Joshua singing, "Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People," from Disney's Frozen.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:31~
23 April, 2014
6 Month Stats
So, I'm a little behind on this, but here are Kaleb's 6-Month Stats:
19 lbs, 1 oz, 28 inches! Would you believe he's the smallest of the 3 at this age? Grandma says we're going to have to start calling him "Tiny" or "Peanut"! Ha! :-)
5 Generations
Last weekend we got the chance to visit my Great-Grandma Rozendaal. What a blessing these women are in my life! And how precious for my boys to have close relationships with their great-great grandma, great-grandmas, and grandmas! Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of family!
Luke's Spring Photos
These two are so funny lately. One minute they are best buds, the next they are screeching at each other and arguing. Brothers! :-P
02 April, 2014
01 April, 2014
Blogging Hiatus
You've probably noticed (or maybe you haven't) that the entire month of March was void of any blog posts. That was intentional. I needed a month off to rearrange my priorities. To get right with God. To just BE with my husband and children.
You see, the birth of our precious Kaleb brought so much joy. He's a treasure and we can't imagine life without him. But, for me, it also brought a lot of health problems. My thyroid went completely out of control, multiple times, and is still not completely regulated. As my health deteriorated, I became increasingly discouraged, even depressed. I grew angry with God. Why would he allow this to happen? How could he expect me to be the best wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend I could be when I felt so ROTTEN all the time?
Slowly, ever so painstakingly, heartbreakingly, headachingly slowly, my heart has begun to change. I believe God allowed this trial in my life to get my attention. To bring me to the realization that I wasn't truly pursuing His will, His plan. He has made clear there are to be NO OTHER GODS in my life, nothing before Him. And (I knew this, but was unwilling to do anything about it) my life was lacking 3 necessities: TRUST, JOY & PATIENCE.
TRUST. I told myself I trusted God. I told others I trusted God. But do I actually trust Him enough to willingly step out into the unknown, blindfold on, letting go of every ounce of control I might *think* I have? Honestly, no. I might like to think so, I might like others to think so, but no. So God and I are working on it.
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. THIS WILL BRING HEALTH TO YOUR BODY and nourishment to your bones." ~Proverbs 3:1-8~ (emphasis mine)
JOY. This is a tough one. I am not a naturally joyful person. I become easily angry, frustrated, annoyed, and snarky when things, even the littlest, most insignificant of things, don't go my way. The place where this is the most prevalent? My HOME. The place my husband and children come to find love, laughter, refuge from the darkness of this world. I am so convicted in this particular area and am working so very hard to change this, with God as my strength. I do find that when I ask him to help me put on joy, to choose joy in every encounter, my days are so much brighter! My perspective is completely different. My reactions to my loved ones are kinder, gentler, more loving. Do I still fall short? DAILY. But with God's help, I can feel a change in my heart. Praise the Lord!
"Be joyful ALWAYS; pray continually; GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ." ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~ (emphasis mine)
PATIENCE. You'd think a woman with 3 children, ages 4, 2, & 6 months, would have an abundance of this. Not. At. All. But I do NEED an abundance of patience. It's so easy in this gotta-have-it-yesterday, 100 MPH, whirlwind of a world we live in to get caught up in the rat race. I want this NOW. I want to feel better NOW. I want a child NOW (just an example, definitely not ready for that just yet!), I want that job NOW, I want to be married NOW, etc. But God's timeline is not our timeline. Do not misunderstand me, friends: GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS. He answers them. But his answer may not come today, this week, this month, year, or even decade! And it may not be what we had in mind. One day, we will look back and understand. We will be able to see how God was refining us in those times of waiting. Waiting is HARD. The Scripture I've been clinging to lately is this:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31~ (emphasis mine) Thank you, Jesus!!!!!
Wow. I didn't mean for this to get so long. Thanks for sticking with me, if you did. I do plan to pick up blogging again. But it will no longer have a "place of honor" in my life. So, if I get to it, great. If not, you'll have to come visit us in Fairview to see my sweet kiddos!
Love to you all, family and friends,
God bless,
Krys
JOY. This is a tough one. I am not a naturally joyful person. I become easily angry, frustrated, annoyed, and snarky when things, even the littlest, most insignificant of things, don't go my way. The place where this is the most prevalent? My HOME. The place my husband and children come to find love, laughter, refuge from the darkness of this world. I am so convicted in this particular area and am working so very hard to change this, with God as my strength. I do find that when I ask him to help me put on joy, to choose joy in every encounter, my days are so much brighter! My perspective is completely different. My reactions to my loved ones are kinder, gentler, more loving. Do I still fall short? DAILY. But with God's help, I can feel a change in my heart. Praise the Lord!
"Be joyful ALWAYS; pray continually; GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ." ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18~ (emphasis mine)
PATIENCE. You'd think a woman with 3 children, ages 4, 2, & 6 months, would have an abundance of this. Not. At. All. But I do NEED an abundance of patience. It's so easy in this gotta-have-it-yesterday, 100 MPH, whirlwind of a world we live in to get caught up in the rat race. I want this NOW. I want to feel better NOW. I want a child NOW (just an example, definitely not ready for that just yet!), I want that job NOW, I want to be married NOW, etc. But God's timeline is not our timeline. Do not misunderstand me, friends: GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS. He answers them. But his answer may not come today, this week, this month, year, or even decade! And it may not be what we had in mind. One day, we will look back and understand. We will be able to see how God was refining us in those times of waiting. Waiting is HARD. The Scripture I've been clinging to lately is this:
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but THOSE WHO HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31~ (emphasis mine) Thank you, Jesus!!!!!
Wow. I didn't mean for this to get so long. Thanks for sticking with me, if you did. I do plan to pick up blogging again. But it will no longer have a "place of honor" in my life. So, if I get to it, great. If not, you'll have to come visit us in Fairview to see my sweet kiddos!
Love to you all, family and friends,
God bless,
Krys
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