Top Ten Posts of 2013!

Here are the top ten most-read posts of 2013. If you have liked, shared, commented on, or pinned any of these best-loved posts, I am grateful! Thank you!

#10 - Haven or Hollywood? (Pin it!)

#09 - How to Deal with the Fools in Your Life! (Pin it!)

#08 - Our Afternoon Routine (Pin it!)

#07 - Take cover! (Pin it!)

#06 - Confession of a messy mom. (Pin it!)

#05 - Unfulfilled Dreams? (Pin it!)

#04 - You just don't understand! (Pin it!)

#03 - Teaching children to sit through church (Pin it!)

#02 - No wonder she's not listening (Pin it!)

and the most-read, best-loved post of 2013...

#01 - Our Morning Routine (Pin it!)

Thank you all! I am waiting with great expectation for the lessons the Lord has for me to learn & share in 2014!

Writing as He moves me,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Faith like a child

Do you believe that children can minister to adults? That God can move a hard heart through the faith of a little one?

I do.

My relationship with Jesus exists because a dear child with a giant-sized faith introduced me to her God (you can read about Sarah & me here. or here. or here.).

And at 7, 6, & 3, my children have all strengthened my heart on days when I didn't feel I could bear much more. I think some people dismiss children as useless and not able to contribute much - but from my experience (and some of the most poignant stories in the Bible!), I've learned that when I'm willing to open my heart and my ears to them they are one of the most precious resources I have for learning, growing, and being built up in my faith.

Below are some of the ways my children have ministered to me, my husband, each other (what a joy!), and to others in their lives. The best way to describe how it feels when one of my girls reaches out to comfort me is, it's like a soul hug. God works through them to calm my soul and anchor my heart on His love and His truths!

Romans 8:28, as drawn by Elizabeth.
This still hangs in the kitchen to remind me daily
that nothing is wasted in God's economy!

Back in May, Will had gone to NY to stay with his mom for a little while. It was a rough couple weeks for me, and Elizabeth was particularly sweet to remind me of the things we had learned about during Bible time and what she'd learned from Miss Diane at Junior Church!

The girls wanted to sing this song for Daddy

while he was away for a period of time earlier this year.

Again, the girls wanted to encourage Daddy with a song they'd been learning - Psalm 1 (courtesy of the Harrow Family's Sing the Word series!)

The big girls & I work on memory verses each week.
Sometimes, Elizabeth writes out the week's verse for Hannah (3)
and teaches it to her.

Do to others as you would have them do to you! -Elizabeth spent a long time writing this out and going over it with Hannah! And now Hannah remembers the verse when her sisters are giving her a hard time. :)

We hosted a 5-Day Club this summer.
At the end of the week, E made this for one of her teachers!

They love to make cards for people, and write out the words to their favorite Bible songs. I know it blesses others when my daughters remember them and reach out to encourage them!

"Mommy, I wrote you a secret message
in my copywork today. Can you find it?"
On this particular morning, I needed both of these messages!

This is a page from E & A penmanship book (Horizons Penmanship from AOP! We love it!)

Elizabeth made this and hung it next to Daddy's computer
"for the days when he forgets this."

It's true. Sometimes, we forget the truths of God's Word. And I am so grateful that the Lord sees fit to minister to me through the hearts and lives of my daughters. 

How have the children in your life ministered to you in difficult times?

Praising God for children,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Slow days, fast years.

"There's one thing you'll find true about parenting - 

the days are so slow sometimes,

              but the years go by fast."

One of the elders at our church said this in passing to me in the weeks before we welcomed our firstborn. I had no context for grasping the depth of that statement.

I laughed it off at the time. But it is true. So achingly true.

...wait. Didn't I just bring her home from the hospital?!

Elizabeth is 7 1/2. WHAT. And after years of digestive troubles and being chronically underweight because her body wasn't handling food well...she's growing. I understand that whole "like a weed" analogy. Her appetite is robust, for the first time ever. She's sprouted about 4" in the last year, and she's finally up to a healthy weight. She is active: running, dancing, learning to ride a bike. It's been about 11 months since her cecostomy tube was put in place, and I am so thankful for the difference it's made in her quality of life. She & I pray every morning and thank the Lord profusely for modern medicine, the wisdom He gives the doctors, and the way He is healing her body day by day. Have you ever heard the prayers of a child who has learned to trust her God? It gives me goosebumps when she prays. Her prayers are often simple, direct, and out-of-this-world big.

God often reminds me through Elizabeth that my prayers can and should be more like hers - in faith that He is able, and in confidence that He will if it's what's best.

...her, too?

Abby just turned 6. For her birthday, she wanted to learn how to play "either the flute, the banjo, or the xylophone"...flute it is. She's been taking lessons for the last few weeks and is really making progress. The instructor thought maybe she'd be too young or too small to get the hang of blowing into the mouthpiece or managing the keys, and it is hard for her!, but she is learning all about the fruits of labor. When she puts in the 20 minutes a day to practice...she finds that making (the right) sound is easier and that reaching those last few keys waaaaaay down at the end of the flute comes just a little easier. I am SO thrilled for her. (And since I play the clarinet, we've been working a little to play together, and I am having a blast!) Other big milestones in the past few months: she has learned how to read. and read and read and read and read. There are few other things that will bring as much joy to my heart as hearing my children reading to me or each other. 

The Lord often reminds me through Abby that He a) enjoys the humor & sweetness of little ones, and b) I need to put aside cleaning or the computer more often and delight in these days. He also instructs me in the blessings of serving others & diligence - Abby's two most beautiful & prominent qualities.

Hannah is on the cusp of 3. For so long, her nickname has been "baby Hannah", but now - I can't call her that anymore! She is a little girl! Han is the second daughter to need extensive physical therapy, and after 2 years of it, it's hard to tell she was ever so far behind. She has mastered climbing stairs; she's also mastered talking. That was never a concern, though, in a home with two chatty older sisters. 

Her name means "grace & wisdom". I need gigantic amounts of both to parent well. She questions everything, and reminds me that my heavenly Father takes joy in my many questions and watching me grow in His care.

The last 7 1/2 years have just zipped by...one slow day at a time.

L to R, top to bottom: fall photos from each year 2006-2013!

Moms, you know what I mean. The days sometimes feel like they last for-ev-er. Especially days when you spend most of your time feeding, clothing, cleaning, correcting, rebuking, instructing, caring for a sick one, or in those seasons where you are just spiritually dry and wonder how in the world you will manage yourself, let alone little ones.

But then you blink, and they seem to age years. It makes me all the more thankful that I have eternity to look forward to - to know that even though these sweet years will soon be a memory, Lord willing I'll have forever to delight in the dear ones God blessed me with.

The verse that comes to mind is 1 Peter 3:8 - But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

Does anyone else feel the years go by more quickly than the days do? How do you relish the moments and capture the years as they fly by?

Thankful for the slow days,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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October 10, 2000

13 years and 9 days ago,

I was introduced to a young man.

A young man with a big beard and the most amazing grin I'd ever seen.

He remarked that he really liked my shoes, because they were bowling shoes. Real ones.

We hung out for a few hours with a small group of mutual friends,

played a ridiculously terrible game of pool,

and he assured me that he lost "in order to impress the ladies", which had to have been me,

since I was the only single lady in the group.

Single, because I'd just told my roommate that I'd sworn off dating at least for a whole year.

Fall semester 2000 - freshman year

13 years ago,

that young man called me up and asked me

if he had a girlfriend.

That was his way of asking me out, I think. I answered yes,

and his reply was "Thanks!"...and then he hung up on me.

He was no ordinary young man,

and my life has not had a moment of ordinary from that moment on.

Except for 15 minutes (when we broke up) in the spring of 2002,

(and then decided we'd try to make it work),

we've been together ever since.

That's almost half of our lifetimes.

Through the years. :)

I know my life would look vastly different had the Lord chosen another path for me.

And with all the work the Lord has done in my heart,

and the way He has been patience and gracious with each of us,

I would not dream of it being any different...
not one moment.

Happy 13th (dating) anniversary, Will. I'm really glad you made that phone call.


My love is not perfect,
but I'm thankful that God is perfecting it by letting me love you.
You are the second most precious gift the Lord has ever given me
(after my salvation through Jesus!!),
and I will praise Him forever for that. Even on the hardest days.

Love,
Lisha

PS Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Tea Time

Do you have a favorite time of day?

Seeing a recent Facebook post asking that question, I answered that my favorite time of day is tea time.

It's not a set time; on our schedule it most often falls around snack time (2ish), but sometimes it happens at breakfast or lunch - or if we are having a crummy day and need a "restart". Whenever it occurs, it has become a staple in my -and my daughters' - day. They are 7, 6, and almost 3.

I call "tea time in 15 minutes!" and put the kettle on. We use real mugs. Sometimes, the girls dress up "fancy" and set the table with "fancy" saucers (salad plates), too. There is often a small treat (mini-muffins, fruit, etc). I usually cheat a little and have coffee instead, and Elizabeth likes peppermint (or chocolate mint) tea; Abby likes rosehip & hibiscus tea; Hannah loves lemon tea. Or for a real treat, I make a round of vanilla chai for everyone. A little sugar or honey sweetens things just enough.

And we sit and talk about big ideas. Or giggle. Or sing goofy songs together. It's 20-ish minutes of time to connect with my girls. Time for them to get to know me better, and for me to be surprised by the young ladies they are so quickly becoming!

In the midst of the day's demands and urgencies, I'm often quick to forget that the little girls I'm instructing, correcting, & directing will some day be grown - and if I hope to have a close relationship with them as adults, I need to nurture that now by enjoying time with them.

It won't last forever - the "little girl" stage, I mean. But for now, I thank God for tea time with three of the most precious ladies-in-training I'll ever know; praying that in another twenty years there will be similar tea times with three precious women.

A recent tea time, while on vacation!

What is your favorite time of the day?

Taking tea with my daughters,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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Lessons from a crummy morning.

How I Planned For This Morning To Go:
-Wake up earlier than the girls & get ready
-Quiet time (Bible reading, prayer time)
-Make the girls breakfast, and wake them up to the smell of eggs & sausage
-Bible lesson with the girls about how God always takes care of us
-Morning chores with the girls
-Get the girls showered & dressed
-Little bit of school work - reading out loud & math (they love doing school. every day!)
-Help E with her flush procedure

How It Really Went Down:
-Woke up to H crying loudly, and A&E crying because H was crying
-Made breakfast for the girls (dry cereal)
-Watched H have a meltdown in her seat because she didn't want that for breakfast and "I'm not thankful" (said after prayer). Removed H from seat and did not allow her to join us at the table until she stopped screaming and was in a more grateful mood (which did not happen for a little while!).
-Bible time & prayer with a squirming H in my lap while bigger girls finish breakfast
-Bible lesson with the girls about how God always takes care of us
-A announcing that she feels like she's going to (.....takes off for the bathroom) ...throw up.
-Try to soothe A, who is lying on the bathroom floor and crying because her belly hurts
-E, while I was taking care of A, got out some construction paper and scissors and starting being creative alllllllll over the living room by cutting up said paper into hundreds of tiny little pieces, and then
-H getting hold of said scissors and cutting up stickers, papers, and lots of other fun stuff.
-Forget you, morning chores.

When I'm able to prepare for and order my mornings before I go to bed the previous evening, I feel like I've got this homemaker/mom thing DOWN.

And when my plan is blown 5 minutes into the morning, it's easy to believe the lie that I am the WORST, most ill-prepared and ill-equipped woman on the planet who ever bore children. Especially when I immediately give in to the grumpy attitude that rises up when I realize things are not going my way.

Sometimes, junky mornings happen. Way more often than I care to admit. But I'm learning - slowly, but surely - that junky mornings are a FANTASTIC lesson for my girls in how to:

1) stop what I am doing, and pray;
2) confess that my grumpiness is from my selfish belief that things need to go the way I plan;
3) remind myself that I can plan my day all I want, but ultimately I have no control over how things turn out;
4) choose gratitude and joy even as the day is not going as I planned.

I received a chance to practice patience this morning (I blew it, though, so then I received a chance to ask for forgiveness and show my girls what it looks like to screw up, confess, and trust God's forgiveness!). If things had gone my way, I wouldn't have needed to be patient. I also received a chance to snuggle H when she was sad, and rub A's back while she was being sick, and I got to watch E's tender heart toward her sisters when she fetched H's blankie and brought A a cup of water - both without being asked. All things I would have missed it my idea for a smooth morning had been carried out.

Thank You, Lord, for mornings that don't go as planned. Keep my heart soft always toward the lessons You have for the girls & I when Your plan differs from mine.

Trusting God's plan for my day is better than mine,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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have I not commanded you?

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." [Joshua 1:9]

The next few weeks are going to be very full around here.

Dartmouth rescheduled E's surgery (see I did not sign up for this part! for more details), which turned out to be a blessing because that means Will can come without having to miss work. So that's happening soon. And last Monday we were offered a chance to move - and we took it. So we're moving 2 days after E comes home from the hospital.

For those of you who pray, and those who have been faithful to pray for us in the recent weeks: please continue. As God brings us to your mind, please pray. And if He lays a verse on your heart and you happen to think of us, please share it. It feels kind of selfish to beg but my heart can get easily overwhelmed at times when I'm packing up a home we've lived in since E was 3 months old and trying to mentally prepare for all of the changes in the upcoming weeks. Our home surrounding will be new, and we'll be adjusting to E's new needs too.

My sights are on Jesus and my heart yearns to be more like Him, but I'm too much like Peter to not stumble. "Get out of the boat - I'm doing some great and miraculous things here!" Christ says to me, but I look around at the storm that is coming at me from multiple fronts and sometimes I just start sinking!

I'm thankful for this season of life because it is a daily (hourly! momentary!) reminder that apart from Jesus and His sovereign plans, we cannot do anything. I am not strong, nor wise, nor sufficiently organized to do these things. I do not have the fortitude to hook my daughter up to an IV every night. or to purge & pack our home with 3 small ones around. or to make a house into a new home. But God's grace is sufficient for right here and right now!

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on Thee,
because he trusteth Thee.
[Isaiah 26:3]

not afraid, nor dismayed,
for His glory!
~Lisha :)

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A Thankful November - 2012

Dear ones,

For the last few years, as November rolls around I take some time every day to pick a few things to be thankful for. Some days it's a whole mess of things. Some days, it's one overarching theme.

I do it because the Lord reminds me throughout Scripture to be thankful. To cultivate a heart of gratitude. Toward Him, because He 'has dealt bountifully with my soul' [Psalm 13]!! There is no area of my life where I cannot find something to praise God for!!

I invite you, friend, to join me on this month-long exercise in thankfulness. Whether or not you worship God - there is still much to be thankful for. However, if you do worship the Lord, you have an infinite amount of good things to offer back to Him in praise.

Here's my running list. What's on yours?

Grateful,
for His glory!
~Lisha

November 1: the Lord of hosts, who only does marvelous things. my husband, who is a gift from God to help me learn to be more like Jesus. three lovely daughters who forgive me readily and repeatedly. friends who love me enough to call me out when i've done something wrong. prayer. a new pastor for our church. a new month feeling like a fresh start...

November 2: for Beautiful You. for the young ladies i've mentored and the young-at-heart ladies who have mentored me. for God's constant provision and His guidance. for my mom and dad and 'little' brother ♥ for my "-in-love" family - the hunters & the hustons. that Jesus came to give abundant life, not just squeaking-by life!

November 3: for chilly mornings under warm blankets. for a big mug of warm tea. for early morning snuggles with hannahbear. for the anticipation of spending the day with friends. for all the ways God provides for our family. for the opportunity to have a home-based business. for the smells and sounds and sights of the holiday season. and that my memories of holidays past are rich with love and joy.

November 4: for communion. for the sun greeting me when i woke up this morning (thanks, DST)! for waking up to a bunch of clean dishes that were not clean when i went to bed last night (thanks, will!). for our church family (local and worldwide). that my girls share a room and i get to overhear some of the giggles, whispers, jokes, friendship, and playtime that happens when they're together there.

November 5: for a working heater in the car. indoor plumbing. strangers at the grocery store who stop to speak a word of encouragement to a hurried homeschooling momma, that this path is hard but worth it. coffee. that i live in a country where i'm allowed to vote, no matter how tarnished the system is. for the ladies (& men) who worked hard and sacrificed much to give me that privilege & responsiblity. daughters who will one day be managers of their own homes. for gracious landlords. for the God of wonders, who is holy and merciful beyond my imagination.

November 6: for washers and dryers and all kinds of modern-day appliances that making managing a home easier. for the next President, whoever it is, per Romans 13 and 1 Thess 5:18. for toddler words that are so cute, like "ebef" and "abbeeeee!" (h's names for her sisters). for the heartfelt prayers of little ones who trust God in a way that i don't yet. for conversations that happen between two people who completely disagree and yet still can love & respect each other. for getting darker earlier = girls ready for bed earlier. for the freedom to vote, and the richer freedom in Christ.

November 7: hoodie sweatshirts and fleecey pajama pants. generous offers of lots of boxes. mary poppins. prayer, and when God answers it in a big way. my neighbor, Merri (I'm going to miss you when we move!!!). a quiet phone, because no political calls are coming in. my SAHMmie moms (remember we're not meeting today, though!). that through this season i'm learning what it means that God's grace is sufficient for me. and that no matter who is Commander-in-Chief, Jesus is the Lord of the heavenly hosts!

November 8: the first snow of the year always reminding me of Isaiah 1:18. 11 hours of sleep. toast and tea being a perfect remedy for a yucky tummy. the conviction of the Word. will, my best friend. family photos, old & new. an extra productive day yesterday on the packing front.

November 9: friends who come to help clean & bring coffee. my brother-in-law Ben, who i've known since he was 10 and now he's...much older (happy birthday!). long fb chats with kimm. that nostalgic feeling that happens when digging through years of pictures, letters, cards, & child artwork. my husband's hard work that allows me to stay home & educate the girls - what an honor & privilege! indoor plumbing which allows for hot showers. that God has revealed what He wants a virtuous woman to be & do, and that He gives me grace upon grace to strive for that. 3 weeks till E's surgery!

November 10: my brother Jerel, who turns not-quite-30 today (happy birthday!). my Nana & Grampy and Grammy & Papa, and will's Grandma & Grandad and Gram & Grampy - for their examples & how they raised our parents. finding my glasses after losing them shortly after abby was born (i can see so much better this morning! woo!). cold but brilliantly sunny fall mornings. not having
too much money - it moves me to be a better steward of what we've got. not having too little money - it reminds me that God always provides for each and every need. how creative the girls are during playtime after i've packed up most of their toys. hazelnut flavored coffee, mint tea, and hot cocoa with those little marshmallows. getting cards in the mail. and lastly, that today is a new day with new mercies & sufficient grace. :)

November 11: the 'Romans road' (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, & Romans 10:9). that my gaining heaven is not contingent upon what I've done / haven't done / am doing / am not doing / will do / will not do - it is solely because i've trusted in Jesus & what He accomplished at Calvary. for the men who have filled the pulpit at JBC while we haven't had a full-time pastor. for the men and women among us who have served their country well and sacrificed much for it. and for new friends and warm hospitality.

November 12: for finding gift cards while packing - that still have the full amount on them! for an impromptu dunkin donuts breakfast date with my girls (thanks to the gift card). for the long list of things to be done and things we need in the next three weeks, because prayer works and i can't wait to see how He'll do it all. for grace even after a crummy start to monday morning. energizing/encouraging music. that i am not, but that He is.

November 13: for the truth of the Scriptures and that it never changes, ever. that my heart is deceitfully and continually wicked above all else when left to my own devices. that the justice due me is an eternity of God's wrath. that God intervened in the person of Jesus. that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on my behalf, that the justice of God would be satisfied at Calvary. that Christ's death and resurrection won not only forgiveness of my sins but an eternal home in heaven, if i'm willing to accept & believe it. that i can stare hardship and death in the face and say "O where is thy sting? Where is thy victory?!" that God works all things together for good for those who love Him. that God keeps all of His promises and that He loves me fiercely & created me with a unique purpose that no one else could ever fill.

November 14: honey nut cheerios. chamomile tea. photos of will & i, that tell quite a story of the past 12 years. the tradition of Christmas cards. God's lovingkindness, which leads me to repentence & godly sorrow. this season of life with my littles (who are growing into bigs! stop!). the book of Proverbs. texts like "i was thinking of you today, how are you?" from faraway cousins, after a rough day ♥ cardboard boxes being a reminder that God is doing big things here.

November 15: for sore muscles, which mean that things are getting moved around & packed :) for the promise of a day spent with my girls and good friends in keene. for george winston and his music. for God's absolute sovereignty, so that i don't need to worry about anything at all - local or global. for all of the parents of my friends through the years who have loved me as pretty much their own. for the china tea set i found in the back of the closet and its memories of aunt bonnie's house. that the girls have been (mostly) good while their life is getting packed up around them, and patient with me when i am less than patient with them.

November 16: the inventors of the Keurig, modern washer & dryer, and electric stove. that Will gets the girls up and fed in the mornings so i can sleep in just a little longer. Oswald Chambers and all of the other men & women God has used through history to encourage and strengthen my beliefs & my faith. E&A being able to read. the freedom to homeschool my children.

November 17: for warm blankets. a night out at the opera. that like ancient israel, i often forget my God as i wander in a wilderness, but each time He forgives & provides. joy! a sink full of dirty dishes, because it means that we have enough food to eat. stickers & beads - two things that keep little girls entertained for a long time while mom is packing up a box or two. friday night being 'date night in' with take out and a fun tv show. honey vanilla chamomile tea, which sounds gross but is actually quite good. :)

November 18: that my mother in law is driving from NY today to surprise the girls. that my parents are on their way home from a visit to ME. for E's first loose tooth. for not having hot water this morning- it's a reminder that we are SO blessed to have the ability to even have hot water indoors. for our new pastor! for e being thankful for her "animal friends" (stuffed animals); a being thankful for her blanky; and h being thankful for bunnies.

November 19: Merri, aka the world's best neighbor. my SAHMmie friends and their willingness to be crafty & creative with my kids because it's not a strength of mine. and that they let me impose my math geekiness on their kids every now and again. a quick but dear visit with my mom-in-love, and for the little people singing disney princess castle thing she brought that has all of the girls occupied happily for hours. two weeks till moving day. davidcrowder*band. the awesome coziness of handmade quilts & afghans. people who can speak the truth in love.

November 20: for God and how He supplies strength when i have none. for waking up sick which reminds me to s l o w d o w n once in a while. for tea, and lots of it. for motrin and vitamin c tablets. for all the dust kickin' up around here which means stuff is getting cleaning and tossed. for friends who are willing to rearrange their schedules to watch my girls for a little while. for unexpected orders & show bookings. for will - oh, infinitely for will!

November 21: for a couple of hours without kids in the house to get about half of the living room cleaned & packed up (thanks, Rebeccah!). when a friend knows you well enough to not have to ask how you take your coffee (thanks, Elysia!). for the best PT in the world (H's, from Rise...) - Miss Becky :D for the blog. and the prayers & thoughts from friends & family. and that God is sovereign over every detail ever. the verse 'o wretched man that i am!! who will deliver me from this body of death?! i thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!!!' summing up my existence. lemon-poppyseed bread, and looking forward to mom's amazing dinner tomorrow. for a good, long cry being the best remedy once in a while - and for a husband who just knows that and lets it happen. 

November 22: for God. and all of His mighty deeds. like...
speaking the earth into existence.
speaking the heavens into existence.
breathing life into a man, whom he formed from the dust.
calling forth the waters to cover the the dry land.
withholding the waters from ever covering the dry land again. daily.
ten judgments on a hard-hearted pharoah and releasing His children from bondage.
stopping the earth to keep the sun in the sky, that israel might be victorious [joshua 10].
prolonging a king's life by fifteen years.
choosing to dwell in the form of man and live among His creation.
healing the blind, mute, lame, diseased, & tormented by speaking a word.
raising the dead to life. including Himself.
transforming a religious zealot into a passionate sinner-saved-by-grace.
and His mightiest deed: He, who knew no sin, becoming sin on our behalf, and bearing the outpouring of wrath that was due us...that we might be restored & reconciled to Him. ♥
what a God. what a Savior.

November 23: for family traditions. for ornaments that have survived the last 25 years and still go up every Christmas. for the santa candy holders, the snowglobes, the same 6 Christmas CDs we've been listening to for yearsandyears. for the mantle and the stockings. for my nana's handiwork. for the 'kid's tree' and for the santa hats. and that my girls get to be part of the lane family Christmas. and for my mom and dad who pull it all together every year.

November 24: that in a little over a week, E will be healing and we can begin unpacking. for paul's letter to the romans. for shortbread cookies. that will is artistic and spontaneous, to counter my practical and type-a personality. for finding 'the sandlot' and watching it last night. for aunts & uncles and the oodles of cousins. that God loves me where i am at but is not content to leave me there - He guides, teaches, rebukes, & encourages me till my character reflects Jesus.

November 25: for abbyisms. and elizabethisms. and the up-and-coming hannahisms. for church. for finally being done going through everything and now it's just packing up a few boxes here and there and cleaning. that God is the lifter of my countenance, my portion, my shield & defender, my teacher, & my King. for e telling me that her belly hurts - a reminder that in God's great faithfulness, the healing surgery is only days away.

November 26: for innocent and thoughtful questions from the hearts of my littles. for God's provision in ways i could not have ever expected. for this being the start of The Week When It All Happens. that my girls have learned to be content with simple meals and only one or two toys to keep them occupied. for older people at the grocery store who take the time to talk with (not at, or down to) my children and share a laugh or two. that nothing in allllllllllllll the world or universe can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus - nothing!!

November 27: so grateful today...for God's grace. that i don't deserve and never will earn. a gift - and oh, a marvelous gift.

amazing grace!! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!! i once was lost, but now am found! was blind - but now, i see! 'twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved!! how precious did that grace appear, the hour i first believed!!! ♥ [john newton]

November 28: for the wednesday morning mom's Bible study/SAHMs group. for friends who are willing to spend an evening packing up my kitchen. for my mom helping me out by doing our laundry so it's one less thing to think about. for will working hard in the midst of things that do not seem to be going 'our way'. for hugs when words don't really cut it. for the reminder to do everything i do to the glory of God - even packing boxes or wiping runny noses or breaking up a sibling argument. for octopotamuses. for tears of exhaustion that remind me to take Jesus up on His offer to come to Him when i labor and am heavy-laden, for He alone gives my soul rest.

November 29: for turkey soup & pumpkin bread for lunch (thanks rachel!). for finding e's first set of braces and recalling just how good God has been to us here in this home. for the anticipation of just how God is going to be to us in our new home. for everyone i've talked to at dartmouth this week, because they've been pleasant and patient and compassionate. for bartering. and finding new homes for some of our things. for a (relatively) quiet lunch time with will. ♥

November 30: I am thankful today for modern medicines & techniques that allow E a chance to heal and be healthier. for the surgeon who will be operating on her this morning and the nurses & doctors that will be taking care of her. that of all of the health issues I could have to walk through as a mom, that this is really not that bad. that I do not need to worry about any of the details, great or small, because God is not only going with us moment by moment but He already knows the outcome. that E knows that Jesus and His angels will be encamped around her in the OR. that there is not one single cell in E's body that God did not create, and that every moment of her life thus far has gone the way it has for a specific reason. ♥

giving thanks in November...and always,

for His glory!

~Lisha

Turn to Me!

"Now, therefore,” says the Lord,

“turn to Me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning!”

So rend your heart, and not your garments;

return to the Lord your God,

for He is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and of great kindness;

and He relents from doing harm!!

[Joel 2:12-13]

God has been doing a deep and mighty work in my heart lately.

He is teaching me (or, I'm finally realizing even though He's been showing me all along!) that I have been living:

1) acting like I have it all together, instead living honestly even when I don't;

2) serving my family because it's a necessary duty, instead serving my family joyfully because I love them;

3) wanting others to see how spiritual I am, instead of openly acknowledging that I am not unless I'm in Christ; and

4) feeling guilty under the weight of my sin instead of fearing the LORD in such a way that I do not choose to sin in the first place and accepting His total forgiveness.

It is a painful place for me to be. Daily I'm being reminded that I, apart from the redemptive work of Christ, am not.

Am not what?

complete. wise. mature. spiritual. loving. kind. joyful. patient. faithful. tempered in my appetites. an excellent wife. a dedicated mother. a decent friend. a decent human being.

Lest you think that I'm in a state of despair - read on! When the Lord chastens and humbles His daughter in such a way, it's because He loves me. Fiercely and completely. Enough to inflict a momentary hurt in exchange for eternal freedom. I hurt, but I know it's because I am loved by Almighty God. I know that this is a good pain to be experiencing. I am not hopeless! Sorrowful, ashamed, angry with myself at times - yes. But never hopeless. The joy that I have right now is that I can put full trust in Jesus and His Word. There will be exuberant joy afterward. But now, a quiet underlying joy that reminds me that He is molding me to be more and more like Jesus.

And here are the sermons and studies that God used powerfully to bring me to this place in my journey with Him:

Examine Yourself - Paul Washer

If My Words Abide In You - John Piper

Seeking Him

...and pretty much any of the Psalms and the book of Romans.

Humbled and clinging to Jesus,

for His glory!

~Lisha :)

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

a broken and a contrite heart—

these, O God, You will not despise! [Psalm 16-17]

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God!, that you may obey His voice!, and that you may cling to Him!, for He is your life and the length of your days!!!!; [Deuteronomy 30:19-20]

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction. [Proverbs 1:7]

He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:30]

When pride comes, then comes shame;

but with the humble is wisdom. [Proverbs 11:2]

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!! Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" [John 6:66-69]

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Where the rubber meets the highway (or: lessons learned on the road)

What has:

2,600 miles

15 stops with various friends and relations

11 states

6 boxes of cereal

5 travel bags (most of which are full of food & diapers)

4 weeks

3 girls

and

1 tired/thrilled mom?

A 2012 Very Hunter Summer Road Trip, that's what!!

Our route!

We left town on July 19th and did not get home until August 15th. The girls & I visited friends and family in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut. There were many sweet memories and fun & impromptu field trips. There were some unexpected delays in travel (severe rain, a full-blown diaper disaster in the carseat, construction, a logging truck accident, and getting lost in both DC & NYC, among others...).

Quiet reading time with my cousins in VT!

I got to reminisce with dear high school and college friends, stay up late with cousins, aunts & uncles I don't get to see often, and to meet a online friend for real! We got to worship the Lord with dear brothers & sisters in northern Vermont and southern Pennsylvania. The girls did a little exploring in the cold ocean waters in Maine and swam in the warm ocean waters of Virginia Beach. They got to ride 4-wheelers with Grandaddy, go kayaking with Grammy & Grampy, and pick their own fresh fruits and veggies from Gram's very own garden. We rode a coal train in PA with Will's Gram. Feeding worms was a hit; painting birdhouses with Auntie Kimm was too; so was playing with all kinds of new toys at other friends' houses. We ate a lot of chicken nuggets and pizza and hot dogs (no complaints at all from the taste-testing department...!) It was a lovely, memorable, exhausting, so-glad-I-did-it-but-it'll-take-a-while-before-I'm-ready-to-drive-on-the-highway-again kind of trip!

E &A, in Casco Bay ME

I had a lot of time to think. Driving between 3-6 hours in between most stops with girls mostly content in the back seats left plenty of opportunities to pray and to listen to the Lord. I thought, initially, that this trip was going to be a 'school on the road' type opportunity for the girls and that it would be a chance for us to catch up with so many people that we don't see often enough.

Ready to head out on the road...again!

But that's not all the Lord had in store for us. It did happen that by the time we got home, I felt like we'd been doing school for about a month already :) and I did get to catch up with people who are so dear to my heart. And in the midst of all of that, here are some lessons the Lord had for me:

*I don't like not knowing where I am, or where I'm going. Jesus kept reminding me of the verse I have over my kitchen sink at home to calm my nervous heart (especially in Washington DC and New York City - eeeek, of all places to be lost!): Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. [Joshua 1:9] Wherever I go. Even in a city I'm not familiar with. Even on Pennsylvania Avenue (which is where we ended up on accident in DC!). No matter where I am, physically or spiritually - Jesus is with me wherever I go. I need not be afraid! There is such freedom in that truth!

This...is not where I was supposed to be!

...neither was this. Impromptu national history lesson
with a captive audience in the back rows!

*As much as I wanted to minister to other people, He used them powerfully to minister to me in ways that I couldn't have imagined. I got to wash dishes and fold laundry and hold babies and do a few other tasks for the families I stayed with, thinking I was being so helpful; and in return, I was challenged, encouraged, and built up in my faith in Christ!

The girls adore their Grandaddy! At Hunter Farm in VA

Hanging out in the "hampster" (hammock...) at
Mr. Tim & Miss Ashley's!

*Life is too short to wait until there's enough time and/or money. There are so many reasons why it seemed like a bad idea to take a 12-year-old rickety Windstar on the road by myself with three little girls with only a few hundred dollars in cash. I had a list of things I could have spent that money on: paying down debt, ordering homeschooling books, putting it in savings, etc. But the trip was so very worth every moment and every dollar spent. I am thankful that Will encouraged me to go!!

Enjoying a beautiful afternoon with Nana (Will's Gram!)
just before taking a ride on the coal train in PA.

*I have a lot to learn from other people - especially when they believe differently than I do! I know this seems like it should be a no-brainer, but sometimes it's easy for me to forget. Paul went to Athens to preach, but he wasn't ignorant of the Greek culture and belief systems there. Listening to the whys and hows of different beliefs broadens my perspective. It strengthened my faith to be challenged by hearing about other religions and by being asked honest and hard questions about my own beliefs!

FRESH raspberries from Gram's garden!

* Life in NH can continue without me. Whoa! This was a hard lesson for my ego. I'm so used to being involved in different capacities outside our home. And what a refreshing reminder for my soul that it is the Lord who is in charge, not me! He is perfectly capable of guiding things quite well in my absence (and, incidentally, when I'm around!). He gently reminded me that my main priority right now is the care and keeping of my family, and that some outside ministry opportunities can wait for another season!

Chillin' at Grammy & Grampy Lane's cabin in ME!

*Will is still my best friend. After being on the road for a month without him, and spending time with friends, relatives - some of whom I consider very close to me - I realized that even my closest friends do not know me as well as he does after all these years (12! wowee!). If something came up that reminded me of Will, and I thought "oh! He'd think that was funny/cute/ridiculous/whatever", ...I'd miss being able to turn to him right away and say that. By the time I left our last stop I had butterflies in my tummy and I was so giggly and just wanted to get home to him and share everything about the last month and hear all about how he had been. After 8 years of being married and having 3 kids, it's really easy to forget that hey, we used to like just hanging out and being around each other and that we were friends before we were husband & wife. It was sweet to be reminded of that.

At the welcome center in PA! Smile!

Before we left for the trip, I was terrified by the what-ifs. What if we break down? What if we run out of money? What if one of the girls gets sick? etc. But Will encouraged me to go, and I'm so glad that he did. 

Virginia Beach!

What if I hadn't? I would have missed out on sweet conversations, treasured memories, and the lessons that God had for me out on the road.

Feeding the worms at Mr. Iain & Miss Erin's house!!

What discoveries & lessons have you made on your travels & journeys? 

And...back home!

A pilgrim just traveling along,

for His glory!

~Lisha :)

Who? Me? (Or: a reflection as we approach our anniversary)

It's really hard to live someone who can be selfish, stubborn, given to outbursts of anger, impatient, untrusting, mopey, disrespectful, unwilling to change, unteachable, lazy, arrogant, expecting and needing to be right.

It's really frustrating to be friends with someone who wants their own way and takes no interest in your hobbies; who says you are their best friend but doesn't always take your dreams seriously and who can be quick to share their dreams and heart with almost anyone else before opening up to you.

It's really discouraging to keep on giving to someone who doesn't often say thank you and who kind of just expects that you're going to do so much for them - like you owe it to them or something - and they are slow to give back.

I know this, because Will lives with that someone every day (me!!) - but in the strength of the Lord continues to honor his vows till death parts us. It's been 8 years of marriage. Eight years of learning more about Jesus and we've both got a ways to go, but I am grateful that Will has not relented in his commitment to me even when it would be so convenient in the "sicker", "poorer", and "worse" times.

Jesus - transform me - but also, give me the strength, desire, and conviction to change. Your Spirit working in my heart is for naught if I'm not willing to obey and do my part! Help me to be the helpmeet that Will needs. And please, always always cover us both in your extravagant grace! Thank you, Lord, for the sweet gift of my dear husband - who, though a sinner, is still a picture of how Christ loves His church by laying down His life for her.

Will & I :)

Bless our marriage, that it might be
for Your glory!
~Lisha

I may be sharing this post at these uplifting Link-up parties!

When I don't measure up to much

image credit

When I don't fit in,

and I don't feel like I belong anywhere,

when I don't measure up to much in this life,

oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ!

['Forgiven', Sanctus Real]

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10]

For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, not of evil... [Jeremiah 29:11]

I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [Psalm 139:14]

I am so grateful this morning that though I let my loved ones down on a regular basis, I do not have to 'measure up' to worship and love and follow the Lord. And that there is no checklist for what I need to accomplish for God for Him to continually pour out His love and mercy on me. Christ has taken all of the punishment and wrath that was due to me through His death on the cross - and I am free because of that to bask in the love and care of my God even in the midst of disappointing those around me.

Apart from the solid foundation of His grace and love, I would most certainly be a wreck through this season of life - I am reminded daily that I do not measure up to the standards of a good wife or mom or keeper of the home. So He bids me to come to Him and ask which areas I need to work on, and then gives the wisdom and grace and the change of heart to work on them. And it's easy to get overwhelmed, because the list is so long!, but He only asks for a bit at a time. And as I carry on through my day in prayer, He is faithful to encourage me with His Word and through dear friends and my dear daughters that He sees a difference. Where others don't, or won't, or can't see a change, He knows what's different and I know that the thoughts He thinks toward me are loving ones.

I never have to measure up to perfection in the eyes of the Lord. He desires that I try all that He asks of me with excellence, but not perfection. His love is unconditional toward me because I have placed my trust in Jesus and what His death accomplished, not because of what I can accomplish for Him! What a sweet relief to my weary heart! That I can go to church this morning and worship Him, with my failures and flaws, and trust that He will continue the good work He started in me and carry it through to completion throughout the rest of my life. That He will not abandon me or withhold His love from me when I don't meet His expectations.

When I don't measure up to much in this life,

oh, I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ!!

Not measuring up to man's standards,

but still infinitely loved by the Lord,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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The Promise of God

(photo courtesy of Molly Viglione photography!)

Today, we celebrate our eldest daughter,

and how she is a daily reminder

of God's promises

and His patience toward us.

Her name was not chosen because it was popular, or cute, or even because we liked it (although, it helped that we did actually like it), but because God put that name on our hearts even before she was born.

Elizabeth is a Hebrew name that means "the promise of God".

Grace - well, it means grace - the unmerited favor of God toward us.

We are so grateful that for the past 6 years, we have had a constant reminder among us that God always keeps His promises and that His grace is sufficient and real in our home. As I've reflected on His unyielding faithfulness in the midst of the obstacles Elizabeth has had to overcome and live with, I am just overwhelmed that He loves her so much more than we do, and that we can see real, tangible, working evidence of His grace as He's taught her (and us!) to walk by faith.

We love you, Elizabeth Grace. We are blessed to know you, and to be called by God to be your parents! Happy, happy birthday!