Thursday, September 25, 2008

How long does it take me to get it?


Dear family and friends,

I'm working right now with Wyatt on his Math lesson. He's going to do great this year and we see him maturing so much. He grasps the concepts, but needs me to hold the reigns at this point in the year with everything being so new and exciting.

One thing I love about our Wyatt is once it's his, it's his. He learned to ride a bike immediately (although Jefferson has the record with one push from the neighborhood girl), he walked across the entire rug the first time he walked (actually at 14 months he took two steps to me, then walked a dozen to Aunt Melly), he pottie trained easier than any of them. Sometimes it takes a while for it to become his, but then he owns it for a lifetime. I'm waiting for that moment to arrive for Math. Don't get me wrong, he's smart and good at Math, but he doesn't own it, as of yet.

How often does God have to sit by me waiting for me get it. Just something I've been thinking about today.

I think sitting here is a good exercise for my mind and spirit.

Thank you Lord for being so patient with me, particularly as of lately. I want to get it!

Love in Christ,
Dinah

P.S.-This is Katie Filman sitting by Jefferson at the beach last spring. Katie was Jefferson's Sunday School teacher at Harvester last year. They were one of the wonderful families who had planned to come to Hawaii before we did. Her mother had emailed it to me this morning and I thought it did a great job illustrating. I think that Katie looks much more like God sitting next to me, than me sitting next to Wyatt. I'm working on it!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Could it be a dream?

Dear family and friends,

Jefferson has said "Mom this feels like a dream" over and over. I think he's right.

It was a highly successful birthday adventure. The children went on a scavenger hunt that lead them all over base. The last card said:

We love you with passion, our hearts fill with joy.
We love to delight you - so we give you this toy.
Not really a toy but something you'll find..
Go to the Abbott's on 10th street -
Your Mom's lost her mind!

At this point Caroline was the only with a hope of knowing what in the world was going on. She jumped, ran, and floated to 10th street. Guesses swam around in the other children's hearts landing on the hope that the Permann girls had come to surprise them. Kate finally looked at me and said, "Mommy, if the Permann's aren't here please tell me as I'm going to be so sad." I whispered they weren't to alleviate her stress.

A dear woman was walking down the street with these precious Westies. She quickly told them, "This one's yours!" She had a big pink hair ribbon tied in a bow that my own girls have worn so many times.

You can only imagine the laughter, delight and joy that ensued. So I woke up this morning with two teenagers and a dog. A little surreal on both ends.

We've named her Madame Independence but are calling her Indee.

Surfing is off the schedule as Wyatt is excited to just go shopping for the dog, spend some birthday money, eat a little lunch, and enjoy all that God's bestowed upon him in the past twenty four hours.

So we're off to buy dog gear, baby gates, and such...Jefferson's right...this seems like a dream. Oh the things we do for the sake of our children.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops




Wednesday, September 17, 2008

What do I think about birthdays?

Dear family and friends,

If you know me well you know I LOVE birthdays! Particularly mine and Jesus's...but I love other people's birthdays too. If you know me well you know I have a very hard time remembering anyone's but mine, Jesus's, Ed's, our children's, my parents, and my sisters. Although I forget...this forgetting thing is really starting to scare me, but that could be a whole blog in and of itself.

On Friday our Wyatt turns THIRTEEN...oh when did that happen. The day before he was born I had to climb up and chase Caroline into one of those monstrous climbing play towers. I'm sure it helped induce labor.

I think I love birthday celebrations because they just remind me of how much Jesus loves us. Jesus delights over me everyday, which really boggles my mind. Some day we are going to get to experience that in a more tangible way that I can't even fathom at this point. This is usually right up there with my best day of the year (except my 22nd birthday...ended up good but had lots of lessons for the newly weds). Yet I realize that being with Jesus someday will most likely make all these earthly days seem quite shadowed. The good ones are just a foretaste. Birthdays are filled with love, surprises, sweets and people we love (and who love us).

So our Wyatt is a planner. This causes problems around his birthday for two reasons....1) Because birthdays are a gift, not something you can plan and order 2) Because my planning is not as always as fast as he would like to be. BUT we finally have a plan of order, some of which he knows and some that he does not.

When the children were little we created our family birthday adventure. This was originally in lieu of birthday parties. As the children got older, somehow I ended up roped into both. Now that they are older, Ed has put a stop to parties (although there always seems to be something or other that could be construed as one) and we're supposed to be sticking to birthday adventures alone. Every birthday, I pray about what all God wants us to do. The order of the day has to fill two billets 1) to make the birthday celebratee feel loved and special 2) to not overwhelm the mother. I don't always make #2 but I always make #1. The last thing that is very important to Ed and I about birthdays is that they are always a privilege, not a right. We've had one birthday postponed for two weeks and one stopped half way through and not continued until the next day. The heart of the receiver must be in grateful receiving mode that honors the Lord and not themselves.

So here goes:

1) Birthday adventure begins at 4:30...the specific adventure has not been announced as of yet. There will definitely be pictures later this week. This is usually a surprise and involves all six Thomas Troops (except one year that everyone got a special spend the night away with Daddy).

2) Several families are coming by Thursday night for cake...no party...just cake and a prayer to thank God for our Wyatt.

3) Friday is going to be very different than normal as Ed has to work Friday night (Air Force Ball) and we will not be able to be with Wyatt on the evening of his birthday. Ed's been in D.C. this week so he's going to take leave on Friday and we are going to go spend the day together. As long as everything works out with reservations we are going to take Wyatt out for surfing lessons and a beach picnic.

4) Wyatt's siblings have been planning their birthday evening that they will spend together. Kate has chosen a movie, they are working on their menu, and lots of extra little surprises. Now the danger of this all happening without the parents is expectation management. We'll see how it goes...

So off I go, my day is full as it takes lots of time to make all these things happen. In the meantime the children are working on school.

Love to you all! I apologize for my silence this past week. Ed being gone just adds to my plate, but God is good...

Love in Christ,

Dinah for The Troops

P.S.-Birthday season in our house is from the 1st of March until the 18th of April. During this six week period we celebrate birthdays for Ed, Caroline, Melanee Kate, and Jefferson.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Have you been banging them out lately?

Dear family and friends,

Last week we were having Bible time one morning and I asked a question. First I just asked it in general, but then I thought it would be best to see if Jefferson had anything to say on the matter.

"Jefferson, did you hear Mommy's question? Do you ever have thoughts that don't honor God?", I asked. "Oh, yes Mommy I do. It's okay though because I just bang them out of my head!" Now as he says this, of course the whole banging himself in the head motion that only a little boy can do justice to, quickly follows.

After the laughter dies down Melanee Kate pipes in, "Jefferson, the Bible calls that taking a thought captive." Jefferson insisted, "I just call it banging out thoughts that don't honor God."

They are both graphic don't you think...taking captive, banging. These actions are both active and decisive, not lingering and indecisive. They are quick, full of purpose, and forceful.

I have to admit that I'd brought the whole issue up because of my own heart, because I had had something just the day before that I needed to bang out...immediately. God is so good when I take these things to him in precise timing. The sin isn't in the thought, it's the lingering and indecisiveness that leads us down the road of danger. I want to honor God in my thoughts, not just my actions. The two are intricately intertwined, don't you think?

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Can you think of a better thing to do on a Saturday morning?


Dear friends and family,

We had the most wonderful opportunity this morning to worship. Now I realize that baptism in not a normal Saturday morning practice, but it sure was a sweet one today!

After we'd moved in we still had two houses that were unoccupied, and as my mother taught me, I was praying for just the right neighbors. I always start praying for neighbors the week we find out a move has been secured and from assignment to assignment it has been a neat thing to watch. Sometimes we see clearly what God has done and sometimes we just have no idea.

We met one family who was looking at the house behind us, but later on I ran into Emily at the store and she said that they'd taken 210 instead. I was disappointed as they had two little girls that I knew Melanee Kate would adore (they are in our zoo picture with Jefferson and Melanee Kate). I didn't know that 210 was the other house available so we go out our front door to bump into the Waters rather than the back door.

Emily Waters has been a dear delight to my heart. Brad is assigned to Wake Island this year (it's a fleck on your globe half way inbetween Hawaii and Guam) so Emily is flying solo and doing a great job. When I watch Emily these are the things I think and pray: Lord, please help me to be that hungry...Lord, please help me dig like that when I have questions...Lord, please help me to be open to your plans which are always better. She is a precious woman who is growing daily in Christ.

Watching Emily walk out into the Pacific Ocean this morning was a complete honor. It was a holy and beautiful act of worship and obedience. The backdrop painted by our Father could not have been more perfect. I've only had one other experience to worship beside the ocean. It actually reminds me of worshipping outside in the mountains of Italy as God's creation invites all fives senses to join in. God is so good to meet us when we worship.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops

Monday, September 1, 2008

How about this fourth baby?


Dear family and friends,

How about this fourth baby..."Daddy, daddy, you don't have to teach me to ride my bike now, I just learned!!!" This was one excited little boy.

We needed to get another little bike for Jefferson as his hand me down was worn out and had been tossed during the move. It was on our to do list, but had not been accomplished yet.

I remember when Jefferson was born, being slightly overwhelmed that now I had to teach him everything I'd just taught those first three. Now the little man has a jump start on reading, writing, counting to a thousand...and a little girl across the alley taught him to ride a bike.

It's good to be a fourth baby!

I'm honestly torn between missing the opportunity to teach him and having victory in one more thing accomplished in our lives.

Love in Christ,
Dinah for The Troops