Coffee CubBuster

Levi's 3rd birthday is next week, and he just got the best birthday present, that I'm not sure even he can fully appreciate yet. He got his G-tube out!!!! I always think about his incredible life around his birthday, but this milestone really brought tears to my memories. This was Levi just after coming home on our first therapy outing. We had him connected to so many monitors and wires it was incredible that nothing ripped out that morning.  We've come so far, and I'd almost forgotten some of my worst days and months after Levi came home. But I'm actually thankful for this blog, which serves as a reminder of the things God has brought us through together.  While our GI doc wasn't exactly throwing a party over Levi's weight, he did punt the extraction decision to us. Thankfully my hubby was at the appointment for the first time because he wasn't afraid to say YES, TAKE IT OUT!  Since we haven't used the tube in so long, not muc...

Have you ever met someone that you connected with so naturally, someone that you enjoy time spent together every single time your together, a friend that you wish you'd met ten, twenty, thirty years ago because they've made such a positive impact on your life? It may sound a bit too cheddar for you, but that's exactly what it feels like to encounter and have a relationship with Jesus. I think that's why people want others to know about Him. They don't want you to miss out on such a perfect relationship. Otherwise you look back and regret that you didn't know Him sooner. He could have helped change the way you experienced every hardship, every bump in the road, every seemingly frustrating experience would have had peace and purpose attached to it. Unfortunately, Christians make the huge mistake of pointing people to themselves and their flawed lives, rather than the one that changed them. Others just claim to be Christians and live a life no different from the o...

I recently viewed an interesting Ted Talk about malaria (found here ), and I was struck by the simple yet simultaneously complicated solution to the deadly disease that claims over a million lives a year, most of those being children under the age of five! The speaker, Sonia Shah, equated the cultural norm of malarias environments to that of cold and flu season in western civilizations. It was a parallel interestingly deconstructed. I began to think of all the causes, organizations, and relief efforts that exist to eradicate the world of horrendous illnesses and evils. When you are personally affected by an illness, evil, or unexpected hardship it is easier to focus your energy on ridding the world its existence. Those who have spearheaded humanitarian efforts, started non-profits, or created worldwide awareness and scientific research typically have some personal involvement in their purposes. However, they can also become erroneously angry when others don't share their passion....

I realized in writing my last post regarding my desire to neglect a cape, I also neglected to acknowledge that I've been gifted with more than just my own abilities. God has given me so much help in OTHERS. I could not and would not be where I am without the consistent loving aid of so many friends, family, friends who are like family, neighbors, community, and with out a doubt, the best husband in the world. There aren't too many men that can handle three kids under five with a smile, an excitement for baby number four, and the ability to keep working well past putting those kiddos down for the night. I am so grateful for my steadfast leader. He is a true gift. I'm also grateful for our small group leaders who did some grocery shopping for us this weekend and dropped off these beautiful sunflowers to brighten our home. These boys need some new activities with all this down time. What better way to get ready for the winter Olympics than a homemade bobsled contes...

As my feverish brain-cells quarantine me with my thoughts, I can't help but spin into a pity party of illness. In the past two years (when I needed my little Levi well the most), I've battled three rounds of strep throat, three rounds of stomach bugs, multiple colds, a sinus infection, shingles, the flu and a laundry list of viruses all while being pregnant and/or nursing and caring for little human beings who cry out that they just "want mommy." As I wait for the on-call doctor to prescribe the standard flu medicine, praying its safe for my unborn child, I listen in agony to little Levi choking in the other room, which is his natural MO when something is too difficult to swallow. I cringe and stiffen knowing he's about to lose his lunch without the proper distraction or assistance. That's when the doctor hears my plea for help and advice on keeping my low-immunity kid away from the flu and out of the ER. She lovingly calls me Super Woman at the thought ...

All colors visible in shining light give the appearance of clear, white light. Think about a prism. The rainbow actually creates bright white light. All colors visible in paint give the appearance of a thick black color. Picture a paint pallet. The rainbow actually creates a brown-black blob. I was once told that Christians view things too "black and white." Your either in or out. Heaven or hell. Right or wrong. I've watched people view the world as beautiful, hopeful, and unchanging, believing God can make all things new and completely change ugliness to artwork. Then I've seen those same people start to view the world in such a dim light. Everything seems bleak and hopeless. Satan can use many lies to completely change a mindset. What once appeared bright white, turns dark black. Do the vantage points change over night? Not usually. It's a slow, steady process of numbing, much like fresh fruit  or bread turning sour or stale. That said, what are we doin...

Iron  is an enigma – it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined today is  iron  ( www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron).  Refinement of metal seems purposeful;  if a knife isn't sharp enough it can actually be more dangerous than a perfectly sharp knife. My kitchen utensils are proof of this enigma.  Sharpening knives keeps them useful.  So it is with a human being. Without the refinement, or straining process, we become useless .  If we seek to live a life with as little change, disturbance,  or strain as possible, we will inevitably render ourselves useless.  We can actually become more dangerous in our lives and our relationships without subtle or major changes. Yet, so often we are seeking peace, comfort, and a waveless life.  When will the weekend arrive; when is the next vacation; when will the kids grow up; when will retirement start?  Because so ma...