There are just times that I cannot begin to express how proud I am of my kids. As I got ready to go on my bike ride yesterday I read a note that Greenley wrote to God. I guess that we were nearing the end of lent when she wrote a note to God. She was talking about how she gave up carbonated drinks and she was not sure why but she knew that her mom gave up something as well. Greenley participated in lent this year on her own and for this I am so proud of her.

I love that she put this note on the refrigerator because it is a reminder for us all about how innocent our love of God should be. When we are younger we don't question the love our parents have for us. We should all have this same feeling for God now. Our Father loves us no matter what, and yes we can get angry with what happens in our lives but if we just slow down for a moment and talk to our Father we will know that things are going to be just fine. He will kiss your boo boo for you because that is what He does.

One week without cable

I must say that I was so excited to get started tonight because Greenley was asking about this. She even mentioned at dinner and on the way home that we still needed to do our bible study tonight.

We unfortunately didn't get a chance to do a bible study, but we still read about Amon and his adventures. Amon is quite the inventor and very knowledgeable of the Torah.

I will have to spend a little time this weekend talking about the Torah and the Exodus from Egypt with Greenley because Passover is approaching in Amon's adventure and I want to make sure she understand her roots because of course this leads to Jesus and his disciples eating the last supper.

We will continue Amon's Adventures tomorrow and also make sure we learn a little more about the holiday's that Amon is celebrating.

Just a side note as well. It has been one week since the cable was turned off and we don't seem to miss it. Lauren does miss American Idol but we are all doing just fine and spending more time together as a family and learning about the great things that our Father does for us.

Amon's Adventure

We started reading Amon's adventure tonight and will continue through Easter reading a little each night. The story starts off very exciting and I can tell that this will be hard to put down as we keep reading but I know that the kids won't sit still very long.

Lauren took Owen to get his very own Bible today and he had to get a small one just like the one that Aunt Maryanna got Greenley. Owen has been sharing so much with us lately about God and I wish I knew what he was talking about, but I am just so happy that he is absorbing information from church.

Both kids were very excited to get started tonight and while Owen didn't sit still to listen intently he did listen. Greenley seemed to listen but time will tell.

I was so proud of Greenley tonight. She and Lauren read the verses that were shared tonight at the service and Greenley was so excited to tell me that she had the ashes on her forehead.

After reading our story tonight both kids went to be very willing and we said the Lord's prayer before each went to bed.

I am excited to share God's word with them and even more excited that we are sitting as a family and sharing His word. God truly is great and as we enter this season of Lent we should all remember the sacrifices that our Father made for us so that each one of us can live.

Beginnings

This is the day that we started. I must say that this did not start out as planned but we started. Owen was fussing, Greenley wasn't interested, and Anderson would not lay down for bed.

What started out a mess though became a great time with us sitting around and Greenley reading Genesis 1-2:25.

We started with a prayer to thank God for our day and the upcoming Lent and Easter. Greenley did not want to read at first but after the prayer she decided that she wanted to read. As Greenley read we definitely all became at ease and enjoyed the lesson. Owen fell asleep and Anderson went to bed. Greenley asked questions and of course wanted to know, and laughed, why Adam and Eve were naked. We explained about the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and were able to work in a life lesson based on this. We explained to Greenley that God gave Adam one rule and that one rule was to not eat fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would surely die. We explained to Greenley that this was like us telling her that she could do anything she wanted to do except play. She seemed to understand and also seemed to enjoy the study.

We then went through a few questions and she actually remembered what she read and also asked a few questions. She also asked if we were going to do this every night and seemed excited by this.

I am certainly encouraged by tonight and I know that this is just a start, but with God in our corner I am confident that we are taking the right steps as a family.

Courageous

I want to say that I tried to make several attempts to take Lauren to the movies to see Courageous but we just couldn't find the time. Lauren and I watched this and I absolutely wept like a baby through almost the whole movie.

I want to back up a little to these past few weeks. Lauren and I were talking, rather texting because I was at work, and I told her that I am not be the leader like I need to be for our family and I am going to change that.

I have started small with the changes, and haven't quite started the way that I wanted, but visits with family this past week and family time at Auburn events did not allow me to fully invest like I intended. I am not going to get down on myself for not starting because we spent time together as a family, and after all, family time is why I am changing.

I also this week turned off our satellite, yes we don't have cable. We do still have Netflix and Hulu because there are some things that we just couldn't quite pull away from just yet. My plan is to begin sharing our journey as a family in our walk with Christ.

I have said it before and will definitely say it again, but our Father talks to us and he was definitely talking to me this week. I was going to start this week by going through the bible bit by bit with the kids with our own daily bible study when Lauren brought home an Easter study for us to do with the kids. It is by no mistake that our Father brought the study to us and allowed me and Lauren to have the chance to watch Courageous tonight. So, tonight, I am publicly stating that I will be a better leader spiritually for my family so that we can all walk in Christ's footsteps a little more each day.

It's been a while

I have to admit that I haven't been the best leader to my family but I am working to change that and I will rely on my blog to hold me to this because I want to share the ups and downs of our journey. More to come but it is Date weekend with the kids and we are going to have a blast.

Open Hearts

I love the doctrine message that we are hearing right now in church first and foremost. Our life is so simple. Our Father gives us life on earth and gives us eternal life. What I love about the gift of life though is that it is a greater gift for our parents at first. Our parents, whether through prayer or not have received this ultimate gift and I can only pray that all parents lead their children to Christ. Sometimes our Father challenges future parents though in ways that can test faith and relationships. The ultimate passing grade though for parents that pass the test is adoption. 

So many times people touch our lives in different ways and one of the things that I love most about people is seeing the changes. I will admit that changes are not always good and it is our jobs and God's children to help bring those back to our Father to gain the ultimate freedom. But when changes are good God just smiles down on all of us and it is this great big grin that makes me want to serve him more and share his works. I will keep my words short today and His words short because I want to give a big shout out to a sister of ours that was in our wedding.

Amy Crawford Wagar has such a huge heart, and she and her husband have taken an ultimate leap of faith that we should all be proud of. I wanted to share her adoption blog with you. 

I love you all and encourage you all to open your heart just a little more. 

Romans 8

Life Through the Spirit

 ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

 ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

 ¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

 ¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,“Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.