I'm a little frazzled. I didn't order enough Christmas cards. I've missed a doctor appointment for the kids. I've mixed up babysitting days. And it's only the 5th.

Oh, December.

But I was able to chaperone Emerson's first field trip and hold her hand on her first school bus ride. The picture is blurry but to me it's priceless. Thank you Jesus for letting me be present for this moment.

Oh guys, I want so bad to enjoy this month. I want to savor the sacredness of the season. I want so much to be intentional in every way with the kids to point them to the Savior. But I'm being pushed to my limit - and a baby and a job add to the busy this year. I'm asking God for a strength I don't have - so I can pour into others, serve others, and minister to others.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26

A Thankful Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving this year in the new house! Josh and I are so relieved to be settled and thrilled to be creating new memories. We had a packed house in our little abode. Originally we were planning on eating on the deck with heaters and tea lights ... and then it rained so we squished in, but actually, it felt pretty good in there. 

My favorite tradition of the year - sharing what we are thankful for. Brings tears to my eyes every year.

The best picture of the night ~ with my little loves peaking out of the playroom. =)

And then today, my favorite day of the year, Christmas officially came!

This Sunday we begin advent at our church. Each week in December someone shares about the goodness of God in light of the birth of Christ, and this Sunday, my brother in law is speaking. He's had quite a year and if you want to hear about it, please come and join us! 

Like A Soft, Quiet Wind

Although I am in full blown Christmas mode, my heart will always pause for Thanksgiving. One of my favorite family traditions happens on Thanksgiving and historically, my favorite day of the year is the next day.

Yesterday at church was just the most Holy Spirit filled day. It was a service of Thanks and so many shared their thanks to God through the stories of their lives. The elderly mom, who after 15 years of prayer by her son, finally accepted Jesus into her heart. A woman plagued with depression her whole life, finally freed. A mom who suddenly lost her young son and now her other son with serious health problems. And on and on. Oh, what a great God we serve!

And personally, ever since my life changing summer, I have sensed that our church community was on the cusp of revival. Yesterday, a woman who came to church for the first time, said that after hearing the hearts of so many people declaring their thanks to Jesus, it was clear that we were in the midst of a revival. *jaw dropped  I've always assumed a revival to look like a bunch of crying and confessing. Never thinking that revival could come quietly like a soft wind. But once she said that I knew it was true. Here we have been, all trying to be faithful, and like a quiet wind, the Holy Spirit has been breathing life into the people.

All heavens declare the glory of the King. And all peoples on earth shall bow before Him.

So my thanks is this, that Jesus is alive and moving mightily in my family and in my community.
Happy Thanksgiving my friends.


"If you seek Him, you will find Him if you seek Him with your whole heart." Deuteronomy 4:29

"Let us not grow weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galations 6:9

Up until this year I have been a stanch supporter of no Christmas until after Thanksgiving but for no rhyme or reason I've done a full reversal and I'm not mad about it. Herein lies proof that people can change.

We took pictures for our Christmas card last weekend and as always, corralling children, perfect position, best smiles, all at the same time.. my most favorite day of the year.

Grateful for the people God has gifted me with, bad moods, open mouths, wayward hair included.

Some of you may have heard that I started helping out at our church for a little bit. We recently lost our worship director so I'll be doing that part time for the next three months or so while they look for a permanent replacement. 

While it's only part time, it's been a learning curve trying to fit everything in - be everything for everyone and I realized very quickly that I can't be that very thing. So Josh and I are trying different ways and seeing what works best for our family. But I believe that God has shaped my path this year for this exact purpose. The timing of it all coming to be is actually pretty miraculous - how he worked this out, eased that, softened that spirit. 

Truth is, I'm just trying to be obedient to what He wants of me. The whole new testament is simply God asking his people to be obedient and the results of whether or not they obeyed! The consequences if they didn't were so heavy, and the reward if they did, beyond compare. I'm believing that the reward for me being obedient (in this and all the other ways) will be beyond compare for my family, my children. 

Am I tired? yes. Am I discouraged at times? yes. Am I encouraged? yes. Do I see the Holy Spirit moving in our church community? yes. 

So I am resolute. 

God's commands and promises do not compete with one another so if He has called me to this, my family will not suffer, my marriage will not take a backseat, our relationships with others will strengthen. And truly, who knows what else is in store because God's way is certainly "immeasurably more that we could ask or imagine". 

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5

A Pokemon Halloween

I should be reading to Abby. Instead I'm here with you! lol But after four fire days (no school) this mama needs a littttle break. =p

 Last night we walked the neighborhood with family and friends for Halloween and it was good. The kids wanted to be Pokemon this year and for those of you unfamiliar with that, the kids are (L to R) Mega Blastoise, Sylveon, and Chansey.

Each year Sharon (gma) and Luke (uncle) design and make the kid's costumes. Every year I'm always floored by their creativity. 

Annual trick or treating with the family commences!

Abby's first Halloween! Girl nailed it. =)

A heartfelt thank you to the Dream Team for inspiring their imaginations and loving them so deeply.

Funny, I'm still in it and already feeling nostalgic. Cherishing these days.

Free

Anyone still here? 

A rare moment to myself popped into my morning. I ignored the pile of dishes and instead made a hot breakfast, spent some time in the Word, and now am touching base with you. 

I can hardly believe it's October. Today the kids took their school pictures and what is already a rushed morning was made moreso by my daughters insistence to see a photo of herself with 8 different headbands before picking. In hindsight maybe I should have done that the night before? 

The dynamic dye duo, Grandma and Uncle Luke are busy working on halloween costumes, Josh and I are gearing up for our first trip away from the older two kiddos in a long time, I'm signed up for what seems like a hundred things at school between now and the end of the year. It seems wrong to see Home Depot adorned in Christmas already and yet we too are scheduling Christmas party dates.

This week I always get a text from my dear friend Leah wishing me a happy birthday month and reminding me that soon I will be another year older. She is so fun. I'll be 38 in a few weeks and the truth is that seems a rather robust number and it seems that even at this ripe old age I'm still coming to terms with who I am. 

Funny, I am constantly whispering in my kids ears about their value. Often telling them how God knit them together so specifically - their physical features, their personalities, their gifts and talents, what makes them excited and how they think. I tell them how God spent much time thinking through their puzzle before putting all the pieces together with the purpose of being used for Him. 

It struck me the other day that I need to apply my own words to myself. Growing up in a predominately Asian American community, I think there was an unspoken value placed on conforming, blending in, not being too loud, too quiet, too ______ of anything. But I am my mother's daughter and passionate and intense are adjectives that certainly describe me. I think I have been subconsciously dampening who I was to fit in. 

I told Josh the other night that I'm done with that. 

God created me for His purposes. It's time to step into who He made so His plans can be fulfilled through me. Case in point, I led worship recently and boy had you been there you would have been eye wide wondering who that was up there. =) But guys, I was myself! Christ in me! 

Now I'm not saying I have carte blanche to do as I please. There is still sin in this world. All things must be done in love and with wisdom. But where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom - and I am feeling free. 

Are you free?

The Flip Side of the Coin

On the one hand, Josh has been out of town for work since Friday and within that period of time I was rear ended, dealt with a clogged toilet, handed out some time outs, and tried to hold it together during a potty training regression and a sleep regression.

The ship would have sank without my mother in law. She is a saint and everyone needs to either move into their parents backyard or just have a mother in law like mine.

On the flip side of the coin, I received this text today. 

"May your day be filled with God's exceeding joy no matter the circumstance, no matter the feeling. God's exceeding joy is yours if you'll have it today! "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with lyre, O God, my God" Psalm 43:3

Leaning on the latter.

School

Today Emerson and Landon started school (Kindergarten and Preschool 3). As for all families, it changes our daily rhythm, some welcomed and some not but I have to remind myself that disruptions often birth new ways. It struck me as I was shuttling between drop off and pick up today that I'm not praying for an easy year for my kids but instead for a refining year. Sure I don't welcome hard things but at the same time, if it will make them closer to the picture of Christ, then yes. Let's do that.

Shoot. I've grown up.

Also, prayed this over my children today.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-18

A New Thing

This is our last week of summer. Next week school starts for both Landon and Emerson. 

This summer Emerson learned how to swim enough to no longer wear floaties! All the kids went to camp for the first time. Legoland too. We enjoyed our annual trip to the Sierra's. Abby went to Disneyland for the first time. We made memories in Palm Springs with the cousins. Had our first sleepover in the new house and our first movie night too. VBS. Swimming at friend's houses. Birthday parties. Abby began sleeping through the night. Eating food. Sucking her fingers and FINALLY taking naps in a crib. Josh put down some grass. Added storage to our closets. Installed a mirror. Began building a fence. 

This fall is already shaping up to be a busy one. School, piano lessons, joining a bible study, starting a small group, and potentially some others things in the works. Life is busy and full but ultimately my takeaway from this whole summer boils down to this ~ God stirred something in my heart and my family is headed in a new way. The days can come and go but I know this, He is doing a new thing.