Dwight and Angela

Scott and I love the TV show The Office. We paid tribute to it by dressing up as Dwight and Angela for the annual Wenslawski pumpkin party. For those of you not familiar with the show Dwight and Angela are an on again/off again couple with a lot of idiosyncrasies. Liam was a tool man/construction worker. I kept it very simple for him so he could run around and be comfortable. Here are a few pictures...

Photo/Video Update

Wilson from Tim the Tool man =)

Justin from Idaho...thank you thank you

Not sure who this clown is

One side down, one to go

Random Video that has nothing to do with the roof.

Fear

Pastor Jon is working through Luke, yesterday we were in Luke 12. He was recounting stories from Foxe’s book of Martyrs. As he was telling them, I found myself shrinking deeper and deeper into my seat. Everything inside me and outside me did not want to hear stories of gruesome pain being inflicted upon the human body to the point of death. I found myself growing more and more terrified as he went on in more detail than I was comfortable with. This is a normal justified response right? Who likes to hear those things?

As we read Luke12: 4-5 I realized my fear was sorely misplaced. It says, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes I tell you, fear him!” Talk about a punch-in-the-gut. As I think more and more about this passage I realize I am and have been living a life of fear, worldly fear.

I fear man, physically I fear man. If I count the hours of sleep I have lost looking out our bedroom door and waiting for some man to come around the corner with a ski mask and AK 47, I most definitely, would be a rich woman. Ridiculous, I know but absolutely true. I have always acquiesced to this fear, after several robberies as a child. I believed it was justified. It never occurred to me that it was actually a manifestation of poor theology and poor knowledge of God’s truth. All man can do is kill my body, yes in very horrible ways, but it occurred to me, it cannot be any worse than the torment of eternal hell. Physical pain no matter how long it lasts is temporary. How thrilling!

I am excited and apprehensive to embark on my new desire to eradicate worldly fear from my life. Of course only by God’s grace can those habits change, but that grace is more than sufficient =)

This and That and a day at Fairyland.

I have been hanging onto a coupon for Fairyland in Oakland for a little bit now. We decided to go this weekend since we were taking a little hiatus from construction. We thought Liam would LOVE it and be running around everywhere, nada....he didn't seem thrilled at all. =( The only time I saw him smile was as we were walking to the car and he was on top of his daddy's shoulders. Go figure.

Looking A LOT like his Uncle Michael in this picture...

A day at Fairyland...

In the whale's mouth
Dancing, Liam won a free dance class, much to his dad's horror =)
Train ride

With some weird fairy who kept talking to the dragon
Walked in and found Liam napping like this...

Liam's new favorite toy

More dancing =)

Family room progress and 108 degree day and a lot of other randomness =)

Its all covered, roofing is supposed to start this weekend =)
This is how we keep Liam out of it

I am so excited! We even have can lights now that can turn on and off!

All wet in a super saggy diaper, I forgot to put a swim one on him, it was so heavy he could barley walk!

He liked it a bit more when I turned the water on low

He liked the sprinkler much more when it was off

Sprinkler #1

Sprinkler #2

Picnic lunch celebrating our walker at the airport

Watching the planes land

Liam coloring

Persevering In Motherhood…

It is the first day of NorthCreek school today. Last year I was ecstatic that I wasn’t there, I am pretty sure I danced little jig’s all over the house and twittered my fingers in excitement (a strange tendency I have). This year I had a good cry. Suddenly the world of teaching and sending kids home at the end of the day seems much more manageable and rewarding. Motherhood is overwhelming at the moment and I question myself unceasingly. “Am I doing this right? Am I disciplining in anger? Is he that “terror” child everyone can’t stand to have over? Do people think I am a bad mother?”….it goes on and on.

I should realize everyday that it is a day I need the Lord and an abundance of his grace, but today I woke up with a more keen awareness of that need. I didn’t read any enlightening passage in the bible that answered all my questions and put all my fears to rest or whipped my sinful mind and thoughts back into shape…I am in Exodus learning about all the rings and bronze altars etc…=). I plainly went about my morning routine and was faithful in my time with the Lord. And as I have gone about my established Monday tasks…change our towels, change our bedding, wash the bathroom rug, and all the hand towels the Holy Spirit has been consistent to work in me. Yes I do have a much harder job now, I will make many mistakes, and I am a horrible mother. My patience is lacking, my anger is quick, my spirit is lazy but my Savior is great.

He has blessed me with a child, a husband who is way too good for me, God loving and fearing family, and most of all salvation. In light of Him and His goodness and His promises to me, I can persevere in the task of motherhood. So today I can rejoice and do my little finger dance, not because I don’t have to teach anymore, but because I have a ridiculously great God who will never leave me nor forsake me.

Liam the Constant Reader