A prayer...

Reading scripture today I came across an intimate moment of Yeshua (Jesus) with his disciples. He is comforting them as
They are learning that he is going to be killed very soon. He prays for them and then prays for all of those who believe and who will believe. I don't know if you've ever read this but reading it today really affected me. Yeshua prays that all believers would be one, in unity, focusing on working together and not growing further part, so that others may believe in Him. He also prays so intimately His desire for us to be where He is. There are many times in my life that I pray with such fervor that God would bring all my family close to me. It is a prayer that comes from the deepest of my heart. I can only imagine that this is how Yeshua was praying that day. He wants to be with us so intimately, he wants to be with us like a Father, like a brother, like a Sister, like a best friend. He longs to be close to us. Here is His prayer...

"my prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father just as you are in me and i am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Anticipation

This morning, I have been thinking about the coming of Yahshuah (Jesus). Of course most of us know that December 25th isn't really the day that Yahshuah came into the world but it is when we celebrate his birth.
I've never been able to relate to this story until this Christmas. Now being a mother and knowing the anticipation of a coming child I can relate to Mary so much. For those of you who have been pregnant think about your 9 months of pregnancy. No big deal right!? haha.
Take into consideration Mary's story: Mary, with the help of Joseph, is trying to lift herself up on the back of a donkey for a 90 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem! 90 miles on the back of a donkey in your last few days before your baby is going to be born! Can you imagine how uncomfortable that would be? At this point in your pregnancy you are hungry every minute, think you are having the baby every minute, and you most certainly do not want to ride on a donkey for 90 miles let alone 1/2 a mile! Mary, you are a trooper.
I think on the conversations between her and Joseph during their journey. I'm sure Joseph was just praying to get somewhere safe fast so Yahshuah could be born out of danger of Herod. Not only was Mary anticipating Yahshuah's birth but she was probably tired and scared. This is when faith and trust in Yahweh Nissi (The Lord our Banner) is needed.
What was Mary thinking? Did she still believe that she was going to give birth to THE coming Messiah that was Prophesied!?  What an amazing example of faithfulness and strength.

I don't know about you but now that I have had my own child, I get SO excited anytime a baby is about to be born. This Christmas I am SO excited for Yahshuah to be born! I wonder what he looked like as a baby? That cute scrunchy face, the long fingers that look bigger than his hands.
Did he have a full head of hair? How long was he, how much did he weigh? Babies are such an amazing gift to receive. I wish I could have been there to visit him and hold him. Think about the love Mary and Joseph have for their coming son. So much love.

Don't you think that if your child was born on your birthday or Christmas that they would be the most important thing to celebrate and not opening presents? You would be holding your child all day, staring into their face and thinking about how crazy it is that they are finally in your arms!

Let us celebrate this coming child! Anticipate his birth with me this Christmas! Hold him in your arms, stare into His eyes, spend TIME with Him! Praise God for this wonderful gift!

"But Mary treasured up all these things in her heart."

Luke 2:19

Did you know your toes Travel?

This little piggy went to Rome.

This little piggy went to Brussles.

This little piggy went to Rio.

And this little piggy went to Madrid!

But, this little piggy went "Oui, Oui, Oui, Oui, Oui!" 

 All the way home to Paris!

"Did you know your toes travel!?", I asked Ezekiel today.  He just looked at me with eyebrows raised and a slight smirk almost as if to say... "Yes Mom, of course I knew that."

One thing I really like about having our own kid is that we get to make up new traditions. Including making up our own words to songs of old. For instance "Little Bunny Foo Foo". Have you ever really listened to the words! It's horrible! Boppin' field mice on the head? How cruel! (Ok, so maybe it's not that bad but I really dislike that song.) So Kevin and I made up our own words to the same melody but ours is about Dinosaurs!! Please enjoy below:

Little baby Stegosaurus, troppin through the forest

Looking for all the green ferns and lickin' em' with his tongue!

Little baby T-Rex, running with his little arms

Finds a tasty morsel and CHOMPS it with his teeth!

Little baby Long Neck, masticating Ginko leaves

Swings his little tail around and bashes the T-Rex down!

Little baby Pteranodon SWOOPIN over the canyon

Gives a big loud, __(insert Pteranodon call)___ and that's the end of the song!

Now, tell me that isn't WAY cooler!? And it's educational! haha.

Well, I hope this has inspired you to make up some new traditions and or songs with your kids! It really makes it special.

Bringing you up to speed!

Wow, it's been awhile since we blogged! Here are a list of some things that have happened in the past few months:

1. Ezekiel turned 5 months old

2. We had a yard sale

3. We did not move up to the farm

4. We moved in with Kevin's parent's

5. Ezekiel turned 6 months old

6. Zeke and I traveled to Leann's baby shower in Illinois

7. We moved into a 3 bedroom home in Springfield (we love it)

8. We bought a used Volvo wagon - she's a beaut!

9. Ezekiel turned 7 months old

10. Janie came to visit (such a blessing)!

11. Getting our bellies ready for Thanksgiving!

Hopefully that brings you all up to speed with our lives. Here are some recent pictures of Zeke. Next blog we will have our video of new home.

Falling into Fall

Zeke is 4 1/2 months old now and doing all sorts of new things! 

He loves to bounce in his Jumperoo, hold his feet, snuggle, wrestle with Daddy, babble, babble, and babble some more, and really loves outside. Zeke is even trying to get up on his knees already! 

This past weekend we had a beautiful day outside. While Kevin and I did planning for the week, Zeke enjoyed looking up at the trees and talking with the birds. Zeke also helped me get the laundry off the line the other day! He is so much fun and we are seeing his personality more and more each day. 

Enjoy the pictures!