Thursday's Thanksgivings

I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we've been experiencing

the past few days.

It has provoked some wonderful time outdoors.

 I'm so thankful for the precious father/son time my boys had today.

It was John David's first time decked out in his bike safety gear.

He was given the bike and accessories last year, and I think the helmet is a bit small now.  
Thankfully, there was no wreck! 

I'm so thankful that my husband is so involved in my children's lives. 

Boys sure need their Daddy's.

(girls do too!)

Last but not least, 

I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me 

- and for all whom He calls by name -

through the sacrifice of His perfect Son.

I read Psalm 30 today, 

and my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for 

the transformation granted through faith  

in Christ and what He accomplished on the Cross! 

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.

O LORD my God, 

I will give thanks to you forever!"

Psalm 30:11-12

A "Claire Bear" Celebration

September 24, 2010

"Claire Bear":

a gift from JoJo before Claire was born

cousin James,

 who's one week younger than Claire

I sure love this precious birthday girl!

a message from Daddy

and in case you happened to notice,

Claire had to change clothes mid-party.

she had a major spit-up episode, which hasn't happened since the infant reflux days.

i guess it was too much excitement and no nap to speak of . . .

John David helping Claire open presents

my older brother's creative, multipurpose wrapping

(his wife and daughter were out of town ;)

enjoying her new prizes

(I love how she sticks her tongue out while concentraing :)

excited about the burning candle

John David helped blow it out

but not too thrilled about trying her cake

(she quickly began signing "all done")

nor was she thrilled about wearing the hat

on the other hand,

John David enjoyed his cupcake 

(gluten & dairy free! :)

**Cherrybrook Kitchen makes good mixes and icing

she prefers sweet time 

with Sweet T 

over a sweet treat any day :)

the train from JoJo and Pappy was a hit for all

the Kizziah clan as a one-year-old foursome

John David was wearing the present he received

 for being such a good big brother this past year.

He loves Mickey and needed new pjs :)

Happy Birthday, little Claire Bear!

We love you so much, and we praise the Lord 

for the precious gift you are to our family.

It's been a wonderful year!

Rewind Wednesday : The Sound of Music

Six weeks ago today, 

Claire and I began attending an oh-so-fun Kindermusik class with these special friends.

photo by "Miss Terri" :) 

 Four weeks ago today, 

John David became a part of our church's children's choir, "Petite Praisers."

This was exciting to me, for children's/youth choir played a huge role in my life growing up. 

 This picture was actually taken last October.

At that time, John David LOVED to "direct the choir!"

Three weeks ago today,

we were privileged to have the Children of the World Choir

come perform at our Wednesday night service and lead us in worship.

 All orphans, abandoned or a part of a family where they could not be adequately cared for,

these precious children represented 3 different nations 

and exuded with the joy of the LORD!

Their time with us also enlightened our church family about 

World Help ministries.

Click here to learn more about World Help's mission to "cause life" 

and how you can be a part of it.

Today's Smiles

I was thrilled to put John David in a pair of jeans this morning for school.

(And I was almost as thrilled that they still fit!)

We were so thankful for this beautiful day 

and for the great family time we enjoyed outdoors.

Fall is here, John David!

You've been so patient! :)

Before I go to bed,

I wanted to document a few of my favorite JD moments today.

First of all, when putting him to bed tonight, 

we did our normal routine of praying and singing him a song.  

Tonight, for the first time, he asked if he could sing me a song.

"Yes, Please!" I replied.  

Oh, I was thrilled and couldn't wait for my 3-year-old serenade!

He then proceeded to sweetly sing me 12 verses of "The Wheels on the Bus."

I loved every minute of it!

(And just to let you grandmothers know...

"My T on the bus was watching cartoons, watching cartoons, watching cartoons"

and

"JoJo on the bus was singing all day...")

:)

David picked John David up from school today.

He said that when they got in the car, 

he asked JD to tell him 5 things that he did this morning.  

(That was a lofty request; we're usually doing good to get 1 of him!)

David was thrilled that an account of the day's activities started spuing forth from our son!

David told me this when they got home, 

and of course I wanted to hear everything to.

So with excitement and much anticipation of his lengthly account, I asked, 

"John David, please tell me what you did at school today!"

And he - very calmly - replied,

"That was for the car, not for inside the house."

Though disappointed, I understand the male word bank is smaller from the get go.  

No worries; maybe I'll get the pleasure of picking him up next time. :) 

  

Scripture Memory Monday

Last week I wanted to focus on the blessedness of the man who trusts in the LORD

(Jeremiah 17:7-8).  However - though no not so uplifting - I felt the need to think upon 

what it means for one who does NOT put their trust in Him.

"Thus says the LORD:

'Cursed is the man who trusts in man

and makes flesh his strength,

whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6  He is like a shrub in the desert,

and shall not see any good come.

He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,

in an uninhabited salt land."

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (ESV)

As I mentioned last week, these verses in Jeremiah 

cause me to reflect back to Psalm 1.

Amid talking about the one who "delights in the law of the LORD,"

this Psalm clearly states that 

". . . .[the wicked] are like chaff that the wind drives away" (1:4b)

And that ". . . .the way of the wicked will perish" (1:6b) 

As Your children, O God, please grant us grace to 

"walk not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners,

nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (Psalm 1:1).

We beg for the grace to fling ourselves upon Christ

and to embrace HIS robe of righteousness; 

 we have none of our own! (Romans 3:10)

For ALL of our hearts are 

"deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; 

who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

We need You, O Christ, for we are desperately sick indeed!

But we humbly praise You that You gave Your life to make us well. 

In Christ, 

the "shrub in the desert" that sees no good 

and "dwells in the parched places" of the uninhabited, salty wilderness (Jeremiah 17:6)

is exchanged for 

"a tree planted by streams of water that yeilds its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3).

Thank you, Father, that 

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation" (1 Corinthians 5:17)

is not just poetry . . .  

it's reality!

(Though not verbatim, I heard Paul Washer say this before.  I needed the reminder!) 

One Year Old Perks

By law, when you meet specific age/weight requirements,

you are granted some pretty coveted privileges.

One of those is exchanging a rear-facing car seat 

for one that faces forward.

David surprised us today by making the switch.

Claire sure enjoyed the view!

Just one more reminder that my girl is growing so quickly.

And it's even more incentive to make sweet memories along the way. 

Friday's Photo

We praise the Lord for the gift He that He gave us one year ago.

Happy Birthday, Claire Bear!

May God's grace grow you into a woman who fears the Lord,

treasures Christ above all and brings glory to Him for the rest of your life.

It is my joy and privilege to be your Mother. 

I love you so much.

Thursday's Thanksgivings

I have so very much to be thankful for today. 

This time - one year ago - labor had begun,

and my little Claire began her entrance into the world.

I labored through the night, 

and Claire arrived precisely on her due date - September 24th - 

at 6:01 in the morning.

Right on time, I'd say.  Just like her Daddy. 

She continues to prove to be like him more and more each day.

I'm so glad.

So today, on the eve of my little girl's birth,

my heart overflows with humble gratitude to 

the Giver and Creator and Sustainer of life.

Thank you, kind Father, for Claire.

She is a gift from you. 

Around 10:30 p.m.,

about to head to the hospital.

I started dilating about a month earlier, 

and I honestly thought there was no way I'd make it to my due date.

Our bags had been packed and plans were in place for John David.

I found it funny that my labor pains actually began 

as I sat down to read a section in my pregnancy book about how to induce labor!

I had already heeded some advice I received from several women at church that evening.

I had taken 3 brisk laps around the house 

(indoors - pumping my arms down the hall, through the living room - I know I was a sight!:)

and I had gladly downed a glass of cranberry juice.

An eggplant sat in my fridge - at the suggestion of another friend -

waiting to be cooked, though I'd never attempted that before.

Then I sat down on the couch with my book and a bag of carrots,

and it all began. 

The Lord's timing is perfect!

For that, I am so very thankful!

(I never made it to the eggplant. ;)