encouraged.

Psalm 42

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
"Where is your God?"
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?"
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
"Where is your God?"
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

bootstraps

You know your day is going to be interesting when one of the first tasks you attempt is trying to put the lid back on the cinnamon sugar and the container goes flying, spilling the contents evenly throughout the kitchen...and that reduces you to tears. The sobbing, gasping, uncontrollable kind of tears. While your toddler looks on in stunned amazement.

I mean, c'mon, pull yourself together, lady!!

Yes, folks, the pregnancy hormones are in FULL SWING. One nap later, I am able to laugh at myself. I tell you what, hormones are a crazy, crazy thing.

I have an OB appointment today, and midwife visit on Thursday, so I'm looking forward to those reports of progress! I can't believe it's a mere 11 weeks until I am considered full term. I am thinking welcoming thoughts to encourage our child to come whenever the time is right.

I was talking to a local friend yesterday, who recently added child #2 to the family, about things that they are adjusting to with baby #2. I asked her, and I'm asking you - what adjustments did you NOT expect? What were you surprised by? What words of wisdom can you offer?

I know you can never be really prepared, as each child and family dynamic is different. But I would love to hear from all you moms with "2 or more" experience about some practical ways to make the adjustment smoother. Things you wish you had done, things that worked well, etc.

Works of God Monday

Thank you all for praying for me; I know you did. This weekend has been interesting, each day a little better as far as pain goes, and I know that I will remember the past week for years to come with "fondness" in the most opposite sense of the word. Well, opposite except for the lessons learned about God and His faithfulness.

My teeth are feeling significantly better. I still have minor sinus pain (and headaches) and a sore jaw, but I will take that ANY DAY over the agony of the past week. It is all a bit of a blur.

God IS GOOD, all the time. He gives grace and uses people at the right place and time to help us. He will not give us more than we can handle. I know this more deeply now. Praise the Lord for using pain and painful situations in our lives to make us more like HIM!!

OK, now it's your turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

In the Mister Linky widget below, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your works of God testimony in the comment section!

Woo HOO

I would like to praise the LORD for friends who just so happen to be oral surgeons and who have access to powerful tooth numbing drugs (shots are sometimes so, so good). These work for up to 12 hours.

happy hallelujah dance, anybody?

a what?

Just got back from a root canal. Going to sleep while the Novocaine is still keeping me numb. Blessed relief, even if it turns out to be temporary.

Note: it was temporary. Please continue to pray. Pray that somebody figures out what is going on. Pray that I don't lose my sanity.

"hard" times

For the past week, I've been miserable. At least, part of me has. Last Friday, I began having pain in my sinuses on the right side of my face that created immense pressure and pain in my teeth on that side of my face. I tried everything natural I could possibly think of, and finally caved in on Sunday and went to Urgent Care in hopes that an antibiotic would remedy the situation.

Fast forward to Tuesday. Still no relief, and the antibiotic is making me sick. Being pregnant, all I can take for the pain is Tylenol. Oh, that really cuts the pain. (note the sarcasm) My family doctor changed my prescription to something stronger. Tuesday night, the pain increases. I am starting to wonder if this pain is also related to my actual teeth. I am starting to seriously doubt my sanity, my judgment is impaired, I wonder if it is time to turn in my driver's license.

I have a pretty high pain threshold, but this pain is pretty bad. Most nights, I haven't had more than a few minutes of sleep at a time - the pain in my teeth is waking me up in the night. Apply hot compress, feel some relief, return to bed.

Wednesday night, I decide an emergency visit to the dentist is in order. Maybe the problem is a combination sinus and tooth problem. The dentist is open at 8. So, more Tylenol and off to bed. I am now awake, at 4:02 am, waiting for my second dose of Tylenol to kick in. This is the second or third time I am awake, I've lost track of these sleepless nights. Will you "count blessings instead of sheep" with me?

There are so many people who deal with severe, chronic pain on a daily basis. I've had very few times in my life that I've had to deal with something this severe. This is blessing #1.

Yesterday was an extraordinary day with Aaron. We had so much fun, and he is the sweetest boy. This is blessing #2. He slept until 9, which allowed me to get in a little extra sleep despite this pain. Extra sleep is good, especially when there is extra pain. This is blessing #3.

My husband has been wonderfully supportive, offering back rubs and foot rubs and telling me not to worry about certain household chores that I've been too distracted by pain to accomplish. I'm so blessed to have an understanding spouse. Blessing #4.

I'm learning to trust God in the middle of this tiny little "hard" time. This is the character training, the workout for my faith and practical theology that I've been needing. Blessing #5.

I am more thankful for things like antibiotics, modern medicine, dental care, sleep. More thankful is good. Blessing #6.

This week, there has been a shortage of at-home work for me, which I originally thought was a disaster, but now...well, I'm definitely glad God knows what I need and can handle. Blessing #7.

Well, the Tylenol is finally kicking in. God is always good, all the time. My blessings are coming to mind more than ever now, but it is time to return to bed. Please pray for me, that I will be a soft, mold able lump of clay in my excellent Potter's hands.

Has God been revealing Himself to you lately - by "hard times" or by blessings? Has He been teaching you lessons? Can you share them? Will you? I'd love to hear!

Works of God Monday

Here is a neat little story of a blessing that God surprised me with this week. Aaron and I went shopping to find some gifts for Michael's birthday. We had a coupon from our credit card company that stated if we spent $10 on our credit card at Penney's we could get $10 off. This is one of my favorite deals at Penney's - I've gotten so many free things when they do this!

Well, we went to go check it out, and as we were moseying around the store trying to decide what to buy, a lady stopped me and asked if I was shopping at Penney's that day. She explained that she had a $10 off a $10 purchase coupon and that she hadn't been able to find anything she needed and would I like it? YES!! This coupon was even better since I wouldn't have to use the credit card at all! I thanked her and we went shopping in earnest! We found a nice shirt for Michael on the clearance rack - I thought it was $12.99 and was pumped to find out it was an additional percent off.

We paid 41 cents. Praise the Lord for His provision, even of "extras" like birthday presents!!

OK, now it's your turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

In the Mister Linky widget below, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your works of God testimony in the comment section!

Happy Birthday

Isn't it amazing how God works things out and gives us so much more than we knew we ever needed? This is what He did when He brought Michael & I together. Michael is the perfect fit for me, and I am more amazed every day at how much more I love him. He is godly and wonderful and makes me laugh so hard that...well, you know. Really hard.

I don't say it often enough, but thanks to my wonderful husband - you are hard working, honest, loyal, patient, others-focused, and much much more! You are my very best friend. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Life is never, ever dull with you. (and that is a very good thing)

limbo

Sometimes, I'm in limbo because of my forgetfulness. Sometimes, it's because hugely inconvenient things happen and I'm not sure what to do about them, and I get overwhelmed. Lately, it's been both. A lot of little things adding up to make me wonder what in the world is going on.

Part of me always wants to be six, to have life be a series of happy and flowery walks in the park, visits to school (ALL DAY!!) free housing, clothing, and anything else I need, riding my little bike with a basket. I don't want to lose my six year old optimism, for certain. Or that childlike, unwavering trust.

I'm trying to hang in there, trying to figure out what lesson I'm supposed to be learning here, but it's tough, I'm not gonna lie. Thankfully, my God knows what is ahead. And He is completely trustworthy. He gives GRACE. It's definitely not natural for me to relinquish any part of my perceived control. But I know who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised. And that is enough.

Works of God Monday

ACK! I was so excited to wake up this morning with energy that I started cleaning the house and doing laundry, and before I knew it, the time had gotten away from me and now it is noon! Happy Monday! (and sorry for the delay in posting this)

That "waking up with energy" is my work of God testimony this morning. This pregnancy has been a little rougher than the last, and I feel like I've had to let a lot of things slide around here just to keep up with our lives in general. I am thankful that God gave strength this morning to enable me to catch up on some much needed household chores that have been neglected for far too long.

It's your turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your works of God testimony in the comment section!

Prizes! Winner!

Thanks to all of you who entered the haiku challenge! How fun to get so many entries! I am not a haiku expert by any means, nor do I write it on a regular basis. So in order to be completely fair, I cheated. (And if you need a quotable quote, feel free to take that one, ha ha) Here is what I mean: I cheated wherein I printed out your comments, cut out each haiku and drew one as the winner instead of just picking my favorite.

The winner will receive 2 of my favorite things! A one-pot size sample of Seattle's Best Vanilla Bean coffee, and a tube of the best lip balm ever. This stuff is great - all natural & handmade by my friend Ashley who also makes goat's milk soap from goats they own and milk themselves. The name of her company is Kid Acres, how cute is that? She made this particular flavor (tastes like orange creamsicle, but has no sweetener) at my request, and I always keep a few extra tubes around for gifts. She is not selling her products online yet, but I hope to talk her into it in the near future. Seriously, she makes really great stuff.

So, drumroll please...The winner is...

SARAH GWIN! and here is her haiku:

Two-year-old dressed self
(Not worried about matching)
Fourteen times today

Sarah, email me your address and your prize is on it's way! Congratulations and thank you again to all who participated!!

before and after

It's haircut week at the Muth house. Here is Aaron, before (after breakfast - milk is a great volumizing hair product, apparently) and after (clean and shorn). *sigh*

He's growing up, and I am feeling older by the minute. I about had a heart attack when I realized today that there are only 13 weeks until I'm full term with our second. That is not very long.

last call!

If anyone still wants to enter the haiku challenge, be sure to do so before midnight on Thursday! I'll announce the winner (and the prize, of course) on Friday morning!

she said it!

Sometimes when I get the "AFA action alerts" in my email, I'm very glad to be informed. Other times, I just roll my eyes. Today, I got one about Subway's essay contest and it was one of the latter type of reactions. Then I read this. My thoughts, exactly. But more eloquent. And from the voice of experience, so even better.

What are your thoughts?

Works of God Monday

This Memorial Day, I am choosing to praise God for the amazing sacrifice of the men & women in our armed forces who have given their lives to protect our freedoms. I am thankful that God is at work in the world and that He calls people to serve Him in a variety of ways. THANK YOU armed forces!! And thank you, families of the servicemen & women for the gigantic sacrifice you make every day.

God is at work in the world, but also in our family! We've been blessed immensely with a job for Michael in construction - something that we never expected but something that has been a great asset and learning experience for him. And, despite the struggling economy, we have seen no setback in hours, and a busy summer is planned for his little company (the boss plus 2 employees). This October will mark 5 years with a great Christian boss and it has been such a huge blessing for us. God has also been providing side jobs for Michael lately, which has been another unexpected source of income. It looks very possible to meet our goal of being debt free very soon! Woo Hoo!

It's your turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your works of God testimony in the comment section!

haiku, anyone?

pained by this kicking
well deserved, but not from you
dear child within, quit.

Anyone ever written haiku? It's pretty simple, just a 5-7-5 syllabic pattern in the lines. I think I had to write some in high school - or maybe in college. I can't remember.

Will you write one for me in the comment section? Pretty please?

I'll pick a winner, really I will. There might even be a prize. Think of it as a "Happy Memorial Day Weekend" activity. A vacation for your brain. It won't even cost you any gas money. Unless, perish the thought, you are reading this blog while driving.

all wishes granted

You'll never guess what I came across today. Oh, yes. My very own baby naming genie...and he can be yours, too.

Of course, some of the suggestions are laughable (Sheldon Brendon Muth? I don't think so...)

welcome to the third trimester

Muth child #2 welcomed me into our third trimester together with a swift kick to the ribcage. "Good morning, dear mother!" I think that today, anyway, the baby is in the head-down position.

I read yesterday that my uterus is the size of a soccer ball this week. What a lovely thought. Actually it was quite comforting - no wonder my belly feels so huge! I wonder how big it gets by the end of pregnancy if it's already that big. Yikes.

Aaron is welcoming the third trimester, too, but with a nasty bout of allergies or a random cold. We are both still in jammies this morning and he's been hanging out on the couch with his Cheerios and water. Poor little guy.

this post

this post made me weepy today, no surprises there. I've been thinking through possible changes for our family with the coming little one, and when I ran across this article by a mommy of 12, well, my pregnancy hormones just served to increase the tear supply!

here is a little excerpt:

Overnight he has had to become the Big Boy, the Older Brother, the Independent One. His life is one of different prepositions than before: he sits next to me instead of on me, he walks beside me instead of riding in my arms. He accepts love from siblings and Daddy more readily than before, and these have all worked their will inside him, transforming him from baby to little man.

Aaronisms

I always thought "kiss it and make it all better" was a concept introduced by moms to their kiddos. However, I have had to rethink this.

Aaron has been coming to me lately when he has banged his fingers or toes and holding them out and saying, "momma? kiss?" and when I do he says "all better!" and gets this gigantic smile on his face.

I have no idea where he picked up this little habit, nor do I really care, because I think it's absolutely adorable. I'm really enjoying watching him grow, especially through this age where he's learning new things daily and talking in much more fluid sentences. He is quite the talker.

On the down side, his diction is a little questionable. There are a few words he says that sound like other words. When we are in public, I have to quickly say it back to him to avoid the misconception that we teach our child to curse or say things that are quite inappropriate. It is sometimes a tad embarrassing, but overall we just laugh and enjoy this funny little man and this fun little stage.

He's rarely without his hat these days, even when he's decked out in his pj's. It's the first thing he asks for (after daddy) when he wakes up and the last thing to put away before bed. He loves his daddy so much and wants to wear a hat like "daddy's hat" - he's started asking for "Broncos hat" and I really need to wash the thing, it's getting pretty dirty.

My mom says that each stage is more fun than the last, and I'm starting to agree with her. I'm really enjoying my toddler (even as I look forward to another newborn). What is/was your favorite stage in childhood, or is it different with each kiddo?

Works of God Monday

Does God care about little things? I would submit that He does! The Bible says that He knows how many hairs are on our heads, and that He provides for all our needs. He even surprises us with little blessings.

This week was a busy, busy week. I am beginning to long for the end of May in hopes that the summer slows down a little bit and we can take some deep breaths before baby #2 arrives! In all the scurrying about, I kept forgetting to bring my "fridge list" to the grocery store - I usually write down the things that I am almost out of or completely out of on a pad on the fridge. (my other items I type out when I do menu planning) I went to the grocery store TWICE this week, which is unusual, and both times did an ok job of remembering what I needed to buy - EXCEPT I kept forgetting to buy Lawry's seasoned salt, which at our house is a seasoning that we just don't care to run out of.

Yesterday I decided to stop by the store and buy a paper in the afternoon, and I decided to grab a canister of Lawry's, too. It "just so happened" to be on sale - BOGO! I was delighted and was praising the Lord for His little blessing, even as I was forgetful and absentminded!

It's your turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about how God has been at work in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your works of God testimony in the comment section!

God's Plan

It’s good for me to have a little wake up call every once in awhile. On Tuesday, I wrote a blog post about what happens when God works and it is different from what I wanted or expected. I got a great question from Amanda, basically, “What do you mean when you say that God has a plan for me?” It is such a privilege to be able to have a shot at answering your question, Amanda. Thanks again for asking it. I had a great time (and a brain-stretching time) trying to condense everything.

Speaking of condensing, I didn't do a very good job with that. I came up with just over 3 pages in Word. So I decided that instead of typing all of that out here, I would just link to the document.

So here it is! I hope it helps. (I pray it is accurate - please, study it out for yourself!!) Please comment with discernment and in love, keeping in mind that the readers all have different backgrounds, and that we are all at different places in our walks with the Lord. You can contact me personally here

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

it's coming...

So for all who are wondering when I'm going to post an answer to Tuesday's question, it's coming. It's a long answer. And I'm still working on it. Please be patient!!

While you're waiting, head to Dunkin' Donuts for a free iced coffee. And McDonald's for an almost-free dinner. If you can resist the urge to buy fries, that is.

Muth baby #2 is coming, too, right on schedule so far. Monday was an appointment with the world's fastest doctor, and there was great news - my blood pressure was fabulous (90/60) and he's checking to see how we can get the most accurate readout for my 28 week blood glucose test with a diabetes-like finger prick. Looks like I'm going to squeak by without lab work, hallelujah!

Tuesday was my first prenatal visit with our midwife, and I was much encouraged to talk with her and experience a different kind of care. My heart longs for a home birth, so right now we are praying even more fervently that God would make His plan for this birth known to us. I am confident that He will. We appreciate your prayers for us, too!

If you haven't yet, vote on your best guess on the gender of baby #2. The only clue-like info I've got is that the doc counted 148 beats per minute on the doppler, and the midwife counted 156 on the fetoscope while baby was moving around fiestily. My medical records indicate that Aaron's heartbeat was 149 at this point in the pregnancy. Happy Voting!

for the grandmas

Some photos of the recent events
Aaron relaxing on the big ball,
Us at the junior high youth activity (we fit in well, obviously)
Aaron, a vvvvery big boy, coloring
and
putting the crayons back
(he's quite particular)

When God is at Work

What do you do when God WORKS and you don't really like it? I'm one hundred percent certain that it means the problem is with me and my thinking, and not with God and His working.

Here's just one example:

For the past couple of months some of our closest friends here have been considering what God would have them do about moving. Not across town or even to another town nearby. No. Across the country. Pretty much as far away from Michigan as you can get and still be in the US. God has definitely been working to show them each step in this process, and it's not like it's a done deal - they are still praying, and I am still in complete and total denial. Friends like this just don't happen every day. I have to be honest. I. don't. want. them. to. move. But God might, and I need to be okay with that.

So here is where the practical part of my theology, my view of God, is supposed to kick in, and I'm supposed to start asking the right kind of questions.

What do I know to be true about God? He is Sovereign, He has a plan, it is for our good, it will give Him glory, He wants us to trust Him, He loves us, He knows what is best. He has promised to lead us, never leave us, give grace, give wisdom, provide, and the list goes on. (I'm already reassured, how about you?)

What do I know to be true about myself? I do not know best, I am not perfect, am not eternally minded, have no idea what God's long-term plans are, cannot be trusted, have a heart that is sinful and selfish. I am helpless, without wisdom, weak, needy.

Sounds like the perfect fit. As long as I trust Him. And guess what? There are more things God is doing that, at first look, are "uncomfortable" for me. But He is at work in my heart, too. He gives more grace, more strength for me to trust Him in every situation, every day. I cannot handle the daunting task of yielding my will, of trusting, but God can. He is working - in our friends, in this specific situation, and in my heart.

I am learning. Slowly, but richly - beyond knowing in my head. I am growing in grace. I am growing in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior, a knowledge that comes by experience, by tasting to see that the Lord is GOOD. And I am learning to praise Him, to bless His name, His works, at all times.

works of God Monday

I can't wait to share what God is doing in my life, but I can't at the moment. I'm feeling ill and have about ten million things to get done, so will post my works of God testimony either later today or later this week, depending on how this day goes.

For now, it's YOUR turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about what God has been doing in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

for moms (or really, anyone)

I am subscribed to Joy in the Journey in my Google Reader and have really enjoyed reading about this missionary family (I do not know them) and the things that God has done in their lives. Today, there is an especially good post about dealing with guilt.

Joy is writing from a mom's perspective, and it is true that we as moms deal with it, but I think even on a more basic level, women deal with it. A lot. The "coulda-shoulda-woulda's," as I have heard them called, can really feed a destructive pattern of thinking that will take away our joy and leave us feeling defeated. (which of course, Satan really loves) But enough from me. Go read the post!

this joy is mine

Behold, one of Michael's favorite memories. He remembers mom reading to him and his siblings. And he remembers this book. (Which actually is saying a lot. He doesn't remember a whole lot of specifics from his childhood like this)

Around the time Aaron was born, Mom & Mary gathered up all the children's books with his name in them and sent them to us. What a treasure that box was! There are at least 20 Little Golden Books that say "This book belongs to Michael Muth" and that alone is enough to bring a smile to my face

We've been reading books right before nap times with Aaron, and just recently have begun to read the Little Golden Books mom sent so long ago. Today at naptime, Aaron said "Read book!? Timmy?" and was really excited when I grabbed it off the shelf. I am thrilled that I get to be a part of the tradition and read to our little boy from his daddy's childhood books.

I do have to admit I get a little choked up when I read the last page, "Timmy is a big boy. You are big too! Timmy can do lots of things. So can you."

Wednesdays are Crazy Days

Does everyone have a day of the week that is an automatic no for extras? I can do errands, watch peoples' kids, get hair cuts, set up doctor visits and cook up a storm any day of the week.

Except Wednesdays. We.Are.Always.Busy.On.Wednesday.

It has made life much better since I started saying "no" to Wednesday extras. For us, it means that Michael comes home early from work in order to finish up the final touches on Wednesday night's youth group events, go over his message, and still have enough time to eat dinner, get a shower, and all of us be out the door at 5:30 to pick up the kids we take with us. During the day I finish up the mundane parts of the Wednesday program - the papers we send home with the kids, the agendas for the workers for the following weeks, adding up the points, updating the youth group blog (on occasion) and making dinner MUCH earlier.

And, Something Unexpected always happens on Wednesday of all days. Of course I try to be flexible and work through it. But saying no has been the best decision for us this year. It has made such a difference.

What day of the week is your busiest? What makes it that way? And, of course most importantly, what is your "go to" dinner for those Crazy Days?

Works of God Monday

Here are just some of the works of God on behalf of the Muth family this past week. (I couldn't possibly pick just one, so I decided to go with a short list of a few...)

1. The birth of a new niece, Kiersten Joy! Congrats to Tim & Sarah Valiante and big brother Micah. We are so excited for you all, and grateful to God for the miracle of life, and a safe delivery.

2. God provided TWO free window air conditioning units for us via Freecycle. Do I need to go into detail about what a blessing that will be to my big pregnant self this summer? (I didn't think that would be necessary.) Talk about a happy hallelujah moment.

3. Through the wonder and excitement of garage sales, God provided a replacement door for our outside back entrance for $35. For those of you not familiar with home renovation supplies, that is a significant savings. As an added blessing, it was just what we had been looking for.

4. When I was pregnant with Aaron, I bought a crib bumper at a garage sale and re-covered it but I could still see the old design peeking through, plus it wasn't quite long enough to go all the way around the crib, so I planned to recover it again with chocolate brown corduroy and lengthen it, too. Also on the list of things to do before the baby is born was buy more crib sheets (we just have 2 total that fit our mattresses) and another waterproof pad or two. This weekend God provided a like-new bumper in the perfect shade of green, three more crib sheets and a waterproof pad for $12. Woo HOO!

Now it's YOUR turn!! Let's encourage one another in the Lord! First, blog about what God has been doing in your life this week - it can be a physical provision, a spiritual lesson learned, an opportunity to share with others, anything that was an evidence of God at work in you. Then, follow these directions:

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like. Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

appreciated

I found this link for an adorable teacher appreciation gift over at MomAdvice, and applauded! Out loud, for no one to hear but me. Hurray, any teacher could use this!! And it isn't apple-y or scented or something to use in the tub or another candle! (again, this is one of those things I'm linking in order to find later)

And for all you parents of currently school aged children, check out this idea that blessed a teacher friend of mine. You've got just enough time to organize for the year-end teacher appreciation! You could do the same idea with a summery flowerpot with construction paper or silk flowers and the gift cards attached to the stems.

and no, the photo is not related. But these two are, and aren't they cute?

faux pas

Thank you, Mrs. Marsteller. You, teacher of secondary level English, have continued to make me aware of grammatical hilarity, even beyond your years as my instructor. For that (and other things) I will be forever indebted.

Last Friday, calling for work, I heard:

Hi, you've reached the voice mail of _____. Your call is important to me, and I'm sorry I was unable to answer. Please be sure to leave me your name and number and I'd be happy to return it. (name? the number? I was laughing so hard I could barely leave a message)

And last month, on the way to the OB office we passed a florist. The sign said this:

THINK SPRING BOKAY $9.95 (are you SERIOUS?!)

just a little word...

For those of you who have children who use sippy cups:

If, hypothetically, you were to take your children to the store for a quick trip and they were to say, throw their sippy cup overboard from the cart, you might want to check to make sure the valve (the one inside to prevent leaks) is still intact and in the proper position before putting it in your purse.

Otherwise, you run the risk of foreign substances invading your purse. Like apple juice. It might even leak out of the purse and run down your leg. Apple juice is sticky.

And you might be very thankful that you have a cloth, washable purse. And that you decided to put your cell phone in a place out of the way of the torrential leakage.

Exciting News! (for all you rebate shoppers)

I just found out that Walgreens is now accepting online rebate submissions in all 50 states! I have to admit that I have been slacking off with Walgreens since I knew that I'd have to do the work of getting together and marking receipts, marking the rebate form, and sending it in...by the correct day. (which is by far the hardest part for me)

I feel like another window has opened, and more rebates are mine! Bring on the free stuff!

Ladies Retreat

This past weekend about 75 ladies from our church went up to Camp Co Be Ac for a retreat, and we had a great time. Previously we have gone to a hotel in West Branch, and although there were some things about being at a camp that were not as comfy or convenient as a hotel, it was really nice to be in an environment where we could all be still and enjoy the camp and just be all to ourselves for 24 hours. I left my camera home, so this is going to be a photo-free post. So sorry!

I missed Michael and Aaron dreadfully, but I do have to admit that I definitely underestimate how much brain power it takes to be thinking of the care of a child. It was so nice to be only responsible for myself, and be able to fully soak up the weekend. But I was THRILLED to come home to my boys.

Debbie Pryde was the main speaker, and Mrs. Marla Hanna, missionary to Taiwan, shared some things that God had taught her in regard to her thinking. Mrs. Hanna's testimony was amazing, as she transparently shared how her wrong thinking patterns had built up until the family had to come home from the field temporarily in order to get some biblical counsel. She reminded us from Phil. 4 about the things we should be thinking about, the things we know to be true and real. (by the way, if you haven't read this book on the topic, you NEED to get a copy!!)

During her testimony, she mentioned that God is going to accomplish His work whether or not we are participants, but that He chooses to use us. I'm not sure why, but that truth that I've had in my brain for a long while hit my heart in a different way this weekend. And it hit with a big "WHY?" Why would God choose to use me? He wants me to see Him working in an up close, front row kind of way, in order that I can know that it is HIM doing the work, in order that I may give Him glory. He lets me help Him so that I can know Him, so that I can praise Him for His works. Amazing.

During the weekend, I was very convicted that I need to be putting 100% into the ministry God has given me here at home and be content with His will for my life in this season, and not be looking back or forward to what I've been able to do in the past or what I might be able to do in the future. Or as Dr. Olilla used to remind us in the words of Jim Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there." This is something I've been struggling with a lot since Aaron was born, and God is gracious and merciful to continue to lovingly and patiently guide me along, reminding me of His Word.

I know that the ministry of home is VERY important, it is just my wrong thinking that convinces me that it is not so very "full of action" or "exciting" especially in the results category. As you moms know, we can be easily tempted to think that our job is thankless and tedious at times (especially during the 49th disciplinary session of the day).

So, God showed me that I need to be relying on the Holy Spirit and the Word to retrain my thoughts, to rejoice in the ministry at home, to give it my all 100% of the time. It was a GREAT weekend and I was thankful for the opportunity to attend.

Works of God Monday

This weekend at ladies' retreat I was reminded of the importance of being purposeful at seeing God at work in every day. I was thinking back to my own childhood and made sure to thank mom for starting the pattern of identifying God's hand in the little and the big things that happened, and praising Him for them. Mom was great about reminding us that it was God who helped us obey, it was God who gave us a sunny day, etc. I am sure dad did the same thing, but since he was at work a lot of the time, most of my memories are of mom's reminders. This was a great beginning for me to form a habit of praising God for His work.

Then, of course, I remembered Works of God Monday during Monday chapels for each of my years at Northland, and the testimonies we would hear of how God was working in fellow students' lives. Sometimes it would be $3 in the mail right when someone needed laundry money, or an opportunity to share the gospel, or some other way that God had shown that He was alive and working in our lives.

So I was thinking - there are bunches of "theme" days out there on the web, why not start our own virtual bloggy Works of God Monday? I hope this will be a blessing and encouragement to you as you read of how God has been at work in your life and in others' lives this past week! I will be posting on each Monday, but feel free to add posts throughout the week or save it until the next Monday. If you want to link a post that you've written this past week, that would be great!! God is definitely at work - let's encourage one another!

If you've never used Mister Linky before, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the link from your specific "Works of God Monday" post. PLEASE make sure the link is to a specific post on your blog that is a personal testimony of how God has been at work in your life in the past week. Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like (or someone can volunteer to make a much nicer one!) Just right click the image and choose "save image as" then upload it into your post. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, and spread the word to your blogging friends!

and another happy Friday

So, in the last couple days I've had several requests via different blog readers for my whole wheat waffle recipe. It made me howl with laughter and wish to goodness that I had a really great waffle recipe. Hang on to your hats, kids, 'cause this is a doozy.

Whole Wheat Waffles

Buy Eggo Nutrigrain Whole Wheat Waffles
Buy them on sale
Use a coupon
Get a great deal
Pat self on back at good fortune
Take them home
Put them in the toaster
Feed them to your unsuspecting children
Read the box
Realize how many preservatives are in there
Kick self for stupidity
Breathe a sigh of relief that at least there is no high fructose corn syrup
Pat self on back at good fortune
Put "waffle iron" on the garage sale wish list
Keep feeding them to unsuspecting children until they are gone.

Repeat as necessary.

*grin*

And now that I've worked up such a sweat "making" these waffles, I think what I need is to attend the annual Ladies Retreat with other ladies from church...24 hours away from my family really stinks, but I'm looking forward to learning more about my God and spending time with some friends (and my mommy!) Have a great weekend, and make yourself some waffles! (try Alicia's recipe, perhaps?)

spinning

I've been doing a little reading, a little news-watching, and a little research to see what I can learn about the Serious Things taking place in Texas in regard to sects, and the history of these sects. I'm not going to get more specific because I don't want to cause a major onslaught of G*ogle searches to land here for similar reasons.

I have questions - lots - that will probably never be uttered here, about this specific sect and about general church history. My heart is so heavy for the darkness that is in so many hearts. My arms ache to hold the precious children who are hurting and who are so, so lost.

And I must say, in my reading, I have become even more concerned about the label so many churches in our circles attach to their names. It's the same word that was intended to focus our doctrine on the "basics" of the faith, a word that many different religi*ns use to describe radical offshoots, a word that some independent churches in my particular circle of reference cling a little tightly to. Is this label worth the confusion it creates in the general populous? I would think not.

I can't help but wonder what these highly published recent happenings will mean for my family, my church, my community in the near future, or what impact the events will have on religi*s freedom in years to come. And I can't help but think "that word" is a blurry one, one for which we should try to substitute something clearer.

I am very thankful, beyond words for a fellowship of believers whose foundation is the unchanging, complete, revealed Word of God, and not the words and rulings of its leaders. I am even more thankful for the fact that because of Christ's death on the cross, I am able to approach Him boldly, that I have an advocate in Jesus. When my brain is spinning, when questions go unanswered, my soul can arise. My foundation is sure.

Crafty Wafty

OK, I admit it. Sometimes, I link things here just so that I'll be able to find them later, when they are more appropriate for the ages of my kiddo(s). Maybe it will, in the process, be helpful to some of you all.

I'm not really that into crafts. I don't sit around and scrapbook, or paint wooden shapes to sell at craft shows. But this is pretty cool, and looks like a great project for kids. I know that someday I'll probably have a houseful of little crafters. So check this out - make your own stamps. I can only imagine the possibilities here with all those pre cut craft foam shapes. Sounds like an absolutely fabulous rainy day activity or even a semi educational experience. (using letters, animal shapes, etc)

thanks giving (spring version)

I am thankful that I can still sleep somewhat face down. I know it won't last long, as I am well into my second trimester, but I love being a tummy sleeper, and I am thankful it is still possible. Especially since congestion has found me, once again.

I am thankful for tissues, with lotion.

I am thankful for a happy napper and and independent playtime expert.

I am thankful for sunshine, and for my daffodils that finally bloomed.

I am thankful for this brief period of picnics with no bugs. Specifically, no mosquitoes.

I am thankful for a hard working husband who came home and did the majority of the work stuffing yard refuse bags until 9pm, after a full day's work. And then he studied for the Wed. night youth group lesson. He's amazing.

I am thankful that chicken soup fixin's are in our house and thankful for this "easy stage" of having two children.

Thank you, Lord, for your all sufficient grace.

upon waking...

Aaron is waking up from his nap. He usually talks for awhile and I let him just happily play. Today, he is cracking me up (again). This is what he is saying:

"Money? Money? Muuuuuhhhhhney?" silence. "Mmmmmmuuuuhney? MONEY!?"

Uh, huh. We are definitely in T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Off to get my hilarious, adorable little greed monster.

eggs, of the goose variety

Obedience brings blessing, disobedience does not. It's true. I knew it before, and I've felt its sting personally, but to see it illustrated in my child is painful at a completely different level.

"Aaron, come here" was met by complete disregard for his mother's instructions and left this unsightly, and I'm sure uncomfortable, consequence:













Head, meet concrete. Concrete, head.

In that moment, I wanted to take the pain away, to rewind time, to somehow make it so that my precious child would not have to go through the circumstances. And then it dawned on me. How many times have I gotten these on my own spiritual head? How many times must I fall? God, grant me a swift memory and an obedient spirit. And wisdom to teach this boy the truth about You. I disobey, I fall, I get hurt. You always, always pick me up. And Your Love never changes, never fails.

Happy Happy Monday Morning

Aaron's been waking up around 6:30 since daylight started arriving shortly before then. It's a shock to my system, but I think I've finally begun to get used to it.

This morning he chewed his whole wheat waffle into a heart shape. I will take that as a personal I love you note from Aaron, thank you very much.

What a way to start the week!

Oh, and as if that were not enough, the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival starts today. Goody, goody gumdrops!

curious

There are lots of curious people around this house, but Aaron is by far the winner of the label "most curious" and I suppose that is appropriate, given his age and development. I'd probably be quite concerned if he did not have the desire to explore and touch and smell and learn.

My parents did a great job teaching me how to learn, and as Aaron grows, I want to make sure he continues to have a healthy sense of curiosity - one that drives him to find the answers to his questions. Any of you experienced people have any great suggestions? How do you teach a child to be inquisitive??

And speaking of inquisitive, we've got a new poll going on our sidebar. Be sure to vote!!

another timely reminder

Richelle has some great things to say today. Be sure to check it out - it's definitely worth the read!!

OB Update

Success on one front: no one asked me for any blood or made me submit to any invasive procedures. Hallelujah!

Joy on another: We had a wonderful ultrasound! All the main parts are there and in beautiful working order, and we are still unaware of our baby's gender, much to our satisfaction and delight. Praise the Lord for his mercies!!

Delay on another: the hospital records weren't sent over, so Dr. L. won't be able to give me any substantial yes or no answers on The Issues That Matter Most to Us. May 12 is the next opportunity we have to talk to him. We've decided to do some co-care prenatals with the midwife from church, just to keep our options open and so she will have a general idea of how the pregnancy is going in the event that Something Major would change as far as our plans go.

And finally, I miss my family doc. I know a lot of ladies have done OB care but our visit in its entirety, including the ultrasound, took less time than the drive to Saginaw and back. My family doc took probably a half hour every appointment, asking me how things were going and taking his time. *sigh* I guess it's not so much the process, but the end result.

I did feel much more relaxed at this appointment, especially after seeing our precious child wiggling and moving and just generally having a grand time. Thanks so much for your prayers for us!!

"out for delivery"

Those are glorious words, when attached to my Boca Java tracking numbers.

I'm almost completely out of decaf. Perfect timing.

laughter

Aaron is playing in the hallway with a ball and the extension wand to the vacuum. He keeps saying "set....go!" "set...GO" and hitting the ball with the wand. I am dying of laughter. Why buy toys again?

snapshots

Aaron's newest pastime...

(it is sporadic, but this was a Particularly Exciting Trip, the details of which I will spare you)

This book is great, BTW. I just love the illustrations. (If Elephants Wore Pants)





Aaron is quite happy for a chance at a playtime friend. (although he fools you with his expression in this photo) He's quite a social child.







And his favorite hat - from Grandpa Muth! He just loves wearing a hat like daddy!



More photos here




And he's developing QUITE an independent streak. Fun. At least he comes by it honestly. I seem to remember that his mother also shares the independent streak. Another chance for God's mercy and grace to be shown!!! I've never been burdened quite as much for any soul as I am for the souls of my child(ren). I suppose every lost person should cause me such concern. Lord, give me a heart for those who do not know YOU!!

WHAT?!?!

How on earth can I already be at 20 weeks!?!! I'm halfway through this second pregnancy already, and time is FLYING by. We have our second OB appointment tomorrow, complete with scheduled ultrasound, so hopefully by the end of the day tomorrow we will be that much closer to coming to a conclusion about the birth process for this baby.

I had a friend tell me yesterday at church that we don't have control over birth, and to some extent I do agree - God is sovereign over all, including how our birth stories progress and end. But there are some things that we DO have control over, and in those situations, knowledge is power!! It surprises me how little people research and study and plan when it comes to birth.

I know that since Aaron joined us, I have done a lot of research in general, and I wish I'd known half of what I do now then. I wish I'd done more reading on c-sections instead of just assuming that it wouldn't happen to me and avoiding the topic altogether.

So here is my question - what things, looking back on your birthing experiences, did you WISH you had known before you went into birth? What things would you advise a brand new mom-to-be to be cautious of?

Oh, and it goes without saying, but please remember to keep your comments non abrasive, as there are tons of differing opinions in this particular arena. I'm just wondering what your experience has taught you in regard to birth.

amen, amen.

I don't know about you, but I needed this reminder today.

an excerpt:

Tons of people want to do “great things for God.” Instead, we ought to do small things for God, everyday, right now, not tomorrow. He has already given us instructions: love God and our neighbor, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. In the smallness, there is greatness. In the ordinary, there is extraordinary. Paul Tripp once wrote, “Remember, it is not your weakness that will get in the way of God’s working through you, but your delusions of strength.”

Spending to Save

Sometimes, it's coffee beans that make me happy. Boca Java made me happy when they sent me a great email offer for 4 bags of freshly roasted coffee beans at a great price. Michael said I could take them up on the offer, which made me even happier. I love Boca Java. You order, they roast and mail. Unless I roasted my own beans, I wouldn't find anything fresher. And how can I go wrong with Tropical Kiss or Surfin' Safari in decaf?

Some people think it's ridiculous to spend "that kind of money" on a bag of freshly roasted beans. Some of those same people would spend $4 without blinking on the occasional specialty coffee drink. So, I ask you, is it easier to keep driving past the coffee drink place when you have quality beans waiting for you at home? I assure you that for me, this is the case. (PS if you want a referral code for $10 off your order so you can try it yourself, send an email to me: twomuths at gmail dot com)

I get happy when I can find good coffee for a good price. But coffee is one thing I don't mind spending a little money on, as it usually ends up saving me in the long run. And as I am not ready to give up coffee in the interest of saving money, well. Bring on the Boca Java.

Are there items you splurge on now in order to save later, or just in the interest of your taste buds?

More Free Money

Revolution Money Exchange is a relatively new alternative to Paypal - the great news is that there are no fees to send money, no fees to receive money, and you can use the service to transfer or request money to anyone who also has a Revolution Money Exchange account. The website has some suggestions of how to use the service.

"Pay a friend back for dinner without hitting the ATM. Give a roommate your half of the rent without writing a check. Send a sibling cash to cover your half of mom’s present" and all of these sound pretty practical to me. In addition, you can add the button to your site if you sell things online, and collect your money with NO PAYPAL FEES. This is very very exciting for anyone doing business online!!

The REAL bonus is, until April 15 they are giving you $25 just for signing up! Talk about easy money!! I signed up for an account, and so did Michael, so we've got $50 for about 3 minutes of our time. Click on the button in my sidebar to find out more! (I get $10 when you create an account, just like anyone you refer will add an additional $10 to your account!)

weekend antics

Michael had Friday off, and so of course I was rooting for the "do nothing" kind of weekend where we could catch up on sleep and laziness and just being a family. But I got something far more interesting.

We decided to finally lay the carpet in our bedroom and in the office. We had the carpet, we reasoned, and more than enough time to clear the furniture (with dad's help) and get everything installed by the end of the weekend. Of course, we hit a few roadblocks, and might I just say here for the benefit of anyone living in a home with a concrete slab foundation and radiant, pipes-in-the-floor heat, that concrete gets harder the longer it bakes and it will be impossible to use nails to secure the tack strips. Especially if your house happens to have been built in, say, 1958.

So the project isn't finished quite yet, and this is what my living room looks like. This is everything but the mattress from our bedroom and the contents of the entire office. I'm amazed.

Thankfully, our bedroom looks like this right now, as we wait to stretch the carpet until the tack strip adhesive dries. This is gonna come in handy when entertaining a toddler.

And this is where we are sleeping - the office. This room was carpeted first, hence the bed and computer set up. Let me tell you, I could get used to this minimal furniture situation. I love it.

But then, of course, there would be no room to store anything.

We also painted a dresser that we've been meaning to paint, started the second coat on the nursery dot border, and made a paper model of both recarpeted rooms and all our furniture to scale so that we could play with what to do with all our furniture items. We are toying with the option of moving Aaron's room to the office now, to get one transition out of the way before the new sibling is added to the family, and to finally be able to get his toys out of the living room.

During the gruntwork of carpet laying, Aaron and I took a walk to the park with grandma, and stopped at a yard sale on the way. Mom cleaned up! We found a set of really cute stencils for her classroom, a clip on the table booster seat, a few clothing items, and a Riccar sewing machine, which mom bought for me at a steal of a deal. I'm pretty excited, as my old machine has tension issues, and frankly, was not built to last.

Which caused me tension. But no longer, thanks to mom and the great yard sale deals.

Maybe by next weekend our house will be normal, we'll be rid of a few tons of excess stuff, and I can post pictures of the final project. All in all, I feel much better at the close of this busy and productive weekend than I would have if we had planned a lazy weekend. There is really too much for us to do to let the weekends slip away. At least at this point. Maybe I'll wait until I'm hugely pregnant, and re-assess.

P.I.R.

P.I.R. = Pregnancy Induced Retardation, term courtesy of my dear youth pastor, Mike VerWay. I'm not sure if it is original with him, but when he first used it to describe the actions of his wife Brenda in my presence, and they both laughed, I was puzzled and slightly indignant that he would use such terminology to describe his wife's behavior.

Then, years later, I was pregnant with Aaron and found that the forgetfulness, amnesia, and just generally stupid things I was doing were indeed aptly labeled "PIR." To my great chagrin, I have not escaped this malady during this pregnancy. I find that PIR has made a comeback, causing me to do and say the craziest things.

You know, things like putting the milk in the cupboard. Or almost shaking chili powder on my oatmeal when I really wanted cinnamon. You know, things like that. (TOTALLY hypothetical, of course)

Anybody else have any good PIR stories? Please tell me I'm not alone.

laughing, shaking my head, whatever...

So I got a call not 5 minutes ago from someone raising money for a very worthy cause. The way they are doing this is by having a show. They asked if they could count on me for my support and attendance. I asked what date the show would be held.

The.man.did.not.know.

Uh, what?

So that is why I'm laughing, shaking my head, whatever.

the little things.

You might have picked up on the fact that I really need to go shopping. This morning, I was checking out my Google Reader before getting Aaron up for the day, and happened upon this post over at Money Saving Mom.

Could there POSSIBLY be a better week for me to run out of pantry staples? I am shouting Glory, breaking out the happy dance and the holy hallelujah hands all at the same time. Could it possibly be that God orchestrates the sales, too? I assert that YES, He can and He DOES!!!

I had scheduled "menu planning and grocery list making" on my list of things to do for TODAY. This, friends, has to be more than a mere circumstance, does it not?

My God cares about the little things, and about providing for little ol' me and my family in the middle of Michigan. YET ANOTHER reminder from my all sufficient God that I am loved beyond measure, and blessed beyond words.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19