Talk, Ask, Listen, Believe

Sometimes when i'm reading her book "Praying for Boys" I feel like she is speaking DIRECTLY TO ME!  I also feel connected with her and like I yearn for her wisdom because she is also a mother of two boys (no daughters) who are about the same age apart as my boys.  Her sons are five years older than mine, and 23 months apart (mine are 20 months apart).  

I also love her because she says this in her book:

"Young boys are a whole different breed.  Mothers of girls often glare at me as if to say, 'Do they act that way all the time?'  I want to glare right back and say, 'Yes! They do!' "

Ever since having kids, or more accurately, ever since have a 2nd boy... :),  I've learned what it really means to feel out of control.  Those who know me well know that I like to have things done in a certain way and that I like to have things planned out pretty well in advance.  Now, being known as a perfectionist and/or a control freak isn't quite the way I'd like to be known... but i've come to terms with the fact that whatever it is inside me that makes me that way was put there by God, so the only way I can therefore "help myself" in these specific areas is to PRAY to Him who made me this way.  And this IS the way I was made... purposefully... imperfections and all... in His eyes I am wonderful.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."  

Psalm 139: 13-14

I've leaned so much into prayer this past year, more than ever before, and let me tell you, I can feel it... I have specific examples of prayers that have been answered in my life recently, and it feels soooooo good to know that I am not alone in my journey!!!!!!!!!!!  Speaking of not being alone, I can't say enough how thankful I am to have been paired with my husband Erik... his patience, his kindness, his love, his forgiveness.. OH his forgiveness!!!  Where would I be without him?  I don't even want to think about it!

"This season of difficulty has kept me diving headfirst to the cross." -Brooke McGlothlin

Ok back to the topic of prayer, the entire basis of Brooke McGlothlin's book "Praying for Boys".  Here are some awesome words from her book, the very words that inspired me to do the "21 Month Challenge". 

"This book was written with three main purposes in mind: to encourage parents to pray for their sons, to teach them how to do it, and to inspire them to keep doing it on a regular basis by explaining why it's a vital part of raising godly men.  God's Word is true and powerful and a perfect guide for parents who long to battle for the hearts of their sons in prayer."

"Explanations of prayer are often over-spiritualized and over-intellectualized, in my opinion.  I believe there is an entire element of prayer that works best in an informal chat-like-a-friend kind of way.  Jesus stepped down from heaven-a place of peace and perfection- into our messy, sin-filled world because He wanted to be 'God with us'.  With us. Not above us.  Not up in the clouds somewhere looking down on us.  With us.  Friend, no one knows you better than the God who sent His Son to die for you.  Close your eyes and imagine Him sitting right beside you, just like an old friend... because He is!  That's a pretty compelling case for feeling comfortable enough with someone to just chat."

"Prayer is really so much simpler than we make it.  There are four very small words that sum up what I believe prayer really is: talking, asking, listening, and believing."

Ok so I start my 21 months of praying for Bennett and Sawyer tomorrow!  

Well, i've been praying for them for a long time already, but now each month will have a distinct and intentional topic, all the way through January 2016!!!

Woo Hoo, here we go! Are you with me?!!

"Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

Psalm 116:2

Does anyone have an example of a prayer that has been answered in your life?

The "Challenge"!!!!

In her book "Praying for Boys", Brooke outlines 21 topics that she believes are the things our sons need most.  And as the title of her book eludes, we can only pray for them to attain these things. 

"Parents who pray for their children recognize their own inability to change their children's hearts, and put their faith and hope in the God who can.  The best way a Mom can enter the war for the heart of her son is on her knees." -Brooke McGlothlin

At the end of her book she challenges her readers to spend time on each of the 21 topics by devoting a day, a week, or (even better) a month on each one.  

Knowing my crazy busy life with my two boys and my (new) job, I figured 21 months would be a good option for me... So, I start May 1st!

Pretty wild to think that when i'm done with this challenge, Sawyer will be the same age that Bennett is right now... almost 3!!!!

Ok but why am I talking about this challenge to YOU my loyal blog followers?!!  Well, A) it holds me more accountable because I don't want to let you down, so it will help me succeed in this 21 month challenge.  And, B) If any of you feel inclined to pray for my sons along with me, or for your sons or your daughters, or grandsons or granddaughters, or nephews or nieces, or husband or wife or whoever!, then you will be able to participate in the challenge along with me, and learn a lot about prayer along the way.  

At the beginning of each month i'll post what the topic is for the month, and i'll probably have a few posts throughout the month on that topic as well.

Ok see you tomorrow when i'll have one more post on this challenge regarding PRAYER- 

what it is and why we need to do it.  

Have a great day!

*Also, if anyone was wondering what the "new" job comment meant, i'm starting a new position at the Long Term Care Unit soon!  "On-Call Nursing Administrative Supervisor"!!!  Wow sounds fancy! LOL.  It should be challenging and fun and a major learning experience for me!  I'm excited and feel blessed to have this opportunity to use my nursing license in a new way, and probably most of all, to help improve the care of our dear residents who live in the LTCU here in Chewelah.

Inspiration Strikes

What does a picture of a (delicious) fresh seafood salad 

have to do with sudden inspiration?

This is the only picture I took on my recent "vacation" with my husband (sad it's the only picture I got!)... But yes, I did say with ONLY my husband... and yes, that means NO KIDS!!!!!!!  

It's been... oh... a little over two years since we had a getaway like this.  

Erik had 21 hours in San Jose, California last week on a work overnight, so, since I had three highly qualified individuals at my house encouraging me to go on this trip with Erik (Grandma Judy, Auntie LoLo, and Uncle Anders), I made the leap of faith!  Why a leap of faith... because it was my first night away from my "baby" Sawyer... needless to say, I was NERVOUS.  Not at all for Sawyer's sake, but for the sake of whoever would have to try to console him when he woke up in the middle of the night and wanted HIS MAMA!!!!!!  LOL.

So anyway, "long story short", the time away was glorious... and I got to FINISH reading TWO BOOKS that i've been working on lately while I was waiting for flights in airports and flying on airplanes.  (It took four flights total for me to make this trip).

And as I finished one book in particular, I felt inspired by one of the "challenges" that the author Brooke McGlothlin left at the end of her book.

This is the book:

And the "challenge"... well, i'll tell you about that really soon :)  

hehe... love leaving you in suspense!!!

UNCLE ANDERS!

I'll just state the obvious... our boys would definitely prefer it if Uncle Anders could move in with us and not have to go back to North Dakota.

Especially Bennett!

Thank you for EVERYTHING Anders and Grandma Judy!!!!!!!  

We miss you already...

Easter 2014

Sorry for the brief and late posting of Easter pics and videos... we have all been sick here for a while now, but we're pulling through!  The light is appearing at the end of the tunnel!!!!!!

Picture Update

The view from Erik's office window.

My little/big buddy

We LOVE playing at the park, the boys sleep so much better on park days :)

A visit from Miss Lexi!

Subway for a picnic lunch at the park!

Happy 24th Birthday Auntie LoLo!

Sorry you're so bored Soy Sauce!!!

Daddy loving up on his baby boy :)

And Sawyer pointing to the cows and saying "Caw!"

Bennett our little sweetie :)

He looks waaaaay too grown up in this pic...

"One day, i'll be able to climb up this silly thing"

The Architect calls himself Alpha and Omega

I shall open my eyes and ears.

Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. 

I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. 

 I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their 

“divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic” existence.

 At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.

-Clyde Kilby-

Ski Date with my hubby!

At none other than 49 Degrees North, our home mountain.

 Beautiful spring skiing conditions and the best of company :)

Apres Ski in the parking lot, enjoying one of our favorite local microbrews, Irish Death!

Could've sat there in that sun for hours... 

Some of the most valuable lessons in life come from two-year-olds

"I shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision I had in childhood and try, at least for a little while, to be, in the words of Lewis Carroll, the 'child of the pure unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder'.”

Link: Desiring God

Springtime in Chewelah!