discovering joy in the journey

Joy to the Heart

Linda Dillow, in Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, gives several practical ways to cultivate a grateful heart.  Here are two of the ways that she mentioned that I would like to attempt to implement in my own day to day life….

1) Thankful Triggers:  Dillow describes a ‘thankful trigger’ as some thing, sound, or place that you come across frequently during your day that will ‘trigger’ or remind you to say a prayer of thanks to God.  She gave examples of passing a certain church or hearing the sound of a train whistle.  At this point in time, I think that I would like to try to remember to lift up thanks to God whenever I hear our new baby cry.  She should be a good, regular reminder to thank my Lord at least every 2 1/2 to 3 hours for awhile =)

2) Make a Sign:  Dillow shared how her daughter in law had posted a sign in her kitchen to remind her to thank God for her three young children.  Here are words for me to remember as I daily care for our four precious children, ages 5 1/2,  4,  2,  and  3 weeks.

What is truly important for each day?

• Sing praises and songs of worship together.
• Give thanks in ALL things.
• Hugs and kisses.
• Think before committing to a yes or no.  (Try to say yes more often.)
• Stop, look, and listen when they speak.
• Respond with patience and love.
• Be consistent.
• Let the princesses dance.
• Let them help.
• Be their encourager.
• Pray.
• Smile and laugh.
• Sing and read God’s Word together.
• Making messes makes for fun memories.
• Start and end the day with thanksgiving to our Lord.
• Our children will not always be this little.
  Train them now, but also enjoy them now!

Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Our baby Olive made it safe and sound into the world one week ago today.  Praise God!  You can read details about her birth on my husband’s blog.  (Yes, he blogged her birth – just a sign of the times I guess.) At this point, she sleeps and eats … and then sleeps and eats some more = )  A typical one week old who has already stolen our hearts with her sweet, sleepy smiles, her great big yawns, and her ‘I’m not quite awake’ stretches.  Oh yes, she cries and tends to have her days and nights mixed up still, but let’s not think about that right now.  With all of the ’round the clock feedings happening this past week, I realized that for the next few months I get to do something I haven’t been able to do a lot of in the past year or so…  I get to read again!

So, next to the nursing chair, squeezed in with my nursing arsenal (my glass of water, my feeding chart, my Lansinoh, my Medela pump, etc.)  are several books I have been waiting to read…

• Satisfy My Thirsty Soul: For I am Desperate For Your Presence by Linda Dillow
  (I have read Calm My Anxious Heartby this same author.   I still refer back to it!  I enjoy the way she writes and how she uses biblical references and personal experiences to speak to me and challenge me in areas tht I am struggling with. )
• Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver
  (I’ve read her first book about Mary and Martha – Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and could relate well!  I look forward to this second one.)
• Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney
  (My sister in law bought this for me two Chrismas’ ago!  I am ashamed to say that I started it, but never got to finish it.)
• My Bible!
  (I’ll have no excuse for missing my daily reading and devotions for awhile!)

I can’t wait to delve into these books – to refresh my spirit, to glean from other Christian women, and to study and apply God’s Word .. even if it is at 2:30 in the morning when everyone else is asleep =)

God is sovereign in all of life. 

We are expecting our fourth child.  The girls are excited and often ask, “How big is the baby?”  We were reading in Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade Curtis that by week nine, the baby is ‘the size of a medium green olive’.  He or she…

• has longer fingers now and the tips are slightly enlarged where touch pads are forming,
• has toes that are formed and feet that are more recognizable,
• has eyelids that almost cover the eyes,
• has external ears that are evident and well formed,
• can move its body, arms, and legs.

God is sovereign in all of life, intricate in every detail.  How amazing is our God?!

Psalm 139:13-16 states…
For you created my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Thank you, Lord, for this precious little life You are creating inside.

We had an ultrasound today.  We got to see our little 10 week old ‘olive’ =)  He or she has a strong heartbeat and is measuring well.  However, it was discovered that there are two small blood clots in my uterus, causing some slight bleeding.  I wanted the doctor to say that everything would be all right, but she didn’t.  She said we’d have to wait and see…. God is still sovereign.   If God decides to help this little one thrive, blessed be the name of the Lord.  If God chooses to take this little life home to be with Him early, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Will it be painful and will there be many tears?  Yes, of course!  But, He is my Lord and I will trust in Him.  ‘Oh God, You are my God.  And I will ever praise You.’   May I take to Him all my anxious thoughts and truly trust in Christ, my Lord and Savior.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)