God Knew - Didn't He

When God chose to let Jesse and I raise Jessie Lyric, Journey, Bridge, Story and baby Manhattan...

He knew what He was doing.

Didn't He?

He knew our strengths, our weaknesses, our talents, our issues, our future...

He knew it all,

And He chose to let Jessie Lyric, Journey, Bridge, Story and baby Manhattan pass through life under our watch.

What a humbling honor.

What a relief.

God knew...

He knew the mistakes we would make,

the sins we would commit,

the courage we would wield,

the lives we would change,

the hearts we would break -

He chose to let Jessie Lyric, Journey, Bridge, Story and baby Manhattan experience life through our triumphs and our mistakes.

They will be stronger, they will be wiser, they will be tested-

Somehow, they will be exactly who God created them to be.

Isn't it a relief?

God's will is done through our strengths and our weaknesses.

God knew...

Didn't He.

Hear My Prayer

(for the Steven Curtis Chapman family - written when my son, Bridge, was a baby. I changed the "hims" to "hers", for their daughter, Maria Chapman, whom they unexpectedly lost this evening in a tragic accident.)

God, will you take my child?
Will you hold her to your breast?
Will you whisper blessings in her ear?
Can you hear my prayer?

God, will you heal my child?
Will you touch her fragile body?
Will you never let her walk alone?
Can you hear my prayer?

There's nothing I can do
I'm helpless and afraid
But I will give her life to you
And pray

God, will you hold my hand?
Will you walk me through this valley?
My great faith seems very small
Can you hear my prayer?

What is Worship?

Okay! I will blog something! :) For all of you who just can't seem to live without me. (kidding)

I really AM trying to keep up with the blog. Lately, I have been spending so much time at home with the kids, it seems that everyday is just like the day before. Up at 7:00, breakfast, Jessie and Journey out the door to the bus stop, Bridge says something cute, Story is adorable, lunch, nap time, trip to Sonic, the bus brings the older two home, we talk and eat a snack, I force them to play together (lots of fun!), we eat dinner, watch Spongebob and go to bed.

It is really hard for me to do the same thing over and over. I have been hearing a lot from God on the subject, of course. He regards our work - when done unto Him - as worship. I can find contentment in the fact that the daily routine of tending to my family is considered worship to Him. I think of this when my day gets mundane and the chores seem endless. He is so faithful.

For this season, He has called me to my family. It has been precious. I know I am at the right place. I am thankful that He orders my life. I am so excited to get back to my chocolate, but in the mean time, I am loving the relationships with my family and my creator.

I'll get back to chocolate soon enough. . .

Making Money - through the eyes of a 5 year old.

(It isn't that Journey and Jessie Lyric aren't amazing in their own right, it is just that I am with Story and Bridge ALL the time, so I catch them saying cute things more often. I guess it is about age as well.)

This morning I told Bridge to go upstairs and get dressed. He came down about 15 minutes later with his button down shirt and dress jacket on (no pants) that he wore Easter Sunday.

He came over to me, "kissed me goodbye," and said he was going to work. I, then, sat down to watch cartoons with Story. After about 45 minutes, I realized that I had not heard from him. So, I went in the kitchen to Bridge and Story's little craft area to see what he was up to.

He had scissors in his hand, a black marker on the floor, and shards of green paper everywhere. Stacked up next to him in a neat pile was 20 or so various sized rectangles that he had cut from green construction paper.

As I got closer, I saw that he had written the number five on one end, a big circle in the middle, and another number five on the other end of his green rectangles, which I now realized were "money."

I asked him what he was doing, and he looked up at me with his wide, charmed smile and said, "I'm at work making money, like dad." Then he spread out all of his money in front of me and said, "we have to go buy toys and cars now."

So, now I know what Bridge thinks his dad does at work all day, scissors and all. . . don't we wish it was really that easy to make money!!

Screaming Princess

Daddy: "Story, I don't want to hear you scream like that again."

Story: "Why?"

Daddy: "Because princesses don't scream."

Story: "Oh..."

(later that day)

Story: "Mommy, daddy said that princesses don't scream."

Mommy: "Well, daddy is right."

Story: "But, but mommy, there's . . . mommy? - there's a scream in my mouth."

It's a Girl!!!

We are happy to announce that our ultrasound revealed that we are having a girl (in late August).

Her name is Manhattan Faith. We feel blessed beyond words.

Please pray that the pregnancy will continue to go well. It would be nice to not have to be on bed rest for the last 6 weeks. :) (due to early contractions)

So Much to Say; Not Much I Can Say!

I want you all to know that there have been some exciting developments in chocolate land for Jesse and I. I just am not at liberty to give details. That is probably why I haven't been able to blog lately. I just don't know what to say about it all!

Hopefully I will have some details that I can share very soon. I am hoping to make a big announcement by June 1st. God is in control though, so His timeline may be a little different. :)

Feel free to ask questions (as a comment to this post). I will tell you what I can.

Love you all,
Bethany