see a movie. . . I wish I could do that here. I know that God is so very good. I know that He has purpose. I know that all things work for good. . . it just might not be what I think would be good.

I can tell you one good thing that came from the past couple of weeks: I'm changing! In my time with the Lord, I've been convicted that I'm guilty of the same thing as my dad. Imagine that?!? I'm very good at telling my kids that I love them, but perhaps I need to do better at showing them. They need to hear and feel and see and taste and . . . . I found myself getting wrapped up in doing the household stuff, of doing the stuff that I wanted to do, of trying to get the kids to school on time, of trying to coupon, of trying to prepare healthy and tasty meals, of being pregnant, of of of of of that I wasn't backing up my words like I should have. I tell my kids every day that I love them, and now I'm trying to show them more. I'm taking a break to sit and read a story. I try to play a game with them every day. I put on my boots and all the other paraphernalia and build a snowman in the backyard. I take a break from this blog so that I can eat some pretend candy that Noel made just for me (it was delicious). Sure, there are times when I need to work on something else to keep this house functioning--of course, but my kids are feeling and seeing my love more these days. Thanks Lord for the conviction.

I called Gary last week and he answered the phone this way, "I was just thinking about you." "You were? What were you thinking?" He answered with some of the most beautiful words I think I've ever heard from him. He said, "I was just thinking about how I could show you that I love you today." He gets it.

Updates

First. . . a great gift tonight. My sister, brother-in-law and their kids had our name for Christmas. Guess what they gave us? TIME FOR GARY AND I TO BE TOGETHER!!! Could there be any other greater gift? Not only did they give us some gift cards to our favorite places, but the best. . . they are taking our kids overnight tonight. Time for Gary and I alone. Time for my kids to enjoy with great great family. Thanks so much Tricia and Matt. I couldn't have hoped for anything better!

Penny is growing. I'm beginning to feel. . . shall we say. . . uncomfortable. I still don't look pregnant, just fat. I'm not joking. A worker at a local business told me that last week. Thanks. There are times during the day when Penny is making things just plain challenging. . . and painful. Stop it. Gary had grounded her when she turns 10.

I must also stay that I LOVE feeling Penny move. There is something so wonderful about it. . . we get to share something that no one else can. We share a secret language of sorts. Although she does kick and punch me, she is more of a roller. I'm praying that she is pretty laid back. If you know my kids. . . that might take quite the miracle!

I'm tired. Not because of being pregnant (although that is part of it), not because I have three kids I enjoy all day long, not because I'm sick. . . it is the Olympics. I'm glad they are only on every two years because I adore them. I'm watching curling at the moment. LOVE. IT. When I was little, my parents put a cot up in the living room and we were allowed to stay up late and fall asleep while watching. Is that great parenting or what?!? My parents instilled a love of the Olympics in me. . . I've passed it on to Gary (although he won't admit it), and hopefully to my kids. We record the events and then I get to watch them again the next day and show my chillins the highlights. Simon loves them most. The boy is obsessed with speed.

School registration is done. Next year, the Sprick family will have one child in kindergarten, one in pre-school, and one in three-school. Yup---that is truly crazy. Gary this morning that we hold Garrison for two years and Simon for one. . . then they can all be in the same grade and things will just be simpler. I don't think so.

Hope that you enjoy your week-end. I know that I will.

Thinking about. . .

Ever have it that you eat something really good. . . really really good. . . something you knew you liked but haven't had in awhile? And THEN. . . you keep thinking about how you would like to have it again? Today? Right now? After all, you are pregnant? You wanted it yesterday and resisted. You had a chance at the store this morning, but didn't give in.

Gary is at Meijer.

Chocolate Malteds.

Valentines Day

I'm not a huge "Valentine's Day" girl. I adore many of you who are. You whip up pink pancakes shaped like hearts, you give your kids sweet things, you receive wonderful gifts from your love, you go out for special dinners and wear special clothes.

Me? Not. so. much. Perhaps it is because I was single for so many years? I'm not exactly sure, but when my first boyfriend (his name was Gary) confessed that he wasn't a make-a-big-deal-about-Valentines-Day kind of a guy, and since we were already engaged, and since I agreeded. . . we haven't made a big deal of it. (Sorry for the run-on sentence!)

School has changed that. Big celebrations. Bring in the valentines please! I needed to get Valentines for both boys this year. I bought one box. . . for $2.99. . . and thought I was the coolest mom. They were sports cards. . . with tattoos! Now, what four year old wouldn't want a tattoo? We used to hope and hope that we'd get one in a Cracker Jack box, and now, my boys would be handing out one to every friend in class. Alas. . . .

My boys came home with valentines that were different than those I had sent with them. There was candy (lots of candy), beautiful cards, pencils, personalized picture cards. . . I'm just the $2.99 tattoo mom. Thankfully, they didn't think it was a big deal. Garrison and Simon were too busy looking through their candy. They each got a piece. . . they shared with their siblings. . . and little do they know, they just shared with their mom. They are in rest time, and I'm eating a bite size Snickers and Babe Ruth. Thanks. Perhaps Valentines Day is growing on me.

A gift

I received a gift today from my friend Debbie. She gave me one of my top 10 voice mail messages ever. Ever.

What did she say? Well, first she clarified a question that I had asked her. Love that. She also kept calling me "Shanda Koeman". Love that. (She calls me Shanda Koeman or Shanders. . . you know how friends can be.)

Then. . . . then she told me what she liked about me. She told me what she had been thinking about me when we met. She told me good characteristics that she sees in me. She made me laugh, she made me smile, and she gave me a gift. It has been a rough couple of days. . . parenting wise. Debbie gave me such encouragement: and I get to listen to it over and over.

Made me think: I need to do the same. I need to pass on some encouraging messages: either written or verbal and can be read or listened to over and over again. I think we all need to do that more often for each other.

Patience patience

Garrison is just beginning to put together letter sounds. He can figure out that snake begins with "s" and truck begins with "t". You get the gist. It is fun to see him get the majority right. He is learning so very much. I'm so proud.

Here is the problem: SIMON! Simon feels to need to do everything that his big brother does. If Garrison eats it, Simon wants some. If Garrison has it, Simon wants it (we've been debating new shoes for the past three days as Garrison got some Monday night. Just grow Simon and we'll get new shoes for you too!) Anyway, as soon as Garrison gets one right, Simon needs to get into the conversation (he is our most talkative child!) and it goes like this.

"Mom, monster truck starts with a b". "Nope". "Mom, monster truck starts with an s". "Nope." "Mom (he begins with mom every time) monster truck begins with a t." "Nope." "Mom, what does monster truck start with?" "Mmmmonster truck. Mmmmmonster truck. It begins with an 'm' Simon." "Oh, an m". "Mom, dog begins with p". . . .

Glad that he is exploring. . . but after ten of these. . . mommy needs a break. :)

Mondays

I kinda like Mondays. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy week-ends. I love having Gary home, I look forward to worship on Sunday mornings, I like sitting back a little from being the "on" parent all day long. It's great.

Then, Monday morning arrives, and I'm back in action. I like that. I like getting back into our routine. I jump into chores that I need to be doing (my energy wanes come afternoon of course!). . . I know that I need to get going. Speaking of which. . . laundry needs to be folded (Noel's), dishes need to be unloaded, new bookshelf brought up from the basement, scrapbooks put away. . . it's been quite a Monday already. :)