It's Like a Joseph Moment

Really, it's an answer to prayer!

Jeramy's work schedule as a police dispatcher was causing a lot of issues physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially. Thursday through Monday nights 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. he would work. It left two nights a week (Tuesday and Wednesday) to fellowship with each other or other families. It made weekends, especially Sundays, particularly tough because of sleep conditions, he would be prone to migraine headaches almost every weekend. He (We) also have been restricted on the amount of ministry we could participate in and generally I have been very bitter at the demands of getting four people ready for church single-handed on Sunday mornings. However, there were many benefits, sick time off, family medical time off, vacation time, health insurance, opportunities for overtime on the holidays, a safe working environment and job security.

We've known for some time that a schedule change was coming based on filling a vacant position after a co-worker retired, but we had no assurance as to whether it was going to be a good change or one where we could no longer attend Sunday church together as a family. So we just prayed that God would grant us some relief.

What seemed like overnight (really in 3 days time), another position in the police department opened up. Jeramy quickly submitted his resume and almost just as quickly, they shut the doors for receiving any other applicants. The next day he was scheduled for an interview along with several other people. The day after the interview (today) he received confirmation that he had been chosen! The location/commute, benefits, insurance, safe working environment, job security, etc. are all the same, however his schedule will now be Monday through Friday, with nights, weekends and holidays off! This is so wonderful! We can only attribute this quick transition and favor in the police chief's view to the grace of God! This will make marriage and family life more stable, ministry and social life more regular, and bring much needed stability to Jeramy's chronic issues with migraines. Praise the Lord!

For the Lord will not reject forever,

For if He causes grief,

Then He will have compassion

According to His abundant lovingkindness.

For He does not afflict willingly

Or grieve the sons of men.

Lamentations 3:31-33

Moriah: A Mature Reader

Here's a picture of Moriah reading with Grandma Jane's glasses. She's not advanced to bi-focals just yet. :-)

Gummy Smiles

Shiphrah is now 7 and a half months old! I wish she would stop growing!

A School-Time Teaser

I was changing Shiphrah's diaper just now and as I reflected on two of my school friends (one from High School and the other from College) getting married over these past 6 months, I considered when and if they might have children of their own. Then a song came back to memory from elementary and middle school; perhaps you know it (I'll use our names as an example):

Meggan and Jeramy sitting in a tree

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

First comes love, then comes marriage

Then comes the baby in the baby carriage.

(And so on.)

Then I considered that there was something wrong with this. Tree climbing is okay. But I noticed that the physical relationship begins before love and marriage! Kissing has become so commonplace even in this teasing children's rhyme. Do you kiss first, then decide to love and marry? If the kiss is bad, do you consider him or her unloveable?

It is good that love comes before marriage, but it grows even more after marriage. It is also God-glorifying that babies come after the marriage has begun. But there is a gap. Kissing is the beginning of the physical relationship, but the babies are the fruit of that physical relationship. Therefore the kissing should not really start until after the marriage. Maybe this song should be re-vamped for a courting context. :-)

Meggan and Jeramy (and their respective families)

meeting regular for fellowship

C-O-U-R-T-I-N-G

First comes love, then comes marriage

Then comes the baby in the baby carriage.

Nursing and crying, cooing and pooing,

Then whining and complaining, time for potty training.

Just a thought. :-)

Multitude Monday

It's been a long time since I've expressed some open gratitude; I need to get back into the habit. Develop the habit of practicing righteousness and lawless deeds will fall by the wayside.

551. I'm thankful for the Word of God encouraging me and directing me to replace unbiblical thoughts with Biblical ones that glorify God and edify and sanctify my attitudes. Here are some examples from Martha Peace's book, The Excellent Wife. If it's been a while since you've read it (or haven't yet once) and this encourages you, re-read it. It's worth your time.

Unbiblical Thought: "I'm not going to live a lie and be a hypocrite . . . " [and use this as an excuse to sin].

Replace with the Biblical Thought: "I am never being a hypocrite when I obey God in spite of my feelings."

Unbiblical Thought: "He'll never change." (Or even, "This situation will never change.")

Replace with the Biblical Thought: "Only God can know whether he'll ever change or not. I commit to love him whether I feel like it or not." (Or, "God is sovereignly controlling and omniscient. Whether or not my situation gets any better, I commit to obey Him whether I feel like it or not.")

Unbiblical Thought: "This is more than I can bear. There is no hope."

Replace with the Biblical Thought: "There is nothing that has happened that God cannot forgive [or heal, or provide], that I cannot forgive [or wait patiently for], and that we can't work through."

552. I'm thankful for quiet moments alone when I'm awake. And they are few and far between.

553. I'm thankful for the joy my mother-in-law brings when she comes to visit us. Seeing her have joy over her grand babies lightens our home.

554. I'm thankful that sometimes (not often) Moriah whines less.

555. I'm thankful that we are able to host other families in our home, that our home is conducive to hosting large gatherings for fellowship.

Excuses, Excuses

I'm so sorry I've been letting y'all down out there! I promise I'll try to be more consistent with even a little something. It's easy to get bogged down with "busy" taking care of three little ones and a husband to boot.

Studio News: Recital!

A studio recital is coming! Save the date.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

10:00 a.m.

Huthmaker Bowed Stringed Instruments

3140 Main Street

Duluth, GA 30096