A City Life For Me

Continuing in the thoughts of my last post , when Jehoshaphat was faced with a difficult situation of almost certain anihilation, he turned his eyes to God and trusted the Lord to fight for him.  After the Lord sent a message through His prophet with instructions for Judah in the battle, their immediate response was to bow, worship, and sing praise to God.  God hadn't yet done anything, but Judah praised Him for what they knew He was going to do -- fight for them. These thoughts have been brewing for a little while, since the outbreak of COVID-19 that has turned our whole world upside down.  At first, our church wasn't able to meet at the public school we were renting because the schools were closed down.  So, we had church in our dining room for two weeks.  It was all very last minute, and unplanned.  My mind was swirling and things seemed uncertain.  I turned on my iTunes and started a playlist on random.  Each song, though having little to d...

For the last couple of months, in between my study time for ladies' Bible study group, I have been marinating in 2 Chronicles 20.  It is the story of King Jehoshaphat and the great multitude that comes against him in battle.  This force is more than he can handle.  Jehoshaphat has just been strengthening Judah, building the defences, and teaching the people from God's Word.  He is a good king. So Jehoshaphat doesn't just try to handle everything on his own.  He doesn't call up the reserves.  No - he leads his people in a national fast, culminating in a gathering before the house of the Lord.  And there Jehoshapat prays.  He adores God.  He praises God's strength.  He reminds God of His past works, and His future promises.  He calls God to notice that they have gathered at God's house to ask for God's help.  And then he throws himself at God's mercy, and leaves it all in God's hands, withwith these amazing words: "O our G...

Something that I have been learning about recently is the practice of Sabbath.  I always equated the practice of sabbath  with the Lord's Day.  My husband preached from Luke 14 a few weeks ago, and in that passage we examined the sabbath principle.  Because Sunday is one of our biggest "work" days as the church staff, it's hard to think of Sunday as a day of rest like it was when I was growing up.  But I have also been realizing that I cannot maintain the speed and pressure of everything on my list at this season of life, so looking for a rest day has been in the forefront of my mind. The word for sabbath  just means seventh, so a true  sabbath would be on Saturday.  Again, this is not practical for our family as a lot of ministry and ministry preparation for Sunday takes place on Saturday.  This has led me to evaulate what and when we could do to create a culture of rest in our home on a different day. We had been taking a half ...

I wrote this post on Friday, but I wasn’t ready to publish it yet.  While most years find us remembering this “Good Friday” as the day Jesus bore our sins at Calvary, prior to celebrating a glorious Resurrection Sunday, I was all set to enjoy this day, April 14, 2017, as a good Friday for another reason.  Today, at long last, we were to close on the house in the Bronx. Three years ago we began a life changing journey of deputation.  I admit, it wasn’t anything I had planned on doing (even as a missions major…I thought there must be a way out of it).  But it was good, and hard, and growing, and we crossed the finish line of that season of life on November 28, 2016, when we pulled into our temporary driveway after our last deputation trip.  Near the end of that process, we gave up a much-loved apartment in Brooklyn.  We moved into missions apartment in upstate New York, 2 long hours from my beloved Brooklyn, to save money on the rent.  It has been 19 ...

This post has been brewing for a couple of years now.  I guess I’m finally brave enough to voice my thoughts.  But I have been censored and edited by my husband, who is much gentler and more forgiving than I. Through many of the recent posts floating around Facebook and Instagram (my favorite social network these days), it has become apparent to me that the celebration of Halloween is no longer taboo for many of my Bible believing friends.  I am personally very disturbed by this. Why is it that a holiday which is so evidently associated with evil has become something which Christians feel they can or have to participate in?  Why should we even celebrate it in an alternative manner? These verses are continually coming to mind: Ephesians 5:11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” 2 Corinthians 6:14b-15 “…for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  and what communion hath light with darkne...

The last couple of weeks have been very challenging for me on deputation.  I am tired, I am behind in homeschooling, and we have changed locations quite a few times.  When the schedule is normal , it is difficult for me to find a consistent time for my Bible reading.  When the schedule is crazy, my Bible time is crazy, and off, and short, and pushed aside too.  As much as I want to do it, it just often doesn’t happen when we are packing to leave a hotel, attending morning chapel services in a missions conferences, or being out late with evening services.  Often when I do sit down, I get drowsy and struggle to study.  Though I am partially through a 30 day Bible Study for Busy Mamas, its been a while since I have been able to finish a lesson.  I’ve been sticking pretty close to the five Psalms and one Proverb a day plan. I noticed a theme in my Psalms over the last few days. --Ps. 86:9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee...

I had this all written up two weeks ago to share with you, but computer issues prevented its publishing.         We arrived back in Brooklyn on July 15, 2015.   This left us just two months as Brooklyn residents.   Realizing this is definitely bittersweet for me.   Around Labor Day, and until September 15 th , we will be moving into temporary missionary housing until our deputation phase is complete.   This will allow us to save money on expensive NYC rent so that we can better prepare for moving to and settling into the Bronx next spring.   We are making preparations to put all of our worldly goods into storage and then we will mostly be on the road until next March.   For my non-NYC friends, many times it is required to put three months rent down in order to secure an apartment.   We are estimating that an apartment to fit our family of seven will likely cost $2000+ per month, so that is a sizeable “down pay...

We are moving.  We are leaving what the landlord says is a 1000 square foot apartment and going to what Ben estimates is an 800 square foot apartment.  I am losing an entire room.  I am adding two more children to our family in a few months.  Sometimes it seems impossible.  But after prayer and apartment searching, we decided that this is what we can afford right now.  And wanting to live within our means, and be satisfied with what God has given us, we decided to make it work.  For better or for worse.  I thought initially that it would lean more to the “worse” side.  But now I am sure it is for the “better.” I have been scouring the apartment for unused items.  Little used items.  Things we can easily live without.  I have been evaluating our “stash” of stuff.  What can we live with less of?  What would simplify life?  At first I thought I only had a couple pieces of furniture with which I could comfortable...

Linking up to The Gypsy Mama and Five Minute Friday today! Want to join our favorite free writing exercise of the week? It’s easy peasy: 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community. . The prompt is: Story… G o. Every day our lives are telling a story.  The story of self, or the story of Christ.  Just when I think I have this “Christian life” thing down pat , I find myself going back to the basics.  Learning again to depend on Christ.  Learning again to soak up His Words and make them my guide for living.  Learning again His Will for me. Some days I really depend on Him.  I can hear Him speaking His words thr...

I have been mulling over in my mind how to write this post.  I’m not sure if I have found the best way to communicate what I have been thinking about.  But I am going to try. My focus this Christmas season has been on trying to do things simply .  Elaine is at the age where she is more aware of things, and I want to sort of solidify Christmas traditions now.  There is so much that I love about Christmas, and so many things that I have just “always done”.  I am still trying to sort through what is good and what is best.  Ben is rather neutral on the subject.  Here is why… Ben’s family did not celebrate Christmas for many of his growing up years.  My family (and my extended family) definitely made a big deal about Christmas.  So when Ben and I were dating we talked about this topic.  What would we do as a family?  We wanted to find something in the middle, but at the same time create our own traditions and ways of celebrating th...

Last night was beautiful here in Brooklyn, so we decided to take a walk after supper.  We didn’t quite make it to the park before dark, so we ventured out to the American Veterans Memorial Pier which is very near to us.  From the pier you can see Staten Island and the Verrazano Bridge, Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and both the Hudson and East Rivers.  There is a “tower” on the pier that says Brooklyn remembers September 11, 2001.  Elaine had fun running circles around it!  Too much fun…she wouldn’t stop and smile for me! I was able to get this picture of the Lower Manhattan skyline.  The bright tower on the left is the unfinished Freedom Tower (I think).  The red building in the middle is the Empire State Building, and the bright pointy- topped building on the right is the Chrysler Building.  While I was admiring the Freedom Tower, thinking again about September 11th, and feeling proud to be an American, something else caugh...

Here are a few things that were blessings to me recently: ::  A friend of my landlady has breast cancer.  She bought all of the best baby items, intending to have a lot of kids.  Her little boy is two, and they are still rather uncertain if she will come through this cancer.  She will not be able to have more children.  They donated their {very nice} swing and bouncy seat to us.  We never had a bouncy seat with Elaine (though I wanted to get one for this baby), and I sold my swing before leaving VA because I knew I couldn’t store it.  Blessing. :: It’s a really long story, but there ended up being several diapers in my inventory that could not be sold, though there was nothing wrong with them.  We have been compensated, and we added the diapers to Elaine’s stash.  These replaced the ones she grew out of a few weeks ago.  Blessing. :: I felt the baby kick me for the first time on Sunday.  Psalm 127:3  “Lo, children are an...

I have several things that I have been thinking of sharing with you, but none of them seem worthy of a post by themselves.  So here is a big conglomeration and a sneak peak into my mind’s ramblings… Regarding NYC… :: We are getting more snow.  They are saying 8-10 inches.  :: The trash and recycling only just got picked up last night – at 10 p.m. – from the storm three weeks ago. :: Alternate side parking was put back into effect yesterday.  Rather than cleaning the streets of dust (since they really can’t do that right now) they plowed along the curbs where we have been parking.  At last our street is clear and parking will be back to normal.  Well, for a few hours at least.  This new snow storm may ruin everything! Regarding Elaine… :: When I tell Elaine to “Find Bunny,” or ask “Where is your paci?”  she goes hunting for the item and usually finds it.  It’s nice to be able to communicate with her a little more! :: The best par...

I’ve been workin’ hard… a Christmas Shopping (well…that has      been done for a while!) a Gifts Wrapped a Oreo Balls a Reindeer Food a Brownie Covered Oreos a Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes a Food Shopping a House Dusted a Floors Mopped Tonight… a Going to see Christmas Lights a Miracle on 34th Street (just me & my hubby) Tomorrow Night (Christmas Eve)… a Ridin’ the train to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree a Decadent Delights at Café Lalo Then it will be Christmas Morning! a Christmas Morning

One of the things that I like about New York City is that bread is expensive.  That sounds pretty odd, so let me explain.  In Virginia Beach we were able to purchase day-old, name-brand, whole-grain breads for $1-$2 a loaf.  We were spoiled!  After arriving in New York City, we quickly discovered that bread would be a big cost in our food budget.  Ben packs a lunch everyday, and Elaine loves her grilled cheese sandwiches. It was the expense that led me to start making all of our bread.  I had purchased a bread machine for $12 at the thrift store.  It had a horizontal loaf pan, so the bread came out in a good size for slicing and making sandwiches.  I know that this bread is better for us because it doesn’t have any preservatives.  As an added bonus my house smells like fresh bread 2-3 times a week.  I LOVE that!  I usually get intoxicated by the smell of the bread baking, and I just can’t wait for the machine to beep so I can slic...

Last night we left the Big City and drove into the countryside.  Here are some of the things that amazed me… For the first time since June, I consciously looked up and realized there are stars in the sky. There are open spaces in this world!  I looked at the fields, and the trees, and the desolate highways and realized it has been a long time since I have seen those things! There are many building which do not stretch to the sky When we arrived at my in-laws’, we parked…{gasp} in the driveway!  You know…like a reserved space, waiting – just for us! Vacation is going to be wonderful!

“I can do it myself.” Though she isn’t talking, sometimes Elaine communicates this phrase to me.  Lately it with anything food.  She doesn’t want Mommy to feed her, she wants to do it herself!  She’s also been teething and hasn’t had a very good appetite.  So last night when Elaine wanted the whole pizza slice, rather than the cut up bits, I decided to let her go at it. There she was.  Little Elaine.  Big slice of pizza.  Trying desperately to make her teeth tear off a bite.  What ended up happening is that she buried her whole face in the slice, pulling off the topping and leaving the crust.  “ Mmmm.  That was fun.  I’m done now.” Then Daddy introduced the ranch dressing.  Suddenly the crust was very fun.  She would dip, lick, and dip again (never eating the crust, but enjoying the ranch!). Elaine is so much fun to watch as she learns and discovers new things.  Even though she was a mess, she was ver...

Good news!  Ben finally caught the mouse that had invaded my kitchen!  Here’s how it went down… Ben used to be a pest technician for Terminix in Virginia Beach.  He used peanut butter in his mouse/rat traps.  He said that mice don’t like cheese, but peanut butter works.  He set two traps in my kitchen, both baited with peanut butter.  The first night there was no activity.  Then the mouse ate the peanut butter but never triggered the trap. “Great.  We are dealing with a smart mouse.” The next try was popcorn.  Again the mouse had a nice snack, but he was still living in my kitchen!  Then Ben put a jelly bean with frosting from the birthday cake onto the trap.  You’re not going to believe this – that little mousy licked the jelly bean clean.  He ate all of the frosting, and left the jelly bean just as the trap was ready to spring.  We know this because the trap was all katter-wompus (sp?) the next morning. Frustr...

That’s what my dad and Ben’s mom like to call Elaine.  I wasn’t keen on nicknames to begin with, but I find myself calling Elaine “Lainey” more and more.  Are y’all tired of me talking about Elaine?  I know I’m completely biased because I’m the mommy, but I can’t help it!  I must say at least a dozen times a day, “She’s just so cute!”   She really is in a cute stage! Elaine has most recently developed a conscience.  She knows what “no” means, and she knows what she isn’t supposed to play with.  And I think she sometimes “guesses” that a particular item will be off limits too.  All I have to do is say “Elaine” and she bolts.  She drops it and runs (as much as she can run) the other way.  It’s like she’s saying, “Nope.  That wasn’t me.  I wasn’t playing with it.”  It’s the funniest thing to watch – maybe I will catch it on video some day. Lainey loves Cheerios.  She usually ends up spewing them all over the floor....