Our Cup Runneth Over....

.............What we have been up to...

2009-09-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I haven't updated this in so many months. We have been busy adjusting to the newest little member of our family, Darcy. She was born April 2, 2009 and just turned 5 months old. I cannot believe how fast it is going by, seems like time is on fast forward around here! The boys just adore her and besides occasional too tight hug, they are wonderful with her. We feel so blessed!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Oh my Darcy!

2009-09-03T16:23:00.001-07:00

Sorry it is sideways! After trying 2 times to rotate this, I have given up. Hope you can still see her gorgeous smile.

A moment between bros

2009-09-03T16:19:00.001-07:00

Baptisms for the boys

2009-02-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

In the Presbyterian church, we practice infant baptisms as a symbol of the baby entering into the covenant community of believers, who will help guide them, and our intention as parents to raise them with the knowledge of Christ, not as an assurance of their future salvation. Liam and Deacon were both baptized this past Sunday. This is the picture of us taken as our pastor, Randy Pope, was baptizing each boy.

Our prayer: Dear Lord, please give Randy and I both the wisdom and patience to let these boys see and know your love through us.

Super Fun Party People!

2009-02-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

Here is crew from Liam's 4th Birthday Party. It was at one of those inflatable jump/slide places called Jump Zone.

Winter 2009

2009-02-06T07:21:00.001-08:00

Sorry to get so in your face, but the camera was just too intriquing!

2009-02-03T05:47:00.001-08:00

If you begin to live life looking for the God that is all around you, every moment becomes a prayer.—Frank Bianco

He's growing so fast!

2009-02-03T05:38:00.000-08:00

This little one is all over the place and into everything-it is hard to believe that pretty soon we will have another baby in the house.

A few borrowed thoughts

2009-01-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

I wish I could take credit for these but they come from my daily devotional. I found the picture online.

Intense love does not measure, it just gives.–Mother Teresa

Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower. —Hans Christian Anderson

Lord, help me to bring the dark places of my life into the sunlight of Your promise.

WEBA Book Club post & questions

2009-01-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

We are currently reading a Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It got off to a slow start, but honestly, I love this book. I added this picture of an old library postcard because I just liked it and like to think this is like the library that Francie spent so much time in.

The main character, Francie, age 6, is an avid reader (she is reading a book a day in alphabetical order)and incredibly austute in her observations. She describes a friend at confessional with her as "Maudie, who lived a less complicated life, had fewer sins to confess and had gotten out sooner."

Some other favorite lines for me are:

The child must have a secret world in which live things that never were. It is necessary she believe. She must start out believing in things not of this world. Then when the world becomes too ugly to live in she can reach back and live in her imagination.

It was the first of many disillusionments that were to come as her capacity to feel things grew

There had to be dark and muddy waters so that the sun could have something to background its flashing glory.

Discussion Questions:

Q1. Chapter 9 describes the conversation in which Katie's mom, Mary, and Katie are discussing how to keep Francie from living the life of poverty and hardship that they both have. Mary says the secret is reading and the two books that must be read are Shakespeare and the Protestant Bible. The Bible is a given, but if you had to recommend a book (or books)for a parent to read to a child, what would make your "must read list"?

Q2. I cannot NOT ask you guys about Chapter 10 in which Katie says that she will love her son more than her daughter, but must not ever let her know. Help me out here, do you have an insight into this or why she feels this way?

Q3. Chapter 19 starts with Francie's entrance into school. This is going to be another question about Katie Nolan because I am not understanding her yet (or wanting to like her and not being able to is probably more accurate). Katie doesn't want the kids to get lice or sick so she douses Francie's hair with kerosene and makes her wear garlic around her neck (I guess to keep other kids away). It is a heartbreaking description (one of many about Francie's ostracism) that the kids would cut a large wake around her as she walked. Arguably, this might have saved Francie's life since she was already a frail child, but it just hurts to think about a 6 year old being such an outsider. What do you think about this, about Katie's total disregard for the children's feelings (it is a constant theme in the novel so far and I am sure you could come up with many more examples of this)?

Another McMichael baby on the way-and it is a girl!

2009-01-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

I am not delusional enough to think that you guys are all going to ooh and ahh over these, but this is our little one at 28 weeks. I am due April 8th and would appreciate any and all prayers for her and for me. If you can tell from the picture, she looks an awful lot like her big brother Deacon with that little upturned nose. The second pic shows her arm and hand as well. Who says we don't live in a time of miracles?!

" 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. My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book was written every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none." Psalm 139 13-16

Liam and Uncle Josh

2009-01-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve 2008

2009-01-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

What are the holidays without your friends?

2009-01-12T15:40:00.000-08:00

Some of you might recognize this little cast of characters. Cooper, Julian and Lucy all came over for a visit.

Who is this guy?

2009-01-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Santa made a house call to my sister's this year and we got to join in in the fun. Liam isn't about to cry, though he does look like it. I think he is just tired of smiling!

Thank you, Lord, for undeserved blessings

2009-01-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Every time I think "What did I ever do to deserve such a creative, compassionate little boy (with such style!)?" a little voice inside reminds me I did nothing, he is just a gift. Liam truly is and blesses me and his Dad every day.

Deacon turns 1!

2009-01-12T15:25:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this face say it all? "I didn't think I should eat that, but the lady insisted!"

Deacon and Daddy

2009-01-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

These two just have a special bond. Deacon absolutely lights up when Randy enters a room and is always looking around once he hears his voice. He follows Randy around (crawling) all morning while he is getting ready for work. It is the most adorable thing-to see two of the people I love the most just really get each other.

Christmas Tree Shopping

2009-01-12T15:10:00.001-08:00

The McMichaels and Browns have started a bit of a tradition...well, two years running anyway. The day after Thanksgiving we meet at a really neat tree farm (the Kinsey Family Farm) and get a Christmas tree. They have other great activities for big and little kids, a tractor hay ride, marshmellow roasting, free hot chocolate, and Liam and Haley's favorite activity, running in and out of the Christmas trees chasing each other.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

2009-01-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

I have just started this book last night after almost a week of staring at it on my kitchen counter. I am a little intimated by the cover-not my usual sassy cover showing high heels or cartoon pictures of women (the cover of the last book I read was a woman floating on a flipflop in a sea of chocolate) and then I read the foreword. Okay, now I am officially initimidated. I have formed a kind of book club with my two friends, Jenn and Jess. Jess was the one who chose this one. I don't believe I have read anything that would qualify as a "literary classic" in a very long time-I hope I don't need cliff notes. Will keep you posted on how it progresses, but I finished the first chapter last night and so far, so good....I am not usually a fan of the whole finding-beauty-in-pain-and-struggle, but I would guess that is part of the point of having a club, exposing myself to different types of books.

It has been awhile...

2009-01-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it has been a really long time since I posted anything, but it was one of my resolutions this year to be better about updating this. I have some new pics that should be up soon.

Two teeth and all smiles

2008-07-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know if either Randy or I could express how much we love this little guy. His warm nature, so quick to smile and snicker...he really is an absolute joy and gift from our Lord. We are so blessed to get to experience the wonders of childhood a second time.

More Snuggles!

2008-07-21T07:37:00.001-07:00

Every time we put Liam in his room for a nap or bedtime, the immediate request is always "more snuggles!" Now that we are working on his manners, the request has become "More snuggles, please!" Who can resist this face? Certainly not I!

Cashiers, NC

2008-07-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

We spent the 4th of July weekend in the mountains with Shelly's family. It was a great time and Liam really enjoyed getting out there in nature. He even slid down a rock into the icy cold water with Randy.

Authentic Love, sermon July 20, 2008

2008-07-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

This sermon was given by our lead pastor, Randy Pope, yesterday. I pray I communicate it well, my notes are kind of messy!

Authentic Love-
Corinthians 13

All gifts of the spirit fall behind love. Love is the most important, central part, of how we grow and live as Christians. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). All of these fruits are before the gifts of the spirit as well.

A relationship with God falls into one of two categories-the "do" and the "done" side. On the "Do" side, we are performance-oriented, operating from a place of self-righteousness to do work for God. On the done side, we are operating in grace, in Christ's righteousness, which flows naturally to love. From love, we begin to perform works for the Lord. Without the grace of Christ, we will never reach love and never fulfill the work for God because we don't have the proper foundation.

The mark of maturity if the ability to love the unloved and the unloveable.

Love is based on something we do. Does it have emotion? Yes. Does it require emotion? Absolutely not.

The nature of children is to squabble over gifts, but the real issue is "Do you love?" The most important message Jesus delivered was to love God and to love your neighbor.

The difference between inauthentic and authentic love is : inauthentic love is a natural emotion and authentic love has a supernatural quality.

Romans 5:5 The fruit of the spirit begins with love. Our prayer to God:

"I cannot love without You. I surrender and ask You to impower me. I am committed to love and looking for Your power to enable me to love."

"The Stand"-a beautiful song we sang
So what can I say?
What can I do?
But offer this heart, O God,
completely to You.

So I will walk upon salvation,
Your spirit alive in me.
This life to declare Your promise,
My soul now to stand.

So, I'll stand
With your arms high and heart abandoned.
In awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered,
All I am is Yours.

Goin' Fishin'

2008-06-26T08:03:00.001-07:00

We are constantly searching for ways to occupy Liam so that he will sit on the potty. Our latest ploy is a fishing rod. Potty training is serious work-for me not him!

Spitting Image of Randy

2008-05-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

These two boys are both the spitting image of their father. So handsome!

God is awake.

2008-05-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

" Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." -Victor Hugo

Afternoon in the sun

2008-05-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

One of the amazing gifts of getting to spend the days with the boys is this: an impromptu afternoon picnic!

St. George's Island, April 2008

2008-05-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Authentic Living, Sermon May 11, 2008

2008-05-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

This was a really great sermon by Matt Ballard at Perimeter Church. I wanted to pass along. I tried to get the quotes accurate, but I definitely will be paraphrasing some of it.

Scripture 1 John 1-10
Verse 5: This is the message that we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Verse 6: If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

The Christian church has a serious PR problem. Most people cite there reason for leaving church as hypocrisy. Churches aren't known as a place where you can be you. We aren't known for love and acceptance as we should be...we are much more known for homophobia and protests. John was known as the Son of Thunder in his early days (for his persecution of non-Christians) and in his latter days, the Apostle of Love. How did he do this? He spent time with the authentic God. The way to get moved is by having an authentic Lord.

We are all living a charade of life, a facade, behind is an exhausted soul. Americans are desparate for the real deal. We are hungry for authenticiy because we were created in God's image, but because of the fall, we want to live in secret, to not be found out. So we have made a lifelong commitment to hiding for self-preservation. Inauthentic perfect people do not need grace. God extends grace to those who are messed up, in a real and honest way. Jesus didn't die for the public you , you-got-it-all-together you, the impressive you: He died for the real you.

Charles Spurdgen says (paraphrase) "You can either see an acorn as a snack for a squirrel or an ocean of oak." In the same way, our heart is an ocean of sin.

Light to sleeping eyes is disruptive and even painful. To be authentic, we must let the light in to expose our secret habits and as humans, we crave dark. The light exposes you as a fraud, but the light also heals you. Authentic savior equals authentic you equals an authentic life.

There is a grace that will not let you go.

Christmas 2007

2008-05-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

Liam admiring his little present.

Brotherly Love

2008-05-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

One of the few things Liam can do with Deacon: give kisses!

A little explanation and a commitment

2008-05-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Jessica has asked me many, many times to set up a blog like hers. I finally caved and here it is. The title, of course, is all about how blessed by God we have been. I am going to attempt to keep this updated with pictures and news of what is going on with us so that our family and friends far away can keep up with what is going on in the life of the McMichaels. I hope you enjoy!