Baby news!

Well..it's been a while since I've updated this thing! I am now..16wks pregnant with baby number 7!!!!! We will be finding out the gender in two weeks (hopefully). Everything is going well. I can feel Baby moving alot now. A week ago, just flutters. Tonight..I actually felt some kicks. It just never ceases to amaze me..there is a living human being growing inside of me. A true miracle from God!

We had a pretty mellow summer. Our new (to us) 97 Chevy Express, that we bought in the spring, has been sitting mostly in our driveway. After plugging an additional 1800 dollars into it...we're still trying to narrow down the problem. I think we're getting there..but we're certainly not taking it back to our 'regular' mechanic. I've learned far more than I ever wanted to know about Chevy trucks, thanks to Chilton's...and Google. :P

Since I found out about our newest blessing right when our school started, things have been..a bit slow, in our education department. But now that the 2nd trimester is finally here..I'm feeling better, and I think we're getting back on track. I had originally wanted to end our school year at the end of May, but I'm thinking now w/ baby coming in April..we may school right on into June..to finish up. Next year..I'm seriously considering getting all new curriculum..something easier on me, that will cover all the bases. (Thinking about Christian Light Education, or similar..we'll see)

That's about it for an update now. The kids are all growing like weeds. Ethan is taller than ME now. Ultrasound results coming soon! :o)

Explaining abortion to a six year old...Red Envelopes Day.

I received this email earlier today...and wanted to share it.

How would you explain abortion to a six year old child?



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March 31st was "Red Envelope" Day. We participated by preparing our red envelopes to send to President Obama. Xena knows the tragedy of abortion, but JLee did not...it is very difficult to explain to a 6 year old about legalized abortion, everyone who "sits on the fence" should try it sometime, I believe it would radically alter the viewpoint. I wanted to keep the explanation as mild as possible; any attempt to gloss could confuse JLee, and Xena would not let any dishonesty for delicacy sake to occur. As I was pondering my approach, the thought kept popping up, "If I can't explain to a 6 year old then what unbelievable excuse are we telling ourselves?" Abortion is what it is...to abort means to discontinue...in this case, it means the existence of the baby. I know I am "preaching to the choir", however the recent reports show the staggering numbers of abortions in my lifetime have totally flattened me...and these numbers are only for the United States! Could I have made a difference in all those years? Could I have sought the Lord more? Of course, I could have...there can be no other answer; the shame hits me with such a horrid force. But, I do not despair, for I have a Redeemer who forgives the tragedy of my Laodecia sin. Moreover, my renewed hope is this, as long as He tarries...I can be His sword, awake and able to will His will.

There are many things in this world that a 6 year old child need not know about; many things that are considered inappropriate or gruesome and for me abortion is one of them. I was not prepared to tell JLee the "reasons" given for abortion, I was simply going to tell her what it was and why we were sending the envelopes...but this seemed to be so cold. I toyed with the idea of NOT telling her, but I knew Xena would have not liked this idea. I knew there would not be a barrage of questions after my explanation; JLee is simply not like that. Knowing this, it made it worse for me; questions clear the air and set the feet on a straight path…

Here is what I told this little girl and her remarkable reply:

"Doodle, we are mailing these envelopes to President Obama. We are mailing them because he is signing into law that our tax dollars be used for women who do not want to carry their babies anymore. It is called abortion. Some people believe they have a right to keep their babies from growing inside of them and so they abort them. They believe they have good reasons..." I hesitated for a question, but none came...I continued, "Right now, there are laws that restrict abortions and keep our tax dollars from paying for this, President Obama wants to change this and make abortion possible for everyone at anytime, even in other countries. There are people mailing these envelopes from all over the country and we hope that President Obama will listen and understand how many people do not want him to promote abortion".

JLee was quiet for a long moment, as she pondered I watched a very sad realization come upon her face, very quietly she asked me, "Grammie, why would a Mommy want to kill her baby?"

My heart sank, I had been careful not to use the word kill, although this is what happens to the child; to deny it would be insane and “culturally accepted” explanations absurd given the astute clarity of her question. Truth was what she wanted, “JLee, I just don’t know...except for the fact that we are all sinners...can you see my little Doobug, why we so desperately need a Savior?” Her little lip trembled, and I hugged her, "The babies that have been aborted are safe in the arms of Jesus...no worries there...but the Mommies' need our prayers. They have to live with a very bad choice and they need to know about the saving Grace and Forgiveness of our Lord."

We prayed and I could tell she took a great comfort in knowing the babies were now safe with the Lord and their mothers given to Jesus.

I wish President Obama could have looked into the face of JLee as she asked that question...to feel the crush of its weight...

Talk later

L

Psalm 139

"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea. Matthew 18:6

Here is an article about the results of the Red Envelopes...

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=93404

Signs of Christ's Return

The Judgment of the Nations Part 2

An excellent read..
http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/sg2379.htm

Day trip to Lake Pepin, Mississippi River

A short clip from our day trip to Lake Pepin (Mikey, Obie, Eliahna and me) The river is still frozen, but it was a fairly warm day (40's). Ethan, Isaac, Noah and Daddy went for a walk to the end of the pier.

12 Year Old Steals Day With Prolife Speech

"Teachers threaten disqualification, but girl chooses to speak against abortion."

Click on the title to see the article, and view the video.

Pray for Shelly

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewMyStory.do?method=executeInit

Please keep this woman in your prayers.

She climbs! She walks!

A couple videos for our grandparents back in WA. :o)

Taming the Tongue

This sermon has been so very convicting to me..

Taming the Tongue, Part 1--James 3:1-5 ~John MacArthur

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/59-17

Taming the Tongue, Part 2--James 3:5-12

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/59-18

Some things I wrote in my journal, from part 1.

*"Every one of us is carrying around a concealed weapon, all we have to do is open our mouths and it's unconcealed.
* Remember your tongue is in a wet place and can slip easily.
* If a person can master his tongue, he can master his evil tendencies throughout his whole body, and that means his person.
* Focus on the mouth. If the Holy Spirit gets control of the most volatile and the most potent member, the rest will be subdued.
* The Bible refers directly to a wicked tongue, a deceitful tongue, a lying tongue, a perverse tongue, a filthy tongue, a corrupt tongue, a bitter tongue, an angry tongue, a crafty tongue, a flattering tongue, a slanderous tongue, a gossiping tongue, a back-biting tongue, a blaspheming tongue, a foolish tongue, a boasting tongue, a murmuring tongue, a complaining tongue, a cursing tongue, a contentious tongue, a sensual tongue, a vile tongue, a tale-bearing tongue, a whispering tongue, an exaggerating tongue, etc. Did you see yourself anywhere in there? (I did.) No wonder God put your tongue in a cage behind your teeth, walled in by your mouth.
*Speak only gracious words. Speak only kind words. Speak only loving words, true words, thoughtful words, holy words, sensitive words, edifying words. Speak with gentle words, comforting words, words of blessing, words of humility, words or wisdom, words of thanksgiving. Speak only unselfish words and peaceful words. And if you do that, you'll control every other part of your life, because the only way you can do all that is being under the power of the spirit of God. But the focal point is to concentrate on the control of the tongue.
*Pray-Lord please help me say what you intended to say. No more and no less.

In memory of..

Our sweet baby nephew Wyatt Sawyer Moerke.
He was born on this earth
Dec. 22nd, 1998..
and flew into the arms of our heavenly Father
January 8th, 1999.

We love you sweet Wyatt..
and look forward to the day we'll get to know you
in Heaven with our Lord Jesus!