Poured Out

Well, Hannah and Aliyah were quite wiped out and under the weather on Christmas Day, but still we had an enjoyable day.  Joel came down with the same chesty cough and fever the next day.  I think we’re over the worst of it now, hopefully, and just have the last of the coughs and runny noses to clear.  Hopefully Mariah and us parents can avoid this extra sickness.  Even more importantly, hopefully the stomach bug is gone now.  We won’t count our chickens too soon, but hopefully we’re almost there.  Despite the interrupted nights and hindered schedule, it was actually a very good week.  Don’t tell the children, but we quite enjoyed a quiet Christmas!  We now have my parents and sister’s family here for a couple of days, then we will be back to normal life again.  As I type this Joel is sitting here on my desk chatting away and periodically putting his finger in my ear . . . not sure if he’s hoping to find anything in there!  Hope you’ve had a great Christmas . . . now it’s on to the New Year!

Here was Mariah’s prayer tonight at bedtime:

Lord I thank you for the children who don’t have any beds.  I pray that you would divide them a bed.  I thank you that they don’t just have a big, wooden, dusty box.  I pray that all the children everywhere would come to you as their Savior. Amen

That one melted me.  A few notes of explanation:  When Mariah prays, she says “thank you” to preface everything.  I often pray for the children in the world who are in need but tonight I didn’t, so that was all her idea.  The “big, wooden, dusty box” line came from Hannah’s script in the Christmas play when she was explaining what a manger is.  When she said, “divide,” I think she meant, “provide!”  I sometimes quote Psalm 121 and 23 to Mariah and Joel at bedtime.  After I did tonight, Mariah asked to do her psalm.  She proceeded to quote about the first 3 verses of Psalm 121 word perfect.  Amazing what they can learn just by listening.

Amazing how kids can melt you one moment and then be naughty the next!  Just a shot of reality (so you are sure that we are not a perfect family!) . . . Mariah has been coming out of her bedroom quite defiantly over and over since we put her to bed, despite being disciplined.  Christmas excitement?!

Healthwise . . . Aliyah woke up this morning with croup and a high fever which has continued all day.  Hannah also now has a chesty cough, fever, etc.  It seems we’ve progressed to the flu now.  Despite that (and thanks to ibuprofen in the girls’ systems), we had our traditional Christmas Eve pancake dinner and opened a few presents.  Everyone is very excited for tomorrow.  Thanks for all your prayers.  We are tired but doing alright.  I am off to read a Christmas story to the older girls – the third in the little book by Patricia St. John, “Secret of the Fourth Candle.”  What a beautiful set of three stories!  I highly recommend that you get a copy for next Christmas season.

After a predictable 4 day “healthy” gap, Aliyah is terribly sick again.  Actually, she herself wasn’t sick for 10 days but 4 days ago is the last time someone in the family was sick.  We managed to get a sample to the doctor this time.  Pray that they’ll figure out what this is and that we can defeat it.  I personally, feel very under attack at the moment.  Emotionally and physically.  Please pray for healing and for peace.

This verse came to my mind . . . Let us not become weary in doing good (ie cleaning up sick, caring for hurting kids, having to forego fun events, etc.!) . . . for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  (Galatians 6:9)

FYI – January through mid-March is now on the Schedule page.  February looks busy, but over the course of the year you will see gaps allowing me to pursue some writing projects.

If you look over to the right, you’ll see an addition to the menu of pages – The Daily Reader.  This is where we will post each month’s encouragement sheet in anticipation of another month of Bible reading.  This has all been designed for Oakhall Church, but we make it available here for anyone who wants to join us in the adventure of reading God’s Word through in 2009!  The reading plan and January’s encouragement sheet are now available on The Daily Reader page.

As of this afternoon, everyone seems OK.  We are not counting our chickens, however, as we have had periods of time like this during the past month.  We decided not to go to the homeschool club event tonight (sadly) as we feel we might still be contagious and don’t want to expose all the other families.  If we all stay well tonight, at least some of us will go to church tomorrow as it will have been 3 days since the last episode.  Hannah has a leading role in the church play (the teacher in a classroom setting), Aliyah is an angel and Mariah is a carol singer.  Of course, we don’t want to miss it.  We have been eating a bland diet for the last day or two and trying some natural remedies/supplements.  Please pray for us to put this virus behind us forever!  In the scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal.  So keep praying for the eternal stuff too – like new saved souls this Christmas season.

Now for some positive news. . . on the “school” front.  Aliyah is turning into a great little reader!  She can often be spotted nowadays engrossed in a book.  A joyful sight for this homeschooling mom!  I am thrilled at her progress and most importantly, she is enjoying  reading.  One of my big goals in school is that the kids would love to learn and learn the skills to know how to learn.  Reading is a pretty foundational one, not to mention the fact that she is now able to read the Bible, the most important book ever!  We just fixed up a Day by Day Bible of Hannah’s (needed some tape!) that helps a child read through the Bible in a year and gave it to Aliyah.  I’m not quite sure she’s fully ready, but I think Aliyah’s going to attempt it.  Now, if you were pondering doing the read-through (see Peter’s post a few days ago), here’s some motivation!  If Aliyah can attempt it, so can you!  (HINT: She’s already starting.  Why not get a head start?  Email Peter if you need a reading plan.)

We would like to ask for more prayer.  We are still struggling with the virus.  We hope to send a sample to the dr. for them to make sure that it is the virus and not something else.  Mariah has been vomiting today and I am feeling awful, so I probably am going down too.  This will be the third time for me.  Pray for strength and healing (and good attitudes!).  Thank you very much for lifting us up.  We have much to be thankful for. (Big one: Peter is home right now to help me!)

It’s been an tough month, with all the sickness, but we have managed to have a bit of Christmas fun too!

Here we are at our first Family Advent Night. We made a paper chain to count down the days til Christmas.

The kids are all dressed up to go to a Christmas party. The clothes were early Christmas presents from Grandma.

It was really fun to have snow at Christmas time. Joel only lasted a few minutes out in the cold though!

The girls, however, stayed out until they were frozen. Here is their “snow-mouse” as there was not quite enough snow for a snowman!

This is Family Advent Night #3. We painted Christmas pictures. Joel held his up and said, “See dots!” (Moms, you gotta love the dot paints in a tube. Less mess makes us happy!)

See mine?

Peter having some father-son time with Joel (taking pictures of themselves), while the girls finished painting.

Awww, how sweet is that?

Hannah (aka Mary) joined in too!

See our post entitled: “Family Advent Night”, for an explanation of this!

By the end of the evening, it all got to be a little too much for Joel. He laid himself down and covered himself up, still clinging to his musical instruments.

Well, one week til Christmas! We have been talking with the girls about the idea of Advent . . . ever notice how many Christmas carols have the word or idea of “come” in them? For so long, the nation of Israel waited for her Messiah to come. We can celebrate, that He has come, bringing light and life with Him. As the excitement builds for Christmas and we wait anxiously for the day, we can also anticipate Jesus’ second coming. If we think Christmas morning is exciting, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet! When we are caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air . . . well, let’s just say the feeling will be indescribable. Maranatha! Even so come, Lord Jesus!

PS Peter taught me how to put pictures on the website and I did this post myself! Now, if I can just remember for next time.

Peter and I were up a good portion of the night last night with Joel, who vomited about six times, plus had diarrhea.  I decided since this has been going on for over 3 weeks, that it was time to call the doctor.  He said it sounds like we have the Norovirus which is not serious, but is very infectious.  It seems that we are re-infecting each other?  I have done some major disinfecting today and plan on doing some more, plus have been working on washing sheets (not to mention washing kids!).  Please pray for complete healing.  We keep thinking we are better and someone gets sick again.  All of us have had it at least twice (except for Peter who has completely escaped it so far.)  I have to say, my spirits have ranged from totally discouraged to fairly content during the day today.  The girls and I talked over lunch about all the things we have to be thankful for at the moment.  There were alot!  We’ve had to not go to homeschool club today and will miss a Christmas housegroup event tonight.  And we’ll have to forego the Open House Christmas party tomorrow.  Pray for good attitudes for all of us (the kids are disappointed, naturally).  And please pray for the Open House party.  We are giving out some evangelistic books to the mums which answer common questions people have about God.  Pray for fruit!  We hope we’ll all be well by the weekend.  The girls are part of the homsechool club Christmas event on Saturday and then the Sunday School Christmas play is on Sunday.  (Hannah has quite a major role.)  Thanks for lifting us up.  In spite of everything, we have been enjoying the Christmas season!

As Melanie wrote last night, I was able to launch “The Daily Reader – Reading through the Bible together in 2009″ at church yesterday.  This is an exciting but simple concept.  Let me explain more.

Many Christians have never successfully read through the whole Bible, although a good number have started (often on January 1st!)  Often the concept of reading through the Bible is viewed as a burden, a duty, a pressure.  At Oakhall Church this next year we want to make it a blessing, a delight, a privilege.  We want a guilt-free approach to reading God’s word and we want to try and  encourage one another through the process.

So we have four elements that will go toward encouraging one another as we read through God’s Word in 2009.  First, a “Daily Reader – Reading Plan.”   This will take us through the Old Testament and the New Testament during the year.  I enjoyed skimming through the Bible recently and working out every reading for the year.  We will be using the Hebrew Bible order for the Old Testament, and the New Testament is rearranged to avoid reading four gospels back to back.  Second, a “Daily Reader – Monthly News.” This is a monthly news sheet that will go out just prior to each month containing motivating mini-articles, brief testimonies, and one paragraph introductions to each book that will begin during the next month of the reading plan.

Third, we are urging people to find encouragement partners.  I deliberately avoid the term “accountability partners” because they tend to make us feel guilty.  Instead, we want people to connect with one person for mutual encouragement.  Perhaps a phone call, an email or a chat once a week or every other week.  Some may get together and read highlights, others may just “check in” and encourage.  Also, as people pray before they read their daily reading, perhaps they will also pray for their encouragement partner.  This should add a personal element to the church-wide ethos of encouragement.  Fourth, we will hold several special events during the year.  I’ll tell you more about these when the time comes.

We’re excited about The Daily Reader.  Whether it is the first time people will read through the whole Bible, or the fiftieth time, it is exciting!  What about you?  Do you have Bible plans for 2009?  Perhaps you’d like to enjoy God’s Word all the way through?  I estimate 10-15 minutes a day will be adequate for most of the daily readings.  If you are an “Oakhaller,” more reading plans will be available next Sunday (they went like hot-cakes yesterday!)  If you are not at Oakhall, I’m sure no-one will mind if you want to join in too – I can email the reading plan, and maybe I’ll put the book intros on this site each month.  But you will have to find your own encouragement partner and plan your own special events (although you are welcome to copy ours!)