Kindergarten, scuppernogs and buggies

I know, it's been a long time since I've updated. Things have started to settle down a bit here and feel a little more normal. Kylie has gotten into a good routine with school and is loving the social aspect of class and excelling at the academic parts. It's been interesting to see the evidence of favor in her life. There have been two "drawings" that they have started up in since the beginning of school. One was for the "Queen/King of the day" and the other for the letter "expert." She has been the first one drawn for both of these. She says something like "I was hoping and praying that it would be me, and my wish came true!" Gotta love it! It's been a challenge for me to let her go every day and not have that constant influence on who she plays with and what she does. We're wondering how to give her a sense of independence and self but still keep her well grounded...letting her make her own choices while still guiding her. It'll be a fun journey!

Caleb is really coming into his own with Kylie gone during the day. It's quite a novel thing for him to be the oldest...and it fits him well. Micah and Macey are quickly becoming playmates and enjoying one another. Macey is quite the social butterfly. Think Kylie 3 years ago and mutliply it - by a lot! She will talk to anyone, anywhere about anything. Micah has developed into quite the ham and is saying "I love you," "thank you," and his all time favorite "Daaaaaa," (for use whenever Jason is in earshot).

You may be asking about the title of this blog about now. What is a scuppernog, you ask? A couple weeks ago, I was at a fruit stand hoping to find some fresh cherries for a pie. (Oh, how I long for some cherries from the Gabriel's orchard...nothing even close here). They were out - no surprise- but they did have a HUGE crate of scuppernogs and muscadines. Playing the out of towner perfectly, I asked the guy next to me. He said in a very souther accent -- try one, they make good wine. Turns out they are a bit like a grape and a cherry in one. Not the greatest, but they do apparently make AND sell scuppernog wine...I've only seen it at Wal-Mart, though. I think I'll wait on that one. Speaking of Wally-World, when you get something to push your groceries in here...it's not cart, it's a buggy - just ask the locals!

I think I wrote about my neice, Ana, a couple posts ago. She gets to come home today - yeah! She has officially been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. She will most likely start a type of dialysis that uses the lining of the stomach instead of the kidneys to filter out the toxins in her body. Not the best diagnosis, but it could be way worse and God is still so good! Here is something my amazing sister-in-law (ana's mommy) wrote and the news letter from the church that my brother pastors with his insights. Ana and her brother Aiden are so blessed to have them as parents. Please continue to pray for them and for a miracle for Ana's little kidneys...

I wrote the above about an hour ago, and just had a thought to share:
Something D said in his newsletter a while ago struck me, and God has been letting it marinate in my brain since then. God is more interested in our character than our comfort. (paraphrase) It occurred to me just tonight that the places in scripture where God speaks about goodness or prosperity probably have nothing to do with our view of goodness and prosperity.
I have often taken comfort in verses like the following:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"...He who trusts in the Lord will prosper. Prov. 28:25

I have been thinking of these entirely backwards. God isn't speaking of my view of my "good" nor is he speaking of worldly prosperity. My view of "good" is that my daughter would be healed, and my view of prosperity is a comfortable living. I'm a good 'baptist' girl and I'm reluctant to admit that I have viewed this verse about prosperity in this way (we try to get as far from the 'name it claim it' thinking as possible,) but I think if we're honest, we have probably all done it in some way or another.

God's view of "Good" is that he would be glorified. If more glory would be shown in her illness than her healing, then i need to be just as fervently praying that he would be glorified in her illness. Dare I say... more so.

My prayer tonight was for God to show me HIS view of goodness and prosperity.
-And-
That he would help me deny myself and learn to be full of joy in what he calls good.

Maybe God is calling you to join me in this petition.

Thanks for indulging me in my ramblings. Not that you had much of a choice, I've already typed it, and curiosity probably propelled you to continue reading. All I have to say about that is HA HA HA :)

luv u all,
k

Kennewick Baptist Church September Newsletter --

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24

Jesus spoke these words after delivering His most famous discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. In that message He painted with a broad brush and covered everything from revenge to fasting, from marriage to humility. Plainly put, He talked about life and said that the wise man is he who not only hears God’s truth about life, but then puts it into practice when given the opportunity. Head-knowledge must be translated into the language of our hearts, which can then be used to renovate our lives.

Over the past few weeks God has given me ample opportunity to “put into practice” truths I thought I’d known before. It’s one thing to say I trust the Lord with my family, and another thing altogether to sit alone in an airplane as my daughter is airlifted to another hospital because they’re unsure if she’ll make it through the night. It been easy in the past to say I will rest in the Lord when things were going smoothly, but it’s a different story when that “rest” must be chosen in the midst of jumbled emotions, muddled thoughts, a cluttered heart, and an impersonal ICU room.

My point is not to highlight my situation (as many of you have faithfully traveled this same road . . . and paths much darker than mine), but instead to state the realization that even our deepest trials can become fertile ground for profound growth. I am increasingly convinced that God is much more concerned with our character than He is with our comfort . . . and that He allows trials to intersect our lives in order to bring us to points of decision: will we be faithful to live out what we say we believe?

The storms of life will blow and the waves will buffet our hearts. There is no escaping this fact. However, when the forecast looks bleak may we come to see that God is placing before us another opportunity to not only “hear” His words, but to live them!

So as you go through this month . . . with all its ups and downs . . . remember what God has said, remember what He has called you to do and who He has predestined you to be, and then be wise and live like it. May God bless you richly as you live for His glory . . . even on stormy days!

Blessings - Dustin